I have no qualms about voting for Clinton, Ask Me Anything

[kickingandscreaming]

All good questions, MM.  I, too, would like to hear the answers.  A lot of collateral damage from electing such a loose cannon!

[nursey66]

Its starting real fast , read the news , every day more drama and more unqualified people getting in the high offices,, Revamping Medicare , taking deductions away from lower income people, raising taxes on lower income people and lower income taxes for high income PeopIe .

[Simon Dog]

I know I am going to risk pissing a lot of people off, but here goes.....

I am a single issue voter.    My idea of a fun weekend is going out to the gun range, or better yet, grabbing a pistol, rifle and shotgun for a "three gun" match.   These use handguns (Clinton says the Supreme Court "got it wrong" when it declared the constitution protected the individual's right to own a handgun, and not the government's right to arm a militia); AR15s with 30 to 100 round mags (once again, and item Clinton wants to ban) and Benelli or Remington semi-auto shotguns (also on the ban list).   I realize that once a right is lost, getting it back is 10x harder than protecting it.  I am not worried a new court will roll back Roe v. Wade (it won't), but am concerned it will declare the second amendment unenforceable.      For example, MA has declared that the 2A does not apply in this state (our state supreme court stated that the ability to get the only license that allows exercising the right is not protected by the Heller/McDonald decisions).    I have seen very bad decisions by liberal justices, and Souter authored one against me after he retired from SCOTUS and sat on the first circuit court of appeals.  I generally keep 5 or 6 cases before the federal courts (I am not an attorney, but I hire them), and was involved in filing one Amicus before the supremes.  So, for me, the quality of the judiciary to follow the constitution as written, not on a "desired public policy" basis, is personal.

I don't think Trump will F with ESRD benefits on Medicare, and I don't think ANY administration will be able to reform the Ponzi scheme known as Social Security until it collapses under its own weight.   There are too any highly motivated recipients of both SS and Medicare for much to be done - unless, of course, they come up with a way of convincing a decisive majority that "someone else, not you, will pay or get reduced benefits".  In short, a Republican administration is less likely to take my SS/Medicare away than a Democratic administration is to screw with my second amendment rights.

Nobody would criticize a black for being a "single issue voter" on the issue of racial equality, so I feel morally justified in holding the same position on an issue that I value.

The bottom line is that different people have different goals and values.  To some intelligent, well meaning, people, another Scalia is a nightmare.  To me, it would be a breath of fresh air.

And yes, Scalia should have been autopsied.  Anyone dying at home not under medical supervision who was not from a powerful family certainly would be.

[PrimeTimer]

Well stated, Simon Dog.   

[MooseMom]

http://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment2.html

I have no qualms about anyone being a single issue voter, even when that issue is the Second Amendment.  But when we start in on reasoning like "interpreting the Constitution as it is written", well, it was hardly written concisely.  It has been wide open to interpretation forever, and Simon Dog, when you state that it should not be interpreted by "desired public policy", isn't that exactly what you are doing?  Those who want to keep a private arsenal will naturally desire one interpretation while those who don't want to see more kids gunned down in their primary school classrooms will naturally desire a very different interpretation.

(As an aside, a lot of people added to their arsenal when the black man was voted into office.  I wonder how many more will become gun owners now that the orange man will be President.  I will admit that for the first time ever, I've thought seriously about getting a permit, especially if General Flynn gets in to any Cabinet post.  We all know how much he loathes having a civilian-led military, so he really worries me.  I hope he will not be confirmed.

While your state made a decision you did not agree with, my state (Illinois) was the last to prohibit concealed/carry, but we were forced to comply and now have concealed/carry.  That is particularly problematic in Chicago as you can well imagine.  Many pro-gun advocates point to Chicago as the prime example of the failure of strict gun laws, but what they don't tell you is that we're right next door to Indiana, and guns flow easily over that border.  But Chicago's problem with guns just grows so that people like you get to keep their private arsenals.

