"A Nation Divided, Sports United" ~ The Equality & Other Issues Thread

[theman]

Most of my conservative 'friends' who essentially say 'not all republicans' conveniently don't know any of these people and how empowered they were during the election. It's either pure ignorance or the conservative media doing a great job hiding this crap from their people.

It is sad how unwilling people are to really learn this stuff.

Was Jeremiah Wright empowered during the 2008 election?

[OFWGKTA]

If you don't know who Spencer, Yiannopoulos, Akkad, etc are, you may not be well informed regarding the political landscape.

Perhaps I am not. But I would think they would occasionally be mentioned. Yinadapolopus isn't even an American so I'm not sure how influential he is.

But it reminds me of, one moment while I look the guy up, ... not Art Bell, ... Alex Jones. I would have no idea who the guy is if the left didn't bring him up. And for the record, he is not a conservative, just a nut job.

This is not an insult, but you really are ignorant:


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-alex-jones-calls-phone-advice-infowars-conspiracy-theorist-far-right-sandy-hook-a7595136.html

[DarkAzcura]

Most of my conservative 'friends' who essentially say 'not all republicans' conveniently don't know any of these people and how empowered they were during the election. It's either pure ignorance or the conservative media doing a great job hiding this crap from their people.

It is sad how unwilling people are to really learn this stuff.

Was Jeremiah Wright empowered during the 2008 election?

Did Wright or anyone with his views get added to Obama's cabinet?

No?

Then stop with the false equivalency stuff you have been going on about the last few posts. You are indirectly trying to turn this into 'both sides are just as bad.' This isn't both sides. Sorry if that bums you out, but it's true. You might not specifically hold alt-right views yourself (which I would argue you do considering that affirmative action nonsense from earlier), but if you continue to defend them, you are just as bad.

[sully00]

It is the democrat that push for affirmative action, something that at its very core is racist. Democrats also seem far quicker to shout down anyone with an opposing few point. Look at all the speaker who have been forced off college campuses because a few people disagree with what they say.

In fact, your words are quite prejudicial.

It is fair to dislike affirmative action but is disingenuous and dismissive to call it racist, just like it wrong to generalize that all people are racist. It gives cover to those that deserve to be exposed for their thoughts and actions. Affirmative action was intended to create opportunity to demographic groups who where under represented by the status quo. Its intent was not discriminate against anyone even if wish to argue that was the end result. I agree to an extent it was a band aid solution and the inequity in the education provided to those demographic groups is what should be addressed.

You are applying a political party to protests and outrage against peddlers of a racism and hate. I find that horribly damning of republicans and conservatives in this country, I think many of them are equally outraged by the KKK and Neo Nazis. Are you saying all Republicans stand with Ann Coulter, Richard Spencer, and David Duke? The First Amendment does not give anyone the right to speak on a college campus or anywhere else, it protects the citizens of this country from its government passing laws that would somehow impede on that ability. In other words the government cannot make a law that says you can't talk about racism on a college campus. Nor can it make a law that stops the students on that campus from showing up and shouting down that talk and urging the speaker to go the hell away as long as it is done peacefully.

[theman]

If you don't know who Spencer, Yiannopoulos, Akkad, etc are, you may not be well informed regarding the political landscape.

Perhaps I am not. But I would think they would occasionally be mentioned. Yinadapolopus isn't even an American so I'm not sure how influential he is.

But it reminds me of, one moment while I look the guy up, ... not Art Bell, ... Alex Jones. I would have no idea who the guy is if the left didn't bring him up. And for the record, he is not a conservative, just a nut job.

This is not an insult, but you really are ignorant:


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-alex-jones-calls-phone-advice-infowars-conspiracy-theorist-far-right-sandy-hook-a7595136.html

I know Alex Jones is a nut job. Hell, Donald Trump is a nut job. Unfortunately, he was running against someone with brain damage, who also favoured bad policy.

[OFWGKTA]

Perhaps I am not. But I would think they would occasionally be mentioned. Yinadapolopus isn't even an American so I'm not sure how influential he is.

But it reminds me of, one moment while I look the guy up, ... not Art Bell, ... Alex Jones. I would have no idea who the guy is if the left didn't bring him up. And for the record, he is not a conservative, just a nut job.

This is not an insult, but you really are ignorant:


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-alex-jones-calls-phone-advice-infowars-conspiracy-theorist-far-right-sandy-hook-a7595136.html

I know Alex Jones is a nut job. Hell, Donald Trump is a nut job. Unfortunately, he was running against someone with brain damage, who also favoured bad policy.

