Healthcare tops the Democrats' to-do list if they win control of the House in 2026
By: Sahil Kapur (NBC News)
Democratic leadership has a plan for winning to lose! The most important problem the country faces is not enough money spent on healthcare. Throwing more public funds at the healthcare money pit will make it more affordable, as if by magic.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Sept. 2, 2026 -- WASHINGTON — Vying to become House speaker in a few months, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries outlined four items on the agenda that he said would enjoy "uniform Democratic support" and advance the party's goal of "making life more affordable."
The first two were about healthcare, and all four set a direct contrast with President Donald Trump.
"We have to reverse the Medicaid cuts. We should extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits," Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Monday in response to a question from NBC News. "We should restore congressional authority as it relates to tariffs, because the Trump tariffs are making life more expensive for the American people. And we should end, decisively, if it's still going on, Donald Trump's reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle East."
Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., said there is consensus that Democrats' first bill out of the gate, legislation that carries high symbolic weight known as H.R. 1, would need to focus on affordability.
But there's not yet consensus on what the bill would look like, as voters cite the cost of living as a top concern heading into November's elections.
Beyer argued that the best way to tackle the topic would be to restore hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid and the ACA subsidies that were cut in Trump's "one big, beautiful bill."
"In the affordability debate, nothing's more central to it than healthcare," Beyer said in an interview. "My expectation is that it'll very much be about affordability one way or the other."
Jeffries said there are "a whole host of things" still to work on, saying, "We've established five working groups on affordability" — on housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries and food, and gas and utilities.
He added that Democrats would also conduct aggressive oversight of the Trump administration and "certainly will fight to hold the crooks accountable."
Jeffries' agenda for a possible majority reflects an emerging consensus among many Democrats across the party spectrum, who said healthcare should top the party's legislative to-do list in 2027. The lowest-hanging fruits are restoring Trump's Medicaid cuts, which no Democrats voted for, and reviving the expired ACA, or "Obamacare," tax credits, which every Democrat wanted to extend last year before Republicans blocked them, leading to coverage losses and substantially higher premiums for millions.
Still, many Democrats say reversing Trump on Medicaid and the ACA would be the bare minimum — and want the party to do much more on healthcare.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said it would "absolutely not" be enough to simply restore Medicaid and ACA funds.
"Of course, we need to take immediate action on those ACA subsidies and making sure that we lower those prices immediately. But it doesn't fix the deeper systemic issue that has led healthcare to be one of the primary drivers of inflationary costs over the last decade, frankly," she said in an interview.
"We need to be doing a lot more to take on corporate power, to break up a lot of these monopolies that are rolling up — Big Pharma, insurance, private equity entering the space of healthcare unchecked," she added. "I think there's a lot here for us to really dig in on, to work on."
While there's agreement on restoring the Medicaid and ACA funds that were undone by Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress, there are divisions inside the Democratic Party about what its own healthcare agenda should be.
Ocasio-Cortez is part of a large and influential faction on the left that wants to pursue a "Medicare for All" system that would diminish — if not abolish — private insurance and give the government power to negotiate prices of medication and services downward. Many moderate Democrats have rejected that idea in favor of less disruptive changes, although the center-left hasn't coalesced around a preferred vision. One outside center-left group floated "free primary care for all" as a way to break the stalemate between supporters of a single-payer Medicare for All system and of focusing on building on the current ACA.
In June, Jeffries tapped Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., to lead the health care working group for the caucus, according to a letter he wrote to lawmakers that was obtained by NBC News.
Part of what House Democrats would do next year depends on the size of their majority, should they win. If it's a narrow majority of a handful of seats, as the House has operated in since 2021 under either party, they might be limited to the lowest common denominator and blocked from doing anything too aggressive on healthcare or any other major issues.
Jeffries, who is politically cautious by nature, is leery of getting ahead of his conference and overpromising without knowing what kind of majority he'd have.
A source familiar with Jeffries' thinking said Democrats plan to take action in three tranches: the first 100 hours, when they would focus on urgent priorities with party consensus to provide relief for Americans; then the first 100 days, to build on that foundation with more aggressive efforts to lower costs alongside investigative moves; and then the first year.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, a moderate Democrat in a competitive district, said the Medicaid and ACA plans may not be "a complete agenda" but backed those positions as a good place to start.
"Let's talk about what we can get done quickly to provide the American people economic relief," Moskowitz said. "You know we need 60 votes in the Senate for any piece of legislation, and then we need the president to sign it."
Democrats have consistently enjoyed an issue advantage on healthcare since 2018, the last time they captured the House. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that Americans trust Democrats over Republicans to handle healthcare by 38% to 25%.
Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., who is poised to chair the Budget Committee if Democrats flip the House, also said he would be focused in the new year on "reversing the damage" to healthcare from Trump's megabill.
"Keep in mind that when we take over in January, we will literally just be one month into the Medicaid cuts' taking effect. That's the biggest bulk by far of their healthcare cuts and where millions more people are going to lose their healthcare," Boyle said in an interview. "So from the Budget Committee perspective, that's what I'm focused on."
Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, a member of the Appropriations and Budget committees, said she wants the party to take a much broader, more ambitious approach.
She said she is proud of the work House Democrats did on President Joe Biden's Build Back Better agenda, which died in the Senate because of opposition from moderate Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who is no longer in office. Escobar said she would want to pursue much of that framework in Democrats' first bill, including paid family and medical leave, universal prekindergarten, childcare subsidies and ACA subsidies, as well as student loan forgiveness.
"I would want to go big. My constituents and Americans all over the country are really hurting — it is so profound. And the increase in utility bills has been so overwhelming. I have constituents in my district who are paying more for their utility bills than their mortgage, and so people are really suffering right now. And my view is we have to offer the solutions that they deserve and they need, and we've done it before," Escobar told NBC News.
"There is a way to message it. Obviously, the bigger it is, the more challenging that is," she added.
But, she said, "there would be one central theme: bring down the costs that are making your life difficult."
Be a good human. Grossly derogatory comments, blatantly inflammatory comments, excessive trolling, mean-spirited taunting and insults, scamming, spamming, and off topic comments may be removed in compliance with the site's Terms of Service and the Code of Conduct. The moderators have the final word.
Tags
Who is online
74 visitors
Medical providers will starve with $20,000 colonoscopies; they need to be $50,000. Why doesn't more money deliver better care? Why isn't a $20,000 colonoscopy better than the $10,000 procedure a few, short years ago?
We're certainly attracting hosts of immigrant doctors with promises of lavish earning potential. Are we to believe they're not coming to the US for the money? (Who cares for the people in their home countries? Are we paying for that, too?)
More and more general consumer spending is being brought under the financial healthcare umbrella which has shifted inflation to the higher healthcare rates than the CPI.
But Democratic Party leadership is convinced the real problem is too little public funds pumped into finance. Democrats have turned the financial sector into gatekeepers for healthcare. Democrats want to ensure the financial players get their pound of flesh before any medical services can be delivered.
Why isn't this a plan for winning to lose?
Democrats fighting to keep the Obamacare trainwreck alive.
They have the opportunity to run on this issue because Trump, who you continually try to defend, has failed miserably on his promise to replace the ACA with something better. He is still at the 'concept of a plan' stage, and it is clear he has no interest in spending a minute of his time fulfilling that campaign promise.
"Because Trump". As usual the Democrats have absolutely NOTHING to run on except the decade old childish tantrum.
The ACA has been a clusterfuck since it was forced on the people by the Democrats. It is not affordable and barely provides healthcare.
