Come Heller high water …
- We’re at the stage of the Trump puzzle that a picture is starting to emerge. To me it looks like this: Mueller has something fairly juicy on Cohen. He turns Cohen, who spills what he knows about Trump, the Russians, Hillary’s emails, Comey, Stormy Daniels, the other 547 women, the pee-pee tape, and Trump’s finances. If that’s the arc of things, the Donald isn’t going to just get fired, he’s going on trial. If so, I shall dance.
- Did you notice this? About the returned hostages, Trump said, “We want to thank Kim Jong-un, who really was excellent to these three incredible people.” Excellent? They were hostages. In prison. Making little rocks out of big rocks. If that’s being “excellent,” I’d hate to see what being treated just so-so in North Korea is like.
- Wait, Be Best? What the heck does that mean? Aren’t we missing a “the” there somewhere, Melania? (I’m truly not picking on her – she has enough problems. I’m seriously just wondering why no one mentioned the awkwardness of this to her. Or that her husband and his party are doing everything to take funding away from programs that she advocates.)
- This is probably about the most obvious thing I’ve ever written, but, holy cow, are the theme parks in Orlando expensive. I hadn’t been to one in 25 years. Back then, it cost an arm and a leg. This time it cost an arm, a leg and all of the arms and legs of the next 10 generations of Hellers to come. Sorry about that, future Hellers, but I’m sure they’ll have fantastic bionic replacements by the time you arrive.
- Which one did we go to? Well, I don’t want to be unfair but it’s one that sort of rhymes with “reversal” and has Harry Potter attractions. The lovely yet formidable Marcia and her sidekick daughter Annie are big Potterheads, so off we went. I must say the sets of Diagon Alley, Hogwarts castle and Hogsmeade are incredible. But they’re also mostly just stores that sell so-so food and souvenirs. The 3-D rides were also fun but were only four minutes long. The cheapo in me kept thinking, “Think of all the money I could have saved by plunking Annie and Marcia on the couch, sticking on a blu-ray of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and shaking the couch.”
- I just read that robo-calls are at an all-time high. But I knew that already. I used to get none on my cell phone. Now I get three or four a week now, which is why I’ve taken to not answering calls from unfamiliar area codes. I figure if someone doesn’t leave a message, they didn’t need to call in the first place.
- What I always wonder is if you accidentally answer a robo-call does your number automatically get put on a list of suckers, meaning you’ll get more of them? Also, are you saved if you answer but hang up before the recording starts because there’s that one second of silence?
- A new bill has passed in North Carolina that would allow drivers to drive through protesters who are blocking the road without being sued, as long as they “exercise due care.” There’s probably a companion bill coming allowing drivers who run over protesters to sue if their bumper gets dented. Good god, what a world.
- Now that the Pistons have fired Stan Van Gundy, I hope they hire a coach and a GM instead of keeping the duties combined. Sometimes you need two viewpoints. Maybe if they’d had that they wouldn’t have drafted the utterly average Stanley Johnson and the eminently forgettable Luke Kennard over Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell. Can you imagine the team they’d be if they had those two? Stan Van just never adjusted to the new NBA, which is all about dunks and 3-pointers with nothing in between.
- I gotta say it: the Detroit Tigers aren’t nearly as awful as I thought they’d be. Their starting pitching is OK and their offense can be fun and productive at times, but their bullpen, whew, my 10-year-old sneakers smell better.
- I think my wife is trying to kill me. She just brought home romaine lettuce from the grocery. Says she’s gonna make me a big salad because it’s “nutritious.” Help me.
- Speaking of which, investigators are saying the romaine that has sickened 150 people and killed one was probably grown in the Yuma region of Arizona, so people shouldn’t buy it if it was grown there. OK, but my question is why are grocery chains still buying it?
- “Friendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .” ― C.S. Lewis
Image credit: Donkey Hotey
jbcsfl says
Andy, another super column.
You always bring a smile to my face and make me laugh as I agree with what you write, (most of the time).
This trump investigation gets more interesting by the day, I think he is a done dinner and his days are numbered.
Bill says
Download the Hiya app for your smartphone, as it will screen out most telemarketers. Works great!
Pam says
I did and it worked but after a month or so it said I had to pay to see the information. Too bad.
Fred says
I just knew you were on vacation. Smart not to tell us, one of your disgruntled readers might try T.P. your house or something.
If anyone thinks Trump wasn’t in on Cohen’s little scheme, they are delusional.
Trump will spin the release of three hostages from North Korean as if he did something rare and remarkable. First of all it was hardly all his doing, secondly just about every president of the last 50 years has some part in Americans being released by our enemies. Trump will also make it all about him, because that is just what he does.
And of course Trump will thank Kim Jong-Un. If you think that is bad, wait until you hear what he has to say after their meeting next month. Trump loves dictators, maybe as much as Dennis Rodman does. I can see it now, Trump, Rodman and Kanye West sitting around sipping beer and all smiles with Kim Jong-Un.
Melania gets no sympathy from me. She knows what she is married to and enabling every day. However, if she files for divorce and walks out of the White House in a huff, I might dance to that.
Speaking of Potterheads, one just moved in a block away from me. He has some strong stuff! OOF!
BookieB says
I am thoroughly sick of the “big news” Donald makes to try to draw the attention away from the total corruptness of his entire life. This prisoner release is just a sideshow to bolster his ego and try to make us not notice the “money” side of this election and presidency.
No sympathy for Melania…if he was broke do you think she’s stick around. No way, no how. Not for a day. Her “Be Best” presentation was embarrassing to watch.
I can’t wait for his ouster to begin.
teddy luba says
I think China had more to do with the hostage release than Teflon Don. China told North Korea to make a deal with Teflon Don over nukes and not to worry about their defense, they will back them. What will China get out of this? Bet ya the tariffs will be gone. Great column Andy,
Ernie Davis says
You guys lost. Realize this! There is NO President Hilliary, (thank goodness), so set up and smell the wonderful roses!
jbcsfl says
Too many thorns from the fibber in chief.
