Louisiana MAGA-nificant Election

 

Louisiana is one of the states that has a top-two or “jungle” primary system, in which all candidates of all parties compete head-to-head. If one candidate gets 50% plus 1, they are the outright winner, otherwise the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, go on to a mid-November run-off election. President Trump both stopped the Democratic Party from an outright win in the governor’s race but also used the Lake Charles MAGA rally Thursday to preach solidarity to both strong Republican candidates and their supporters. It was Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment restated as he brought Ralph Abraham and “Eddie” Rispone up together to speak to the crowd: “You are not allowed to hit your Republican opponent. You are only allowed to hit John Bel Edwards, because he deserves it.”

President Trump reminded everyone of the rules of the election and the vital importance of turnout “vote before you go to the game.” “Get out and cast your ballot for Eddie or Ralph. Eddie or Ralph, it’s important.” “Let’s get a runoff. Just vote tomorrow for the entire Republican ticket.” He got the desired results, with 43 percent turnout on this off-cycle primary. The Democratic incumbent governor was forced into a run-off against Eddie Rispone, who narrowly edged out Ralph Abraham. Ralph Abraham immediately endorsed Rispone, and President Trump tweeted his congratulations to “the Great State of Louisiana.”

Looking at the rest of the races, Republicans won outright, exceeding 50 percent of the votes cast, in five of seven statewide races. Republicans split the vote in the governor’s race three ways: 27/24/1. If most of these people show back up in November, the Democratic Party incumbent will lose. Likewise, the Secretary of State will almost certainly be a Republican, as they split the vote 41/19/6, versus the one Democrat taking second place with 34 percent of the primary vote.

Overall, you can see that this is now an overwhelmingly Republican electorate at the statewide race level. Rispone came out ahead of Abraham with a very strong play on the idea that he, a businessman, was going to be like Trump. No one is running away from the president and leader of their party in Louisiana. See a good local analysis in the Monroe News Star. The Louisiana Secretary of State has the election results in clean graphic and numbers form.

Oh, Ralph Abraham is not out of the picture; he is still Congressman Abraham. His path now is likely to be advancing into House leadership, working with Rep. Steve Scalise for a renewed Republican majority.

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  1. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    That is fantastic news! We watched this rally – it was great!

    • #1
  2. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    I take issue with the whole “great state” of louisiania. 

    • #2
  3. JoelB Member
    JoelB
    @JoelB

    So what’s this stuff about Trump dragging down the whole Republican party?

    • #3
  4. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    I take issue with the whole “great state” of louisiania.

    Who dat?

    • #4
  5. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Clifford A. Brown: It was Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment restated as he brought Ralph Abraham and “Eddie” Rispone up together to speak to the crowd: “You are not allowed to hit your Republican opponent. You are only allowed to hit John Bel Edwards, because he deserves it.”

    It seems to me most never-Trumpers are also huge Reagan fans.  I guess they like everything about Reagan except his 11th Commandment . . .

    • #5
  6. Jim George Member
    Jim George
    @JimGeorge

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    I take issue with the whole “great state” of louisiania.

    Who dat?

    “….. say they gon’ beat those Saints? Who dat? Who dat? “

    FIFY!

    As a lifelong native and resident, save the last one and one half years here in Florida, I can understand, only too well, the comment of @jimmycarter, and we left our long time home in Baton Rouge for the Florida for various reasons; suffice it to say the doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitur applies here, as here we are in the Florida Panhandle and, quite literally, loving every minute of it! 

    With that background, we keep up with the local paper — The Baton Rouge Advocate — due, in this season, at least, to our near-mania for LSU football, and in the process have been heartened by the news that the last tax and spend Democrat Governor left in the South, and, believe me, he more than qualifies in that arena, may be about to be sent back to Bloody Tangipahoa Parish from whence he came. 

    Hope springs eternal! 

    • #6
  7. Dominique Prynne Member
    Dominique Prynne
    @DominiquePrynne

    So pleased that my previous home-state’s election came out this way!  (I decamped to Texas a while back).  Anywho, this result is so much better than the last governor’s election I voted it…I believe it was a race between Buddy Romer and David Duke on the R ticket and Edwin Edwards (Jon Bel’s dad) on the D ticket. I wasn’t a huge Romer fan, but what are you gonna do??  If I am recollecting right, the run-off ended up between Duke and Edwards. (Still inconceivable to me!!)   Edwards won the governorship, brought in gambling, took bribes and went to federal prison.  Just another typical cycle in Lousiana politics.   The two most powerful segments of the D electorate are the underclass and the education establishment (with the gentrified transplants coming up).  Surprisingly, Louisiana voters of common sense can still manage to outnumber these segments.  I wonder for how long?  I love Louisiana and I do claim it is a Great State!  Everyone should take a trip to NOLA and cajun country.  It’s the food, the attitude, the music, the joie de vivre!  

