Politics

[rookhawk]

I think you're missing a key problem Trump has--if he loses the midterms he will no longer have a majority in the House or Senate or both.

He'll lose power completely and become the most impotent of lame ducks for two years.

He could still sign meaningless Executive Orders but they all go in the trash anyway.

And you also ask..........WHY is Trump so unpopular?

Let's research it:

• Pardons for January 6 rioters: His decision to pardon those convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol is one of his least popular actions, opposed by a majority of Americans.
• Mass deportations: While a portion of the public backs deporting undocumented immigrants accused of violent crimes, many disapprove of mass deportation efforts that would include those who have lived in the country for many years or were brought to the U.S. as children.
• Separation of families at the border: The "zero tolerance" policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border drew widespread condemnation from the public, religious groups, and international leaders.
• Voters have expressed disapproval of Trump's use of executive power to interfere with independent institutions and processes.
• Pressure on the media and corporations: Polls have shown significant public disapproval of Trump pressuring media outlets that cover him unfavorably and compelling private businesses to make specific business decisions.
• Hiring and pardons related to Elon Musk: Trump's second-term actions involving Elon Musk, including appointing him to an advisory role and giving his companies special privileges, are broadly unpopular. A majority of Americans are concerned about Musk's access to sensitive personal data and oppose his closure of federal agencies.
• Federal grant freeze: An early 2025 executive order freezing most federal grant funding, including for healthcare and small businesses, was widely criticized and temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
• Repeal of the Affordable Care Act: Throughout his presidency, polling consistently showed that efforts to repeal the ACA were unpopular, especially due to concerns over protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
• Rollbacks of ACA protections: In early 2025, executive actions that would weaken patient protections, like allowing insurers to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and removing the cap on insulin co-payments for Medicare recipients, were met with negative public reactions.
• Trade tariffs: Trump's implementation of tariffs on imports from countries like Canada, Mexico, and China has consistently received negative marks from the public.
• Cuts to social safety nets: Actions aimed at cutting back social safety net programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), have had a negative impact on thousands of families and were halted by court rulings.
• Environmental rollbacks: Decisions to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and roll back environmental protections have been met with public opposition.

There's actually more........but my personal feeling is this:

I think that the very worst mistake he's making now is having masked and heavily armed ICE agents do mass arrests.

While most of us agree with a closed border and deportations, the violent arrests (sometimes children in the middle of the night) are too remindful of storm troopers and totalitarian regimes of the past.

Anyhow.......he has many huge problems and America will never give him significant support again.

This post made me smile with utter joy. I support every bullet listed above except his Tariff strategy.

The majority of Americans are mindless drones, influenced by mainstream media and social media. The fact they don't like what they've been fed to dislike is not surprising.

 

[deewayne2003]

I think you're missing a key problem Trump has--if he loses the midterms he will no longer have a majority in the House or Senate or both.

He'll lose power completely and become the most impotent of lame ducks for two years.

He could still sign meaningless Executive Orders but they all go in the trash anyway.

And you also ask..........WHY is Trump so unpopular?

Let's research it:

• Pardons for January 6 rioters: His decision to pardon those convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol is one of his least popular actions, opposed by a majority of Americans.
• Mass deportations: While a portion of the public backs deporting undocumented immigrants accused of violent crimes, many disapprove of mass deportation efforts that would include those who have lived in the country for many years or were brought to the U.S. as children.
• Separation of families at the border: The "zero tolerance" policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border drew widespread condemnation from the public, religious groups, and international leaders.
• Voters have expressed disapproval of Trump's use of executive power to interfere with independent institutions and processes.
• Pressure on the media and corporations: Polls have shown significant public disapproval of Trump pressuring media outlets that cover him unfavorably and compelling private businesses to make specific business decisions.
• Hiring and pardons related to Elon Musk: Trump's second-term actions involving Elon Musk, including appointing him to an advisory role and giving his companies special privileges, are broadly unpopular. A majority of Americans are concerned about Musk's access to sensitive personal data and oppose his closure of federal agencies.
• Federal grant freeze: An early 2025 executive order freezing most federal grant funding, including for healthcare and small businesses, was widely criticized and temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
• Repeal of the Affordable Care Act: Throughout his presidency, polling consistently showed that efforts to repeal the ACA were unpopular, especially due to concerns over protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
• Rollbacks of ACA protections: In early 2025, executive actions that would weaken patient protections, like allowing insurers to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and removing the cap on insulin co-payments for Medicare recipients, were met with negative public reactions.
• Trade tariffs: Trump's implementation of tariffs on imports from countries like Canada, Mexico, and China has consistently received negative marks from the public.
• Cuts to social safety nets: Actions aimed at cutting back social safety net programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), have had a negative impact on thousands of families and were halted by court rulings.
• Environmental rollbacks: Decisions to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and roll back environmental protections have been met with public opposition.

