Worst President in History

[_Xenophon]

Aren't locks a waste of money just like a border wall? What gives you the right to deny other human beings use of your property? You should allow people to redistribute your property as they see fit otherwise your a selfish and racist bigot. The government shouldn't have to make you do this. It should come of your own volition.

Your version of a border wall isn't the corollary to "door lock" in this analogy though. The setup looks more like this:

The current state of border security, although not totally impenetrable does a sufficent job at stopping would be interlopers = "door lock"

"Ajax's ideal border setup" = relocating to an underground bunker, with bio-metric lock systems, automated defenses and steel reinforced security doors.

It becomes a question of cost, practicality and return on investment. By your argument if you don't have an armed guard, my security layout described above and GPS trackers in all your children than clearly you are doing nothing to protect them. Surely you can see that this line of thinking doesn't really hold up?

[_Doctor Steuss]

[...] and he hasn't raised our taxes either [...]

Not yet, at least. Which, I guess is part of the genius of it.

In ten years when aspects of the cut expire (after he and his friends are out of office), about 3/4 of middle-class Americans won't just lose the tax break, but will end up paying more in taxes because of the "deal."

[_Gunnar]

Of course I believe that people should be permitted to leave inheritances for their children! What have I ever said that would lead you to believe otherwise?

What gives you the right to inherit money just because you were born by chance to wealthy people?

Yes, of course I have locks on my doors! This is both for the safety of myself and my family and safeguarding my property from those who would take it from me without my permission.

Aren't locks a waste of money just like a border wall? What gives you the right to deny other human beings use of your property? You should allow people to redistribute your property as they see fit otherwise you're a selfish and racist bigot. The government shouldn't have to make you do this. It should come of your own volition.

As Some Schmo previously said:

It's really quite remarkable how stupid your posts are. Times like this make me think it's an act. Nobody could be this damned stupid and still manage to find the power button on their computer.

Your arguments above deserve no better response than that!

[_Some Schmo]

Is that really Schmo's view? Where did he say that? I'm not confident that is really his view. You have a deplorable penchant jumping to incorrect conclusions about someone else's view is. Nevertheless, in an Ideal world where everyone and every nation treated each other amicably and fairly, that would be an ideal worth working towards. Unfortunately, thanks to despots like Trump and Putin, and the prevalence of dishonesty, intolerance and bigotry, this is not yet close to being an ideal world.

Gunnar, what's hilarious about this is that you have a better grasp of what I was saying in the comments ajax is referring to than he does, and he apparently read them!

Man, that made my day.

[_moksha]

Can't imagine why anyone would equivocate about Trump being the worst President in American history. Every step of the way Trump has introduced a new low for the presidency.

[_Some Schmo]

Can't imagine why anyone would equivocate about Trump being the worst President in American history. Every step of the way Trump has introduced a new low for the presidency.

I think I know what you're saying: he keeps finding new lows, making that version of Drumpf worse than the last terrible one we thought we knew.

Here's the problem: every time he hits a new low, he beats his previous record, making him once again, the worse President ever. He's also setting a record for the most appearances on the top ten worst presidents in history list.

[Guest]

Is that really Schmo's view? Where did he say that? I'm not confident that is really his view. You have a deplorable penchant jumping to incorrect conclusions about someone else's view is. Nevertheless, in an Ideal world where everyone and every nation treated each other amicably and fairly, that would be an ideal worth working towards. Unfortunately, thanks to despots like Trump and Putin, and the prevalence of dishonesty, intolerance and bigotry, this is not yet close to being an ideal world.

Gunnar, what's hilarious about this is that you have a better grasp of what I was saying in the comments ajax is referring to than he does, and he apparently read them!

Man, that made my day.

Thanks for confirming what I thought you probably meant, even though I couldn't find and didn't read your comment that Majax was referring to. From our interactions with each other on this forum, I feel I have gotten to know you fairly well, and consider you a kind of kindred spirit. Majax is apparently so firmly set in his prejudices and what he has already chosen to believe, that he has virtually rendered himself incapable of learning anything new--especially if it conflicts with what he is already predisposed to believe.

[_Some Schmo]

Thanks for confirming what I thought you probably meant, even though I couldn't find and didn't read your comment that Majax was referring to.

It's been quite some time since that conversation took place, perhaps more than a year. I don't remember the thread it was in so I couldn't find it if I tried. Maybe ajax remembers.

I have thought about the comments I made (the spirit of them, anyway) from time to time and wonder how overly optimistic they might have been. Over time, I've become pessimistic about my optimism.

But what I quoted of yours is an excellent description of the way I currently see it, at least.

From our interactions with each other on this forum, I feel I have gotten to know you fairly well, and consider you a kind of kindred spirit.

Thank you. The feeling's mutual.

Majax is apparently so firmly set in his prejudices and what he has already chosen to believe, that he has virtually rendered himself incapable of learning anything new--especially if it conflicts with what he is already predisposed to believe.

That was what prompted my recent query to him about his motivation for posting here. Few people agree with him and he's not interested in learning. Why does he bother? It's just strange.

Although I feel the need to repeat: I don't want him to stop posting. He's nothing if not a fascinating case. He's like the Karl Pilkington of MDB (not that I think Pilkington is a racist. Just to be clear).

[_Gunnar]

I have thought about the comments I made (the spirit of them, anyway) from time to time and wonder how overly optimistic they might have been. Over time, I've become pessimistic about my optimism.

I know exactly what you mean! Before the election of Trump, I was fairly optimistic about the future of my country. That optimism got a significant boost when our first Black President was elected. I thought that perhaps we had turned the corner on the racial bigotry that had too long been the bane of this country. Obama may not have been the perfect President, but he was, I believe, a basically decent man and an admirable husband and father. I am convinced that he could have been a much more effective force for good in our country had it not been for the stubborn, irrational and (I firmly believe) largely racially motivated determination of his GOP opponents to prevent him from succeeding in anything he tried to do--especially if it were admirable and would reflect well on him (as the first black President), as well as on Democrats and progressives in general.

Much, if not most, of what Trump has said and tried to do since his election has put a tremendous damper on my previous optimism. Trump has made it glaringly obvious by both word and deed that he is largely motivated by a bloody-minded determination to destroy Obama's legacy by trying his level best to undo anything Obama managed to accomplish, especially if it might reflect favorable credit on that legacy. This animus and desire to exact revenge on Obama at all costs is Spiteful, extremely Childish and unworthy of the office he holds!

by the way, do you know the difference between an optimist and a pessimist? An optimist is one who believes this is the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist is someone who fears that the optimist is right!

[_Some Schmo]

Much, if not most, of what Trump has said and tried to do since his election has put a tremendous damper on my previous optimism. Trump has made it glaringly obvious by both word and deed that he is largely motivated by a bloody-minded determination to destroy Obama's legacy by trying his level best to undo anything Obama managed to accomplish, especially if it might reflect favorable credit on that legacy. This animus and desire to exact revenge on Obama at all costs is Spiteful, extremely Childish and unworthy of the office he holds!

In many ways, it's backfiring. Unless you're one of his brainwashed supporters, I think this tactic is only serving to remind people what a class act Obama was as President. Hell, Drumpf is even making George W. look good.

My wife has been watching these sappy Ellen videos doing tributes to the Obamas recently. She says it helps her get through another day with the current President. Can't say I blame her.

by the way, do you know the difference between an optimist and a pessimist? An optimist is one who believes this is the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist is someone who fears that the optimist is right!

lol

It's a Murphy's Law paradox!