America - The Official Thread

[McLaren]

But money and property is way better than poverty, homelessness, joblessness, and hopelessness.

Hmmm, I think our lotto system shows that's not a guarantee in the long run. Some people are successful with their money, but there are equal horror stories of blowing through millions of dollars in just short years at a time; I remember 1 article from a couple years back saying about 1/3rd of lotto winners eventually file for bankruptcy. The sad reality is a strong number of people in this country (of any race) would be terrible at managing coming into even $340,000 & would just as easily blow through it.

The other unfortunate side that the lotto system has shown us, is that some of these people end up becoming targets of crime when it's advertised someone has a huge chunk of money now.

 

[TexRex]

Hmmm, I think our lotto system shows that's not a guarantee in the long run. Some people are successful with their money, but there are equal horror stories of blowing through millions of dollars in just short years at a time; I remember 1 article from a couple years back saying about 1/3rd of lotto winners eventually file for bankruptcy. The sad reality is a strong number of people in this country (of any race) would be terrible at managing coming into even $340,000 & would just as easily blow through it.

The other unfortunate side that the lotto system has shown us, is that some of these people end up becoming targets of crime when it's advertised someone has a huge chunk of money now.

Chappelle did a sketch on reparations, if memory serves.

Edit: It's Chappelle's Show, so appropriate warnings apply.

 

[ryzno]

Purely as a thought exercise, I'd be interested to know how you feel about that. To your mind, should the street name remain or is it subject to change? Why do you feel that way?

That's a good one. During the "removal" of Confederate "historical" monuments I adimitly called against it.
If the community wants a statue or sign removed I think it should be voted on.
I honestly can't speak for the people that live on said road or can confirm black people live on said road or their opinions of its name. I'll tell you it is a rather white area though.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Trump currently is a politician, so all he has to do is promise the reparations, get re-elected and never mention it again.

What I mean was that it would be anathema to a huge portion of his electorate.

 

[Submerged]

So really, if a politician submits to the party leanings on what the truths and facts are but never comes true on the promises, then that politician can continue to ply their trade willy-nilly?

Kinda what you were saying @Eunos_Cosmo

 

[TB]

He really does just accuse everyone of what he is in fact doing himself.

I just read the Washington Post article on this.

While there are still issues with it, his first registration application was submitted September 2019, the same day that he moved from the White House to M-A-L. While, sure, he should have known better, it's entirely likely that paperwork was filled out prior to that date. Literally could have happened to anyone. The second application filed a month later corrected the address. But then messed up his general manager's name.

Wait. Did I just defend Trump on something? I need a shower.

 

[Submerged]

Mattis Denounces PrezTrump:

James Mattis Denounces President Trump, Describes Him as a Threat to the Constitution
In an extraordinary condemnation, the former defense secretary backs protesters and says the president is trying to turn Americans against one another.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politic...nounces-trump-protests-militarization/612640/

Link above

Thoughts?

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Mattis Denounces PrezTrump:

James Mattis Denounces President Trump, Describes Him as a Threat to the Constitution
In an extraordinary condemnation, the former defense secretary backs protesters and says the president is trying to turn Americans against one another.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politic...nounces-trump-protests-militarization/612640/

Link above

Thoughts?

Well...yeah!

Jim...just run for president already.

 

[Joey D]

I have a ton of respect for Gen. Mattis coming out and saying that. He clearly takes his oath as a solider to uphold the Constitution seriously.

 

[Submerged]

But why did it take him so long to do that? Is it polictical?

 

[Joey D]

But why did it take him so long to do that? Is it polictical?

He doesn't really get into the spotlight all that often. He's been critical of Trump for a while though, all the way back to 2018 when Trump pulled out of Syria.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

He doesn't really get into the spotlight all that often. He's been critical of Trump for a while though, all the way back to 2018 when Trump pulled out of Syria.

