[jimjam]

It’s less striking that a few Republican congressmen have publicly denounced President Trump’s conduct than that most of their colleagues have not. Their fellow legislators have silently accepted his outrages in exchange for policies they’ve always wanted.

At his inauguration Mr. Trump said his presidency was about “transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the American people.” But he and his allies in Congress are transferring power to Wall Street, fossil fuel companies, the chemical industry and other special interests. And Trump supporters in the Rust Belt and South are absolutely convinced there is a pay raise for them in there somewhere, in spite of a wealth of evidence to the contrary. For a populist, Donald Trump has some very rich friends. Just as the most fiery populist of all, Steve Bannon, is funded by a mega-billionaire, Trump's love for the little people appears to end at the sale of a MAGA cap and a vote. Because all the spoils--particularly the soon to be naked transfer of money from the middle class to the richest-- are going to the people who really deserve all the breaks: the donors, Wall Streeters, and corporations who funded the elections of those who will willingly look the other way while Trump robs their constituents blind. Donald's agenda looks like a laundry list of everything both parties have worked to achieve in the last 70 years plus.
The only things not listed yet are Social Security and Medicare, but I'm sure people are working on it.

This kind of treachery can bring us dystopia and suffering like the US has never experienced and could easily lead to a complete collapse of our democracy in a very short time.
Right after the financial sector collapses again, like it did in '08, from extreme risk taking in our casino style wall street using 'other peoples money'.
None dare call it treason because extremism in the defense of liberty is not a vice. It's a virtue if you're in the 1%.

But wait there's more. Trump will claim that all the millions of jobs he promised all depend on the tax cut. So if it doesn't go through, he has a built in excuse. They won't come anyway, with or without the tax cut. But he will be ready to skate through that lie also.

All of this populist stuff is just another scam. Trump is about the biggest of big business. He always was. Man did he just play 35% of the nation for suckers. Let's have another rally! The question remains, how is it that the ”base" doesn’t get that they are being shafted.

[Potemkin]

The question remains, how is it that the ”base" doesn’t get that they are being shafted.

False consciousness.

[Godstud]

The question remains, how is it that the ”base" doesn’t get that they are being shafted.

Ignorance, pride, and a false sense of hope. That is how they don't see it.

They cannot accept the reality, as it would mean that they were conned. Very embarrassing.

[blackjack21]

It’s less striking that a few Republican congressmen have publicly denounced President Trump’s conduct than that most of their colleagues have not. Their fellow legislators have silently accepted his outrages in exchange for policies they’ve always wanted.

Trump allied himself with the majority on policy positions--positions which are not popular among the establishment--while at the same time abandoning political correctness. His "outrages" are a comedy show to his supporters. When I wrote the thread, "Trump calls it like it is; the establishment can't take it," it turned out that even the moderators here couldn't take it any longer and killed the thread as all the substance we'd get from detractors to my point would be like Special Olympian purporting to masturbate online.

People like Bob Corker and Jeff Flake were just trying to take a page out of McCain's book, but they put themselves at odds with 90% of Republican voters who voted for Trump. Now their careers are going down in flames. This should come as no surprise to anyone following the Tea Party since 2009.

At his inauguration Mr. Trump said his presidency was about “transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the American people.” But he and his allies in Congress are transferring power to Wall Street, fossil fuel companies, the chemical industry and other special interests.

He isn't "transferring power." He is eliminating regulations harmful to their businesses. For example, in a tour down the Mississippi last year, it struck me how important the river system was for commerce in the 19th Century, but how it is still very relevant for bulk goods like moving grain or coal. A tow of barges is still the most efficient form of transportation in the United States. As you travel down the Missisippi, you'll notice coal docks where barges are unloading their coal to power plants. Coal coming out of West Virginia and Pennsylvania flows down the Ohio River to the Mississippi. While you might think Obama's war on coal was good for the environment, it was strangling businesses along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers that had depended upon coal-fired electricity for a century now. In other parts of the country, natural gas is cheaper than coal. Yet, there are places where it has a competitive advantage like along the Ohio and Mississipi rivers.

And Trump supporters in the Rust Belt and South are absolutely convinced there is a pay raise for them in there somewhere, in spite of a wealth of evidence to the contrary.

Where is the wealth of evidence to the contrary?

For a populist, Donald Trump has some very rich friends. Just as the most fiery populist of all, Steve Bannon, is funded by a mega-billionaire, Trump's love for the little people appears to end at the sale of a MAGA cap and a vote.

