Election Thread II: Kamala vs. Trump

[Del]

Scott Jennings (CNN) observes that Trump's Cabinet picks are an ideologically diverse team, reflecting how Trump's voters are ideologically diverse.

Specifically, he mentions that real-job Union voters voted for Trump, and Trump's Labor Sec choice is pro-union.

Short clip on X:
https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1860701123918631342

Jennings was referring to the “Protecting the Right to Organize Act,” a bill written to amend labor laws that passed the House, but did not get through the Senate, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

“I mean, what he has done is — which makes me squeamish, to be candid,” Jennings said of Trump. “And so what he has done, though, is put together an ideologically diverse group of people to sit in a room and help run the government. And that’s kind of how he won. His coalition was kind of ideologically diverse that elected him.”

Over the past several weeks, Trump has picked a number of former Democrats who became disaffected with their old party to serve in top roles in his second administration. They include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been tapped to serve as Health and Human Services administrator, and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) to serve as Director of National Intelligence.

[Hovannes]

I cannot see roadkill without harkening back to RFK Jr.

[Del]

Joe Biden just pardoned Hunter Biden for all of Joe and Hunter's crimes.

[FredS]

Joe Biden just pardoned Hunter Biden for all of Joe and Hunter's crimes.

Our very democratic state Governor gave Papa Joe the what for over this. He said it'll set a bad precedent, as if all Presidents lately haven't pardoned friends, relatives, and sympathizers on their way out. Before they started pardoning their friends they flat out prevented the law from touching them in the first place. So no, it's not precedent setting.

I'd do it for my children. Aside from a few teen-young adult years where we back off and let them "learn the hard way", we spend our entire lives trying to smooth the way for our children. Hell, bailing out his kid is the most normal and right thing Biden has done in the last four years.

[Del]

Joe Biden just pardoned Hunter Biden for all of Joe and Hunter's crimes.

Our very democratic state Governor gave Papa Joe the what for over this. He said it'll set a bad precedent, as if all Presidents lately haven't pardoned friends, relatives, and sympathizers on their way out. Before they started pardoning their friends they flat out prevented the law from touching them in the first place. So no, it's not precedent setting.

I'd do it for my children. Aside from a few teen-young adult years where we back off and let them "learn the hard way", we spend our entire lives trying to smooth the way for our children. Hell, bailing out his kid is the most normal and right thing Biden has done in the last four years.

All of the talking heads are chattering, with a spectrum of views about what this means for Biden's legacy, the Democrat Party, Trump's presidency, the nation, etc.

But here's a hot take apart from the rest, from Chuck Todd (NBC News, but speaking apart from his network)..... asserting that Joe and Jill decided to run for President for the sole and selfish reason of keeping Hunter out of jail. Sounds crazy, but it makes sense when he explains it. And it also explains Joe's lack of concern or interest in just about everything else.

60 seconds on X:
https://x.com/ChrisCillizza/status/1863762907718197263

[sweetandsour]

Joe Biden just pardoned Hunter Biden for all of Joe and Hunter's crimes.

Our very democratic state Governor gave Papa Joe the what for over this. He said it'll set a bad precedent, as if all Presidents lately haven't pardoned friends, relatives, and sympathizers on their way out. Before they started pardoning their friends they flat out prevented the law from touching them in the first place. So no, it's not precedent setting.

I'd do it for my children. Aside from a few teen-young adult years where we back off and let them "learn the hard way", we spend our entire lives trying to smooth the way for our children. Hell, bailing out his kid is the most normal and right thing Biden has done in the last four years.

All of the talking heads are chattering, with a spectrum of views about what this means for Biden's legacy, the Democrat Party, Trump's presidency, the nation, etc.

But here's a hot take apart from the rest, from Chuck Todd (NBC News, but speaking apart from his network)..... asserting that Joe and Jill decided to run for President for the sole and selfish reason of keeping Hunter out of jail. Sounds crazy, but it makes sense when he explains it. And it also explains Joe's lack of concern or interest in just about everything else.