There's actually more........but my personal feeling is this:

I think that the very worst mistake he's making now is having masked and heavily armed ICE agents do mass arrests.

While most of us agree with a closed border and deportations, the violent arrests (sometimes children in the middle of the night) are too remindful of storm troopers and totalitarian regimes of the past.

Anyhow.......he has many huge problems and America will never give him significant support again.

Yep we definitely need a Somali translator for this guy.....

 

[Frostbite]

Again being intentionally obtuse, those signs today are supporting Hamas and the terror attack that occurred on Oct 7th. Last I checked Hamas was elected by a free Palestine.

You seem to think that supporting Palestine is supporting Hamas.

Wrong (and you're accusing ME of being obtuse?).

Those are two different things and trying to twist it is dishonest.

 

[Betterinthebush]

@Frostbite “Anyhow.......he has many huge problems and America will never give him significant support again.“

His problems are nothing compared to the nightmare decorating problems that you have with those pink rose drapes next to that magnificent buck on your wall.

 

[Frostbite]

This post made me smile with utter joy. I support every bullet listed above except his Tariff strategy.

The majority of Americans are mindless drones, influenced by mainstream media and social media.

I have to agree with you.

You may be too kind.

The characterization extends equally to both sides.

 

[deewayne2003]

You seem to think that supporting Palestine is supporting Hamas.

Wrong (and you're accusing ME of being obtuse?).

Those are two different things and trying to twist it is dishonest.

Turns out google translate does have Somali.....

Ku noqo tuuladaadii oo maraakiib kale oo gacanka Cadmeed ku jira!

 

[mdwest]

I think you're missing a key problem Trump has--if he loses the midterms he will no longer have a majority in the House or Senate or both.

He'll lose power completely and become the most impotent of lame ducks for two years.

Reading is fundamental..

Go back and re-read the earlier post on this..

Trump isnt running for office during the mid terms...

D members of the house and senate currently have a 40% approval rating..

R members of the house and senate currently have a 69% approval rating...

Trumps lowered approval rating a) is common among pretty much ALL presidents, both R and D during the first and/or second year of their term.. and b) is having almost no impact at all on the approval ratings of the house and senate..

In fact, D approval in large remains the lowest its been in the better part of the last century.. sitting right at 30% just last month in a Quinnipac poll.. and 33% in an August poll in Politico (No sizeable October polls are out yet).. and D approval in congress specifically continues to sit in a dumpster..

If D approval of its congressional membership remains as low as it currently is this time next year.. and R approval remains as high as it is... There will be no turnover in the house or senate.. if anything R's will gain a greater advantage...

Clearly Trumps individual approval rating is having little to no impact at all on the rest of the party or its membership..

He's also not negatively impacting the obvious hopefuls on the R side for taking the POTUS position in 2028... DeSantis sits on a 55% approval rating.. Rubio is currently seated as the 5th most popular figure in US politics (overall.. inclusive of both D and Rs)... Models that show Vance running against key D's in swing states in 2028 show him winning 53% to 43% on average..

So what if everyone absolutely hates Trump? (they obviously dont.. many people still stand strongly behind everything he does.. and an even great number will openly state that while they dont particularly like him or stand strongly behind him, that he was far and away the best choice given last November and that they feel fortunate that neither Biden or Harris are in office)

For now thats having zero impact on the approval ratings for congress where D's are in the worst position they have been in in modern times.. If anything Schumers sillness is causing more dislike and disdain for the D party...

