The Democrats and Republicans have, together, decided to subject the American public to a re-run of the 2020 presidential election. This may be an exceedingly low turnout election as most Americans, outside the bases of the two parties, have no desire to vote for either Joe Biden or Donald Trump. Some Americans, when forced to choose between the two, will just stay home.
Agreed. I don’t like Trump either—I would have preferred another. Yet I like the Democrats less. While I’m a Protestant Reform Baptist masquerading as a Southern Baptist, the Catholic Principle of Double Effect comes into play with my decision to get good policy & political outcomes. My prayer will be Trumps advisors keep him from poisoning the proverbial well so an 8 year Republican can get elected next—and he picks a good VP who can follow on.
7 million in three years not even close, no problem with people wanting to come to this country but when the immigrants are mostly military aged men and when we let Venezuela empty its prisons here that is a problem. Letting even a small percentage of criminals in is bull. Also you think just people are crossing the border, the open border policy enables more drugs into this country and I am not talking about pot, the drug problems in certain parts of the country are at epidemic levels. So whoever does the best job at closing the border has my vote. Finally, a bunch of nuts with no weapons had any chance of overthrowing the government? The bigger threat to our system was the BLM riots that burned cities. The fact that the government just sat back and allowed peoples businesses to be destroyed was fine but the moment they were threatened it was the end of the world — the hypocrisy is too rich.
Both candidates are demagogic narcissists. One candidate's corruption and lawlessness will be enabled and encouraged by an equally corrupt elite. The other candidate's corruption and lawlessness will be fought tooth and nail
Erick how can you say this with a straight face?? “The reality of January 6, 2021, is that it was a multi-hour temper tantrum conducted by the most well armed group of American ever and they did not bother bringing their guns.”
The reality of it was that thousands stormed the Capitol Building (believe her not me https://youtu.be/JnGMYl-njsg?si=lgkbCANGKuDajFG_) for a “revolution” with zip ties and gallows to “hang Mike Pence!”, one of whom even got shot (Ashli Babbitt) when she in revolutionary fervor refused to obey orders and broke a window to the senate inner chambers, all of it egged on and encouraged by Orange Cheeto Man who falsely claimed the election was stolen, and did not want to honor a 200+ year US tradition of peaceful transition of power.
You’re just dog whistling for the MAGAt base, Erick. Be a truth broker. Call out Jan 6 for what it was.
Holy cow!! I am thinking you might take a bit of time and watch the actual videos. As for Babbitt, she didn't break a window, she was trying to climb though a broken one and there were literally two officers standing behind her not making a move to stop her. There were no guns in the hands of the rioters and no one was even trying to harm any political figure.
You’re hung up on who broke the damn window? Check yourself. Why was she going through that window, “Kathy”? Just to have a quick chat with Pence? Maybe have coffee with McConnell? Get real. She and the others would have harmed our elected reps. And you know that!
What insurrection has been committed since guns were invented, without guns?
But you have believed the "really big lie", from 'media' and government operatives.
Meanwhile, people who were there and harmed no one, remain as political prisoners, without trial. And now, a journalist who was acting as a journalist, was carted off in handcuffs by FBI agents, just this week. Didn't happen until he began work for The Blaze. You'd be wise to think about what is really happening and the current true 'threats to democracy', going on right now.
I had dinner last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. The birthday girl& I were the ONLY ones who didn't preface comments about good things happening in Fl., such as "I'm no fan of DeSantis but...," or "It's not tetmed Slavery anymore, isn't it human trafficking?," "Capitalism is the worst thing in the world." These women(yes, all well-off, white women) were very forward w/ their opinions. When I shared my experiences (such as stating that slavery is still practiced around the world today, my recent ancestors died under slavery (I am not Jewish)), my comments were basically heard but minimized & not explored. You're talking about moral equivalence. I was in that conversation & I saw total dismissal of thoughts that didn't align w/ theirs. I will vote for Trump because I just don't understand the total lack of curiosity on the part of those women. It was a challenge to be at that table, breaking bread.
