These two American communists (Harris/Walz) are the worst ‘candidates’ since Mondale/Ferraro. Dems are desperate – they can’t win an honest presidential election.
They foisted Biden on the USA with the absurd, obvious lie that he received 15 million votes more than Hillary and Obama, without even trying. Now they are foisting Kamala, who failed miserably in her run for president and didn’t earn even a single vote in the current primary process. Saving democracy? The USA is rapidly becoming unrecognizable.
Joe and Kamala have done their best to destroy this country, and now Harris/Walz have to pay people to come to their campaign events. Yet, incredibly, people will still vote for them. Pres. Trump has a great track record (what has Harris accomplished?), and has tens of thousands of people come to his events. If the choice is in the hands of the people, Pres. Trump wins handily.
Because the SCOTUS says you cannot do it!!! Yes that court they are trying to control! Remember it’s Executive, legislative and judicial!!!
8 million student-loan borrowers on Biden’s new repayment plan just got more bad news after a federal court officially blocked cheaper payments and debt cancellation
Is it any wonder she won”t debate Trump…yes that guy who makes no sense to so many here and there!! There definitely is a significance in the passage of time…especially when there’s a cloud over your head…uh huh…got ya!!!
“Trump seemed relaxed and loose today at the presser. Watched him calmly ask around making sure he called on just about everyone there. Kept it open for an hour plus, no notes at all, answered questions on topic after topic”
There is a debate set, but they were waiting for Trump to agree last I heard. And he now apparently has? We’ll see.
~ The build-up to the debate on September 10, assuming it goes ahead, will be intense, and the truncated nature of the new campaign means it could create another historic pivot point on the dwindling road to the White House. ~
Tim Walz is a classless disgusting bloviator…yep I said it. I shudder to think what he taught children in “social studies”. I’ve certainly seen and heard him speaking to “adults”.
JD studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley millionaires, and then wrote a bestseller trashing that community,” Walz said. “C’mon; that’s not what middle America is.”
Then came the zinger.
“And I gotta tell ya; I can’t wait to debate this guy,” Walz continued, before pausing for dramatic effect. “That’s if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up.
So, who can the money flow to next? We are told, “Follow the money,” if you want to know something. If Kamala happened to blow it at the debate as her predecessor did, where could that campaign money go next? Or does it stay with her unless she is totally incapacitated? Is it a Hilary Clinton moment? Or Michelle Obama? Who could the schemers get who is lurking behind the scenes? A foreign agent?
I have also wondered in my wildest imaginings that if the investigation into Geogia election fraud in 2020 happened to show that Trump should have been declared winner back then, does that make Biden and Harris have to step down and Speaker Johnso step up or what?
I am glad God knows and I don’t need to think more about speculations.
Megan Basham’s book has come up here recently, spotted this assessment of one of the reviews (which matches others I’ve seen):
~ Warren Cole Smith reviews Shepherds For Sale, a book by Meghan Basham of The Daily Wire, that seeks to explain how the evangelical movement has been corrupted by politicization. If you’ve read The Dispatch even a little, you’re probably nodding along, as that’s a topic we’ve hit on a lot. But Basham has a novel theory—that the corrupting influence has come from the left. Smith knows Basham, as well as many of the evangelical figures mentioned in the book, and he points out that much of her book is just plain wrong. She takes comments and statements by evangelical journalists that seem to promote liberal ideas out of context, gets timelines wrong, and leaves out details that would deflate her argument if they were included. And then there’s the crux of the matter: “Shepherds For Sale has many villains, but it has only one true hero: Donald J. Trump,” Smith writes. He adds: “The real sin of those demonized by Basham is their public opposition to Trump. Her book purports to fight for the Gospel against heretics, but Basham is waging a proxy war, defending Trump against his evangelical critics.” ~
Good discussion on The Journal today about how Trump needs to get a clearer focus on policy and issues (never his most comfortable or favorite topics); that the way he’s campaigned in the past (and is now again by calling Harris “dumb” or raising the tired Black identity issue yet again) isn’t going to connect as well in this climate when both sides are in a dead heat with the momentum (so far) behind Harris-Walz. Trump had an edge in the past with those broader emotional messages, but not currently in this political climate or specific race. He’s not a front-runner and could wind up more clearly behind Harris-Walz over the next month or so.
Trump tends to riff endlessly, off the top of his head, at his rallies, as we all know, but — the discussion stressed — he needs more focus right now. Apparently his advisers are telling him the same, to focus on policy — there’re good and sound arguments to make against his opponents this time around — but the advice hasn’t taken hold just yet. This isn’t 2016 or 2020 anymore. Things have changed.
And from The Dispatch on a theory of how Democrats lost rural voters:
~ As political scientists and pundits and historians try to parse just how a billionaire celebrity real-estate developer from New York won over the working class base of the Republican Party in 2016, we hear a lot about how both parties, but especially the Democrats, ignored that segment of the population. But that idea is most often discussed in philosophical terms: The party started emphasizing identity politics and progressive social policy, a reflection of its growing segment of college-educated, professional-class voters. What if, as Tom Zoellner suggests, it was less a matter of ideology and more about tactics? “The scythe of Trumpism cut so cleanly through America’s farm and ranch country not so much because voters radically changed their beliefs but because Democrats made the disastrous strategic decision to abandon them,” he writes. ~
More Deep Fakes from the Harris campaign. The pic shows a crowd. Only problem is the reflection of the tarmac on the engine shows no people on it. Such frauds.
“Fact: The vast majority of mentally ill people vote Democrat. 64% of White liberals have been diagnosed with a mental illness.
That’s not a number I made up. It’s self reported via the non-partisan Pew Research survey. I think this explains a lot of things we’re living through.”
Some people voted for Trump in 2020 because his policies worked. It’s that simple. It’s not rocket science. People have not forgotten that. More have had a chance to compare the two parties since both have a record, and it is easier to decide based on known facts. The only issue Kamala has that will persuade some young and older ladies is abortion. It’s literally a life and death issue for some. It is all that matters in their minds.
“MISSED in every swing state in their 2020 Final Poll by 5 or more points in FAVOR of Biden/Harris.
Their misses were outside their own (and any reputable pollsters) MoEs. In many states, they MISSED BY DOUBLE DIGITS!
Wisconsin:
• Poll: Biden 🔵+11• Actual: Biden 🔵+.07—————————Miss: 10.93 points in favor of 🔵
Michigan:
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +8• Actual: Biden 🔵 +2.8—————————Miss: 5.2 points in favor of 🔵
Pennsylvania
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +6• Actual: Biden 🔵 +1.2—————————Miss: 4.8 points in favor of 🔵
Ohio
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +1• Actual: Trump 🔴 +8.2—————————Miss: 7.2 points in favor of 🔵
Florida
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +3• Actual: Trump 🔴 +3.3—————————Miss: 6.3 points in favor of 🔵
North Carolina
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +3• Actual: Trump 🔴 +1.3—————————Miss: 4.3 points in favor of 🔵
Iowa
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +3• Actual: Trump 🔴+8.2—————————Miss: 11.2 points in favor of 🔵
Arizona
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +6• Actual: Biden 🔵 +.03—————————Miss: 5.7 points in favor of 🔵
STOP FALLING FOR THE SAMEPYSOP USED IN 2020.
Conservatives spent a week saying, “Trump is still up in the betting markets,” then in a matter of days, massive shifts to Harris.
