Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Why a conservative court might actually be good for Democrats...

It's a forgone conclusion that Trump will nominate and the Senate will confirm a conservative to replace Justice Scalia. It's also more likely than not that Trump will get a chance to nominate a replacement for Kennedy, Ginsburg, or Breyer, which could ultimately alter the balance of the court for the long term future.


This, to most liberals, would be a preclude to Armageddon. It may prompt some to look for hanging nooses, research how much cold medicine it would take to overdose, or think about how to best go about slitting their wrists without making too much mess. The concept that the court can save the liberal elitists from the unreasonable policies of mainstream America has been the backstop to liberalism for some time. To lose that comfort blanket would cause night sweats for the fragile psyche of the liberal elites.

Imagine, having to live in a country where the laws actually reflect the will of all the people (gasp).

In fact, if you toss out the completely partisan legislation of the ACA, executive action, and court decisions... there has been literally no liberal policies successfully pushed into real legislation since Clinton administration, and even most of the policies pushed by Clinton were not all that liberal. As much as liberals want to believe that they represent American values, they seem to have a very tough time convincing America outside of the limited number of coastal states that this is true.

So take away the backstop. Take away the comfort that they can always just take it to court and expect to win, and you have a political party that will actually have to convince the American people (not just nine people in robes) that their values and policies are right for America. Imagine a liberal Democratic Party that couldn't mock and look down on people, based on the smug belief that they can always take it to court if they lose the election.

Reality here folks - Americans do not want the courts to make law. In fact, a recent Marist Poll found that 80% of Americans see replacing Scalia with a like minded (conservative) judge as an "immediate priority".  A majority of Americans  (52%) still believe that a Justice should interpret the constitution as it's originally written, rather than how it is interpreted today (40%). An amazing 90% believe that the courts first priority should be to protect religious rights (a popular rebuttal to the liberal court decisions bashing Christianity). Two thirds of Americans believe that religious liberty should even take precedent over Federal laws (think bakers being forced to make gay wedding cakes).

This "should be" a wake up call for liberal elitists. They should realize that winning these recent battles in the courts may have cost them the long term war. The backlash to the courts overstepping on social issues is certainly one of the reasons we now have a President elect Donald Trump, and why Americans now overwhelmingly want to put the brakes on Court intervention into our social laws. If Trump gets a chance to replace a liberal justice such as Ginsgurg, there will be widespread acceptance that it can and should be with a judge who wants to interpret (not displace) the constitution. Opposing such a justice on the grounds that they are not specifically liberal in certain political areas, will not go over well for Democrats. The public sees the term "Litmus tests" as a dirty phrase when it comes to weighing support for a Justice.

Bottom line: if liberals believe it's important to push forward with their social agenda, they need to do it through legislation. Every time they bypass the American public and instead go to the courts, they lose a little more credibility and push mainstream Americans further away. Take away the latter option, forces them to use the former. Short term, that means much of what they want will not be decreed at a federal level,  and that our fifty states will have many different laws. Guess what, folks, that was how the founding fathers meant it. We are a Republican and the bill of rights provides states with a wide array of rights to self govern. Long term, it takes away the crutch and forces liberals to follow the proper political processes.

Imagine a country where the people of Alabama can decide how the people of Alabama live. Where the people of Wyoming can decide how the people of Wyoming live. Where the people of California can decide how the people of California live. Only if the overall will of the American people is prevalent, will the entire country be forced to abide by the same law. Ironically this concept is appealing to everyone other than those in California...  because the liberal elitists of California and the coastal states somehow feel they have the right to tell everyone else how to live.

73 comments:

opie said...

Why a conservative court might actually be good for Democrats...

Sure, if that dem' wants more govmt interference with their life and have their women walk 5 steps behind the man.

C.H. Truth said...

You mean Government interference, like fining someone and having a court order them to go through sensitivity training because they follow their religious beliefs?

90% of Americans want religious liberties to be protected. Sorry, Opie... but you lose on this one. You're part of the 10%.

opie said...

like fining someone and having a court order them to go through sensitivity training because they follow their religious beliefs?

If those beliefs are discriminatory to gays.....Yes. You very well know what I meant and you responded exactly how I expected you to, two can play your bullshit game. Those in business have to serve all, not only those who are in tune with their own belief, something an atheist like you should be up in arms about, not defending a minute number of people forced to treat all equally, which you don't care about. I'm sure that subset of the poll you quote, if it is accurate would also agree that gays have rights. Again, you think discrimination is fine and probably think that NC bathroom law is a good thing. LOL talk about loser, CH.

opie said...