60 seconds on X:
https://x.com/ChrisCillizza/status/1863762907718197263

Pretty far fetched IMO. Maybe the "handlers" (of the past 4 years, whoever they are) that talked Biden into running for prez dangled the "pardon the son" carrot in front of him as an incentive, I'd maybe buy that one. But otherwise, I'm willing to simply accept what the Biden family is currently saying publicly about it. I agree with Fred, it's probably the most normal and right thing he's done in the past 4 years.

[FredS]

Our very democratic state Governor gave Papa Joe the what for over this. He said it'll set a bad precedent, as if all Presidents lately haven't pardoned friends, relatives, and sympathizers on their way out. Before they started pardoning their friends they flat out prevented the law from touching them in the first place. So no, it's not precedent setting.

I'd do it for my children. Aside from a few teen-young adult years where we back off and let them "learn the hard way", we spend our entire lives trying to smooth the way for our children. Hell, bailing out his kid is the most normal and right thing Biden has done in the last four years.

All of the talking heads are chattering, with a spectrum of views about what this means for Biden's legacy, the Democrat Party, Trump's presidency, the nation, etc.

But here's a hot take apart from the rest, from Chuck Todd (NBC News, but speaking apart from his network)..... asserting that Joe and Jill decided to run for President for the sole and selfish reason of keeping Hunter out of jail. Sounds crazy, but it makes sense when he explains it. And it also explains Joe's lack of concern or interest in just about everything else.

60 seconds on X:
https://x.com/ChrisCillizza/status/1863762907718197263

Pretty far fetched IMO. Maybe the "handlers" (of the past 4 years, whoever they are) that talked Biden into running for prez dangled the "pardon the son" carrot in front of him as an incentive, I'd maybe buy that one. But otherwise, I'm willing to simply accept what the Biden family is currently saying publicly about it. I agree with Fred, it's probably the most normal and right thing he's done in the past 4 years.

I think the biggest gripe most have is that he lied when he said, over and over, that he wouldn't issue a pardon. The same democrat talking heads, in the government and in the media, who told us over and over that Biden was as sharp as ever, then that Harris was a strong candidate, are now calling Biden out on this particular lie? What a total cluster f this whole circus has morphed into. Those atop the Democratic party have shown themselves to be selfish clowns who put their own interests ahead of the country and I think the party will suffer the consequences for many years. Much of the legacy media that championed Biden/Harris will never regain public trust. As Hills might say, they're all a basket of deplorable liars.

As for legacy, Biden's was ruined anyway. Massive migrant issues, very poor economy, wokeness, thousands of fentanyl deaths, mental decline, billions to back a losing effort in Ukraine which has cost thousands of lives, Dr Jill, and on and on. He'll be remembered as one of the worst Presidents in history. Pardoning his kid is just a minor footnote in the story of his public service.

[Hugo Drax]

Man, there seems to be a heck of lot of focus, time, energy, and expense dedicated to keeping the working man enraged. You don't think unfocused anger could be harnessed for political power and potential profits, do you? That would be unfortunate.

[FredS]

Unfocused?

[Del]

Man, there seems to be a heck of lot of focus, time, energy, and expense dedicated to keeping the working man enraged. You don't think unfocused anger could be harnessed for political power and potential profits, do you? That would be unfortunate.

When Obama was elected, even Republicans were relieved that America could finally put the original sin of slavery and racism behind us. We even instituted gay-marriage equality and protection for L-gibbity folks. Everything should have been fine for American unity.

But since then, Democrats found that they could weaponize the notions of oppression and victimhood. They won elections on the themes of racist cops, bigoted Christians, kneeling protests during sports anthems, fomenting riots for Social Justice.

This fell apart recently, as Democrats lost control of THE NARRATIVE. The various demographics of Democrat voters realized that they had been lied to and taken advantage of. Most people just want to be working men and women -- with good jobs and enough dollars to take care of themselves.

Now I don't know if the working men and women are "enraged" or simply "engaged," but that's the political environment we find ourselves in. Engagement wins elections and gets results -- for better or for worse. People want better results. If MAGA is going to survive and thrive, it needs to deliver.