His supporters do not see it this way. The establishment thought getting rid of Bannon would be a great triumph for them. All it meant was that Bannon could take of the gloves. Jeff Flake already announced he's not going to run again, as Bannon is planning to primary disloyal Republicans.

Because all the spoils--particularly the soon to be naked transfer of money from the middle class to the richest-- are going to the people who really deserve all the breaks: the donors, Wall Streeters, and corporations who funded the elections of those who will willingly look the other way while Trump robs their constituents blind.

That's a lovely narrative jimjam, but the 2016 election did happen. Trump was able to stay in the race precisely because he did not need their money, and he could use their media attacks coupled with his political incorrectness to establish his bona fides with the general public. The largest recent transfer from the middle class to the rich is ObamaCare. Trump has just decided he's not going to subsidize insurance companies. That's not exactly a transfer of wealth from the middle class to the rich; actually, it is stopping such a transfer.

Donald's agenda looks like a laundry list of everything both parties have worked to achieve in the last 70 years plus.

If even half of that were true, he'd be the most popular president in the last 70 years. He's liked by his supporters, and hated by the establishment.

Trump is about the biggest of big business.

He's not a big fan of firms like Amazon. He's not a big fan of firms outsourcing to China. Trump is a nationalist. That's why John McCain just delivered another speech attacking Trump and his supporters.

The question remains, how is it that the ”base" doesn’t get that they are being shafted.

The alternative was Hillary Clinton. What's there not to "get"?

[jimjam]

Trump allied himself with the majority on policy positions--positions which are not popular among the establishment--while at the same time abandoning political correctness. His "outrages" are a comedy show to his supporters. When I wrote the thread, "Trump calls it like it is; the establishment can't take it," it turned out that even the moderators here couldn't take it any longer and killed the thread as all the substance we'd get from detractors to my point would be like Special Olympian purporting to masturbate online.

People like Bob Corker and Jeff Flake were just trying to take a page out of McCain's book, but they put themselves at odds with 90% of Republican voters who voted for Trump. Now their careers are going down in flames. This should come as no surprise to anyone following the Tea Party since 2009.


He isn't "transferring power." He is eliminating regulations harmful to their businesses. For example, in a tour down the Mississippi last year, it struck me how important the river system was for commerce in the 19th Century, but how it is still very relevant for bulk goods like moving grain or coal. A tow of barges is still the most efficient form of transportation in the United States. As you travel down the Missisippi, you'll notice coal docks where barges are unloading their coal to power plants. Coal coming out of West Virginia and Pennsylvania flows down the Ohio River to the Mississippi. While you might think Obama's war on coal was good for the environment, it was strangling businesses along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers that had depended upon coal-fired electricity for a century now. In other parts of the country, natural gas is cheaper than coal. Yet, there are places where it has a competitive advantage like along the Ohio and Mississipi rivers.


Where is the wealth of evidence to the contrary?


His supporters do not see it this way. The establishment thought getting rid of Bannon would be a great triumph for them. All it meant was that Bannon could take of the gloves. Jeff Flake already announced he's not going to run again, as Bannon is planning to primary disloyal Republicans.


That's a lovely narrative jimjam, but the 2016 election did happen. Trump was able to stay in the race precisely because he did not need their money, and he could use their media attacks coupled with his political incorrectness to establish his bona fides with the general public. The largest recent transfer from the middle class to the rich is ObamaCare. Trump has just decided he's not going to subsidize insurance companies. That's not exactly a transfer of wealth from the middle class to the rich; actually, it is stopping such a transfer.


If even half of that were true, he'd be the most popular president in the last 70 years. He's liked by his supporters, and hated by the establishment.


He's not a big fan of firms like Amazon. He's not a big fan of firms outsourcing to China. Trump is a nationalist. That's why John McCain just delivered another speech attacking Trump and his supporters.


The alternative was Hillary Clinton. What's there not to "get"?

Looks like you fell for the con hook, line and sinker. You've been played Bud. You've been played. You are a smart guy. Don't be embarrassed. Even smart guys can get conned or maybe you have money in the game. For your sake I hope so. But, to think this not about money is the height of naivety. I doubt the rubes will ever admit that they have been played. They never do. Donald is one of the best con artists ever, he knows how the con works. I admire his mental dexterity. He has made the transition from retail to wholesale. Sit back and enjoy the mess. An old Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. This is going to be very interesting indeed.