The reality is that you have nothing but platitudes such as "Because Trump". You fail to make an argument and instead merely complain about criticism of Trump. It is pathetic.
I am not and was not defending the ACA. Note what I argued. Pay attention:
The Ds have the opportunity to run on this issue because Trump, who you continually try to defend, has failed miserably on his promise to replace the ACA with something better. He is still at the 'concept of a plan' stage, and it is clear he has no interest in spending a minute of his time fulfilling that campaign promise.
So stop whining that the incompetent fool you continually support is being criticized. Trump is the current PotUS. Trump is the guy who could fix or replace the ACA, and this corrupt, lying, irresponsible, incompetent sack of shit is doing absolutely nothing about it.
Offer some reality rather than posts whose content reflect blind partisanship.
YOU said it was "because Trump" in 2.1. Not me.
Do you not read your own comments?
I heard he'll have something out in two weeks... It will be good... He's not saying it's good, but people who have heard about it say it's the best plan ever. To make sure only US Citizens can use it, DHS has a list. /s
Not sure how anyone could misunderstand my post this badly. But I am not going to spend time breaking it down.
It will be a plan like nobody has seen before. Nobody. It’s going to be incredible. It will be beautiful with real gold and the finest marble.
The only thing the dems will say they will do to fix it is throw more money at it after they make the rich "pay their fair share". They have no viable plan so the only thing they can do is complain about Trump.
If the dems had a plan they could run on that and get alot of votes. Instead all they have is we had the ball and blew it, Trump had the ball and blew it so give us the ball back, it is our turn.
Pathetic
Trump is the current PotUS. So if you are going to complain about the D's healthcare plans you should first be criticizing Trump's. So where is the criticism?
Pathetic Trump support.
Trump cannot find a financial gimmick that he can claim fixes the system. All the financial gimmicks have been used. HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs have already been gifted to the financial players. We've already seen that allowing the enhanced ACA subsidies to sunset threatened implosion of the financial system controlling healthcare. There's no way to game the system any further.
The only options remaining are structural reforms to healthcare (which will cause the financial gatekeepers to collapse) -- or -- the Federal government can spend more public money on financing healthcare.
Republicans did not create the current financial mess impacting healthcare. And now Democrats cannot fix the financial mess they played a large role in creating. So Democratic leadership is planning to commit more public money for financial services related to healthcare. That's a plan for winning to lose.
It's too harrrrrrrrrrdd for the GOP, and worse. . . they do not even like it when democrats use their 'concepts' to enact an actual plan. It is a damn shame that this country strives so much with itself. I mean I could UNDERSTAND if we were all from the same tribe and subsets of people; we are not like the majority of countries in that regard. . . we are a nation FOUNDED on multiple "races," ethnic groups, countries, and cultures>>>drawn together Ion purpose.
Thus, we really ought (owe it to ourselves) to work TOGETHER. Instead, what we have is a political party of individuals running around touting our individualism as the 'vehicle' we ought to use to keep us DIVIDED.
Out of many One. My foot!
We have a political party that is DEVOTED to national division and separation.
Instead that presidential Troublemaker has dedicated himself to lost causes and self-promotion. Imagine this: By the end of Trump's second term-rightly and wrongly, he appears to intend to have stamped his brand on federal D.C. . . he may even call it - "Trump D.C." (Think, "Washington, D.C..)
That troublemaker is not interested in healthcare policy. He definitely is not interested in asking Congress for anything that needs compromise to complete.
Trump is doing what any con man (think 'used car salesperson) would do when the chips are down. . .he is trying to 'reinvent' the proverbial wheel which got him elected. That is, he is LYING HIS FAT LIPS OFF! He is trusting that the 'greedy' republicans (for gain) will salivate at his words and use the lie to rouse the rubes from their sleep and regret.
(Think: Lucy moves the football as Charlie Brown kicks at it with all his force!)
That 'Pig' of a president has been lying all his life! It is so bad now that the media has become numb to it and barely register documentation of the amount of lies Trump delivers in his second presidency.
It's a damn shame.
On a different note: DEMOCRATS, y'all are dumb if y'all can not see the "sucker born every day" attitude of Trump displayed when he manipulates the GOP and tries to 'move' INDEPENDENTS back to him.
PIVOT!
DEMOCRATS! Get off your fat, dumb, asses and "SEE THE MAN!!!!!" - that is TRYING DESPERATELY TO OUTFLANK THE DEMOCRATS IN THE MID-TERMS.
DEMOCRATS don't get OUT-HUSSLED THIS TIME!!!!! Don't LET YOUR THUNDER GET STOLEN!
PIVOT!
Correct
Who on Gods green earth made up that rule? My comment was about the dems not having a plan to fix the shitstorm they started. Care to comment on that?
I would ask about not understanding what "Trump had the ball and blew it " as a criticism but I really don't care.
All that misinterpreting and issue with my comment just so you could get to an accusation and name calling. Sigh
Where the 'f----' do the rich get their 'money/wealth'? Where does it come from. . . other rich people?
Yes or No.
[✘]
What the 'f---' does that have to do with my comment?
Yes, they are the "Do nothing" GOP for sure. They could not fix anything health related in this country. . . so, we have a 'run-away' measles outbreak right now to prove the point!
The rich and wealthy get their money and wealth from their fellow humans, that is: US! (They sure do not sh-t cash out their skinny, fat, and wobbly butts!)
That is what the f---- it has to do with your comment. May I suggest not writing comments that leave the door open for interpreting. Be precise and clear or deal with it.
You have a point?
Where do they get their money? From a Democratic Congress, in the case of healthcare money.
debatable since they had no health care to begin with. People tend to be grateful when they get at least some coverage.
100% wrong on both counts
But I forgive your ignorance because you were taken care of on the taxpayers dime for what, 2 decades, maybe longer,
and now you're probably on Tri Care, another fully funded plan by the Defense Department.
Try opining on something you actually understand.
Yeah. Your refusal to 'attack' the question with a proper answer expresses its own point, nevertheless!
So what is your 'beef,' Nerm? You want the rich to be entitled to the money they get from the public, right?!
Measles vaccines were not banned, you know. People can still obtain measles vaccines. The vaccinations are still covered by insurance. The only thing the Trump administration and "do nothing" GOP did was allow people a choice.
Don't Democrats support the right to choose? Or does that only apply to killing unborn infants?
Do we have a measles outbreak or not, Nerm? Did people listening to the GOP health 'concept' or 'policy,' or 'statement of intent,' or whatever the hell you wish to call it, cause confusion resulting in several deaths or not?
Of course, liberals and democrats, support choice (as any GOPer worth tis salt knows).
I want structural reforms for healthcare. Democratic leadership is not planning to do that. Democratic leadership only plans to address affordability by using public funds to make the rich richer. That's a political scam -- not a solution.
The rich get their money from the folks they sell goods and services to. That would be both rich and poor. So what is your point?
How long are you willing to HURRY UP AND WAIT for the GOP to provide your wish to be a command?! S-P-E-L-L I-T O-U-T for us!
Yes, there are several measles outbreaks around the country.
I do not know if people were listening to the Trump administration or if the GOP was listening to the people. The anti-vax movement began long before Trump entered politics. And back then the anti-vax politics came from the political left.
BS With the exception of dozens of third world shit holes, mostly in Africa, the USA is embarrassingly alone among developed nations without a universal healthcare system. Allies and adversaries alike throughout Asia, Asia minor and South America have universal healthcare systems that those governments fund. two thirds of them are capitalist societies that have figured it out.
