The Trump presidency

[CrabbedOne]

Wow. Fuck the working class. What a strategy.

Works pretty well Stateside. The association of lower decile labor labour to being exploited 19th century slaves is sticky. Thanks to their crazed healthcare arrangements even comfortably professional Americans are dependent on their employers in a way Europeans are not. It's plagued by far too many predatory lawyers. I quite like it but it's a land of the differently free.

 

[UrbaneFox]

It's a terrible business when one finds oneself agreeing with George W Bush.

 

[CRI]

If you look at the left in the US, it has often made progress through liberal churches. It gives me hope that they're pushing back against this notion that Republicans somehow own Christianity. That there are a large group of Christians ready to vote their liberal faith. Like it or not, religion is relevant in the US.

I'd love to see this. Back in the early 80's, there were several more liberal faith groups in cities and college campuses that were involved in the Sanctuary movement. Then, it was mainly undocumented people from the civil wars in central America.

I seem to recall it was about that time that the "Moral Majority" became a thing, and fundamentalist Christian churches did start declaring a monopoly on Christianity and ethics. I'd love to see a fightback. #WWJD

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

It's a terrible business when one finds oneself agreeing with George W Bush.

Even a blind squirrel gets a nut now and then.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Even a blind squirrel gets a nut now and then.

Bush must be really happy: Trump is making Bush look like a thoughtful statesman in comparison.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

I seem to recall it was about that time that the "Moral Majority" became a thing, and fundamentalist Christian churches did start declaring a monopoly on Christianity and ethics. I'd love to see a fightback. #WWJD

I was a student in the 70s and 80s when Billy Graham was doing his crusades. It seemed to me that it was the merger of church and corporation. They turned far-right religion into big business and introduced the idea that to be a good Christian you had to be a good consumer.

What developed from there, is this idea called "Prosperity Theology." It provides a superior moral justification for hating on people lower down on the economic ladder. Its a repackaged social Darwinism. This has been corrosive to our entire culture.

I'd go so far as to say that we aren't going to make progress on major social issues until we reclaim religion from the right and answer their ideas with a more left-leaning take on the bible.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

I was a student in the 70s and 80s when Billy Graham was doing his crusades. It seemed to me that it was the merger of church and corporation. They turned far-right religion into big business and introduced the idea that to be a good Christian you had to be a good consumer.

You're also right, though, that back then, there was also a convergence of certain churches, religious leaders etc., with the anti-war, anti-establishment movements.

Berrigan brothers facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Berrigan brothers

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Bush must be really happy: Trump is making Bush look like a thoughtful statesman in comparison.

It's sad because it's true.

 

[CRI]

I was a student in the 70s and 80s when Billy Graham was doing his crusades. It seemed to me that it was the merger of church and corporation. They turned far-right religion into big business and introduced the idea that to be a good Christian you had to be a good consumer.

What developed is this idea called "Prosperity Theology." It provides a superior moral justification for hating on people lower down on the economic ladder. This has been corrosive to our entire culture.

I'd go so far as to say that we aren't going to make progress on major social issues until we reclaim religion from the right and answer their ideas with a more left-leaning take on the bible.

We didn't have cable out in the sticks, but it was about that time I think you started to get things like 700 Club, PTL and that preacher who wanted to build the Crystal Cathedral. I'd been to some pretty wack-out revival meetings and the odd charismatic church service, but these TV preachers were weirder, more sinister. My dad was a postman then and was disgusted at how many poor people send gobs of money to them (most people used postal orders then, so he knew.) Even when the TV preachers got caught in financial or sex scandals, it didn't seem to make a difference.

I get the sense the TV preachers may no longer be such a big deal, but that "Prosperity Theology" has trickled down to local churches and communities. I hope you are right, but do you think there is a real chance of peeling these people away from this toxic, self-serving brand of Christianity?

 

[petee]

Even when the TV preachers got caught in financial or sex scandals, it didn't seem to make a difference.

letterman: "if god was really talking to him, you'd think he'd tell him to lay off the hookers."