John Kasich would have been a better selection.
I do not think we would have had all this nonsense if anyone other than trump was elected.
As much as I dislike trump, I hope he stays until 2020 and is replaced by the election results.
If trump is impeached or resigns, we would be stuck with pence and he is much worse than trump.
NativeOfMichigan says
George Will, an American conservative political commentator, says it all about Pence.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-is-no-longer-the-worst-person-in-government/2018/05/09/10e59eba-52f1-11e8-a551-5b648abe29ef_story.html?utm_term=.79103756be37
teddyluba says
Pence truly is a butt kisser. Pathetic.
Working Dad says
I just enjoyed an awesome 4 day vacation in Dallas, TX. The 2018 NRA National Convention was by far the best I have ever attended. It was my 7th national convention over the last 25 or so years. Our membership numbers have grown to about 6 million. Our NRA-ILA funding contributions has gone through the roof! It was so awesome to see so many Americans standing up for our freedoms and Constitutional rights. In the wake of all the left’s lying, hate mongering, violent rhetoric; we stand strong and united.
I am the NRA. Donald Trump IS your President. Today is a great day! Tomorrow will be even better!
Fred says
For a guy who is so happy, you sure are defensive.
Hey…can you tell us why the patriotic NRA choose a traitor of the U.S. who sold weapons to your Muslim enemies to be their leader? I just don’t get the logic. Surely you are not just hypocrites?
Tom says
Right smack-dab on, Fred! Working Dad, you seem to be a person who is old enough to remember what Ollie North got in trouble for. It was the IRAN-Contra Scandal. Younger people, you can google this.
Fred says
P.S. Do you mean like Obama was your president?
Jims says
Dad your a liar and you know it. The NRA will not disclose how many members it has. They are liars that are struggling. Donald Trump is a draft dodging liar along with you. His own people stated John McCains’ opinion doesn’t matter because he is going to die anyway. What a bunch of assholes that you worship. Takes one to know one right? Couldn’t even carry a gun at the convention. Why?Isn’t that what they are about? Your right to carry was violated but you go along with the hypocrisy.
Fred says
Isn’t it interesting how Working Dad gets all bent out of shape over Andrew blocking a retired Navy veteran, while expressing approval of the draft dodging “Private Bone Spurs” and condemning a former Marine by the name of Robert Mueller, who served in Vietnam, where he earned a Bronze Star with Valor for rescuing a wounded Marine while under enemy fire, along with two other medals for Valor and a Purple Heart after he was wounded in the hip?
After recovering, Mueller returned to the combat zone to lead his platoon until his tour in Vietnam ended. He made it his life’s work to serve our great country and protect it from our enemies and people like Donald Trump, who never did a single thing for anyone, but himself.
Working Dad claims to care deeply about our military and veterans, but he supports draft dodgers who go out of their way to discredit and slander those who devoted their lives to serving our country.
Working Dad has some mixed up priorities. Or maybe he is just a typical right wing hypocrite with no actual position or principals, and enjoys the drama Trump so eagerly provides. One thing is for sure, he doesn’t give a rats ass about the well being of our nation. He is perfectly content with sowing the seeds of division and hate for his own enjoyment.
I would ask him to prove me wrong, but I know he can’t, and he is too much of a coward to try. Am I right Working Dad?
Jims says
He won’t answer you. When you present factual info to him he ignores you. Just a troll that sits in his moms basement and does nothing better.
Tom says
Daddy – While you were down in Dallas, did you have a night out at Jack Ruby’s supper club? Did you lay flowers at the tomb of of Lee Harvey? Have a picnic on the Grassy Knoll? Did the Dallas Police do a good job of protecting you?
Ah! Dallas in the springtime!
Tom says
Andrew – You only get four bogus phone calls per week? Holy Moly! Sometimes, I get four per hour. Take it from me, do not answer any call you do not recognize. Yes, real callers will leave messages. You can call them back.
These bogus callers are criminals. They are not people you ever would want to connect with. I think a lot of these calls come from Working Dad.
Tom says
Most of us wonder about Working Dad’s kids. He is a “Dad,” so he must have kids. Through my sneaky liberal private email connection network, I just found out the kids’ names: Ted Nugent and Stormy Daniels.
jimiii says
The Mueller “investigation” of President Trump is now running into to some problems. This past week judge T.S. Ellis wanted some more information from team Mueller over there wanting more information on Paul Manafort’s financial records from around the the years 2007 or so. The judge asked Mueller why did he need financial records from more than 10 years before President Trump. Mueller said the answer was in the legal brief that team Mueller had submitted to the judge. The judge asked where the information was in the brief/warrant. Team Mueller basically replied that information was in the redacted part of the brief/warrant request. The Judge then said he wanted an unredacted copy of the brief. Team Mueller replied we cannot give it to you, it is classified. The judge replied that he wanted an unredacted report within two weeks. A national security excuse was not a good enough reason not to deny the judge an unredacted report.
We shall see if team Mueller does as the judge asks or if team Mueller who go shopping for a liberal judge to grant their request to find some minor violation of the law so they can squeeze Paul Manfort to sing a song that team Mueller wants to hear.
Fred says
It’s going along just fine. The only problems are team Trump’s lack of cooperation. But I see that as more of a problem for Trump.
By the way, did you know you support a draft dodger who never did anything for you? Mueller on the other hand is a real war hero who devoted his life to serving our country.
Jims says
What amazes me more than anything Fred is nothing was done to the idiotic Trump aide for what she said about John McCain. Just unbelievable. I didn’t think these fools could go any lower but they have. Trump makes fun of handicapped people, likes to get peed on by prostitutes, has numerous affairs on his wife six months after she gave birth, lies constantly and people stick up for the nut job. I guess what you believe in is a reflection of who you are.