Now conservatives have been saying, “Trump is up in the RCP Swing States,” and magically, we get these absurd results dumped on a Saturday coupled with Bloomberg a week ago meant to put an end to that.
Notice how the media also ignores @trafalgar_group’s swing states polls from yesterday, even though Trafalgar was among the most accurate pollsters in 2020.
Arizona – 🔴 Trump +1
Nevada – 🔴 Trump +3
North Carolina – 🔴 Trump +4
Pennsylvania – 🔴 Trump +2
Wisconsin – 🔴 Trump +1
(@trafalgar_group: Conducted: 8/6-8/8)
These media-funded polls are not meant for accuracy. They are meant to drive news cycles, pervert public perception, and depress conservatives.
Put frankly, they are media driven voter suppression and propaganda operations.”
You also have to look at where the movement is – which candidate is edging up or down.
Polls are snapshots and will change as soon as the next poll is taken. The race appears right now to be in what they call a “dead heat,” definitely within the margins of error.
But most have shown Harris’ numbers going up and so the current momentum — it appears — is on her side.
Polls aren’t “fake,” they’re momentary looks, based on analytics, that may or may not tell a bigger story.
Janice @5:53 – What some are saying, though, is that Trump isn’t focused on that, he’s not focused on specific policies, but rather is campaigning in a rather undisciplined way (which maybe was overlooked and excused in the past but it’s a rather old story now so folks may be growing weary of it).
Trump has good policy positions and a record he could promote, but he’s not doing that, he’s getting off-message too often. That’s what his campaign advisers are saying and they are trying to get him back on track.
The campaign is on, it’s in full swing, so now’s the time to get that more narrow focus.
It’s fair to say Trump has been the front runner — but the upheavals in the past couple weeks appears to have those already-close polls moving in different directions.
Reflections at 5:33. I’ve been taking photos for quite a few years now, and what I know is that what you see in the lens is hugely dependent on where you’re standing. I might be photographing a great blue heron on the far shore, and it has a rock in the water next to it. I can move just an inch to the right and get the bird’s reflection in the water instead of the rock obscuring it, or I can move the camera two inches higher and the water will look green (reflections of the trees) instead of blue (reflection of the sky).
I wouldn’t place any bets at all on such “gotcha” posts that people are making.
The Democrats still haven’t had their convention (that’s next week); this is why “Labor Day” weekend in September has often been seen as more of the official kick-off for the campaign By then, presumably, people who may have not paid much attention start doing so and are making up their minds if they were undecided.
But time is growing short and the polls from September-October will be interesting to watch.
Good points, Cheryl. And there are pollsters who while striving for independence are more associated with the Republican or Democrat parties.
Serious pollsters, though, are generally are pretty good at the math and their credibility and reputation lies in being “right” or as close as possible.
But it’s also true that ever since the advent of cell phones pollsters have had a harder time in contacting registered voters (though maybe they’ve worked through that snag by now?).
When polls start to reflect similar findings one can maybe have more reliance on what they are showing.
That said, there are (almost) always surprises. Which can make politics actually kind of fun 🙂
Cheryl has a very good point about the perspective of the photo.
Something I was thinking is that instead of the photo having been “faked” to put in a crowd, it could just as well been faked to take the reflection of the crowd out of it. The reflection seems to show no one, but it makes sense that there would at least have been a few folks there.
Polls are maybe both part science and part art, but mostly the goal is to keep it within the realm of science.
Most of these pollsters want the most accurate result they can get — as that is what they base their credibility as a business on.
Those with the most reliable and accurate results as judged after-the-fact — the ones who got it right — get a boost in their reputation and will be more often paid attention to, more often taken seriously.
100s of people that close to the plane don’t disappear in the image reflected in the engine and side of the plane.Even the people right next to it, within a few feet, cast no reflection.
“Kamala Harris, who now claims to be against taxing tips, was the tie-breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which expanded the IRS so it could go after people not paying taxes on tips. Incredible stuff.
The most inauthentic, astro-turfed campaign in history.”
“I think this election should be about who’s going to solve the inflation crisis? Who’s going to make groceries and housing more affordable? Who’s going to secure that southern border? Kamala Harris’s record is the policies that made these problems worse.” – @JDVance”
Why would I support someone who is actively in the current administration, saying she will only help prices after getting elected, has no stated policies, and just copied her rival *because* she has no policies”
“Kamala Harris’s first big policy idea is to steal Trump’s “no taxes on tips,” when she backed Democrats’ $80b for more IRS audits including on tip income. The Biden-Harris Admin also launched a novel new IRS crackdown on tips, getting the IRS inside the door at bars & restaurants to directly monitor tips at the cash register, “at point-of-sale.” She also backed the $1.7T spending legislation expecting taxpayers to report their $600 phone app transactions to the IRS without she and the Senate reading the bill (later dropped as untenable).”
“NEW: President Joe Biden confirms he was pushed out of the race by top Democrats who apparently staged a coup on him.
“But what happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the house and Senate thought that I was gonna hurt them in the races.”
The statement coincides with what journalist Seymour Hersh suggested when he reported that Barack Obama threatened Biden with the 25th Amendment, saying he had “Kamala’s approval” to force him out of the race.
Hersh said Obama was “deeply involved” with the alleged coup and called Biden after his “incident” in Las Vegas.
“I went over [reports] this week with a senior official in Washington who helped me fashion an account of a White House in complete disarray,” Hersh said.”
Obama called Biden after breakfast [on July 20] and said, ‘Here’s the deal. We have Kamala’s approval to invoke the 25th Amendment,'” a senior Washington official told Hersh.
Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Hakeem Jeffries were reportedly directly involved.”
“@JDVance: We’re running against a set of policies that have failed the American people, and we are running to a set of policies that succeeded for the American people.
Kamala clearly owns the policies of the Biden-Harris administration. Kamala is the one calling the shots.”
“Good to talk this morning w/ @PeteHegseth of @foxandfriends about how secular left billionaires like George Soros & Bill Gates are funneling money into evangelical ministries to try to infiltrate churches & co-opt Christian voters.”
“The absurdity of the argument “churches should not be polltical” is made more clear when you understand that the organizations @megbasham talks about in her book are designed to make the Church more Left polltical. That is their goal. It’s a twisted idea with very real cultural and spiritual implications.”
“Great interview Megan! Thanks for having the courage to point out what is happening in many churches and denominations and why it must be exposed and eliminated.
The Gospel is not for sale and it should never be compromised for any agenda – political or otherwise!”
Amazon delivered our book yesterday and I am reading the introduction thus far. After reading the links provided here it would seem never trumpers hate it😊
NJ – The review I shared was a mix of positive and negative, not all negative. (Part of the negative was about taking certain quotes out of context, which I think is important to keep in mind.)
As for Never-Trumpers, isn’t it possible that they may have a point now and then?
AJ – Weren’t many Republicans and conservative folks saying that Biden was unfit? And if that were true, wouldn’t the 25th amendment be the way to go? Or even better, save Biden’s honor by telling him privately about the plan before going ahead with it, to give him the opportunity to save face?
And as far as Never Trumpers having a point now and then…no. They base their conclusions on a person’s foibles, mean tweets, orange skin, and at times his cringy statements….not substance. They would rather have a communist country, the killing of innocent babies, the mutilation of our children, homosexual pride, pedophiles rights, etc. There are choices and the Never Trumpers truly align themselves with the ult left. IMO…
If there is any question as to whether Trump will be a threat to terrorist nations this should put it to rest. Biden and his ilk have been embraced by these nations and they don’t want that to change. And you can bet it won’t with Harris/Walz.
