America's spies anonymously took down Michael Flynn. That is deeply worrying.Damon Linker – February 14, 2017http://theweek.com/articles/680068/americas-spies-anonymously-took-down-michael-flynn-that-deeply-worryingThe United States is much better off without Michael Flynn serving as national security adviser. But no one should be cheering the way he was brought down. The whole episode is evidence of the precipitous and ongoing collapse of America's democratic institutions — not a sign of their resiliency. Flynn's ouster was a soft coup (or political assassination) engineered by anonymous intelligence community bureaucrats. The results might be salutary, but this isn't the way a liberal democracy is supposed to function. …….Far too many Trump critics appear not to care that these intelligence agents leaked highly sensitive information to the press — mostly because Trump critics are pleased with the result. "Finally," they say, "someone took a stand to expose collusion between the Russians and a senior aide to the president!" It is indeed important that someone took such a stand. But it matters greatly who that someone is and how they take their stand. Members of the unelected, unaccountable intelligence community are not the right someone, especially when they target a senior aide to the president by leaking anonymously to newspapers the content of classified phone intercepts, where the unverified, unsubstantiated information can inflict politically fatal damage almost instantaneously.……These leaks are an enormous problem. And in a less polarized context, they would be recognized immediately for what they clearly are: an effort to manipulate public opinion for the sake of achieving a desired political outcome. It's weaponized spin.This doesn't mean the outcome was wrong. I have no interest in defending Flynn, who appears to be an atrocious manager prone to favoring absurd conspiracy theories over more traditional forms of intelligence…….But no matter what Flynn did, it is simply not the role of the deep state to target a man working in one of the political branches of the government by dishing to reporters about information it has gathered clandestinely. It is the role of elected members of Congress to conduct public investigations of alleged wrongdoing by public officials………In a liberal democracy, how things happen is often as important as what happens……..Those cheering the deep state torpedoing of Flynn are saying, in effect, that a police state is perfectly fine so long as it helps to bring down Trump……… Down that path lies the end of democracy in America.
This article is well written and worth reading about the Flynn event. Furthermore, it is correctly classified as an opinion piece, and not a news story. Is this the path that the U.S. really wants to blaze? Because once this type of bureaucratic fait accompli is cheered and accepted by many, it will be done again, and again, and again. Furthermore, next time it may be against the people who are now cheering. It should not be bureaucrats deciding who should be President. Just because one side will not accept the election results……
I disagree. It has nothing to do with not accepting the election results.
Trump is a bona fide imbecile.
Quote from: eastreef on February 16, 2017, 04:43:50 pmThis article is well written and worth reading about the Flynn event. Furthermore, it is correctly classified as an opinion piece, and not a news story. Is this the path that the U.S. really wants to blaze? Because once this type of bureaucratic fait accompli is cheered and accepted by many, it will be done again, and again, and again. Furthermore, next time it may be against the people who are now cheering. It should not be bureaucrats deciding who should be President. Just because one side will not accept the election results…… I disagree. It has nothing to do with not accepting the election results. Trump is a bona fide imbecile. Now he is president of the USA, the most powerful country on the planet. Giving the position of president to that man is literally like giving matches to a toddler. Anyone with any sense (and any control) will be doing whatever they can to stop him hurting himself and others. He should get to play at being president, but not to do as he pleases with the power he has, er, acquired.
waygookkorea link=topic=104010.msg685844#msg685844 date=1487245710]I'm just wondering... why does everyone think Trump is stupid? I mean, he is certainly not a scientist but he is obviously rather clever in certain ways. The guy (and his team) have made some brilliant strategic moves. The stupid red hats with the slogan, drain the swamp, the poles are rigged, turning the fake news angle against the media... the reality is the Trump team has performed impressively in a strategic sense. They have turned the atmosphere of the country into Trump vs. Establishment and sooooo many people are forced to support Trump regardless of his actions. No one really knows what his administration is doing because all the focus is on his battle with the media and Russia conspiracies. This could be a recipe for disaster because a large chunk of the country will support him 110% no matter what just to give the finger to what they view as a corrupt system. If things keep going this way he will absolutely win a 2nd term because as long as the world doesn't end the anti-Trump people will look ridiculous from all this panic and fear mongering. If the media really wanted him to lose the next election they should be his cheerleading squad and let independent media go after him. That would turn him into the villain they want him to be but right now they are making him a hero to many.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_majorityThe silent majority is an unspecified large group of people in a country or group who do not express their opinions publicly…Nixon's silent majority referred mainly to the older generation (those World War II veterans in all parts of the U.S.) but it also described many young people in the Midwest, West and in the South, many of whom eventually served in Vietnam. The Silent Majority was mostly populated by blue collar white people who did not take an active part in politics; suburban, exurban and rural middle class voters. They did, in some cases, support the conservative policies of many politicians. Others were not particularly conservative politically, but resented what they saw as disrespect for American institutions.
I'm just wondering... why does everyone think Trump is stupid? I mean, he is certainly not a scientist but he is obviously rather clever in certain ways. The guy (and his team) have made some brilliant strategic moves. The stupid red hats with the slogan, drain the swamp, the poles are rigged, turning the fake news angle against the media... the reality is the Trump team has performed impressively in a strategic sense.
All dems can really do is "be outraged" and lose again.
To be fair, they've won two of the last three presidential elections and won majorities in Congress during the time.
Quote from: slycordinator on February 16, 2017, 09:08:57 pmTo be fair, they've won two of the last three presidential elections and won majorities in Congress during the time. Sure, I get this view. But I think something very different is happening in the socioeconomic cycle, which is that this run of liberalism since the 60s is simply over. Dems seriously have nothing they can run on for the next 30yrs, because everything liberal has already been achieved. Life is going to get harder for Americans and things tend to move to conservatism during those times.Bannon is rapidly moving to prepare the country for a 50yr conservatism cycle; changing universities and media. In just 4yrs it will be a different country, these guys are moving fast.
Mr Trump has so far nominated 35 people to fill some 700 senior positions that require Senate confirmation. On February 15th one of them, Andrew Puzder, his chosen labour secretary, withdrew his nomination after it became clear he would struggle to get confirmed. This poor progress is making it even harder for Mr Mattis and his cabinet colleagues, including Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state, to push back against the turmoil emanating from the White House.
Just look at his off-script speeches. Sixth grade grammar.
We must speak out for the well-being of our democracy, which is both a way of living and acting together and a set of political institutions. Therapists have taken for granted how our work relies on a democratic tradition that gives people a sense of personal agency to create new narratives and take personal and collective responsibility for themselves, their families, and their communities. Reliance on a Strong Man who will solve our problems and deal with internal and external enemies is a direct threat to the democratic basis of psychotherapy. Therapy only flourishes on democratic soil.
^ Hehe, you guys are so weak and worried about every detail. This is war, lying scum everywhere, means war everywhere. Dude is doing what he was hired to do. America loves it. If you make a move on Amercia's guy, the country basically collapses, failed state, civil war.
Quote from: Ptolemy on February 17, 2017, 10:40:37 am^ Hehe, you guys are so weak and worried about every detail. This is war, lying scum everywhere, means war everywhere. Dude is doing what he was hired to do. America loves it. If you make a move on Amercia's guy, the country basically collapses, failed state, civil war.Sounds serious! Maybe, you should tweet about it.