    May I suggest you start a Saturday morning at Fred’s Lounge in Mamou, Lousiana?  Beer and  Boudin for breakfast and  a live Cajun music show broadcast all in French to the surrounding bayou.  Or how about an interlude right now….

    https://youtu.be/seUW05AmlaE

    -DP

    • #7
  8. Reformed_Yuppie Inactive
    Reformed_Yuppie
    @Reformed_Yuppie

    Stad (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown: It was Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment restated as he brought Ralph Abraham and “Eddie” Rispone up together to speak to the crowd: “You are not allowed to hit your Republican opponent. You are only allowed to hit John Bel Edwards, because he deserves it.”

    It seems to me most never-Trumpers are also huge Reagan fans. I guess they like everything about Reagan except his 11th Commandment . . .

    I’ve certainly never heard Trump attack a Republican before…

     

    • #8
  9. Bill Nelson Inactive
    Bill Nelson
    @BillNelson

    I don’t believe that Trump has ever adhered to this 11th commandment. He is quite scathing to any republican who dares not support him.

     

    • #9
  10. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    I don’t believe that Trump has ever adhered to this 11th commandment. He is quite scathing to any republican who dares not support him.

     

    And he should be.  Political loyalty is something the Dems practice regularly, but Republicans will abandon their own with the slightest hint of a problem.  Let’s bury Reagan’s 11th Commandment once and for all, and replace it with a new one:

    “No Republican will shrink from supporting a colleague under fire by the opposition, which includes the press.”

    • #10
  11. Reformed_Yuppie Inactive
    Reformed_Yuppie
    @Reformed_Yuppie

    Stad (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    I don’t believe that Trump has ever adhered to this 11th commandment. He is quite scathing to any republican who dares not support him.

     

    And he should be. Political loyalty is something the Dems practice regularly, but Republicans will abandon their own with the slightest hint of a problem. Let’s bury Reagan’s 11th Commandment once and for all, and replace it with a new one:

    “No Republican will shrink from supporting a colleague under fire by the opposition, which includes the press.”

    Most of the time the press is the opposition. 

    • #11
  12. Jim George Member
    Jim George
    @JimGeorge

    Dominique Prynne (View Comment):
    I believe it was a race between Buddy Romer and David Duke on the R ticket and Edwin Edwards (Jon Bel’s dad) on the D ticket. I wasn’t a huge Romer fan, but what are you gonna do?? If I am recollecting right, the run-off ended up between Duke and Edwards. (Still inconceivable to me!!)

    @dominiqueprynne, as one Cajun to another, thanks for this note — and you were absolutely correct about the runoff, one which will always have a place in the history books, for many reasons, not the least of which was that when the choice was between David Duke and Edwin (Fast Zipper Eddie) Edwards, more and more cars were sporting bumper stickers reading: 

    VOTE FOR THE CROOK–IT’S IMPORTANT!

    And, as one who was born in The City That Care Forgot, worked there and practiced law there later in life, and had many cases in our practice there in Federal Court, I certainly agree with you that there is no better food anywhere in “The Gret State” than those great kitchens in the French Quarter and Commander’s Palace (one of the great restaurants in the world, in our humble opinion) — except, maybe,  for– those in Lafayette, and Crowley and Eunice and Jennings (my Lady’s hometown) and Lake Charles and many other small towns with some of the finest cuisine anywhere. It truly is the dream destination for a dedicated “foodie”, that’s for sure. And, although I lived there all my life, I must admit that I missed the Mamou Mardi Gras celebrations, but a dear friend of ours went there several times and said it was an indescribable “happening”, complete with Courrir de Mardi Gras, or the Mardi Gras Chicken Chase:

    “The Cajun Mardi Gras, traditionally known as Courir de Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday Run, has been a staple in southern Louisiana for hundreds (yes, hundreds) of years. The Courir de Mardi Gras is a cultural tradition dating back to Europe as early as the 17th century. It was then brought over to settlers in the Cajun country.”