Once again, CH provides only part of the story, Seems polls find 70% of Americans want to preserve the rights of gays.... LOL....Oh well, who wins this one, those who advocate discrimination, like you, or the rest of the country??????

C.H. Truth said...

something an atheist like you should be up in arms about

Being an atheist allows me to be objective about the general conflict between certain laws and religious freedoms. Objectively, we should be following the constitution and the various laws regarding religious freedoms. The Religious Freedom and Restoration Act was passed almost unanimously by a Democratically controlled Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

It was quite simple... the Government could make no laws that "forced" people to act in a manner that was inconsistent with their religious beliefs. That, to me, is pretty straight forward, as is the first amendment which protects all religious views and free exercise thereof. Nearly ever state adopted a similar law since that law was passed.

Bottom line: My right to swing my fist stops at your nose. I have the right to many things in this world, but I don't have the right to demand that people like it or encourage it. I believe in providing the "most" freedom for the "most" people. I don't favor one person's freedom over another and I don't feel our court system should be deciding which freedom is more important (as a matter of principle), when both can be accommodated. As a matter of fundamental common sense and general business ideals, two Parties enter into a business agreement mutually. You look for a situation that is mutually beneficial. If one is "forced" then it's not a business deal, it's coercion. Those deals generally turn out bad for both parties.

When a court steps in, ignores existing constitutional norms and existing federal and state laws, and demands that someone act against their religious beliefs... that is called "Government interference"... and apparently a large majority of people believe that religious exercise should be protected (90%) and two thirds of them believe it should take precedent over even a federal law.

You and I can argue till we are blue in the face, and I doubt that either of us will ever change our minds. But the fact remains that a vast majority of Americans agree with the same basic principles that I agree with, and a majority of Americans want judges to follow (not change) the constitution.

C.H. Truth said...

If 90% believe religious liberty should be protected, and 70% believe gay rights should be protected... then that would boil down to what happens when there is a conflict:

From the poll:

By 40 points, the vast majority of Americans also believe religious freedom should be protected even when it conflicts with government laws (65 percent to 25 percent).

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to read between the lines here, Opie. How many other examples (other than gay marriage) do you see where religious freedom conflicts with government laws?

Obviously you are in the 25% - which is fine. You and I just disagree on this particular point.

Of course, politically it's a loser for you and a winner for those who want to protect religious freedom. Moving forward, it would seem like a nice fight over a Trump replacement of Justice Ginsburg (hypothetically) would play very nicely for Donald Trump, and not so good for Democrats playing partisan politics with a nominee that most Americans want to be "non-political".

KD said...

Session will be the next AG. But it is not stopping the Liberals from going NUTZ.

It is a joy to watch, they are getting to say what they want, freedom of speech is wonderful.

Anonymous said...


your feel good story of the day:


The job market is about to get even more crowded for Washington Democrats, as thousands of Obama appointees join the hundreds of Clinton campaign staffers looking for employment.

There’s rarely been less demand for their services.

The Trump tornado is tearing up post-election planning around the Beltway. It’s not just that those 4,000 administration jobs are no longer available to Hillary for America alumni, or that failed Senate candidates like Russ Feingold and Katie McGinty won’t be able to hire their staff on the Hill. There are also the lobbying firms, trade associations and corporate government affairs offices that are pitching senior Obama aides’ resumes into the round file while scrambling to hire operatives with Republican connections.

It’s insult to injury for a generation of young operatives who are still managing their shock and grief from Hillary Clinton’s loss. And for those who want to fight to keep President Barack Obama’s legacy from being erased, there aren’t a lot of places ready to pay them to do it.

“It feels like there are just thousands of us trying to find a job, and there are no jobs,” said Mira Patel, a longtime Clinton aide who went from her Senate office to the State Department and, starting last summer, her presidential campaign.

Wave elections that wipe out job prospects for one party’s loyalists are an occupational hazard in Washington – it happened to Republicans just eight years ago. But the shock of Trump’s win is what’s making it harder on everyone – both those currently (or about to be) unemployed, and potential employers.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-clinton-loyalists-jobs-233296




may you all starve living in a cardboard box atop a steam grate.



C.H. Truth said...

may you all starve living in a cardboard box atop a steam grate.

C'mon Rat, you don't mean that. We know better.

You actually want some of them to die during hand to hand combat over who gets to put their cardboard box over the steam grate.

Commonsense said...

We get to see our very own version of the Hunger Games.

opie said...

Being an atheist allows me to be objective


BS, CH. You are a homophobe who wants gays to eat someone else's cake. LOLOLOL

opie said...


