Is It Possible to Just Calm Down?

 

I don’t see the MSM, but I see it reflected on the pages of Ricochet. Tensions are through the roof, and mostly because Trump has been doing what we basically expected him to be doing: saying all kinds of stuff, and ignoring the way “things are supposed to be done.”

Let’s all judge Trump by his deeds, not his words. The agenda is what matters, and while it (tax reform, health care, de-regulation, etc.) seems to be stalled at present, I remind all and sundry that the alternative was Hillary Clinton.

Today the alternative is not Mike Pence, because an MSM-led removal of Trump would cripple all proposed reforms of things that desperately need reform. The basic question today is whether or not the good and substantive parts of the agenda can gain adherents in Congress.

To that end, can we Ricochetti stop marching in lockstep either for or against the MSM media? The idiots who run them are best ignored. We should not let them frame the debate.

Actions, not words.

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  1. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    I See Russia From My Mouse (View Comment):

    Good to see you have cut down on the caffeine, Pseudo.

    • #31
  2. I See Russia From My Mouse Inactive
    I See Russia From My Mouse
    @Pseudodionysius

    Arahant (View Comment):

    I See Russia From My Mouse (View Comment):

    Good to see you have cut down on the caffeine, Pseudo.

    High Fives Matter.

    • #32
  3. Joe P Member
    Joe P
    @JoeP

    iWe (View Comment):

    Joe P (View Comment):

    Cow Girl (View Comment):
    And…the alternative was HER. (shudder)

    This refrain is eventually going to run out of mileage if it hasn’t already.

    Perhaps to you. I take the longer view.

    When Trump was elected, we at Ricochet asked ourselves: what would constitute a successful Trump presidency? Most responders, including yours truly, said we would call Trump a huge win if he just appointed a right wing justice to the Supreme Court, and maybe slowed new regulations.

    I’d wait a few years before calling either of those things a win. I’m very optimistic on both counts  (more so than I was before the election), but Justices can suprise you and regulations can be re-introduced by pen-and-phone-power just as easily as they can be removed.

     

    Let’s keep moving forward: what would be the next win? The answer, to me, could be deregulation, a much better tax system, improving health freedom. Any of these would be a huge improvement over What Could Have Been.

    I agree, but we’re not going to get either of them if Trump keeps making entirely unforced errors, which this Comey mess qualifies as. It’s not going to be enough to say he’s better than Hillary; he already beat her like a dusty old carpet. He’s going to have to make a pitch for beating Democrats in Congress during the midterms and whoever his opponents will be in 2020 if he runs again. He needs to actually focus on accomplishing those things and not do other things to screw them up.

    • #33
  4. Joe P Member
    Joe P
    @JoeP

    Brad2971 (View Comment):

    Joe P (View Comment):

    Cow Girl (View Comment):
    And…the alternative was HER. (shudder)

    This refrain is eventually going to run out of mileage if it hasn’t already.

    How well do you understand your own people or human nature?

    Who are you describing as “my own people”? I live in the United States of America, where only 70,000 people made the difference between who won and lost in the election, and they are by no means certain to vote for Trump again in the future.

    As for human nature, people generally take the certain bet with known risks over the risky bet that could be better. In 2016, Trump was the risky bet, but everyone knew with certaintly that Hillary was uniquely awful. Regardless of who the Democrats put up, you can’t expect that person will be certainly worse than Hillary, and if Trump keeps making dumb mistakes that subvert his own agenda, it’s going to be easy to present the challenger as a safer bet than he is.

    • #34
  5. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    Arahant (View Comment):

    iWe: To that end, can we Ricochetti stop marching in lockstep either for or against the MSM media? The idiots who run them are best ignored. We should not let them frame the debate.

    Exactly. Ignore those treasonous Russian whores. (Dear editors, this is a Kieth Olbermann phrase, and is inserted here as humor. Thank you.)

    I believe that to be “treacherous” let us strive for accuracy here.

    • #35
  6. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Roberto (View Comment):
    I believe that to be “treacherous” let us strive for accuracy here.

    I sit corrected.

    • #36
  7. Isaac Smith Member
    Isaac Smith
    @

    Jager (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):
    Obamacare became law because a popular President swayed the American People just enough to get enough congresscritters to sign on.

