Fine point nebish, but again, if the owners of L.L. Bean can't figure it out I can't cry for them. How many other, very, very important issues impact more than this issue? Hell, Congress can't get the roads paved or the power grid fixed. Don't distract them. 😉
Yes, there are bigger fish to fry. I see your points, hope maybe you see a little of mine.
Maybe I can post something else here later that we can disagree on too 😉
The pundits have had plenty to say about Trump's foreign policy experience, he cites his trade deal partners to show that he has experience with worldly people, but we all know foreign policy is more complicated. Well he has already been thinking about it and has named some of the people he wants on his team.
"After months of refusal, the billionaire real estate mogul named five people in a Monday meeting with The Washington Post’s editorial board.
Trump is hiring a professor at the National Defense University, Walid Phares, as “a counter-terrorism expert.â€
Carter Page, an energy industry executive and former investment banker, also appeared on the list to work in the national security advisory committee.
Another one was the director of the London Center of International Law Practice, George Papadopoulos, who will work as “an oil and energy consultant,†Trump said.
Trump further named “the honorable Joe Schmitz,†a former Pentagon inspector general currently running a consulting firm.
Keith Kellogg, a former lieutenant general in the US Army who now works with an IT security consultant in Virginia, was the final name on his list.
The five are members of an advisory team led by Alabama Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, the only adviser confirmed before the new list was unveiled.
“And I have quite a few more… but that’s a group of some of the people that we are dealing with,†Trump said. “We have many other people in different aspects of what we do… but that’s a pretty representative group.â€
http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/03/21/456931/us-trump-2016-presidential-election
REMARKS: He is beginning to think who he wants to surround himself with related to foreign policy. The difference between him and all the other candidates is he does not want to be involved in the Middle East in the capacity that we have been, where other countries call on us to move different leaders out of power and we lead the charge while they stay in the background. To make America great again, he will have to deal with the financial aspects of our relationships with these other countries, which is why I think he is picking people in the financial, oil sectors as part of foreign policy advisors. The financial conditions over there is related to our financial health over here. (for China to buy the Chicago Stock Exchange tells you how serious the situation is, another country buys one of our stock exchanges, it is almost unbelievable, but it happened).
Put American Workers First
Decades of disastrous trade deals and immigration policies have destroyed our middle class. Today, nearly 40% of black teenagers are unemployed. Nearly 30% of Hispanic teenagers are unemployed. For black Americans without high school diplomas, the bottom has fallen out: more than 70% were employed in 1960, compared to less than 40% in 2000. Across the economy, the percentage of adults in the labor force has collapsed to a level not experienced in generations
The influx of foreign workers holds down salaries, keeps unemployment high, and makes it difficult for poor and working class Americans – including immigrants themselves and their children – to earn a middle class wage. Nearly half of all immigrants and their US-born children currently live in or near poverty, including more than 60 percent of Hispanic immigrants. Every year, we voluntarily admit another 2 million new immigrants, guest workers, refugees, and dependents, growing our existing all-time historic record population of 42 million immigrants. We need to control the admission of new low-earning workers in order to: help wages grow, get teenagers back to work, aid minorities’ rise into the middle class, help schools and communities falling behind, and to ensure our immigrant members of the national family become part of the American dream.
Additionally, we need to stop giving legal immigrant visas to people bent on causing us harm. From the 9/11 hijackers, to the Boston Bombers, and many others, our immigration system is being used to attack us. The President of the immigration caseworkers union declared in a statement on ISIS: “We've become the visa clearinghouse for the world.â€
Here are some additional specific policy proposals for long-term reform:
Increase prevailing wage for H-1Bs. We graduate two times more Americans with STEM degrees each year than find STEM jobs, yet as much as two-thirds of entry-level hiring for IT jobs is accomplished through the H-1B program. More than half of H-1B visas are issued for the program's lowest allowable wage level, and more than eighty percent for its bottom two. Raising the prevailing wage paid to H-1Bs will force companies to give these coveted entry-level jobs to the existing domestic pool of unemployed native and immigrant workers in the U.S., instead of flying in cheaper workers from overseas
Requirement to hire American workers first. Too many visas, like the H-1B, have no such requirement. In the year 2015, with 92 million Americans outside the workforce and incomes collapsing, we need companies to hire from the domestic pool of unemployed. Petitions for workers should be mailed to the unemployment office, not USCIS.
