So, this is what America has become?

Greetings ATS,

I want to start this post with the most genuine assertion this isn't aimed at desiring ass slapping from those that are like minded in the seeking of stars and flags on this site. In fact, this post is directed pointetly to those that would tend to disagree with me.

I would begin by describing Donald Trump as the most nauseating air winded, misogynistic narcissist that has ever held the office of POTUS and I would be correct. That said and this is what has always has been astounding to me and also, very challenging to explain to my children is that he is also the greatest POTUS of our lifetime.

It sounds counterintuitive on its face until you realize that the 2 things do not have to be mutually exclusive. You do not have to like somebody or even agree with them completely for them to be an effective leader, especially so when it comes to a country as diverse as the United States. The US is at a disadvantage culturally when it comes to economics simply because for instance........ If you live in Brazil, 95 percent of the population are Brazilian and can agree what is correct for Brazilians. That can be said for countless countries which makes policies much easier to decide on and allocate resources too. This is true for the majority of countries in the world.

Speaking of the United States on that front isn't as easy as we are much more diverse and policies, procedures and allocations of funds and resources have to be distributed in a way that at least on the face, seems fair to Americans on the whole. That last point though is really the crux of the conversation, America, as a whole. You see, it doesn't matter where you come from, what your nationality is from birth or what you identify as........
If you choose to come to this country then you should and must identify as an American and you should want a leader that puts Americans first.

Make no mistake, no one is telling you to forget your heritage, your national pride or your ethnicity, I think it's just the expectation that if you have legally immigrated to this country that you identify as American and what is best for our country, unilaterally. Sadly, I don't think these values and expectations have been met by those coming in, especially the ones en mass prompted by socialist aspects of our government as of late and I think it is a very directed attack against our sovereignty.

Donald Trump despite all his flaws, misspoken words, perfect calls and grabbing the occasional girl by her hoohaw put America first and I can promise one thing and I would challenge anyone to defy this.......... He made the best decisions, deals and ultimatums that made America better. Not being a politician and being in office is what America needs. Trump didn't need money, he didn't need power, he didn't need lobbyists and because of that, we got four years of the best decisions and president in our lifetime has ever made regarding our country and you and I, republican or democrat. Decisions to make America better.

Without being overly offensive nor trying to stir anything up, I would really like everyone on the left to think and I mean really think about the first year of the Biden administration.....

I am not going to use offensive suggestions nor even pick the low hanging fruit because that isn't the point of this thread. The point is that I want those that disagree with me usually, that hated Trump to think about what we have now and honestly contemplate what is or was worse. My own personal feelings being an independent is that America is in the worst shape it has been in since I have been alive in my 45 years on Earth. I feel our leadership is weak, divided and ineffectual and is a joke to other world leaders and my worst fear is that as we lose respect and standing on the world stage the petrodollar will be replaced by chinese money and all of the debt and the trillions we are casually doling out will result in the worst economic collapse in American history.

At the risk of disappointing you, I gave you a star and flag anyway.

The point is that I want those that disagree with me usually, that hated Trump to think about what we have now and honestly contemplate what is or was worse.

Good luck with that. As a foreigner who watches this # show of an US-government, the laughing stock in Europe even more than Trump even though the media is very gently on this current government. Not that Europe does any better...

However I did not see one of those Trump haters applying the same scrutinity towards Biden until now. Just meek tries at spinning the tables, like using discussion tactics many republicans used (snowflake), is now getting a taste among those. I bet it feels super satisfying just reusing dumb discussion tactics to score a point.

I mean, what do you expect from people that defend pedophile teachings to children? Turn on their handlers, skip a paycheck or even internally admit they were wrong here and there?

I don't expect it but I am curious to see who and especially, who is not touching this thread.

I didn't care for Trump as a personality. I thought he was boorish, tacky and a narcist. However, I never questioned his love of the country and his ability to make good decisions for America.

I agreed with him politically. That's it.