The whole system in America is built on greed, profit and sustainability for the have's.
The have nots can go crawl in a field and die.
I don't know what that means. It sounds like you've run out of plausible arguments and are just trying to push buttons (or pull chains).
Are you suggesting that Hakeem Jefferies needs to be led & fed by Republicans to put forward policy proposals?
Point is that Trump is the current PotUS so criticism about a new healthcare system should go to Trump. Especially since Trump promised a new system back in his first term and repeated the promise in his recent campaign.
It is typical partisan non-thinking that would NOT criticize the current administration for the current state of healthcare given that administration made healthcare a campaign promise.
Trump's in control. Criticize the guy with the power.
Universal healthcare would be a structural reform. I do not know if that would be the best reform but, at least, that's a step forward.
Yes, the for profit healthcare system is motivated by (amazingly) profit. But that is not the central problem. The central problem is that healthcare has been financialized. The ACA only added to the entrenched financialization of healthcare.
You are correct that healthcare has become more about obtaining financial profit than delivering medical care. But Hakeem Jefferies' plan to spend more public money on the financial aspects of healthcare will only worsen the problem.
I will take that as you never read the comment you responded to.
I stand by every word of my comment and reject your strange rules.
So, Trump's asinine promises and political chaos is the justification for Democratic leadership planning to pump more public money into financialized healthcare?
Aren't you arguing that Trump should be blamed for failing to save the Democratic Party from itself?
Well, the deaths occurred during the Trump administration "antivax politics" and that is where the lawsuit/s if any will begin. So there is the 'smoking gun'! Do you agree?
The feckless ‘stand by my comment’ platitude.
Trump holds the power to do something about healthcare so criticize him rather than the Ds. When the Ds have power, criticize them.
I have no idea what your question is. Hakeem Jeffries is not Speaker of the House. . .so what conservative gives a rank sh-t what he wants until he if/when does become Speaker. . . you?
Also, I am confident you wished for "structural healthcare change' in Trump's first administration and John McCain called BS on the proposal floated through the senate (as his last 'act' of sorts in congress and near death). Did that loss of healthcare change, and the lack of starting the new administration two years ago thereabouts offend you 'greatly' too?
No. Did I write anything like that? Answer: no!
Neither party has demonstrated an ability to properly handle our healthcare system. But right now it is Trump and his minions who should be criticized for failing to act per Trump’s campaign promise.
I still stand by my comment even though you incorrectly think it's feckless.
Still haven't read the comment where I did criticize trump I guess.
How about I will criticize who I want when I want and not worry about any silly rules..
And the democrats should be criticized for criticizing trump's lack of plan without having a plan of their own.
That doesn't change the fact that the vaccines are still available, accessible, and paid for by insurance. Your argument seems premised upon people believing Trump rather than believing health professionals. After decades of making medical experts the authoritative source of guidance for people's health, people are turning to a con-man? Why is that?
Trump has implemented reforms for drug pricing that include some structural changes. IMO it's not nearly enough but it is more than the alternatives being put forward by Hakeem Jeffries. Trump has expanded access to HSAs (similar to Democrats expanded access to ACA insurance) which differs little from Democrats support for financialized healthcare.
Sure, both parties deserve criticism. And this criticism applies to decades of failed leadership. But you fail to recognize one absolutely critical point:
☞ Right now, Trump and his minions are in charge and have an unfulfilled campaign promise. ☜
And one very obvious fact:
☞ Right now, the Ds are not in charge. ☜
Deflecting to what the Ds did or failed to do in the past does nothing to answer how we can substantially improve our healthcare system. The primary accountability belongs to those who presently hold the governing power, set the agenda, and made the promise: Trump and his minions. And remember that this was also a campaign promise in his 2016 campaign.
Criticize Democrats for their failures where appropriate. But using those failures to avoid holding the people currently in power accountable is more partisan nonsense.
Incidentally, President Obama never claimed to be perfect. Indeed, in regards to the imperfections, plural, in the Afforable Care Act, he ENCOURAGED future congresses and presidents, respectively to 'make it better' (not perfect nevertheless).
That is a proper position (above) to take for a former president, and yet his STUPID CRITICS IN THE GOP offered nothing (except the 'sing-song' of ACA destruction).
It's the GOP's con-man "Donald" and 74 million GOPers and Independents and maybe a 'handful' of conservative democrats (his best friends) that got Trump the job of President. . . and he is a reckless liar who hired Robert F. Kennedy into healthcare to 'f---' it up! And so. . . that is what has happened.
When you get ready to acknowledge the power of PROPAGANDA, influencers, and seriously flawed policy-making that does not respect the rules of science. . . 'Start'!
I didnt misunderstand anything and there is nothing to break down. You tried to make it about Trump when it's not.
As you go and prove RDtC's point.
debatable since they had no health care to begin with
And then the Affordable Care Act was forced on the people. Or did you forget that? I think you didn't but just want to play stupid.
Nobody's premiums went up? My parents premiums tripled despite what the Democrats told everybody.
Nobody lost their doctors? There were reports from all over the country that people lost access to their doctors making getting healthcare even worse.
Oh I understand it. Hence my statement "It is not affordable and barely provides healthcare. "
Which we all know that it will fail just like 99% of their other "tactics" have failed.
Then what's your beef? Why the sudden concern over 74 million GOPers? Hakeem Jefferies can tell Democrats to get the poke and they'll be protected. Won't Democrats listen to Jefferies?
Propaganda from which side? Take the red pill or the blue pill?
The reality is that you have nothing but platitudes such as "Because Trump". You fail to make an argument and instead merely complain about criticism of Trump. It is pathetic.
I am not and was not defending the ACA. Note what I argued. Pay attention:
The Ds have the opportunity to run on this issue because Trump, who you continually try to defend, has failed miserably on his promise to replace the ACA with something better. He is still at the 'concept of a plan' stage, and it is clear he has no interest in spending a minute of his time fulfilling that campaign promise.
So stop whining that the incompetent fool you continually support is being criticized. Trump is the current PotUS. Trump is the guy who could fix or replace the ACA, and this corrupt, lying, irresponsible, incompetent sack of shit is doing absolutely nothing about it.
Offer some reality rather than posts whose content reflect blind partisanship.
You. Are. The. One. Who. Said. It. Right there in 2.1. This is the second time I've pointed it out to you. Why is that so hard for you to see?
You fail to recognize that I did indeed say he had the ball and dropped it.
You miss the obvious fact that the dems want to be in power and to do that they should be promoting a plan and not just a criticism of Trump.
And that is the fact I was talking about before you decided to attempt to derail it. It is sad when folks try to shut down any criticism if it is not criticizing Trump.
All they seem to do is come up with slogans for bumper stickers and no actual plans
As you complain about criticisms of the dems that you say don't include Trump
It most certainly is
Of course they do, and they will. Surly you can see it would have more impact if they actually had a plan to fix it and not rely (again) on Trump had the ball and blew it.
Yes, he is not doing enough. And the guys that want the power seem to have no plan, ergo the valid complaint
Hmmmm
Stickers and slogans of the same idiotic shit for 10 years. "Get Trump!" Single item clowns; and even after a decade of failures they keep trying.
Talking to them is like clapping with one hand.
And they were so busy with Orange man bad they didn't notice the DSA sneaking into their tent.
Is it any surprise?
And now they have no choice but to accept them and their moronic views as their own.
You know they can't have that. You don't play by the rules, THEIR RULES, their heads short circuit and they will crash out.
