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Always Ask: One need not engage in comparison to recognize the harm that Trump is causing the Republican (and Democratic) parties. We want to preserve a Republican party we can support in confidence. Right now, there are so many weirdos inhabiting it (i.e. one of many: MTG) that the party has become quite ineffective in that there is more than one party in one that it becomes difficult to legislate. It may mark the end of the GOP, or at least the party as we know it. The only solution is to make it a totally extreme maga party and that is not one that we will like nor am I convinced that there is a majority in the country that would go for that. It could actually end up with a Democrat pluraity. We make a mistake when we imagine that the religious right are people we can rely on. I could elaborate but this is not the forum. Further, since it is OK to hate Trump then anything he supports is fair ground. He is not the candidate for a Pro Israel spokesman. He actually harms the cause. Trump has actually spread up the radicalization always dormant on the left as well. Were it not for how repulsive it, the anti Israel lobby on the left would not have emerged as fast as it did. Ultimately, sleaze doesn’t appear unless there is a vacuum in our avodah that allows it, so debatably the conversation is merely rhetorical. But regardless, even if you were to argue that the choice is between which is worse, frankly both are horrible. Never before has anti Israel views had such superstar power on the maga right. Personally, I am not convinced that the anti semitic left is worse. But, why go there?
Baruch: He is not taking Russia’s side nor is he threatening to leave NATO. Stop drinking all the drivel and lies you’re being fed by the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, CBS and the rest of the false stories they peddle every day.
President Trump has been an Oheiv Yisroel long before he ever entered politics. And ever since he entered, both during his first term and his current term, he has repeatedly proven over and over that he is the most pro-Jewish and pro-Israel in the history of the United States.
@Baruch D
Your argument about Trump destroying the republican party is 1000% correct. All its values both morally and economically are gone. And they were mostly good values. You are also correct in your point about promoting radcial right wingers.Where I disagree with you is on Israel and the fact that right now the right is as bad as the left. I think right now its such an emergency that we need to focus on the present and not the future. Right now its the left thats obstructing the war in Gaza. The college campuses and the luny squad directly influenced Biden whereby he blocked arms shipments and condemned Israel at times. (To be clear Biden was well intended and an Ohev yisroel). And the way Schumer treated Bibi the PM of Israel when he came to the USA, that was unquestionably influenced by free Palestine. To say that it doesn’t have repercussions and doesn’t embolden Hamas is just factually not realistic. The same is true when Biden didn’t let israel to into Rafah right away. Who knows how many IDF soilders were lost because it emboldened Hamas and gave them a chance to arm up, let alone maybe we would have gotten hostages out quicker if we fought that war quicker without hands tied consistently.
Having a president that tells the world the way it is with his Gaza plan and lets them know we know this is a charade and that all 2M palestinains in gaza are terrorists and inhuman. All of that is very very crucial to win this war. 3/4 of this is image. Trump let the world know just what anaimls they were for Bibas and the holocaust survivior hostages. These ideas and bluntness is important.
To your point of emboldening the left so far thats a mixed bag. The past elctions actaully silenced the left. I think all of the Squad candidates lost including that seat in the Bronx and others. On the other hand for the sake of honesty, i will admit that Canada seemed to have elected a real lefite now thanks to Trump. So its a mixed bag.
All in all, I mostly agree with you that trump is bad. But I think the animosity for anything Trump can cloud judgement. Just like the pro Maga see nothing wrong ever. And I think that many of the never trump folks are faling into that same trap. The trump pro Israel stance despite the sticky points like direct negotiations are blaring and its life and death for klal yisorel. Once this war ends I am with you in the never Trump camp.
Chaim 87 – You are entitled to your opinion but not to your facts. Musk did not just do one salute. He has repeatedly reposted and amplified interviews with holocaust deniers and antisemites on his own X feed. Musk posted a disgusting response to his salute with crude and repulsive Nazi jokes. Musk has loosened restrictions on X and has reinstate accounts known for hatred, antisemitism and bigotry.
