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@eatstoomuchjamI just wanted to say how much I appreciate your responses! I am interested increasing my critical thinking capabilities - so thank you for bearing with me! Today I learned a new word "plurality" (the number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but does not receive an absolute majority.) without your kind tutelage I would be even further in the dark. I really do appreciate you and I appreciate learning from your responses - these types of discussion are how we really do again become one nation under God with liberty and justice for all!

The equivalency is about politically motivated prosecution, which it seems the deplorable majority disagrees with you... Now I know what party to say I am with: the Deplorable Majority... though I don't like labels because those associated with the party never live up to the standards they set for themselves. I will never be deplorable enough to live down to the low standards set by Trump... thankfully not, as Trump, by almost all accounts, including my own is not a good person...

I don't trust politicians for good reason - they all lie and in the end serve their own interests' and the interests' of their family members... if Hunter's convictions were politically motivated as Biden said, I imagine we can draw a moral equivalency regarding Trump's convictions. Politicians are all dislikeable for manys reasons so the best I can do is hope I have picked the candidate who's self-interests' most closely align with my own self-interests'... which we will have to disagree on the validity of.

Every empire has a dark side, especially the military industrial complex and the wars that are encouraged to fund the weapons manufacturers who lobby for trading lives for dollars... as you know I am against war and machine that feeds off of it. It seems at least one Dem feels the same way about corruption that pays off for those who sponsor and promote war...

I think we both believe that Trump is a bad person who has intentionally has done illegal and immoral things. We disagree on whether that disqualifies him from being president. My position is that this election was a choice between two evils: one morally corrupt candidate and the other who was less qualified, which I believe is the greater evil. As I believe all politicians are morally corrupt, I believe Harris also has her moral failings - though the media does not like call flip flopping on the border a weakness, her willingness to flip flop for political expediency showed us her true colors, which was validated in her concession speech when she said it will be OK even through Trump was elected when she ran on Trump is a threat to democracy - it was just a political talking point - got it - should she still be fighting for democracy even though she did not get elected - like I said all politicians are morally corrupt - even the ineffective ones. Most of my liberal friends remind me that Trump is a criminal and I agree with them and then say the average American does not care - they just want to afford food and gas. The moral outrage is against the ruling party that could not control inflation rather than the results of the politically motivated prosecution of Trump. My point is this - the media tried to programm people in to believe Trump should be disqualified from being president based on the moral superiority. I was wrong me me to say you were programmed. I'm sure that is how you feel based on your research and understanding of the facts of the situation. I hope you can see how I think that Trump what is best for America based on how I feel based on my research and understanding of the facts of the situation. Hopefully, everyone of us can identify some way we are programmed by the media so they we can we can help each other see the potential for manipulation and trying to divide the people into opposition parties. They had us wrap around their little finger until they lied about Biden being mentally sound then they had to do the last minute switcheroo... that was some the of the sloppiest political maneuvering I have ever seen. Where is the moral outrage that Harris did not have to go though the normal nomination process - end the end it cost them, even against a morally inferior candidate.

I was hoping for something more like this: Taking a position of moral superiority is blindly following the mainstream media programming. I believe the following: All politicians have character flaws and will ultimately chose what is best for those who got them in office and will keep them in office. No politician is on your side. They only serve themselves. Pick the politician who serves your interests, when they are serving their own interests. It is the people against the government not democrats vs republican. We are all programmed to take a side. Deprogramming ourselves from believing that there is a morally superior side is difficult. I believe each party is just one of the two wings on the same elite bird. I believe in the people, who, with the power of free speech, will free each other's minds so that we can suffer through this together as friends rather than enemies. Of course this is just my opinion, as we will never have all of the true facts, ever, though it may feel like you absolute know what is right - you do not - because what is absolutely right is absolutely unknowable. Same goes for me and my opinion - it has no more value than yours or any other. I could be completely wrong and that is fine, as long as it gets people thinking about what they believe to be true and that the facts that they live and die by are almost certainly based on some falsehoods. That said, I love your reviews and believe they immensely benefit from your belief that there is a right and a wrong way to do things, which you point out so clearly. You are a genius at making the technical details have value, meaning and consequences. ...in this case of politics, I believe the details are mostly exaggerated and sometime fabricated to prey on our human tendencies of wanting to be right, which, in other situations would be our strength, but in the case of politics, pits us against each other making us "slaves" as Morpheus said to the elite ruling class. Taking the red pill is not the easy road as Neo shows us, but it makes all the difference, if we believe the Matrix (programming for profit) is real.

