Hi Mary,
I am with you all the way as to how both parties have failed miserably in
recent times. But I can see no good that the election of Trump has done with
the exception that more and more folks seem to be getting involved in
protests. I sure do hope that the same folks get more involved in the
political process such as voting, contacting elected officials and even
running for office.
I am a white male who believes that Trump's America is not a very good place
for nonwhites to be. I am on the board of an organization that seeks to
empower disenfranchised populations. Many who we assist are Hispanic and
they are extremely fearful of what life will be like for them under trump.
Will they lose their jobs? Will they be deported? Will families be
forcefully separated even more than they were under Obama?
Bob Hachey
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of MARY CONVY
Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2017 12:00 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: FW: Top 5 Signs Donald Trump Might Be an
Effing Moron
Miriam, I don't disagree with a word you have said but will add that if both
major parties had not failed the public so miserably Trump would have not be
able to, as you say, fool people into thinking he would help them. And his
ability to do that is a success for him. I tried to think of any good that
has come out of him. Big challenge I admit but I would think it is true
that is has significantly controlled expenses in some areas, especially in
our military air equipment. And in a strange way his actions have helped
bring much needed attention to race relations and police injustice toward
blacks. The KKK was encouraged by his attitudes to shine a light (torch) on
themselves and I believe that has helped consolidate anti-racist sentiments
and actions. Jackson and Sharpton who work within the corporate white
institutions are inadequate for today's problems. Activists and militants
are forming lasting coalitions together with Black Lives Matter. Shut it
Down is more effective than I Have a Dream in today's society. Many fear St
Louis would fizzle out but I believe with Trump and his cohorts we see a
strengthening of a rising up of the people who now see not only the errors
of the conservatives but also the similar political travesties in the
democratic and libertarian groups who are successfully killing
(metaphorically) each other because of the very same power grabs all our
major politicians have in common.
_____
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of Miriam Vieni
<miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, October 8, 2017 10:22 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: FW: Top 5 Signs Donald Trump Might Be an
Effing Moron
Juan Cole is a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at, I think, the
University of Michigan. The piece I posted was taken from his blog or
website, Informed Comment. Usually, what he writes is much more measured and
thoughtful in terms of how he expresses himself. The comment about Trump's
being a moron, was actually recently made by Rex Tillerson in an off the
record statement that was overheard by someone in the media and Juan Cole
was riffing on that comment. If we're going to be more nuanced in what we
say about Mr. Trump, we need to start out with the evidence of his mental
instability coupled with his talent as a reality show star and con artist.
We need to note that much of the money he earns is by licensing various
establishments to use his name, rather than by creating successful
businesses. He has had close relationships with mafia figures in New York
over the years. When he was actually involved in construction, he didn't use
American workers. Rather, he imported workers from Poland to whom he could
pay less money and even then, at some point, he didn't pay them what he'd
promised. Just before he took office, he opened a hotel in Washington so
that he could profit from the office of President because foreign
dignitaries would feel impelled to stay at the hotel with his name. That
has, in fact happened, and it is an impeachable offense to profit
commercially from holding the office of President. His daughter, now a White
House senior advisor, was given contracts by Chinese companies for her
clothing company after she participated with her father in a meeting with
Chinese officials. The North Dakota pipeline which was on hold while the
army corps was doing more studies on its environmental impact, was given the
go ahead as soon as Trump took office. He has a financial interest in that
pipeline.
There's a great deal to say about Mr. Trump's racism and how he has
encouraged other people to attack African Americans and Muslims by what he
says in speeches. There's a great deal to say about how his recklessness in
speaking about American military power and revenge, is putting the whole
world in so much danger. But one of the most tragic things is that people
who knew that they were being shafted by our present social and economic
system, have been fooled by Trump's rhetoric into believing that he would
actually make things better for him. Like Brian, they believed that he was
an outsider who would demolish the power structure and turn history back.
They were convinced to vote against their own interests, partly because the
Democratic Party leadership did not provide them with a convincing enough
aalternative. But I also have to point out, as have many knowledgable people
of color have done, that the system hasn't worked well for black and brown
people either, but they did not flock to Mr. Trump as an alternative. It was
white people who saw him as a viable alternative and one reason for that is
that is anti-black, anti-Muslim, anti-Immigrant rhetoric appealed to them.
So we have, in the White House, a mentally ill, dishonest openly racist, as
a result. And that fact doesn't require any nuance.
Miriam
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of MARY CONVY
Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2017 9:22 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: FW: Top 5 Signs Donald Trump Might Be an
Effing Moron
Miriam,
On your first point, Curt Corbain, quite the anti-establishment rocker, said
before his suicide in the 90's that he envisioned a total non-insider,
wealthy enough to beholden to no one, to someday be elected and then he
actually named Trump as an example. The people who elected Trump knew what
they were getting and if they were wrong, I would pose they are the morons.
The total discontent with both political parties left the voters to toss the
dice on new path.
Your second point concerns his success in business. It depends on the
standard you are using. He and his kids are multi-millionaires and the
business practices he engaged in to get there is a whole other kettle of
fish. His father gave him his first apartment building to run in Queens,
and then gave him a million dollars. Sounds like a lot but when you are
buying NYC real estate, not so much. He went against his father very
strongly and risked further money from his father by insisting they go into
Manhattan real estate whereas the father was determined to stay in Queens.