I continue to be amazed that the focus is on Joe Biden and Donald Trump as the topic of conversation for the coming election. It is like not being able to see the forest for the two stumps in front.
Presidential candidates and their popularity derives from their connection to the interests of the electorate. Of course the media and those in the business of media degrade the narrative to personality, etc... really superficial BS. Remember the Nixon-Kennedy first TV debate... the media pundits talked about how Nixon sweated and Kennedy was cool as a cucumber. Yeah, real important stuff to help make an informed decision on who to vote for. The media makes the electorate dumb focused on the stumps, and shame on everyone in the media for not talking about the forest.
This election, as well as the 2016 election... they are not about Trump vs Biden... they, the elections, are about the American corporatist and political establishment that is connected to the globalist Great Reset agenda that also demands that the US post Bretton Woods Global Order not only continue, but to be sucked up and controlled by Beijing or Brussels. It is the same cabal and agenda that sent British voters to approve Brexit.
The global pandemic, I believe was released by the Chinese communists to help the Democrats defeat DJT and put the puppet establishment Joe Biden in power, as well as give the Chinese communists the authority to stop the Hong Kong protests, made a detour in this movement toward the anti-establishment. Trillions were spent globally to fund this desperate opposition to halting the Wall Street favoring advance of making the world and economy a global central-controlled collectivist machine that subjugates the US into a continued ATM for the rest of the world. Good for the top 1%, temporarily good for the next 19% too fat dumb and happy to recognize the threat and terrible as it has been for years for the bottom 80%. Those 80% are so over being happy about cheap Chinese Walmart crap goods. Working class wages have not at all kept up with inflation. Good paying jobs are absolutely not in big enough supply.
You can easily see what is happening by checking the cost of living index by country. The US ranks 12th out of 146 countries. Go back to before China was allowed into the WTO and NAFTA that sent so much of our working class economic benefits to Mexico and the US was WAY down that list as being affordable for the middle class. https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp
It isn't really any more complicated that that. The US has allowed the elite managerial and administrative class to mortgage away the middle class good life to increase the wealth at the top. They have given our hard earned American assets to other countries for the rewards the other countries give them... at the expense of the majority of the country.
I am a one percenter. But I see it. I see the lives my children and their children diminished as so many paths to their own economic and social future have been crushed. We pay to send our Navy to police the seas to that China, India and South Korea can take our industry supported by cheap cargo shipping. They contribute little to none for that safety. The billions we spend on that should be used for domestic projects that help our own people.
The US has abundant domestic consumer power... we have a $1 trillion per year trade deficit. If we reduce the cost of energy and focus on bringing back manufacturing and industry to those parts of the country that need the good paying jobs, and do more trade deals with our North American partners, we can get back to a Greater America.
The Global Order is dead. Other countries are going to have to step up to replace what the US has gifted to the world for 75 years. It is time to refocus on our own country.
That is what this election represents, not the cult of personality for Joe Biden or Donald Trump. Shame on the media for making is so.
Retreating from the world. Hmmm. If you think our military is expensive to keep up. Wait until you see how much it costs when the bad actors control the sea lanes, etc.
Sorry, Frank. Respectfully, It's just not that simple.
Some things should be made in Mexico and/or India.(Not China) Some things should never be made outside our borders.
This is what's never discussed here and I have no idea why. I can't say everything I just read is absolute fact, but I do think it should be investigated hard. All I know is that I see the legacy media, except for Fox, have a ridiculous protective stance towards Biden, and they only begin to turn when it looks like Biden may not make it. They do not care about Biden, but only the agenda. The Free Press is on this. Tucker is on this, and others. This isn't about Trump or Biden, it's about opening up the closets and the cellars and letting sunlight in. There is a lot they do not want known, and a Trump presidency would allow that knowledge to flow.
Sad to say, but I find myself hard-pressed to push back against that. Fact is that the Founding Fathers only envisioned letting every Tom, Dick, and Harry vote for the House of Representatives.