Fred says
Don’t worry. They will go even lower sooner or later. Trump and his people are determined to defy all expectations in that department, and his supporters will voice their approval every time.
His supporters already have it in their heads that McCain is not a war hero, and that he sang like a canary under torture, because Fox News told them so. The truth is McCain refused to leave the Vietnam POW camp until every single American held there was released first. That is the selfless act of a hero, and something Donald Trump would never do, bone spurs or not.
jimiii says
You had no problem with slick willey having a lot of affairs, actually raping women, over the years . then again, slick willey is a democrat. President trump is saying that he is republican now.. President trump over the years has said that he was a democrat at one time and another, he said that he was a republican. One thing that I can say for President Trump he said he would do some things and he did do them. There is no proof that the peeing incident happened. Just some one saying that it happened. If Donald Trump had done such a thing, the Russian KGB would have a tape of it. The KGB made it a habit to bug rooms that Americans were staying in.
jimiii says
So far there has been no direct evidence that any one on President’s team or cabinet did any “collusion” with the Russians. It is so bad that team Mueller has had to resort to going to anyone that is near President Trump and trying to investigate the records going back years. What team Mueller is doing is going way over the top in this “investigation”.
They cannot find any direct evidence of “collusion”. So they are resorting to tactics of going into someone’s past and creating evidence to try to force someone to create a story on their doings with President Tujmp. If someone does talk and team Mueller finds just one word that does not match someone else’s story then team mueller will charge them with lying to team Mueller and threaten them with prison unless they come with a story that they can use against President Trump to try to start an impeachment process.
Fred says
There is lots of evidence and admissions, with Michael Cohen only being the most recent.
Did you know you are supporting and trying to defend a draft dodger who never did anything for you?
Tom says
Oh, JimBob! You used the word, “shall,” in a post! Wow! A first!
jimiii says
John “songbird” McCain was not given the name “songbird” by FOX News. It was the nickname bestowed on him by the other prisoners of war that were with John McCain in the Hanoi Hilton.
The only heroic thing John McCain did was to be a propaganda piece for the North Vietnam government. He knew if he was to take up the offer to be sent home before the rest of the prisoners he would not have a political future. There would have been a chance that he might have faced some sort of Navel Punishment for doing so.
IF John McCain is a hero so are the rest of the prisoners that were in the Hanoi Hilton with him.
Remember it was the men that were in the Hanoi Hilton with John McCain that gave him the name songbird. It was not FOX News.
Fred says
Who told you that? Fox News did!
Did you know you are supporting and trying to defend a draft dodger who never did anything for you?
Tom says
Utter Horsefrokky!!! Were you even alive during that period, you twit???! We NEVER heard any propaganda about John McCain. Period. I am not a huge McCain fan. McCain bombed Vietnamese grannies and little kids. BUT, MCCAIN NEVER HELPED NORTH VIETNAM! HE NEVER DID ANY OF THESE THINGS, YOU CREEP! PLEASE GO AWAY FOREVER, YOU NASTY DIM-WIT.
Tommy B says
I bet Jimiii voted for John McCain in 2008, and now he is towing the Fox News propaganda line. What a dupe.
jimiii says
As for Donald Trump being a draft dodger, so was slick willey.
Slick willey did everything he could to avoid being drafted. College deferment along with some other claims. Slick was on the short list to be drafted and he did what he could do to avoid being drafted.
Fred says
Jim III
Are you admitting that you are supporting and trying to defend a draft dodger who never did anything for you?
jimiii says
fred are you defending slick willey? During the slick willey’s years in office did you support and defend whatever he did? Do you now still defend him?
I would hazard a guess that you might have been a draft dodger yourself?
I served many years in the Army. Did you ever serve in the military?
Or are you one of those who did not serve and you are content to smear those that did serve?
As for the term “songbird” being bestowed on John McCain, I, along with along with a lot of other people, heard described being a songbird shortly after the POW’s were released from the Hanoi Hilton. FOX news did not exist until sometime in the 1995.
The title of songbird surfaced with the release of the POW’s in the late 70’s.
Fred says
Jim III I have any easy question for you.
Are you admitting that you are supporting and trying to defend a draft dodger who never did anything for you? Yes or no?
Jims says
So why did Fox News fire Thomas McInerney? He’s the idiot that brought up the smear that has been proven false. Even Fox News knew it to be false. Wrong Wrong Wrong. Where do you come up with this stuff? JimIII, were you a POW? Highly doubt it. How can you judge somebody that was for five years? I couldn’t imagine what he went through. Tortured constantly. You or I have no idea. You should shut up like all the other Republicans that are making fools of themselves and this country.
Jims says
You served in the army to defend the lying cheating republican administration?
Fred says
And he accuses me of being content with smearing our veterans. *sigh*
jimiii says
The ones who called John McCain songbird was not some one like me. It was the fellow officers/aviators that were with McCain in the Haoi Hilton who gave him the name songbird.
Right or wrong on giving him the name songbird, the prisoners that were with McCain were the ones who gave him the nickname songbird. f some of them did not come forth and make such a statement we would never know about his nickname
To jim says, Those of us who took the oath to defend the Constitution of The United States, we took the oath to defend the Constitution< not a political party or a president.
Under the Oath if a President went rogue and tried to subvert the Constitution the members of the Armed Forces are free not to obey his/her illegal orders.
I am learning one thing a democrat/liberal/communist /socialist is very good at twisting information, stances on politics and those who oppose them by various neverious names.
Fred did you ever serve in the Military?, or do you think that you are an armchair general who knows it all. The same question applies to jim says also.
Fred says
Jim III, I am asking you a very simple question. A one word answer will be sufficient.
Are you admitting that you are supporting and trying to defend a draft dodger who never did anything for you?
Yes or no?
Fred says
Jim III
I will gladly response to everything you said above in your last few comments. I just want you to answer this one little question first.
