Can you be critical of your own side?

[toobfreak]

I do it all the time. I think Trump overall is exactly who we need in the presidency right now. But his ego drives me nuts. And some of his ideas - 50-year-mortgages?? - are simply absurd.
I'll take him over any Democrat by a long shot, though.

Excellent. Yeah, Trump has had some crazy, untenable ideas, like Greenland and Canada, but notice how these crazy ideas tend to be combed out of the agenda with time? Trump explores ideas, like the possibility of whether there was any way to take a virus killer after being infected (the famous Clorox bleach comments), then lets the viability of the ideas shake out over time and be tested.

Still, far, far better to have a guy like Trump who puts 110% into his job, and gets 95% of it right, than a guy like Joe Biden who put 15% into the job (which was 100% for him), and have 99.99999999% of it all wrong.

• Trump is like a grand slam hitter who occasionally tips the ball. They will still be talking about Trump a century from now.
• Can anyone name a single thing Biden ever did that was great and right? Folks quit talking about Biden before he even left office.

 

[mac allen]

Your perception is defined by what you observe. Many people discussing this topic watch retarded pay tv, a place that maximizes drama by shouting. Read primary source documents or, at least, watch floor discussion.

 

[mac allen]

I didn't vote. And I know that's sacrilege. I'm here anyway. Sue me. lol

No, I get the sentiment. You get disgusted. We all do. But just remember, someone else is voting. You're political by commission or omission.

 

[OODA_Loop]

Why does me not supporting either side mean I have no dog? I still care about the nation.

Anyone can sit in the recliner and yell at those on the field.

 

[Anomalism]

Anyone can sit in the recliner and yell at those on the field.

Yes, not having tribal loyalty frees me of having to justify what either side does. It's a rather good and reasonable position I think. It's not because I'm afraid of accountability. I just don't believe in either side, and I don't compromise my morals.

 

[JWBooth]

Did you vote for Oliver?

This Oliver?

 

[mac allen]

This Oliver?
View attachment 1185553

Yeah, that guy.

 

[mac allen]

Trump trolls a lot of people by stuff he is never serious about.

 

[Anomalism]

Trump trolls a lot of people by stuff he is never serious about.

Trump is hilarious sometimes. The bait is almost too obvious, and left wingers deep throat it.

 

[OODA_Loop]

Yes, not having tribal loyalty frees me of having to justify what either side does. It's a rather good and reasonable position I think. It's not because I'm afraid of accountability. I just don't believe in either side, and I don't compromise my morals.

Wow tribal loyalty. So edgy and hip.

I don't think you have the balls to lay out your "morals" in three sentences.

 

[Anomalism]

Wow tribal loyalty. So edgy and hip.

I don't think you have the balls to lay out your "morals" in three sentences.

Tribal loyalty is just a reality. It's part of the game. Left and right are tribes, and lots of people exist within them without questioning the tribe.

My morals are simple. Take the side of reality even when it's inconvenient. Especially when it's inconvenient. Clarity > ego. I don't fear being wrong. I invite it. For me, politics is an arena to expand my insight in, not something to win. I don't care about being right. I care about being less ignorant than I was yesterday.

 

[OODA_Loop]

Tribal loyalty is just a reality. It's part of the game. Left and right are tribes, and lots of people exist within them without questioning the tribe.

My morals are simple. Take the side of reality even when it's inconvenient. Especially when it's inconvenient. Clarity > ego. I don't fear being wrong. I invite it. For me, politics is an arena to expand my insight in, not something to win. I don't care about being right. I care about being less ignorant than I was yesterday.

Ergo you have no morals just whatever you view is reality.

 

[Anomalism]

Ergo you have no morals just whatever you view is reality.

No, my morals just aren’t tribal. Reality is the only standard that doesn’t bend for anyone. If a belief fails contact with reality, it isn’t moral, it’s comfortable. My morals are built around honesty, clarity, and refusing to lie to myself or others for the sake of a team.