A refreshing take! I think most of us following Erick will end up voting for Trump, only because he's the lesser of the two evils. Unfortunately we as Republicans have faced this dilemma for years (remember Romney? I had to plug my nose as I voted and had to go home and vomit afterwards). I honestly also don't believe that the party's base has become Trump acolytes forever-- we can blame the Democrats for making Trump the goat, and foaming at the mouth to punish him at whatever cost for any number or real or imaginary sins. That forced the party's base to come to his defense to save one of their own (however unpalatable that is).
This is an extremely creative take on the "Lesser of two evils." Based on my research for my doctorate, simply claiming the American voter only has the lesser of two evils as a choice this November seems... puerile. While it sounds profound, too often it masks those who cannot determine the nuances between the parties. There are no perfect men and there are no perfect candidates; all are fallen and imperfect. Yet some can be less so, especially in their character. I have always agreed with Erick regarding the importance of character and I believe he would agree moral lawgiving must proceed, minimally, with moral lawgivers. This election should not be (in essence cannot be) based solely on the character of the individual men. This is an election which must nuanced on the party platforms and their results, as shaky as this may be. We now clearly know what we will get if we support the Democratic candidate. We also know what we will get with a Republican candidate. The nuanced understanding is demanded through the knowledge of how the party majorities affect the judiciary and the bureaucratic state. "The evil of two lessers (or three, four, five, ad nauseam) is before as as Erick identifies. The challenge is to see beyond the proverbial forest to identify the trees.
Didn't the Republicans simply dispense with anything in the way of a party platform last time? Wouldn't want anything standing in the way of doing whatever the Leader says.
Working off your argument and doing the math concerning moral lawgiving, absent a Republican Party platform, wouldn't that make the morality of the man at the top of the ticket somewhat paramount?
While I agree the Republicans have not been a bastion of integrity, and if we merely limit the comparative to just within the party, then yes, the character of the “leader” would rise to great importance. Yet the choices are not between party platform and the man on it. The choices we must make are the platforms of D & R and the policies they have, in reality, supported. We were surprised by Trump’s policies his first term ( and he has weaknesses which were mitigated by those advising him). Yet we clearly see what the Democrats want through the demonstration of their policies. Republican policies at least seek to strengthen the country. Offhand, I cannot think of a Democratic policy that does not harm the Republic. Thanks for this!
As Biden said last night (while Republican Senator Jim Lankford was caught on cameral mouthing the words, "It's true"), conservative Republicans crafted a bill to address illegal immigration and fund both Israel and Ukraine. Trump put out the word to kill the bill, and so they did. So which would you say is the Republican policy: (1) secure the border or (2) do whatever Trump says?
Want a Democratic policy that does not harm the Republic? Last night, President Biden urged Congress to pass that bill, which is designed to reduce illegal immigration. Would that harm the Republic?
(I cannot help but note the irony of Trump having backed Republicans into a corner where a Democrat is demanding that they do something about illegal immigration. I guess strange things can happen when one elevates person over principle, as for example one might elevate a particular preacher over the actual word of God.)
There are issues with the bill Biden referred to, but I’m not familiar enough with it to point them out. I do agree with your observations on Trump to a point. I would want to actually see the bill that Biden wants passed: forgive me for merely accepting his words on this. I agree with your closing comments as well--I’ve been in ministry long enough to witness your closing observation. I appreciate the fact we can have a discussion on this with actual respect for one another’s person. (I’m not actually very touchy-feely though…) Johnson had the right priority to place the border over Ukraine. Both are necessary but the border must take precedent or we need to ask why is the sovereignty of a foreign country higher priority than ours? Trump. Well, many didn’t want a politician and he’s not one. Just had a thought: both men are kinda past their “best by” date. Biden we witness regularly. Trump just acts juvenile on occasion. I still hold to my previous observation. There exists a huge moral chasm between the parties (for now). We’re seeing the out workings of the Democrats as we converse. We’ve experienced Republican administrations in the past. None are perfect yet one is healthier at this point in history. The one way to judge either party morally is to recognize the necessity of obedience to Scripture & the Lord. Past that, believers are called “to seek the welfare” of this country--literally what is the greatest peaceful good. I’ve enjoyed this Neil!