It doesn't take a rocket scientist to read between the lines here, Opie.


By 40 points, the vast majority of Americans also believe religious freedom should be protected even

What I read is again is your desperate attempt to prove the discrimination is okay for religious zealots to not serve a significant segment of the population. Just reading the above shows that more than half the population thinks laws are in the way. The nation is not based on the wanton ignoring of law. Sorry, you can argue until you are blue in the face, you think gays should be discriminated against in spite of laws saying otherwise. That is what I read between your predictable lines. LOL

C.H. Truth said...

What I read is again is your desperate attempt to prove the discrimination is okay for zealots

There certainly is discrimination from zealots... against Christians. Either way, I am just pointing out that this is a loser for your side, as much as you pretend to be "on the right side".

Btw... the laws clearly state that the Government cannot force people to do things that are against their religious beliefs. That is both a federal law and a law in almost every state.

This is a simple case of liberal justices picking sides.

A gay couple can find plenty of people to bake them a cake. Plenty of bakers who "want" to bake that cake. As someone getting married in April, I would not see the logic in forcing someone to work with us on our wedding who didn't want to work with us. There is no logical reason (other than to make a point and push one right over another) to force such a thing.

Are you not smart enough to understand that the real zealots are the ones who are going out of their way to cause trouble? The country, by very very large margins, sees this instinctively. I believe you understand this too, but you feel justified in causing the trouble, because... well because you don't like religious people.

Personally, I have relatives who are gay, relatives who are catholic. Many of my soon to be in-laws have strong religious ties. My girlfriend and I have attended gay marriages, and we invited gay couples and other gay people to our reception. We also hold hands and prey before dinner when in the presence of those family members who are religious (even as we are not).

I have no reason to take sides on this issue. I expect religious people to treat gay people with respect, just as I would expect gay people to treat the religious people with respect. Mutual respect. But as it pertains to particular "events" such as a gay marriage, you either choose to attend or you choose not to. There should be no legal coercion to force someone to participate in a ceremony that they have religious objectives to.

I wouldn't force a Muslim to participate in a Christian wedding. I wouldn't force a Jewish person to attend a Nazi rally. Likewise, I would not force a evangelical to participate in a gay marriage if it's offensive their religious beliefs. (it really doesn't matter if it's offensive to you or I).

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

I thought your idea was ridiculous. But your last paragraph got my attention.

Imagine a country where the people of Alabama can decide how the people of Alabama live. Where the people of Wyoming can decide how the people of Wyoming live. Where the people of California can decide how the people of California live. Only if the overall will of the American people is prevalent, will the entire country be forced to abide by the same law. Ironically this concept is appealing to everyone other than those in California... because the liberal elitists of California and the coastal states somehow feel they have the right to tell everyone else how to live.

One hundred and sixty five years ago, you would have been a Confederate. Or at that time, the Democratic party. I'm not going down the racist street. It's the belief that the state's rights don't have to confirm to the rule by the majority. Your views mean that states like Wyoming, can force the people in the high population states to conform to the rural beliefs. That was the political belief of the Confederates.

Slavery was a factor, but they wanted each state, could basically act as independent countries.

Over the last century, the party roles have been reversed. Since LBJ, the civil rights and voting rights laws, with the support of the Republicans, who defeated the Dixycrats, the solid south, with Nixon and Reagan, southern strategy, the old south was reversed. The Dixycrats became Republicans.

You are just like them.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

The President Obama speech was simply magical.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/intelligence-chiefs-briefed-trump-and-obama-on-unconfirmed-claims-russia-has-compromising-information-on-president-elect/2017/01/10/9da3969e-d788-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_trumpintel745p%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.b2308e3890d7

Intelligence chiefs briefed Trump and Obama on unconfirmed claims Russia has compromising information on president-elect
Trump briefed on unsubstantiated claims that Russia has compromising information on him Play Video2:07

The Post’s Rosalind S. Helderman looks at the questions that remain unanswered after intelligence officials briefed President-elect Donald Trump and President Obama last week about unconfirmed claims that Russia has compromising information on Trump. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)
By Greg Miller, Rosalind S. Helderman, Tom Hamburger and Steven Mufson January 10 at 10:04 PM
A classified report delivered to President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump last week included a section summarizing allegations that Russian intelligence services have compromising material and information on Trump’s personal life and finances, U.S. officials said.

The officials said that U.S. intelligence agencies have not corroborated those allegations, but believed that the sources involved in the reporting were credible enough to warrant inclusion of their claims in the highly classified report on Russian interference in the presidential campaign.