Are you admitting that you are supporting and trying to defend a draft dodger who never did anything for you?
Tom says
Are any of you people even old enough to remember the Vietnam War?
Trump, G.W. Bush, and Dan Quayle all were draft-dodgers under the rules of that time. Dick Cheney had a pretty-much legitimate draft deferment.
And, G.W. Bush was an actual deserter.
Clinton never even got drafted, did not have to report.
Al Gore and John Kerry both joined up and went to Vietnam. Gore did his duty, and Kerry won medals.
jbcsfl says
Deny, and if that does not work try denying again……. paranoia reigns!
Jims says
Jimiii, you call one of your brothers a traitor? He is a fellow republican. You never commented on why Fox News got rid of McInerney? He’s a liar like you. Why deny the truth? Face it John McCain is a hero. Your looser Potus is just that a looser with all his hypocrite aides and family. Why do you back such an idiot? Answer that simple question without blaming both Clintons or Obama. They are in the past we are talking about the present. He’s a proven liar. Do you support liars? Do you support cheaters? Do you support sexual predators? Do you support draft dodgers? Do you support someone that lied his way to get elected? What Bill Clinton did was wrong and I didn’t like Hillary. Lesser of two evils.
jimiii says
After the POW”s were released by the Vietnamese and they underwent the debriefing process, the “committee” that set the standards for POW conduct during interrogation changed the rules of conduct. It went from something from “resist at all costs” to a more moderate approach “resist to the best of your ability”.
Unlike democrats who blindly follow the party line without question, a lot of republicans will not follow the party line all the time. If we do not like what the RNC wants/states we will not obey them.
If a democrat hears something from the DNC they do not like they usually stay in lockstep with the party line.
Just because John McCain talked under pressure does not make him a traitor.
The only one that is calling him a traitor is you.
If John McCain had admitted that he could not withstand the torture, I am guessing here, his fellow prisoners would be a little bit more forgiving of him.
We did not vote for President Trump because he was a sinless man. He never claimed that he was perfect. He voted for him because he said he was going to do things in changing the country. So far he has kept most of his campaign promises. He has a few more to work on. Will President Trump be able to keep all his campaign promises?
At this time I am not sure.
Name one politician of any political party that has not lied any time. You cannot.
As far as a lot of are concerned a majority of politicians lie on a regular basis.
The only reason that John McCain can be considered a hero is because he refused the offer by the North Vietnam government to let him go. John McCain knew that if he did accept the offer he would really marked for life as a opportunist just looking out for himself.
Fred says
So are you admitting that you are supporting a draft dodger?
Tom says
Jimmy-Jerk III – This is slander about John McCain! Please be quiet. You are a twit, as I said above, and you obviously do not know what you are trying to write about! Hide. Be ashamed.
Jims says
What the hell are you talking about? He fulfilled his campaign promises? Name them. By the way you never answered that you support a looser. So you agree with whatever trump did or does you agree with. You said he was a traitor. You believed Fox News. You make no sense. You change your story on every post. You should just give it a rest cause you know nothing about anything.
jimiii says
When did I call McCain a traitor? I said that the other prisoners called him a songbird. Being a songbird who broke under torture does not make one a traitor. John McCain was not the only one who broke under pressure. A couple of other POW’s also “sang” under torture. As I stated in an earlier post the regulations/rules were stricter before the Vietnam War. In WWII a POW who gave information to the enemy most definitly faced a chance of a court-martial. When the POW’s came back from the Hanoi Hilton and they were debriefed by “military intelligence” The Armed Forces realized that months/years of torture can break anyone. So they modified the code of
conduct. From resist at all costs to resist as long a you can.
Jophn McCain was not a traitor.
When horseface John Kerry came back from Vietnam he fit more the profile of a traitor. John Kerry testified in front of Congress that the American armed forces routinely mindlessly/routinely tortured killed innocent civilians.
Horseface made a lot of allegations but he did not offer any proof of the alledged conduct that he supposedly saw. At one point good old horseface supposedly threw his medals over the White House fence. Later it came out they were not his medals, he somehow aquired some medals and tossed them over the fence. Horseface knew that the complicet media would not report all of his activities.
Do not try to bring up Mie Lei(SP). that did happen and the officer in charge was court-martialed for allowing it to happen.
President Trump said that he would move our Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jeruselum. It will open on Monday the 70th anniversary of Israel’s recognition as a nation again.
He promised tax cuts, he did so. I am not going to try to list any more, because you will, as usual deny them.
Fred says
Why is it so hard for you to answer a simple yes or no question?
Jims says
Tax cut for who? You list them because there is none.
Fred says
Trump is keeping his promise to bring back jobs…to China.
Working Dad says
Wow! Mueller and his gang of nutbags literally indited a company for “Russian Collusion” this week that DID NOT YET EXIST WHEN THE SO-CALLED “COLLUSION” TOOK PLACE. That is like inditing an individual for a crime that occurred before they were born.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/30556/disaster-mueller-indicted-russian-company-didnt-ryan-saavedra?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=102516-podcast&utm_campaign=beingconservative
Tommy B says
Fake News directly from Russia Dad! Enjoy your borscht!
Fred says
The Daily Wire? Working Dad, you truly are an idiot. Not even Fox News will touch that one. I hope your wife smacked you in the head for being so stupid.
Working Dad says
It is taken directly from the court transcripts. Enjoy being wrong .
Fred says
That is not a court transcript. Let us know when you see a real court transcript, and I will help you read and understand it.
Fred says
By the way, why are you condemning a former Marine who earned a Bronze Star with Valor and defending a wealthy draft dodger?
Working Dad says
https://reason.com/blog/2018/05/10/mueller-indicted-a-ham-sandwich
Working Dad says
https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/05/13/federal-judge-slaps-robert-mueller-with-humiliating-fact-check-in-courtroom-over-massive-error
Tommy B says
Now I understand. You only get news from blogs. Lol! You are a joke daddio. So you only take your news from right wing terrorists and Russians. No wonder you are so misinformed. Happy Mothers Day Daddio!