I didn't not vote for Trump because I liked him. I found his fumbling and mean tweets refreshing to be honest.

a reply to: Helious

Like you, I think Trump is a blowhard. Egotistical, loudmouth.

BUT.....he did great for the country. We were on track to have a great future. The economy was better, unemployment was down and our oil industry was booming. But the Dems decided to cheat him out of an election and install a senile fool they could control.
We are in trouble and it's only going to get worse with Biden and Harris at the controls.
One can't remember what day it is and the other just giggles when faced with a problem.

We have 3 more years of this. Stop and think about that.

I hope for a day where our government is full of people that don’t want to be in government. Kind of like a sophisticated jury duty with a 2yr term limit and regulations in what you can do after (like not serving on a corporation board of directors that you helped out).

We need to follow the constitution but we also need a new way of choosing the people that will run for government. Those that want power are not the ones we want in power.

originally posted by: Edumakated
I didn't care for Trump as a personality. I thought he was boorish, tacky and a narcist. However, I never questioned his love of the country and his ability to make good decisions for America.

I agreed with him politically. That's it.

I didn't not vote for Trump because I liked him. I found his fumbling and mean tweets refreshing to be honest.

Well then, you get it, exactly! Thing is, Biden doesn't have a personality, he is either yelling at you or whispering but you never get the feeling it's real.

Trump, love him or hate him had a personality, usually to a fault admittedly. Sure, there are plenty of Alpha males and Leos, myself included that love it but even then, the smartest understand that is not the speech nor behavior that most expect or want from a leader.

Thing is and this is the big one. One person was making decisions to improve life in our country for everyone, left, right, straight or LGBTQ+ and one is destroying the fabric of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights while driving us all into the most dangerous depression in the last 100 years.

originally posted by: AcrobaticDreams
I hope for a day where our government is full of people that don’t want to be in government. Kind of like a sophisticated jury duty with a 2yr term limit and regulations in what you can do after (like not serving on a corporation board of directors that you helped out).

We need to follow the constitution but we also need a new way of choosing the people that will run for government. Those that want power are not the ones we want in power.

This is the problem. Being a politician should not be a career.

The biggest issue is congress and senate. We need some term limits and we also need some significant restrictions on being able to jump into lobbying after serving.

Trump and Joe are a public target for a private mafia.
So are 2 parties.
The mafia might change to benefit the people it's designed to control.
Lol
Maybe the polarization can work for another 10 years until they figure out the scam?
Probably. People are gd stupid.

Share your cat pictures instantly, but we will re-present your votes on anything too complicated!
Lol

Politicians are a failed experiment.
Time to move on.

a reply to: Helious

I think Trump was not a good leader. But I do agree he was the best president we have had to date. I'd like to see more of his ideas and more of his ways of making those ideas happen in the future. His out of the box thinking worked well. And yes, biggest asshole ever. But as you said, he has always been that guy, some of us understand that. Some don't.

originally posted by: DAVID64
a reply to: Helious

Like you, I think Trump is a blowhard. Egotistical, loudmouth.

when you drill down to the left and get them to honestly answer the questions, their main opposition to him was his personality. So for all the fighting, bitching, pissing and moaning, we all actually agreed on that part of all this, but they wouldn't shut up long enough to listen.

originally posted by: network dude
a reply to: Helious

I think Trump was not a good leader. But I do agree he was the best president we have had to date. I'd like to see more of his ideas and more of his ways of making those ideas happen in the future. His out of the box thinking worked well. And yes, biggest asshole ever. But as you said, he has always been that guy, some of us understand that. Some don't.

I think Desantis would be excellent.

a reply to: Helious

You have only said what I have many times. Good leaders aren't always likeable people. Winston Churchill was an ass, but also a great man. And that's just one example.

I don't mind that Trump was an arrogant , blowhard loudmouth hurtful bastard .

What mattered was his ability to make good decisions for the USA .

What mattered was his strong spine on the international stage.