You fail to make an argument and instead merely complain about criticism of Trump. It is pathetic.
More dishonest tactics from you. No, you were claiming that this is what the Ds say:
Focus on Trump. He is the current PotUS. He is the one who can effect change per his campaign promise.
They were so busy with Orange convicted felon, liable for rape, starting an unprovoked war in Iran and raising our gas prices and worsening inflation while his gestapo shoot Americans in the streets, starting trade wars with our allies, illegally destroying part of the Whitehouse to build a gaudy gold painted ballroom, blowing up boats full of people without trial in the Caribbean, that they didn't notice the DSA sneaking into their tent.
Perhaps if Republicans would stop electing actual criminals that patriotic Americans have to constantly push back against, patriotic Americans might be more worried about the handful of people who want to give others free healthcare.
And it's all they've got. You wouldn't expect to find oranges growing on an apple tree.
Talk about dishonest tactics.
Stop trying to tell people who they should focus on, and who not to focus on. You know, that whole freedom of speech thing
Yes he is
Probably, at least move in the correct direction. He has not kept his promise. Maybe he could help the dems plan get passed. oooops
And the dems can have a plan also and do not, ergo the valid non partisan complaint about both.
Trying to shut down criticism if it is not about Trump is the most partisan bullshit I have seen in a while.
Right, they were too busy whining about Trump
I love it when people claim "free"
His plan will be out in two weeks..
And what IS the cons plan? We'll wait.
Did I say he had a plan? Nice diversion attempt though.
Thanks for admitting this administration is run by bottom feeding losers with NO PLAN.
I have pointed out that you criticize the D's healthcare failures rather than criticize the feckless bullshit from Trump as he yet again fails to even make a single move towards fulfilling his healthcare promises (dating back to his first term).
The Ds are not in power. Trump is. Criticize the guy in power.
It is pure partisanship by you to criticize the Ds rather than Trump. Pathetic.
I bet Canada feels like they are in an apartment above the neo-nazi headquarters.
So predictable
Now you are just repeating nonsense.
Rather than repeat myself again (and again and again) I will just assume you will not read anything going forward and continue to ignore anything I have to say and just continue to make it about me and who I should be criticizing in your mind.
Talk about pathetic
[deleted][✘]
So there you go, you tried to make it about OBAMA and leave "the Donald" out of it. . . and uh-uh we reserve the right to bring your 'guy' in and place him right where he belongs in EVERY discussion. By the way, "the Donald" wants to be in EVERY discussion (I thought you knew!) that is why Donald won't let the midterms proceed without him BIG-FOOTING every republican candidate in multiple states upcoming.
So yes, 'Denial' is not a river. It is a state of mind.
[deleted][✘]
Wow. So you don't know the ACA is commonly called Obamacare. And I'm supposed to take you seriously now?
I wonder why I engage with them anymore. It's the same thing over and over. Even Right Down the Center mentioned the issue in 2.1.75. They just can't grasp it.
Since President Obama wasn't a thin-skinned piece of shit that needed his name on everything, the bill was not named 'Obamacare'. It was called that mainly by opponents of the ACA trying to tie it to Obaba because they knew invoking Obama's name every time the ACA was mentioned would help enrage their bitterly racist base who still to this day hate everything about Obama and his spectacularly successful two terms which still makes dirty stupid bigots gnash their teeth in rage.
Glad to see Obama's magic still working.
I hear you. Watching rightwing conservatives try and grasp a basic concept is like watching a cat trying to turn a doorknob.
We can all just say: "John McCain."
Kind of like watching leftwing clowns grasp simple things like blinking and breathing.
He is the one who saved it from Trump who tried to kill it with nothing to replace it with. America dodged a bullet with McCains thumb down that day. Sadly, some gullible dumb fucks got conned into electing Trump again and now he's got his storm troopers just shooting Americans in the street making it harder to dodge his bullets.
My 17 year old daughter who just happened to look over my shoulder and read that said just one word, "Cringe".
My sentiments exactly. They're exhausting.
Remarkably dense, in my opinion.
What a piece of work, in my opinion.
So, "MAGA Inc." did not 'sneak' up on the GOP and slobber it?! Why yes, it did! "Sock it to me!"
Excuse you?!
(Irony is this is coming from the promoters of 'tear the D's a new 'one,' scapegoating D's while Donald 'free-ranges" around the political playpen.)
Wow. What a mindblowing display of a waste of comment. I can't believe the time was taken to do it. As for me, I had to engage it and not allow anybody to think it was worthwhile .
"Can't grasp it. . . . " And then there is 2.1.79 to consider. . . .
And they still have a 'concept of a plan' which they are still touting as a cure of this country's healthcare woes.
News Flash! Republicans: An abstract is not a working sustainable document!
Yeah, yeah, like a fruitcake. That one's pretty stale. Why not thick as a brick? Or is that horse too heavy?
Whatever's clever!
How about making it less dense? Hey! Now, there's a 'plan'!
No. Excuse you!
So nothing. "Nothing" is not a discussion. This place at times is surreal. I'm just saying!
Most times
Here is the real root of the problem: We have elected (hired) humans to go to Washington, D.C. and fight to DIVIDE to the 'ng' degree, instead of working together in UNISON.
Does anybody think that this sh-t has gone too far already?!
We are a country that enjoys too much already, such that our leaders have time to wage political warfare. . . against each other. . . and the citizenry too! We are (all) made to be fools by IGNORANT, STUPIDLY PATHETIC politicians listening to STUPID, RIDICULOUS, REPROBATES in our collective society.
That's odd. Obamacare somehow made things worse and now healthcare must be "fixed", again . Who could have predicted that? I'm sure more regulation and more government intervention will work this time though.
And still the GOP is working of its 'forever' concept of a plan. . . . Once it is gotten. . . will it 'leak' and need its own life support?!!! Inquiring minds, . . . . you know the rest.
The problem is they're too stupid to understand that government involvement is the problem.
Didn't know ya voted for a socialist did ya?
Sure! Because letting a bunch of 'individuals' running around loosely deciding the fate of an entire country is better! /s
It worked a lot better than Obamacare. At least before Obamacare it was more affordable and provided care.
Says an individual, who thinks that "doing nothing" is healthcare for a nation of 350 million plus! Riddle me this: Why do the republicans care about OUR health when they can't even make a plan that GOP Senator John McCain (who was willing to die without a republican plan as part of his legacy) could approve of on his 'death' bed?
All McCain wanted was something substantive he could support from his party. . .and he got 'air'!
While the Democrats are calling out affordability (which works great for elections), somehow before HR 1 is even submitted I suspect their first order of business should they take the house will be to start impeachment hearings into Trump.
But all of this back and forth is really just fodder for the fools who willingly engage in partisan politics. I saw this meme, think it encapsulates the problem with the two party system very well.
I would seriously take issue with any graft that tries to play into slavery as a meme. Your comment sort of takes a "between" position. . . and yet it I would like to take away any confusion by pointing out to conservatives that. . . massaging Donald Trump and letting him politically off his fellow GOPers. . . is not FREEDOM in any sense of the word's proper meaning!
It is an illusion to think that the GOP is enjoying freedom, when Trump is evidently and clearly SUPPRESSING the entirety of the party!
What a way to prove the point of a simple meme. Your entire post is nothing but partisan politics.
All the noise aside, . . .I would ask that something be said that can be actually discussed. Your meme was confusing on its face. . . as it held up a donkey and an elephant in a picture without an explanation of its 'point' to be gleaned. . . .