    That is not how I remember Obamacare becoming law. I remember Obamacare being unpopular. (never getting above 50%). I remember that Popular President giving multiple speeches/rallies/townhall meetings and not moving the polls. I remember Blue State Massachusetts electing a Republican to stop Obamacare, thus opposing that Popular President.

    I remember backroom deals (Cornhusker kick back,ect) and midnight votes before Christmas in a blizzard but not the power of Obama’s popularity.

    FWIW, that’s what I remember as well.

    • #37
  8. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    iWe: Let’s all judge Trump by his deeds,

    We need deeds to do that. So far all we have is Gorsuch and an Obamacare “repeal” that doesn’t actually repeal much of anything.

    iWe:I remind all and sundry that the alternative was Hillary Clinton.

    Who cares? Hillary Clinton hasn’t been relevant since November of last year. Trump is President, and he needs to be judged on his own merits.

    • #38
  9. Joe P Member
    Joe P
    @JoeP

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):
    Who cares? Hillary Clinton hasn’t been relevant since November of last year. Trump is President, and he needs to be judged on his own merits. will be judged on his own merits by voters in the future whether you like it or not.

    Fixed it for you.

    • #39
  10. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):
    Who cares? Hillary Clinton hasn’t been relevant since November of last year. Trump is President, and he needs to be judged on his own merits.

    I know a man who divorced his first wife. After a time he remarried her. When asked why, he replied, “As a first wife, she was not great. But as second wives go, she was quite good.”

     

    • #40
  11. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):
    We need deeds to do that. So far all we have is Gorsuch and an Obamacare “repeal” that doesn’t actually repeal much of anything.

    You didn’t miss all the obstruction of his cabinet appointments and all the wasted efforts related to a ‘Russia’ investigation that has yet to yield a single ‘fact’ that shows an investigation is warranted?

    • #41
  12. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Annefy (View Comment):
    iWe is right, Nanda. It’s like hoping and wishing one’s spouse is suddenly going to turn into a romantic when all behaviors have been the opposite for 30 years.

    I agree, Annefy. Except he’s not my husband; he’s my president.

    I saw this last night and didn’t respond, hoping it would make more sense to me in the a.m. It doesn’t.

    If there’s a point beyond the obvious (I know that Trump is not your president) I’d love an explanation.

    • #42
  13. Tom Meyer, Common Citizen Member
    Tom Meyer, Common Citizen
    @tommeyer

    iWe:Is It Possible to Just Calm Down?

    No. Everything must be at 11.

    • #43
  14. Tom Meyer, Common Citizen Member
    Tom Meyer, Common Citizen
    @tommeyer

    iWe:Let’s all judge Trump by his deeds, not his words. The agenda is what matters, and while it (tax reform, health care, de-regulation, etc.) seems to be stalled at present, I remind all and sundry that the alternative was Hillary Clinton.

    [Disclaimer: I have not yet formed an opinion on this latest round of stuff.]

    That’s part of what matters — a very big, very important part — but it’s not the only thing.

    I whole heartedly agree that everyone should chill until we have a better idea what’s going on.

    • #44
  15. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Annefy (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Annefy (View Comment):
    iWe is right, Nanda. It’s like hoping and wishing one’s spouse is suddenly going to turn into a romantic when all behaviors have been the opposite for 30 years.

    I agree, Annefy. Except he’s not my husband; he’s my president.

    I saw this last night and didn’t respond, hoping it would make more sense to me in the a.m. It doesn’t.

    If there’s a point beyond the obvious (I know that Trump is not your president) I’d love an explanation.

    I suspect you won’t be satisfied with it, Annefy, but I’ll try. In one sense, when I married my husband, I vowed to accept him wholeheartedly. He wasn’t perfect, and for a very brief time I hoped he’d change in some ways. I woke up fast, realizing that I chose the whole package, that I picked a good and loving man, and he’s actually grown into more than the man I married.