I have no problem with people whose idea of a fun weekend is going out to the gun range.  I can see the appeal.  Shooting is a skill and can be great fun in competition.  I have no problem with hunters.  I can understand why people who live out in the rural middle of nowhere would want a firearm for self defense.  I can understand that, say, a woman living alone would want a firearm. 

But you know all of those people you fear?  The "thugs" and the "psychos", the potential terrorists and drug runners?  They have the right to bear arms, too. 

I don't understand how it has come to be that Americans equate gun ownership with "freedom".  You get to feel free to have your arsenal, but I can't feel free from some gun-toting a-hole who might decide to get revenge for being fired by the drugstore manager by shooting up the place while I just happen to be there buying my multi-vitamins.  I honestly believe that what to you feels like "freedom" feels like "profit" to those who make these weapons.  They have a vested interest in lobbying for your and their interpretation of the 2A.  They are selling you "freedom" with a good dose of "fear" thrown in for maximum manipulation.

I'm curious.  Why do you think Scalia should have been autopsied?  You know what's weird?  As soon as it was announced that he had died at a private ranch in far west Texas, I knew exactly where he'd died.  I felt it in my bones!  It was at Cibolo Creek Ranch out in the Chinati mountains (don't know if you can really call them mountains).  I've been there on holiday.  It is in the middle of absolutely nowhere, and what IS there is a lot of tough terrain.  The ranch itself is understatedly luxurious, but if you are an older gentleman and are not already in good health, I'm not sure what one would do there other than just spend time with other wealthy and influential gentlemen.  Do you think the authorities should have gone against his family's interests?

As for those homicide guys who claim to have been so thunderstruck that there was no autopsy, don't you ever wonder if we'll ever get over this collective state of either outrage of "thunderstruck-ness"?  Does it feel to you that we are collectlively all so hyperbolic?  Is it because of social media, or do we now merely thrive on conspiracy theories, fake news, righteous indignation and the sheer drama of it all?

No, I'm not pissed at you, SimonDog.  Are you pissed at me for feeling less safe, less FREE, because now everyone gets to have a gun and I don't even know who they are?  Is the guy standing behind me at Walgreen's armed and vengeful?

[Simon Dog]

As an interesting bit of Trivia, Trump used his power and connections to get a hens tooth ("full carry" NYC pistol permit) long before he went into politics.

I had the honor of having dinner with Alan Gura, who was responsible for the change in Illinois.  Nice guy; very capable attorney; and a better American than many people born in this country.

Why do you think Scalia should have been autopsied?

It is common practice in many jurisdictions to autopsy anyone who dies outside a medical facility and not under the direct supervision of a license medical professional.  This is done to rule out any possibility that someone who "peacefully passed away in their sleep" was poisoned, smothered with a pillow, etc.   I'm not saying I buy into the conspiracy theories about his death, but good procedure would be to treat any "at home" death as suspicious until proven otherwise, and that means an autopsy.

Do you think the authorities should have gone against his family's interests?

I can assure you that if I die peacefully in my sleep at home, my wife (no power or political connections) will NOT have a choice in the matter.  The ME will cut me up and write a report.

The "thugs" and the "psychos", the potential terrorists and drug runners?  They have the right to bear arms, too. 

For the most part, by the time someone becomes a terrorist/thug/gun runner, they have run up enough of a record as to being banned from even touching a firearm under 18 USC 922(g).

Guess what?  Hundreds of thousands of people in MA are licensed to carry concealed guns in public (except for schools).  92% of those who are licensed to possess a handgun have the 'no restrictions' license endorsement allowing concealed carry.  Guess what?  I can go anywhere in the state, any time, and my chances of being shot by one of these legal gun owners is about  as close to 0 as you can get.

[MooseMom]

I can go anywhere in the state, any time, and my chances of being shot by one of these legal gun owners is about  as close to 0 as you can get.

I'm glad you are so confident.

