LJ Idol Presents:

The entire thing with Trump scares the fuck out of me. I don't get it. I really, really don't get it.

From:

kathrynrose.livejournal.com

I'm starting to think that the GOP isn't going to stop this guy. Not sure if anyone can...

Because he made a pact with the devil.

Also, ~~first.~~ second

Edited Date: 2016-02-24 02:55 pm (UTC)

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Pact with the Devil sounds about right, yeah.

From:

kathrynrose.livejournal.com

It baffles me, but not as much as it makes me deeply sad, also disgusted. And embarrassed.

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Sad, disgusted, embarrassed. All of the above, definitely. Like -- really, America? Can't you pick someone who doesn't make my skin crawl?

2016's presidential election is going to be terrifying if that man makes it through the primaries.

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I'm here to support my boy, Trump. And I know this is a warcry to many online...and I don't really want a brawl, especially a political one *shudder* but in the interest of hearing a different perspective....

We own our own company. It's a family business and we employ a relative. And we work very, very, very hard. We dutifully pay HUGE amounts of taxes every quarter. We don't get paid time off or retirement or health bennies. Our benefit, and it is what makes it all worthwhile, is that we are our own bosses and for two pretty wild and independent personalities, that's worth all the gold in the Sierra Nevadas, believe me.

ObamaCare FUCKED us royally. And we didn't even get a chance to "fake it". It's not getting better, it's getting much worse and we still are paying out each month as though we're bleeding money. And we wouldn't actually mind it that much if we knew of others, less fortunate, who are benefiting, but we haven't heard from a single one. Rich, poor, and middling, no one seems to be doing better with ObamaCare. So, there's that.

We keep company with others who are self-employed and they are all backing Trump regardless of income, race, religion, or creed. And believe me, as a group we encompass diversity. It's because of his business acumen. He knows how to run a business and we know how to run a business and it's a trust thing.

We are also first and second generation Americans whose relatives went through hell and highwater to get here, but they came through legal channels and it wasn't easy. They had to learn English and they had to say goodbye to their homelands and they had to work hard to achieve and accomplish a modicum of comfort in the New World. Whether its laudable or not, none of them accepted government financial aid. And most of them became policeman, firemen, and military men and women.

I think many Americans have simply lost faith in the professional politician. They seem to be out of touch with those of us who are working, raising children, paying for college, paying the insurance premiums, joining the service. Sure, it's wonderful to espouse platitudes, but even those lofty aspirations don't seem to be reality anymore, they are feel-good sound bites that don't seem to be making differences in anyone's lives.

Us Trumpians could be ridiculously off base, but the feeling right now is one of change for the better. Running the country as though it were a business. We're tired of the glad-handing and back-slapping of those who just don't seem to get the day-to-day experience of the country.

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And....just to make things more complicated. We are HUMONGOUS supporters of gay marriage and pro-choice and scrutinizing police brutality. (Which we know firsthand is real and frightening and just no no no.) But we don't believe that the massive accomplishments this country has achieved in regards to some of these issues are going to be reversed. There are too many human beings who have become self-actualized for that to happen in this century.

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whipchick.livejournal.com

I'm doing better with Obamacare. It's the first time in my life I've been able to 1) go to the doctor when I am seriously ill and 2) get treatment without weeping about how I'm going to pay for it.

I don't like that the system forces us to still benefit profit-mongering insurance companies. I don't like that we pay higher drug prices than every other nation because senators have been bought and paid for by pharmaceuticals. But we aren't getting single payer any time soon.

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I'm glad to hear it!

And yes, the pharmaceutical situation in the country is shameful. I've had to go without certain meds because there was simply no way I could swing the $$$.

I do believe there is a difference between capitalism and greed.

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I have thoughts about first post. But I'm going to wait to see what other people say. I *will* say though - thank you. It's actually the first time I've heard someone *articulate* the case for Trump.

I agree with parts, disagree with parts. But you knew coming in that it was going to rile people up, and you said it anyway. So good on you.

That said - I *am* going to say something about this second post.

Which is: "here are too many human beings who have become self-actualized for that to happen in this century."

I imagine that's what people in the Middle East were saying during the fundamentalist revolution. Things were way too modern, people were way too progressive...

Not saying it's a 1-to-1 comparison and I *hope* you're right. But I know that unless you are concentrated on moving forward, there's always a danger of someone pulling you back.

From:

impoetry.livejournal.com

I'm also doing better with Obamacare. I've gone years without access to doctors and have been out of work because of it.

Now I'm getting the treatment I need, and am working on getting back into the workforce.

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It is nerve-wracking to put your self out there....in a political way. But...I think it's worth stating. And YOU, G, have been very supportive about pulling the curtain back this season....

Look, here's the thing. We have to change our party AFFILIATION to vote for Trump in our state's primaries! We have had to let go of the swell of belief we had in Obama for his first term. It's been a difficult decade, no question.

