mtutiger

CC: Jake Tapper

He'd be better at using the levers of government maybe, but as a political athlete, he's really bad at it. I don't think he's inheriting the base

Why? What I "wish" for doesn't really matter at this point, were gonna have to figure out how the lance the boil regardless

We can (and probably will) debate how much public opinion actually matters, but in terms of public opinion regardless, not only do I think the retribution stuff doesn't help how people view him, I think it actually does hurt. Particularly at a time when the public is souring on him due to his actions on just about every political issue of the day. And mark me down on saying that he'd be a idiot for ever going after the most popular political figure in the country.

Lucky would be having the term cut short due to natural reasons

Would just add to the last part, given the focus on Biden's age and his cognitive abilities during the last couple of years of his Presidency, the fact that Trump's isn't being talked about more really sticks out. Setting aside the content of what he said with the FIFA head (and how insane he sounded), he also looked old and out of it.

To the extent that there's any broad strategy to going after John Bolton, its that of a class of public intellectual that is anti-Trump, he's one that's unlikely to engender any sympathy on *either* side. Conservatives don't like him because he's on the wrong side of Donald Trump, Dems don't like him because of Iraq. Pretty straight forward stuff, he's an easy target Barack Obama is probably the most well liked and well respected political figure in this country, outside of maybe his wife.... his approval ratings consistently are in the high 50s-low 60s. It would be moronic to try to go after Obama, and to the extent that he's already losing the public due to everything going on, it would only exacerbate the bleeding IMO. That said, this is Donald Trump we're talking about.... between the authoritarianism and the fact that he's clearly diminishing cognitively, the fact that you cannot rule out him doing something that stupid makes is equal parts unnerving and embarrassing as an American.

On the subject of inflation, this banger is now over three years old:

I would think that it should go without saying, but people (media sources, now JV) keep framing it as "Newsom is trying to mimic Trump" when it's clearly "Newsom is mocking the **** out of Trump".

I've been into a Marianos once since moving up here.... for a store who's reputation is what you described (Wegmans/Central Market/Whole Foods adjacent), it's shocking how little of an upgrade it is to a standard Jewel store. They're opening a Woodman's relatively close by, that's the day I got marked down....

A useful exercise for the pundit-industrial complex would be to imagine the voters who a) are opposed to Donald Trump and b) those who have soured on Donald Trump over various issues (ie. Tariffs, economy/inflation, immigration, etc.) and then ask themselves who exactly is supposed to be peeled back over on the basis of what's going in DC right now. We've collectively built Donald J. Trump into this mythical folk hero who has the best political instincts, who when he undertakes some action gets the presumption that it will be widely popular. Even when it's pretty obvious it won't be. I don't get it

I'm out of likes, but all of this is spot on

I think this is right.... and I think the same electorate that, yes, gave Donald J. Trump the victory in last years election did not expect the most maximalist, Stephen Miller-esque posture from the incoming administration either. You see it in polling data and how their numbers on immigration enforcement saw their biggest collapses after Kilmar Abrego Garcia and after LA. The reality is that while people do not like illegal immigration and expect people to try and legally migrate, they expected an enforcement regime that would be centered on removing *criminals* from the streets. Instead, they are getting an enforcement regime that is interesting in juicing the stats as much as humanly possible in order to meet unrealistic quotas for deportation (2 million in a year).... which in turn means they aren't focusing on criminals, but anybody and everybody they can possibly get their hands on, and doing so in a dragnet style, shooting first and asking questions later (metaphorically speaking). No freaking wonder people are pissed off. If you wanted to fix this from a policy perspective, the median position is to do a good job on the border (which again, Trump has done just looking at the stats) and to provide way to adjudicate those that are here without legal status (including some like dreamers who didn't even make the choice themselves) in a way that is reasonably fair, doesn't **** up the economy, etc., which these guys decidedly have NOT done.

Somebody needs to take his license plate away lol

Always hilarious to see you bitch about people not addressing your point only for you to proceed to not address points. I think we're done here.

Because, as a taxpayer, those officers work for me. And because those officers (ostensibly) are working on my behalf, their actions should be transparent and their should be forums for accountability when they go beyond the bounds of their charge. Or even when they break laws. And given that my tax dollars are going to pay for them, I find it inexcusable that they get to hide behind masks and have unmarked uniforms. The "doxxing" thing is just a big ol' excuse to dodge any sort accountability for any mistakes or overreaches that are being directed by this administration. Your continued lack of attention on this suggests to me that you'd be fine with them being unaccountable to anything or anyone.

The legal system is maybe the one avenue for sure, but your latter point demonstrates that it isn't a failsafe by any means.

Which gets back to @oblong's point from earlier.... masked men going around and snatching people off the street without any available forums for accountability is pretty much textbook police state stuff.

If ICE officers cannot put their names on their uniforms and wear masks to conceal their identity.... and are under the control of an administration that clearly has no interest in transparency.... what forms of accountability does the agency (or those working for the agency) have exactly?

Great question.... at this point, with this administration in charge, it's pretty clear that ICE is an organization that is an opaque organization that feels that it is above any sort of accountability. Gee, no wonder it's actions are unpopular and the American public increasingly dislikes it.

It's worth noting that said website would likely not exist if, like normal law enforcement officers, they would wear their name and show their faces. The "doxxing" thing is an excuse to refuse any sort of accountability.

Let's be honest, 2.) is that they know the actions are deeply unpopular with the broader public. I have no doubt that at least some of them are ashamed of it and no doubt think this isn't what they signed up for, particularly those who have been pulled off of other efforts with other agencies. Morale is clearly low. You can also see it in the ridiculous signing bonuses, age requirements and enlisting D-list celebrities like Dean Cain to market the efforts for new hires as well.... if the public doesn't believe in the effort, believe in the mission, they aren't going to be running to sign up no matter how much you pay them or how much you cut the standards for hiring. The whole "doxxed and harassed" thing is all just downstream of the fact that they are doing stuff that the broader American public does not want them to do.

Why do they have masks covering their faces? I don't see Illinois State Troopers out and about wearing masks, what's these guys' excuse?

Not as a law enforcement officer, but yes. I stand by my comments.

I'm not following regarding this, seems like it's directed at someone else. I flat out do not like the way that this administration handles immigration enforcement and law enforcement more generally, and this incident is just another piece of evidence that their handling of these matters sucks. Not the least of which that the way they are going about these matters makes the job of police to solve other crimes that much more difficult (because they are creating an environment of distrust). I also think that you can be against the way these guys are conducting their business and feel that immigration is a serious issue. I don't have an issue, for instance, with having a tighter border. And (probably the only time you'll hear me say it) they have done a decent job bringing the numbers down at the border. But I am against casting an indiscriminate dragnet and, if anything, we should be looking at ways for those here nonviolently to be able to find work and contribute. Or for kids who came here through no fault of their own when they were babies to be able to go to college and contribute. Assuming he's afforded some level of due process, I'll defer to the legal system.