Posts Made By: Brian McFarland

Originally Posted by James Brown

Maybe, but don't count on it. 

Do you actually think that a bad Democratic night is some sort of general repudiation: "maybe you'll get a clue then just how fringe and how unpopular that you and the rest of the ULTRA Left Socialist Democrats are in this country."  

That is insanity.  If the Democrats lose (or lose big) it will be because of the economy.   

The economy is not entirely a left/right thing.  You probably have noticed that the Conservatives have flamed out spectacularly in Great Britain.  Their economy is far far far worse than ours.  It is disaster the likes of which have not been seen in recent times.  The British economy crapped under conservative policies, and the Conservatives are going to be obliterated in the general election that will be called shortly.   Did the Conservatives cause 10% inflation in Britain?  Probably not entirely, but they are going to pay for it with historic election defeats.  Did Biden cause US inflation?  Well, he and his predecessor did in part, but there are all sorts of causes at play.  That pandemic thing.  A war.  Blame can be shared.  But if anyone has to pay for it, it is the party in power.  That is the way it works.  We will see if the Ds pay, but if they do it is not a repudiation of the Ds, it is just cold hard political reality.

Jim

Originally Posted by James Brown

I have not heard much recently about Trump being indicted for Jan 6.  Do you (or Jim, Brian, etc. still think that is a possibility/likelihood?   Indictment talk was all over the news a few weeks ago.

Originally Posted by James Lacey

It's always funny how Republicans only care about the deficit when they are not in control.


https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jul/29/tweets/republican-presidents-democrats-contribute-deficit/

Originally Posted by James Brown

p.s. this has been bothering me for a day.  A national politician like Haley must reach out to the entire coalition.  Right now the Republican coalition includes 50% Trump-supporting Maga people.  They will get over this alignment if Trump fades away.  For example how many Ds are extolling the virtues of the BLM protests/riots of a few summers ago?  How many are arguing to defund the police?  The answer is "not many." 

Personally I think most people have good cores.  I know that most people are easily swayed by political movements and moments.

It would be great if our favorite politicians rose above the fray and always took the noble course.  That is not practical in 2022, at least not for national politicians.  Those candidates get steamrolled by the likes of Trump or HRC.  I don't need to remind you that the politicians on the left need to roll in the local mud too.  Look at who Biden got in bed with to get elected, and how much his positions have changed over the years.

The best we can hope for is that the politicians we support have a reasonably noble core to their being.  I think both Bushes, Obama, and Biden do.  I don't think so for Trump or any Clinton.  Obviously, I think Haley is extremely noble at her core, and worthy of any Democrat or Independent's consideration on the merits, if nominated.  At least if that Democrat, Independent (or Republican) resides in the 30% or so that are actually persuadable voters.  I'm not insane, I don't think Rod or Rich is going to be campaigning for Haley if any alternatives are available.

Maybe you have taken yourself out of the 30% or so of persuadable voters.  I doubt it though, rhetoric aside.  My guess is that you will judge Haley against the D nominee on the merits, if she somehow wrests the nomination from Trump, Desantis, or whomever.

Just a random Friday thought.   Jim

Originally Posted by James Brown

I just found this, and the timing is right to have raised your ire, as reflected in your earlier posts.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/19/election-deniers-campaign-2024/

Originally Posted by James Brown

I don't think the bold part is true.  Sure the KKK and modern groups like the Proud Boys are drawn to the GOP.  I really dislike agreeing with Rich as a matter of principle, but in my opinion the BLM or Antifa organized and inspired riots and murders of the past few summers are of equivalent threat to public safety and order as the Proud Boys and the like.   

It is really hard, or maybe impossible to draw distinctions between the relative threat or vileness of various hate groups.  The sources we have for this information are simply too biased.   

Regarding the part I highlighted in red, you've mentioned Haley's alleged flip flop a couple of times without any sourcing.  Who was it who identified the candidates she endorsed as, "election denying Trump worshippers?"  Frankly, this comes across as a hit job on Haley penned by someone whom you read.  That is to be expected, this is hardball politics.  But if you could, source this out, I'd like to compare Haley's actual earlier statement with the list of whom she is endorsing.  I'd really like to look at the candidates she is endorsing to see if they are run of the mill Rs or indeed genuine "election denying Trump worshippers" like Rod's crush, Marj.  

I've Googled around, but not a lot.

Here is Haley endorsing an anti-Trump candidate.
https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/nikki-haley-endorses-nancy-mace-for-reelection-to-congress-in-2022/article_ef22d400-8820-11ec-b955-07917632dae4.html

Here is another one, she endorsed my personal favorite from Colorado, Joe ODea.  Joe drew personal ire from Trump for actively denouncing him and his election fraud BS.  Haley's endorsement of O'Dea is about as vigorous a slap in the face to Trump as one could ask for.  Indeed, you would have about as good a chance of persuasively calling me a Trump loving election denier as you would have of calling Joe ODea that or anything like that!
https://www.coloradopolitics.com/elections/2022/nikki-haley-endorses-bennet-challenger-joe-odea-in-colorado-us-senate-race/article_f12119c2-3e6b-11ed-8ad4-a783dba09243.html

Mike Lee is suspect.  https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2022/06/09/sen-mike-lee-embraces/  He is sure trying to walk the fine line though.  I don't know that much about him.  Haley did endorse him several months ago.

She apparently recently endorsed Oz in PA.  Not sure about Walker or other celebrity candidates. 

Can you find me a quote where Haley herself supports Trump's election denier mythology?  She slammed him pretty hard in February:  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/us/politics/nikki-haley-trump.html

Jim


 

Originally Posted by James Brown

Hi Rod, I guess I am with Rich on this one.  I have no idea what your point is.  Kanye is not representative of mainstream conservatives or Republicans.  The anti-Semitic people out there have mostly migrated to the far left.  Like the students at Berkeley we commented on a few weeks ago.  The anti-Semitism expressed by several popular and admired Democrats, like the Squad, has always puzzled me.  Same with the anti-Semitism expressed over the years by prominent and influential blacks like Jessie Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, or Al Sharpton.

The whole BDS movement is sponsored by the left, isn't it?  

What was your point in posting this?  Jim

Originally Posted by James Brown

I think you have sidestepped the fact that anti-Semitism is now largely, but of course not exclusively, a feature of the left.  The BDS movement is a dressed up attempt by the left to vilify Israel, and in many cases Israel is proxy for a generally anti-Semitic core.  Do you remember the famous "all about the Benjamins" quote?  

As Rich and Brian have both observed, Kanye is a whack job who gets far more press than he deserves.  BDS is well coordinated, well funded and dangerous in my opinion.  Any thoughts?

https://bdsmovement.net/

Originally Posted by Brian McFarland

What is that supposed to mean?