And yes, I understand what you're saying here and in some countries I think you are 100% correct. But not in the melting pot that is this country. Have you seen The Brain series on PBS? He has a segment on genocide which will scare the living hell out of you...and explains why/how/when it happens. I just don't believe we have that limited profile in America in the 21st Century.

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Another success story! That's great!

So, it sounds as though you had no coverage before? That's probably the main difference. We've been paying our own premiums. Although, several friends on Medical have not been served by ObamaCare and found that their scrips became impossible to afford.

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I've never seen that show. But I am someone who keeps an eye on genocidewatch.org - so I know a lot of the warning signs of how these things happen.

I'll have to check it out.

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In the spirit of "pulling back the curtain":

As a kid I considered myself to be a Republican (ala Alex P Keaton) and I *loved* Trump. "The Art of the Deal" and "Trump: the Game" were actually on my Christmas list of things I wanted. (never did get either of them. I found a copy of the former later in life)

I was also an early viewer of the Apprentice and was one of the people who fought to get it a spot of it's own on the "Survivor Sucks" forum. (which was one of the earliest sites to follow it, due to the Mark Burnett connection).

These days, I still think the guy is ridiculously entertaining. But I also know that even back when I was a huge fan, he was never as successful as a businessman he painted himself to be.

I would like to see more of his actual policies. I follow politics, and still can't seem to find a lot of specifics. (Finding specifics from *any* politician or candidate is difficult these days!!) I also know that Richard Hatch (winner of Survivor: Borneo) and a long time friend of the Trumps has gone on record saying that he doesn't think Trump actually believes half the things he's been saying during the campaign and is just playing to the primary base to get the nomination - and that a Trump Presidency wouldn't be as scary as a lot of people seem to think it would be.

All of that said - I stand by my comment that he'd make sure the faucets were gold. That's a trademark of his! :D

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Who doesn't make your skin crawl?

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You got a problem with gold bathroom fixtures?!?! *closes bathroom door discreetly*

He definitely is a cat with personality! I've got no issue with a president who wants to bring back Camelot and instill the office with entertainment. But...I also think he's a serious guy with a dangerous intelligence who can make a difference. If anyone can, that is. That's the caveat. Have we broken the thing beyond repair?

One of the things that makes sense to me is the idea of advisors. You can have all the policies in the world, but it's not a dictatorship regardless of the fear mongering.

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Sanders doesn't but all of the others do at this point.

It's just a shame that my state's primary is so late in the primary game because shit might already be decided for him by the time I get to vote.

Just to add: I'd still vote in the primary though, even if that ends up being the case.

Edited Date: 2016-02-24 05:07 pm (UTC)

From:

thistle-verse.livejournal.com

I think my main, genuine question is this, and you know that I adore you:

Is all that worth the genuine filth he's putting out? The deningration of women, of immigrants, of Muslims? The scary way he seems unable to work with people truly different and compromise? What sounds to me like war-mongering?

There's nothing there in your own priorities that I have a problem with. But your candidate is so vile. So awful and unthoughtful and ugly to other people. It is his very nature that makes it so hard for me to understand why you, someone so thoughtful and warm and lovely, could possibly support him.

Maybe there isn't an answer, and I'm probably even less interested in a deep political debate than you are. I'm all tapped out already this election cycle. It's been an ugly one all around.

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*glomps* Mutual adoration club.

I'm trying to separate the media feeding frenzy from the candidates as people. I try to drill down to a different perspective on all of them without the gloss of media interpretation over the top of that. He has so many people, friends and family, who love and respect him...and it feels genuine to me.

But...I could say the same thing about the things being said by the opposing candidates. Is it just perspective?

From:

thistle-verse.livejournal.com

I just... don't see anyone saying the kinds of things he's saying. And I find several of the other Republican candidates scary. Maybe they think the same things (probably do, about women and Islam and immigrants) but they aren't outright saying it in such hateful ways.

And the thing is, as much as I'm really ambivalent about Clinton and have real problems with her, and totally understand disagreeing with Sanders' politics (even though they align really well with my own) I can't agree that they are being ugly in the same ways. It's not media frenzy, which I agree is distracting and often misleading. It's the words coming out of Trump's mouth that horrify me.

But I love you.

Edited Date: 2016-02-24 05:19 pm (UTC)

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Just stepping in, here.

When it comes to people like Trump, they're very good at cultivating a following. They're very good at playing people to "earn" that respect and to gain their love. They probably do genuinely love and respect him. They also probably have a healthy blindspot to some of the things he says.

I don't trust him. I don't like how some of the things he says reminds me a little too much of Hitler. I also am not a fan of how the media likes to spin and sensationalize shit.

Also all I can think of when it comes to Trump is this:

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/73fxht/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-don-t-forget--donald-trump-wants-to-bang-his-daughter

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