66 Comments

I think Trump is a symptom of a large and grave problem that has been festering in this country for over a generation now. Income inequality that has no equal since medieval times and we have it in our relatively young country today.

Since moving from the relative suburbia of New Jersey to North Carolina, I have seen areas of rural poverty that left me stunned. If anyone thinks a concern about Fascism matters to people mired in decades of poverty, I’d say you’re wrong. To some degree, the Republicans bear more of the blame, but there is enough to go around that blankets both parties.

Trump has gotten the votes he’s gotten because people are not content with their lives and think they have nothing to lose. The saddest part of that is he cares not one whit about them, nor will do anything for them.

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There is plenty of blame to go around, but a big chunk goes to Reagan.

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Yes.

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Absolutely

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And don’t forget the people who voted for him.

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What party do you think is most at fault for that? Who is the party of wealth? Who did Trump give the juicy tax cut to?

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I wrote that Republicans bear more of the blame in my post. Keep in mind that NAFTA did a lot of destruction, too, and that had support from both parties. The issue goes farther, much farther back than Trump. The Reagan tax cuts were the biggest problem.

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IT was also the union busting that started under Reagan ..air traffic controllers and the propaganda that detroit was giving to much money to the workers ...Collective bargaining is the one thing workers must have... NAFTA was going to happen no matter what... the wealthy were going to do business offshore no matter what ...Making community college free and expected of all young people to attend if they can't go to a 4 year college... Community Colleges can train and educate our young so they can get decent jobs.

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I will also add, Gail, that the poverty and other problems would be more pervasive if not for Democratic programs, like the Great Society, etc. It is difficult for the people in it to comprehend that. Which is one example as to why this state elected someone like Mark Robinson as Lieutenant Governor — a man who would do absolutely zero for the working poor. He just says things they like to hear, which is perhaps a reason why we have the MAGA problem today. I could write on this at length.

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I’m waiting to hear how TFG’s injury is a result of something that ricocheted and hit his ear…. It’s wasn’t an AK47 high capacity round clipping his ear. Come on now! Those rounds don’t connect that way. Totally lying about this. Also, is the patch still really necessary???

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Now, now, enough with the conspiracy theories. Does it really matter what caused the injury - bullet versus scattered glass?

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It does when your using it to gaslight Americans.

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For me, the question is: WHAT is Donald Trump? I see him as a fire-breathing monster from Dante's Inferno.

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I just finished watching the documentary "Bad Faith." If you want to understand how unfathomably evil the MAGA Christian Nationalist movement is and how they have achieved so much power, though reflecting minority views, it is a must see movie. BTW, Steve Schmidt appears in it several times.

One interesting point made is the anti-choice movement wasn't important to evangelicals until Roe v. Wade. The decision gave them an issue designed ro achieve an ultra-"conservative" SCOTUS. Their actual goal was to create a WHITE Christian Nationalist movement, take away the right to vote from those most likely to turn out against them, and end democracy by any means necessary.

The point is made that most deeply evil movements cover themselves with a phony cloak of goodness. Paul Weyrich, founder of the National Policy Council, is exposed as the villain he was. The racism, bigotry, and greed of phony Christians like Jerry Falwell, Kenneth Copeland and others is clearly exposed. In one scene, Kenneth Copeland actually looks like the fiery-eyed demon he is.

We should try to get Christian evangelical supporters of Trump to watch this. It is really powerful.

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Jul 18Liked by Steve Schmidt

I just watched “Bad Faith” yesterday. Agree it is a must see. Steve’s commentary as always right on target. So glad his voice is being heard through this.

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Joe Biden has done nothing wrong, but get old, and in that he has no control. He isn’t purposely growing old out of spite, corrupt intentions, or self serving ambitions. He has many accomplishments and much expertise and in spite of the ramifications of age he is pressing forward under great strain to continue to do the job he is best qualified to do. It is not easy, yet he does not quit. What makes it harder is the Democratic Party placing it’s feet on the back his neck. The point to be made is on his worst day, Joe Biden can outperform Trump hands down. If the choice were to be made, if considering surgery, any sane person would choose Biden over Trump to perform it, because the only thing Trump would bring to the surgery is a screw driver and rusty saw and a group of spin doctors. Biden would bring a team of highly qualified back up surgeons and the highest quality instruments.

This should have been the immediate response from the Democratic Party following the debate. Running this country has nothing to do with debating skills, and everything to do with strategy, experience, expertise and a qualified team to implement it. Compare the candidates and parties on that basis.

The successful running of this country is not based on one person alone; that is why it is called a democracy. Voting for Trump goes against that principle by his own words, “I alone am the only one who can fix it”. Those are the words of a dictator, not a democratic leader.