So before I declare an intent. . .since tact is not getting us anywhere. . .(and neither will insults). . . what exactly does that meme CONVEY to you? To me little, without a proper (and clear) EXPLANATION.
How about that?!
Ok, explanation. Did you read the line at the top of the meme? The entire discussion in this seed is limited to two political parties and the arguments are partisan as well. My post pointed out that IMO the first action the Democrats will undertake should they win the House in November will be to start the impeachment process. This entire argument around "affordability" is a nice sound bite but there's nothing behind it from the Democrats that will actually fix the issue. All the seeds talks about in this regard is restarting the money flow that the Trump administration reduced.
Simple question, what's the current national debt and how will increasing the money paid out actually mean for the national debt? After all, we are currently in the realm of $2T deficits.
Your post of 5.1 had no balance, no discussion. All it did was to cast blame on Trump and the GOP. Kind of hard to have a discussion around a post when your entire rebuttal only blames one side. Just a suggestion, but if you want to have a discussion maybe don't start your commentary by blaming only one side.
There is the meme.
Okay! So then now what? Does it mean we can do anything with it?! The parameters of a choice are what they are! We do our best within them or to break out of them (parameters). It serves no good purpose to simply point out the obvious, in my opinion. EXCEPTION : As a point of clarification in a deeper discussion.
Incidentally, when. . . When. . . WHEN have you observed the GOP to be passive and obedient in near recent history. That party is actively aggressive and rewriting the laws of civility and rule of law through. . . wait for it. . . AN ACTIVIST SUPREME COURT OF CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES. Of course, those justices will call what they do: supporting the heart of the constitution. . . yet we can ALL SEE THAT TRUMP has the court system attacking its own when/where district judges and appeals judges are DIVIDED and lacking support from the opinions rendered at the Supreme Court. How can the lower judges get the law so wrong. . . and a 'bank' of conservative JUSTICES get it so right when the law is. . . the law?!
Or is this the point of the meme: A recognition or disparagement of Noam Chomsky?
Moving on with this 'discussion' of sorts: Again, is we are nearer to slavery than freedom in this country. . . having the republican party that is SUPPRESSED by its leader's every (and I do mean, "dedicated") whim is IN FACT a definite form of personality driven oppression.
The moronic meme you posted is nothing but partisan politics. It's also complete bullshit, but hey, who gives a fuck, right? In this day and age Republicans refuse to admit what's right in front of their fucking faces and just nod their heads when Trump blames vandals for the reflecting pool debacle or touts his idiotic ballroom no one wants. Talk about being close to slavery, watching Republicans hand over every ounce of backbone and just beg to be trod on by their dear Leader is worse than slavery. At least slaves can retain some of their dignity never having willingly bent their knee, MAGA can't even spell dignity since they're too busy licking Trumps shoes.
The question is forthright: And it's answer is 40 trillion dollars. The deficit is 1.8 trillion and counting so far ("Alexa"). That of itself should give both political parties a reason (or set of reasons) for 'the bonding" they need to do. . . as it is a crucible meant to bring our leaders together working on a political compromise. Compromise is not a dirty word. Indeed, compromise is the only word that is going to make divided leaders become One over this severe issue that will come to fruition in some generation.
Why can't I blame the GOP/conservatives, when it sits in power doing what its opposers do? Hell, I blame them all! Screw them! All and I do mean all the low-down, money-grubbing, greedy, thirsty, 'ugly' (politically speaking), and gluttonous (politically speaking), individuals that mean this country harm. . . whomsoever s/he be. . . can kiss my. . . grits.
How about that? Did I balance it sufficiently enough for you?
I speak about the GOP because they are the aggressors, pulling down the good along with the bad and that will not be tolerated or allowed to stand. Now then, if that causes an imbalance of all things being equal. . . well, it damn well should, because we all want GOOD to win out of BAD or should want it too be so, that is.
I will not take back my statement, nevertheless! The GOP in the thrall of Trump (with its eyes wide open and clear) has lent itself to its own private slavery of sorts. They did not have to do it, and they did it anyway. . . trying to punish their fellow citizens (that are not going away any time soon) by 'overthrow.'
So what is the point... what can we do with it? Well, we can talk about it and the ridiculous position most people take when confronted by partisan politics. The meme itself seems very simple to understand. You can replace the end points with whatever you desire, as well as the "choices" for discussion. But what it clearly points out in a rather sarcastic way when thinking about politics is that the two parties are very happy to have people remain within the spectrum of choice that they (the political parties in case that wasn't clear enough) rather than look outside the box that the parties want people to remain in. If enough people were to think outside that small box the parties want us to remain in, there might be enough pressure exerted to get the parties to make changes. And neither party wants to change what they do as there's so much money and power in how they remain there.
So just blame the issues on one side and ignore what the other side does? Only complaining about one side tends to imply that someone refuses to have an honest discussion.
With so many people willing to give up their personal rights and freedoms for "securities" from the government, it would seem to me that we are much closer to the slavery side than the freedom side.
Very true. Compromise is not a dirty word, in simple fact it's how business is supposed to get done in Congress. The problem here is that the two parties don't want to solve the problems, they would rather play partisan games because they know their sycophants will take up the charge and mindlessly shout the party slogans.
Maybe revisit that post and look at that meme. It's rather clear to me that the meme correctly lambasts BOTH political parties, something your post refuses to do.
Ok, then we're done as you show you do not want an honest conversation. You only want to blame one party while ignoring that the other party isn't any better. Have a nice night.
My blunt answer: Political parties at best can be a place for the good for all to express itself. At its worse, political parties can be reckless stupid, insulting, and offensive to adults and children alike - humanity too! I have no PATIENCE with any collection of people not willing to do the hard work of reconciling our collective PERSPECTIVES into something that drives EVERYBODY OF GOOD WILL forward for the good of this country.
Partisanship and those that engage in it. . . can kiss my. . . grits! I wash my hands of the bs! To that end, let it be stated and know right here and now:
I speak for myself! I vote for myself. I stand for the GOOD (wherever it can be found).
All bullshitters can kiss my. . . grits.
When I find good. . . wherever it comes from. . . when it is evidentially clear that it is good. . . I will support it. . . no 'strings' attached.
How about that?
Are we in a (national) COMMUNITY or not?! Snuffy, are you a law unto yourself?! Are you a thread in the 'fabric' of this country or just some individual existing your whole life above and beyond the rest of us?
We elect officials every 'turn of elections' to guide the 'flock' that is us. . . so we can have some uniformity and 'oneness' in the aggregate that keeps this fifty states cohesion.
Do a mental experiment: In your mind. . . let the states fracture and drift off from each other as 'individual' states and see what becomes of them in say a hundred years as they strive against each other in 'raw' and bitter competition. Furthermore, our nation strength is in our leadership (like it or not). . .not in a bunch of 'yahoos' running around claiming the illusion of 'total' freedom in a country where 50 states make laws that 'all' must have a say in living.
(And yes, by all means, open up that can of 'worms' and let's talk what raw freedoms really mean (think outlaw-ism as doctrine) to a democracy.)
That is, when some individuals talk about freedom/s they really need to be careful what they are asking for, because it won't look like their imagination. And yes, even in death, we need somebody to come alongside and put our carcass in/under the dirt! Or, we rot in disgrace exposed to all!
I agree and support it. But this is the first comment from you in this thread that was not partisan. Time will show if you can actually move to that position rather than retreating into the comfort that supporting one side seems to bring.