 

[Frostbite]

@Frostbite “Anyhow.......he has many huge problems and America will never give him significant support again.“

His problems are nothing compared to the nightmare decorating problems that you have with those pink rose drapes next to that magnificent buck on your wall.

Thanks for the opinion on my mom's decor of 1965.

We were among the rural poor.

Try to limit your personal attacks to me.

 

[mdwest]

Thanks for your opinion.

You'd do better though, if you came up with reasoned responses instead of name calling.

Reasoned responses have been provided several times.. but again, as stated now twice previously.. youre either too stupid or too stubborn to acknowledge that..

Thats not name calling... Thats assigning reasoning to your otherwise unexplainable behavior..

A 5th grader can read and understand the prior responses provided.. you clearly cant..

If there is another explanation beyond stupid or stubborn, Im sure we'd all love to hear it...

 

[spike.t]

Thanks for your opinion.

You'd do better though, if you came up with reasoned responses instead of name calling.

I think dave has provided reasonable responses.....to which you have used your stuck record replies....not surprised he got slightly fed up....obviously usa is nothing to do with me.. apart from it does affect all of us in the rest of the world....some of Donald's stuff I don't agree with...but I do on a lot of his agendas ...and i would probably be way right of ghengis Khan according to you....just saying.....

 

[LivingTheDream]

You seem to think that supporting Palestine is supporting Hamas.

Wrong (and you're accusing ME of being obtuse?).

Those are two different things and trying to twist it is dishonest.

I actually think you proved my point.

So do you have an issue if someone chanted "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free"?

 

[Frostbite]

"Ok, if you can post the quote that will be one other guy besides the potato brained Biden.

So let's have it"

Are you slow or just being purposefully obtuse?.... Because I already did let you have it, in video form with time stamp from the head of the CDC who said it on national news.


Here it is again....

Or do we need someone to translate it into Somali for you?

You seem to be the one who's confused by plain English.

First of all, that was not the head of the CDC it was just an employee.

Second, she did not say--“If you get the shot, you won’t get sick, covid will end with you!”

You continue to ignore that fact.......and you call me stubborn.

She said that after the vaccine you still had to use care in public, wear a mask and stay away from unvaccinated people.

That statement was based on a study of health care workers that had just been completed and she did not say that the vaccine offered perfect protection although only three of 4000 got sick (maybe because they were health care workers and took all the proper precautions of masks and social distancing).

So........sorry, but you're still wrong.

 

[mdwest]

I think dave has provided reasonable responses.....to which you have used your stuck record replies....not surprised he got slightly fed up....obviously usa is nothing to do with me.. apart from it does affect all of us in the rest of the world....some of Donald's stuff I don't agree with...but I do on a lot of his agendas ...and i would probably be way right of ghengis Khan according to you....just saying.....

Whats funny is that while I am fiscally very hard right leaning, Im socially very much a centrist.. and my political values are far more aligned with libertarianism than most of what the republican platform states..

Im far from a staunch Trump supporter.. Generally speaking I simply want to be left alone.. I want the government out of my business, and want everyone else out of my business.. I want to be free to exercise my rights without the govt or others infringing on them, and commit myself to not violating other peoples rights or breaking any of the laws of our land...

I genuinely dont care if someone is old or young, black or white, gay or straight, believes in 300 genders or just 2, is a catholic, protestant, mulim, jew, hindu, or shinto.. I further dont care if they are fat or skinny, from the UK, Germany, Burkina Faso, or Baltimore, etc..etc.. Just be a good human being, and I'll try to be one too... and if others choose to be racists, fascists, misogynists, or any other name you choose to assign them so what? How about we all commit to being the best humans we can be.. and then the minority of bad ones (that are legitimately racists,, fascists, misogynists, etc..etc..) wont really matter anymore..