 

[OODA_Loop]

No, my morals just aren’t tribal. Reality is the only standard that doesn’t bend for anyone. If a belief fails contact with reality, it isn’t moral, it’s comfortable. My morals are built around honesty, clarity, and refusing to lie to myself or others for the sake of a team.

Thanks for not voting.

 

[ElmerMudd]

I’m not asking what you think about the people you oppose. That part’s easy. Anyone can point out flaws in their enemies. What I’m interested in is whether you can be just as honest about the people you support. Can you look at your own side and call out the weaknesses, the bad habits, the blind spots, the corruption, the parts you wish were better? Most people claim they care about truth, but only apply scrutiny to the outgroup. I want to see how many here can apply the same lens inward. Be specific. Be fair. No whataboutism, no switching targets. Just your side, your critique, your honesty.

I am anti-Trump but not a Democrat. If you cannot criticize a specific politician, or party, you support, you are in a cult. Both parties are fiscally irresponsible but the Democrats more so. They try to help citizens and other countries more than we can afford.
Trump is a result of the Democrat party providing help to multiple minority groups; blacks women, immigrants. It was well intended but there was a large group of whites in the US that fell on hard times and they were not receiving the same help. They were looked on as deplorables by too many in the Democrat party.
The Republican party has been hijacked by MAGA. The number of spinesless Republicans is amazing.

 

[Anomalism]

Thanks for not voting.

Hey, no problem. You don't have to worry about my vote unless a legitimately honest and aligned person enters the arena. Unlikely.

 

[ElmerMudd]

Hey, no problem. You don't have to worry about my vote unless a legitimately honest and aligned person enters the arena. Unlikely.

Shouldn't you vote for the least dishonest candidate. There are degrees of bad.
Less bad is better than real bad.

 

[drudge X]

Trump has his flaws. At least whenever he communicates with America, it's directly from him instead of going through several filtering layers before the message reaches Americans. I'll take the guy who talks bluntly and direct instead of a guy who can't even address the press without rehearsal or requiring the questions submitted weeks or months in advanced for approval like in China. Even the most committed leftists know that they have no idea WTF Harris is saying whenever she opens her yapper.

 

[Anomalism]

Shouldn't you vote for the least dishonest candidate. There are degrees of bad.
Less bad is better than real bad.

I get the argument for “less bad,” and I don’t look down on people who vote that way. It makes sense for a lot of folks. My own stance is different. When I look at the landscape, I don’t see good vs bad, I see two systems shaped by the same incentives, the same tribal pressures, and the same blind spots. For me, voting for the “least dishonest” still feels like participating in a machine I don’t believe is aligned with reality.

I’m not apathetic or disengaged. I care deeply about the world I live in. I just hold a higher standard for political alignment than “less corrupt than the other guy.” Until I see someone who actually meets that standard, my contribution isn’t a ballot; it’s pushing for clarity, honesty, and better thinking in the conversations themselves.

 

[Blisterfinger]

I’m not asking what you think about the people you oppose. That part’s easy. Anyone can point out flaws in their enemies. What I’m interested in is whether you can be just as honest about the people you support. Can you look at your own side and call out the weaknesses, the bad habits, the blind spots, the corruption, the parts you wish were better? Most people claim they care about truth, but only apply scrutiny to the outgroup. I want to see how many here can apply the same lens inward. Be specific. Be fair. No whataboutism, no switching targets. Just your side, your critique, your honesty.

Trump is certainly not perfect. It is such a shame that Joe Biden created such a mess with the immigration that these strong arm tactics have to be used in order to fix. Maybe there is a better way than what Trump is doing I'm not sure, possibly.
Trump needs to be a better criticizer of himself but don't we all.
The tariffs could have been handled in a much more measured and consistent manner.
Biden Obama Democrats dishonesty is definitely worth fighting against and prosecuting. In fact necessary for the continuing prosperity of our nation.