Fred says
*sigh*. The Blaze. Ok Working Dad. There are three companies listed in the indictment. The Russian Attorney says one of them didn’t exist at the time. If true, that is hardly significant, as the other two still existed and this being a wealthy Russian oligarch, the names of their fronts will be changed periodically. Don’t worry, Mueller has lots of incriminating evidene and he is coming. The investigation will continue.
For some reason you, a worthless troll, pretending to be a patriotic American, are defending the Russians and a wealthy draft dodger while trying your hardest to discredit a former Marine war hero who devoted his life to serving our country.
Andrew Heller says
I love listening to you guys argue.
Ernie says
Wow! Yeah, me too. Pretty hard on each other!
Jims says
I try to be civil but with some of the wacked out things that these alt righters post it’s hard!
Jims says
You know Andy you start it all.
Working Dad says
I am not arguing and one person who regularly stalks my postings, posts under several accounts. The credibility of this stalker’s postings and self-agreement is zero.
Fred says
I guess your didn’t know this because you are just ignorant, this is a WordPress blog, and every time somebody posts a comment, their IP address is displayed to the site administrators. If there was a shred of truth in your accusation, I assure you Andrew would know. Trust me Working Dad, A LOT people think you are beyond the pale nuts.
Fred says
As for me. I would honestly like to have a real discussion with you and Jim III. But you two won’t do that. You just rant and rave, deflect, distract and try to change the subject, or in your case, post a link from some alt. right blog, then post another, then another, because you have no opinions of your own. I would really like to have a discussion with both of you, where both sides respond directly to the topic at hand. Why is it so hard for you two to do that?
Jims says
Who has multiple accounts?
Fred says
It has just come to my attention that Oliver North, the new president of the NRA, said that gun owners are the victims of a new Jim Crow era and that advocates for gun control are “Civil Terrorists”. The optimist in me says this is a good thing. The more crackpot nuts we have representing the NRA, the less rational people are going to take them seriously.
Keep it up NRA.
jimiii says
Working Dad you need to understand that no matter what proof you and I post, Jimsays and fred and others will just say that it is fake news. They will twist, deny and otherwise claim that anything we post is wrong in their minds. If I answered yes to a question that fred posed he will twist and smear my words. If I answer no, fred will again attack my answer in a nasty fashion.
They are the same level as those who followed various dictators to the end.
They will follow the party line to the end. The government is their leader. The party, in their minds, is the only solution. to the problems in the world.
They do not understand that this nation was founded as a constitutional republic. It was never meant to be a democracy. The ideas and standards of a democracy cannot be found in the Constitution of the United States.
I ask now that Andrew Heller, jimsays fred, and others that keep on calling this country a democracy to show me where the word democracy and its ideals are in the Constiution.
I am sure fred will twist this around quite a bit and try to change the debate/argument to say that this country is a democracy.
If I remember correctly this quote from Aristotle: “A nation can start out as a Republic, then it slips into a democracy, then it quickly turns into a dictatorship.”
Fred says
You are SURE I will try to twist this around and try to say this country is a democracy?? What are you basing that on? I dare you to find ONE instance anywhere on this website where I have ever made that argument. Why do you lie so much JimIII?
Jims says
Just like your savior trump says. Amazing how when someone else says it it’s wrong. When he gets caught in a lie it’s fake news. Ever here of sarcasm?
Tommy B says
Jimiii, since you don’t think this is a Democratic Republic, because you skipped Civics class in High School, please feel free to NOT vote.
jimiii says
The Constitution says REPUBLIC. the founding fathers meant a republic. You cannot find a democratic principle enshrined in the Constitution.
The term democratic republic came on the scene many years later.
Tommy B. please find a quote from a writer of the Constitution that used the word democratic republic to describe the form of government the founding fathers set up.
I do not know when the term democratic republic came up. It did not come from the founding fathers of the Constiution.
Fred says
Do you know what Constitutional Republc means?
Tommy B says
The Preamble of The Constitution begins “We the people” and the various parts speak many times to how the people are the Government in the sense we have Representatives in Congress that we elect to serve us. The very processes that our Congress and even the Executive are in place to ensure democracy. The very fiber of The Constitution is the establishment of this Democracy. That is why I suggested you not vote, because in addition to you being clueless Jimiii, if this is not a democracy than voting would be a futile endeavor. But we vote because this is a democracy. Yes Mr Obvious, it is a Constitutional Republic, but it’s very essence at its core is the establishment of democracy. So, you can argue in your literal way, but the concept is so great that the word democracy doesn’t have to be contained in the way you suggest. The preamble speaks to liberty which is at its core the foundation of democracy. So, we are a Constitutional Republic and a Democracy at the same time. You are welcome!
Working Dad says
We are a Constitutional Republic.
Fred says
But do you understand what that means? Please enlighten us.
Tommy B says
Reading comprehension is not their strong suit. They just throw out platitudes that mean something to them but have no real understanding of how it all works. They take what they want from The Constitution but they don’t really understand it. Sad really.
Fred says
So what you are saying is; you are afaid to respond to my questions because you don’t want to get attacked? Where did you learn to be such a wimp?
Why do you even comment here if you are afraid to discuss it? What’s the point?
Fred says
Andrew, I recall something about you blocking a retired Navy man for putting words into your mouth and refusing to take it back. Please consider applying the same rule to your readers. That is all JimIII does, puts words into our mouths then refuses to back it up. I don’t want to see anyone get banned, but I do hope to encourage more discussion, instead of sprout a bunch of nonsense and run. It is hard to remain civil in the face of that.
Jim III and Working Dad, I will respond to any of your questions, if you will do the same for me. Let’s discuss our differences and figure out where we really stand on things. I bet we have more in common than not.
