Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/22/2015 5:25:32 PM

Watched Jimmy Carter's announcement and discussion of his cancer and then tuned into to watch Donald Trump's stump speech in Mobile yesterday.     The contrast in personalities couldn't be stronger, could it?   Carter impressed me greatly, again.  He is thoughtful, compassionate, humble and intellectually honest.   Fundamentally, he is what I would want in a US leader... a Statesman-like approach, well reasoned, with the ability to competently assess complex issues and give coherent, relevent responses.   He values peace, reason, and compassion toward his fellow man.  

Trump's presentation is amazingly simple and empty of any substance we should be looking for in a President, completely opposite of Carter's personality.     He has a remarkable ability to perform on stage, and does it while completely avoiding meaningful statements or indepth policy positions.   He is a TV star who is blowing the others off the stage because he looks so comfortable in front of a camera, not because he has decent leadership skills.   He doesn't mind being a bully, in fact, he thinks that his insults are clever and will endear him to his supporters.   And he appears to be right about that.

Looks like possibly 20,000 people turned out for his rally in Mobile.   Jeff Sessions may (or may not) have endorsed him on the stage, and he is going to try to make states like Alabama his foundation for electoral votes.     Most commentators have expected him to flame out before now, but he is gaining ground.   The fact that he isn't being held to account for his insults is just testimony that the US public would rather be entertained than choose a competent, statesman-like Commander in Chief.   

I am amazed, but honestly... very worried what this means about the US voting public.   At least this segment of the voting public is embracing a hostile, angry and arrogant point of view that... if he was elected to office... would be devastating to US Domestic and International relations.    

Like the song says "I know what I was feelin', but what was I thinkin'?"   US voters should be more thoughtful about their choices, and not just endorsing a candidate because he is saying in public the same things they are shouting at their TV sets after a few beers.   

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/22/2015 6:53:44 PM

What does Trump mean by what?

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/22/2015 7:13:28 PM

He doesnt have a clue. He just likes to hear himself talk, or in this case his keyboard clacking. But let's not upset him too much. With archie actually making some reasonable posts lately and GF beeing GF, he is the only true libtard we have posting these days. In the last few days he has come out in favor of total capitulation to Iran by obama and bragging about what a statesman Jimmy Carter is. Proof enough for me he should be in a padded room somewhere.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/22/2015 8:52:29 PM

I think Jimmy Carter has always been more of a stateman than anything else.  He certainly has done more as an EX president than any of the others.  I think he is a real gentleman.

As for Trump, I maintain  that his popularity is because he is the anti-politician.  People believe he says what he means and that appeals to them.  He has the GOP in a tizzy because they are afraid that their constituates will expect something similar from them.  It's so early in the cycle, I don't think he has a meaning beyond that. 

Name:	HARRY -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/22/2015 8:58:49 PM

Have you forgotten what a disaster Carter's presidency was. A guy with Carter's compassion can not be an effective leader in today's. Didn't work then.....won't work now.

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/22/2015 9:09:19 PM

I hope you're right, but what he is tapping into is our mean streak... hey, this is George Wallace country!   We have a history of gravitating toward guys like Trump.     And this is really showing the outlines of the divide in the Republican Party, so Trump may mean changes are coming there, too.  

BTW, I do come to the forum these days to talk.   Why else do it?

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/22/2015 9:19:33 PM

I remember them to be bad economic times, but don't hold Carter responsible for all that...he wasn't in office long enough to effect significant economic changes, and had to inherit what he got.   The oil embargo & interest rates were having knock on effects to the economy.    He made peace between the Egyptians and Isrealis, pushed domestic energy independence policies, and had to contend with the spill over of the Iranian Revolution into US politics.   It was a bad time to be President, and I guess I give him extra points for being a peace-nik.    

Name:	HARRY -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/22/2015 10:01:04 PM

Fair enough but I still think he was too soft to be president.

Name:	FatOldGuy -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/23/2015 9:18:23 AM

NON-THINKING voters are how we got stuck with oBAMa for 8 years........

Jimmy Carter was ineffective,weak,slow and didn't accomplish anything .He had 4 years to do something.He failed.I do not believe he was malacious,just ineffective.

His so called "statesmanship" since he left office has the DISTINCT look of meddling in foreign affairs.He has NO AUTHORITY to contact foreign governments in ANY CAPACITY other than as a private citizen.A case could be made that some of his actions are criminal.

His "peace making" efforts in the middle East lasted how long??? "Not very" is the correct answer (same results as everyone else who claims to have ended 2000 years of brutal and senseless butchery in the region -----it  ain't gonna happen,folks)

 As much as I dislike Jimmah Cawta I would not wish cancer on anyone.I hope his treatments are affective.

   regards......................

        FOG

Name:	hounddog -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/23/2015 11:31:01 AM (updated 8/23/2015 11:32:13 AM)

An awful lot of firmly entrenched people made sure President Carter would not be able to accomplish much during his term .

