Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

#fucktombrady

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

I'm seriously conflicted. I wasn't sure we'd see serious adverse economic impacts from Trump, but that was the consensus, and it seemed a solid prediction. It's early, of course, but since November, the world has not collapsed. In fact, things have improved. There's a lot of apprehension because, well, he's nuts, but so far, "animal instincts" appear to be outweighing fear. Maybe we get lucky and the markets and world economies begin to disregard, or at least develop a circumspect view of, Trump's erratic comments and behaviors. Perhaps they view him as a "paper madman." In that instance, we get all the benefit of investor confidence, relaxed regs, and none of the turbulence we'd see if people took him seriously. That's not such a bad thing. In fact, it's pretty good.

But I remain conflicted because, yes, he sucks for the environment, justice reform, and he's playing to religious lunatics. His pick of Falwell's kid for an education task force was seriously disturbing. I dislike his social agenda intensely so far, the sole saving grace being his last minute arm-twisted agreement to observe LGBT rights.

This is a strange situation. I expected to see the economic impact I've seen accruing from a Hillary presidency. He was supposed to have caused a crash. He still might. But I'm beginning to think markets were pricing the possibility of him in a long time ago. I'm hopeful what I'm seeing is a bright, gaudy, shiny object over which the press and activist sorts are exercised, but everyone else is treating like nothing more than the loudmouth he's always been.

The social elements of Trumpism are dark, no doubt. But economically, particularly in regard to infrastructure, it does feel like some pent up development is emerging. In fairness, however, I think that would have happened under Clinton as well.

Given we are where we are, and he is what he is, why not look for a silver lining? My attitude about Trump will echo the one I took toward right wingers calling Obama a socialist: "Yeah, he's some socialist... Trickle down economics, and the market's up what, 12,000 points from it's 2008 bottom?"

But I'd totally bullshitting if I didn't admit significant fear Trump might do something monumentally stupid to fuck up everything. And I stand by my assessment that his anti-globalization kick is going to enormously accelerate automation and backfire. I had the same feeling about Fed policy (rates and mbs purchases) following 2008... I thought that sort of asset value-propping was the 'rich get richer and the poor stay poor' paradigm on steroids. Yeah, it staved off a worse depression than we had. Only problem was it rent the social fabric and gave us Bernie, and Trump. That Law of Unintended Consequences... it's the hangover dogging every "wise man's" plans.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

If you think that the economy is affected (over time) by the actual policies of the government, then you would not expect to see much impact for the economy yet.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Enough of your empty-headed bullshit. I don't critique your inconsistency. I question your complete lack of any foundation whatsoever. You shift back and forth on whatever whim you're riding that day with this bullshit neutral outsider watching-the-world-burn poser image that you don't understand everyone sees right through. Inside baseball aspects. Fuck outta here with that.

TM

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

You know what your problem is? You think people on this board, in the media, at your local cocktail parties, where-the-fuck-ever don't understand why people voted for Trump and you think you do. You cite this article like it proves something. What you don't get is that this is not a difficult argument to understand. We have considered it and rejected it. Just because it's gospel to you doesn't mean it is correct.

Hell, there are surely many reasons why Trump was elected, some of which are outlined in this article. I think everyone here has discussed a multitude of reasons of why that asshole won while losing the popular vote. But it is high fucking comedy that you keep repeating yourself on this "The coastal elites just don't get it" theory while sitting back and looking at anyone who disagrees like they can't see the truth. It's a joke.

And the funniest thing is you posting this article as unassailable support for your simple fucking position when you constantly reject any article anyone else posts in support of theirs with wave of your hand and a "you can find support for any position on the internet" snide comment.

Nothing you've said on any of this shit is convincing. You have no idea what you're talking about. You're not fooling anyone.

TM

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

And this is the perfect post. "I watched the left lose and be mad." "I watched the right lose and be mad." "Everyone but me is just moralizing." "No one understands why that makes them lose elections." What a load of horseshit.

TM

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

The David Broders of the world are always staking out a position in the center, passing judgment even-handedly on both sides. To do that, you have to be enough of an insider to understand how things are shifting, so you can keep recalibrating.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Good point.

Or you just never take a stand on anything so, after the fact, you can always pretend that you were right all along and everyone who cares about anything is a sucker who doesn't know how to win elections.

TM

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

How terrible of us to only offer actual policy solutions instead of nonsense that they like (because it targets Muslims, gays, latinos, etc.).

If only they'd let chaos reign. :rolleyes:

You sure do have a lot of sympathy for those Trump voters...

Even if you're right that the system is untenable (you're not), that you rage against those trying to make it work better for everyone speaks volumes.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

"Look, all of my priors have been vindicated!"

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

The rest of your whining isn't worth the effort, but come on man, would it really be terrible if our elections focused more on where the actual people are rather than on, say, Iowa?

Moreover, this is just flat out wrong about what would happen in today's environment, where the Dems would be looking to mobilize turnout in large metro areas and Rs focusing on suburbs/exurbs/rural voters.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

They cancelled 100,000 valid visas and detained legal residents at the border. They've compromised the health of the poorest women of the world with the global gag rule. They've diluted the role of intelligence and military in national security decisions (while trying to include Bannon). They've made it legal for financial advisers to offer advice in their own self interest contrary to the client's. They've done whatever the Dodd-Frank EO did. They've openly questioned the legitimacy of the judiciary (although thankful now seem to be complying).

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

You keep leaving out the coming wars in Iran and Syria. And if you believe the Tangerine Tyrant (I don't here), maybe Mexico.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

I think so. I like the electoral college. There are "actual people" in all those states. It would be okay to disenfranchise them? Plus, this election turned on two big states. And never forget what caused those votes. "Smart" white people voted third party to protest Hillary.