Exactly - we are programmed to to believe what we believe for the benefits of the powers that be. We are programed/incented to take sides so that the rich get richer. We all have confirmation bias and confirm what we are programmed to confirm. Trump, Biden, Harris, Obama, Bush, the Clintons all play for the same team. That's what they all laughed when Trump said I ran into Hillary and she said pardon me - they are not putting each other in jail - they know the joke is on the common person. We need to get to the montage scene in our own personal movies where we realize what is closer to the true: Programming equals profit for the powers that be and we are all programmed and pitted against each other and we actually have more in common than we are programmed to believe. Jules in Pulp Fiction had his realization. I wish all of our personal story arcs would include a realization about how we are all programmed to some degree or another...

Thanks - I appreciate it! I admit it - I am someone who trusts Trump more than I trust our government and their media proxy. This is the decision tree for me - if you believe that the current administration does not have your best interests in mind you vote for Trump. Is he going to do a better job than Biden did, probably not, according to the experts here and abroad. With Trump I don't have to hear day in and day out that I am an unworthy extremist who's distrust of the government, makes me a potential criminal. As much as you (not directed at anyone in particular) hate Trump - I hate being told I am a piece of shit for my views on government by my government its media proxy. So yeah, look what I've doing - I along with the majority of the small number of people who choose to vote in this election, said stop calling me a f-ing idiot for my views. I think this forum thread proves this point. I love you guys (regardless of your political views or if you think I am idiot for my political views. In fact, I encourage you to exercise your freedom speech even when it is critical of my views and critical of me exercising my freedom of speech - that's how we get to what we believe is true) and I love this forum. I was hoping shed some insight on how the media divides us by labeling us into groups and pitting us against each other, for profit. Then it turned in to me arguing for how the American voter sees Trump as the lesser of two evils... Then the core issue came in to focus - people (like me) voted for Trump because they are tired of being labeled as evil or stupid themselves...

I am not a fan of Gaetz and don't think he will get confirmed - he is an embarrassment and will be a source of division and controversy, if confirmed. As for Bannon, he deserved to go to jail for not complying with the two subpoenas from Congress, so hopefully this will be the standard going forward, so Congress can get to the bottom of whatever they're investing in the future. Many of Trump's appointees are not qualified and can't be taken seriously, but because of what happen during his first term, Trump is hand picking loyalists, for better or worse. I agree with you! America deserves better...

Thanks for agreeing with my point - higher fuel cost led to inflation. Regarding tariffs - it has to be combined with other incentives to on shore jobs as it did not work in isolation the first time around. So you are correct tariffs alone with not solve the problem of bring back job to the US. Regarding mass deportation of illegal immigrants - there are economic costs due to accommodating millions of new illegal immigrants. Center for Immigration Studies (CIS): A 2024 report by CIS estimated that the lifetime fiscal drain (taxes paid minus costs) for each illegal immigrant is about $68,000. (Congress.gov) So illegal immigrants are not a net benefit to the tax payer, you either pay through inflation or you pay through taxation and/or debt. There is no free fiscal ride when it comes to illegal immigration. There is no evidence that Trump was involved in Epstein's criminal activities. Unsealed court documents and flight logs have not implicated Trump in Epstein's illegal conduct. Trump has stated that he had a falling out with Epstein "a long time ago" and was "not a fan." (Wikipedia) Public opinion on whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been "weaponized" against former President Donald Trump include: June 2023: A Quinnipiac University poll found that 62% of Americans believed the DOJ's case involving Trump's handling of classified documents was mainly motivated by politics, while 34% thought it was mainly motivated by law. Polls at Quinnipiac University March 2023: A Rasmussen Reports survey indicated that 64% of likely U.S. voters agreed with the statement that the FBI has become "politically weaponized, starting from the top in Washington." You are basically asking what is wrong with the American people? Nothing, as the People did allow a politicized DOJ determine who they want to be president. Once again, nothing is wrong with the American voter who unfortunately had to choose between a sex offender who proved he could run the country first time around and someone who they believed could not, as evidenced by the outcome of both the electoral college and the popular vote. Reminds of Bill Clinton - great economy, questionable morals. American voters had to selected from two evil candidates. Just because I support Trump does not mean I like everything he has done or said or will do. I support Trump because I believe he will protect our freedoms and I am ecstatic that a divisive administration (Biden - stop calling the now majority of American voters extremists - it is untrue and divisive.) that tried to limit free speech will soon be out of the White house. But not soon enough... I hope Biden is not leading us into a nuclear war with his recent escalation in military strategy. That is person you need to pose your f-bomb questions to... what the f is wrong with Biden? Does he not care for the common person who doesn't have a nuclear fallout shelter in their basement?