Wow. It didn't take long before Erick provided evidence of just why GOP fealty to Trump should be troubling. His latest post ("Donald Trump Attempts to Sabotage His National Security Legacy Because He's Mad") features Trump placing his personal grudge against Facebook over considerations of national security that he himself previously recognized.
I’ve been moving in-laws all day (they’re in their late 80s). I’ve saved his article but haven’t read it. I cannot fathom why his ardent supporters believe he’s “the inly guy who can fix these things and beat Biden! Horse Hockey! The Democrats have “Derangement.” The Republicans have “Fatal Attraction.” I have heartburn. I’m guessing you do as well. Long day Neil—let’s talk again!
Frank has a good point regarding the "corporatist elite" he identifies. I contend the corporate entities would not have the freedom to influence as they currently do without 1) political permission granted by the parties, 2) the laissez faire attitude of our culture demanding convenience over effort, and 3) the breakdown of the most basic part of our society: the family. Whether believers, agnostics, atheists, or pagan, today's family is inherently weaker than previous generations... and this is where we circle back to corporations providing the conveniences we all know and love!
Erick some of your juxtapositions I appreciate. But your gist seems to be moral-equivalency between Republicans and Democrats as parties. All members in both parties are sinners but that is a Christian tautology. We are all sinners so your point is there is no moral distinction between parties? Then why vote ever?
Are you saying the policies of Republicans and Democrats are equally moral? Please do seriously defend that. Are you saying Trump and Biden because they are sinners, neither deserves our vote more than the other? Please enlighten us on a point by point as to policy, which is really what we vote on.
Pretty much every person highlighted in the Old Testament was also at least presumably a sinner but some were more righteous than others and some exalted. Indeed God is the final judge as to who gets to heaven but we are not judging that in voting. We vote for policies and maybe some icky people are pledging to support policies that are more moral than the alternative. But because they are both sinners there is no choice to be made?!
Look at the platforms -- local state and national -- and compare the two parties. Are you seriously saying they are morally equivalent? Are you seriously saying that what comes out of the legislative processes where Republicans are in control or Democrats in control are morally equivalent? Abortion yes, abortion no, trans inculcation yes, trans inculcation no, all proposed by sinners so whatever.
We can't move the personal needle without Christ but we can sure as hell move the cultural needle by exercising our responsibility to vote for proposals more compatible with God's law, human flourishing, the freedom to preach need for repentance and not create an environment pushing degeneracy. Imperfectly there is a profound difference in the parties, the candidates they produce and the legislation they foster and if anyone does not see it I am astounded.
You might get that grifter instead of Scott. The one that tricked Democrats around the country into sending him money to “defeat Majorie Taylor Greene.” He’s going after Scott now.
People need to take a stand despite the far from perfect choices. A Republican who stays home or votes 3rd party is in reality casting 1/2 a vote for Biden. A Democrat who stays home or votes 3rd party is casting 1/2 a vote for Trump.
Neither will be able to claim some moral high ground because they didn’t vote for either Trump or Biden because the reality is that they are.
Agreed. I don’t like Trump either—I would have preferred another. Yet I like the Democrats less. While I’m a Protestant Reform Baptist masquerading as a Southern Baptist, the Catholic Principle of Double Effect comes into play with my decision to get good policy & political outcomes. My prayer will be Trumps advisors keep him from poisoning the proverbial well so an 8 year Republican can get elected next—and he picks a good VP who can follow on.