Could you name some people you do support then? And how do you rationalize giving a, in your words, "nut job" the nuclear codes?

[theman]

It is the democrat that push for affirmative action, something that at its very core is racist. Democrats also seem far quicker to shout down anyone with an opposing few point. Look at all the speaker who have been forced off college campuses because a few people disagree with what they say.

In fact, your words are quite prejudicial.

It is fair to dislike affirmative action but is disingenuous and dismissive to call it racist, just like it wrong to generalize that all people are racist. It gives cover to those that deserve to be exposed for their thoughts and actions. Affirmative action was intended to create opportunity to demographic groups who where under represented by the status quo. Its intent was not discriminate against anyone even if wish to argue that was the end result. I agree to an extent it was a band aid solution and the inequity in the education provided to those demographic groups is what should be addressed.

Affirmative Action could have easily (still can) be tweeked to make it not racist. But as it stands it is. Why not make it based on economics? Why should Bill Cosby's kids be given privilege over some poor white kid from Appalachia?

[theman]

This is not an insult, but you really are ignorant:


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-alex-jones-calls-phone-advice-infowars-conspiracy-theorist-far-right-sandy-hook-a7595136.html

I know Alex Jones is a nut job. Hell, Donald Trump is a nut job. Unfortunately, he was running against someone with brain damage, who also favoured bad policy.

Could you name some people you do support then? And how do you rationalize giving a, in your words, "nut job" the nuclear codes?

For president, this election cycle I preferred Bernie to Hillary, some how the Socialist came off as more conservative. On the Republican side I preferred John Kasich, during the debates he was the only adult in the room. He also help Newt Gingrich balance the budget.

I can't remember his name but I voted for the gay man for Congress a couple years back.

Back in the day I preferred Jack Kemp.

I will be voting for Jeff Dehl over the fake Indian. I supported Steve Lynch for kerry's open senate seat.

My argument for trump over hillary was a simple one. The damage trump will do will be shorter lived than the damage hillary will do. Trump is like the drunk uncle at a party. He will be embarrassing but sober (and gone) in the morning. Hillary on the other hand is the gambling addict who will continue to take out loans to cover past loses.

And neither nut job is dropping a nuke.

Can you justify giving the nuclear codes to someone who admits to having brain damage?

[jfs1000d]

I know Alex Jones is a nut job. Hell, Donald Trump is a nut job. Unfortunately, he was running against someone with brain damage, who also favoured bad policy.

Could you name some people you do support then? And how do you rationalize giving a, in your words, "nut job" the nuclear codes?

For president, this election cycle I preferred Bernie to Hillary, some how the Socialist came off as more conservative. On the Republican side I preferred John Kasich, during the debates he was the only adult in the room. He also help Newt Gingrich balance the budget.

I can't remember his name but I voted for the gay man for Congress a couple years back.

Back in the day I preferred Jack Kemp.

I will be voting for Jeff Dehl over the fake Indian. I supported Steve Lynch for kerry's open senate seat.

My argument for trump over hillary was a simple one. The damage trump will do will be shorter lived than the damage hillary will do. Trump is like the drunk uncle at a party. He will be embarrassing but sober (and gone) in the morning. Hillary on the other hand is the gambling addict who will continue to take out loans to cover past loses.

And neither nut job is dropping a nuke.

Can you justify giving the nuclear codes to someone who admits to having brain damage?

I get people rationalizing. As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this. Hillary would have been fine, flawed in many ways and imperfect, but clearly competent. I am not arguing policies. the man in the white house is not talented enough for the job and doesn't have the raw talent to do the job. People thought you were getting a businessman CEO, and that's what Rex Tillerson or even Mitt romney would have been. This guy, no Board of Directors would ever put him in charge of a public company. He's all marketing and branding. That's it.

I feel bad because many people voted for him and his promises, and he hasn't done anything and has no agenda for them. I find that miserable people like him because he makes people who are happy and content in their life upset.

I think his greatest strength is his spite. People vote for him out of spite. I blame the media and the do nothing congress for allowing this guy breathing room even to be taken semi seriously.

[theman]

I get people rationalizing. As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this. Hillary would have been fine, flawed in many ways and imperfect, but clearly competent. I am not arguing policies. the man in the white house is not talented enough for the job and doesn't have the raw talent to do the job. People thought you were getting a businessman CEO, and that's what Rex Tillerson or even Mitt romney would have been. This guy, no Board of Directors would ever put him in charge of a public company. He's all marketing and branding. That's it.