Trump, however, replied Tuesday night with a tweet declaring: “FAKE NEWS - A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!”

A senior U.S. official with access to the document said that the allegations were presented at least in part to underscore that Russia appeared to have collected embarrassing information on both major candidates, but only released material that might harm Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton — a reflection of Russian motivation that bolstered U.S. spy agencies’ conclusion that Moscow sought to help Trump win.

The inclusion of such unsubstantiated allegations in the election report, a development first reported Tuesday by CNN, adds a disturbing new dimension to existing concerns about Russia’s efforts to undermine American democracy.

C.H. Truth said...

Roger - we are a Republic. There are two different amendments in the Bill of Rights specific to states rights. It's not "confederate" to believe in states rights, it's actually "American".

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The more centralized the control is, the less associated to the governed our leaders are. Which is why most people trust their municipal governments, state governments, and federal governments... in that order.

I vote for most referendums in my city. Those referendums tell us how much something will cost, how we will pay for it, and exactly what we will get. I personally know City Council members, my state Representative, and many other local politicians.

Minnesota has constitutional requirement to run a balanced budget. While it's not as transparent as the city government, it's a hell of a lot more accountable than the Federal Government.

We vote at the federal level for people who literally spend trillions of dollars without giving us any real breakdown of how it will be spent or what we will get for it. The bureaucracy and wasted spending probably costs us in the hundreds of billions. We will never really know these people, and would be lucky to get a real response from them if we contacted them. It's a cesspool of corruption and cronyism.

So yeah, Roger... we live in a Republic with State's rights. That's a good thing.

Can you provide me any "good reason" why you should really have control over people who live 2000 miles away from you and will never have anything to do with you. If they wanted to live by California rules, they would move to California. They don't need you to try to turn the rest of the Country into your state. Thanks anyways.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

New poll has Trump approval rating at 37%, Obama at 55% today

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

Thanks for making America Wyoming.

I have long believes that the Senate with two senators each, is sufficient to maintain the Republic. I have long believed that the only national election, should be decided by the popular vote. I disagree with the founding fathers on that. It was included because the slave states insisted. Like I said, you are a Confederate.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

You better look at the new story on Russians have very damaging information on Trump.

It's starting to look that plan to blackmail him once he's President.

Richard Engel, the NBC reporter said he's been hearing about this, but this is the first time it's been released. Of course, at this time it's speculation.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...


Minnesota has constitutional requirement to run a balanced budget. While it's not as transparent as the city government, it's a hell of a lot more accountable than the Federal Government.

Irrelevant. The states don't have currency. Speaking of deficits, every single economic expert, says that the Trump tax cuts would increase the debt dramatically. It's even on page three of the congressional budget report issued last week. The red lines rocket upwards.

Loretta said...

"You better look at the new story on Russians have very damaging information on Trump."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/10/4chan-claims-they-invented-the-trump-golden-showers-story.html?source=TDB&via=FB_Page

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

Russian intelligence officers planned to blackmail Donald Trump with knowledge of his alleged "perverted sexual acts," a new report obtained by Buzzfeed alleges. The unverified report by a person claiming to be a former British intelligence official alleges that Russian officials intended to blackmail Trump with evidence of him allegedly hiring multiple sex workers to perform "golden showers" in front of him. The hotel where the acts allegedly occurred were said to be under Russian surveillance.

I think it's not true. I smell a rat. And not rrb, that racist rodent ass.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

The Russians follow anyone of consequence. If it's true, holy shit. Golden showers sound like that is his cup of......

Commonsense said...

I was wondering how long it would take Roger to post a rant about the memos.

Apparently these memos have been circulating for quite a long time and were not publish by either the anti-Trump press or Trump's primary opposition who commission the research.

The only reason to my mind that would be the case is that these memos did not meet even the New York Times low threshold of veracity.

Whether the memos are true is not a primary concern for Roger or his brethren.

What's important is their obsessive need to destroy Trump.

Commonsense said...

Science confirms: Conservatives are better looking

A recently published study in the Journal of Public Economics concludes that the attractiveness of a candidate does correlate with their politics. They find that politicians on the right are more good looking in Europe, the United States and Australia.

The study shows correlation, not causation, but the researchers float a simple economic explanation for why this might happen. Numerous studies have shown that good-looking people are likely to earn more, and that people who earn more are typically more opposed to redistributive policies, like the progressive taxes and welfare programs favored by the left.


Always knew it but it's nice to have science confirm it. :)

Anonymous said...

C'mon Rat, you don't mean that. We know better.