So, what can you say to reassure people like me that I need not fear people like you?  Should "good guys with a gun" wear a badge or something just so that I'll know that you're a good guy with a gun?

[Jean]

Correct, so far, the majority did vote for Hillary. However there were no irregularities found so far, so what a waste of money!!

Now then, why do I think this country has gone to hell?? First there are the homeless. I understand that some of them prefer that, however, when they are dying in the streets, and they are, that argument kind of goes down the streets. After that is a very long list of large errors.
 It is insulting to be asked if I thought the country was going to hell because of a black president. Personally, I dont give a crap what color he is and I never did. The man had no experience, and never held a real job. All he did was scream about change. Do you like this change? I certainly dont. How many of us are on Social Security? This years raise is $2.00, wow, I dont know, maybe I should save it for a year and go on vacation. And it has been like that for a very long time. About 7 years now. And then, we had no fear of Muslims. Now, we do. What went wrong?
Trump may be a political naif but I seriously doubt any of the "swampers" will pull the wool over his eyes.
What his intention is with Bannon and Sessions, I have no clue, but then, I am not in politics and also dont have a genius IQ like Trump does.
Hillary Clintons E-mails concern our NATIONAL Security, Trumps tax return concerns literally nothing.
Please do give Trump the same chance I gave Obama, it would be appreciated.That would be fair enough.
PS, lets not forget our rapidly rising stock market since Trump won or, the biggest Christmas shopping ever!!!! People are happy with what is going on.

[MooseMom]

Jean, I'd like to see your "very long list of large errors".  Could you be more specific so that I can understand why you hated Obama so much?

I would like to see more help go to the homeless.  In some places in this country, there is more help than in other places.  It largely depends on how much a city/state/country is willing to innovate and spend.  I don't think that Trump has either the will or the way to spend money to benefit people as opposed to making profit off of them.  Business people create goods for profit.  To make profit, you cut costs.  Housing the homeless costs money that businesspeople do not want to spend.  This is where governance comes in.  Can Trump govern?  We have no choice but to wait and see.

You've asked a good question.  Why do we fear Muslims now when we didn't 7 years ago?  Well, I think we've been fearing Muslims since 9/11.  I don't fear Muslims.  Do you?  We've been taught to fear them.  Hell, we've been taught by the right wing media to hate and fear everyone who is not white and Christian.  So much for living in the "Home of the Brave".  People with media access are yelling at us to fear Syrian refugees but they don't tell us that it takes 2 years for them to be vetted.

Hillary Clinton's e-mails have been proven NOT to have been a threat to National Security, but of course James Comey had to go and open that question up again right before the election, just to recant only days before.  Yeah, the election was rigged, so in this regard, Donald Trump was proven right.

There are many people who are concerned about the effect that Russia and Putin had on our election process, or more specifically, how they manipulated people into believing all sorts of nonsense.  Why fear Muslims when it is Putin that has had the most aefect on our country?  We should be fearing Russia.

Donald Trump is a national security risk.  Clinton's emails have been combed through, but no one has seen any of Trump's tax returns that would tell us if he stands to profit personally from business done with, say, China.  You say you are "not in politics".  How very convenient.  When your views are challenged, suddenly you're "not in politics".  You have only beliefs, and you have those only when they suit you.

How do you know that Trump's tax return concerns literally nothing?  Are you "into finance"?  The worst thing is that people don't seem to care.  Everyone was up in arms about Clinton's emails, only to find nothing, but when Trump says that his tax returns are nobody's business, hey, well, that's OK!!!  He is held to an entirely different standard, and a very low one it is, too.

Someone with a "genius IQ" can be a very bad person and a very bad President.

President-elect Trump did not get my vote, so he is going to have to earn my trust and support.  I will give him a chance to succeed.  And to be fair to him, a lot of his success will depend upon a cooperative Congress which we have not seen for many years.  Congress has a lot to answer for.