Okay. So now we have the problem front and center. I proposed a law @5.2.1: . . . "Therefore, I propose a new law: An individual or group of individuals judged by a court of law to have entered politicians with motives to do harm to the collective citizens of the United States should be prosecuted for his or her crime of neglect for the people as a whole."
Put our new 'crop' of politicians (through a filter of elections) that the time has come and is now for all the BULLSHIT they are putting us through with their funky, arrogant, attitudes and egos. . .is DONE! DONE! DONE!
We the people will 'overthrow' their funky. . . faces and worse (charge them justifiably) and toss 'em like trash if they do not serve the people with integrity.
Our lives are not to be games in the hands of people that live amongst us and accordingly. . . put their pants and dresses on the same as we do!
We want to get serious and stop talking about it? Then do something. Tell the 'powers that be' that the 'power that Is' is rising up from the ground and taking over D.C. and that we want justice for 'all' and to that end. . . all 'pretenders' can pack their shit and leave or be put out of office in disgrace.
If nice won't get it done. . . then, let it be done Ugly.
How many more generations are expected to be played by political bullshit gamesmanship! How MANY MORE?!
Hell, a few, some, many, of us are old men and women now. . . it can be our legacy to work to right the ship of state that serves us all. . . for the generations that are to come. . . so they do not have to waste more years doing the INEVITABLE!
STOP IT! I, we, don't have time for this kind of bullshit. I have given you my truth, my opinions, and my facts, if that is not enough for you - then I have nothing else to offer!
I have literally been sitting here responding to you and others for hours, so much so long in fact that it is not good for my butt to sit so (my smart watch has asked me several times to get up and go walk). Get onboard with doing GOOD for us all, Snuffy. That is all I can (and will) ask of anybody.
Not really where I was trying to go. I was thinking more along the lines of what freedoms we as a people have willingly given up in the hopes of greater security. CCTV, public monitoring and flock cameras tie into this as it requires we give up privacy rights in the hopes of greater security, yet crime still occurs. Mass government surveillance has allowed intelligence agencies collect vast amounts of phone and internet metadata, in the hopes of tracking potential terrorist threats but has reduced personal digital privacy.
A lot of these have both advantages as well as disadvantages. For example, airport security screening. While they have greatly reduced the potential of hijacking or other issues while flying in this country, this has also forced passengers give up personal time, bodily privacy, and the freedom of swift, unhindered movement.
I think it claims that while both parties are close to slavery, the elephant at least is pointing in the direction of freedom which is the hilarious bullshit part of that meme. While Democrats have a lot of things they need to work on, being slaves to a populist is not one of them. They're having trouble just finding a singular leader to support as the party includes lots of diverse interests' groups that they have to cater to, not just white Christians, which does present them with challenges, but well worth the effort instead of just settling on a convicted felon and accused pedophile who said he'd date his daughter if only they weren't related.
But yes, both parties can do better and should.
Okay. . . let time tell then. I will warn you I will call it as I see it . . . I do not appease anybody. What I write: I believe. Until I do not. And, though, you may not care, if you are observant, you may notice that I do not even 'kiss' the feet or bow to bullsh-t when it comes to my religious belief! When I am looking at utter bullsh-t. . . I will call it out.
Those. . . subject matters you mentioned. . . are the trade-offs that prove the point. At times, we give UP a lot to be in community. Also, it is necessary to do so, because - for example - in some countries a government will use the mere presence of people as a form of weaponization. That is, if you strike a government facility . . you injure/destroy/frustrate its tightly surrounding civilians.
There are always 'SMART ASSES' that are inventing new ways to get around the Good in this world and stoke their own ambitions and indulgences. . . just let them 'study' the issue long enough or as long as they want/can.
We just have to be flexible and insist on better when they do!
Regarding flock cameras. . . I have been listening to the 'issue' and I can now understand the controversy surrounding them. Personally, those cameras do not bother me as I am not sneaking around day or night. . .I go out handle my business and come home. Others, doing whatever they do to make a legal (or illegal) buck tend to want to stay in the shadows and away from 'flock' light. That said, yes, I understand the perspective of privacy. . . yet and still. . . the reason those cameras came into being anyway has to do with PUBLIC ACCESS. . . that is, there is not expectation of privacy when one is in public. . . though some would beg off on that when it comes to license readers.
Sigh, everything in our world is on a spectrum. . . .that is, generally speaking for every right thing that can be done. . . there is an equal and opposite wrong too. We must be vigilant and inflexible to outlaw the wrong or at least give the ADVANTAGE to the good. Why? Because GOOD is obviously better and more to be enjoyed.
It would be wonderful if people dealt with the issues and did not play the team sport of partisan politics. But, as you note, that is not reality.
Assuming the Ds do take the majority, I would expect them to primarily focus on mitigating the damage of Trump. Reining in the out-of-control, irresponsible tyrant. That should be job number 1 IMO.
After that, I would like them to focus on issues. Not realistic, but that is what I would like to happen. If they can find a way to put forth sensible legislation that addresses runaway spending and waste, I would be all for it. That is job number 2 IMO.
That should be enough for the remainder of Trump's term. Job number 3 is to work to ensure they put forth a 45-65 year old, proper candidate for the presidency in 2028. I fear the GoPTRUMP will still be in power (displacing the former GoP) and thus put forth some variant of Trump rather than a proper GoP candidate. Thus, the D candidate will be critical.
At some point, the health of our nation requires that Trump be held accountable. Allowing him to escape accountability for everything he has done only paves the way for greater corruption and lawlessness by those who follow.
Somehow, someway, the public - all of it - needs to INFORM its leadership (government) that we have had it up to our EYEBALLS with the social manipulation. We need the truth. 'Gone' are the days when the government can 'plunder' and informed citizenry with gaslighting, outright lies, political stalemate, and arrogant fools equipped enough to get our trust and yet lacking in integrity to do right by 'all.'
We have been watching and dealing with political bullshit and thuggish 'gamesmanship' long enough. Give us the GOOD THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL or do not get into politics at all - f-king thugs!
Therefore, I propose a new law: An individual or group of individuals judged by a court of law to have entered politicians with motives to do harm to the collective citizens of the United States should be prosecuted for his or her crime of neglect for the people as a whole.
Politics is not a game or at least it should not be a game. It is a serious activity that f--ks up a great many people (on purpose when managed recklessly). I mean, individuals and groups spend millions-billions increasingly to f--k "the other guy" - a guy or gal simply trying to do the right thing by the 'only' way of life (not a crime) that they find themselves 'beholden' to in nature. (A world they found themselves living in.)
Ok, an attempt at honest discussion. So let's do it. (and I agree, it would be much better if people dealt with the issues rather than partisan politics).
Ok, so what damage here are you talking about. I would really like some direct commentary here rather than emotion please. Some of the commentary I've heard from Democrats running in the primary include restoring the Medicaid money that this administration reduced and increasing taxes that were cut. Not sure that I could support that as it seems kind of counter-productive to take more money from people while working to improve affordability for them.
IMO this should be job number 1 as I believe the national debt is a national security issue. Not to mention it's a terrible idea to hold on to debt like that. I don't believe that we have the right people in Washington to do anything on this however as their primary allegiance is still to their political party because for them job 1 is to get re-elected. It is after all kind of hard to get re-elected when the party moves away from you and supports another delegate in your primary.
You want to fix Social Security and Medicare, mandate that politicians do not get their golden parachute when they leave office but instead fall under the same rules as every other American. When they have to rely on Social Security and Medicare, they will work to fix the issues. Until then it's much easier for them to ignore it and let the "common people" fight it out.