I feel bad because many people voted for him and his promises, and he hasn't done anything and has no agenda for them. I find that miserable people like him because he makes people who are happy and content in their life upset.

I think his greatest strength is his spite. People vote for him out of spite. I blame the media and the do nothing congress for allowing this guy breathing room even to be taken semi seriously.

You should blame the democrat party. For years the democrat party line was "White Men are evil". White men heard that and voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Small business owners voted for against hillary because her tax policy was going to cost them money. They did not vote for trump's promises but against hillary's. I doubt many people were fooled. Deep down trump is still a democrat.

I am sorry but I can't find a video now. But Hillary was asked if she would increase capital gains tax even if studies showed that doing so leads to lower revenues. And she said yes. Apparently, punishing people for being successful is more important than generating revenue.

This is also woman who gave billions of tax payer dollars to Wall Street companies. And like it or not trump is a successful business man.

As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this.

Typical tactic of the left to insult people who disagree with them. I am sane. I did not make a mistake. Furthermore, I don't need to be lectured to by someone who only graduated from high school because he can shoot a basketball.

[canman1971]

LeBron. Good lord. This thread turned to turds pretty quick if we are quoting that bozo.

[truth18]

LeBron. Good lord. This thread turned to turds pretty quick if we are quoting that bozo.

I doubt it. Lebron is actually pretty great with social issues.

On a separate note:

This thread is showing why we are the best board on here. Lots of intelligent and productive discussion on here and for the most part everyone has been quite respectful to one another.

As someone who would respond (but never bring up on my own) to posts about social or political issues on here but never wanted a "politics thread" as Andrew calls it, I think we have a lot to be proud of here.

[truth18]

I get people rationalizing. As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this. Hillary would have been fine, flawed in many ways and imperfect, but clearly competent. I am not arguing policies. the man in the white house is not talented enough for the job and doesn't have the raw talent to do the job. People thought you were getting a businessman CEO, and that's what Rex Tillerson or even Mitt romney would have been. This guy, no Board of Directors would ever put him in charge of a public company. He's all marketing and branding. That's it.

I feel bad because many people voted for him and his promises, and he hasn't done anything and has no agenda for them. I find that miserable people like him because he makes people who are happy and content in their life upset.

I think his greatest strength is his spite. People vote for him out of spite. I blame the media and the do nothing congress for allowing this guy breathing room even to be taken semi seriously.

This is also woman who gave billions of tax payer dollars to Wall Street companies. And like it or not trump is a successful business man.

Trump was not a successful business man, quite the opposite.

He was an extremely successful reality star and I suppose you could call his political venture a technical success, but he was a poor business man with a host of failed ventures that consistently brought him to bankruptcy.

You have to get the details right or you risk your entire argument being intellectually dishonest.

[jfs1000d]

I get people rationalizing. As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this. Hillary would have been fine, flawed in many ways and imperfect, but clearly competent. I am not arguing policies. the man in the white house is not talented enough for the job and doesn't have the raw talent to do the job. People thought you were getting a businessman CEO, and that's what Rex Tillerson or even Mitt romney would have been. This guy, no Board of Directors would ever put him in charge of a public company. He's all marketing and branding. That's it.

I feel bad because many people voted for him and his promises, and he hasn't done anything and has no agenda for them. I find that miserable people like him because he makes people who are happy and content in their life upset.

I think his greatest strength is his spite. People vote for him out of spite. I blame the media and the do nothing congress for allowing this guy breathing room even to be taken semi seriously.

You should blame the democrat party. For years the democrat party line was "White Men are evil". White men heard that and voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Small business owners voted for against hillary because her tax policy was going to cost them money. They did not vote for trump's promises but against hillary's. I doubt many people were fooled. Deep down trump is still a democrat.

I am sorry but I can't find a video now. But Hillary was asked if she would increase capital gains tax even if studies showed that doing so leads to lower revenues. And she said yes. Apparently, punishing people for being successful is more important than generating revenue.

This is also woman who gave billions of tax payer dollars to Wall Street companies. And like it or not trump is a successful business man.

As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this.

Typical tactic of the left to insult people who disagree with them. I am sane. I did not make a mistake. Furthermore, I don't need to be lectured to by someone who only graduated from high school because he can shoot a basketball.

You made a mistake if you voted for trump. It happens. Own it.

Nothing good is going to come out of electing this type of populist.

And, Hillary and the Dem party is absolutely to blame for not giving voters a reason to vote for them in the rust belt. You have to give a positive vision to vote for. The election of Trump is a failure of Clinton and the Democratic party. they thought they could abandon the white working class, not even pay lip service, and it didn't work.

