Donald Trump is an intuitive genius, and if you don't understand this, you will never stop him.

[Jayson1]

If they have teachers with guns might as well go all the way in on the insanity. Have the kids escorted to each class in handcuffs. Bars on the windows. Armed guard for each classroom. Matching uniforms with no pockets to hide any weapons.

When I was in high school we didn't even lock our lockers. And that was in 1994! Granted I was in a small town in Oklahoma but school didn't feel like jail to me. We need to bring that back and not go even more into what is currently being done.

Jason

 

[urbandefault]

Only slightly off-topic ...

https://zapatopi.net/afdb/

Interesting reading for those inclined to do so.

 

[MacLeod]

If they have teachers with guns might as well go all the way in on the insanity. Have the kids escorted to each class in handcuffs. Bars on the windows. Armed guard for each classroom. Matching uniforms with no pockets to hide any weapons.

When I was in high school we didn't even lock our lockers. And that was in 1994! Granted I was in a small town in Oklahoma but school didn't feel like jail to me. We need to bring that back and not go even more into what is currently being done.

Jason

Now Now, don't forgot armed teachers at entry points to schools, guard towers every 30m or so around the schools perimeters, twenty foot high fences. Airport style detectors and all entrances.

 

[Jayson1]

Now Now, don't forgot armed teachers at entry points to schools, guard towers every 30m or so around the schools perimeters, twenty foot high fences. Airport style detectors and all entrances.

Solitary for those who act up and have to be removed from the Gen Pop. Also shop class will have a whole new meaning because now the kids will be making license plates and other stuff the school can profit off and pay for office supplies. Who was it a few years ago who said schools should get ride off custodians and just have the kids clean things up around the school? I think it was Newt Gingirch but not so sure.

Jason

 

[suarezguy]

I think Trump has the ability to make his attitudes and positions seem like simple common sense but rarely-expressed common sense, so hard to argue against.
Here is a good example, easy to mock and even dismiss but hard to argue against (1:18)

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To the criticism that his immigration restrictions would cause anger and resentment from Muslims he just emphasizes that there already is a lot of anger, some of it understandable anger, so bad it's hard to see how things could get worse, let alone much worse. Just from that clip you can't say that the San Bernardino attack didn't happen or isn't too consequential or, easily, that yes things are bad but they still could be much worse.

In general he defends himself by pointing out that a lot of situations were bad before he came in and critics generally can't reasonably deny that.

 

[suarezguy]

It is a bit of a fascist/authoritarian tactic to demonize predecessors ("Surely you do not want Jones back?") and yet it seems pretty commonly used in mainstream politics as well and he's pretty effective at it and makes it seem reasonable and based on fact.

 

[suarezguy]

As for reducing school shootings while admitting feeling a bit draconian and pretty last resort-y it would also seems pretty sensible, even logical, to just have metal detectors and/or required see-through backpacks in schools.

 

[Tenacity]

Airport style detectors and all entrances.

Some public schools have had these for decades. The primary school where my niece goes can only be entered through the office during the majority of the day. You can't just causally enter anytime you please after the start of classes.

And there's a tall fence around the playground.

It is a bit of a fascist/authoritarian tactic to demonize predecessors ("Surely you do not want Jones back?") and yet it seems pretty commonly used in mainstream politics as well and he's pretty effective at it and makes it seem reasonable and based on fact.

You mean like what Obama repeatedly did with George Bush?

 

[MacLeod]

In general he defends himself by pointing out that a lot of situations were bad before he came in and critics generally can't reasonably deny that.

Some might say that is deflection, I suspect most people are more interested in the here and now and what is going to be done to fix something rather than dwelling on what happened X months/years ago.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Here is a good example, easy to mock and even dismiss but hard to argue against (1:18)

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To the criticism that his immigration restrictions would cause anger and resentment from Muslims he just emphasizes that there already is a lot of anger, some of it understandable anger, so bad it's hard to see how things could get worse, let alone much worse. Just from that clip you can't say that the San Bernardino attack didn't happen or isn't too consequential or, easily, that yes things are bad but they still could be much worse.