    A president is different. I didn’t choose him (as it turns out), but he was elected. He represents hundreds of thousands of people and I feel I’m entitled to expect him to meet a minimal level of decorum and character. I’ve seen some of that from him; I’ve also seen boorish behavior, poor judgment, and confusion. And no, I’m not going to list examples; you can review my OP on the Main Feed. I understand you think I’m being petty, to hold such high expectations of the president. I think as @iwe does that actions are critically important. But many of Trump’s day-to-day actions are driven by his lack of character. I don’t expect him to change, either. But he’s not my partner for life.

    • #45
  16. Tom Meyer, Common Citizen Member
    Tom Meyer, Common Citizen
    @tommeyer

    • #46
  17. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    But many of Trump’s day-to-day actions are driven by his lack of character

    You may have to go to some Democrats to get guidance. Republicans don’t have nearly enough experience and expertise  in dealing with the lack of character issues. This is routine for Democrats.

    • #47
  18. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Annefy (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Annefy (View Comment):
    iWe is right, Nanda. It’s like hoping and wishing one’s spouse is suddenly going to turn into a romantic when all behaviors have been the opposite for 30 years.

    I agree, Annefy. Except he’s not my husband; he’s my president.

    I saw this last night and didn’t respond, hoping it would make more sense to me in the a.m. It doesn’t.

    If there’s a point beyond the obvious (I know that Trump is not your president) I’d love an explanation.

    I suspect you won’t be satisfied with it, Annefy, but I’ll try. In one sense, when I married my husband, I vowed to accept him wholeheartedly. He wasn’t perfect, and for a very brief time I hoped he’d change in some ways. I woke up fast, realizing that I chose the whole package, that I picked a good and loving man, and he’s actually grown into more than the man I married.

    A president is different. I didn’t choose him (as it turns out), but he was elected. He represents hundreds of thousands of people and I feel I’m entitled to expect him to meet a minimal level of decorum and character. I’ve seen some of that from him; I’ve also seen boorish behavior, poor judgment, and confusion. And no, I’m not going to list examples; you can review my OP on the Main Feed. I understand you think I’m being petty, to hold such high expectations of the president. I think as @iwe does that actions are critically important. But many of Trump’s day-to-day actions are driven by his lack of character. I don’t expect him to change, either. But he’s not my partner for life.

    I’m throwing a couple of flags on this reply, Susan.

    First: Time enough to refuse to make a list after the list has been requested.

    Second: I in no way meant that Trump was your partner for life. What I meant was having realistic expectations about improvements you can expect.

    Third: “I understand you think I’m being petty, to hold such high expectations of the president.” You don’t know me well to know what I feel or think. If I feel like sharing, I will.

    • #48
  19. I See Russia From My Mouse Inactive
    I See Russia From My Mouse
    @Pseudodionysius

    Tom Meyer, Common Citizen (View Comment):

    Also a brain registry.

    • #49
  20. Jager Coolidge
    Jager
    @Jager

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    A president is different. I didn’t choose him (as it turns out), but he was elected. He represents hundreds of thousands of people and I feel I’m entitled to expect him to meet a minimal level of decorum and character. I’ve seen some of that from him; I’ve also seen boorish behavior, poor judgment, and confusion.

    I am not old enough to have been able to vote for Reagan. I can say that I have never had a President that I choose.

    My problem here is that your complaint is not an unknown issue. By that I mean Trump was not seen to be a stellar example of decorum and character before the election. The voters who elected him were well aware that there were questions about his character and ability to conform to proper decorum. He is the same person now that he was when they voted for him.

    Many of Trumps day to day actions may not be to your liking. But none of the stuff that would seem to be bothering you affects my day to day life at all. My life is no worse because Trump says stupid things sometimes.

    • #50
  21. Dorrk Inactive
    Dorrk
    @Dorrk

    iWe:To that end, can we Ricochetti stop marching in lockstep either for or against the MSM media? The idiots who run them are best ignored. We should not let them frame the debate.

    Actions, not words.

    It’s quite clear that we as a group do not march in lockstep. There’s a considerable range of opinions here; in fact, it’s become a common refrain that there are too many opinions. I’m not even sure what you’re asking us to do. Stop responding to news? Ignore information?

    As long as Trump is president, people are going to react to what he says, because what he says matters, even if he and you don’t think so.

