[ldrews]

 hrothgar, on 2017-February-21, 19:26, said:

No, ***** for brains, it is merely me showing how little respect I have for you...

For the record, I have an undergraduate degree in Middle Eastern history from one of the top schools in the US.
I have travelled extensively in Turkey, Morocco, and - most recently - spent a couple weeks in Iran.
The issue is not that I am ignorant, but rather, its just not worth the time to try to have a discussion with you.

You don't make any kind of valuable contribution or provide any kind of intellectual stimulation.
You just recite right wing talking points that you barely seem to understand.

Well, if you have the education and experience that you claim, then the only reason not to respond is that either there won't be a negative impact in the Muslim countries, or the impact doesn't fit your narrative. I think you are disinginous and a fraud. But what do I know?

By the way, what right wing talking points am I reciting? I have simply presented a list of the things that I, an independent, would like to see accomplished in the U.S. Do you have an objection to that?

[Vampyr]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-21, 09:38, said:

How would you suggest the US cope with terrorism?

Keeping out Welsh teachers on a school trip is certainly a start...

[ldrews]

 Vampyr, on 2017-February-21, 20:43, said:

Keeping out Welsh teachers on a school trip is certainly a start...

You must think this is all a joke! How about a serious suggestion, not just some flip off?

[Winstonm]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-21, 14:42, said:

I am sorry, I did not realize you have limited reading/comprehension. If you actually read the EOa you will find several that address reduced regulation (thereby improving small business' ability to start or expand), renegotiating trade agreements (thereby retaining/increasing US jobs), and immigration/border control.

Try reading them again and ask if you have questions.

You don't want dialogue. You don't even seem to understand the an EO only directs the actions of the executive branch and that the President has not authority to implement his wish list outside of the narrow scope. So I am through talking with you. Thanks, anyway.

[ldrews]

 Winstonm, on 2017-February-21, 21:01, said:

You don't want dialogue. I am done with you.

I disagree. I offered specifics, you come back with evasive questions. I ask for specifics, you totally avoid them. You want to dialog? Tell me what you think, don't just snipe at my offerings. Give me some substance to work with. Otherwise, yes, retreat into an attitude of condescending superiority. I'm sure that will be effective in persuading us independents.

[Cyberyeti]

 Vampyr, on 2017-February-21, 20:43, said:

Keeping out Welsh teachers on a school trip is certainly a start...

TBF there were plenty of reports of this sort of thing before Trump hit the White house

[hrothgar]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-21, 19:33, said:

Well, if you have the education and experience that you claim, then the only reason not to respond is that either there won't be a negative impact in the Muslim countries, or the impact doesn't fit your narrative. I think you are disinginous and a fraud. But what do I know?

The fact that you can't construct any other possible explanation is a perfect example why its not worth engaging with you on substantive issues.
I don't have a responsibility to knock down whatever stupid little straw man you happen to construct and, quite honestly, its just not that interesting for me.

I understand the position that you're in.

You're old.
You have no family or friends.
You're living in a foreign country where no one particularly likes you.

So you go and act like an asshole on a internet discussion forum because this is the only way for you to get any attention from another living being.

Its understandable, but its also quite regrettable. And I have no interest in being an enabler...

[ldrews]

 hrothgar, on 2017-February-22, 06:52, said:

The fact that you can't construct any other possible explanation is a perfect example why its not worth engaging with you on substantive issues.
I don't have a responsibility to knock down whatever stupid little straw man you happen to construct and, quite honestly, its just not that interesting for me.

I understand the position that you're in.

You're old.
You have no family or friends.
You're living in a foreign country where no one particularly likes you.

So you go and act like an asshole on a internet discussion forum because this is the only way for you to get any attention from another living being.

Its understandable, but its also quite regrettable. And I have no interest in being an enabler...

Ah yes. The resort to insult and character assassination rather than engage in meaningful conversation. Typical juvenile response. Tell me, do you still live in your parent's basement? Have you matured enough to actually hold down a job? Do you have any real world experience?

[hrothgar]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-22, 07:46, said:

Tell me, do you still live in your parent's basement? Have you matured enough to actually hold down a job? Do you have any real world experience?

Just because I live at home with my folks and haven't found the right job yet doesn't mean squat.

[ldrews]

 hrothgar, on 2017-February-22, 08:18, said:

Just because I live at home with my folks and haven't found the right job yet doesn't mean squat.

I envy you. You have a whole lifetime of adventures to look forward to. I am coming to the end of my life.

But, please, don't confuse enthusiasm and passion with experience. The world probably doesn't work the way you think it does. It didn't for me when I was your age.

There is an old saying: If you are not a socialist/liberal when you are 20, you don't have a heart. If you are still a socialist/liberal when you are 40, you don't have a brain.

In any case, good luck with your job search and your life!

[Zelandakh]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-22, 09:11, said:

I envy you.

You really do believe everything you read regardless of how ridiculous it sounds, don't you?! You are the perfect Trump fanboi! And I was wrong before - you are on the right side of the fence!

[ldrews]

 Zelandakh, on 2017-February-22, 09:47, said:

You really do believe everything you read regardless of how ridiculous it sounds, don't you?! You are the perfect Trump fanboi! And I was wrong before - you are on the right side of the fence!