End welfare abuse. Applicants for entry to the United States should be required to certify that they can pay for their own housing, healthcare and other needs before coming to the U.S.
Jobs program for inner city youth. The J-1 visa jobs program for foreign youth will be terminated and replaced with a resume bank for inner city youth provided to all corporate subscribers to the J-1 visa program.
Refugee program for American children. Increase standards for the admission of refugees and asylum-seekers to crack down on abuses. Use the monies saved on expensive refugee programs to help place American children without parents in safer homes and communities, and to improve community safety in high crime neighborhoods in the United States.
Immigration moderation. Before any new green cards are issued to foreign workers abroad, there will be a pause where employers will have to hire from the domestic pool of unemployed immigrant and native workers. This will help reverse women's plummeting workplace participation rate, grow wages, and allow record immigration levels to subside to more moderate historical averages.
I think this is the strongest of the "positions on the issues" posted from his website. A couple things I'm not 100% on the same page with, but compared to the tax and health care positions, this is the best.
When it comes to immigration, the kind of people I want to see come here are the ones that not only want to make themselves better by being here, I want people who want to also make America better.
The net effect with work visas or changing any immigration program should be asking how does it impact our citizens and their job opportunities. We should not have programs that hurt the wage potential or work prospects for our citizens.
I've stated my position on trade and tariffs many times and for many years here, for as long as I've been posting in the whipping post.
Now a President can't do anything by him (or her) self, but it gives you an idea where their head is and it is so refreshing to hear two candidates that have taken both parties by storm talking about trade in the way they are.
I want to talk about a specific tariff and let you see how it influences behavior.
The US has an import tariff on Asian made TVs. To avoid the tariff, Mexico has become a HUGE manufacturer of TVs. Sony, JVC, Samsung, LG, some Vizios, some Sharps...anything but the most bargain brand names have there products made in very large plants in Mexico. I do consider myself an expert of sorts on country of origin. When I tell you that every single thing I buy I try to buy made in the USA and when I tell you that I spend time in stores simply looking at where things are made, not even things I buy, I think you will understand how much personal time I devote to this issue.
Just one thing that Trump isn't exactly straight on that drives me crazy, he says all the TVs are made in South Korea, or Japan, virtually no electronics are made in Japan anymore. It wouldn't take Mr Trump very long to educate himself on these things.
So anyway, to avoid the tariff these companies make the TVs in Mexico and import them to the US tariff free (thanks to NAFTA).
Now, if tariffs didn't have an impact, why would these large electronics companies build plants in Mexico? They've invested tons of money in Mexico in order to build TVs for our market and avoid the tariff. Only the cheapest (and usually the smaller sizes) are made in China, which that tells you they have good margin on those models if they are willing to eat the tariff, or they view those entry level, lower tier brands/sizes as loss leaders and they focus on the higher quality/larger sizes to make their market share and earnings.
We can use tariffs to have positive impacts in the US. Companies want to sell their goods and services in this market. If we impose an import tariff on Korean autos, the Korean car companies are going to invest more money here to build more models here. It isn't very difficult to understand how it can work. And it should be noted, there actually are TVs assembled in the US! Element has a few models that are sold at Walmart. I have two of them, and they are cheap, cheaper than their foreign made counterparts. All the parts are imported I'm sure. Maybe they make some plastic enclosure parts here. But the key is the labor is US. If we had more of that kind of thing here, more employers of all types, competing for workers that is the goal (not workers competing for jobs what we have now).
Can one man make that happen alone? No. But I will tell you this, I would rather have a candidate (be it Trump or Sanders) repeatedly and consistently hammer this issue instead of the normal global free traders because we know exactly what we get with them and I don't think we can take any more. American needs a big dose of economic nationalism this is for sure.
