US Politics/2016 Election Pick Your Poison Master Thread

[aygart]

First of all, Trump's comments on Obama came well before the whole thing with the congresswoman. And second of all, what does it matter if it was a boast or a criticism? If you boast by calling out the other guy by name, that's inherently both. Add to all of that that his 'boast' had little basis in fact.

When did they come? I only saw that he said it now.
It makes a very big difference when it is being siad as "Even though Obama didn't I felt that I needed to call and this is what I am getting for it"
I asked before if it was true and meanwile it seems that Obama sent letters but did not call.

[skyguy918]

When did they come? I only saw that he said it now.
It makes a very big difference when it is being siad as "Even though Obama didn't I felt that I needed to call and this is what I am getting for it"
I asked before if it was true and meanwile it seems that Obama sent letters but did not call.

For someone who's not paying much attention, you sure have a lot to say on the topic.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/twelve-days-of-silence-then-a-swipe-at-obama-how-trump-handled-four-dead-soldiers/2017/10/17/521524e0-b356-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html?utm_term=.85400418f411

As far his comments about Obama being off the mark:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/10/16/trumps-claim-that-obama-didnt-make-calls-to-families-of-the-fallen/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_trumpclaim-150p%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.38752b442f11

As I said upthread, it's pretty clear what happened. Kelly tells him that Obama didn't call him when his son was killed (in an effort to convince Trump not to make calls - which probably would've been smarter for Trump), and that it's not something that all presidents for every fallen soldier - and Trump takes it as an opportunity to show superiority/boast over past presidents.

His original comment:

“If you look at President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn’t make calls. A lot of them didn’t make calls. I like to call when it’s appropriate, when I think I am able to do it.”

And then when he was called out on it:

“President Obama, I think, probably did sometimes, and maybe sometimes he didn’t. I don’t know. That’s what I was told. All I can do is ask my generals.”

It was a bad idea in the first place, and Trump botched the execution.

[Yammer]

Trump botched the execution.

As always

[henche]

https://twitter.com/phil_oliva/status/921788751789088768

I'm a Harvard lawyer

[ChaimMoskowitz]

When did they come? I only saw that he said it now.
It makes a very big difference when it is being siad as "Even though Obama didn't I felt that I needed to call and this is what I am getting for it"
I asked before if it was true and meanwile it seems that Obama sent letters but did not call.

It makes no difference. He has no business commenting on what the other presidents did in these situations, period! Just like the congresswomen had no business making any of this public!

[aygart]

It makes no difference. He has no business commenting on what the other presidents did in these situations, period! Just like the congresswomen had no business making any of this public!

The difference is whether or not it is a criticism. That makes a very big difference.

[ChaimMoskowitz]

The difference is whether or not it is a criticism. That makes a very big difference.

You love playing these words games. You don't comment at all. What part of this is not clear?

[aygart]

You love playing these words games. You don't comment at all. What part of this is not clear?

I did not see that he was trying to take a swipe at Obama when he said that. If it was simply saying that even though others didn't call but expressed their condolences in other ways I don't see the issue with that even if he is trying to boast.

[skyguy918]

I did not see that he was trying to take a swipe at Obama when he said that. If it was simply saying that even though others didn't call but expressed their condolences in other ways I don't see the issue with that even if he is trying to boast.

Really? You don't see a problem with him using his imagined superior record in condolence calls to fallen soldiers to boast? You don't see a problem with his making that boast based on falsehoods? And why mention Obama at all if he's not taking a swipe?

[aygart]

Really? You don't see a problem with him using his imagined superior record in condolence calls to fallen soldiers to boast? You don't see a problem with his making that boast based on falsehoods? And why mention Obama at all if he's not taking a swipe?

What is the falsehood? The opinion checker article you linked to says that Obama may have done it on occasion but generally didn't?

[ChaimMoskowitz]

I did not see that he was trying to take a swipe at Obama when he said that. If it was simply saying that even though others didn't call but expressed their condolences in other ways I don't see the issue with that even if he is trying to boast.

YOU DON"T TALK ABOUT WHAT OTHER PRESIDENTS DID!!!

[aygart]

YOU DON"T TALK ABOUT WHAT OTHER PRESIDENTS DID!!!

I don't feel as strongly about that as you.

[henche]

YOU DON"T TALK ABOUT WHAT OTHER PRESIDENTS DID!!!

wait, what? that's your big argument here? That presidents are not supposed to talk about what other presidents did?

After a couple centuries, I'd think you'd give up on that one.

[skyguy918]

What is the falsehood? The opinion checker article you linked to says that Obama may have done it on occasion but generally didn't?

In 2011, he flew to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware when 30 troops — including 22 Navy SEALs — died after their helicopter was hit by a rocket in Afghanistan. He met with the families there as the remains were brought home.

Only a month earlier, Leon Panetta had been named defense secretary. He was there with Obama on the tarmac in Dover. In an interview with The Fact Checker, Panetta recalled that Obama also “made calls to some of the families” involved in the helicopter crash. He said he was also told by staff of other occasions when Obama contacted families.

“I remember he did on occasion make calls and met Gold Star families at the White House and on his base visits,” said Benjamin Rhodes, a national security aide to Obama.

You can't have it both ways. If Trump meant Obama never called, it's not true. If he meant Obama didn't always call - well neither has Trump, and the boast rings hollow.

[ChaimMoskowitz]

wait, what? that's your big argument here? That presidents are not supposed to talk about what other presidents did?

After a couple centuries, I'd think you'd give up on that one.

No that is not my argument. You need to follow the flow. We are talking about Graham's statement I linked to. Just as you feel all should stand for the NA no matter the reason, Graham feels how presidents handle condolences to families of our fallen is off limits to all including Trump!

[aygart]

No that is not my argument. You need to follow the flow. We are talking about Graham's statement I linked to. Just as you feel all should stand for the NA no matter the reason, Graham feels how presidents handle condolences to families of our fallen is off limits to all including Trump!

i didn't see that he felt that it is something off limits no matter what in the article you linked to

[ChaimMoskowitz]

i didn't see that he felt that it is something off limits no matter what in the article you linked to

You need to follow the flow. That was an assumption early on. 

[TimT]

YOU DON"T TALK ABOUT WHAT OTHER PRESIDENTS DID!!!

Source ?

[aygart]

Source ?

That was an assumption

[TimT]

You know what they say about those who assume, yes?