You actually want some of them to die during hand to hand combat over who gets to put their cardboard box over the steam grate.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

hand to hand combat to the death among a bunch of coward pajama boys?

LOL.

liberals are pussies. as soon as one was the least bit microaggreived they'd all retreat to a taxpayer funded safe space and maybe, just maybe, they'd throw play dough at one another.


Anonymous said...

Roger Amick said...

The President Obama speech was simply magical.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


i figured you'd sit there and pleasure yourself through the whole thing.





Anonymous said...

Apparently these memos have been circulating for quite a long time and were not publish by either the anti-Trump press or Trump's primary opposition who commission the research.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

mother jones was going off abut them back in october but no one cared because it couldn't be verified.

and now we learn that alky and the left got duped by a 4chan joke. golden showers. LOL.

the CIA is royally pissed off at trump and now is beginning to fuck with him. it is high time for an aggressive intelligence revamp, consolidation, and house cleaning.

KD said...

It was a wonderful speech, delusional, reckless, angry and he assured all of us he has no class. Every other President steps aside, letting the Duly Elected New President have the stage.

Not this ONE, he has used his Office to get rich, to buy yet another home this one in DC.

He is not going anywhere.

No you Can't, you had 8 years of slamming the US Economy, drove it over the cliff .

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

FAKE NEWS

A dossier making explosive — but unverified — allegations that the Russian government has been “cultivating, supporting and assisting” President-elect Donald Trump for years and gained compromising information about him has been circulating among elected officials, intelligence agents, and journalists for weeks.

The dossier, which is a collection of memos written over a period of months, includes specific, unverified, and potentially unverifiable allegations of contact between Trump aides and Russian operatives, and graphic claims of sexual acts documented by the Russians. BuzzFeed News reporters in the US and Europe have been investigating various alleged facts in the dossier but have not verified or falsified them. CNN reported Tuesday that a two-page synopsis of the report was given to President Obama and Trump.

Now BuzzFeed News is publishing the full document so that Americans can make up their own minds about allegations about the president-elect that have circulated at the highest levels of the US government.

The document was prepared for political opponents of Trump by a person who is understood to be a former British intelligence agent. It is not just unconfirmed: It includes some clear errors. The report misspells the name of one company, "Alpha Group," throughout. It is Alfa Group. The report says the settlement of Barvikha, outside Moscow, is "reserved for the residences of the top leadership and their close associates." It is not reserved for anyone, and it is also populated by the very wealthy.

The Trump administration's transition team did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News' request for comment. However, the president-elect's attorney, Michael Cohen, told Mic that the allegations were absolutely false.

"It's so ridiculous on so many levels," he said. "Clearly, the person who created this did so from their imagination or did so hoping that the liberal media would run with this fake story for whatever rationale they might have."

And Trump shot back against the reports a short time later on Twitter.His former campaign manager and current senior White House adviser, Kellyanne Conway, also denied the claims during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, adding that "nothing has been confirmed." She also said Trump was "not aware" of any briefing on the matter.

The documents have circulated for months and acquired a kind of legendary status among journalists, lawmakers, and intelligence officials who have seen them. Mother Jones writer David Corn referred to the documents in a late October column. BuzzFeed News reporters in the US and Europe have been investigating various alleged facts in the dossier but have not stood them up or knocked them down.

Harry Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson tweeted Tuesday that the former Senate Democratic leader had seen the documents before writing a public letter to FBI Director James Comey about Trump's ties to Russia. And CNN reported Tuesday that Arizona Republican John McCain gave a "full copy" of the memos to Comey on Dec. 9, but that the FBI already had copies of many of the memos.

KD, said...

Richard Engel, the NBC reporter said he's been hearing about this, but this is the first time it's been released. Of course, at this time it's speculation." The Mutt

After a landslide loss, where the Dems were to sweep this election with regaining the US House, US Senate and of course the Presidency.

"Speculation" now passes as hard news.

The next four years are going to be more fun then I ever dreamed.

KD said...

Harry Ried gave a gift to the Majority Party.

"The Ried Rule"

HB I read your a Yuge fan of majority rule, so you have zero problems with the confirmation of Cabinet Nominees with a simple 51 Votes, Right?

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

As usual, K'putz comments on the economy are completely irrational.

11. Job Growth
Obama's policies helped the country recover from the Great Recession. He created 17.267 million jobs since he took office. That makes him the second best job-creator, following Bill Clinton.