A country is not Governed through sentiment , it is governed through Logic , objective thought and a bit of honor.

Joe Biden could walk around flinging sh*t at the walls speaking gibberish for all I care so long as he makes good decisions for the USA , Problem is he's walking around flinging # at he walls speaking gibberish while making horrible decisions .

True leaders are troubled people they always have and will be , it takes so much self sacrifice to be a true leader .

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: Helious

You have only said what I have many times. Good leaders aren't always likeable people. Winston Churchill was an ass, but also a great man. And that's just one example.

Most people who climb to the top in entrepreneurship, business executives, sports, medicine or anything where you are the absolute top of the field are usually egostistical azzholes. They almost always have some sort of messed up personality trait.

Let's be honest. It takes a certain kind of ego to think you can be President.

originally posted by: Edumakated

originally posted by: network dude
a reply to: Helious

I think Trump was not a good leader. But I do agree he was the best president we have had to date. I'd like to see more of his ideas and more of his ways of making those ideas happen in the future. His out of the box thinking worked well. And yes, biggest asshole ever. But as you said, he has always been that guy, some of us understand that. Some don't.

I think Desantis would be excellent.

I agree. And I'd love for Trump to be an advisor. That would pump his ego up, and give us the ideas without the baggage. But maybe someone could find a way to get him back on twitter. The entertainment value on that was worth the price of admission.

a reply to: Edumakated

I identify to some extent. I got near the top athletically. I trained alongside Olympians and NCAA Champs. I never quite got to their level, but even getting there I can say you have to be bit broken and I never met anyone who wasn't.

I am not saying that in an entirely bad way but I am aware that my perspective and drive where certain things are concerned is ... skewed.

And you are also right - it gives you a ton of confidence.

originally posted by: Helious my worst fear is that as we lose respect and standing on the world stage the petrodollar will be replaced by chinese money and all of the debt and the trillions we are casually doling out will result in the worst economic collapse in American history.

This is exactly what the current administration wants. Some were warned but did not listen.

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: Edumakated

I identify to some extent. I got near the top athletically. I trained alongside Olympians and NCAA Champs. I never quite got to their level, but even getting there I can say you have to be bit broken and I never met anyone who wasn't.

I am not saying that in an entirely bad way but I am aware that my perspective and drive where certain things are concerned is ... skewed.

And you are also right - it gives you a ton of confidence.

Same here. I didn't have the same level of drive or competitiveness to win at all cost. I had some talent, but definitely needed some grooming to get me to the next level. I never got the grooming I needed.

Just having been around a lot of successful people, I just find most of them are really focused and have odd personalities. They have an ability to work tirelessly and often times at the detriment of their families and other things in their lives. I figured out a long time ago, I wasn't that driven.

It is like how you see executives who are in their 60s who have made tens of millions of dollars yet they still work. I'm always like WTF? Why are you working? Don't you have other things in your life? You've made enough money so that your great great grandkids would never need money..... you can have anything you want.. Yet, all you want to do is go grind away at some corporate job for 75 hours a week?

I was reading article about CEO of Chase, Jamie Dimon and if he was going to retire. The guy had cancer. Makes tens of millions. In his 60s. Dude, you made your mark! Sit your ass down and enjoy life! But these guys are so ego driven and focused they can't prioritize.

I figured out I didn't want to be on my death bed wishing I spent more time with my family or other things important to me. No one is on their death bed wishing they went to one more board meeting.

Trump gave the Federal Reserve more power than they could have ever asked for after lying to the public and saying he would end them.

Trump is a con artist used to con the "conspiracy theorists" who knew that Joe Biden was part of the sociopathic pedophile ring.

He's part of the same team.

All presidents are owned by the bankers. Trump is no different.

He created an apathetic group of pissed off gullible idiots to do absolutely nothing but empower the fed more.

Take as much of your money out of the banking system that you can and buy gold, silver, and bitcoin or you are brainwashed and part of the problem.