I am not mad. This isn't complaints about policy. He is wildly entertaining and good for the Dem party politically because he can't get anything done, has put the house and Senate in jeopardy, and is probably destroyed the Reagan revolution.

We are in a new normal. I actually really don't care.

[jfs1000d]

Guys, Trump is wealthy, he has done it through marketing and branding. He is in real estate, which is probably the one area of business that is brass knuckles fighting. The guy is tough. But, his branding is better than his results. No one takes him seriously in the business community. There are now 500 fortune 500 CEOs who think they can be a better president than him.

[truth18]

Could you name some people you do support then? And how do you rationalize giving a, in your words, "nut job" the nuclear codes?

For president, this election cycle I preferred Bernie to Hillary, some how the Socialist came off as more conservative. On the Republican side I preferred John Kasich, during the debates he was the only adult in the room. He also help Newt Gingrich balance the budget.

I can't remember his name but I voted for the gay man for Congress a couple years back.

Back in the day I preferred Jack Kemp.

I will be voting for Jeff Dehl over the fake Indian. I supported Steve Lynch for kerry's open senate seat.

My argument for trump over hillary was a simple one. The damage trump will do will be shorter lived than the damage hillary will do. Trump is like the drunk uncle at a party. He will be embarrassing but sober (and gone) in the morning. Hillary on the other hand is the gambling addict who will continue to take out loans to cover past loses.

And neither nut job is dropping a nuke.

Can you justify giving the nuclear codes to someone who admits to having brain damage?

I get people rationalizing. As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this. Hillary would have been fine, flawed in many ways and imperfect, but clearly competent. I am not arguing policies. the man in the white house is not talented enough for the job and doesn't have the raw talent to do the job. People thought you were getting a businessman CEO, and that's what Rex Tillerson or even Mitt romney would have been. This guy, no Board of Directors would ever put him in charge of a public company. He's all marketing and branding. That's it.

I feel bad because many people voted for him and his promises, and he hasn't done anything and has no agenda for them. I find that miserable people like him because he makes people who are happy and content in their life upset.

I think his greatest strength is his spite. People vote for him out of spite. I blame the media and the do nothing congress for allowing this guy breathing room even to be taken semi seriously.

Rampant nihilism and spite will be the real end of humanity.

[jfs1000d]

For president, this election cycle I preferred Bernie to Hillary, some how the Socialist came off as more conservative. On the Republican side I preferred John Kasich, during the debates he was the only adult in the room. He also help Newt Gingrich balance the budget.

I can't remember his name but I voted for the gay man for Congress a couple years back.

Back in the day I preferred Jack Kemp.

I will be voting for Jeff Dehl over the fake Indian. I supported Steve Lynch for kerry's open senate seat.

My argument for trump over hillary was a simple one. The damage trump will do will be shorter lived than the damage hillary will do. Trump is like the drunk uncle at a party. He will be embarrassing but sober (and gone) in the morning. Hillary on the other hand is the gambling addict who will continue to take out loans to cover past loses.

And neither nut job is dropping a nuke.

Can you justify giving the nuclear codes to someone who admits to having brain damage?

I get people rationalizing. As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this. Hillary would have been fine, flawed in many ways and imperfect, but clearly competent. I am not arguing policies. the man in the white house is not talented enough for the job and doesn't have the raw talent to do the job. People thought you were getting a businessman CEO, and that's what Rex Tillerson or even Mitt romney would have been. This guy, no Board of Directors would ever put him in charge of a public company. He's all marketing and branding. That's it.

I feel bad because many people voted for him and his promises, and he hasn't done anything and has no agenda for them. I find that miserable people like him because he makes people who are happy and content in their life upset.

I think his greatest strength is his spite. People vote for him out of spite. I blame the media and the do nothing congress for allowing this guy breathing room even to be taken semi seriously.

Rampant nihilism and spite will be the real end of humanity.

It really will. I feel bad for telling people they got it wrong in politics. People don't like to admit that, and I typically think people usually make informed decisions. Even in a small, selfish way, there is usually a reason people made the move.

But the appeal of this guy seems to be rooted emotionally in sticking it to other people. There is no redeeming value here.

It is actually quite sad. Trump isn't helping anyone, and people don't want help, they just want to see people doing better than them (real or perceived) get injured.

It's like my life is awful, I want someone else to feel awful too. Brutal.