The thing that I find incredibly entertaining about this thread and most other political discussions is how passionate some people get, that clearly have zero understanding or knowledge about what they are talking about.. that have failed to do any actual research.. and on their best day can quote some silly talking point published by a clearly biased news source (whether left or right leaning) or quote something ignorant stated by some other person that doesnt really know what theyre talking about..

If youre going to claim to be passionate about something, you'd think people would at least bother to put the work in and be able to substantiate their positions... that doesnt mean we all have to agree.. hell, theres little to nothing I think Bill Mahr and I would agree on.. but I'd love to spend a weekend with that guy drinking beer and just sitting around the fire at night talking.. He's clearly very well informed, very knowledgeable, and knows how to bring facts to a discussion.. at the end of the weekend we'd very likely still disagree on just about everything.. but we'd each clearly know where the other person stands, and more importantly, have a clear understanding of why they stand where they do.. and have some respect for each other... and probably have a good time laughing at each other and having fun the entire weekend..

 

[Betterinthebush]

I have to agree with you.

You may be too kind.

The characterization extends equally to both sides.

Just trying to inject a little levity buddy. Jeepers.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

View attachment 721332

Not valid unless he crashes through a wall.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Jeez! $100.00 in a day!

 

[PARA45]

 

[Frostbite]

Reading is fundamental..

Go back and re-read the earlier post on this..

Trump isnt running for office during the mid terms...

D members of the house and senate currently have a 40% approval rating..

R members of the house and senate currently have a 69% approval rating...

Trumps lowered approval rating a) is common among pretty much ALL presidents, both R and D during the first and/or second year of their term.. and b) is having almost no impact at all on the approval ratings of the house and senate..

In fact, D approval in large remains the lowest its been in the better part of the last century.. sitting right at 30% just last month in a Quinnipac poll.. and 33% in an August poll in Politico (No sizeable October polls are out yet).. and D approval in congress specifically continues to sit in a dumpster..

If D approval of its congressional membership remains as low as it currently is this time next year.. and R approval remains as high as it is... There will be no turnover in the house or senate.. if anything R's will gain a greater advantage...

Clearly Trumps individual approval rating is having little to no impact at all on the rest of the party or its membership..

He's also not negatively impacting the obvious hopefuls on the R side for taking the POTUS position in 2028... DeSantis sits on a 55% approval rating.. Rubio is currently seated as the 5th most popular figure in US politics (overall.. inclusive of both D and Rs)... Models that show Vance running against key D's in swing states in 2028 show him winning 53% to 43% on average..

So what if everyone absolutely hates Trump? (they obviously dont.. many people still stand strongly behind everything he does.. and an even great number will openly state that while they dont particularly like him or stand strongly behind him, that he was far and away the best choice given last November and that they feel fortunate that neither Biden or Harris are in office)

For now thats having zero impact on the approval ratings for congress where D's are in the worst position they have been in in modern times.. If anything Schumers sillness is causing more dislike and disdain for the D party...

Your basic premise seems to be that this is just a fight between Democrats and Republicans.

That's simply not true.

And I didn't say Trump was running in the midterms.

However if Republicans lose in the midterms he will lose his power.

And as I said, Independent and Moderate voters will carry the election that removes Trump's power.

I don't know where you get all your popularity numbers.

Google says:

Some polls suggest that Americans favor Republicans over Democrats on key issues such as the economy, immigration, and crime. However, a September 2025 Ipsos poll found that Americans would still prefer Democrats to control the next Congress as a "check on Trump".

That's what I'm talking about.

We don't know how things may change over the next year, but at this time in the real world Trump is in trouble and making it worse every day.

This will hurt us if it results in a big backlash and Democrats gain too much power.

Expect them to overreact and gun control will be a part of that.

 

[Frostbite]

Jeez! $100.00 in a day!

View attachment 721342

My stuff is in silver coins but they're going up nicely too.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

It’s funny, for an anti-fascist demonstration, they are pretty comfortable openly wishing for and celebrating the death of their political opponents, which is a position I strongly associate with fascism.

I also think that mockery by the Whitehouse is the best response. Nothing hurts them more than refusing to take them seriously. They want to role-play the brave resistance fighter but Trump won’t give them the opportunity.