Same for the horrendous comments of Adam Boheler yesterday. The entire Israeli establishment is opposed to direct talks with Hamas. It is damaging to Israel and it undermines their negotiating position it is not just to be poo pooed.
People concerned about Trump’s flippancy to Ukraine and our allies are rightfully concerned.
I suggest that you take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself why you discount the very real antisemitism enabled by Musk and his cohorts and ask yourself why you don’t share the outrage of Dermer and Netantahyu.
87: Fair enough. I appreciate your point of view. The question is one of the metsias only. Is this an emergency to the extent that further forward thinking cheshbonos are made irrelevant, and is it clear that this is the only and best option? If so, you are right. Each person needs to make their balance based on their best effort to rid themselves of their emotional and cultural biases.
UJM; I think you are mistaken. Just last week, he again stated that he doesn’t know if he wants to honor his NATO agreements, and indeed although he is an expert at speaking bilaterally, he clearly sympathizes more with the Russians. To berate Zelenksky for hating Russia, to claim that Zelensky is responsible for starting this, to bemoan loss of Russian lives as though it is morally equivalent to loss of Ukrainian lives, (Would we say “what a tragic loss of life to the Germans and the Jews”, lhavdil? I don’t know what to tell you.
Baruch, Chaim, I feel your anxiety about what is happening. Megillah/Purim is about that – we experience both a win and anxiety about threats.
So, nor you nor I know what is going to happen and what the effect of current US government will be. We can, though, analyze previous T administration and compare it Obama/Biden and previous Bush…T had no big wars and major advances for Israel in diplomacy. I am not claiming that he scared off Putin and ayatollahs, but at least he did not cause any major losses. In internal politics, he attempted reasonable changes but was only marginally successful. Under O/B, things are slowly and predictably going the wrong way. US was losing ground all over the world, all kind of tyrants were getting wins. In internal politics, all kind of stupid things and spending was happening, with no hope ahead. Under Bush 2, there were lots of good intentions, but results were mixed.
So, currently, in the world politics, we can only hope that T’s negotiating skills lead to good results. We only have his previous term as a hope, so let’s give him some benefit of doubt. In internal politics, he is doing a lot of things that majority of population wants. if he is overreaching, there is hope (again based on experience) that he is responsive to feedback from voters and stock market.
@crazykanoiy,
Musk allowing haters on X stems for the general right wing anger after Trump was silenced on Twitter. Re his jokes after the fact. He was mocking the media who made a tzimus about him. The man is a distasteful person and despicible but I think you fall into the trap that because its Trump related and far right, we need to believe he is a jew hater. Especially when everything Trump does must be bad for us. I think its human tendency to fall into that line of reasoning but its not the clear truth.Re Boheler, yes he is bad arrogant player but you are overblowing the harm done. Direct vs indirect talks in my mind is symatnics. Its fulff and logically doesn’t really matter. Besides R Michoel Ber zl spoke and negiotated directly with nazis to save lives too. I am not so convinced that it wrong. And it certainly doesn’t seem to be like a new anti Israel stance. Trump seems to still have Israel’s back in almost every sense of the manner. Dremer may be outraged but it didn’t chnage anything really. There will always be disagreements but big picture I don’t see how you can say that Trump is anything but the best Israel can ask for. Please don’t look at one or two isolated incidents. Big Picture Hamas is now squeezed in so many ways thanks to trump.
Baruch, I believe its such an unprecedented emergency. And I don’t think anyone else is capable or has the guts to stand up to the arabs like trump. I loved Desnatis and maybe he would have done similar. I am not convinced that Rubio would even tell them to their face that they are monsters’ and that there are no innocents in Gaza. this kind of talk and support seems unprecedented. To be clear, I fully get your concern though. We are playing with fire when delaing with such a crazy erotic egotistical manaic like trump.
Baruch > he doesn’t know if he wants to honor his NATO agreements,
top the countries that do not spend enough for defence. Why not turn the question around and be surprised that so many countries do not feel they need US/NATO cooperation so do not bother spending 3% of their GDP on defence.
