The Real timschochet

Thanks to all who died protecting the freedom of this great nation. Most of us will aways be grateful to you.

To answer your question: the reason I can’t believe it is because he was so vibrant and youthful and full of energy even at 71. Cancer is the worst. Also- you are by far the most annoying poster in this forum. And it’s not even especially close.

Thanks. I can’t keep up with all the right wing conspiracies.

Geddy Lee warned us about this long ago…

Rape trees??

It’s gotten to the point where I can watch any movie at home within seemingly 30 days of its release. Why bother to go see anything? I don’t really understand why Hollywood is doing this.

Back to the thread topic- will the issues of the border and undocumented immigration affect the outcome of the election? Maybe. But I still kind of doubt it. Here is my reasoning: Lets agree that more and more independents, and even liberals, are concerned about this topic and lean towards greater security at the border and prefer Trump over Biden on this issue. That still doesn’t make it a priority for them when it comes to voting. The polling that I’ve seen doesn’t suggest it is. If Biden loses this election it will be because of the economy, inflation, and Biden’s age, not because of the border. If Trump loses this election it will be because of fear for our democracy and abortion. These, not the border, nor foreign affairs, will be the deciding issues in November IMO.

Except that with regard to the “don’t commit crimes” part, many MAGA types will tell you that this includes the crime of coming here illegally which makes them all criminals already. I must have heard this argument made a million times, though I don’t know if @Voltaire agrees.

Look I’m not trying to argue with you on these issues (though I very much disagree). All I’m saying is that they’re not libertarian. And that if you hold them you can’t really say you’re “mostly” libertarian because these particular issues go to the heart of libertarianism.

Never mind I found it, John 15:18. Except that you’re right, he took it out of context.

I’m curious about this. I’m not a Christian but I’ve read various things that Jesus said per the Gospels and this doesn’t really sound like Him. Then again maybe I missed it. Where exactly is this in Scripture?

It makes you a nationalist conservative. Not a libertarian. Nothing wrong with that. Correction: even a libertarian can believe in secure borders and fair trade. But if you want to limit immigration and deport all the undocumented people, and if you want to attempt to enforce free trade through tariffs, then you move away from libertarianism towards nationalism. Again, nothing wrong with that except that IMO your ideas are bad for this country.

I agree with you as a general rule but there ARE core values in each political movement and this is one of them. For example, you couldn’t identify as an economic conservative and at the same time be for higher taxes and big government spending. Immigration and free trade are central libertarian ideas

No you’re not. Your views on trade and immigration are inconsistent with libertarian values (small l). You can call yourself one if you like but it’s not a correct definition.

Libertarian views can’t “shift”, if they do they’re no longer libertarians, no matter what they call themselves. The traditional libertarian stance is to be for greater immigration both documented and undocumented. Trump is for neither. Most people, including libertarians, would prefer if our foreign trading partners would treat us as fairly as we’ve treated them in the past. I would prefer this too. The question is what to do when they don’t. The traditional libertarian position is to continue to have free trade on our end because it ultimately benefits us anyhow. Trump’s position is to use tariffs to try to force our partners to trade fairly, or to “protect” our own industries from what he regards as unfair competition. Thats contradictory to the libertarian view.

I think this is a pretty good definition. But it contradicts a lot of Trump policies wouldn’t you say? Particularly on trade and immigration.

Biden is losing right now. If the election were held today, Biden would likely be defeated. But it’s not 6 points and you’re getting awfully overconfident. This is a going to be a very close race, down to the wire either way. My theory of the race is pretty much unchanged: that at some point between now and October, most likely right after Labor Day, two things will happen: first independent voters will decide that it’s a binary choice, will shudder at the possibility of a return of Trump, and will swing decisively for Biden. Second, disaffected liberals will return to the fold, hold their noses and vote for Joe. And these two effects will give Biden the edge, at least in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and give Biden the victory. Am I sure this is going to happen? Less so than I was a few months ago, but I still think the odds are good, well over 50%. We’ll see.

It’s irrational to be a libertarian and at the same time a supporter of Donald Trump. Trump’s views on trade, immigration and nationalism alone are contrary to the core values of libertarianism.

Unfortunately it isn’t.

I know this has always been your opinion. I disagree, but it depends on the pollster and the question being asked.

Really not an either-or. Putting aside all other issues, the aid we give Ukraine, which is mostly money sent to our own industries, is a boon to our economy. Mass deportations would be a major detriment, as well as making the Ukraine spending look like pennies on the dollar.

So here’s another way I don’t believe the polls: the ones that suggest that if Trump is found guilty in New York, he will lose up to 20% of his support among conservatives and independents. First off there’s a big difference in attitudes before something happens and after. My hunch (and that’s all it is) is that most people are indifferent to the results of this trial. Conservatives who support Trump think it’s all a sham anyhow and a guilty verdict isn’t going to change their minds. Independents mostly don’t care. MAYBE the onus of “convicted felon” might convince a few independents to change their mind and MAYBE that will be enough to make a difference in November. But I doubt it.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/29/harsh-deportation-tools-are-just-fine-with-many-americans/ The same poll showed that Americans preferred a path to citizenship to mass deportation, 68% to 31%. This is all theoretical because mass deportation is never going to happen. We’re not going to spend the resources to do this whatever Trump promises. But even so I believe that Americans would never put up with it anyhow whatever the polls suggest. In the end we’re not that kind of country.

I don’t believe it. I’ve read polls like that but I don’t believe the public would ever put up with it. We’re not that kind of society. We don’t do sh!t like that.

What corner? I’ve answered every question here including those of @Cdub100, And it’s impossible for me to move the goalposts by bringing up his Jew hatred. He expresses it in every post. You, among others, seem OK with it.