Fred says
Why did Trump move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem?
Because Trump is a problem creator, not a problem solver. He relishes the chaos he causes and his base approves, because they take pleasure in seeing Muslims upset.
jimiii says
fred in your world you will not accept anything Working Dad or I post or say unless it conforms strictly to your views on politics, type of government or what the framers of Constitution meant by the type of government they set up. Which means a REPUBLIC form of governance.
You want Andrew Heller to ban those who do not conform to your views. I do not think that Andrew will do that. He stated that he likes this type of debate. He is doing his best to be a moderator. I respect that in Andrew.
Every President since slick willey had a chance to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The law was passed in 1995. Each President since then had the option of every six months to sign a waiver stating that they did not want the embassy moved at that time.
President Trump decided (right or wrong) decided to not to sign the waiver. Hence the embassy at this time, by law, had to be moved from Tel Avis to Jerusalem.
You must try to understand one thing: the Israeli’s said that the Palestanians could stay in their houses and farm their lands after the Nation Of Israel was created. The Muslims leaders did not want an Israeli state. They vowed that they would wipe the Israeli’s from the face of the earth.
The Islamic leaders told the palestanians to get out of Israel before the muslim armies were scheduled to invade Israel. The palestanians quickly moved into Lebanon and other Muslim countries. The Muslims attacked Israel and lost. I am not sure if the Israeli’s at that point might of allowed the palestanians to move back to their homes or if the Muslim leaders told the palestanians to stay in the refugee camps, that the muslim armies would some day destroy Israel.
Fred says
“Every President since slick willey had a chance to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. ”
And they didn’t for a reason. This is a very unstable part of the world. You don’t do drastic things like that in this part of the world. It is the same as throwing gasoline on a fire. Why would you want to to do that? What do you hope to accomplish with this move?
Fred says
Jim III, do you know what Republic form of government means? Can you please tell me?
Working Dad says
What is that chant the so called “Palestinians” constantly chant?
Is it “Death to America…. Death to Israel”?
I find myself completely uninspired to listen to their demands. To Hell with them.
Fred says
Have we given them a reason to say nice things about us?
jimiii says
The muslims /Palestinians will hate us no matter what we do. Why is that? Simple we will not submit to or convert to Islam. When the leaders (Imans) continue to urge the muslim masses to chant “death to Israel, death to America, they are the great satan”. The leadership of Islam have no problems sending members of their faith out to kill infidels.
Anyone is not a follower/believer in Islam is an infidel. Either they submit to Islam and pay a tax to survive under the Muslims or have your head removed from your body.
There is a word/phrase in Arabic called “taquia”(sp). That means that a muslim can say to your face that he will not harm you. Then a few minutes/days later turn around and attack you. Muslims are allowed to lie to infidels when it suits their purposes. A muslim is not supposed to lie to another muslim.
I noticed a blub online a few days ago where some Islamic leaders in Indonesia had a conferance and they concluded that committing a suicide bombing against infidels was wrong. The Koran did not condone suicide. The Imans issued a fatwa stating so. Isis was not impressed by that fatwa. Wii continue to send out suicide bombers.
The Imans only said that suicde was wrong in and of itself. Killing of infidels was still ok.
Fred says
You mean they aren’t just mad at us because we have been bombing the hell out of them for 60 years or helping other countries, like Israel, bomb the hell out of them?
When you lose your family because another country bombed the hell out of you just so they can impose their will on you easier, you would probably be pretty mad too.
jimiii says
Islam has been at war with those who do not submit to their beliefs.
The war was started by Mohammed when he was in control. If you want a starting point of when the muslims started hating us, that happened when Thomas Jefferson was president. The muslims of the Barbary coast would go out and seize control of ships passing near them. Piracy in other words.
They would enslave the crews or hold them for ransom. If a nation paid a ransom the sailors and passengers would be freed. Unless it was a beautiful female, then she might been married off to a muslim as a prize. Jefferson sent in the Marines. That is why the Marine Corp hymn uses the phrase “to the shores of Tripoli”.
It has been pointed a few times, and ignored by the liberal left, that if the Palestinians wanted peace, their would be peace. If Israel wanted to fight a war there would be no Palestinians. Plus another one: If the Palestinians laid down their weapons there would be peace. If Israel laid down their weapons there would no Israel.
Fred says
That is just not accurate Jim III. You are talking about extremists and criminals, not Muslims. History shows plenty of extremists and criminals in all ethnic and religious groups. There were pirates operating off our own coasts. Do they speak for all of us? Does the KKK speak for all us? Do the Nazis? Or any extremist white christian group? Do you lump everyone together in those circumstances? Why do you in this one?
Think about it logically. ISIS claims to be Muslim. Most of the people fighting against ISIS are Muslim. Did you know there were Muslims serving under General Washington in the American Revolution?
There will be no peace as long as people like you keep pushing the rhetoric that the actions of the few speak for the whole. One could safely conclude from what you just wrote that you feel the solution is to just kill them all. Unfortunately, a lot people actually agree with that. That comes from a place of hate and ignorance, not compassion or rational thought. That is part of the problem, not the solution.
Fred says
P.S. I am still waiting for you to tell me what a Constitutional Republic means.
Fred says
The Clinton email investigation lasted two years with no indictments.
Bengazi investigation lasted four years with no indictments.
The Trump/Russia investigation is on going for one year so far with 23 indictments and guilty pleas.
Would the people complaining that a year long investigation is to long complain if the Clinton email investigation was reopened?
jimiii says
And no sign of collusion. No Americans have been indicted for collusion. They have been indicted for lying under oath. What that means is that what they said in one interview, did not match what they said in another interview. That is why you never talk to the police about an investigation unless you have a lawyer with you. That includes if you are a witness. If you are called in for a follow up investigation and they ask the same questions again and you do not answer with the same exact answer, you could be charged with lying to an investigator.
