posted January 24, 2017 11:06 PM            

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Originally posted by Randall:
We will vote out any traitor who does not recognize Trump's legitimacy.

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posted January 25, 2017 12:20 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Randall:
I exercise creative license while using that word.

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posted January 25, 2017 04:20 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by pire:
Enchanté

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Pire

Didn't want to derail the thread because I see we have great discussion here but this

quote:

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Originally posted by Randall:
No, this is the way a Republic works.

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People have the right to question his legitimacy as a president, especially because Russia is involved. That's how a Republic should work.

posted January 25, 2017 01:49 PM            

Thanks for all your kindness. I have said from the beginning that I was fully aware that I was seeing fairytales and lullabies in Trump's speech.

Not sure how anyone could mistake me as a person who takes him seriously on any level.

I do applaud the act of publicly calling a spade a spade, a corrupt establishment a corrupt establishment. To the extent that Trump does that, I appreciate it.

But if people cannot tell the difference between me saying "He said these few things that are good" and "He's good"...I cannot fix the problem.

posted January 25, 2017 01:58 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by pire:
Faith you say that it sounds good to you to make america first, and from you it make sense because we know what you think of patriotism.

What I mean is that in your vision, focusing on your country means less war intervention abroad and democracy building (whatever that is implied ) , that is cool by me,

However trump wants to buy / build more weapons, including nuclear, so in his mouth america first does not mean AT ALL the same as you.

Good night

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Well I had said "To me it hits me two ways at once. I think it could be that. But it is also what I believe America needs to do for itself."

You know what it is, pire?

I am deeply and strongly resistant to being told what to think.

Currently it seems to me like every media outlet has a great incentive to spin everything Trump does in a negative light. That makes me doubt the objectivity and sincerity of the news I'm hearing. This is why I don't follow the news.

I know how Trump's America-first crap sounds to other people. But Obama followed lockstep in the path of the creators of America's foreign policy, The Project for the New American Century.

Trump says he wants to depart from what Obama is doing. Maybe he WILL be less of a global meddler? He said that invading the Middle East was a mistake.

Basically....you know what? I don't care what Trump says. I'll just watch, wait and see. And if the wars settle down, and he makes anything better, I reserve the right to enjoy that moment, and no one will be able to coerce or intimidate me into not speaking my mind.

That's what I fear is happening right now.

People are being told what to say and what to think, and it's ALL NEGATIVE. No optimism allowed.

I can't live like that, it's not my personality. Regardless of what an absolute a$$hole Trump is, maybe just maybe he'll do something that benefits people.

posted January 25, 2017 02:11 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by pire:
However trump wants to buy / build more weapons, including nuclear, so in his mouth america first does not mean AT ALL the same as you.

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Right

But if we take everything he says seriously, than his scaling-back-the-wars comments get equal weight, don't they?

I mean, no one knows what's going to happen.

quote:

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Originally posted by pire:
One thing strike me, Obamacare, from what I got, everyone had a social security to have free treatment, and some ( middle class) got higher fees than what they used to have when the system didn't incorporate the less fortunate. Ok may be too simplisticly put, but, my point is, the system proposed by obama isn't right for everyone, in particular those who pay very much more than before, and it may have to be changed, but what is important is that everyone got to ask himself where he stood ? Was it alright for the poor to be treated ? A yes to this question makes you enter the 21st century

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Hopefully people will start to understand how deeply corrupt the medical establishment is in the 21st century, also.

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Originally posted by pire:
Fair enough in europe we had that mentality a while ago, but there are so many things we learn from the USA. The USA is way more than what many americans see, and it is more obvious from abroad. Take the native american, I was listening today to a radio programme on french radio about 2 french authors, one wrote a book about a shaman in amazonie and 1 about the hopi people. If the USA reconnects itself to what is a part of itself, it will shine. Amazon isns't in the USA, but it is part of america and way too often the USA call itself america.

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I was just watching a history video on Native Americans with my kids the other night, and it ended on that same note, with a Native American saying, "You should listen to us instead of marginalizing us. We could help everything."

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Originally posted by pire:
If the usa did shine it wasn't because of companies, business, even armies , what shone was visions, values, principles... and their companies, business, army benefited, ( and the world to some extent)

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Seems long gone to me. All I see is materialism, status, capitalism, money as the ultimate value. The more money you make, the more valuable a person you are. If you don't make money you have no value. So get into the lucrative careers, no matter how corrupt they are, how totally screwed up from top to bottom, because then you will have a nice house, nice care, nice Facebook material "profile"...you are a *success*...regardless of all the underlying oppression and wrongness in your field of choice......

Ugh sorry.

I am way too cynical today.