Thanks Andrew! First is the first amendment. I am a free speech absolutist. When people are censored by their government, even by proxy, I am against that administration and their bid for reelection. Missouri v. Biden, alleged that Biden administration officials pressured social media companies to suppress viewpoints on topics like COVID-19 policies, election integrity, and Hunter Biden. In 2023, a federal judge issued a ruling restricting certain federal officials and agencies from communicating with social media companies about content moderation. The case cited examples of alleged direct and indirect government influence on content moderation. I believe the Trump administration will not pressure social media companies to censor free speech. Second is lower fuel costs and lower inflation due to energy Independence under President Trump. By 2019, the U.S.: became a net exporter of energy for the first time since 1952. The US produced record levels of crude oil, exceeding 12 million barrels per day. reduced dependence on foreign oil, particularly from OPEC nations. Higher fuel costs have lead to higher inflation under Biden. Trump's presidency (January 2017 to January 2021), the average national gasoline price in the United States was approximately $2.46 per gallon. Under Joe Biden's presidency (January 2021 to November 2024), the average price has been around $3.54 per gallon. That's 43% higher inflation under Biden. Less than 2% of the registered vehicles on US roadways will be EV's by the end of 2024. Around 11 % of new car sales will be EV in 2024, so the impact of higher fuel prices effects not only 98% of US drivers by also the costs of transporting food due to increased fuel costs, which has lead to an increase of food costs/inflation. Third, I am strongly against human trafficking. Under President Biden (January 2021 – Present) The Biden administration has faced challenges with a significant influx of unaccompanied minors at the U.S.-Mexico border. Reports indicate that over 320,000 migrant children have entered the U.S., with concerns about the government's ability to track and protect them adequately. (New York Post) Sex trafficking of minors makes me sick and I believe there will potentially be less of it under Trump than there potentially was under Binden. Fourth, I am against war, so I prefer Trump's desire to deescalate international conflicts and wars and to not start new wars. Fifth is tenacity. If I were convicted of 34 felonies, like Trump I would exit my political career - but Trump was not deterred by his public humiliation/felonies. If I were wounded in an assassination attempt, that would be it - I would have ended my bid for a second term in the White House, but not Thump - he pumps his fist and yells fight, fight, fight and keeps going. Also, Trump did not end his run for the White House in 2016 when his locker-room-talk audio recording was made public. I would have ended my run right then and there out of embarrassment and shame, but not Trump, he keeps going. I know many people think he is an egotistical narcissist and I do too, but I get the sense that Trump's fragile ego and desire to maintain his public persona, will lead him to fulfill his promises (out of fear of further public humiliation.) I believe you can expect Trump to follow through on his election promises, due to his character flaws. Sixth, I like the idea of Trump surrounding himself with AI and automation experts like Musk, to help guide our transition and help the US regulate and/or deregulate AI, as necessary, and to help the US safely win the AI and quantum computing arms race. "President-elect Donald Trump's plans for artificial intelligence likely start with repealing President Joe Biden's executive order on AI followed by limiting government regulation of the technology." TechTarget I think that some time during next four years, there is going to be an economy reset and your average entry level office worker, customer service person, coder will be downsized due to AI and later, labor will be downsized due to automation. I think that no matter who the president is, the average person will be screwed economically in the next four years. I believe Trump will provide the decisive leadership needed to soften the landing, during the tough economic times ahead, and that's the final reason why I support Trump, flaws and all.