Iran’s Digital Meddling in U.S. Elections
Microsoft recently published a report confirming that Iran has been meddling in U.S. elections, specifically targeting swing states through sophisticated online tactics. According to the tech giant, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—a group designated as a terrorist organization—sent spear phishing emails aimed at officials within U.S. presidential campaigns. While the targeted campaign wasn’t initially identified, it was later confirmed by a senior Trump campaign official that their operation had indeed been compromised.
“If Harris releases zero policy plans from now until November, she would barely lose a vote. If Republicans find even a singular issue with Trump, they’ll stay home or vote third party. If he posts something they mildly disagree with, they’ll say “it’s over.” The voter acquisition cost between parties shows a massive disparity.”
“I think @JDVance did a great job in this interview. My respect for him went up after watching. Margaret Brennan started with a I’m gonna get you tone and phrasing but Vance patiently redirected. She let him give whole answers and the conversation was long enough to fully cover topics. I think they ended up having a great and substantive conversation. Worth a watch if you have 25 minutes.”
I have my own issues with the term “never Trumpers,” but have to also take issue with the unfair list presented in the above post.
(And several of us are referred to “never trumpers” here, btw.)
I’d hope that even when we disagree here we would respect that each of us has come to our position with some thought and prayer, that it is based not on personal prejudice and knee-jerk reactions.
Personally, I’d like to see the term on this blog dropped as an effort to foster a better dialogue that focuses on issues and conscience (rather than just side-swipe others as being “unsubstantial” and wanting a communist country, dismissing book reviewers because they are “never trumpers” and could never, ever have a valid point to make (when we haven’t even read the book yet?).
Tim Alberta wrote a book earlier this year which I’ve read, but before that I’d seen some criticism of it in World Magazine which I read and took seriously. And I could see some of their points as I read the book. Doesn’t mean the book didn’t have some good points within it (more than not), but this tendency for us to be “all or nothing” in our partisan political views isn’t really striving to be fair minded (and believers should be known for that, right?).
Ty (@1:30), I see your point — and wording on polls is a science in itself, an inexact one clearly.
But I think on the strict candidate-vs-candidate preferences the wording is designed to be very succinct and straight forward, as in “If the election were held today who would you vote for?” End — so not a lot room to misunderstand exactly what’s being asked.
Again, reputable pollsters — pollsters who do this for a business — strive to get it right because that is what will boost their name brand. Getting it wrong will get them discounted quickly — or at least not quoted or cited — the next time an election comes along.
Questions on issues that have more context, on social/cultural or political positions, are much trickier and the way they are asked can skew results. But again, reputable pollsters try at all costs to avoid “tricky” or confusing questions that will just get them listed in the “wrong!” column and dismissed the next time polling season arrives.
I have met Warren Smith even having lunch hosted by him at a pizza joint in the Springs😊 I found him to be pleasant and very amiable. Having read his take on Basham’s book I sensed his stark displeasure with her and her politics. I don’t know if I will agree with his assessment in part, whole or not at all. I’m just getting started on the book.
As much as the term Never Trumpers why the offense? If one should determine to never vote for him well that is what it is. I draw a contrast between those who have determined to never vote for him not due to the good he represents for our nation but his meaness and the other party candidate who will have that support. That party happens to stand on everything I have listed. You may call me a never Democrat, Harriser, Bidener, etc… no offense shall be taken
Oh, and I remember Kizzie sending me a critical review of one of Russell Moore’s books which I took seriously. Book reviews often are helpful, maybe especially critical ones.
AJ (I presume), the term reduces a principled position to a throw-away “term” that implies mere personal prejudice. So yes, it is offensive especially on a thread that includes people of differing views.
NJ, I’d just refer you back to your earlier post about what ‘never-trumpers’ means to you whenever you use it:
~ They base their conclusions on a person’s foibles, mean tweets, orange skin, and at times his cringy statements….not substance. They would rather have a communist country, the killing of innocent babies, the mutilation of our children, homosexual pride, pedophiles rights, etc. There are choices and the Never Trumpers truly align themselves with the ult left. IMO ~
It’s good to know those on this blog do not align themselves with never trumpers then. In my finite mind when I see voters declaring they would never vote for the Republican Candidate it leaves me knowing they will not vote for the party trying to keep the other party from further ruining this nation.
The term is quite a broad brush and yes, it’s been used here specifically referring to some of us. So I’m merely suggesting that maybe it’s time to retire it in Christian discussion circles where brothers and sisters simply hold differing opinions on candidates for office.
Language can inflame – or it can be neutral. Neutral is always best for productive political discussions (unless one just wants that discussion to eliminate any minority or disliked opinion).
Last comment on the matter. It does work both ways and trust me those in support of Trump not personally but to lead this country on a better path have been maligned to the same or even greater degree…and yes by fellow believers. I could go on but it’s time to rest it all. Good night.
I used to think it meant a person who had no plans to ever vote for Trump, leaving room for God to change that if He chose. A conclusion they had reached through their own thought process and hopefully, prayer.
It has morphed into a hateful derogatory term.
I am not a never Trumper but I vote we dump the term and treat each other as children of the King. Conflict is better resolved and reconciliation (a Christian calling) achieved through discussion more than labeling.
A person not voting for Trump does not mean they support the list. God will continue to allow this place to devolve or He will not. Each is accountable to Him and each needs to vote or even not vote as He directs. None of us has the authority to demand others vote in lockstep or the authority to determine the results. We all have the responsibility to do what God puts before us.
NJ, I had lunch with Cole also 🙂 Part of a tour he was doing maybe around 2016 – 18 or thereabouts? I can’t remember the year, but he invited several world readers/subscribers to meet up with him at a local brewery for lunch which was close to where our newsroom was at the time.
I hope that DJ and I have been clear that we do not look down on the Trump supporters here. (Or anywhere, for that matter.) More than once, I have defended them against a couple of people on Facebook.
One.or two up on doing meals with World folks: lunch with Warren, dinner at a beautiful Italian restaurant, Maggianos, where Art sat next to Joel Belz, and finally a dinner cruise at Chraleston with a bunch of the World people. Those were wonderful events.
I met Belz as he manned the World Magazine booth at a Ligonier conference in Dallas/Fort Worth way back when. I think World Magazine was fairly new back then.
I have at times felt grouped by those who choose not to vote for Trump into the Christian nationalists and the MAGAs but have not felt I belong in either of those groups. I vote for the Republican party ticket. I like Trump’s policies, and I like many of the people he has for advisors. I enjoy some of his sense of humor and the way he honors those in the military and law enforcement who put their lives on the line daily so we all have better lives. I don’t like everything he says and probably not everything he does.
The implied name-calling has been seen and felt on both sides and it does hurt. People don’t like being put in a box. I hope I have not done that. I think the way I have thought of Dj and Kizzie is that they are more left leaning than I am but still conservative and I have thought about where they live is similar to where I live which is typically extremely left leaning. Where we live does have a lot of influence on our thinking.
I don’t care much for political slogans in general, but I did like the one that Ben Carson was using. It was something about healing our nation if I recall correctly. It acknowledged God in my point of view.