Trump's decision brought him the multi-millions he has today.
Your third point, he lies. What an understatement. He speaks and acts as a
five year old might. We have done 'great, really great, wow, great things'.
Without any specifics. His antics in Puerto Rico were embarrassing but
seems not to attract much attention except from liberal news sources. Maybe
because there is no impeachment charge for acting like the village idiot.
My basic thought is that we can't take any statement like Trump is a moron
and act just like him in an all or nothing emotion based response. It is
time we all return to some nuanced thinking and judgements.
_____
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of Miriam Vieni
<miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, October 7, 2017 10:43 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: <mailto:%22mailto:sackriderbrian45%22@xxxxxxxxx>
"mailto:sackriderbrian45"@gmail.com
Subject: [blind-democracy] FW: Top 5 Signs Donald Trump Might Be an Effing
Moron
Below is a private response to the article that I posted, written by Juan
Cole. I don't know why Brian chose to send this response privately, but I
think it requires a public response from me and from anyone else who chooses
to respond. I'd suggest that if you respond, you include Brian's address to
ensure that he receives your response.
First of all, running the country is not like running a business. People who
run businesses, do so in order to profit financially. Running the country is
a public trust. It requires a very different skill set and one does it in
order to ensure that all citizens benefit equally from being Americans.
Second: If you've read any books about Mr. Trump, you'd know that he has not
been successful in business. He has been in debt most of the time. First, he
was bailed out by his father. Then, he was bailed out by banks with which
his father had influence. Additionally, he was involved in a lot of
businesses with criminals all over the world, and although a great deal of
money has passed through his hands, he has been involved in money laundering
schemes and the actual amount of money that is his, is questionable. This is
one of the reasons that he has refused to make his income tax returns
public.
Third: Mr. Trump lies constantly about most things and his lies are obvious
and have been pointed out by many journalists. Everything that I've written
about him above, has appeared in books and articles and interviews by
investigative journalists.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian [mailto:sackriderbrian45@xxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2017 6:36 PM
To: Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [blind-democracy] Top 5 Signs Donald Trump Might Be an Effing
Moron
I think that Juan Coal is the efing moron here. Trump is a very
sucessful business man and extremely wealthy. Is he? if he was a moron he
would not have not gotten whear he is today. How many business owners have
ever been president of the Usa? Running the country is just like a
business. Trump is the first outsider to become president he is not bought
and paid for. anyone will believes Juan is also a moron it's takes one to
know one.
Brian Sackrider
On 10/6/2017 10:01 PM, Miriam Vieni wrote:
You'll be pleased to know that this comes from Reader Supported Newscrowd of boy scouts.
so I did manage to resubscribe.
Miriam
Donald Trump. (photo: Alex Brandon/AP)
Top 5 Signs Donald Trump Might Be an Effing Moron
By Juan Cole, Informed Comment
06 October 17
Carol E. Lee at NBC reported Wednesday that last summer Rex Tillerson,
the secretary of state, called Trump a "f*cking moron." The remark
came after a number of incidents in which Trump had contradicted
Tillerson on policy, and directly after Trump made salacious remarks to a
Tillerson at one point had led the Boy Scouts.all about himself instead of about the victims.
The justice of Tillerson's remark is obvious. Here are some examples:
1. Trump joined with Saudi Arabia in beating up on little Qatar,
calling the small Gulf monarchy "terrorists." Qatar hosts the US Air
Force base al-Udeid and helped capture Khaled Sheikh Muhammad, proving
itself a key ally in fighting extremism. For Saudi Arabia to accuse
Qatar of fostering extremism is a bit rich, but Trump joined in.
2. The Iran nuclear deal is one of the more successful such
negotiations in modern history and a model for how the UN Security
Council could curb nuclear proliferation. Trump is determined to
undermine the deal, which would reinforce the suspicions and militancy
of countries such as North Korea, making it even more difficult to handle.
3. Trump pulled out of the Paris climate accords on the grounds that
they are too constricting and detract from US sovereignty. But the
accords allow each nation to set its own priorities! Even Tillerson,
who when it comes to climate change, is Satan incarnate, wanted to
stay in Paris (I presume because it could be used as a fig leaf for
inaction on carbon dioxide emissions).
4. Trump went to Puerto Rico on Tuesday and made the presidency a
laughingstock. He maintained that Katrina had been a much more
devastating storm than Irma and that because they weren't actually
dead the Puerto Ricans weren't suffering as much. We don't know the
death toll in Puerto Rico because 95 percent of the island doesn't
have electricity and not all the dead have been found by institutions
of the commonwealth. Moreover, catastrophic hurricanes are not a race
where one state wins and another loses. Then Trump gave out supplies
at a church, including flashlights, but he remarked to recipients that
they didn't need flashlights any more. They do. He made hurricane relief
It was so bizarre a performance that "moron" doesn't begin to cover it.
5. Trump gave away US foreign policy to Exxon Mobil, the big oil
company, which had been led by Mr. Tillerson up until his move to the
State Department. The US should be making a frantic and concerted
effort to get off fossil fuels, not coddling Big Oil interests.
Appointing Tillerson to run the State Department, and letting him gut
it in favor of lucrative oil deals for his former corporation is just
about the most moronic thing you could imagine.
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