[Simon Dog]

I don't fear Muslims.  Do you?

I  neither fear nor dislike Muslims.  The blood drawing team at the transplant hospital is heavily Muslim, as is a checkout clerk at the  local supermarket.   All do their job nicely, and I feel very comfortable having the woman in traditional headdress draw my blood (to the extent one can feel comfortable during that process).

BUT.... I also realize that while the chances of any given 20 to 30 year old Muslim male being a terrorist is a small fraction of a percent, I also realize that the chances are much greater than that of a 20 to 30 year old US born non-Muslim being of the terrorist persuasion.   This country is so afraid of profiling that we are pretty much required to deny that reality else be labeled xenophobic or racist.

So, what can you say to reassure people like me that I need not fear people like you?

Well, for starters look in the paper for any big city and read about the shootings   If the person has a carry license, this will generally be mentioned - it hardly ever is.  The incidence of stranger on stranger crime by concealed carry permit holders is pretty much nil.   Chicago is a great example - until Alan Gura did his thing, only police, Alderman (funny how laws only apply to the little people) and persons who registered a gun back in the 80's could possess a handgun in Chicago.  Now, anyone with a clean record can get a carry license.  Guess what?   Shooting are still happening, but not by the background checked persons with licenses.

You will never have the occasion to fear me because I believe a gentlemen keeps certain things in his pants in public, and that includes one's defensive sidearm.

[Jean]

 I too would like to see my " very long list of large errors," could you point it out to me please. As I said to you before, it is insulting to me that you are constantly saying I hated Obama. Nowhere have I made that statement, yet you keep bringing it up. the man is just a total waste of space as far as I am concerned.
 As for Muslims, my husband and I do business with some of them and they are lovely people, however, the radical muslims, you know, the head removing ones, I am afraid of them and you should be too. No one had to teach me anything once I saw the picture of the dangling head. Trump does profit with China, they bought one of his apartments. Putin is not stupid enough to threaten us, he would however threaten other smaller countries. Because he is, basically, a bully.
Oh and yes, I did notice you did not mention the very low raises in social security but did not mention that. No argument?
 I am a normal run of the mill person, retired thank you. But at one time I was in finance. You once again, are being rude to me by saying I change my beliefs when it suits me. You dont talk to Simon Dog like that, or Charlie. You are just an angry loser and cant handle it that Trump won this election. You are some how under the impression that your words are the final say. Sorry Sweetie, but they are not and you don't "challenge " me one little bit. I dont have to be in politics or finance to have an opinion or to research facts.

[MooseMom]

After that is a very long list of large errors.
 

Jean, this is your quote.  You say you're waiting for that long list.  So am I.

Spending on Social Security is determined by Congress, not by the President.  Direct your ire at the Swamp.  I would like to see higher benefits, but Paul Ryan wants to privatize it along with Medicare.  Spending more on these programs is NOT what the GOP wants to do.

Perhaps "hate" is the wrong word.  You have disdain for Obama.  Fair enough.  I have disdain for Trump.

Oh, come on.  You do tend to sidestep questions when pushed for a straight answer, and you do tend to lash out and call people "rude".  This is exactly what Trump does. 

Simon Dog and Charlie at least answer my questions with something more than "You're being mean to me."

Yes, I am afraid of Muslims who are "the head removing ones".  So are Muslims.  Other Muslims have been the most frequent targets of ISIS and other terror groups.

If I thought I had the final say in everything, I wouldn't bother asking questions.  I'm interested in not only what people believe but also WHY they believe as they do.

You're right.  You don't have to be in politics or finance to have an opinion or to research facts, but I can't see where you DO research facts.  And it is apparent that I DO challenge you, so if that makes you uncomfortable, I'll stop.  I am not interested in making anyone uncomfortable.  In fact, that's exactly what I DON'T want because people who feel threatened won't give straight answers, and that's boring. 

So, I promise not to ask you anything else on this topic.  Is that OK with you?