I’ve seen the term “Trump worshippers” which I would never use and I think is an unfair characterization in most cases.
A lot of issues and impressions and personal histories feed into our own individual political leanings which morph over time; I’m conservative-centrist if I had to label myself, with the understanding that we live in the “not yet” in time; in a pluralistic nation (and not God’s Kingdom in the New Earth) so accommodations in government are a fact of life, a practical necessity.
We are a broken people living in a broken world. We are exiles, still, and always will be in this world while anticipating Christ’s return.
Janice – What you wrote about feeling grouped into those groups reminds me of something I read a while back.
The writer (I don’t remember who it was or where I read it) made the point that there is a tendency among many to put people they disagree with into those groups or boxes while being able to see that they and those like them don’t fit into the groups and boxes on their own side.
Just returned home from neighbors and catching up. I will say someone can twist my words to mean whatever they please but I stand by my convictions…not yours. I am not telling anyone how to vote nor how to think. I am not personally attacking anyone…and I am well aware I have no authority to make anyone do anything…never said nor suggested I did. …just sharing my thoughts on the matter. There isn’t a corner on the market of being a tad bit frustrated with other’s opinions here….
It is easy to feel frustrated when there is a continuous barage of similar type posts that feel like a nagging on one’s thoughtfully chosen beliefs as if when you hear the same thing over and over from different sources it will change your mind. Or is it just reinforcement and support for how the one commenter feels? Now I am not sure if it is offensive or defensive when people do that. That is what makes political discussions feel like warfare. It’s bringing in the troops and it happens on both sides.
For the record, I don’t think less of anyone here whether they support Trump, Harris, RFK, or none of the above. We all have unique perspectives and must be able to respect each other even when we believe the other is being unwise.
… That has been used in a derogatory and offensive tone here, unfortunately, so that’s what has become the problem.
When something becomes that offensive — and that issue has been pointed out — isn’t it best to leave it alone? (Though that is assuming a respectful discussion is still desired here, but perhaps it is not; I hope I’m wrong.)
Taking offense is a choice. I have chosen not to when I reasonably might have. You must make your own decision. And we each live with those choices, for good or ill
I do get NJ’s point and AJ’s that when people choose to not vote Republican that they are effectively putting their support in the pot with the other party and all its dastardly deeds. Their hearts and minds may not be aligned, but their votes are aligned with giving the Dems a win and supporting a long list of things they oppose. But each of our little votes,, unless you live in a swing state, don’t matter so much so there is no reason to get mad at each other over how people choose to vote.
I had written that last night but forgot to hit the button to post. I had not read Debra’s comments when I posted. Good points, Debra.
So it seems to be the tone of the rhetoric and the blaming here that is the problem more than the “Never Trumper” general label. I get that, too. Blaming is never a good thing. It always leads back to Adam and Eve and the fall of mankind. We are all to blame for the mess. The world needs Jesus.
On the Friday Funnies there was one that had people holding up placards which said, “Never Trumpers for Trump.” Sometimes there are compelling reasons to change a person’s mind. I was, in the very beginning of it all, a Never Trumper in that first primary. I was putting my name in the pot for each of that long list of folks trying to be the Republican nominee instead of choosingTrump. In the end I felt compelled to vote for Trump as the Republican nominee. I could not go along with supporting the other side. That was my choice then and will be now unless something, by God’s will, changes.
I’m politically independent, though I’ve often been registered as a Republican. I have never been registered as a Democrat, but over the years I have voted for Republicans, Democrats, and small independent parties. I also wrote in a candidate at least once or twice. The reason is that none of the parties are sufficiently aligned with my thinking and beliefs. At different points in time I have thought some issues more important than others, so my voting record reflects what I thought most important at the time. I have no faith at all in any party. None. So you see, in the truest sense of the term, I’m the one who’s always been politically “homeless”. It seems to be a new experience for some people.
I will say there has always been pressure from family and church friends to vote Republican—complete with scandalized gasps when I have declared that I’m voting for a Democrat (which is practically viewed as a vote for the devil). There have been lively debates with varying degrees of heat, but there is always the knowledge that we love each other and that allows us to all come together over the things that are eternally important. I guess I am fortunate that I have not been completely shunned for my errant voting record. :–)
Wandering Views 
These two American communists (Harris/Walz) are the worst ‘candidates’ since Mondale/Ferraro. Dems are desperate – they can’t win an honest presidential election.
They foisted Biden on the USA with the absurd, obvious lie that he received 15 million votes more than Hillary and Obama, without even trying. Now they are foisting Kamala, who failed miserably in her run for president and didn’t earn even a single vote in the current primary process. Saving democracy? The USA is rapidly becoming unrecognizable.
Joe and Kamala have done their best to destroy this country, and now Harris/Walz have to pay people to come to their campaign events. Yet, incredibly, people will still vote for them. Pres. Trump has a great track record (what has Harris accomplished?), and has tens of thousands of people come to his events. If the choice is in the hands of the people, Pres. Trump wins handily.
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Because the SCOTUS says you cannot do it!!! Yes that court they are trying to control! Remember it’s Executive, legislative and judicial!!!
8 million student-loan borrowers on Biden’s new repayment plan just got more bad news after a federal court officially blocked cheaper payments and debt cancellation
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Lather, rinse, repeat.
Here comes the next verse, same as the first….
https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1822106056144925092?t=xWR4KMxKNMG0aG87GXkpxA&s=19
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Word salad.
https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1821962041646596216?t=5dEkXI9432bM3MnENPWsPQ&s=19
Such depth…..
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Is it any wonder she won”t debate Trump…yes that guy who makes no sense to so many here and there!! There definitely is a significance in the passage of time…especially when there’s a cloud over your head…uh huh…got ya!!!
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https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1822295563435389052?t=YR0FQel2RCbpKn7RbHREng&s=19
“Here is the current 2024 map with RCP averages
Drop this on every blackpill post you find”
realclearpolling.com/maps/president…
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https://x.com/rvalen81/status/1822296437855555856?t=EMYNepF5GzsGDCSUg3QuXA&s=19
“All of Kamala’s polls are using Response Bias and not providing recent results.”
https://x.com/rvalen81/status/1822296437855555856?t=7-cDokRb4WS0w78Jt2FEPA&s=19
“
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Trump spent 71 minutes talking to the press and taking questions. Talked policy and differences.
Where’s Kamala?
Hiding in the basement with Joe.
https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1821703304650617208?t=kQFqZtA9C-X4z_RzVjFUVQ&s=19
“Trump seemed relaxed and loose today at the presser. Watched him calmly ask around making sure he called on just about everyone there. Kept it open for an hour plus, no notes at all, answered questions on topic after topic”
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There is a debate set, but they were waiting for Trump to agree last I heard. And he now apparently has? We’ll see.
~ The build-up to the debate on September 10, assuming it goes ahead, will be intense, and the truncated nature of the new campaign means it could create another historic pivot point on the dwindling road to the White House. ~
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Tim Walz is a classless disgusting bloviator…yep I said it. I shudder to think what he taught children in “social studies”. I’ve certainly seen and heard him speaking to “adults”.
JD studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley millionaires, and then wrote a bestseller trashing that community,” Walz said. “C’mon; that’s not what middle America is.”
Then came the zinger.
“And I gotta tell ya; I can’t wait to debate this guy,” Walz continued, before pausing for dramatic effect. “That’s if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up.