7 million in three years not even close, no problem with people wanting to come to this country but when the immigrants are mostly military aged men and when we let Venezuela empty its prisons here that is a problem. Letting even a small percentage of criminals in is bull. Also you think just people are crossing the border, the open border policy enables more drugs into this country and I am not talking about pot, the drug problems in certain parts of the country are at epidemic levels. So whoever does the best job at closing the border has my vote. Finally, a bunch of nuts with no weapons had any chance of overthrowing the government? The bigger threat to our system was the BLM riots that burned cities. The fact that the government just sat back and allowed peoples businesses to be destroyed was fine but the moment they were threatened it was the end of the world — the hypocrisy is too rich.
Both candidates are demagogic narcissists. One candidate's corruption and lawlessness will be enabled and encouraged by an equally corrupt elite. The other candidate's corruption and lawlessness will be fought tooth and nail
Erick how can you say this with a straight face?? “The reality of January 6, 2021, is that it was a multi-hour temper tantrum conducted by the most well armed group of American ever and they did not bother bringing their guns.”
The reality of it was that thousands stormed the Capitol Building (believe her not me https://youtu.be/JnGMYl-njsg?si=lgkbCANGKuDajFG_) for a “revolution” with zip ties and gallows to “hang Mike Pence!”, one of whom even got shot (Ashli Babbitt) when she in revolutionary fervor refused to obey orders and broke a window to the senate inner chambers, all of it egged on and encouraged by Orange Cheeto Man who falsely claimed the election was stolen, and did not want to honor a 200+ year US tradition of peaceful transition of power.
You’re just dog whistling for the MAGAt base, Erick. Be a truth broker. Call out Jan 6 for what it was.
Holy cow!! I am thinking you might take a bit of time and watch the actual videos. As for Babbitt, she didn't break a window, she was trying to climb though a broken one and there were literally two officers standing behind her not making a move to stop her. There were no guns in the hands of the rioters and no one was even trying to harm any political figure.
You’re hung up on who broke the damn window? Check yourself. Why was she going through that window, “Kathy”? Just to have a quick chat with Pence? Maybe have coffee with McConnell? Get real. She and the others would have harmed our elected reps. And you know that!
Erick is right, and you are deluded.
What insurrection has been committed since guns were invented, without guns?
But you have believed the "really big lie", from 'media' and government operatives.
Meanwhile, people who were there and harmed no one, remain as political prisoners, without trial. And now, a journalist who was acting as a journalist, was carted off in handcuffs by FBI agents, just this week. Didn't happen until he began work for The Blaze. You'd be wise to think about what is really happening and the current true 'threats to democracy', going on right now.
I believe in being accurate. Unlike some people who prefer making things up out of whole cloth.
Get a grip, man. That "gallows" probably would have collapsed under its own weight
I had dinner last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. The birthday girl& I were the ONLY ones who didn't preface comments about good things happening in Fl., such as "I'm no fan of DeSantis but...," or "It's not tetmed Slavery anymore, isn't it human trafficking?," "Capitalism is the worst thing in the world." These women(yes, all well-off, white women) were very forward w/ their opinions. When I shared my experiences (such as stating that slavery is still practiced around the world today, my recent ancestors died under slavery (I am not Jewish)), my comments were basically heard but minimized & not explored. You're talking about moral equivalence. I was in that conversation & I saw total dismissal of thoughts that didn't align w/ theirs. I will vote for Trump because I just don't understand the total lack of curiosity on the part of those women. It was a challenge to be at that table, breaking bread.
I continue to be amazed that the focus is on Joe Biden and Donald Trump as the topic of conversation for the coming election. It is like not being able to see the forest for the two stumps in front.
Presidential candidates and their popularity derives from their connection to the interests of the electorate. Of course the media and those in the business of media degrade the narrative to personality, etc... really superficial BS. Remember the Nixon-Kennedy first TV debate... the media pundits talked about how Nixon sweated and Kennedy was cool as a cucumber. Yeah, real important stuff to help make an informed decision on who to vote for. The media makes the electorate dumb focused on the stumps, and shame on everyone in the media for not talking about the forest.