 

[CRI]

I keep seeing "think pieces" about white working class people who supported Trump, including ones who still back him even when it's likely to harm them personally (e.g. Likely deportation of the "pillar of the community" in West Frankfort, Florida woman who'll die with ACA and doesn't believe Trump will really get rid of it, etc.)

I'd like to see more like this one. In poor Black Belt region, both fears and prayers over Trump - people who'll be impacted the most by Trump's policies, didn't vote for him, didn't vote or were discouraged/prevented from voting. This is where Democrats need to be targeting their efforts. They're already more predisposed to voting Democrat by a long shot, and there won't be a need to compromise by sliding into centre/right policy stances (e.g. ban abortion, crack down on immigration, lower taxes, cut public services, spend more on the military, etc.) to bring them on board.

Sometimes, I think people forget that the "working class" isn't just the "white working class."

 

[CRI]

letterman: "if god was really talking to him, you'd think he'd tell him to lay off the hookers."

Was that Jim Baker or Jimmy Swaggert? I forget what they look like now!

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Jim and Tammy Faye:

 

[CRI]

Jim and Tammy Faye:

Oh God, I remember her eyes.

 

[not-bono-ever]

On Farsnews Iran's Ahmadinejad Throws Weight Behind Trump's Tough Stance against Washington's Political Elites, Media
Well it's good to know Trump has at least one fan in Teheran. Former President Ahmadinejad is really impressed with Trumpski's honesty about the miserable condition of the American people and abject state of America's place in world.

Your Excellency Donald Trump: Making The Great Satan Great Again!

Given Chumps tendancy to back down or change direction when serious politicians get involved- One China for eg- this is a smart move by Ahmadinjad

 

[not-bono-ever]

Chump does seem to be easily swayed by smart people- how the fuck did he get the reputation as a dealmeker ?

 

[Treacle Toes]

We never win anymore, win, win, win, we have to win.

Word Salad. They are going to straighten it out apparently.

 

[J Ed]

George W Bush is back baby and he's good again

 

[8den]

We never win anymore, win, win, win, we have to win.

Word Salad. They are going to straighten it out apparently.

Yeah Dissing the American Military. They love that (Who are we fucking kidding doesn't matter)

 

[not-bono-ever]

Jim and Tammy Faye:

She used to cry all the time, the mascara running for maximum showbiz effect. Scarey

 

[teqniq]

Chump does seem to be easily swayed by smart people- how the fuck did he get the reputation as a dealmeker ?

He was born into wealth and power though and he hasn't done a particularly brilliant job with what was left to him either, it's all bullshit and hype.

 

[Treacle Toes]

George W Bush is back baby and he's good again

I saw that. The only way I can sleep tonight is to believe that is a programmed clone sent to confuse us.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

She used to cry all the time, the mascara running for maximum showbiz effect. Scarey

She was better on The Surreal Life. Here she is dancing with Ron Jeremy:

 

[Ming]

She was better on The Surreal Life. Here she is dancing with Ron Jeremy:

That's...(hard to express) two worlds colliding which are not as different as they at first appear.

 

[Nylock]

Jim and Tammy Faye:

 

[teqniq]

And the lyric from 'Dumb all over' by Zappa "...And when his humble TV servant with humble white hair And humble glasses and a nice brown suit and maybe a blonde wife who takes phone calls...".

 

[CRI]

She used to cry all the time, the mascara running for maximum showbiz effect. Scarey

Namechecked here . . .

 

[CRI]

'Plan A Protest, Lose Your House' Bill, SB 1142, Killed by Arizona House

A federal district court has ruled that a school district must allow transgender students use a bathroom matching their gender identity.

Some good news at least.

 

[Ming]

One of my all time fav bands. Got the hoodie and everything. Saw them on the last tour (brutal mosh pit).

 

[teqniq]

Robert Mercer: the big data billionaire waging war on mainstream media