He stood back and let the heroic Kurds be slaughtered. He allowed and encouraged the capital to be swarmed by madmen and advocated for the murder of his vice president. He placed his well dressed famously Jewish son in law in charge of most everything and provoked a lot of resentment among the goyim. Anti Semitism on the left came out like never before (yes, I know it was there, and yes I do blame him for bringing it out faster and sooner). In the new term, he pressured Israel to take the very same deal that Biden/Blinken had wanted without success until Trump exerted pressure, because America is now (now is not forever) the bully on the street, he is irreparably harming our alliances for no good reason, he is making a victim country into an aggressor, he is employing and hanging around and giving positive feedback to the loony anti Semitic right, he is insisting on absolute allegiance with no room for principled objection, he is questioning prior agreements which will forever make America a less reliable partner, he is not protecting good people (Bolton) because he was criticized by him, he is insisting on taking over countries that no one cares about, he is attacking all of his old enemies out of spite alone, he wants to rename places on the map by himself and punishing news organizations who refuse, he is an egotistical unprincipled nightmare. He sets a new low in morals and character. He is likely the beginning of the end for this country. More?
crazyK right, yes Musk made nice with BB. But, he has a long history of “liking” anti semitic leaning tweats, he encouraged Germany to forget the past, he advocated for a party in Germany that is ostracized. He advocated against German laws governing free speech and holocaust deniers. He knew what he was doing and I don’t see that I have an obligation to assume otherwise.
@Always_Ask_Questions
T was good for Israel in his first term and that further strengthens my view this time around to. We agree on that.No “Big wars”? And exactly what “BIG wars” did Obama or Biden have? You mean worldwide no “BIG wars”? You really think that the president has so much influence to solve the worlds problems. Like Russia would not have taken Ukriane under trump? I don’t buy that. Trump had luck.
“In internal politics, all kind of stupid things and spending was happening, with no hope ahead”
Do you know how much Trump increased spending and bloated our budget even before COVID? Then came COVID where Trump spent like a druken sailor with no accountability. I believe in total the deficit increased by $7T under trump. I am gald so many yidden got PPP and so many got paid to sit home and not work.($600 stimulus) on top of $1200 per person stimulus. But you think that doesn’t cause inflation??? And who are you kidding about Tarrifs. Its such a petty thing. China & mexico produce what would we mostly have no interest in producing and for much cheaper.. The old republican free economy and open trade is a far better policy. Immigration, we need immigrants. I need my goyta and so does your local grocery store.Trump also lies about crime that immigrants cause. (as if our hands were so clean when we were immigrants in the early 1900’s). He blows up stroies and makes it up. Same is true, about the stolen elections fraud. All a complete lie and his ilk drink the kool aid. They pick on one small incident and that becomes the buggyman. Same with Biden being corrupt because of Hunter. These are all lies with 10% of truth that becomes the narrative.
The federal govt is indeed inefficient. But not because its workers are goofing off and ripping off the govt. Its ineffienct because its lacking technology and living off paper trails plus old legacy systems written in the 1970’s. When i apply for medicaid it should be able to use AI and other tools to decide upon my approval within 24 hours. It shouldn’t take 3 months and require the human eye. Laying off employees isn’t the answer. The answer is making a short term investment where you spend more to modernize and retrain employees. (Then if someone resists retraining then yes he/she should be laid off). Musks ideas will just cause more pain in the long run.
The only policy which I agree with is about transgenders and schools who push educating that. i think thats exaggerated too. But there even if 10% is true it needs to stop.
Make no mistake. I am a Trump supporter who is not fooled by the mans deceit nor do I buy into most of his horrible policies. I do think the man comes with alot of risk. But what can i do, i can’t bear the thought of Oct 7 (I still shake when tuck my children into bed thinking about the last time Yarden Bibas tucked his children in on Oct 6). And to me, that’s so overwhelming and perosnal that anyone who will stand up to the palsestinains with the might of Trump superceeds anything else.
Baruch, I am not able to address your points – they are so disjoint and picked at random disregarding the big picture.