This election, as well as the 2016 election... they are not about Trump vs Biden... they, the elections, are about the American corporatist and political establishment that is connected to the globalist Great Reset agenda that also demands that the US post Bretton Woods Global Order not only continue, but to be sucked up and controlled by Beijing or Brussels. It is the same cabal and agenda that sent British voters to approve Brexit.
The global pandemic, I believe was released by the Chinese communists to help the Democrats defeat DJT and put the puppet establishment Joe Biden in power, as well as give the Chinese communists the authority to stop the Hong Kong protests, made a detour in this movement toward the anti-establishment. Trillions were spent globally to fund this desperate opposition to halting the Wall Street favoring advance of making the world and economy a global central-controlled collectivist machine that subjugates the US into a continued ATM for the rest of the world. Good for the top 1%, temporarily good for the next 19% too fat dumb and happy to recognize the threat and terrible as it has been for years for the bottom 80%. Those 80% are so over being happy about cheap Chinese Walmart crap goods. Working class wages have not at all kept up with inflation. Good paying jobs are absolutely not in big enough supply.
You can easily see what is happening by checking the cost of living index by country. The US ranks 12th out of 146 countries. Go back to before China was allowed into the WTO and NAFTA that sent so much of our working class economic benefits to Mexico and the US was WAY down that list as being affordable for the middle class. https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp
It isn't really any more complicated that that. The US has allowed the elite managerial and administrative class to mortgage away the middle class good life to increase the wealth at the top. They have given our hard earned American assets to other countries for the rewards the other countries give them... at the expense of the majority of the country.
I am a one percenter. But I see it. I see the lives my children and their children diminished as so many paths to their own economic and social future have been crushed. We pay to send our Navy to police the seas to that China, India and South Korea can take our industry supported by cheap cargo shipping. They contribute little to none for that safety. The billions we spend on that should be used for domestic projects that help our own people.
The US has abundant domestic consumer power... we have a $1 trillion per year trade deficit. If we reduce the cost of energy and focus on bringing back manufacturing and industry to those parts of the country that need the good paying jobs, and do more trade deals with our North American partners, we can get back to a Greater America.
The Global Order is dead. Other countries are going to have to step up to replace what the US has gifted to the world for 75 years. It is time to refocus on our own country.
That is what this election represents, not the cult of personality for Joe Biden or Donald Trump. Shame on the media for making is so.
Retreating from the world. Hmmm. If you think our military is expensive to keep up. Wait until you see how much it costs when the bad actors control the sea lanes, etc.
Sorry, Frank. Respectfully, It's just not that simple.
Some things should be made in Mexico and/or India.(Not China) Some things should never be made outside our borders.
We are a global economy and that's good.
WAY over simplification and lacking real math.
Read Peter Zeihan.
This is what's never discussed here and I have no idea why. I can't say everything I just read is absolute fact, but I do think it should be investigated hard. All I know is that I see the legacy media, except for Fox, have a ridiculous protective stance towards Biden, and they only begin to turn when it looks like Biden may not make it. They do not care about Biden, but only the agenda. The Free Press is on this. Tucker is on this, and others. This isn't about Trump or Biden, it's about opening up the closets and the cellars and letting sunlight in. There is a lot they do not want known, and a Trump presidency would allow that knowledge to flow.
"Evils of two lessers"... year after year I wonder and wait, who will be the knight on the white horse riding into save us?
Maybe we should go back to just having the state electors vote for president without having a popular vote by the people.
Sad to say, but I find myself hard-pressed to push back against that. Fact is that the Founding Fathers only envisioned letting every Tom, Dick, and Harry vote for the House of Representatives.
How interesting. That kind of makes sense as the House is so "area" based. How were Senators chosen?
They were elected by state legislatures, as were electors for the Electoral College in several states.