The New York Times interview regarding foreign policies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/us/politics/donald-trump-transcript.html
Well, if something is illegal, shouldn't the people engaging in illegal activity be punished in some way for breaking the law?
If "assault weapons" were illegal, should somebody buying one be punished? Or should we just punish the person selling the gun? Do we punish just the drug dealers or do we also punish the people buying drugs?
Ask hypothetical questions and you get hypothetical answers.
Trump's biggest problem is that when he is asked a question like that it is actually the first time he has ever thought about it and you get an answer that sounds obviously like the first time he has ever thought about it. And Chris Mathews is very skilled in setting up a person like Trump to take the bait and then Mathews capitalizes on the moment for all to see. I'd like to see Hillary Clinton do an interview with Sean Hannity. But the obvious difference would be that Hillary is very skilled in her own way, she knows how and when to bite and watch her own tongue to not say things the interviewer can build off of to show her up.
Trump gives many many interviews and as such he is put in positions to say lots and lots of things that either don't make much sense or come off as very abrasive to what the typical politician would give to the say answer.
The press release afterwards circles back to the party line. Who really cares what the party line is about woman being victims. But I think that his campain is reaching the point where somebody behind Mr Trump realizes that if this thing has peaked already and damage control is going to have to be used from here on out in order to "properly" craft the message after the fact that Trump himself can't do live and in person. Hillary is going to destroy him in the debates should he make it that far.
I agree with your post nebish.
One hypothetical I wish was either never asked or not answered by the candidates is the - "will you support whoever is the nominee."
How about - "my vote is private and I won't answer that."
They (being the media) have really milked that question and its evolution throughout, I'm tired of it.
I agree with your post nebish.
One hypothetical I wish was either never asked or not answered by the candidates is the - "will you support whoever is the nominee."
How about - "my vote is private and I won't answer that."
They (being the media) have really milked that question and its evolution throughout, I'm tired of it.
The head of the RNC insists on such pledges, yet, it's the media's fault for talking about it?
Interesting.
Interesting.
By the date on your pic, it says, what 8/15 ?
So great, the RNC made them sign that.
The media, in every debate asks it over and over again, including Anderson Cooper in the most recent CNN Townhall.
It is a stupid thing to begin with and more stupid to hear every week.
On this I agree with President Obama, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-obama-idUSKCN0WV03X the media is partly to blame for all this, they need to ask better questions, not stupid questions that do nothing but make the next day's headlines - "Read what stupid thing The Donald said now ! "
Interesting.
By the date on your pic, it says, what 8/15 ?
So great, the RNC made them sign that.
The media, in every debate asks it over and over again, including Anderson Cooper in the most recent CNN Townhall.
It is a stupid thing to begin with and more stupid to hear every week.
I disagree. They made the pledge. They signed it. And ever since they have been backing away from it. And they keep getting asked about it because the answers keep changing. If you don't want to keep getting asked, then just keep giving the same answer and it won't be of interest anymore.
It also begs the question, if they keep changing their answer on this, then what other pledges and promises will they break when its no longer convenient to keep their word?
Interesting.
By the date on your pic, it says, what 8/15 ?
So great, the RNC made them sign that.
The media, in every debate asks it over and over again, including Anderson Cooper in the most recent CNN l.
It is a stupid thing to begin with and more stupid to hear every week.
No, this is vital information and a HUGE news story.
No Democrat or media person has ever changed their mind about anything. Ever.
Here we go again, just like Sarah Palin.
No Republican is ever responsible for the things they say or do. Always the media's fault.
Interesting.
By the date on your pic, it says, what 8/15 ?
So great, the RNC made them sign that.
The media, in every debate asks it over and over again, including Anderson Cooper in the most recent CNN l.
It is a stupid thing to begin with and more stupid to hear every week.
No, this is vital information and a HUGE news story.
No Democrat or media person has ever changed their mind about anything. Ever.
Changing your mind is a sign of weakness, lack of resolve. Makes you a spineless flip-flopper. See: GOP strategy vs. Kerry Campaign, 2004.