But Obama actually created more jobs than that. Unemployment continued to rise even after the recession was over. That's because it takes a few months of economic growth before businesses are confident enough to begin hiring again. As a result, the economy continued to lose jobs until January 2010. If you add up all the jobs created since then, it totals 22.309 million jobs. That would make Obama the biggest job creating President in U.S. history. Job gains would have been even better if Congress had approved Obama's proposed Americans Jobs Act. For more, see Job Creation by President.

Other Accomplishments
Maintained Continuation of Federal Reserve Policy - Obama appointed Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Janet Yellen to replace Ben Bernanke. She maintained an expansionary monetary policy that created the lowest interest rates in 200 years. That allowed the early stages of the housing recovery, and slow but steady business expansion, to continue. For more, see Relationship Between Treasury Notes and Mortgage Rates.

Deficit Spending - The major mark against Obama is the increase in the national debt. Partly that was because he used deficit spending to stimulate the economy. Deficits have fallen in his second term. Obama's total projected deficits so far are $6.814 trillion.

FY 2017 - $458 billion
FY 2016 - $531 billion
FY 2015 - $564 billion
FY 2014 - $649 billion
FY 2013 - $680 billion.
FY 2012: $3.7 trillion spending, creating a $1.09 trillion deficit
FY 2011: $3.8 trillion spending, creating a deficit of $1.3 trillion.
FY 2010: Spending $3.8 trillion, and creating a deficit of $1.6 trillion.
FY 2009: Added stimulus spending to the Bush budget, creating a deficit of $1.4 trillion.

The longest number of months with job growth in history.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

CHICAGO (Reuters) – With a final call of his campaign mantra “Yes We Can,” President Barack Obama urged Americans on Tuesday to stand up for U.S. values and reject discrimination as the United States transitions to the presidency of Republican Donald Trump.

In an emotional speech in which he thanked his family and declared his time as president the honor of his life, Obama gently prodded the public to embrace his vision of progress while repudiating some of the policies that Trump promoted during his campaign for the White House.

“So just as we, as citizens, must remain vigilant against external aggression, we must guard against a weakening of the values that make us who we are,” Obama told a crowd of 18,000 in his hometown of Chicago, where he celebrated his election in 2008 as the first black president of the United States.



Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, proposed temporarily banning Muslims from entering the country, building a wall on the border with Mexico, upending a global deal to fight climate change and dismantling Obama’s healthcare reform law.

Obama made clear his opposition to those positions during fiery campaign speeches for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, but has struck a more conciliatory tone with Trump since the election.

In his farewell speech, he made clear his positions had not changed and he said his efforts to end the use of torture and close the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were part of a broader move to uphold U.S. values.

“That’s why I reject discrimination against Muslim Americans,” he said in a clear reference to Trump that drew applause.



He said bold action was needed to fight global warming and said “science and reason” mattered.

“If anyone can put together a plan that is demonstrably better than the improvements we’ve made to our healthcare system, that covers as many people at less cost, I will publicly support it,” he said in another prodding challenge to his successor.

Trump has urged the Republican-controlled Congress to repeal the law right away.

RACE AND NOSTALGIA

Obama, who came to office amid high expectations that his election would heal historic racial divides, acknowledged that was an impossible goal.

“After my election, there was talk of a post-racial America,” he said. “Such a vision, however well-intended, was never realistic. Race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society.”

However, Obama said he remained hopeful about the work that a younger generation would do. “Yes we can,” he said. “Yes we did.”



In an indirect reference to the political work the Democratic Party will have to do to recover after Clinton’s loss, Obama urged racial minorities to seek justice not only for themselves but also for “the middle-aged white man who from the outside may seem like he’s got advantages, but who’s seen his world upended by economic, cultural, and technological change.”

Trump won his election in part by appealing to working-class white men.

First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, and many current and former White House staff members and campaign workers attended the speech. Obama wiped his eyes as he addressed his wife and thanked his running mate. They all appeared together on stage after the address.

http://kicdam.com/news/030030-obama-pushes-values-and-prods-trump-in-final-emotional-address/

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

More than half -- 51% -- of Americans surveyed disapprove of Trump's handling of his transition, an increase in disapproval compared to a November Quinnipiac poll, when 46% disapproved of his transition handling. Meanwhile, the number of Americans calling him honest has decreased to 39% down from 42% in the November survey.
Fifty-two percent say Trump does not care about average Americans, and 62% say that he is not level-headed. As for his nominees, 40% of Americans disapprove of them, while 28% say they haven't heard enough yet.