That all makes sense. Can we pleeeeease go back to that methodology? lol
A refreshing take! I think most of us following Erick will end up voting for Trump, only because he's the lesser of the two evils. Unfortunately we as Republicans have faced this dilemma for years (remember Romney? I had to plug my nose as I voted and had to go home and vomit afterwards). I honestly also don't believe that the party's base has become Trump acolytes forever-- we can blame the Democrats for making Trump the goat, and foaming at the mouth to punish him at whatever cost for any number or real or imaginary sins. That forced the party's base to come to his defense to save one of their own (however unpalatable that is).
I think you insulted the average Roomba.
{audible chuckle}
"Most Americans are just going to get through this election year with the enthusiasm of someone headed to a colonoscopy." I love this depiction.
This is an extremely creative take on the "Lesser of two evils." Based on my research for my doctorate, simply claiming the American voter only has the lesser of two evils as a choice this November seems... puerile. While it sounds profound, too often it masks those who cannot determine the nuances between the parties. There are no perfect men and there are no perfect candidates; all are fallen and imperfect. Yet some can be less so, especially in their character. I have always agreed with Erick regarding the importance of character and I believe he would agree moral lawgiving must proceed, minimally, with moral lawgivers. This election should not be (in essence cannot be) based solely on the character of the individual men. This is an election which must nuanced on the party platforms and their results, as shaky as this may be. We now clearly know what we will get if we support the Democratic candidate. We also know what we will get with a Republican candidate. The nuanced understanding is demanded through the knowledge of how the party majorities affect the judiciary and the bureaucratic state. "The evil of two lessers (or three, four, five, ad nauseam) is before as as Erick identifies. The challenge is to see beyond the proverbial forest to identify the trees.
Didn't the Republicans simply dispense with anything in the way of a party platform last time? Wouldn't want anything standing in the way of doing whatever the Leader says.
Working off your argument and doing the math concerning moral lawgiving, absent a Republican Party platform, wouldn't that make the morality of the man at the top of the ticket somewhat paramount?
While I agree the Republicans have not been a bastion of integrity, and if we merely limit the comparative to just within the party, then yes, the character of the “leader” would rise to great importance. Yet the choices are not between party platform and the man on it. The choices we must make are the platforms of D & R and the policies they have, in reality, supported. We were surprised by Trump’s policies his first term ( and he has weaknesses which were mitigated by those advising him). Yet we clearly see what the Democrats want through the demonstration of their policies. Republican policies at least seek to strengthen the country. Offhand, I cannot think of a Democratic policy that does not harm the Republic. Thanks for this!
As Biden said last night (while Republican Senator Jim Lankford was caught on cameral mouthing the words, "It's true"), conservative Republicans crafted a bill to address illegal immigration and fund both Israel and Ukraine. Trump put out the word to kill the bill, and so they did. So which would you say is the Republican policy: (1) secure the border or (2) do whatever Trump says?
Want a Democratic policy that does not harm the Republic? Last night, President Biden urged Congress to pass that bill, which is designed to reduce illegal immigration. Would that harm the Republic?
(I cannot help but note the irony of Trump having backed Republicans into a corner where a Democrat is demanding that they do something about illegal immigration. I guess strange things can happen when one elevates person over principle, as for example one might elevate a particular preacher over the actual word of God.)
There are issues with the bill Biden referred to, but I’m not familiar enough with it to point them out. I do agree with your observations on Trump to a point. I would want to actually see the bill that Biden wants passed: forgive me for merely accepting his words on this. I agree with your closing comments as well--I’ve been in ministry long enough to witness your closing observation. I appreciate the fact we can have a discussion on this with actual respect for one another’s person. (I’m not actually very touchy-feely though…) Johnson had the right priority to place the border over Ukraine. Both are necessary but the border must take precedent or we need to ask why is the sovereignty of a foreign country higher priority than ours? Trump. Well, many didn’t want a politician and he’s not one. Just had a thought: both men are kinda past their “best by” date. Biden we witness regularly. Trump just acts juvenile on occasion. I still hold to my previous observation. There exists a huge moral chasm between the parties (for now). We’re seeing the out workings of the Democrats as we converse. We’ve experienced Republican administrations in the past. None are perfect yet one is healthier at this point in history. The one way to judge either party morally is to recognize the necessity of obedience to Scripture & the Lord. Past that, believers are called “to seek the welfare” of this country--literally what is the greatest peaceful good. I’ve enjoyed this Neil!