I agree that they need a better candidate then they have put up for the past few cycles. We don't get the best and brightest to step up for political office, instead we get the greedy narcissistic bastards who are in it for their own enrichment. Because the system rewards them, there's no punishment for those who break the rules.
If it can be done in an honest and non-partisan way then I would support it. The problem as I see it is that the Democrats have just been screaming about Trump while ignoring any possible precedent that could offer an explanation and perhaps show where such actions had been undertaking by other Presidents in the past. Or screaming about lawsuits, suggesting that Trump is ignoring court orders and/or trying to get around them, all while ignoring the same actions from prior presidents.
But once statements of "defending" a politician enter the conversation, that tends to cancel out any ability to have an honest discussion.
Affordability means allowing people to buy what is available and consumable in society. That is, making society work! Money is a commodity (of sorts) and so works best when allowed to circulate. That anybody or group should be able to 'warehouse' it and control the rest of us (slavery?) by parsing it out in ways meant to control society is actually counterproductive!
I asked 'someone' before about how rich/wealthy people get their money and s/he bullshitted her/his way through it or simply dismissed it altogether. Why? Because they buy the bullshit that money can be taken out the system and warehoused for purposes of destroying those they do not like.
So let me ask this: What happens to rich/wealthy people when 'regular' and poor people stop aggregating together to buy their goods and services? What happens. . . I will tell you. . . rich/wealthy people suffer anguish. . . why? Because rich/wealthy people get their 'advantages' in life from the labors and services of 'workers' - us.
So yes, we all have a proper position and stance to take when people use the systems of this world to hurt others!
As for affordability. . . we all need it. . . especially when it comes to food, housing, and security (the 3 stables of life). . .it is inhuman for a dude or gal to have five homes or more and resent someone who wants to get a modest cottage for herself/himself and is not provided a means to AFFORD it.
Who told politicians to laid this 'weight' of forever campaigning on themselves? Who told them to fall into that 'pit'? Not me. I can't even stop them from doing it and nor can you. . . the easy solution? Just vote such people (the "campaigners" - I'll call them) out of office. For clearly, they are not treating the position of public servant with the spirit it deserves. Toss that 'ones' sorry butt out!
Aww c'mon. Trump is unique in and out of politics. He likes it that way. Afterall, he is somewhere right now declaring, 'this or that is the first time . . .it's being done in history. . . I made sure of it. . . before I (attempted) do/did it.'
C'mon.
And on that note: You keep harping on non-partisanship for democrats. . . when apparently and obviously you do not expect non-partisanship from your sitting president whom is writing and rewriting whole swaths of your fellow citizens out of political power and social prominence. Why? It is not acceptable!
Starting off by implying that it is unexpected for me to seek honest discussion "an attempt at honest discussion" and that my comments would likely be emotional "rather than emotion" is counterproductive. I will pretend you had refrained from inserting that gratuitous rhetoric.
I provided ChatGPT my list and worked with it iteratively to include a few more items and then make this as succinct as possible. Many of my complaints about Trump (such as his being wholly unfit, irresponsible, incompetent, lawless, vindictive, psychopathic, corrupt, and a national embarrassment) are not in this list. This list focuses on actions by Trump that result in damage to this nation. I am block quoting the list to retain the attribution to the ChatGPT participation, not because this merely came from ChatGPT:
Damage
I see it as number 2 because before we start healing the patient, we need to stop the bleeding. Also, I do not believe Congress has the will or competence to be fiscally responsible. But they certainly have the means to stop Trump's damage.
Yes, if we could somehow get the lawmakers to restrict themselves, many problems would be solved. The only solution is for the electorate to be far more aware of what is going on and hold politicians accountable. Until then, our political degradation will continue. And this, by the way, is another item of damage by Trump. He has lowered the bar on what is acceptable behavior making it much easier for politicians to behave badly. For example, look at the egregious insider trading taking place, the wealth accumulation by Trump by merchandising due to his influence as PotUS and by investing in the market where he has much control over short-term market direction. How anyone cannot be outraged by this behavior is a mystery.
As you can tell, I fully agree.
Explain how any action against Trump by the Ds would NOT be cast as partisan.
Objectively, it does not matter who holds Trump accountable. The facts speak for themselves. It is a matter of normal adjudication. For example, if Trump had not been elected, he would almost certainly have been convicted in the Jan 6th case. Of all that he has done, his attempt to illegally thwart the results of a fair, honest US election while serving as PotUS must not stand. Allowing that is a terrible precedent for our nation.
And it looks as though Trump might compound this with his attempts to (in his words) 'rig' the midterms.
Given that 2 days have passed, I will assume no response is forthcoming to my answer about the damage Trump has done and continues to do to this nation.
Thus, one wonders why anyone supports him and why some refuse to be critical of the worst PotUS in our history.
Perhaps they're just not interested?...
The question was asked and a very detailed answer was given. If no interest then why even ask the question?
Do you disagree with the stated damages done by Trump?
Seems to me that 'uninterested' is a euphemism for 'cannot bring oneself to criticize Trump'.
And so it goes (on, and on, and on, and on, and. . . ).
The whole thing is bizarre to me. I cannot fathom why anyone would not be critical of Trump. But worse, to try to defend the scoundrel.
It's a collaboration 'thing.'
On occasion,. . .after being 'surprised' by some 'story' on NewsTalkers that I had not heard elsewise . .when watching television my finger will slip and knock my television on Foxs News (seems it just lands there rather often. . . by remote design-I don't know. . .anyhoo). . .lo and behold there will be the 'story' on-air that surprised me on Newstalkers that I had not heard before!
It's one (only?) place where these people get their stories from to present. . . with inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and slanted commentary meant for the conservative mind (I guess).
I conclude it is so pathetic that we have 'silos' for news. . . and we are supposed to be one nation. . . one 'accord.' (We are not, because one 'side' desperately wants to dominate the other. Take a guess at which side that is.)
Anyway, said collaborators come here (to 'us') with their slanted 'stories,' and foist them unto us 'raw' and unfiltered (unprepared), and of course, since they can not be SHAMED (they are the "SHAMELESS" -ROY COHN EDITION) they just abandon their 'folly' when it is revealed not to be the 'takedown' they thought it to be!
The surprise was that your post was non-partisan which is definitely a change from the normal responses. Where I used the word emotion was in hopes that you provided actual issues rather than emotional issues. You were partway there with your list but the damages you list are mostly opinions rather than hard facts. The simple truth that they came from ChatGPT (your statement without the link to show your question) doesn't mean much as there's no measurable damages shown. For example, number 1 in your list. The damages according to the list is to democracy and the peaceful transfer of power. Can you show how democracy was damaged? Who lost their ability to vote? Didn't Biden get sworn in on time back on Jan 20th 2021? How many past presidents and presidential candidates attempted to change the results of elections thru the courts and lost? Did any of that damage democracy?
I won't go thru all of them because then it just becomes a game of back & forth and that's really not worth my time. Your wording continues to aim at only one side and mostly Trump and because I refuse to play the word game where you will undoubtedly blame me for defending Trump.
Let me start with this bullsh-t about GOP being the party of fact and not emotion. . . politics are about emotion , money , and livelihood. . . and as we all know we VOTE for the so-called candidate that we can drink a beer with.
Here is a little scene that should clarify the point: (Assuming anybody will watch it. The thing speaks for itself.)
Friday - Big Worm
Facts are true and great, and yet they will not feed or clothe a hungry family or show compassion which any church , temple , or mosque goer is signed on to teach, preach. Try to operate a religion without emotion, and you might as well close its doors.