I think Mattis has not wanted to criticize the Trump administration in order to maintain a healthy armed forces. It's a big deal for the former SecDef to denounce the administration he was once a part of and could potentially create divisions in the military - Mattis had a lot of soldier loyal to him, which could lead to potential conflicts of interest. That he's now speaking out strikes me as some sort of lower threshold that has been breached. As in...things are "real bad".

 

[Submerged]

The wording seems to imply it was better to stay in Syria?

I kinda agree that it was better to stay there to be honest

 

[Dotini]

I think Mattis has not wanted to criticize the Trump administration in order to maintain a healthy armed forces. It's a big deal for the former SecDef to denounce the administration he was once a part of and could potentially create divisions in the military - Mattis had a lot of soldier loyal to him, which could lead to potential conflicts of interest. That he's now speaking out strikes me as some sort of lower threshold that has been breached. As in...things are "real bad".

It's a concern for sure when the loyalty of the military to the constitutional civilian command is in question. I doubt if what is needed is some kind of military rebellion or insurrection. There may be a conflict within the military with evangelical Christians on one side.

 

[Tornado]

https://www.businessinsider.com/pen...eploy-more-troops-after-esper-call-2020-6?amp

Trump has also asked for detailed information on the kinds of military vehicles, including "tanks," that could be deployed, Pentagon officials told The Beast.

A senior administration official said this didn't necessarily mean Trump wanted to send tanks, The Beast reported. "I think that is just one of the military words he knows," the official reportedly said.

 

[Biggles]

some sort of lower threshold ... has been breached.

Yup. I think that's it.

It will be interesting to look back on the Trump years from a safe distance & wonder WTF?

 

[Chrunch Houston]

https://www.businessinsider.com/pen...eploy-more-troops-after-esper-call-2020-6?amp

The article you posted is based off of this article.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/penta...m-trumps-call-to-dominate-protests?ref=scroll

"The president wasn’t ordering tanks to roll down the streets, but was inquiring about “the kind of hardware” that could be used in military shows of force, and at one point Trump threw out the word “tanks.”

He was probably talking about APCs. Pretty impressive piece of equipment, that caries in troopes into battle. They are kind of like tanks.

It is like a game of "telephone" with the media. One outlet posts a story and then other outlets post stories about that story with an even more anti Trump story.

Fake news.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

The article you posted is based off of this article.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/penta...m-trumps-call-to-dominate-protests?ref=scroll



He was probably talking about APCs. Pretty impressive piece of equipment, that caries in troopes into battle. They are kind of like tanks.

It is like a game of "telephone" with the media. One outlet posts a story and then other outlets post stories about that story with an even more anti Trump story.

Fake news.

Except, he did say tanks. I think it's impossible to know if he meant APCs and beside the point. Pretty sad the commander in chief doesn't know the difference between tanks in personnel carriers if what you are saying is true. Sounds like something a liberal president would say, yeah?

 

[NotThePrez]

The article you posted is based off of this article.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/penta...m-trumps-call-to-dominate-protests?ref=scroll



He was probably talking about APCs. Pretty impressive piece of equipment, that caries in troops into battle. They are kind of like tanks.

I fail to see how sending in APCs loaded with troops instead of M1 tanks is somehow supposed to be better?

It is like a game of "telephone" with the media. One outlet posts a story and then other outlets post stories about that story with an even more anti Trump story.

Fake news.

The president and his administration is tossing around the idea of sending an armed US Military, including various Armoured Fighting Vehicles (this includes MBTs, APCs and the like, so everyone's happy), against the wishes of The Pentagon, state governors, and local law enforcement into cities to control protests, effectively handing over the job of policing to the military (basically damn-near Martial Law),....and the most concerning thing here is the possibility that the president used the wrong term when describing vehicles? People already have a problem with local law enforcement becoming more and more militarized; how is the literal military showing up supposed to de-escalate the situation?

In other news (heh), I watched the president's short speech today...



...not gonna lie, he had me at the first half. If that was a genuine attempt to lead, unite the people, boost morale to state governors and de-escalate the situation, then, quite frankly, we're:censored:.

 

[MatskiMonk]

It will be interesting to look back on the Trump years from a safe distance & wonder WTF?