    By the way, the current Governor is the son of the long time Sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish, which position is now held by his son, and the Governor’s brother. Sadly, the former Governor Edwards’ son Stephen  went to prison with his Dad after convictions in Federal Court, but he did have, at quite an advanced age, another son with his third (I believe) wife. He is, I understand, very active and a devoted Dad to his little boy, especially considering his age. He is, amazingly, 92 years young

    Thanks for the reminiscences about our  home State–there is really no other like it! Jim.

    • #12
  13. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    Dominique Prynne (View Comment):

    So pleased that my previous home-state’s election came out this way! (I decamped to Texas a while back). Anywho, this result is so much better than the last governor’s election I voted it…I believe it was a race between Buddy Romer and David Duke on the R ticket and Edwin Edwards (Jon Bel’s dad) on the D ticket. I wasn’t a huge Romer fan, but what are you gonna do?? If I am recollecting right, the run-off ended up between Duke and Edwards. (Still inconceivable to me!!) Edwards won the governorship, brought in gambling, took bribes and went to federal prison. Just another typical cycle in Lousiana politics. The two most powerful segments of the D electorate are the underclass and the education establishment (with the gentrified transplants coming up). Surprisingly, Louisiana voters of common sense can still manage to outnumber these segments. I wonder for how long? I love Louisiana and I do claim it is a Great State! Everyone should take a trip to NOLA and cajun country. It’s the food, the attitude, the music, the joie de vivre!

    May I suggest you start a Saturday morning at Fred’s Lounge in Mamou, Lousiana? Beer and Boudin for breakfast and a live Cajun music show broadcast all in French to the surrounding bayou. Or how about an interlude right now….

    https://youtu.be/seUW05AmlaE

    -DP

    Beer for breakfast – yeuk! What is Boudin?

    • #13
  14. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):
    Boudin

    Good question!

    • #14
  15. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Reformed_Yuppie (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    I don’t believe that Trump has ever adhered to this 11th commandment. He is quite scathing to any republican who dares not support him.

     

    And he should be. Political loyalty is something the Dems practice regularly, but Republicans will abandon their own with the slightest hint of a problem. Let’s bury Reagan’s 11th Commandment once and for all, and replace it with a new one:

    “No Republican will shrink from supporting a colleague under fire by the opposition, which includes the press.”

    Most of the time the press is the opposition.

    Yeah, I guess I didn’t need to add that.  The MSM, Democrats, and leftists are all one entity . . .

    • #15
  16. Reformed_Yuppie Inactive
    Reformed_Yuppie
    @Reformed_Yuppie

    Stad (View Comment):

    Reformed_Yuppie (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    I don’t believe that Trump has ever adhered to this 11th commandment. He is quite scathing to any republican who dares not support him.

     

    And he should be. Political loyalty is something the Dems practice regularly, but Republicans will abandon their own with the slightest hint of a problem. Let’s bury Reagan’s 11th Commandment once and for all, and replace it with a new one:

    “No Republican will shrink from supporting a colleague under fire by the opposition, which includes the press.”

    Most of the time the press is the opposition.

    Yeah, I guess I didn’t need to add that. The MSM, Democrats, and leftists are all one entity . . .

    And yet they still have no idea how he won or why good people hate them. They seem to go out of their way to be condescending to half the country. The most charitable explanation is that they’re obtuse and incompetent, which I’m sure is true for many of them. But a fair number of the folks who run the fourth estate are just smug, entitled jerks who are hellbent on controlling the lives of others. 

    • #16
  17. Bill Nelson Inactive
    Bill Nelson
    @BillNelson

    Stad (View Comment):

    Reformed_Yuppie (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    I don’t believe that Trump has ever adhered to this 11th commandment. He is quite scathing to any republican who dares not support him.

     

    And he should be. Political loyalty is something the Dems practice regularly, but Republicans will abandon their own with the slightest hint of a problem. Let’s bury Reagan’s 11th Commandment once and for all, and replace it with a new one:

    “No Republican will shrink from supporting a colleague under fire by the opposition, which includes the press.”

    Most of the time the press is the opposition.

    Yeah, I guess I didn’t need to add that. The MSM, Democrats, and leftists are all one entity . . .

    So it is up to use to stop thinking, stop being self critical, and trying to be better? Not for me.

    My guys, my side, has to be better. And I believe that criticism of our own positions and leadership is far more important than any criticism of the other side. I find it a waste of time to criticize idiots, they do that themselves. What I find valuable is to insure my own side has solid and reasoned arguments, and to make those arguments to those who disagree with me, not to the faithful.