Why, I'll bet the media and those Democrats drove him to the meeting!!!!!
Trump makes surprise visit to Republican leadership after dumping loyalty pledge
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump made a surprise closed-door visit to the Republican National Committee on Thursday after a tumultuous two days that featured a reversal of his pledge to support the party's nominee.
Trump, who also has sought to contain the fallout from his Wednesday comments supporting punishment for women who have an abortion, said on Twitter afterward he had a "nice meeting" with RNC Chairman Reince Preibus but divulged no details.
"Looking forward to bringing the party together," he said. "And it will happen!"
An RNC spokeswoman described the meeting as "a productive conversation about the state of the race" and said it was part of Preibus's regular communications with the party's presidential candidates.
Trump's relationship with the RNC has been contentious at times, and he recently complained the party was not treating him fairly as it made preparations for a possible contested convention in July in Cleveland.
On Tuesday, Trump backed away from a loyalty pledge he signed in September promising to support the party's eventual nominee and not to run an independent campaign for the White House.
The RNC pledge has unraveled as Trump's remaining rivals, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich, also indicated they were unlikely to observe the pledge if Trump was the nominee.
Barry Bennett, an adviser to the Trump campaign, said Thursday's visit was about Trump helping the RNC raise money.
"The meeting is to help the RNC," he said on MSNBC.
The billionaire businessman was in Washington for an announced meeting with members of his newly established foreign policy team. His campaign also is setting up a Washington office to run its convention operations and work with the RNC and Congress.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-idUSKCN0WX1V6
Here we go again, just like Sarah Palin.
No Republican is ever responsible for the things they say or do. Always the media's fault.
The 1/2 governor from Alaska would agree...you betcha.
trump was for punishing women who get abortions until 3 hours later when he changed his mind and was for only punishing abortion providers.
a man's allowed to change his mind as often as he wants.
LOLOL
This is his stated position now.
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-statement-regarding-abortion
Yes I saw the Town Hall interview, with Chris Matthews, where Trump was pushed to say that he thought there would have to be some form of punishment if abortion was illegal and the woman went and got one anyway.
It would be fair to say he is opposed to abortion. Adoption would be a better way to handle unwanted pregnancies. If someone finds themselves in a position where they cannot take care of a child or does not want the child, why do they have to murder it? There are plenty of people who cannot have children who would be willing to raise the child.
There are issues with people wanting disposable sex. They just want to get off and not have any consequences, but sometimes a child comes as a consequence so they want to have an abortion. They have a right to choose NOT to raise the child, but should they have the right to choose NOT to have the child that they are pregnant with.?
I think that is the bigger issue. If you believe that God decides when a child is created, then you have to come to the conclusion that they do not have the right to abort the child. Why should they have the right to snuff out and deny life to a living entity?
Trump will obey the law. His own personal beliefs on gays and transgenders differ from the laws, and he answered a question on that. He was asked what he would do to help the transgender community if elected and he said he would obey the law. He would not let his personal feelings and beliefs prevent him from obeying the law, but he would not promote their cause. That is a reasonable and respectful position to obey the laws of the land, even if he personally disagrees with that.
IF abortion became illegal, pregnant people would probably self abort, find crooked clinics and Dr.'s or have the child and let it be adopted. Sex and condoms are disposable, but children should not be.
[Edited on 3/31/2016 by gina]
LOL now Trump is claiming his Townhall was edited to make him sound stupid.........LOL
LOL now Trump is claiming his Townhall was edited to make him sound stupid.........LOL
Well everything aired in the last 24 hours of news is edited and it does make him sound stupid, but it is his own words. I've seen nothing out of context from what I've seen on TV about it.
The appeal to Trump (for some and those who hate him, just be open minded for minute) is that he has no filter, there are no consultants or people behind the scenes telling him how to answer certain questions or what positions to take on certain issues. That appeal is indeed a double edged sword and is also a weakness. The lack of intelligence on the political level, at one time, also an appeal, but has certainly become a liability.