Fred says
How do you know there are no signs of collusion? Mueller has revealed nothing. So unless you have some insider information, you are just making things up.
What we do know is there are 23 indictments and at least 3 guilty pleas from people who were in Trump’s innermost circle. These are the people Trump was taking advice from and this investigation is about the Russia meddling in our elections up to any collusion.
You don’t lie to investigators if you don’t have anything to hide. So can you kindly explain to us why 23 people within Trump’s circle are being indicted in the Russian investigation? And while you are at it, try to remember that Robert Mueller leans Republican and is a former Marine with 3 medals with Valor and a Purple Heart. He is usually the kind of person you look up to. But in this case you are going with a draft dodging billionaire with a history of looking out for only himself. Just think about that and ask yourself what happened to your honor.
Fred says
It’s only been a year. Let’s give it some time, right? You didn’t want to end the Clinton Email investigation after 2 years did you?
jimiii says
As for Fred wanting a definition of a Republic, go do what I did and read James Madison’s Federalist No. Ten essay.
Quote from a synopsis of No. Ten: ” No.10 addresses the question of how to reconcile citizens with interests contrary to the rights of others or inimical to the interests of the community as a whole. Madison saw factions as inevitable due to the nature of man – that is, as long as men hold differing opinions, have differing amounts of wealth and own differing amount of property, they will continue to form alliances with people who are most similar to them and they will sometimes work against the public interest and infringe upon the right of others. He thus questions how to guard against those dangers.”
I realize that Jefferson, Adams and Madison could not write enough essays to cover everything that the Federalist papers covered. Human nature is such that not matter what is written someone (like a lawyer) will come along and claim that what was written is not what the writer meant.
It is just human nature. There will always a group that will try to overthrow a government. NO matter how free it is, and set themselves up as the ones in power. They will then form a democracy that benefits them. Eventually the democracy will turn into a dictatorship.
Fred says
This has absolutely nothing to do with the question I asked you. I take it that you do not know what Constitutional Republic means.
jimiii says
One thing more for Fred. I can go to a dictionary of today and look up a definition of the word Republic. However, when I try to look up a definition of Democracy. I cannot find a clear definition.
Fred says
I don’t want to google something. I want to read in your words what it means. Are you able to tell us ? If you can’t tell us yourself with out deflecting to someone else’s website, I can only conclude that you don’t understand it and have to rely on someone else to explain it on your behalf. But I am sure that would be wrong and you are perfectly capable of explaining it yourself. So I will let you do that.
Tommy B says
From Merriam-Webster:
a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority
b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.
Seems pretty clear to me.
jimiii says
Fred, I could give you a very detailed answer and you would not be satisfied with it. The only answers that you are looking for are ones that fit your views only.
Turnaround is a fair game, I want you to describe why you think America is a democracy. A democracy is basically a mob ruled government. The laws only mean what the leaders want at that moment. A law/policy means one thing this week, then it will mean something else the next week. One week you are a party favorite, say or do the wrong thing and you will either end up in prison (re-education camp) or in front of a firing squad.
It is something like George Orwell’s book, Animal Farm. All animals are equal, but, some animals are more equal than others.
Fred says
You sure have no problem giving me long winded detailed answers about everything else, why not Constitutional Republic?
I didn’t ask you for the definition of a Democracy. I asked you for the Definition of Constitutional Republic. You won’t give me that definition, but you took the time to give me your definition of Democracy, because you don’t know the definition of Constitutional Republic , right?
jimiii says
No. I stated that no matter what definition I give on a constitutional form of government you make fun or other wise try to discredit my definition. Trying to explain something to someone like you over the years I have learned that no matter what the answer is, leads to more inane questions. Reading Tommy B says 7:58 comment I can more relate to him. From his comments he must have visited the website about Federalist No. 10.
Maybe I might answer your inane question and wait for your inane response that you will make. I am sure that you will head way off course and reject my answer.
Fred says
So you are afraid to tell me what Constitutional Republic means because you are afraid I am going to make fun of you? If that were true, you would had shut up and gone away a long time ago.
No. You just haven’t the faintest idea what a Constitutional Republic is. Would you like me to tell you, so you have the answer next time someone asks?
Tommy B says
A Google search provides the following:
Is the United States a constitutional republic or a democratic republic?
And the United States is therefore also a constitutional republic. Indeed, the United States might be labeled a constitutional federal representative democracy. But where one word is used, with all the oversimplification that this necessary entails, “democracy” and “republic” both work.
So, we are both. I find it interesting because I think Conservatives and Republicans like to use Constitutional Republic because in their tribalism they like that Republic and Republican are similar and I think Democrats like the word democracy for much of the same tribalism.
In theory the bottom line is we the people should be the concept that we hold dearest. The problem with government isn’t Republicans or Democrats. The problem with Government is Republicans AND Democrats. However, that is what we are stuck with. An even larger problem is MONEY in politics. Lobbyists and special interests really run the show. The rich and corporations are the MASTERS of all. As Jimiii (I believe) said in a quote from Animal Farm, “All animals are equal, but, some animals are more equal than others.” The oligarchs are winning. Trump is the lackey of oligarchs whether they be Russian, American or from Saudi Arabia or wherever. As someone once said, “Money talks and bullshit walks.”
We get the scraps unless we take to the voting booths or the streets and demand our due. That is only done through democracy.
What Trump represents to me is not purely Republican. That is just the brand he has chosen. He is only about TRUMP. He has reached out to the dumb shit voters and the working class and captured them with his isolationist, racist, misogynistic, self promoting political cornucopia. He is truly the ugliest American and a true sociopath. How anyone still supports him is beyond my comprehension. He lies on a scale that has never before been seen in the presidency. All politicians lie or promise shit they can’t deliver on, but he lies about everything and anything.He has no policy or convictions except whatever fits his mood or self interest. He is a criminal and time will prove this out. it took two years of reporting and investigation to get Nixon, and it has only been one year since Mueller was appointed to investigate this cretin. It is clear he is beholden to Russia somehow. It may be money, it may be a pee tape, but ther is so much smoke that there has to be fire.