    Trump likes to bath in the spotlight at his rallies. But what does that gain? Nothing. He needs to be talking to those independents and not so hard over democrats to win them over with ideas. Sloganeering bores me and in the end it accomplishes nothing.

     

     

    • #17
  18. Dominique Prynne Member
    Dominique Prynne
    @DominiquePrynne

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):
    What is Boudin?

    Boudin (pronounced Boo-Dan) is traditionally a cooked white rice and cajun spiced seasoned pork mixture encased in a sausage casing and cooked like you would any sausage – my preference is grilled.  The rice mixture often includes peppers and onions as well.   Boudin can also be formed into balls and deep fried – resulting in Boudin Balls – which are delicious, especially with some remoulade sauce.   Cajun cuisine, like so many other ethic food stuffs – is all about cheap and flavorful food.  Cajun cooking uses so much spice because, in the days before reliable refrigeration, the spice covered up the rotten taste of slightly spoiled food – which happened fast is such a hot environment.  So cold beer is the perfect wash for a spicy link of boudin!  (Admittedly, not my favorite for breakfast, but when in Mamou, you do as the Cajuns do!)

    • #18
  19. Dominique Prynne Member
    Dominique Prynne
    @DominiquePrynne

    Jim George (View Comment):
    By the way, the current Governor is the son of the long time Sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish, which position is now held by his son, and the Governor’s brother.

    I stand corrected.  The family resemblance is striking! (As is the political resemblance)  

    And yes, I did catch a minute or two of Edwin Edwards’ reality TV show after he was sprung from the federal pen -seems like it included the wedding to his much younger wife (hence the young child for a nonagenarian).  Since the wife was younger then EE’s older children, I figure new wife wanted to make sure she had an “anchor baby” on any of his estate at death – ill-gotten or otherwise.  (Forced heirship in Louisiana you know)  Of course that is the jaded me talking…maybe it was all for love. 

    • #19
  20. Reformed_Yuppie Inactive
    Reformed_Yuppie
    @Reformed_Yuppie

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Reformed_Yuppie (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    I don’t believe that Trump has ever adhered to this 11th commandment. He is quite scathing to any republican who dares not support him.

     

    And he should be. Political loyalty is something the Dems practice regularly, but Republicans will abandon their own with the slightest hint of a problem. Let’s bury Reagan’s 11th Commandment once and for all, and replace it with a new one:

    “No Republican will shrink from supporting a colleague under fire by the opposition, which includes the press.”

    Most of the time the press is the opposition.

    Yeah, I guess I didn’t need to add that. The MSM, Democrats, and leftists are all one entity . . .

    So it is up to use to stop thinking, stop being self critical, and trying to be better? Not for me.

    My guys, my side, has to be better. And I believe that criticism of our own positions and leadership is far more important than any criticism of the other side. I find it a waste of time to criticize idiots, they do that themselves. What I find valuable is to insure my own side has solid and reasoned arguments, and to make those arguments to those who disagree with me, not to the faithful.

    Trump likes to bath in the spotlight at his rallies. But what does that gain? Nothing. He needs to be talking to those independents and not so hard over democrats to win them over with ideas. Sloganeering bores me and in the end it accomplishes nothing.

     

     

    You won’t get much disagreement from me on those points. 

    • #20
  21. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Reformed_Yuppie (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    I don’t believe that Trump has ever adhered to this 11th commandment. He is quite scathing to any republican who dares not support him.

     

    And he should be. Political loyalty is something the Dems practice regularly, but Republicans will abandon their own with the slightest hint of a problem. Let’s bury Reagan’s 11th Commandment once and for all, and replace it with a new one:

    “No Republican will shrink from supporting a colleague under fire by the opposition, which includes the press.”

    Most of the time the press is the opposition.

    Yeah, I guess I didn’t need to add that. The MSM, Democrats, and leftists are all one entity . . .

    So it is up to use to stop thinking, stop being self critical, and trying to be better? Not for me.

    My guys, my side, has to be better. And I believe that criticism of our own positions and leadership is far more important than any criticism of the other side. I find it a waste of time to criticize idiots, they do that themselves. What I find valuable is to insure my own side has solid and reasoned arguments, and to make those arguments to those who disagree with me, not to the faithful.

    Trump likes to bath in the spotlight at his rallies. But what does that gain? Nothing. He needs to be talking to those independents and not so hard over democrats to win them over with ideas. Sloganeering bores me and in the end it accomplishes nothing.

