@voodoorat this is an important question and I fear it has no easy answer. My wife and I are both horrified and worried about what's going on but we handle it in different ways. I want to consume as much news as possible, looking for positive tidbits, but she doesn't want to see any of it because it only makes her feel more helpless. The best advice I can give you is to listen and talk it out with your loved ones. Make sure they know that the good guys vastly outnumber the bad guys and are not taking anything lying down. Go to a protest or call or visit your rep/senator. Take care of each other, and remember to make some time (or a lot of time) for things you enjoy.
Personally, I take some comfort in the fact that he is burning through political capital so incredibly quickly. What will motivate Congressional Republicans, like anyone in Congress, is the political wind changing and them being put in a position to lose their spot based on decisions that they made or things they didn't oppose. The faster that Trump alienates more of the populous, the faster that the Congressional majority will turn on him. Given Trump's need for public approval, I think there is a breaking point for him too. I don't know if his delusions will continue to leave him convinced that he is amazingly popular despite prolonged falling numbers, but assuming that reality seeps in I think that America at large clearly turning on him could affect him too. So, in a way, this rapid tidal wave of shit may possibly not be the worst thing.
So, yeah it's really scary. I'm really nervous that if there is a major terrorist attack (or a series of minor ones) that there will be a registry. I'm really scared about him getting at least one judge and quite probably more than one, and the implications of that. I'm really scared about him setting back environmental causes. Voting rights, women's rights, LGBT rights, a whole bunch of stuff like that, but I'm also hopeful that this will be a real wake up call to people who would oppose him but are passive about their involvement. Maybe a Trump shake-up is what we need, just hoping that he doesn't do too much damage in getting us where we need to go.
he's definitely testing the idea of "political capital"... especially considering that he came in with no personal mandate (i guess he can make some claim that republicans have a mandate since they do control congress) and is unusually unpopular to begin with. usually that popularity is what you burn to do the things you want to do, and as you become unpopular you become political poison for your party. not sure what the fuck is happening with this guy, if he's able to do what he wants and his approval goes in the toilet but he doesn't make any concessions what happens? it's usually kind of a self-regulating thing.
Yes, it's puzzling that he and/or whomever is advising him seems to know very little about how government actually works. But it might be a good thing in the end. What if he had spent a couple of months doing the political thing, calming people down and then done this stuff? Would people be paying as much attention?
Everyone needs to download the app Countable. It makes emailing your reps super easy and gives an unbiased look at almost every issue. You can stay up to date on proposed bills and let your reps know in real time what you think about their voting record to keep them accountable
I was struck today by a thought, that in the last couple of weeks a great many things have changed in this country, and I've followed the news rather closely, but I don't recall hearing about a single bill that was passed by Congress and signed by the President. I watched Schoolhouse Rock as a kid, so my question is: when the fuck did everything in this country start getting done by executive orders? I don't have a lot of hope for the future, and my despair is bipartisan, you know? My advice to the person who was asking what to do if you're scared of Trump...I guess stock up or learn first aid, because the dissolution of the republic seems inevitable, impending, and likely uncivil.
Other than making me feel good, does this actually do anything? My Representative and my Senators are clearly not for the Trump agenda. That and a Three Musketeers will get them a candy bar. What does my calling them do for me or them? Some sort of catharsis?
Some of my friends have been calling and sending messages to Speaker Ryan even though they're thousands of miles from his district. Does he care about that at all, is this just a more complicated version of catharsis?
Everyone needs to download the app Countable. It makes emailing your reps super easy and gives an unbiased look at almost every issue. You can stay up to date on proposed bills and let your reps know in real time what you think about their voting record to keep them accountable
I thought the same thing. Coming from California, I have 2 Democratic Senators and through the app I am able to see their voting record and how they intend on voting. Both are very anti Trump, but for example, one of my Senators is obstaining from voting on the confirmation on one of Trumps cabinet picks. I find that unacceptable and will let them know about my dissatisfaction. The LAST thing a senator wants to hear is voter discontent. Will just my email change anything? Probably not. But if everyone lets her know she needs to get in the fight like the rest of us then we can make a change imo
Other than making me feel good, does this actually do anything? My Representative and my Senators are clearly not for the Trump agenda. That and a Three Musketeers will get them a candy bar. What does my calling them do for me or them? Some sort of catharsis?
Some of my friends have been calling and sending messages to Speaker Ryan even though they're thousands of miles from his district. Does he care about that at all, is this just a more complicated version of catharsis?