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So, who can the money flow to next? We are told, “Follow the money,” if you want to know something. If Kamala happened to blow it at the debate as her predecessor did, where could that campaign money go next? Or does it stay with her unless she is totally incapacitated? Is it a Hilary Clinton moment? Or Michelle Obama? Who could the schemers get who is lurking behind the scenes? A foreign agent?
I have also wondered in my wildest imaginings that if the investigation into Geogia election fraud in 2020 happened to show that Trump should have been declared winner back then, does that make Biden and Harris have to step down and Speaker Johnso step up or what?
I am glad God knows and I don’t need to think more about speculations.
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Megan Basham’s book has come up here recently, spotted this assessment of one of the reviews (which matches others I’ve seen):
~ Warren Cole Smith reviews Shepherds For Sale, a book by Meghan Basham of The Daily Wire, that seeks to explain how the evangelical movement has been corrupted by politicization. If you’ve read The Dispatch even a little, you’re probably nodding along, as that’s a topic we’ve hit on a lot. But Basham has a novel theory—that the corrupting influence has come from the left. Smith knows Basham, as well as many of the evangelical figures mentioned in the book, and he points out that much of her book is just plain wrong. She takes comments and statements by evangelical journalists that seem to promote liberal ideas out of context, gets timelines wrong, and leaves out details that would deflate her argument if they were included. And then there’s the crux of the matter: “Shepherds For Sale has many villains, but it has only one true hero: Donald J. Trump,” Smith writes. He adds: “The real sin of those demonized by Basham is their public opposition to Trump. Her book purports to fight for the Gospel against heretics, but Basham is waging a proxy war, defending Trump against his evangelical critics.” ~
Good discussion on The Journal today about how Trump needs to get a clearer focus on policy and issues (never his most comfortable or favorite topics); that the way he’s campaigned in the past (and is now again by calling Harris “dumb” or raising the tired Black identity issue yet again) isn’t going to connect as well in this climate when both sides are in a dead heat with the momentum (so far) behind Harris-Walz. Trump had an edge in the past with those broader emotional messages, but not currently in this political climate or specific race. He’s not a front-runner and could wind up more clearly behind Harris-Walz over the next month or so.
Trump tends to riff endlessly, off the top of his head, at his rallies, as we all know, but — the discussion stressed — he needs more focus right now. Apparently his advisers are telling him the same, to focus on policy — there’re good and sound arguments to make against his opponents this time around — but the advice hasn’t taken hold just yet. This isn’t 2016 or 2020 anymore. Things have changed.
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Heard someone say Walz has found his “inner California” with this turn leftward of his in this campaign. 🙂
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And from The Dispatch on a theory of how Democrats lost rural voters:
~ As political scientists and pundits and historians try to parse just how a billionaire celebrity real-estate developer from New York won over the working class base of the Republican Party in 2016, we hear a lot about how both parties, but especially the Democrats, ignored that segment of the population. But that idea is most often discussed in philosophical terms: The party started emphasizing identity politics and progressive social policy, a reflection of its growing segment of college-educated, professional-class voters. What if, as Tom Zoellner suggests, it was less a matter of ideology and more about tactics? “The scythe of Trumpism cut so cleanly through America’s farm and ranch country not so much because voters radically changed their beliefs but because Democrats made the disastrous strategic decision to abandon them,” he writes. ~
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Pres. Trump is the front-runner – don’t let the fake polls fool you. 😉
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More Deep Fakes from the Harris campaign. The pic shows a crowd. Only problem is the reflection of the tarmac on the engine shows no people on it. Such frauds.
https://x.com/1Nicdar/status/1822316074391535976?t=ZbVy-k6KsehPbVmcgfohdg&s=19
https://x.com/salis333/status/1822343945063457131?t=qOM3d8nuoYAgTSg15V-ylw&s=19
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https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/1822101433837133995?t=4qHJ-9kLjeFVuVJTdIcPxQ&s=19
“Fact: The vast majority of mentally ill people vote Democrat. 64% of White liberals have been diagnosed with a mental illness.
That’s not a number I made up. It’s self reported via the non-partisan Pew Research survey. I think this explains a lot of things we’re living through.”
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Some people voted for Trump in 2020 because his policies worked. It’s that simple. It’s not rocket science. People have not forgotten that. More have had a chance to compare the two parties since both have a record, and it is easier to decide based on known facts. The only issue Kamala has that will persuade some young and older ladies is abortion. It’s literally a life and death issue for some. It is all that matters in their minds.
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https://x.com/nypost/status/1822000297842966732?t=3mgBpeHwMSg0fYrDiAeXBg&s=19
“Chaplain of Tim Walz’s National Guard battalion calls VP pick ‘cowardly’ for abandoning unit”
trib.al/tCnYxFN
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About that fake NYT/Sienna poll….
https://x.com/DavidGiglioCA/status/1822327295811424470?t=H-nazqSCqsWWaPT651JnAg&s=19
“MISSED in every swing state in their 2020 Final Poll by 5 or more points in FAVOR of Biden/Harris.
Their misses were outside their own (and any reputable pollsters) MoEs. In many states, they MISSED BY DOUBLE DIGITS!
Wisconsin:
• Poll: Biden 🔵+11• Actual: Biden 🔵+.07—————————Miss: 10.93 points in favor of 🔵
Michigan:
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +8• Actual: Biden 🔵 +2.8—————————Miss: 5.2 points in favor of 🔵
Pennsylvania
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +6• Actual: Biden 🔵 +1.2—————————Miss: 4.8 points in favor of 🔵
Ohio
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +1• Actual: Trump 🔴 +8.2—————————Miss: 7.2 points in favor of 🔵
Florida
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +3• Actual: Trump 🔴 +3.3—————————Miss: 6.3 points in favor of 🔵
North Carolina
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +3• Actual: Trump 🔴 +1.3—————————Miss: 4.3 points in favor of 🔵
Iowa
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +3• Actual: Trump 🔴+8.2—————————Miss: 11.2 points in favor of 🔵
Arizona
• Poll: Biden 🔵 +6• Actual: Biden 🔵 +.03—————————Miss: 5.7 points in favor of 🔵
STOP FALLING FOR THE SAMEPYSOP USED IN 2020.
Conservatives spent a week saying, “Trump is still up in the betting markets,” then in a matter of days, massive shifts to Harris.
Now conservatives have been saying, “Trump is up in the RCP Swing States,” and magically, we get these absurd results dumped on a Saturday coupled with Bloomberg a week ago meant to put an end to that.
Notice how the media also ignores @trafalgar_group’s swing states polls from yesterday, even though Trafalgar was among the most accurate pollsters in 2020.
Arizona – 🔴 Trump +1
Nevada – 🔴 Trump +3
North Carolina – 🔴 Trump +4
Pennsylvania – 🔴 Trump +2
Wisconsin – 🔴 Trump +1
(@trafalgar_group: Conducted: 8/6-8/8)
These media-funded polls are not meant for accuracy. They are meant to drive news cycles, pervert public perception, and depress conservatives.
Put frankly, they are media driven voter suppression and propaganda operations.”
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You also have to look at where the movement is – which candidate is edging up or down.
Polls are snapshots and will change as soon as the next poll is taken. The race appears right now to be in what they call a “dead heat,” definitely within the margins of error.
But most have shown Harris’ numbers going up and so the current momentum — it appears — is on her side.
Polls aren’t “fake,” they’re momentary looks, based on analytics, that may or may not tell a bigger story.
