Mantus

I'm bringing a little humor to this forum. You have to watch the very end.

Hektore

Instant classic. It's nice to see him lampoon some of the deserving talking points swirling around him.

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The advantage law is the best law in rugby, because it lets you ignore all the others for the good of the game.

ASU2003

I have to question what Donald Trump's strategy is. He gets roasted on Comedy Central (another great show, too bad it was before he announced his exploratory committee). He gets behind a birther issue instead of the economy (something he knows about), business practices, and jobs. He had lots of credibility with knowing what government policies help business and which ones hurt. He knows how to motivate people to try and start new companies and improve existing ones. Sure he and the GOP will all go after the healthcare issue, but he would be able to talk as a CEO how he would like to see the system work.

This is an example of where negative campaigning has made him into a joke, instead of a 'Presidential' leader that focuses on the problems and comes up with real solutions. Everyone knows Obama and what you get with him, there is a cable news channel and AM radio station dedicated to talking about the 'flaws' in his administration, and most people have an opinion about Obama already. But people don't know what a Trump presidency would look like and what he would change. Could he lead the military? What would he do with Social Security? What about raising tuition and prices? Foreign issues? Environment issues?

Charlatan

I really hope Trump decides to run. Between him and Palin, there ought to be plenty of laughs.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

pan6467

He made a laughingstock of Trump. Wonder if it influenced his decision to not run.

I for one have said for years, I would like Trump to run. He has money so he can't be bought. He knows how to run business and deal with unions. He sees the 900lb elephant we have (our trade deficit) and has truly good ideas how to lower it. He has a humane side to him, moreso than W or Obama. He stated that countries that have our bases there should help with costs, if not pay all expenses for them or we ship out.

I think he made some truly great points that were overshadowed by the whole birther issue. Which is not an issue 2 years into a presidency. Can't "unelect" him and impeachment would be near impossible even if suicidal for the Dem Party. So it is a non issue to even bring up. That was Donald's biggest Charlie Sheen moment.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

jewels

Awesome!

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Mark Twain

Rekna

If by run a business you mean milk as much money from it as you can before you declare bankruptcy and screw the investors.

You need to remember that Trump inherited most of his money, he isn't a self made millionaire.

ASU2003

I met Steve Forbes on Wednesday and heard him give a speech that should have been exactly what Trump should have run on. Flat tax, strong dollar, less business regulation... I was half expecting Forbes to announce his candidacy again.

They both need to work on a good foreign policy, energy policy, and private healthcare plans (I recommend something like an IRA but just for medical expenses), But somehow get the GOP off the extreme social issues used to rile up their base.

pan6467

I don't find that true. At least he stood up, took the hits and came out stronger. He did what MANY US citizens have done, got lost in the greed and almost free credit.

Really???? What exactly did he inherit? Is he narcissitic and and egomaniac? YES, but then again so is Obama.

Let's delve into Obama promises.....

Ending of the war, and closing of Gitmo, repeal the Bush tax cuts?.... nope, none of the above.

An economic policy that has failed miserably.

Bailouts of banks that now charge fees for everything and are STILL foreclosing and tightening credit.

And they still blame Bush, 2 years into the term. He worries more about Isreal giving up land than he does trying to bring home OUR OWN in a freaking war, that he promised he'd end, but he has built it up, sent more troops over and cut VA benefits.

He spends more and more and more and where is the money going? Where are these shovel ready jobs? In 10 years his own administration predicts with the spending we face a deficit of 80% GDP.... in other words 80 cents of every dollar will be forced to pay the debt. His solution so far seems to be have the gov't print more money..... which in turn will lead to extreme hyperinflation.

I'll take The Donald over Obama anyday, warts and all. Have a feeling Trump would have made good on his promises. Donald was the only one close to getting my vote. Now, I'll just be voting against Obama, unless in the next year and a half things change drastically.... like troops are brought home instead of sent, government consolidates and shrinks starts living in a true budget. Personally, I believe Trump was/is the only one who could have done it. Now we will never know.

---------- Post added at 12:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 AM ----------

Never been a Forbes man but I'd be open minded to hear him, if he proves he could back up his promises and shows that he could and will work, even COMPROMISE with BOTH parties. We shall see.


Trump had some good ideas on those subjects, unfortunately the news (even Faux) concentrated more on the "birther" issue. To bad, he had some truly good and feasible ideas.

__________________
I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

Rekna

He inherited 35 million from his father. This was also after his father had given him a considerable amount of money including 3 million to bail out is failed Taj Mahal casino. Trump's casinos all have bankruptcy in common and they are about to go bankrupt again. Trumps greatest asset is his brand which is what he sells over and over. He is not an example of a responsible business owner. If you think he is look up what happened to his plane and many other luxuries when he used investor money as his own personal piggy bank.

The last thing we need in Washington is another greedy bastard who can't keep his hand out of the cookie jar.

Derwood

why would anyone want the government run like a business?

THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T A BUSINESS. IT DOESN'T MAKE, SELL OR DISTRIBUTE PRODUCTS

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"You can't shoot a country until it becomes a democracy." - Willravel

Tully Mars

If I remember right Bush Jr was going to run the country like a business. How'd that turn out?

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Charlatan

Another voice to say, nations should not be run like a business. Businesses are meant to make a profit. Nations are meant to spend and manage resources.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Manic_Skafe

Donald Trump could never be considered a viable candidate for any government office let alone the presidency. Regardless of how good he may be with numbers, his positions on the country and economy and whatever the hell his qualifications may be, with so much of his personal business and especially his sex life as public record he'd never pass the (impossible) morality test.

I'm thinking he did Obama and himself a huge favor in playing into the freakshow, illustrating the absurdity of it all and subsequently deflating the birther movements sails while reinvigorating his brand with a heaping dose of nationwide scandal.

If you can look past the manipulation of the public and the timing of this with the OBL murder-mystery as something (anything!) more than an attempt to distract and drum up faith in a gov't that's becoming increasingly difficult to believe in then this situation really was very well played by all.

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ASU2003

I think certain government agencies could make money by offering a product. $50 million for a seat on a space shuttle...$500 for a photo pass tour of NASA, $2,000 to go through boot camp for a week, $500 to test out some military weapons at the range...

$95 photography classes in the national parks (I paid this one), $25 entrance fees to national parks, DMV car registration fees, vanity license plates, there are 'products and services that the government can charge for to reduce their operating expenses and provide jobs that come from these fees.

Charlatan

Nice. Let's take National Parks, something that is meant for all to enjoy, and charge an exorbitant fee to enter. Let's make it even more elitist than it already is by it's location alone.

Let's take things like car registration fees, which are already expensive, and make them *more* expensive. Let's say, beyond the ability of the middle/lower middle class to pay. This is especially important to do in a nation that is defined by its need of having a car.

As for Space Shuttle seats, etc. First of all, the liability insurance would be high enough to wipe out any profit. And second, do we really want to government to be running tourist attractions? Why would the government compete with free enterprise.

Again, the government not only doesn't but shouldn't run like a business. They should run like a government.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

ASU2003

1. That is the entrance fee today to enter national parks for a carload of people (or one person if you are driving alone).
2. I didn't say to increase car registration, just that the government collects money as a monopoly because people want cars. Some people will pay extra to get different license plates.
3. You can't sue the government, and it might cost a lot more than $50 million. But hiring a few tour guides to drive buses around NASA and let people take some pictures and meet some scientists and astronauts might help them make some money. They already have a museum in Huntsville, but I'm not sure exactly who runs it.

If enough people get together to become socialists and argue for increasing taxes to lower prices by subsidizing them, it might work. But, I think reducing administration costs, energy costs, using technology to reduce costs, and creating some beneficial products that can raise money would be a good thing.

Charlatan

Reducing cost is important. Good management of national resources is very important. However, creating products as a for profit model (as opposed to covering, or subsidizing, costs of operation and maintenance) is just another form of taxation.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

blktour

I thought the whole role of government was to protect our right. that is it.

running business of ANYTHING no. I believe that they should put laws out there to BLATANTLY help the middle/lower class. not these long laws that take a Lawyer to "make sense of" and makes us believe they are trying to help us when in reality they are taking our rights. not preserving them.

but in this reality we live in now, the Government we have now IS a business.

Corp US

The United States Isn't a Country — It's a Corporation!

so us getting a "social security card" means we "forfeit" our rights.

The war powers act applies to the Armed forces. All members of the Armed forces are considered Federal Employees. Federal Employees forfeit their rights when they join the Armed Forces. Therefore, this act is Constitutional.

here it is specifically:

(d) Constitutional authorities or existing treaties unaffected; construction against grant of Presidential authority respecting use of United States Armed Forces
Nothing in this chapter—
(1) is intended to alter the constitutional authority of the Congress or of the President, or the provisions of existing treaties; or
(2) shall be construed as granting any authority to the President with respect to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations wherein involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances which authority he would not have had in the absence of this chapter.
See also, USC Title 552:

(13) the term “Federal personnel” means officers and employees of the Government of the United States, members of the uniformed services (including members of the Reserve Components), individuals entitled to receive immediate or deferred retirement benefits under any retirement program of the Government of the United States (including survivor benefits).
Patriot act:

`(3) the term `State' means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.'.
Notice this doesnt say "any of the 50 states"?

United States Code: Title 26,3121. Definitions | LII / Legal Information Institute

just a tip of the iceberg yet be ready for a lot of reading.

pan6467

They've been doing that for years, toll rads were supposed to raise funds for the work on those roads. Private prisons to take the burden off gov't having to feed and care for the prisoners. Seems even though those monies are directed to go to certain projects by law, they don't always.

I like the idea of privatizing SOME programs like parks should have maintenance costs, canoing, camping and so on, state or federal.

Find ways to bring in new revenue, since you (those in govt) refuse to raise taxes, educational standards but will give oil and the rich hefty taxe breaks.

__________________
I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"