Tick tock. I think by mid-summer we will have some conclusions in time for the mid-term elections, or at least I hope so.
Fred says
That is very well said. I believe you are correct that special interests are the ones really running the show, regardless of which party is in charge. That is something us voters can fix, if we put our minds to it. I would like to see term limits on Congress for that reason. There are so many things we could do to make our government run better and our elections more accessible. I hope in upcoming elections the rational voters will demand these changes.
I do not consider Trump or his base/fans/supporters to be Republicans at all. They are something else. They just infiltrated the Republican Party and changed it drastically. The change started when Obama was elected in 2008. It was fueled by the likes of Fox News and Donald Trump’s very own birther movement.
I tend to be liberal about most social issues and would normally disagree with most Republicans across the board, but I could still respect them, with a few exceptions. I believe that most of them want what is best for America, they just have very different ideas of what that is. But I do not respect Donald Trump or his people who refuse to stand up to him.
2016 was a roller coaster for me. I started out following Bernie Sanders. I was never comfortable with Hillary. When Bernie started sounding too unrealistic for me, I started following John Kasich. He seemed like the best option, but when Trump emerged as the only one left on the GOP ticket, I was in a tough spot. I decided I was going to vote for Larry Johnson. The Libertarian Party is supposed to be socially liberal and fiscally conservative. That sounded good to me and Larry Johnson did good things as Governor of New Mexico.
I knew there was no real chance Larry Johnson would win, but at least I wouldn’t have to put my name on any mess Hillary would make. However, when the polls were showing Hillary and Trump neck to neck a few days before the election, I knew I had to vote Hillary. It was NOT a hard decision at that point. As much as I would rather have had another option other than Hillary, she is 100 times better than Trump. Hillary got my vote easily on November 8 2016.
This might sound crazy, but now when I think of it, I realize that we needed Trump to win. We needed to see what kind of disaster can occur when we don’t turn out and vote. A lot of “Bernie or Busters” stayed home. A lot of people just took for granted that Trump would never win and stayed home. Now we can see what that got us. We have to face the consequences of our inaction and then make sure it never happens again.
I do not want to see the Democratic Party impeach Trump. That will just divide us even more. I would like to see the Republican Party find their spines and impeach Trump themselves before the midterms, but that isn’t going to happen. The next best option is Trump resigns on his own due to an indictment or personal reasons. I think that is more likely than not. I am mostly confident that Democrats will take back Congress in November or at least fill enough seats to tie Pence’s hands until 2020, just like the Republicans did to Obama.
Pence might seem like a naive brown-noser, but I would warn everyone that he is anything but. Pence is a career politician. He knows it is a cutthroat business and he is very capable and experienced in that environment. His whole goody two shoes Christian role is just an act he plays to get votes. I would bet that if one us were in a room with him, he would probably cuss us out and slug us in the gut for looking at him wrong. Pence is not a wimp desperate for praise like Trump is, and his views are dangerous, and he knows how to get things done. That is why, unless Democrats can tie his hands until 2020 I think we would be better off with Trump in the White House, provided he doesn’t start a nuclear war.
If anyone read this far, thank you. It feels good to get that off my chest.
Tommy B says
Well said Fred!
Hey! That rhymes.
teddyluba says
Exactly what I think. I could never put it in words like you did. Perfect.
teddyluba says
I hope your right Fred but people vote their pocket books and the hell with decency. I hope the people that voted for Teflon Don will get their head out of the sand. What does Russia have on Teflon Don? I think he is involved with the Russian mafia along with Puttin.
Tom says
Did you all see that Trump today is calling his meeting with Kim into question? On a bogus assertion. This N. Korea possibility is Trump’s only greatest hit, and Trump is trying to worm his way out of it.
If he does not meet with Kim, he has zero accomplishments, nothing to show us except tweets and scandals.
Fred says
Don’t lose hope yet. He is still working to bring back jobs to China.
Tom says
Also: Jim the Third always has had a nutball understanding of the difference between Republic and Democracy. He actually believes that our party names, Republican and Democratic, are not just words, but that they mean something significant. Please ignore him. And, please do not get into any detailed debates with him on words. Your wisdom will fly right past his goofy understanding. Just a big waste of your time and effort.
Tommy B says
I know and I refrained for awhile but you are never too old to learn something and maybe the words will sink in. Nah! I’m just kidding.
Fred says
For me it’s not about teaching Jim III or Working Dad anything. It’s about showing the rest of the world what they are. I like to challenge them to backup their positions, but they never can and that just exposes them to be the frauds they are.
The only thing that irritates me about Jim III is his constant putting words into my mouth and claiming I said things I never said. He also projects his own behavior on everyone else. That is pretty annoying, but whatever.
I would love to have a real debate with a Trump supporter, but that is just not be had, because they are incapable for operating on facts and logic, and just deflect and distract to avoid answering anything directly. So this is the next best thing.
Tom says
All you people, if Trump decides not to meet with Kim, then Trump is absolutely nothing. Nowhere Man. Please Listen. These lyrics are absolutely right on for Trump. Mister Nuthin. Nowhere Man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVlM035ne2M
Tom says
I used to have a few really good bands, bands that might well have gotten gigs at Trump events. Now, alas, no band. BUT! If I could get a gig now at a Trump event, I would play, “Nowhere Man,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (in honor of Milania’s refusal to take Trump’s hand in public), “Stormy” (Classics IV), and “Stormy Weather” (famous). Plus calculated others. Trump and his people are so clueless, we probably could get away with a whole load of under-the-table insult songs. And, they probably would love us, and give us a bonus at the end of the gig.