I agree with what others have said, for anyone who was against Obama because he'd have to learn on the job must be against Trump as well.
I can and will discuss the specific issues and topics still like I've done earlier in this thread, but the window for me to cast a vote for him has pretty much closed. I'm not sure what can change that, a much smarter Trump, which I don't know how that can happen. Say what you will, but I'm not hung up on the anti-woman, muslim, immigrant, I think alot of it is blown up or at times twisted by people already predisposed to be against him. That aside, I just think he isn't smart enough to be President. People on this message board know more about the issues than he does. I like some of his views, but most of it is empty. For years I've wanted a nonpolitican to be President, but I see the danger in that. Politicians (or even media figures) spend their entire lives in the realm of policy, national and global issues and details, Trump continues to show he isn't on the same level.
Funny. That's twice gina has said Trump was "pushed" into saying something..... looks like he'll be a strong leader... LOL
I agree with what others have said, for anyone who was against Obama because he'd have to learn on the job must be against Trump as well.
And Cruz and Rubio and Carson and....oh well.
The top 2 percent of wealthy americans will always find a way around paying taxes [hiding money offshore] and other loopholes, while the rest of us either pay taxes, or go to prison. 
Remember that witch Leona Hemsley? "Only the little people pay taxes, my dear."
Guess not. How many years did she do?
Funny. That's twice gina has said Trump was "pushed" into saying something..... looks like he'll be a strong leader... LOL
You really have to think about it, the entire GOP, news media is against him, that is one of the biggest reasons we SHOULD vote for him. They are all threatened that he will rock their boat, get rid of waste and fraud, they all want things to stay the same. He's a leader, he wins, he doesn't take any crap, he can manage budgets and projects, he surrounds himself with the people who have the knowledge and skills to manage the tasks they are given. He is exactly what this country needs to get out of the hole financially, to get out of the threat of nuclear war, to create jobs, fix the infrastructure, effectively deal with the immigration problem, and I dare to say he would reform the clandestine factions of the govt. I do not imagine him going along with , 'what do you mean they are entity unto themselves with a black budget, accountable to no one, no one knows what they are doing, what the money is being used for, and we should just accept this.... That's now how HE runs his businesses or how he would run the country. ACCOUNTABILITY would be a big hallmark of his administration. That is why so many of the rich and powerful hate him and fear him. They want to have their secret meetings (the Bilderberg group) etc. that's not his style.
He does have a big mouth, but you will always know what he is doing, where he is and he won't be sitting in the shadows signing executive orders. He will be regarded as a formidable commander in chief.
P.S. Since he hasn't said it, I will on the issue of abortion,
HE FAVORS ADOPTION NOT ABORTION.
That is a healthy alternative to those struggling with the issue. Outlaw abortion, let those who cannot or will not take care of their child, make a better choice. Rather than having it's limbs ripped off the body, (and I won't even describe the partial birth abortion, it is a very despicable procedure you can research if you want to) let that life, live it's life. The biological Mother does not have to be part of it if she doesn't want to, and doesn't want her own life changed by the pregnancy.
How could this logistically work? PAID leave time for women to have the child and participate in the adoption process. A national database where the children could eventually locate the Mothers/Fathers if they needed information for medical reasons.
Stop the slaughter of America's sons and daughters, let someone else give them a home.
How complicated is this? Adoption Not Abortion.
Funny. That's twice gina has said Trump was "pushed" into saying something..... looks like he'll be a strong leader... LOL
You really have to think about it, the entire GOP, news media is against him, that is one of the biggest reasons we SHOULD vote for him. They are all threatened that he will rock their boat, get rid of waste and fraud, they all want things to stay the same. He's a leader, he wins, he doesn't take any crap, he can manage budgets and projects, he surrounds himself with the people who have the knowledge and skills to manage the tasks they are given. He is exactly what this country needs to get out of the hole financially, , to create jobs, fix the infrastructure, effectively deal with the immigration problem, and I dare to say he would reform the clandestine factions of the govt. I do not imagine him going along with , 'what do you mean they are entity unto themselves with a black budget, accountable to no one, no one knows what they are doing, what the money is being used for, and we should just accept this.... That's now how HE runs his businesses or how he would run the country. ACCOUNTABILITY would be a big hallmark of his administration. That is why so many of the rich and powerful hate him and fear him. They want to have their secret meetings (the Bilderberg group) etc. that's not his style.