Janice @5:53 – What some are saying, though, is that Trump isn’t focused on that, he’s not focused on specific policies, but rather is campaigning in a rather undisciplined way (which maybe was overlooked and excused in the past but it’s a rather old story now so folks may be growing weary of it).
Trump has good policy positions and a record he could promote, but he’s not doing that, he’s getting off-message too often. That’s what his campaign advisers are saying and they are trying to get him back on track.
The campaign is on, it’s in full swing, so now’s the time to get that more narrow focus.
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It’s fair to say Trump has been the front runner — but the upheavals in the past couple weeks appears to have those already-close polls moving in different directions.
It’s in flux right now.
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Reflections at 5:33. I’ve been taking photos for quite a few years now, and what I know is that what you see in the lens is hugely dependent on where you’re standing. I might be photographing a great blue heron on the far shore, and it has a rock in the water next to it. I can move just an inch to the right and get the bird’s reflection in the water instead of the rock obscuring it, or I can move the camera two inches higher and the water will look green (reflections of the trees) instead of blue (reflection of the sky).
I wouldn’t place any bets at all on such “gotcha” posts that people are making.
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The Democrats still haven’t had their convention (that’s next week); this is why “Labor Day” weekend in September has often been seen as more of the official kick-off for the campaign By then, presumably, people who may have not paid much attention start doing so and are making up their minds if they were undecided.
But time is growing short and the polls from September-October will be interesting to watch.
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Good points, Cheryl. And there are pollsters who while striving for independence are more associated with the Republican or Democrat parties.
Serious pollsters, though, are generally are pretty good at the math and their credibility and reputation lies in being “right” or as close as possible.
But it’s also true that ever since the advent of cell phones pollsters have had a harder time in contacting registered voters (though maybe they’ve worked through that snag by now?).
When polls start to reflect similar findings one can maybe have more reliance on what they are showing.
That said, there are (almost) always surprises. Which can make politics actually kind of fun 🙂
* dj
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Cheryl has a very good point about the perspective of the photo.
Something I was thinking is that instead of the photo having been “faked” to put in a crowd, it could just as well been faked to take the reflection of the crowd out of it. The reflection seems to show no one, but it makes sense that there would at least have been a few folks there.
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Polls are maybe both part science and part art, but mostly the goal is to keep it within the realm of science.
Most of these pollsters want the most accurate result they can get — as that is what they base their credibility as a business on.
Those with the most reliable and accurate results as judged after-the-fact — the ones who got it right — get a boost in their reputation and will be more often paid attention to, more often taken seriously.
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Oh, and I now realize Cheryl’s comment had to do with “views” of rally crowds, not polling practices, apologies for misreading that.
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Polls are fake when they are purposely engineered to achieve a desired outcome.
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Cheryl, the photos are faked with AI.
100s of people that close to the plane don’t disappear in the image reflected in the engine and side of the plane.Even the people right next to it, within a few feet, cast no reflection.
Science says that’s impossible.
https://x.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/1822599953249624207?t=5Ap0_QI7MPNh7uxOEn-Atw&s=19
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Yep.
https://x.com/bonchieredstate/status/1822609692910137823?t=pWl3QQhmyeHVcl-0Y0OFLQ&s=19
“Kamala Harris, who now claims to be against taxing tips, was the tie-breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which expanded the IRS so it could go after people not paying taxes on tips. Incredible stuff.
The most inauthentic, astro-turfed campaign in history.”
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Truth.
https://x.com/wsmartin218/status/1822621856391725291?t=T0TxHBA3V-EIHepw53kl3A&s=19
“I think this election should be about who’s going to solve the inflation crisis? Who’s going to make groceries and housing more affordable? Who’s going to secure that southern border? Kamala Harris’s record is the policies that made these problems worse.” – @JDVance”
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“Kamala doesn’t have any policies
Why would I support someone who is actively in the current administration, saying she will only help prices after getting elected, has no stated policies, and just copied her rival *because* she has no policies”
https://x.com/Timcast/status/1822607415059070982?t=3DzFal8_5cxg5KTBSTJl2A&s=19
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She’s a fraud.
https://x.com/LizMacDonaldFOX/status/1822584603325997523?t=mJiiMr_gYqetCbdN8kaOmg&s=19
“Kamala Harris’s first big policy idea is to steal Trump’s “no taxes on tips,” when she backed Democrats’ $80b for more IRS audits including on tip income. The Biden-Harris Admin also launched a novel new IRS crackdown on tips, getting the IRS inside the door at bars & restaurants to directly monitor tips at the cash register, “at point-of-sale.” She also backed the $1.7T spending legislation expecting taxpayers to report their $600 phone app transactions to the IRS without she and the Senate reading the bill (later dropped as untenable).”
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More truth.
https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1822453187158102135?t=J-jdBcYwDXrOITn9iFNYsA&s=19
“Kamala, who has been in the White House for 3.5 years, says she believes “in a future where we lower the cost of living for America’s families.”
Why hasn’t she done that already? Families have lost, on average, $26K paying for the increased cost of living under Kamala.”
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This is what a coup looks like.
https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1822628391360835825?t=mD2wP64FCurYS0vLXoX2Xg&s=19
“NEW: President Joe Biden confirms he was pushed out of the race by top Democrats who apparently staged a coup on him.
“But what happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the house and Senate thought that I was gonna hurt them in the races.”
The statement coincides with what journalist Seymour Hersh suggested when he reported that Barack Obama threatened Biden with the 25th Amendment, saying he had “Kamala’s approval” to force him out of the race.
Hersh said Obama was “deeply involved” with the alleged coup and called Biden after his “incident” in Las Vegas.
“I went over [reports] this week with a senior official in Washington who helped me fashion an account of a White House in complete disarray,” Hersh said.”
Obama called Biden after breakfast [on July 20] and said, ‘Here’s the deal. We have Kamala’s approval to invoke the 25th Amendment,'” a senior Washington official told Hersh.
Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Hakeem Jeffries were reportedly directly involved.”
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“@JDVance: We’re running against a set of policies that have failed the American people, and we are running to a set of policies that succeeded for the American people.
Kamala clearly owns the policies of the Biden-Harris administration. Kamala is the one calling the shots.”
https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1822625020918497542?t=WvH9svU_isz0JpYoSR-i1g&s=19
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“Good to talk this morning w/ @PeteHegseth of @foxandfriends about how secular left billionaires like George Soros & Bill Gates are funneling money into evangelical ministries to try to infiltrate churches & co-opt Christian voters.”
https://x.com/megbasham/status/1822621800460882267?t=PAivTNYOGR9FopZICZeTgw&s=19
——
“The absurdity of the argument “churches should not be polltical” is made more clear when you understand that the organizations @megbasham talks about in her book are designed to make the Church more Left polltical. That is their goal. It’s a twisted idea with very real cultural and spiritual implications.”
https://x.com/jimpfaff/status/1822623870047694865?t=ekniz0Fpd94VLF1uJJgFBg&s=19
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“Great interview Megan! Thanks for having the courage to point out what is happening in many churches and denominations and why it must be exposed and eliminated.
The Gospel is not for sale and it should never be compromised for any agenda – political or otherwise!”
https://x.com/KenBaileyMin/status/1822628613524775334?t=5ltgt35mqV89how7QMifuw&s=19
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Amazon delivered our book yesterday and I am reading the introduction thus far. After reading the links provided here it would seem never trumpers hate it😊
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NJ – The review I shared was a mix of positive and negative, not all negative. (Part of the negative was about taking certain quotes out of context, which I think is important to keep in mind.)