Yeah, sad to think the world is still only probably half way through the Trump years though.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

That he's now speaking out strikes me as some sort of lower threshold that has been breached. As in...things are "real bad".

Him and James Miller. There seems to be a dissatisfaction with Trump from some people within the government, military included, with him calling for military action.

 

[Groundfish]

I think some ‘real’ military higher ups are not fans of him because of his lack of firsthand military experience.

 

[Liquid]

I think some ‘real’ military higher ups are not fans of him because of his lack of firsthand military experience.

And his negative comments about military consequences. He cruelly said, when talking about John McCain during the 2016 campaign, that [Trump] prefers his war heroes not to be those who were captured.

Shows a lot about his own character. Nice one.

Question: What is the NRA's position on protestors expressing their right to free speech and demonstration in the face of an unpopular, oppressive government?

I imagine they won't at all be hypocritical?

 

[Dotini]

Question: What is the NRA's position on protestors expressing their right to free speech and demonstration in the face of an unpopular, oppressive government?

NRA's position, insofar as they have one, on anti-social distancing protests appears to be shifting towards embracing them.

I would note that guns sales have shot through the roof to the extent that some gun stores are out of stock. Possibly citizens are fearful of sustained riots like what happened in '92 or '68.

I would also note that the worst, most destructive rioting has been in cities under Democratic control, and it is their citizens, business owners, politicians and especially budgets which are under the greatest strain.

 

[Danoff]

I would also note that the worst, most destructive rioting has been in cities under Democratic control, and it is their citizens, business owners, politicians and especially budgets which are under the greatest strain.

We haven't seen a ton of "rioting" from the "right" or people typically associated with that group. In fact, I can't remember an example of something I would call a "riot" from a conservative group.

 

[Dotini]

We haven't seen a ton of "rioting" from the "right". In fact, I can't remember an example of something I would call a "riot" from a conservative group.

Perhaps there is little or no overt rioting from the right. However, I strongly suspect right wing involvement is taking place with the aims of inflaming, fomenting, egging-on and generally making rioting more destructive, divisive and harmful. "Chaos is a ladder."

I further expect a mass migration of wealthy taxpayers from the major cities, worsening the budget crises already occurring.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I think some ‘real’ military higher ups are not fans of him because of his lack of firsthand military experience.

Calling them "a bunch of dopes and babies" (allegedly) doesn't help.

Nor does unnecessarily abdicating responsibility for a strike he ordered that resulted in an American soldier dying - "They came to me, they explained what they wanted to do, the generals, who are very respected, the most respected that we’ve had in many decades, I believe. And they lost Ryan."

I don't think proud career military officials appreciate being thrown under the bus or otherwise denigrated by a narcissistic playboy draft dodger.

 

[Dotini]

I don't think proud career military officials appreciate being thrown under the bus or otherwise denigrated by a narcissistic playboy draft dodger.

A state of Cosmic Ecstasy is excited in the US military leadership when huge budgets are available and there are no expensive wars to fight.

 

[Groundfish]

It’s got more to do with what this man said imo.
Use of military force (deadly force) is last resort when all other options have failed.
Contrary to the current policy yes, but that’s not how it should be. Further...politics...military industrial complex...etc...There’s a lot of complexities when it comes to the military we don’t know about.

 

[Tornado]

The article you posted is based off of this article

I can't say I care.

He was probably talking about APCs. Pretty impressive piece of equipment, that caries in troopes into battle. They are kind of like tanks.

Fascinating to know you are part of his inner circle up there in Trump Tower, to be able to guess what he "probably was talking about" when at least half the time his own cabinet is caught off guard by things he says.

It is like a game of "telephone" with the media. One outlet posts a story and then other outlets post stories about that story with an even more anti Trump story.

Fake news.

Do you do lotto numbers too?

If that's too much, at this point I'm sure people (once again, including his own cabinet) would be fine merely with some advance warning next time he plans on firing on protestors to do a photo op where he holds a Bible he found somewhere upside down outside a church.