    • #51
  22. Paul Dougherty Member
    Paul Dougherty
    @PaulDougherty

    Why are people working so darned hard to keep Mike Pence out of the Presidency?

    How does this Trump character engender so much loyalty from good people? People for which he feels nothing in return?

    • #52
  23. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    Paul Dougherty (View Comment):
    Why are people working so darned hard to keep Mike Pence out of the Presidency?

     

    Because literally dumping Trump, as opposed to merely distancing ourselves from him, would be strategically idiotic, not just because you’d hork off Trump’s base, but you’d send a signal to the center that the GOP is too useless to manage its own affairs. We can’t bank on the Dems gifting us Jimmy Carter a second time.

    • #53
  24. Sweezle Inactive
    Sweezle
    @Sweezle

    Trump is making progress on deregulation with some help from Congress. Tax reform is slowly making progress in Congress and the Senate is working on healthcare reform thanks to the House getting started on that job with help from Trump. The policies might be being ignored by the MSM and Trump certainly is distracting them with his whining about coverage.

    Then again Trump may be purposely distracting them from Congressional progress with his tweets.

    • #54
  25. JcTPatriot Member
    JcTPatriot
    @

    Tom Meyer, Common Citizen (View Comment):
    At this particular moment, I could get behind a 48-hour waiting period on political opinions.

    I couldn’t agree with you more, Tom.

    The worst for me is the Editors rushing every Fake News story to the Main Feed the moment it happens and asking, “Can we impeach him now, can we?” and never stopping to wonder if the story has any truth to it. Makes me sick.

    • #55
  26. blood thirsty neocon Inactive
    blood thirsty neocon
    @bloodthirstyneocon

    Joe P (View Comment):

    Cow Girl (View Comment):
    And…the alternative was HER. (shudder)

    This refrain is eventually going to run out of mileage if it hasn’t already.

    How does conservative SCOTUS majority for a generation sound to you? It’s not sexy, but it’s got teeth that bite every year in the summer doldrums.

    Him – Her = SCOTUS majority

    • #56
  27. blood thirsty neocon Inactive
    blood thirsty neocon
    @bloodthirstyneocon

    Sweezle (View Comment):
    Trump is making progress on deregulation with some help from Congress. Tax reform is slowly making progress in Congress and the Senate is working on healthcare reform thanks to the House getting started on that job with help from Trump. The policies might be being ignored by the MSM and Trump certainly is distracting them with his whining about coverage.

    Then again Trump may be purposely distracting them from Congressional progress with his tweets.

    It’s been so long since I heard a Dem accuse us of killing sick people. Maybe getting out from under the microscope will help congressional Republicans get some actual work done. Maybe screaming about made up controversies wasn’t the way for Dem’s to win the White House and isn’t the way for them to win congressional majorities. But those who insist on being depressed should feel free to do so.

    • #57
  28. I See Russia From My Mouse Inactive
    I See Russia From My Mouse
    @Pseudodionysius

    JcTPatriot (View Comment):

    Tom Meyer, Common Citizen (View Comment):
    At this particular moment, I could get behind a 48-hour waiting period on political opinions.

    I couldn’t agree with you more, Tom.

    The worst for me is the Editors rushing every Fake News story to the Main Feed the moment it happens and asking, “Can we impeach him now, can we?” and never stopping to wonder if the story has any truth to it. Makes me sick.

    We need a Pun Registry.

    • #58
  29. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    I See Russia From My Mouse (View Comment):

    JcTPatriot (View Comment):

    Tom Meyer, Common Citizen (View Comment):
    At this particular moment, I could get behind a 48-hour waiting period on political opinions.

    I couldn’t agree with you more, Tom.

    The worst for me is the Editors rushing every Fake News story to the Main Feed the moment it happens and asking, “Can we impeach him now, can we?” and never stopping to wonder if the story has any truth to it. Makes me sick.

    We need a Pun Registry.

    If puns are outlawed, only outlaws will have puns.

    • #59
  30. Boss Mongo Member
    Boss Mongo
    @BossMongo

    iWe:The idiots who run them are best ignored. We should not let them frame the debate.

    Actions, not words.

    Concur.

     

    • #60
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