He does have a big mouth, but you will always know what he is doing, where he is and he won't be sitting in the shadows signing executive orders. He will be regarded as a formidable commander in chief.
Really? Because his own party is against him as well as the media. That is your biggest reason to vote for him? That is the cause and effect of voting for someone?
People are beginning to finally see the light of day on what he really doesn't know i.e. policy, international relations, diplomacy, details of "his own" party's beliefs that he attempts / tries to represent or wing it, etc. He's extemporaneous on things to the point of looking like a fool. It's as if he casts aside guidance from his advisors that should be leading him down the path to secure the nomination. His ego is larger than to know when to zip up his mouth. He can't help himself. This is the kind of candidate you would vote for?
I can't believe you used his name in the same paragraph with the phrase "to get out of the threat of nuclear war". Have you actually listened to his words in the last week or so on "nuclear"? He does not seem to have a clue on this topic and what spews out of his mouth.
Review the fact checkers on Trump's statements. After you do, please come back here and report what you find. No one will be surprised.
Trump has zero chance of defeating either Democrat. He is the gift that keeps on giving. In every debate, speech, or interview he gives, he alienates more each time and shows his lack of readiness. A "conservative" or "GOP candidate" has to work really hard to alienate FOX, but by golly, Trump even makes that an easy thing to do.
Be proud in your support for him. 😛
P.S. Since he hasn't said it, I will on the issue of abortion,
HE FAVORS ADOPTION NOT ABORTION.
That is a healthy alternative to those struggling with the issue. Outlaw abortion, let those who cannot or will not take care of their child, make a better choice. Rather than having it's limbs ripped off the body, (and I won't even describe the partial birth abortion, it is a very despicable procedure you can research if you want to) let that life, live it's life. The biological Mother does not have to be part of it if she doesn't want to, and doesn't want her own life changed by the pregnancy.
How could this logistically work? PAID leave time for women to have the child and participate in the adoption process. A national database where the children could eventually locate the Mothers/Fathers if they needed information for medical reasons.
Stop the slaughter of America's sons and daughters, let someone else give them a home.
How complicated is this? Adoption Not Abortion.
Curious...how many kids have you adopted?
P.S. Since he hasn't said it, I will on the issue of abortion,
HE FAVORS ADOPTION NOT ABORTION.
Really? Then why hasn't he said it? I guess he was relying on you to clarify his position. So while you're at it, what is his position on mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders? He hasn't said that either.
I was really hoping that Trump would come out yesterday and yell "April Fools!" and then go away. Oh well, disappointed again.
He does have a big mouth, but you will always know what he is doing, where he is and he won't be sitting in the shadows signing executive orders. He will be regarded as a formidable commander in chief.
Was Obama "sitting in the shadows" when he signed the fewest executive orders of the last 5 Presidents? Weren't there television cameras filming the signings?
Gina why are you so disingenuous? Is it that you feel you must follow Trump's example and just lie? Is that what happens when your hero has no honor or integrity? You lose all honor and integrity as well?
Regarding abortion you have the right to not have one. You don't have the right to make another human being continue an unwanted pregnancy. Stick to your own life. Your rights stop where another person's begin. You have shown yourself time and again to be bigoted. I don't understand what you think gives you that right. I find that behavior deplorable.
P.S. Since he hasn't said it, I will on the issue of abortion,
HE FAVORS ADOPTION NOT ABORTION.
Interesting that you feel you can interpret Trump-Speak.
Let's face it. Trump supports abortion. It's the law. And until recently, he said it outright. I think he has trouble remembering that he's supposed to be on the other side now and flubs his lines. This is the one topic where he has difficulty lying.