SO SICK of the problems, though. Really.

It goes beyond Trump...speaking of what America is about....almost everything I was taught about this country turned out to be the opposite. The only thing I know is that the people really are friendly, as it's been said. So I do like Americans. It's the government, institutions, overreach, and some social problems that wear me down.

*rant over*

Sorry again

posted January 25, 2017 02:50 PM            

I understand and feel your reaction to the huge negative energy, the need of hope and encouragement, the need to protect oneself from this havoc. In my opinion, this strong negative reaction comes from sensing a great danger and it is a healthy reaction. On the other side, I've said from the beginning of these conversations that there is a huge hope here, in my view, a big light at the end of the tunnel, this will become a statement of the Aquarian age.

I want to tell you and everyone that as far as I'm concerned, I am not trying to add to this negativity, some of us have had experiences that put us now in red alert and responsibility, we cannot stay silent, knowing how quick these things escalate, knowing the recipe, seeing it unfolding, with much happening behind the scenes, and the same experience says that the only way to fight this is by being alert and reactive every step of the way, and it goes to individual levels. It's going to be a battle, and this is how this battle can be won Battles are good! It already is a battle, and I am sure everyone feels it, and it reflects on us, but it is not between us.

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I seem to have loved you in numberless forms...

posted January 25, 2017 03:34 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Randall:
Fairy tales can come true. Trump is making good on every promise, which we have seen evidence of every day so far.

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posted January 25, 2017 05:43 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by LeeLoo2014:
Faith, I don't question your judgment in any way and I think it is more than good that you raised those points so that we can have a debate. I was merely trying to point out how dangerous pretty words are in the mouth of impostors, more dangerous than the other words. Despite exchanging these views as we did, I don't feel we are on different pages myself, it was more like a constructive way to look at both sides of the issue, I am grateful to have had this occasion with you.

I understand and feel your reaction to the huge negative energy, the need of hope and encouragement, the need to protect oneself from this havoc. In my opinion, this strong negative reaction comes from sensing a great danger and it is a healthy reaction. On the other side, I've said from the beginning of these conversations that there is a huge hope here, in my view, a big light at the end of the tunnel, this will become a statement of the Aquarian age.

I want to tell you and everyone that as far as I'm concerned, I am not trying to add to this negativity, some of us have had experiences that put us now in red alert and responsibility, we cannot stay silent, knowing how quick these things escalate, knowing the recipe, seeing it unfolding, with much happening behind the scenes, and the same experience says that the only way to fight this is by being alert and reactive every step of the way, and it goes to individual levels. It's going to be a battle, and this is how this battle can be won Battles are good! It already is a battle, and I am sure everyone feels it, and it reflects on us, but it is not between us.

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posted January 25, 2017 05:54 PM            

Thanks pire, for thinking the same.

Thanks for putting up with me, I'm so cranky today.

This cheered me up though...speaking of that inauguration speech.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gneBUA39mnI&feature=youtu.be

posted January 25, 2017 07:57 PM            

Not all crimes are punishable by life in prison.

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In October 2013, the incarceration rate of the United States of America was the highest in the world, at 716 per 100,000 of the national population. While the United States represents about 4.4 percent of the world's population, it houses around 22 percent of the world's prisoners.

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posted January 25, 2017 10:47 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Randall:
The 80,000 were violent offenses and over Obama's full terms, but that is more than enough cause for concern.

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Link? It sounds like you are actually referring to the 87,000 referred to above.

posted January 26, 2017 12:11 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Randall:
I don't see how I could be more clear. Obama was in office for eight years. You posted data for one.

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posted January 26, 2017 04:10 PM            

August 3, 2016

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President Obama granted clemency to a record 214 inmates on Wednesday, far surpassing his previous single-day record, as part of an ongoing effort to release federal inmates serving prison terms deemed to be unduly harsh.

To date, Obama has commuted the sentences of 562 federal inmates, more than the previous nine presidents combined. The White House said in a statement that the president will continue commuting the sentences of inmates through his remaining months in office.

“Today began like any other for 214 federal inmates across the country, but ultimately became a day I am confident they will never forget,” said Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel. The 214 inmates freed represent the most commutations in a single day since at least 1900, Eggleston said.

[Obama’s crusade against a criminal justice system devoid of ‘second chances’]

Typically, Obama has granted clemency to 40 or 50 inmates a month. In this case, 67 of the 214 inmates had been sentenced to life in prison. Almost all of those released from their sentences on Wednesday had been convicted of nonviolent drug crimes, according to the White House.

The White House said the large number of commutations underscores the need for broader criminal justice reform, which has some bipartisan support but has stalled in Congress.

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Edit - the link won't post right here, I'll put it below