Everyone needs to download the app Countable. It makes emailing your reps super easy and gives an unbiased look at almost every issue. You can stay up to date on proposed bills and let your reps know in real time what you think about their voting record to keep them accountable
This is the unfortunate thing about living in California. I mean, on one hand it's good to have reps who (for the most part) are doing and saying what I would like them to say already, but being that we are only constituents to them we have literally no sway over anyone who we could swing. From what I have heard, and it makes a lot of sense, it just doesn't matter to representatives of territories where you do not reside what non-constituents think. They are only accountable to their voters. That said, the one thing you could do (and though I haven't explored it I have heard tales of methods of doing so and groups who do it) is to try to motivate people in swing territories. There are lists of vulnerable districts that you can find (the Pod Save America guys mentioned it at some point) and I'm sure there are call lists to be found. That would be something at least if you wanted to try to influence representatives you should try to influence their voters to activate. Also, even if your/our Reps are going to vote the way that you would like already they love to talk about how jammed their phone lines and inboxes are and how many people came to their meetings and offices publicly. It may be a very minor little blip, but a blip none the less.
Trump phoned the Australian PM. If I can be so presumptuous as to speak for the United States - Sorry.
Keep faith down under - if we don't destroy the world, we'll be back to mend the friendship in four years.
Pavkey88Florida, the home of beautiful beaches and meth addicted face-eaters
Wow this thread has a boatload of comments! I waded through 5 or 6 pages and then just bounced to the end.
I saw very few conservative posts (perhaps there were more) but I think it's interesting to look at this from a non-liberal perspective.
8 years ago, the conservatives were in a panic as well...not because we had the first black president, but because of his perceived policy ideas at the time. I remember there were some protests as well, though not widely reported in the media, and Obama did the same thing once he got into office...lots and lots of executive orders.
Is Trump going to destroy this country? I strongly doubt that. I do like to see things shaken up though, I am super sick of the political establishment which we're ruining our country well before Trump or Obama got into office.
I would also say "not only because" since much of the rhetoric from conservatives did highlight his race, perceived non-citizenship as well as religion. We also saw a large push of white nationalism from the alt-right.
I would also say "not only because" since much of the rhetoric from conservatives did highlight his race, perceived non-citizenship as well as religion. We also saw a large push of white nationalism from the alt-right.
Any measure of executive orders by Obama have to take the obstruction of the Republican controlled congress into account.
Trump phoned the Australian PM. If I can be so presumptuous as to speak for the United States - Sorry.
Keep faith down under - if we don't destroy the world, we'll be back to mend the friendship in four years.
Don't apologise - our PM is a craven disappointment who kowtows to his rich mates and has no spine to stand up to the far right whack jobs in his own party. I'd hang up on him too. It's the first thing Cheeto Voldemort has ever done that I approve of.
Who the fuck cares what the ratings of the apprentice are when you're the fucking President of the United States!? Don't you have better things to do?! You'd think being handed possibly the most important job one could ever have would be enough but no he has to fucking belittle anyone who's ever replaced him at anything. Also on a more serious note repealing the law separating church and state is a terrible idea.
I think what worries most people about Trump is not the number of orders, but the content. I'm ok with presidents signing a bunch of EO increasing ethical requirements and ending torture. Not so much on illegally banning green card holders.
So like what is the real percentage that Trump doesn't make it through 4 years? Not like an assassination which is way too far for anyone, but just that he gets impeached or forced to resign.
Comments
Resist media ghouls!
Resist!
Just sayin
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/01/politics/republicans-vote-to-suspend-committee-rules-advance-mnuchin-price-nominations/index.html
I saw very few conservative posts (perhaps there were more) but I think it's interesting to look at this from a non-liberal perspective.
8 years ago, the conservatives were in a panic as well...not because we had the first black president, but because of his perceived policy ideas at the time. I remember there were some protests as well, though not widely reported in the media, and Obama did the same thing once he got into office...lots and lots of executive orders.
Is Trump going to destroy this country? I strongly doubt that. I do like to see things shaken up though, I am super sick of the political establishment which we're ruining our country well before Trump or Obama got into office.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/23/obama-executive-orders/
Shows that Obama averaged the least amount of EOs since Cleveland.....
Here is another link showing basically the same thing
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/orders.php
I would also say "not only because" since much of the rhetoric from conservatives did highlight his race, perceived non-citizenship as well as religion. We also saw a large push of white nationalism from the alt-right.