Wow. It didn't take long before Erick provided evidence of just why GOP fealty to Trump should be troubling. His latest post ("Donald Trump Attempts to Sabotage His National Security Legacy Because He's Mad") features Trump placing his personal grudge against Facebook over considerations of national security that he himself previously recognized.
I’ve been moving in-laws all day (they’re in their late 80s). I’ve saved his article but haven’t read it. I cannot fathom why his ardent supporters believe he’s “the inly guy who can fix these things and beat Biden! Horse Hockey! The Democrats have “Derangement.” The Republicans have “Fatal Attraction.” I have heartburn. I’m guessing you do as well. Long day Neil—let’s talk again!
I have enjoyed it as well. I'll just leave you with this:
Trump IS the Republican Party platform. With few men having ever deserved that level of loyalty and deference, that should be troubling.
Couldn’t resist!😎 Yes he is, as unfortunate as that is. We certainly agree there!
Yes, see Frank's post above.
Frank has a good point regarding the "corporatist elite" he identifies. I contend the corporate entities would not have the freedom to influence as they currently do without 1) political permission granted by the parties, 2) the laissez faire attitude of our culture demanding convenience over effort, and 3) the breakdown of the most basic part of our society: the family. Whether believers, agnostics, atheists, or pagan, today's family is inherently weaker than previous generations... and this is where we circle back to corporations providing the conveniences we all know and love!
Erick some of your juxtapositions I appreciate. But your gist seems to be moral-equivalency between Republicans and Democrats as parties. All members in both parties are sinners but that is a Christian tautology. We are all sinners so your point is there is no moral distinction between parties? Then why vote ever?
Are you saying the policies of Republicans and Democrats are equally moral? Please do seriously defend that. Are you saying Trump and Biden because they are sinners, neither deserves our vote more than the other? Please enlighten us on a point by point as to policy, which is really what we vote on.
Pretty much every person highlighted in the Old Testament was also at least presumably a sinner but some were more righteous than others and some exalted. Indeed God is the final judge as to who gets to heaven but we are not judging that in voting. We vote for policies and maybe some icky people are pledging to support policies that are more moral than the alternative. But because they are both sinners there is no choice to be made?!
Look at the platforms -- local state and national -- and compare the two parties. Are you seriously saying they are morally equivalent? Are you seriously saying that what comes out of the legislative processes where Republicans are in control or Democrats in control are morally equivalent? Abortion yes, abortion no, trans inculcation yes, trans inculcation no, all proposed by sinners so whatever.
We can't move the personal needle without Christ but we can sure as hell move the cultural needle by exercising our responsibility to vote for proposals more compatible with God's law, human flourishing, the freedom to preach need for repentance and not create an environment pushing degeneracy. Imperfectly there is a profound difference in the parties, the candidates they produce and the legislation they foster and if anyone does not see it I am astounded.
Whether its in my family's best interests, or which party/candidate will drive our national car off the cliff last, I'm voting GOP.
Too bad I live in a state & district where my senators are Warnock & Ossoff, and I've been redisistricted from Lucy McBath to David Scott.
You might get that grifter instead of Scott. The one that tricked Democrats around the country into sending him money to “defeat Majorie Taylor Greene.” He’s going after Scott now.
On balance, the Republican argument wins. //signed//'an elderly, Independent conservative Christian veteran.' (And i will vote.)
People need to take a stand despite the far from perfect choices. A Republican who stays home or votes 3rd party is in reality casting 1/2 a vote for Biden. A Democrat who stays home or votes 3rd party is casting 1/2 a vote for Trump.
Neither will be able to claim some moral high ground because they didn’t vote for either Trump or Biden because the reality is that they are.