As for Never-Trumpers, isn’t it possible that they may have a point now and then?
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AJ – Weren’t many Republicans and conservative folks saying that Biden was unfit? And if that were true, wouldn’t the 25th amendment be the way to go? Or even better, save Biden’s honor by telling him privately about the plan before going ahead with it, to give him the opportunity to save face?
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per Smith…not me!!😊
But Shepherds For Sale is not journalism—it is propaganda. It is not part of the solution, but part of the problem.
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And as far as Never Trumpers having a point now and then…no. They base their conclusions on a person’s foibles, mean tweets, orange skin, and at times his cringy statements….not substance. They would rather have a communist country, the killing of innocent babies, the mutilation of our children, homosexual pride, pedophiles rights, etc. There are choices and the Never Trumpers truly align themselves with the ult left. IMO…
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If there is any question as to whether Trump will be a threat to terrorist nations this should put it to rest. Biden and his ilk have been embraced by these nations and they don’t want that to change. And you can bet it won’t with Harris/Walz.
Iran’s Digital Meddling in U.S. Elections
Microsoft recently published a report confirming that Iran has been meddling in U.S. elections, specifically targeting swing states through sophisticated online tactics. According to the tech giant, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—a group designated as a terrorist organization—sent spear phishing emails aimed at officials within U.S. presidential campaigns. While the targeted campaign wasn’t initially identified, it was later confirmed by a senior Trump campaign official that their operation had indeed been compromised.
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Yep….
https://x.com/9mm_smg/status/1822611956835987934?t=g1gR3Pv3uxXDcNH9qtq88g&s=19
“If Harris releases zero policy plans from now until November, she would barely lose a vote. If Republicans find even a singular issue with Trump, they’ll stay home or vote third party. If he posts something they mildly disagree with, they’ll say “it’s over.” The voter acquisition cost between parties shows a massive disparity.”
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NJ – I didn’t mean having a point now and then about Trump in particular, but about other matters, such as the Megan Basham book.
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I guess it depends how high of an opinion you have of Warren Cole Smith and his writings.
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https://x.com/MattNachtrab/status/1822713639788232974?t=07BLXFUNc8h-pT-_VbkfKw&s=19
“I think @JDVance did a great job in this interview. My respect for him went up after watching. Margaret Brennan started with a I’m gonna get you tone and phrasing but Vance patiently redirected. She let him give whole answers and the conversation was long enough to fully cover topics. I think they ended up having a great and substantive conversation. Worth a watch if you have 25 minutes.”
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This is the one I shared the other day (whenever that was):
https://www.digitalliturgies.net/p/review-shepherds-for-sale-by-megan?fbclid=IwY2xjawEl-F9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHeJPiN4e0ZMQTqQFWi-GhsB2egYqIbdGVezmskU56Cob-AIxemaQ9GZNxw_aem_jr31ZIqTgNLjsEPTaa_N1g
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@2:58
I have my own issues with the term “never Trumpers,” but have to also take issue with the unfair list presented in the above post.
(And several of us are referred to “never trumpers” here, btw.)
I’d hope that even when we disagree here we would respect that each of us has come to our position with some thought and prayer, that it is based not on personal prejudice and knee-jerk reactions.
Personally, I’d like to see the term on this blog dropped as an effort to foster a better dialogue that focuses on issues and conscience (rather than just side-swipe others as being “unsubstantial” and wanting a communist country, dismissing book reviewers because they are “never trumpers” and could never, ever have a valid point to make (when we haven’t even read the book yet?).
Tim Alberta wrote a book earlier this year which I’ve read, but before that I’d seen some criticism of it in World Magazine which I read and took seriously. And I could see some of their points as I read the book. Doesn’t mean the book didn’t have some good points within it (more than not), but this tendency for us to be “all or nothing” in our partisan political views isn’t really striving to be fair minded (and believers should be known for that, right?).
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Ty (@1:30), I see your point — and wording on polls is a science in itself, an inexact one clearly.
But I think on the strict candidate-vs-candidate preferences the wording is designed to be very succinct and straight forward, as in “If the election were held today who would you vote for?” End — so not a lot room to misunderstand exactly what’s being asked.
Again, reputable pollsters — pollsters who do this for a business — strive to get it right because that is what will boost their name brand. Getting it wrong will get them discounted quickly — or at least not quoted or cited — the next time an election comes along.
Questions on issues that have more context, on social/cultural or political positions, are much trickier and the way they are asked can skew results. But again, reputable pollsters try at all costs to avoid “tricky” or confusing questions that will just get them listed in the “wrong!” column and dismissed the next time polling season arrives.
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I have met Warren Smith even having lunch hosted by him at a pizza joint in the Springs😊 I found him to be pleasant and very amiable. Having read his take on Basham’s book I sensed his stark displeasure with her and her politics. I don’t know if I will agree with his assessment in part, whole or not at all. I’m just getting started on the book.
As much as the term Never Trumpers why the offense? If one should determine to never vote for him well that is what it is. I draw a contrast between those who have determined to never vote for him not due to the good he represents for our nation but his meaness and the other party candidate who will have that support. That party happens to stand on everything I have listed. You may call me a never Democrat, Harriser, Bidener, etc… no offense shall be taken
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Oh, and I remember Kizzie sending me a critical review of one of Russell Moore’s books which I took seriously. Book reviews often are helpful, maybe especially critical ones.
AJ (I presume), the term reduces a principled position to a throw-away “term” that implies mere personal prejudice. So yes, it is offensive especially on a thread that includes people of differing views.
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You probably disagree, but think of it as a Christian courtesy to abstain from some of those terms. ?
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Trump opponents would be fine. 🙂
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Christian courtesy to rephrase two terms meaning the same thing? Sure
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It’s also easier to type.
My auto-correct keeps trying to change “never-trumpers” to “never trumpets.”
*dj
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NJ, my point was that it’s not the same. You may not have seen the earlier posts.
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It’s been interesting and eye-opening to be one who’s in the minority opinion here during this election.
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NJ, I’d just refer you back to your earlier post about what ‘never-trumpers’ means to you whenever you use it:
~ They base their conclusions on a person’s foibles, mean tweets, orange skin, and at times his cringy statements….not substance. They would rather have a communist country, the killing of innocent babies, the mutilation of our children, homosexual pride, pedophiles rights, etc. There are choices and the Never Trumpers truly align themselves with the ult left. IMO ~
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That’s just simply not true, certainly not of those of us on this blog/thread.
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It’s good to know those on this blog do not align themselves with never trumpers then. In my finite mind when I see voters declaring they would never vote for the Republican Candidate it leaves me knowing they will not vote for the party trying to keep the other party from further ruining this nation.
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The term is quite a broad brush and yes, it’s been used here specifically referring to some of us. So I’m merely suggesting that maybe it’s time to retire it in Christian discussion circles where brothers and sisters simply hold differing opinions on candidates for office.
Language can inflame – or it can be neutral. Neutral is always best for productive political discussions (unless one just wants that discussion to eliminate any minority or disliked opinion).
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Last comment on the matter. It does work both ways and trust me those in support of Trump not personally but to lead this country on a better path have been maligned to the same or even greater degree…and yes by fellow believers. I could go on but it’s time to rest it all. Good night.