Chaim –
> No “Big wars”?
yes, we agree that there was more aggression during O and B. O started the apology tour, nullifying American zechus all over the world. Yes, Russians pressed Ukraine. There was “arab spring” that O did not support well. There were American troops in middle east that Obama was limiting in their actions.
When B exited Afghanistan, immediate world reaction was that this is a message to all dictators that US is not able to respond to anything. I do agree that there is no definite proof that T was not somewhat “lucky”, but he deserves credit anyway. Recall that his recognition of Yerushalaim, Golan, killing of Suleimani were all considered crazy actions that will immediately lead to war. Bubkes.> Trump spent like a druken sailor
again, easy compare w/ Biden and Obama. T responded to Covid with a quick action both fiscal and medical. I recall US performed relatively well economically during covid, look up stats if you are curious. B continued same and more spending without any good reason. Even after B spending, inflation now is high enough to cause political turmoil but is not huge. Without B’s meaningless spending, it would have been less. To sum it up: there was an actual problem, T addressed it, you think you could have done better – duh.> tariffs
I understand purist argument. Adam Smith. Still, we live in a complex world. Should we have free trade with our enemies? Communist Lenin said “capitalists will sell us the rope on which we will hang them”. Now, it is in reverse – we are buying that rope from China. Is building factories in China while they are stealing IP from the factory makes sense? So, there are clear limits to free trade. What about resolving disagreements with friends using tariffs? I would, again, wait for results.I skip the political topics.
> Its inefficient because its lacking technology
gov lives happy life. As long as you follow the rules, you have nothing to worry about. You can have a meeting with 20 people slowly discussing some un-urgent issue for a couple of hours. They make decisions based on what is of interest to their department as if it is “theirs”. And this is not counting those who make decisions based on their political views or help their friends. It is very hard for Musk to over-reach here.> When i apply for medicaid
right, AI should be able to quickly match medicaid applicants resumes to available jobs and conduct the interview. Last time I used such benefits 30+ years ago, all it required is to show letters I mailed to employers. I would not be surprised that current requirements are fewer than that.Always Act: I debated whether to respond or not. My issues were chosen to demonstrate things about Trump that any rational person should be offended by and do indeed all have long term ramifications. The big picture is having someone who acts primarily out of ego. Otherwise, yes it is disjointed but not random, and I don’t believe these issues are at all irrelevant at all in the big picture. One response is to say that it is irrelevant and doesn’t need a response as you advocate. My perspective is obviously different.
Trump increased the deficit by close to $4T before Covid.
During COVID another $3T+ where a good chunck was a waste that enriched people and fueled inlfation. It also paid too many people not to work. I get it as COVID but it was still overkill.Note Obama forced by Ryan did limited spending with sequester.
Re Medicad, I am recently applied. There is no reason that it takes two months to review. Why can’t AI look at my 2023 tax return and read the W2’s I submitted? Its a line item review. You still need a human eye to read that? A computer cant generate and read the vital income information? I use Chat GPT for work all the time. Every credit card used technology for it. Granted at times you need humans but for a simple case like me for example? And so the answer is spend more on Govt , a one time expense and then cut. be smart
Since our last conversation, Trump has forcefully attacked Yemen, has demoted Adam who was a trouble maker with Israel and continues to call out Hamas bluffs. Trump
may be the wicked king achashverosh that saves us.By the way I agree that he also tanked my 401k and I am not in denial that he may wreck the economy. But my brothers lives and the issue with Hamas by far supersedes this
Chaim re deficit, you seem to be stating numbers in a weird way. First, deficit is spending- revenue. Given that revenue for the government is simply money taken from us, reduction in that is, by some opinions, good, but at least neutral. Revenue went from 18% of gdp to 16% during Trump years and then up to 20-21 for 2 years after that. Spending stayed flat at 20% until went up in 2020, so there was no extra spending pre covid. Defense spending, that is essential, was decreasing before and increasing during T years.
As to annual deficit itself, it indeed increased from .5t lowest during o years to 1t that was also seen in earlier o years. So, sum of t fiscal policies are: tax reduction, slight increase in defense, covid. I am sure you can argue with some of it, but not at all a disaster
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