In general he defends himself by pointing out that a lot of situations were bad before he came in and critics generally can't reasonably deny that.

It's actually quite easy to argue against his position.

Trump's anti-immigration policies wouldn't have prevented the San Bernardino attack, because the two chief perpetrators were a Chicago-born US citizen and his Pakistani-born / Saudi Arabian-raised wife (neither of those countries is on the travel ban) with a permanent resident visa through marriage who passed the extensive background checks and marriage verification process. Considering Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are two of the largest state sponsors of terrorism but Trump left them off the list because he has business dealings in those countries, it's pretty hard to see the common sense there.

The "chain migration" policy Trump wants to end doesn't apply to spouses of citizens, but does apply to the parents and siblings of immigrants who became US citizens and then sponsored their family to come over, which ironically would have threatened Melania's parents and sister with deportation if the rules actually applied to Trump himself instead of just to everyone else.

It's quite easy to see how things can get worse if Trump continues to demonize Muslims, continues the Middle Eastern and North African drone strikes / bombing campaigns and destabilizing occupations of his predecessors (Bush got the ball rolling —especially with the preemptive invasion of Iraq under false pretenses— but Obama and now Trump continued it), continues to undermine our alliances and treaties abroad in an unprecedented way, and continues to undermine and devalue the work of the State Department by giving vague and contradictory policy directives (if any), being woefully ignorant of regional and cultural dynamics and national security briefings, and leaving key consulates and ambassadorial positions unfilled or poorly staffed (like the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, which has been unfilled since Trump took office last year). That's on top of insulting and undermining the military leadership, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement of this country whilst praising hostile powers and dictators abroad.

We're lucky nothing serious has happened yet. I'm worried to think of how Trump will react to a major terrorist attack or other international crisis given how terribly he handles even the most mundane problems domestically.

 

[suarezguy]

The "chain migration" policy Trump wants to end doesn't apply to spouses of citizens, but does apply to the parents and siblings of immigrants who became US citizens and then sponsored their family to come over, which ironically would have threatened Melania's parents and sister with deportation if the rules actually applied to Trump himself instead of just to everyone else.

I believe he is for continuing having that family preference in immigration for immediate family members but against continuing to have it for other family relatives.

continues to undermine our alliances and treaties abroad in an unprecedented way

How has he done that? Other than say that our allies should contribute more to their own defense?

It's quite easy to see how things can get worse if Trump continues to demonize Muslims, continues the Middle Eastern and North African drone strikes / bombing campaigns and destabilizing occupations of his predecessors (Bush got the ball rolling —especially with the preemptive invasion of Iraq under false pretenses— but Obama and now Trump continued it)

Yeah, things actually can get worse (and with more bombings they likely will) but admitting "Yes, it's bad now but things can get even worse" is unappealing rhetoric, it can feel like saying we need to accept how bad things currently are.

 

[Lord Garth]

We're lucky nothing serious has happened yet. I'm worried to think of how Trump will react to a major terrorist attack or other international crisis given how terribly he handles even the most mundane problems domestically.

He'll make Bush -- of all people -- look like a voice of reason in comparison. In fact, he already does.

I thought Bush would be the worst President of my lifetime. Little did I know...

 

[Jayson1]

As for reducing school shootings while admitting feeling a bit draconian and pretty last resort-y it would also seems pretty sensible, even logical, to just have metal detectors and/or required see-through backpacks in schools.

Couldn't you just sneak a gun through via a window or a back door.

Jason

 

[Jayson1]

He'll make Bush -- of all people -- look like a voice of reason in comparison. In fact, he already does.

I thought Bush would be the worst President of my lifetime. Little did I know...

Just wait until we get President Alex Jones in 8 years.

Jason

 

[Lord Garth]

I've always liked Australia.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

You mean like what Obama repeatedly did with George Bush?