[kickingandscreaming]

I am afraid of Muslims who are "the head removing ones".

I'm afraid of the "head-removing" Muslims, too.  But I'm even more afraid of the swastika-bearing, sig heil-shouting white supremacists who have been given the go ahead by Trump, Bannon, et al.  They have been emboldened and normalized and will wreak havoc on this country.  They probably won't bother YOU--if you're white and Christian.  But it you're not, then lord help you.  Thanks, Trump enablers.  Nice work.

[MooseMom]

BUT.... I also realize that while the chances of any given 20 to 30 year old Muslim male being a terrorist is a small fraction of a percent, I also realize that the chances are much greater than that of a 20 to 30 year old US born non-Muslim being of the terrorist persuasion.   This country is so afraid of profiling that we are pretty much required to deny that reality else be labeled xenophobic or racist.

Statistically, there is good reason to fear ANY 20 to 30 year old male.  Sexual assaults of women in the military and on college campuses, not to mention assaults in the workplace, concern me more than do terrorists and are so much more common.  But no one seems to care.

This is not a rhetorical question as I am interested to hear what you think.  Again, statistically, do you think we have more to fear from a Muslim terrorist (say, like the Boston Marathon bombers) than we do from a Dylan Roof type domestic terrorist?

[kickingandscreaming]

For starters:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/us/tally-of-attacks-in-us-challenges-perceptions-of-top-terror-threat.html (Homegrown Extremists Tied to Deadlier Toll Than Jihadists in U.S. Since 9/11)

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/terrorism-threat/396749/ (Deadly American Extremism: More White Than Muslim)

http://www.mintpressnews.com/white-americans-are-the-biggest-terror-threat-in-the-united-states/211608/ (White Americans Are The Biggest Terror Threat In The United States)

http://www.newsweek.com/2016/02/12/right-wing-extremists-militants-bigger-threat-america-isis-jihadists-422743.html (RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS ARE A BIGGER THREAT TO AMERICA THAN ISIS)

[Simon Dog]

Statistically, there is good reason to fear ANY 20 to 30 year old male.  Sexual assaults of women in the military and on college campuses, not to mention assaults in the workplace, concern me more than do terrorists and are so much more common.  But no one seems to care.

This is not a rhetorical question as I am interested to hear what you think.  Again, statistically, do you think we have more to fear from a Muslim terrorist (say, like the Boston Marathon bombers) than we do from a Dylan Roof type domestic terrorist?

According to Simon Dog:

1. The chances a 20-30 year male of any color or religion will commit a sexual assault are greater than the chances of a terrorist attack.

2. The risk of a domestic non-Muslim terrorist attack is hard to compare with the risk of Muslim attack.   Accept arguendo that the domestic extremist risk is greater.

3. BUT, the percent of Muslims is small.  The percentage of terrorist attacks by Muslims, on a per-capita basis, is FAR greater than the attacks by non-Muslims.  That is a statistical fact.

People tend to offer #2 as if it rebuts #3.   It does not.

[nursey66]

I am more afraid of Donald Trump and his " policies " than any other person no matter what or who they are!!!!!!!!!'

[Jean]

I hate to assume anything as we all know what that means, however, do you guys know how many proven Isis training camps are in the US?? Google it and I hope you are sitting down when you read it.

As for you MM, I am no longer interested in arguing with you, and our conversations are discontinued as far as I am concerned. It is one thing to argue facts and yet another to add in the personal insults. That is not a discussion, that is a fight. I had the opportunity to have a private chat today with one of our mods and was told that if I responded to you the way I would like to, I would be banned, so that is not going to happen. So, have a nice life and I hope your kidney is okay, I sincerely do.






sp mod Cas

[MooseMom]

