Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
A Word from the Wise One in Our Family, Or, Why I’m Going to Take My Time with This
During our end-of-the-day chat yesterday evening, I mentioned to my wife that I’d been in a quiet lather all day — as had many of us here at Ricochet. I’d put up a couple of posts, I explained, quoting people who made the argument that for all his terrible faults Donald Trump would represent a lesser evil than Hillary, and then
a) In comments on the posts, opinion here on the site split between those who agreed and those who quite forcefully insisted instead on having nothing to do with Trump, and,
b) The idea of supporting Trump, even extremely reluctantly, had sat badly with me. Even in my own mind, that is, I remained uneasy and divided.
Her response? “Give it some time. Nobody has to make up his mind in one day.”
As usual, she’s right. My position right now? That figuring out what to do in the present situation represents a very hard problem–hard both politically (we’re going to have to live with the results of this election for at least four years) and morally (each of us is also going to have to live with himself). For the time being, all I know for certain is–well, let me simply quote my friend Robby George: “The nation faces a choice between two appalling people, neither of whom is fit—morally or otherwise—to be President of the United States. God help us.”
Published in General
What constitutes earning your vote? What promise could he make that you would trust?
If he told me the sky was blue, I’d have to look. Then check on satellite images to make sure it wasn’t giant tarp or a dome.
LOL. A quiet one is the only kind I can imagine you in, Peter: sweater tossed suavely about the neck; hair neatly swept back from the brow.
By all means, kick back, have another scotch, pet the dog and think it over. But first, tie a cardigan around your neck. I hear that helps. ;-)
Right…. thats my biggest issue, can anyone say that Donald believes in X, or that he holds the philosophical position of Y? Those who claim that they know what kind of justices he will appoint are projecting their hopes on the man.
Peter,
Your wife is a very wise lady. Not only will it take time for people to think this through but Trump himself may change the outcome. He has a little time now to settle and really think things through himself. I am not talking about a personality change because what you see is what you get with him. However, we will see what his deeper instincts are. If he is petty when not challenged with the need to win. If he is short sighted when there is time to think. Then we are in for a very bad time.
Give my best to Mrs. Robinson.
Regards,
Jim
It is as I just said on another thread, to quote myself:
“I don’t think you do agree with him on a lot of things. He throws a lot of spaghetti at the wall, and he’s bound to stumble upon something you agree with. But it’s not just whether he can toss out a soundbite that he thinks Republicans will agree with, it’s whether he can elaborate in a way that shows any meaningful understanding of the issue. He has never been able to do that. He speaks conservatism like Stephen Colbert, meaning that he is astute enough to pick up buzzwords, but that he is far too ignorant to understand what conservatism is all about. He gets some of the what, and none of the why.”
Feelings are raw like always after a bruising primary season.
Seriously folks, forget the idea of a third party. It won’t happen. There might be some buzz. Some people will use third party talk and #NeverTrump sentiment to fundraise. But it isn’t going to happen.
Only if you are completely indifferent to who wins does it make sense to: stay home, vote 3rd party, write in Ronald Reagan or Franklin Roosevelt, etc. etc. Then you own a half-share of both Trump and Clinton.
Vote for one or the other. That’s especially important for anyone who lives in a swing state (like Florida), and even important in states like Illinois or Texas that will almost certainly go Dem or Repub. It’s important for there to be a clear popular vote majority to avoid a repeat of 2000 Bush v Gore.
If you seriously think Trump would be worse for the country than Clinton, vote for Clinton and own it.
I’ve already explained why a conservative 3rd party candidate is a very good idea. It remains a very good idea.
I will wait patiently for the deus ex machina. Our hearts will quicken as, from the rafters of Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, Mitch Daniels and Ben Sasse are lowered by crane to the stage and become the presidential and vice presidential nominees, respectively. It shall be a stirring sight that no one will soon forget.
This from Hugh Hewitt is a strategy that could get him elected.
The willingness to follow this strategy would indicate he could be a decent president.
I’m there…
Considering I’ve been trying to get Taco Tuesday declared a national holiday for years, I can get on board with him on this one.
That is pretty hilarious. Even his pandering contains self-aggrandizement. The man just can’t help himself. And, on a serious note, this is exactly what I’ve been saying about his whole character needing to change. Not his positions, his person.
The Buckley Rule was broadly applicable- but Lieberman over Weicker was based as much on personal characteristics as upon policy. Does Trump have good personal characteristics that recommend him as preferable to Hillary?
The key is that there is (and was) a time for the Buckley Rule to be suspended, as when NR withdrew its support from Nixon. It did not throw that support to opposing candidates; sometimes you just go with principle in a losing cause, as when NR supported the Conservative Party in NY for years despite knowing that the candidate was a sure loser.
I’m writing in either Coburn or Romney.
So, think about this: Donald is a self-aggrandizing, amoral man. And while Hillary isn’t actually Satan-in-the-flesh, she may possibly be his handmaiden. And this is why I struggle.
Just got off phone with Trump Grill, says they don’t serve taco bowls. It’s not on the menu online.— andrew kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) May 5, 2016
I knew it, I knew it..that’s how he gets his hair that color. HOT SAUCE!!
Regards,
Jim
hahahahaha – and the man is full of verbal diahrrea, with absolutely no regard for the truth.
We are so horribly doomed.
Opps, may have been too eager to criticize:
The name may have been changed after the Eater review (bad review), because a comparable called “Taco fiesta!” is listed on the Trump Tower Café menu for Thursday, also for $13.50. The restaurant’s menu regularly changes.
http://freebeacon.com/culture/fact-check-trump-taco-bowls-best/
If I tell them to make me a taco bowl for Cinco de Mayo, they’ll make it. Believe me, they’ll make it.
And it will be the best Taco Bowl ever. Really great.
ROFL.
oh, it’s still funny. :)
I think I am going to ask if anonymous has a spare room.
I don’t disagree with this at all, but that’s why we have a gov’t that sprawls across the country in ways and levels unprecedented. That you or I aren’t necessarily hugely impacted does not mean there aren’t impacts happening. Schools. Insanity at the IRS. The EPA that makes its own laws, by unelected bureaucrats. A Byzantine tax code that lets half the country off the hook and people still think rich people don’t pay their fair share.
It is impacting us, slowly, accreting over time. So who will scrape the barnacles off? Pretty sure that’s not Trump. And Hillary will be supergluing barnacles to the USS United States the first day she’s in office, while avoiding whatever room her husband’s in with the door locked.
At this point in time it’s not that difficult for me. I will vote A.B.C.
Anyone But Clinton.
When your name is on the restaurant, whatever you want is on the menu.