[Ed Pinkney]

I get people rationalizing. As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this. Hillary would have been fine, flawed in many ways and imperfect, but clearly competent. I am not arguing policies. the man in the white house is not talented enough for the job and doesn't have the raw talent to do the job. People thought you were getting a businessman CEO, and that's what Rex Tillerson or even Mitt romney would have been. This guy, no Board of Directors would ever put him in charge of a public company. He's all marketing and branding. That's it.

I feel bad because many people voted for him and his promises, and he hasn't done anything and has no agenda for them. I find that miserable people like him because he makes people who are happy and content in their life upset.

I think his greatest strength is his spite. People vote for him out of spite. I blame the media and the do nothing congress for allowing this guy breathing room even to be taken semi seriously.

You should blame the democrat party. For years the democrat party line was "White Men are evil". White men heard that and voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Small business owners voted for against hillary because her tax policy was going to cost them money. They did not vote for trump's promises but against hillary's. I doubt many people were fooled. Deep down trump is still a democrat.

I am sorry but I can't find a video now. But Hillary was asked if she would increase capital gains tax even if studies showed that doing so leads to lower revenues. And she said yes. Apparently, punishing people for being successful is more important than generating revenue.

This is also woman who gave billions of tax payer dollars to Wall Street companies. And like it or not trump is a successful business man.

As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this.

Typical tactic of the left to insult people who disagree with them. I am sane. I did not make a mistake. Furthermore, I don't need to be lectured to by someone who only graduated from high school because he can shoot a basketball.

From what I could tell from the stats I saw at the time, the Republican vote for Trump was virtually the same as it had been for the previous three elections. What doomed Clinton appeared to be that the massive voter turn out that got Obama elected in 2008 declined in 2012 and then dropped even further in 2016. So it seemed that Republican voters don't really care who their candidate is, they will turn out and vote in similar numbers no matter what, where as a significant number Democrat voters preferred to stay home than vote for Clinton.

[jfs1000d]

I get people rationalizing. As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this. Hillary would have been fine, flawed in many ways and imperfect, but clearly competent. I am not arguing policies. the man in the white house is not talented enough for the job and doesn't have the raw talent to do the job. People thought you were getting a businessman CEO, and that's what Rex Tillerson or even Mitt romney would have been. This guy, no Board of Directors would ever put him in charge of a public company. He's all marketing and branding. That's it.

I feel bad because many people voted for him and his promises, and he hasn't done anything and has no agenda for them. I find that miserable people like him because he makes people who are happy and content in their life upset.

I think his greatest strength is his spite. People vote for him out of spite. I blame the media and the do nothing congress for allowing this guy breathing room even to be taken semi seriously.

You should blame the democrat party. For years the democrat party line was "White Men are evil". White men heard that and voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Small business owners voted for against hillary because her tax policy was going to cost them money. They did not vote for trump's promises but against hillary's. I doubt many people were fooled. Deep down trump is still a democrat.

I am sorry but I can't find a video now. But Hillary was asked if she would increase capital gains tax even if studies showed that doing so leads to lower revenues. And she said yes. Apparently, punishing people for being successful is more important than generating revenue.

This is also woman who gave billions of tax payer dollars to Wall Street companies. And like it or not trump is a successful business man.

As LeBron said though, you made a mistake. No sane person would disagree with this.

Typical tactic of the left to insult people who disagree with them. I am sane. I did not make a mistake. Furthermore, I don't need to be lectured to by someone who only graduated from high school because he can shoot a basketball.

From what I could tell from the stats I saw at the time, the Republican vote for Trump was virtually the same as it had been for the previous three elections. What doomed Clinton appeared to be that the massive voter turn out that got Obama elected in 2008 declined in 2012 and then dropped even further in 2016. So it seemed that Republican voters don't really care who their candidate is, they will turn out and vote in similar numbers no matter what, where as a significant number Democrat voters preferred to stay home than vote for Clinton.

The difference was about 80,000 votes in Wisconsin, Pa and MIchigan. That was the difference, though Hillary smashed him in Popular vote.

Here's the crazy part. More people voted for Mitt Romney in 2012 then Trump in 2016.

[canman1971]

LeBron. Good lord. This thread turned to turds pretty quick if we are quoting that bozo.

I doubt it. Lebron is actually pretty great with social issues.

On a separate note:

This thread is showing why we are the best board on here. Lots of intelligent and productive discussion on here and for the most part everyone has been quite respectful to one another.

As someone who would respond (but never bring up on my own) to posts about social or political issues on here but never wanted a "politics thread" as Andrew calls it, I think we have a lot to be proud of here.

Oh I agree. I often tell my friends and family about the conversations I read on this board. Top notch. However, my distaste for LeBron knows no bounds.