"President Barack Obama leaves the White House a lot more popular than Donald Trump is as he crosses the threshold and saddles up for the most important job in the world," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll. "President-elect Trump gets points for strength and intelligence, but voters' feelings about his personality traits, empathy, leadership and level-headedness, are headed south."
The poll was conducted from January 5 to 9 with 899 voters nationwide and a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points. Surveyors used live interviewers to call landlines and cell phones.

KD, "Crushing Cost" of ObimboCare said...

The Mutt, facts are beyond your ability to understand.

Did your UNION Health Care stop jerking you and your wife around yet?

Loretta said...

"Yes We Can,”

Obviously not.

Loretta said...

Plagiarized spam.

Loretta said...

Plagiarized spam.

Loretta said...

"Did your UNION Health Care stop jerking you and your wife around yet?"

Nope. Mr Big's wife stayed right where they told her to stay.

Loretta said...

"Obama, who came to office amid high expectations"

LOL, only by hero worshippers like Roger.

The rest of us KNEW he was nothing but a two-bit community organizer.

Loretta said...

Spam.

Loretta said...

"President Barack Obama leaves the White House a lot more popular than Donald Trump"

Obama's black.

KD, US Lowest Savings Rate in Modern Histroy said...

On his Excuse Making Tour ( aka Farewell Tour), he said he did everything right but he blamed:

1, He was in a bubble
2, Isis was a JV Team
3, Isis was not on his radar
4, He had a full plate
5, He said that the NEW DEM PARTY needs him to re-organize them

Ole stupid HB, you will never understand economics and Financial issues. Yet, My God teaches me to have pity on the "lesser" and lift them up. I will continue to give you the facts of Obama's many economic Failures.

You have two choice, remain stupid or learn.


Obama over Spend the ability of the Tax Payers by $10 Trillion dollars and that will continue to rise, it will go on his books as We the People Pay forever on his Debt.

"The most significant threat to our national security is our debt"
, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen

KD, 95 million out of work able aged people, VICTORY ?? said...

"Did your UNION Health Care stop jerking you and your wife around yet?"

Nope. Mr Big's wife stayed right where they told her to stay. " Ette


Well, HB does make well north of $100,000 a year, so out of savings she could take money from their an pay for the specialist herself.

That is what I would do IF my wife needed the care that HB told us she needed.

Myballs said...

Oh good. More polls against Trump.

We all know how accurate they were last fall.

KD said...

LOL

Loretta said...

Where was the other daughter?

Too busy twerking somewhere?

KD said...

Rehab, she has a "jones".


HB has been making the case ever since Nov. 9th,2016, that the majority should rule. With the RIED RULE, HB will be in favor of any and ALL Cabinet and USSC Nominees being put in places of power with only 51 Senators voting in the affirmative, Right?

Myballs said...

Ted Cruz just hammered 'democrats on this committee' with a long list of hypocrisy. Video is worth seeing

Loretta said...

"Rehab, she has a "jones"."

Thought so.

KD, HB ran off, again, coward said...

Balls, that video is worth seeing, I agree.

Layhee a pure horses ass asked AG Sessions , IF grabbing a pussy against the will of the woman was a crime.

AG Sessions, looked at the horses ass and said "YES".

What exactly was the point of that question , I have to admit , I don't know.

KD said...

President Elect Trump Presser today.

Let's see if the Obama Press shows up or do we get the People Press that asks real question of Trump and begins to attempt to restore their credibility?

Anonymous said...

"President Barack Obama leaves the White House a lot more popular than Donald Trump...

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

keyword - "leaves."

it's because he's leaving, sport.

on 01/20/2017 his approval rating should hover somewhere around 99.99%.

opie said...

Some wise, unpolitical words, confirming what I have said here once or twice

I’ve often emphasized that just because Earth shows an indisputable warming trend, that doesn’t mean every year will be hotter than the one before. In addition to trend, there is also a lot of fluctuation in things like global temperature. So we shouldn’t expect each year to break the temperature record.

But we did in 2014. We did again in 2015, by a substantial margin. We did again in 2016, by a substantial margin. The third year in a row of record-breaking global temperature will probably get the most attention, but it may not be the most important or most worrisome record set last year.

Yes, not related to the thread except our POTUS in waiting blames GW on a chinese hoax.....You want to talk about fake news, there it is!!!!.

caliphate4vr said...

Obama's farewell address longer than Reagan's, Clinton's and George W. Bush's combined

Man i'm glad i didn't watch him drone on about himself

opie said...

oretta Russo said...
Where was the other daughter?

Too busy twerking somewhere?

You are a bigger fool than I could ever imagine. You are the one always complaining about others lack of respect, and now you attack a teenager. Kinda like the class you showed finding my daughters name, thinking it was my wife and disparaging her. Screw you, loretta.

opie said...