    Actually, the rally audience is the Trump coalition, which importantly includes Democrats and independents who feel betrayed by the two party establishments. And he uses rallies to try out ideas, reading the live audience like any good performer.

    While there are now more registered Republicans than Democrats in Louisiana, there is the usual very large, decisive contingent of Independents: 1,256,473 R / 918,369 D / 787,035 I

    So, winning in Louisiana takes more than turning out the Republican base in statewide races.

    • #21
  22. MACHO GRANDE' (aka - Chris Cam… Coolidge
    MACHO GRANDE' (aka - Chris Cam…
    @ChrisCampion

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Reformed_Yuppie (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    I don’t believe that Trump has ever adhered to this 11th commandment. He is quite scathing to any republican who dares not support him.

     

    And he should be. Political loyalty is something the Dems practice regularly, but Republicans will abandon their own with the slightest hint of a problem. Let’s bury Reagan’s 11th Commandment once and for all, and replace it with a new one:

    “No Republican will shrink from supporting a colleague under fire by the opposition, which includes the press.”

    Most of the time the press is the opposition.

    Yeah, I guess I didn’t need to add that. The MSM, Democrats, and leftists are all one entity . . .

    So it is up to use to stop thinking, stop being self critical, and trying to be better? Not for me.

    My guys, my side, has to be better. And I believe that criticism of our own positions and leadership is far more important than any criticism of the other side. I find it a waste of time to criticize idiots, they do that themselves. What I find valuable is to insure my own side has solid and reasoned arguments, and to make those arguments to those who disagree with me, not to the faithful.

    Trump likes to bath in the spotlight at his rallies. But what does that gain? Nothing. He needs to be talking to those independents and not so hard over democrats to win them over with ideas. Sloganeering bores me and in the end it accomplishes nothing.

     

     

    This is a critical reason as to why Republicans lose elections.  But hey, “solid and reasoned arguments” should win the day, so while losing Republican politicians console themselves with their solid and reasoned arguments with each other, Democrat maniacs are passing insanities masked as laws, and you get to feel good about yourself for losing.

    So that’s something.  Enjoy your time at The Bulwark.

     

    • #22
  23. Bill Nelson Inactive
    Bill Nelson
    @BillNelson

    MACHO GRANDE' (aka – Chri… (View Comment):
    you get to feel good about yourself for losing.

    Feeling good is not the point. If I want emotions to guide my life I’d become a progressive, that way I can always feel good about helping others.

    And similarly, feeling good about Trump because he “fights” or “winning” is equally as thoughtless. The Tea Party started for real reasons. And it was co-opted and somewhat betrayed by a majority of the elected republican members of congress. Budget deficits a concern? Vote republican. No results to show.

    So now we turn to a guy who is popular because he “fights” the other side. Not because of what he does (growing deficit) but just for smacking the other side around.

    So when shove comes to push, when principle does matter, Trump has none. He made the Syria decision in the worst possible way, and against the advice of those who actually know the details of the situation. Why? To keep a campaign promise? How many lives will this be worth? And ultimately, it will be US lives.

    Of all his actions, the Syria withdrawal is an impeachable offense.

     

    • #23
  24. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    Of all his actions, the Syria withdrawal is an impeachable offense.

    So Russia, Russia, Russia is now Syria, Syria, Syria…good luck with that. There are serious arguments and silly. This is just silly. Actually, no it is not silly, it is deeply offensive to our constitutional republic. Matt Taibbi and Mackubin Thomas Owens are right.

    • #24
  25. Reformed_Yuppie Inactive
    Reformed_Yuppie
    @Reformed_Yuppie

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    Of all his actions, the Syria withdrawal is an impeachable offense.

    So Russia, Russia, Russia is now Syria, Syria, Syria…good luck with that. There are serious arguments and silly. This is just silly. Actually, no it is not silly, it is deeply offensive to our constitutional republic. Matt Taibbi and Mackubin Thomas Owens are right.

    Saying that a foreign policy disagreement is “silly” kind of frees you from having to think about it, doesn’t it? If you don’t believe in the validity of the perspective of someone else—especially when that is a perspective shared by a great number of people—then you’re not really interested in a good faith discussion. 

    • #25
  26. Bill Nelson Inactive
    Bill Nelson
    @BillNelson

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    Of all his actions, the Syria withdrawal is an impeachable offense.