Since it apparently happened with such frequency and ferocity, I'm sure you can provide several examples of times when President Obama "demonized" President Bush in anything close to the way Trump has repeatedly done and continues to do to Obama. Because I'd hate to think you were just engaging in baseless whataboutism to try and compare Obama to the scumbag who led a racist campaign to deny his citizenship and schooling for the better part of a decade.

Obama had plenty of legitimate reasons to publicly insult and complain about George W. Bush if he wanted to given the national and international clusterfucks he inherited upon taking office, yet he always remained respectful toward him and the office of President even when pointing out policy disagreements they had and difficulties the Obama Administration had to deal with. That's why Bush and Obama remain on friendly terms but neither of them like Trump (though they both remain professional about it), who shits on the office and publicly disrespects those who preceded him on a regular basis like a child.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I believe he is for continuing having that family preference in immigration for immediate family members but against continuing to have it for other family relatives.

Like I and the link I provided said, he is in favor of placing severe limitations on so-called "chain migration" (which is a poorly chosen term for reuniting families) by restricting it to only spouses and minor children, which is why Melania's parents and sister would not have qualified to immigrate here had he implemented the policy earlier.

Under the current system, immediate relative immigrant visas are intended for the spouse of a U.S. citizen, unmarried children of the citizen under the age of 21, parents of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old, and orphans either already adopted abroad or to be adopted abroad by the U.S. citizen. After that group, there are four categories of other relatives who can be granted family preference immigrant visas: unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens and their children, married children of citizens and their spouses or children, brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children, and the spouses, minor children and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents.

The immigration plan proposed by the Trump administration does not get rid of such family-based immigrant visas but limits them. In the State of the Union speech, Trump billed it as a way to "protect the nuclear family."

"Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family, by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children," he said.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/conf...gration-display-state-union/story?id=52737306

How has he done that? Other than say that our allies should contribute more to their own defense?

Angela Merkel: Europe must take ‘our fate’ into own hands
Alluding to difficulties with Donald Trump and Brexit, German leader says EU can’t ‘completely depend on others.’

Donald Trump is ripping up the alliances that keep the world safe. We must defend them

President Trump Must Stop Lashing Out at Allies If He Wants to Rein in North Korea

Here’s A List Of Countries And Leaders Trump Has Insulted Since His Election (Lists allies and non-allies)

 

[MacLeod]

Like I and the link I provided said, he is in favor of placing severe limitations on so-called "chain migration" (which is a poorly chosen term for reuniting families) by restricting it to only spouses and minor children, which is why Melania's parents and sister would not have qualified to immigrate here had he implemented the policy earlier.





Angela Merkel: Europe must take ‘our fate’ into own hands
Alluding to difficulties with Donald Trump and Brexit, German leader says EU can’t ‘completely depend on others.’

Donald Trump is ripping up the alliances that keep the world safe. We must defend them

President Trump Must Stop Lashing Out at Allies If He Wants to Rein in North Korea

Here’s A List Of Countries And Leaders Trump Has Insulted Since His Election (Lists allies and non-allies)

Perhaps he is suffering from something known as Foot in Mouth,

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Yeah, he gets that a lot. He must have exceptionally small feet to match his tiny infant hands.

 

[suarezguy]

Like I and the link I provided said, he is in favor of placing severe limitations on so-called "chain migration" (which is a poorly chosen term for reuniting families) by restricting it to only spouses and minor children, which is why Melania's parents and sister would not have qualified to immigrate here had he implemented the policy earlier.

Whoa, that is flagrant hypocrisy and he deserves a lot of heat for that. A good, sad example of when he goes way, unreasonably overboard.

Angela Merkel: Europe must take ‘our fate’ into own hands
Alluding to difficulties with Donald Trump and Brexit, German leader says EU can’t ‘completely depend on others.’

That, in substance, seems to be trying to change as Trump wants Europe to change, that it shouldn't (completely) depend on US.

President Trump Must Stop Lashing Out at Allies If He Wants to Rein in North Korea

Pretty troubling, as was the insult to Paris, indeed damaging to the relationships and being able to work with those countries.