Anonymous caliphate4vr said...
Obama's farewell address longer than Reagan's, Clinton's and George W. Bush's combined

And WTF does that have to do with anything other than those 2 had little to say? I'm glad you didn't watch also, it wouldn't do you any good anyway....Cue another stupid name calling to make you feel like a big man.

opie said...

A sign of things to come, and he isn't even in office yet....a new low record for an incoming POTUS. I'm sure this will result in our thing skinned winnah will tweet up another storm.

As honeymoons go, Donald Trump ‘s wasn’t much to write home about. He was voted in as the most unpopular president-elect in modern history and got slightly less unpopular in the weeks that followed, as the goodwill flowed. Even then, though, he clearly remained the most unpopular president-elect in modern history. Again, that was the honeymoon.

And now it’s over.



A new poll from Quinnipiac University suggests that Mr Trump has reverted to his pre-election standing, with Americans having major concerns about his temperament and the direction in which his presidency will lead the country. Mr Trump’s continued controversies seem to have put him right back where he was before he won the election.

Quinnipiac is the first high-quality pollster to poll on Mr Trump twice since the election. And while its poll in late November showed his favourable rating rising from 34 per cent to 44 per cent, that number has dropped back to 37 per cent, which is about where it stood for much of the campaign. That’s tied for Mr Trump’s worst favourable rating in a poll since his election. And a majority – 51 per cent – now have an unfavourable view of him.

Loretta said...

"Man i'm glad i didn't watch him drone on about himself"

It was pretty funny, really.

Fake tears and all!

LOL

Myballs said...

See my post at 7:14 regarding tge poll

Anonymous said...

Man i'm glad i didn't watch him drone on about himself
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

skeets only referred to himself 75 times.

opie said...

We all know how accurate they were last fall.

The polls did get the popular vote spot on.......

Anonymous said...

But we did in 2014. We did again in 2015, by a substantial margin. We did again in 2016, by a substantial margin. The third year in a row of record-breaking global temperature will probably get the most attention, but it may not be the most important or most worrisome record set last year.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

i'm betting that with 0linsky leaving office, temps should fall without him around belching all that hot air about himself into the atmosphere.

caliphate4vr said...

BTW


Airport Shooter Converted to Islam, Identified as Aashiq Hammad Years Before Joining Army

Loretta said...

"on 01/20/2017 his approval rating should hover somewhere around 99.99%."

American Freedom Day can't come soon enough.

Loretta said...

"President Barack Obama leaves the White House a lot more popular than Donald Trump"

Bathhouse Barry has a lot of friends....

Anonymous said...

Airport Shooter Converted to Islam, Identified as Aashiq Hammad Years Before Joining Army
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

and our Federal Bureau of Incompetence missed all of his looney toons warning signs.

C.H. Truth said...

The polls did get the popular vote spot on.......

Actually no... the final Quinnipiac poll had Clinton at plus seven. That's off by a fairly significant margin. The polling averages were also off. Huffington Post pollster had it Clinton +5

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-general-election-trump-vs-clinton

You must be remembering my final projection, which had Clinton winning by roughly 2% - and was spot on. You probably remember my post from two days before the election where I stated that Clinton would need to win by somewhere between 2-4 percent, or she could lose the ECV... which also turned out to be spot on.

Or maybe you only recall telling me how much I was wrong, and how it was going to be Hillary in a landslide?


____

btw.... Other pollsters like Politico and Ipsos show Trump at 48% and 50% favorability in polls released this week. You Gov showed a three point bump for Trump since last week.

So Quinnipiac's numbers are well below where most of the pollsters are coming in from.

Anonymous said...

The polls did get the popular vote spot on.......
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

you don't say? no small feat considering the fact that you can call CA, NY, and Il for the democrats for at least the next dozen presidential election cycles.

what's the polling for the sun rising in the east tomorrow?

opie said...

no small feat considering the fact that you can call CA, NY, and Il for the democrats for at least the next dozen presidential election cycles.

LOL at you rat... they are part of the nation aren't they???? It still remains, she won the popular vote as the polls predicted, by the correct margin. And you will still wake up tomorrow stupid. LOL

PNC said...

"It's a forgone conclusion that Trump will nominate and the Senate will confirm a conservative to replace Justice Scalia."

Actually, it's a foregone conclusion that Trump will nominate and the Senate will confirm a big-government liberal to replace Justice Scalia.

Trump will not nominate anyone to the Court who will actually vote to put the brakes on his planned abuses of executive power.