    So Russia, Russia, Russia is now Syria, Syria, Syria…good luck with that. There are serious arguments and silly. This is just silly. Actually, no it is not silly, it is deeply offensive to our constitutional republic. Matt Taibbi and Mackubin Thomas Owens are right.

    Presidential decisions which are damaging to the nation are one of the most important reasons for impeachment. In the case of Syria, it appears that Trump went off script with what had been worked out with the national security team, and he told Erdogan that we would stand aside. Against everything that the national security and defense teams had told him. This is damaging to the US and to the region.

    If Trump’s gut told him to provide military assistance to Hezbollah, that would being instant removal, and an almost unanimous vote. The Syria decision is not far from this scenario (I’d say far fetched but nothing is far fetched with Trump). How long do we wait until something truly horrific is done? Will he green light China’s crushing of Hong Kong to get a trade deal signed? Quite possible, he’s not all that concerned about Hong Kong as it is.

    The majority of House republicans voted for condemnation, and if it came to a vote in the Senate, he would also lose there. When Trump trusts his gut, he has lost the trust of the American people.

    Syria is protecting the Kurds, that’s good,” Mr. Trump said. “Syria may get help from Russia and that’s fine.…There’s a lot of sand to play with.

    Russia has moved into the Turkey-Syria border. And it will get worse.

     

    • #26
  27. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    Reformed_Yuppie (View Comment): …you’re not really interested in a good faith discussion. 

    Yea, that part made me giggle.

    • #27
  28. Reformed_Yuppie Inactive
    Reformed_Yuppie
    @Reformed_Yuppie

    philo (View Comment):

    Reformed_Yuppie (View Comment): …you’re not really interested in a good faith discussion.

    Yea, that part made me giggle.

    Glad you like to laugh? I don’t know what kind of response that warrants. 

    • #28
  29. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    Of all his actions, the Syria withdrawal is an impeachable offense.

    So Russia, Russia, Russia is now Syria, Syria, Syria…good luck with that. There are serious arguments and silly. This is just silly. Actually, no it is not silly, it is deeply offensive to our constitutional republic. Matt Taibbi and Mackubin Thomas Owens are right.

    Presidential decisions which are damaging to the nation are one of the most important reasons for impeachment. In the case of Syria, it appears that Trump went off script with what had been worked out with the national security team, and he told Erdogan that we would stand aside. Against everything that the national security and defense teams had told him. This is damaging to the US and to the region.

    If Trump’s gut told him to provide military assistance to Hezbollah, that would being instant removal, and an almost unanimous vote. The Syria decision is not far from this scenario (I’d say far fetched but nothing is far fetched with Trump). How long do we wait until something truly horrific is done? Will he green light China’s crushing of Hong Kong to get a trade deal signed? Quite possible, he’s not all that concerned about Hong Kong as it is.

    The majority of House republicans voted for condemnation, and if it came to a vote in the Senate, he would also lose there. When Trump trusts his gut, he has lost the trust of the American people.

    Syria is protecting the Kurds, that’s good,” Mr. Trump said. “Syria may get help from Russia and that’s fine.…There’s a lot of sand to play with.

    Russia has moved into the Turkey-Syria border. And it will get worse.

     

    The so-called national security team is the servant of the President. Period. There is no independent 4th branch of government, and to argue otherwise is contemptuous of the Constitution. If the Congress disagrees with a foreign policy decision they have a fair amount of power to pass laws directing and prohibiting particular policies. See the prohibition against aiding the Nicaraguan Contras against the communists in the 1980s. 

    It is only blind hatred of President Trump that drives the impeachment farce and willingness to side with military, intelligence community, and State Department functionaries, in their violation of their oath of office, a move expected to only apply to this president, as it certainly was not applied to Reagan, Bush43, or Obama.

    Matt Taibbi and Mackubin Thomas Owens are right.

    • #29
  30. Bill Nelson Inactive
    Bill Nelson
    @BillNelson

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):
    The so-called national security team is the servant of the President.

    No. The “team” is a servant of the people, and owe their loyalty to the people and the constitution. Not the president. They merely work for him, and their purpose, as should be the presidents, is to make the best decisions for the country. They should care little for campaign promises. They are keepers of the public trust.

    And we have them for a reason. Trump is not the king, who can make any decision he wishes to. The government hires and pay really smart people who are subject matter experts because the president is not a subject matter expert.

    A trait of good leadership is to allow those who work for you to do the best job they can.

    When you say that those who disagree with the president are working from “blind hatred” you believe that excuses you from any reasoned discussion.

     

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