I do assume that an individual communicating with me is telling the truth until I have evidence to the contrary. Am I naive? Probably. But my life seems to go much better this way.

I am sorry that you are so cynical.

And while I don't consider myself a Trump fanboy, in the recent election it was a no.brainer for me.

[Winstonm]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-21, 21:08, said:

I disagree. I offered specifics, you come back with evasive questions. I ask for specifics, you totally avoid them. You want to dialog? Tell me what you think, don't just snipe at my offerings. Give me some substance to work with. Otherwise, yes, retreat into an attitude of condescending superiority. I'm sure that will be effective in persuading us independents.

O.K., here it is and it is quite simple. It is easy to see how naively dangerous this president is by the people with whom he chose to surround himself: Steve Bannon, the Gorka pair, Steve Miller, General Flynn, etc., and by the his reliance on alternative and unreliable sources of information and conspiracy theorists (Alex Jones, Breitbart, et al) to form his worldview.

If you cannot understand from those choices alone how ridiculously and historically bad your vote was then there is really no reason to continue discourse.

[barmar]

 hrothgar, on 2017-February-22, 06:52, said:

So you go and act like an asshole on a internet discussion forum because this is the only way for you to get any attention from another living being.

Richard, you do realize that this is how you're often perceived here? Not because your arguments lack merit, but because of your confrontational tone and frequent use of name-calling. ldrews is a troll, you're taking the bait.

[hrothgar]

 barmar, on 2017-February-22, 10:08, said:

Richard, you do realize that this is how you're often perceived here? Not because your arguments lack merit, but because of your confrontational tone and frequent use of name-calling. ldrews is a troll, you're taking the bait.

Fair enough.

Ciao

[Vampyr]

 Cyberyeti, on 2017-February-22, 02:59, said:

TBF there were plenty of reports of this sort of thing before Trump hit the White house

I am sure you are right, but still... Miah has not been given a reason, even now. And the 39 children were left with four chaperones. It is a good thing none of the other teachers had brown skin.
Miah goes by Juhel, but apparently his first name is Muhammad.

Of course all this focus on Muslims diverts attention from the fact that gun deaths are a far far greater problem. For anyone who,doesn't want to read this article, the headline is telling enough:

Quote

The macabre truth of gun control in the US is that toddlers kill more people than terrorists do.

[Zelandakh]

 ldrews, on 2017-February-22, 09:56, said:

I do assume that an individual communicating with me is telling the truth until I have evidence to the contrary.

And this presumably explains why you believe Trump despite all evidence to the contrary.

[ldrews]

 Winstonm, on 2017-February-22, 10:05, said:

O.K., here it is and it is quite simple. It is easy to see how naively dangerous this president is by the people with whom he chose to surround himself: Steve Bannon, the Gorka pair, Steve Miller, General Flynn, etc., and by the his reliance on alternative and unreliable sources of information and conspiracy theorists (Alex Jones, Breitbart, et al) to form his worldview.

If you cannot understand from those choices alone how ridiculously and historically bad your vote was then there is really no reason to continue discourse.

Thank you for some substance!

And yet Tillerson, Mattis, McMasters, Mnuchin, Sessions, are all strong, independent leaders. Many of them have effectively managed large organizations, do not seem to be afraid of confronting/disagreeing with Trump. This does not seem to me to be the mark of an insecure, myopic president.

You may disagree with his worldview, with his politics, etc., but that does not make him dangerous in a general sense. To me dangerous would be getting us into a nuclear war with Russia, or allowing terrorists/jihadists with nuclear/biological weapons to enter the US. Most everything else we can and will deal with.

Steve Bannon is dangerous to you because you don't agree with his worldview. They probably think the same of you. And as distorted as Alex Jones, Breitbart, et al may be, Fox, CNN, and MSNBC are not far behind. Bias and selective reporting seem to be rampant everywhere I look. To say that this ***** is less shitty than that ***** seems a meaningless distinction to me.

But if you want to run away from a contrary viewpoint/opinion, I certainly can't stop you. But I would like to hear more of your reasoning and not just your invective.

Why are Steve Bannon, the Gorka pair, Steve Miller, General Flynn dangerous? Please give me some explicit details.

[ldrews]

 Zelandakh, on 2017-February-22, 10:15, said:

And this presumably explains why you believe Trump despite all evidence to the contrary.

In evaluating a person, I prefer to look at his/her actions. So far Trump's actions align with his campaign promises and with some of my priorities about change for the US. So far I have no evidence to the contrary.

But if you wish to continue to be misled by his words, be my guest. He seems to be playing the liberal/left and media like a master negotiator. He did the same during the campaign. Do you see a pattern here?

[ldrews]

 barmar, on 2017-February-22, 10:08, said:

Richard, you do realize that this is how you're often perceived here? Not because your arguments lack merit, but because of your confrontational tone and frequent use of name-calling. ldrews is a troll, you're taking the bait.

If by troll you mean someone who offers a different viewpoint and is willing to defend it, then I will proudly accept the label. But if you mean someone who simply drops in a provocative statement and then disappears, then please notice that I am still here.

Are there any issues you would like to discuss?