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my view of a “never Trumper”:
I used to think it meant a person who had no plans to ever vote for Trump, leaving room for God to change that if He chose. A conclusion they had reached through their own thought process and hopefully, prayer.
It has morphed into a hateful derogatory term.
I am not a never Trumper but I vote we dump the term and treat each other as children of the King. Conflict is better resolved and reconciliation (a Christian calling) achieved through discussion more than labeling.
A person not voting for Trump does not mean they support the list. God will continue to allow this place to devolve or He will not. Each is accountable to Him and each needs to vote or even not vote as He directs. None of us has the authority to demand others vote in lockstep or the authority to determine the results. We all have the responsibility to do what God puts before us.
Argue the policies, not the people.
mumsee
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NJ, I had lunch with Cole also 🙂 Part of a tour he was doing maybe around 2016 – 18 or thereabouts? I can’t remember the year, but he invited several world readers/subscribers to meet up with him at a local brewery for lunch which was close to where our newsroom was at the time.
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And good post, mumsee, thanks.
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I hope that DJ and I have been clear that we do not look down on the Trump supporters here. (Or anywhere, for that matter.) More than once, I have defended them against a couple of people on Facebook.
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One.or two up on doing meals with World folks: lunch with Warren, dinner at a beautiful Italian restaurant, Maggianos, where Art sat next to Joel Belz, and finally a dinner cruise at Chraleston with a bunch of the World people. Those were wonderful events.
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Janice wins!
I met Belz as he manned the World Magazine booth at a Ligonier conference in Dallas/Fort Worth way back when. I think World Magazine was fairly new back then.
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I have at times felt grouped by those who choose not to vote for Trump into the Christian nationalists and the MAGAs but have not felt I belong in either of those groups. I vote for the Republican party ticket. I like Trump’s policies, and I like many of the people he has for advisors. I enjoy some of his sense of humor and the way he honors those in the military and law enforcement who put their lives on the line daily so we all have better lives. I don’t like everything he says and probably not everything he does.
The implied name-calling has been seen and felt on both sides and it does hurt. People don’t like being put in a box. I hope I have not done that. I think the way I have thought of Dj and Kizzie is that they are more left leaning than I am but still conservative and I have thought about where they live is similar to where I live which is typically extremely left leaning. Where we live does have a lot of influence on our thinking.
I don’t care much for political slogans in general, but I did like the one that Ben Carson was using. It was something about healing our nation if I recall correctly. It acknowledged God in my point of view.
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I’ve seen the term “Trump worshippers” which I would never use and I think is an unfair characterization in most cases.
A lot of issues and impressions and personal histories feed into our own individual political leanings which morph over time; I’m conservative-centrist if I had to label myself, with the understanding that we live in the “not yet” in time; in a pluralistic nation (and not God’s Kingdom in the New Earth) so accommodations in government are a fact of life, a practical necessity.
We are a broken people living in a broken world. We are exiles, still, and always will be in this world while anticipating Christ’s return.
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This also has tempered my expectations considerably over time when it comes to “politics.” 🙂
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Vote Calvin Coolidge!
mumsee
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Janice – What you wrote about feeling grouped into those groups reminds me of something I read a while back.
The writer (I don’t remember who it was or where I read it) made the point that there is a tendency among many to put people they disagree with into those groups or boxes while being able to see that they and those like them don’t fit into the groups and boxes on their own side.
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Janice – Just to be clear, I did not mean that you were doing that. 🙂
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mumsee @9:31, you’re too funny.
Or was that a serious post?
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Just returned home from neighbors and catching up. I will say someone can twist my words to mean whatever they please but I stand by my convictions…not yours. I am not telling anyone how to vote nor how to think. I am not personally attacking anyone…and I am well aware I have no authority to make anyone do anything…never said nor suggested I did. …just sharing my thoughts on the matter. There isn’t a corner on the market of being a tad bit frustrated with other’s opinions here….
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It is easy to feel frustrated when there is a continuous barage of similar type posts that feel like a nagging on one’s thoughtfully chosen beliefs as if when you hear the same thing over and over from different sources it will change your mind. Or is it just reinforcement and support for how the one commenter feels? Now I am not sure if it is offensive or defensive when people do that. That is what makes political discussions feel like warfare. It’s bringing in the troops and it happens on both sides.
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I thought Mumsee was going to say Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes.
I think Miss Bosley should run for office. Her slogan would be Feed the Cats!
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Just a little perspective on the “Never Trump” movement. It’s actually not a pergorative, but a movement within the Republican party .
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Trump_movement
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Never Trump Republicans (aka Never Trumpers) apparently feel politically homeless.
https://www.wpr.org/news/never-trump-republicans-rnc
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For the record, I don’t think less of anyone here whether they support Trump, Harris, RFK, or none of the above. We all have unique perspectives and must be able to respect each other even when we believe the other is being unwise.
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… That has been used in a derogatory and offensive tone here, unfortunately, so that’s what has become the problem.
When something becomes that offensive — and that issue has been pointed out — isn’t it best to leave it alone? (Though that is assuming a respectful discussion is still desired here, but perhaps it is not; I hope I’m wrong.)
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Taking offense is a choice. I have chosen not to when I reasonably might have. You must make your own decision. And we each live with those choices, for good or ill
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I do get NJ’s point and AJ’s that when people choose to not vote Republican that they are effectively putting their support in the pot with the other party and all its dastardly deeds. Their hearts and minds may not be aligned, but their votes are aligned with giving the Dems a win and supporting a long list of things they oppose. But each of our little votes,, unless you live in a swing state, don’t matter so much so there is no reason to get mad at each other over how people choose to vote.
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I had written that last night but forgot to hit the button to post. I had not read Debra’s comments when I posted. Good points, Debra.
So it seems to be the tone of the rhetoric and the blaming here that is the problem more than the “Never Trumper” general label. I get that, too. Blaming is never a good thing. It always leads back to Adam and Eve and the fall of mankind. We are all to blame for the mess. The world needs Jesus.
On the Friday Funnies there was one that had people holding up placards which said, “Never Trumpers for Trump.” Sometimes there are compelling reasons to change a person’s mind. I was, in the very beginning of it all, a Never Trumper in that first primary. I was putting my name in the pot for each of that long list of folks trying to be the Republican nominee instead of choosingTrump. In the end I felt compelled to vote for Trump as the Republican nominee. I could not go along with supporting the other side. That was my choice then and will be now unless something, by God’s will, changes.
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I’m politically independent, though I’ve often been registered as a Republican. I have never been registered as a Democrat, but over the years I have voted for Republicans, Democrats, and small independent parties. I also wrote in a candidate at least once or twice. The reason is that none of the parties are sufficiently aligned with my thinking and beliefs. At different points in time I have thought some issues more important than others, so my voting record reflects what I thought most important at the time. I have no faith at all in any party. None. So you see, in the truest sense of the term, I’m the one who’s always been politically “homeless”. It seems to be a new experience for some people.
I will say there has always been pressure from family and church friends to vote Republican—complete with scandalized gasps when I have declared that I’m voting for a Democrat (which is practically viewed as a vote for the devil). There have been lively debates with varying degrees of heat, but there is always the knowledge that we love each other and that allows us to all come together over the things that are eternally important. I guess I am fortunate that I have not been completely shunned for my errant voting record. :–)
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