The Democratic Party, the news media, and the Washington Insiders are missing the main issue. A lot can be learned from sports. To be successful, this country has to operate as a team. It was formed and built to do just that. A team supports its teammates on good days and bad. If someone is not performing well on a given day, it is the duty of others to pick up the slack. Score more runs, field better, throw harder and slap the back of the one having a bad day.

Running this country is a team effort and if you do not have a team effort filled with ideas, performance, compromise, unselfish commitment, and ready to put your life on the line and pick up the slack, you have Trump and the Republican Party.

This country has never been about one man and one performance and the day it does, this country is no more. Biden needs the support of everyone who cares for this country and if it comes time when Biden can no longer do the job, not perfect, but better than the other guy, that will be the time to regroup. Until that is the case the rest of the team needs to step up and fill in the gaps.

We can learn another important thing from sports. The outcome of the game is determined by the ending score, not by how many homers hit by an individual player on each team. If it were, you could eliminate the game of baseball and just have a home run hitting contest. You would only need two players, two hitters and a pitching machine.

Joe Biden isn’t the loser here, it is the Democratic Party, the news media and Washington Insiders, who throw in the towel at the first sign of mishap. With that kind of knee jerk reaction, they declare themselves the true loser. No matter who replaces Joe Biden, with that kind of support, losing is guaranteed. These entities fail to recognize what a democracy stands for and how it needs to function. If the political parties, the new media and the Washington Insiders can’t see this, they need to get out of the way.

Jerry

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I am changing from Democrat to independent. What the party has done to Biden is despicable. The party bullies didn’t fund Tim Ryan which is why we have Vance. And the fact that Pete Thiel gave Vance 45 million. They also didn’t fund Fetterman, but enough of my fellow Pennsylvanians came through.

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Excellent video, and so many good points. I like all the Joe has done so far, but unfortunately for the us Americans, we will not be America anymore if Trump wins. He is planning to re-write portions of the constitution so that HE cannot be replaced. Trump is already a proven criminal, so wants and has been granted the ability to be above the law. We are moving to that Facist state that so many and two wars has fought and died to prevent. Russia waits with great anticipation that if Trump wins, so do they. Putin chance to grab more territory is upon us. Trump is Putin’s friend and the Dictators will be able to stamp out Democracy around the world. The heroic thing to do is to pass the torch to a democratic team mate that can give the people what they have been asking for - another choice, and opportunity to save America from the greatest threat it has ever experienced. The devil from within.

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Does Trump really think if Putin has his way and our country becomes Trump kingdom that Putin wouldn't use that magic potion that has worked so well on others or find an open window while visiting his useful idiot to accidentally trip and push him out while trying to catch his balance while grabbing Trump to stabilize himself?

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Jul 18Liked by Steve Schmidt

I don’t comment much anymore Steve because I have run out of words to express the state of the 2024 election, especially when you ( and others ) say them so passionately and eloquently. I still read and listen every day. I hope and pray along with you that the Democrats choose wisely. Thank you as always for telling the truth as you see it and for your continued work at The Warning.

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Diane,

And thank YOU for your ongoing support!

Steve

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We have the ball in our court slam dunk !!! dems ! we can WIN !!!

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I've felt this for quite some time and your question of, "who is DJT" is worthy of my response. My opinion is he is the vessel, or puppet, is a better description of the republican party and others outside of the party. He has never been anything of substance in his entire life and he sure as hell isn't a leader or a politician, just a useful grifter for republicans. It's the rotten Mother Fuckers not only in the party, congressmen, senators, etc. but also, those outside of government (foreign actors as well) using him for their ends. And it runs deep and wide. He isn't smart enough to tie his shoes let alone be some mastermind of plotting and scheming, just a dumb golfer with money and power. What a sad state of affair we find ourselves in. If everyone with a lick of sense doesn't vote Blue, even if the nominee is a dead person, we're fucked.

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If you want to watch the Republican convention 1933 version: Google “Tomorrow Belongs to Me” - You Tube - it’s chilling and it’s NOW.

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Why are you talking about this like it’s a “fait accompli”… to scare people to get off their butts?

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Steve, the short answer is, he stands for Donald Trump. Period.

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Gaetz really needs to stop using Trump's makeup team, it's not a look that suits him unless, of course, he's trying to emulate his hero in everyway he can.

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Who is Donald Trump? Who even cares! What a loser and convict.

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Republicans don't like to be accused of fostering "Fascism." Okay, we can accuse them of fostering "MAGAism."

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I used to think the US was a moral country, but now it looks like a country of dupes - consumers, and manipulators of consumers. Our citizens are tribalists, just like the lower primates. I don't think we can be reasonable. Thanks for keeping our sights up.

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It certainly does feel that way. There are enough dupes in the swing states because of the travesty known as the Electoral College to destroy the country.

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