Thanks for the above video interview - I will check it out! I highly doubt that Trump is a trojan horse sent by Russia, North Korea, but I am open to any evidence. While allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election are well-documented (e.g., U.S. intelligence reports), Investigations such as Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference found insufficient evidence to charge Trump or his campaign with criminal conspiracy. Trump's action during his Presidency: Russia: His administration enacted sanctions against Russia for election interference, the annexation of Crimea, and the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in the UK. China: Trump initiated a trade war with China, imposing tariffs on Chinese goods and restricting Chinese tech companies like Huawei and TikTok. North Korea: When negotiating with North Korea, Trump did not make significant concessions or changes in U.S. policy. Sanctions against North Korea remained in place throughout Trump presidency. I was surprised to read that Biden also maintained the tariffs against China that Trump enacted in light of Hunter Biden's Business Activities: CEFC China Energy: Hunter Biden was involved in business ventures with CEFC China Energy, a Chinese conglomerate. Reports indicate that he and his firm received approximately $3.8 million from CEFC between 2013 and 2018. Payments to Biden Family Members: In 2017, accounts linked to Hunter Biden's associate, Rob Walker, received a $3 million wire transfer from a Chinese energy company. Subsequently, Hunter Biden, James Biden (Joe Biden's brother), Hallie Biden (widow of Joe Biden's son Beau), and an unknown fourth Biden received a total of $1.3 million from these accounts. On that note, I would appreciate it, when people respond to this thread, if they would share if they have identified conformation bias as I did above - I thought Biden would have eased up on the tariffs on China, which appears not to be case - I'm guilty as charged ; ) That way we can identify how we have be "programmed" by the media we consume in the face of the actual facts of the situation we confirm along the way.

Thanks Andrew! Based on the poll data below, it seems to indicate that on at least two key issues: the economy and national security, voters thought Trump would do a better job than Harris. Economic Management A CNBC survey conducted in October 2024 found that 42% of registered voters believed they would be better off financially if Donald Trump won the election, compared to 24% who felt the same about Kamala Harris. National Security According to a Gallup survey published on November 1, 2024, 53% of voters believed Donald Trump would better protect the U.S. from foreign threats, while 45% favored Kamala Harris in this regard. The same Gallup survey noted that voters were split on which candidate is best for democracy and national security, with Harris leading on protecting democracy and Trump ahead on keeping the U.S. safe. So, who will be better for inflation moving forward? Despite 54% of voters saying in a recent Gallup poll that they favor Trump to lead the overall economy, most economists pick Harris. In a new survey of 50 economists by the Wall Street Journal, 68% said inflation would be higher if Republican Trump's policies were to go into effect, while only 12% said it would be higher under Democrat Harris' plans. The other 20% said there would be no material difference. Economists predict Trump would be worst for inflation... so your opinion matches the experts... As you asked me specifically - personally, I do not like war - and heaven forbid a nuclear war... November 2024: Following his election victory, Trump communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, advising him "not to escalate the Ukraine war," signaling his proactive approach to de-escalation. USA Today Trump did not start any new wars during his presidency from 2016 to 2020. I can't imagine Harris doing as well when negotiating with Putin or Xi Jinping as Trump has, and I hope, will. The US does not need a war with China over Taiwan, so we need to end the war in Ukranie (as Trump is trying to do), so that China won't attack Taiwan thinking that the US can't fight a war on 2 fronts... Then there's the Iran-Russia connection and Gaza...there's a lot for Trump to be proactive on, just like he did with the Abraham Accords. To me, Trump is the lesser of two evils when it comes to national security as compared to Harris. Thanks for asking! Why do you think Trump "is not out for you (me)."? Why do you think Trump "is not out for anybody but himself and his racist rich friends."?

Just because the majority of voting Americas voted for Trump, does not make them conservatives or right wingers. Many of them simply voted against Harris, just as people voted against Trump in 2020. Picking the lesser of two evils is what it comes down to in American politics today and not some type of ideological victory as the media would have you believe. So when I encounter liberals - I happen to rent a room from one. When we actually talk about the issues, it turns out we have more in common as Americans than the media would have us believe. All these labels do is divide people... I'm pretty sure the hierarchy of needs is something like shelter, food, and sex rather than "believe what I believe or we can't work together to help each other get our common needs meet"... Ironically every day has now become "be kind to a liberal day" because the media completely lied to their base about the election forecast - no wonder people for Harris are upset about the election results - same thing happened on 2016. The situation is not people vs people - it is divide and profit by the media - it makes sick the brain washing the has taken over society. People are people and may the best film maker win regards of how they voted in an election, or what race or gender or creed they are. The facts is, it is the people against the media rather liberals against conservatives - what a deception - I happen to like pulp fiction and tropic thunder... great cinema is great cinema and great comedy is great comedy no matter who makes it and who is offends... The price of freedom is me allowing other's to express ideas that I don't agree with and other's allowing me to express ideas they don't agree with... hopefully the first amendment is practiced on this forum. ; )

The above image is for educational purposed only... do not distribute.