As for you MM, I am no longer interested in arguing with you, and our conversations are discontinued as far as I am concerned. It is one thing to argue facts and yet another to add in the personal insults. That is not a discussion, that is a fight. I had the opportunity to have a private chat today with one of our mods and was told that if I responded to you the way I would like to, I would be banned, so that is not going to happen. So, have a nice life and I hope your kidney is okay, I sincerely do,



sp mod Cas

Jean, I am truly dismayed that you felt it necessary to have a private chat with the mods about me and that you felt so profoundly insulted.  So, instead of privately saying anything to anyone, I publically apologize to you here on this forum in front of all IHDers.  I am very sorry that I made you feel so bad that you felt like you had to approach a moderator.  You are a very nice lady who is in the same boat as the rest of us, and I am very sorry if I added to any burden that you may carry as a result of having to live with CKD. 

On the other hand, I AM glad that you took steps to prevent yourself from being banned!!  I'd hate to see that happen!  So maybe approaching a mod was a good way to let off steam!  I personally would much prefer you remain the important part of IHD that you are.

I appreciate your kind support regarding my kidney.  It was very thoughtful of you to include such considerate words.

I will see you on the other forums!! 

I hope you have a really nice day!

Edited to add:  Jean, I'm not an "angry loser".  I'm frightened.  I'm really frightened by what this man and the people he picks for prominent positions within his administration might do.  Trump just really scares me.  That's all.

[MooseMom]

3. BUT, the percent of Muslims is small.  The percentage of terrorist attacks by Muslims, on a per-capita basis, is FAR greater than the attacks by non-Muslims.  That is a statistical fact.

Again, a serious question...What kind of action, if any, do you think this statistical fact, should lead us to take?

[MooseMom]

I have a question for those of you who have an opinion.  What do you think of the Romney/Giuliani schism within the GOP regarding Trump's appointment for Sec. of State?  Which of these two men would you like to see Trump choose, and why?

[kickingandscreaming]

I would prefer Romney over Giuliani any day (not that I like Romney either).  Rudy has jumped the shark and I actually think he is showing signs of dementia (not to mention he long history with the Mob).  I actually think Trump is just playing with Romney and has no intention of choosing him.  He wants to tantalize him and force him to apologize for comments he made earlier before publicly rejecting him. 

[MooseMom]

I actually think Trump is just playing with Romney and has no intention of choosing him.  He wants to tantalize him and force him to apologize for comments he made earlier before publicly rejecting him.

My husband said exactly the same thing.  That had not occurred to me.  I really hope that's not true.  I don't like it when someone sets out to publically humiliate an opponent.  I really hope that's not what is going on.

[Rerun]

Ding Ding Ding Ding.... we actually agree on something. 

I think Trump is just dicking Romney around.   

[Simon Dog]

Again, a serious question...What kind of action, if any, do you think this statistical fact, should lead us to take?

This is a simple question with a complex answer.  The Israelis have answered by giving Muslims greater scrutiny at airports than elderly Jewish grandmothers.

The answer in the US may be 'nothing', or it could be 'monitor Catholics and Jews with the same level of intensity to prove we are treating everyone equally' (which is how the US handles things at airports).  If the US did not admit and naturalize Somalis, we would not have today's disaster at Ohio State.

I believe Trump is on the right track with banning immigration from countries that have a tendency towards religious incited terrorism.  I am not convinced the constitution requires we treat non-citizens outside the country equally.

The latest case was a permanent resident immigrant from Somalia (Abdul Rasik Ali Artan) who attacked a bunch of people at Ohio State today.   Would profiling Somali immigrants have saved those victims?   Were they sacrificed on the altar of equality?    CNN reports that officials are not releasing the name (but have apparently obtained it from other sources).   Is this being done  in the name of political correctness?   Curiously, the cop who took down this  attacker is named Horujko, so we probably have a probable immigrant, or immigrant descendant, aspect to this story.
 
But, as I said earlier, the first step is accepting statistical facts and not pretending they don't exist by responding to the much higher per-capita risks Muslim immigrants pose with true, but irrelevant, responses like "we have more danger from domestic threats".