But it takes at least a little bit of intelligence to see things as they are or were as the case may be . 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	What does Trump mean?
Date:	8/23/2015 11:56:47 AM

You mean those entrenched democrats that controlled both houses of congress and a majority of state legislatures? I'll admit I was a youngster then but I dont remember it quite like that. I remember a totally inept POTUS who we now find out thinks just one more hellicopter would have changed his legacy of failure. I'm not buying into the revisionist history. At least Obama has moved him up the ladder one rung. 

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Speaking of Jimmy Carter
Date:	8/23/2015 12:56:45 PM (updated 8/23/2015 1:01:45 PM)

He did not have a very successful run in the White House:

He failed to move many of his initiatves through a congress where liberals held him in contempt...he was a peanut farmer from the south after all.  Inflation, which began under Nixion and caused mainly by the spike in oil prices after the Six Day and Yom Kippur wars and reinforced by the Iranian Revolution, continued and worsened.  Near the end of his administration the economy turned down.  And of course the Iranian hostage crisis.

But there are some facts many do not remember or selectively forget:

There were more new jobs created per year during the Carter years (and we are talking real numbers rather than percentages here when we a population and work force only 2/3ds of todays) than for either Reagan or Clinton.  Carter restored much of the respect for the US that had been lost during the Johnson and Nixon years.  He appointed Paul Volker as Fed Chief who began to rein in the inflation.  Incomes grew faster than pretty much anytime before or since.  New defence programs including the build up of submarine forces and development of stealth aircraft were begun during the Carter years.  The Mid east Carter peace and diplomatic recognition treaties were between Israel and egypt and Israel and Jordan and they still survive today inspite of the rest of the area being a basket case.  When Carter left office we had the smallest budget deficit in real dollars and / or percentage seen in decades and which would not be seen again until the 2d Clinton admisistration.

Perhaps with hindsight history will treat President Carter more kindly than this forum.  Regardless, this man is likely as good a human being as any of us will see in our lifetime.

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Furthermore
Date:	8/23/2015 1:06:01 PM

I don't know about anybody else on this forum, but if forced to choose today between a Jimmy Carter and a Donald Trump I would have no problem in making my selection!

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Furthermore
Date:	8/23/2015 1:23:43 PM

I remember his famous "misery index" he invented. A combination of the unemployment and inflation rates. I also remember that after his four years in office it had nearly doubled. Of course our current pospotus has as different method. When the numbers don't favor him they just change the way they are calculated i.e. removing food and fuel from the inflation calculas. 

Here's the question I want to see put to the republican contentenders, if Trump becomes the nominee will you support him? Everyone asks trump if he will support the nominee, but it looks more and more like he just may be the nominee.

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Furthermore
Date:	8/23/2015 1:49:23 PM

I like your 2d paragraph!!

As for the first...the last inflation report I heard included in the bottom line number the cost of fuel and food with a 2nd number stating inflation (or lack thereof) with the "volitile" fuel and food costs removed.  As I recall this has been the way it has been presented through Democratic and Republican adminsitrations at least since the price of oil became "volitile" in the late 60's.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Furthermore
Date:	8/23/2015 3:26:40 PM

Anyone who believes that Obama Administration is the first/only administration to manipulate statistics is truly a fool.  And anyone who believes they know how any administration has manipulated the data is a damn fool.  Congress also manipulates data.  And really, at the end of the day, what do all the numbers mean?  Things are as they are, and much too complex for any one President to control it and it won't matter who is in the WH. We have the global economy that we deserve. 

As far as Carter goes, I was in HS when he was President.  Historians will judge his Presidency, but I think what he has done since he has left the WH is admirable.  He works with Habitat for Humanity, he has done a great deal to further human rights in other countries, he has virtually eliminated the Guinea Worm, which caused so much illness.  I admire the courage with which he is facing his illness. 

Name:	waterph -	Reply
Subject:	Furthermore
Date:	8/24/2015 7:08:44 AM (updated 8/24/2015 7:09:46 AM)

I was not in HS but living in Carter's world.

> Home Mtg. rates, 18% to 20%

> Panama Canal, GONE

> Military, WEAK

> Refused the Shah of Iran medical treatment in this country

> Did nothing to stop the Ayatollah K's return to Iran from Paris

> Hostages released only when Reagan came to office

Only President worse than Carter, Obama

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Furthermore
Date:	8/24/2015 9:14:22 AM

If you recall, the hostages were released immediately following Reagans inaugural, so I don't think you can say that Reagan had anything to do with it.  The only thing I will fault Carter for was not acting swiftly enough to get our workers out of Iran before the Embassy was taken.  You must also keep in mind where the country was at Carter's time - The nation was still reeling over Watergate and Nixon.  Ford did what he could, but he was in there only such a short time.  People wanted change - Just like when Obama was elected following the disasterous Bush 2nd term; and just like when Bush was elected following the scandalous Clinton 2nd term.  There is no doubt in my mind that our next President will be a Republican, because like all the other cycles, people want change again. 

When I bought my first house in 1980, the interest rates were going up daily.  Banks would not lock into an interest rate until the day of the closing.  I had a 15 1/2 percent loan and was glad that I did, because the next day, they went to 16 1/2.  I still have an interest rate book kicking around that starts at 8%.  But, keep in mind that although the mortgage rates were high, so were the interest rates on CDs.  I had one that was paying 16%.