So I suggest those who popularize the notion that humans can operate on facts alone without emotions. . .just not expect any one to come to their assistance when they fall down helpless or unconscious in public. . . and accept the robbery of their possessions as a GIVEN (FACT)!
Before, during, and after the courts involvement in telling Trump "NO!" to his request. . . democracy was under serious threat and attack requiring EMERGENCY ACTION and even so there were damages to the Capitol building, our national psyche, an DEATHS! Those are a 'handful' of the INJURIES. . . and as a nation we are yet dealing with the INSULT from one man who will not accept those FACTS you impress upon us. . .that do not seem to square with Trump's EMOTIONAL output!
Had Trump gotten his way with this nation. . . his scheme would have been fully realized and we would not have had a proper democratic response in 2024 to the election: An egregious attack and 'defeat' of our democratic traditions, practices, and constitutional values.
This comment is astonishing. Before the 2020 election ever occurred Trump was telling anyone who would listen that mail in voting would be used to steal the election from him. Why would someone do that? In other words the stealing of the election from HIM was going to be inevitable and a fait dcompli. Under his scheme he had to do something. Trump believed he could not lose a fair election, or rather he somehow convinced his supporters that he could not.
We have been over how Trump tried to change the election over and over and over. We have shown the specifics. I'll give you just one right now. He tried to corrupt the Justice Dept into lying about the accuracy of the elections, and in fact had planned the removal of top figures there if they wouldnt go along with it. Virtually en masse the Justice Department top figures told him they would resign before they would take part in his ruses. People who watched the Jan 6th congressional hearings are aware of these things. The MAGA which refused to watch the hearings are as clueless as they have ever been about the 2020 election.
As far as other losing candidates doing similar - that is a sad joke.
Do you seriously believe this is not detrimental to democracy ?
That is a profound failure on your part. I criticize Trump and Trump minions. I routinely speak of how I miss the GOP prior to Trump. You apparently cannot or will not distinguish between criticism of Trump and his minions from partisanship.
Partisanship is supporting or defending a political party primarily because of party loyalty, rather than evaluating each issue or circumstance on its merits. You do not see me defending the Ds or the Rs. You do not see me favoring candidates simply because of party. You apparently do not know, or do not remember, that I wanted Chris Sununu and then supported (financially) Nikki Haley when Sununu dropped out. It was only when the GOP stupidly chose Trump as their nominee that I switched to favoring Biden and then, by the same reasoning, Harris. The reasoning is that Trump was unacceptable. Trump has repeatedly validated my reasoning.
There is no need to hope. When dealing with serious posts, I provide serious responses. Distinguish my handling of trollish posts from those that are serious.
In short, drop your stereotype.
Of course, the 'just your opinion' bullshit. This is a common tactic of Trump supporters. You cannot deal with the facts, so you cast everything as opinion. It is a nuh-uh response.
You are asking me to explain how Trump "Attempted to overturn the 2020 election through lies, coercion, the fake-elector scheme, and efforts culminating in January 6." damages democracy?
You need someone to explain to you how an incumbent President attempting to overturn an election damages democracy??
Trump spent months telling Americans the election was stolen despite being repeatedly told that his fraud claims were false. He pressured state officials to change certified results, supported an effort to create and transmit false electoral certificates, pressured Pence and Congress to block or delay the lawful count, and summoned supporters to Washington as part of that effort. When the Capitol was breached and Congress was forced to stop the certification, he then waited for hours before finally telling the rioters to leave, despite repeated pleas from advisers, elected officials, and members of his own family.
The peaceful transfer of power after a lawful election is about as fundamental to democracy as it gets. A sitting President using the power and influence of his office to remain in power after losing is not merely “damage to democracy”—it is an attack on one of democracy’s core mechanisms.
Do you not see how democracy is harmed by the sitting PotUS engaging in a scheme to disenfranchise voters? Do you not see how his actions pave the way for others to act similarly (albeit not at his level)? Do you also not see how Trump's efforts to tamper with the midterms harms democracy?
Leap to the extreme to ignore what actually happened! You are implying that unless Trump had prevailed, no harm was done. This is a fine example of blind Trump support. No matter what this guy does, his supporters try to defend him.
No damage since the use of courts is precisely what should take place. I did not even mention his 60+ lawsuits. His lawsuits (although extreme in volume and absurd in content) were his legal right and were the correct protocol. So, yet again, you attempt to defend Trump. You focus on something that was legal (and that I did not criticize) while waving your hand at all the other serious acts of Trump.
You have shown in just the first item that your claim of wanting a serious, honest discussion was bullshit. You have also shown that you have no argument, and that is the key reason why you are punting.
The key question remaining is why people like you, even now, continue to try to defend the worst PotUS in our history. No matter what he does, no matter what pain and damage he inflicts on this nation (and others) and its people (you should be feeling this too), people like you blindly try to defend this scoundrel.
There are 183 days in a six month period. That means that over those 183 consecutive days Trump was saying the election was stolen from at least every other day. (58% of the days).
There is nothing remotely normal about this and nothing comparable to any other candidate.
Roy Cohn would be proud of his student. Trump follows the 'never admit defeat' and 'keep repeating a lie' rules like a true master.
Coincidentally I just watched the movie The Apprentice for the first time earlier today. I'm kind of surprised it never became a topic here because it is highly revelatory about Trumps personality and way of seeing the world.
Roy Cohn is a major figure in the story. In the beginning Trump is looking for a way out of the civil rights complaint against the Trump Corp. in the early 1970s. He becomes acquainted with the famous NY lawyer Roy Cohn who is initially not much interested in Trump but eventually becomes his lawyer and teaches Trump to become contemptuous of America's legal system. In fact Cohn tries to literally blackmail the US Justice Dept into dropping the action against Trump. In the film Cohn is shown to be despicable, but on the way up Trump listens to his advice intently. After Trump becomes rich (er) and famous he gradually ignores and even avoids Cohn.
I knew most of what the movie shows already, but it was still interesting and well worth watching.
So house democrats are going to concentrate on something that will never get past the Senate, and if by some miracle it does the President will never sign it? Can these worthless fucks get any worse? Democrat politicians proving that they can't govern or make logical decisions,
They could be Republicans who keep promising to replace the ACA for the last 15 years but haven't even presented a plan to replace it with yet. Talk about worthless fucks.
Why would the republicans introduce a health care plane that the worthless piece of shit democrats would just reject because they have no integrity or honor?
Are you serious? You are excusing Trump's failure to produce a healthcare plan because the Ds would oppose it? That has got to be one of the most feeble excuses for Trump's incompetence yet.
“…the world is made for people who aren't cursed with self-awareness…” ~ Annie Savoy in “Bull Durham”
Damn those "do nothing" republicans and their 'catch 22's' !
“…that will never get past the Senate, and if by some miracle it does the President will never sign it?”
Proving once again that partisan differences only preserve the fractured status quo. Damn making an actual attempt to address a broken system. We’ll just be content in name-calling sophistry in lieu of any semblance of leadership.
Childish.
It is childish. And worse, these are not children playing at games. . . it's a bunch of "Old Heads" and all their f-----d up dreams of keeping a status quo (of fighting to sustain suppression of their fellow citizens) alive that keeps us circling the national drain. And by the way, while our. . . RED STATES leaders are holding the line against the nation's progress. . .the national debt is 'flipping itself' yet again! The world may wish to be us, while we don't know what the __________ we are. . . are wish to become. . . once we get out of our 'second' childhood as a nation.