So I made the mistake of bringing up politics on Facebook
This is going to be long-winded, so if you don’t have the time… save it for later..
People that know me understand that I rarely bring up politics. I prefer to keep my opinions and beliefs to myself. The reason for this is because politics is one of those subjects where both sides eventually start yelling at each other and feelings get hurt, and at times, friendships are lost. Lets get this out of the way, I am a progressive, I voted for Obama twice, and yes, I voted for Hillary in 2016. With that being said, I also voted for GW Bush in 2000, and my very first election in 1984 I voted for Ronald Reagan. I favor the progressive agenda, and do not consider myself a Democrat or a Republican, I was a victim of the bad economy from the years of 2006-2010 and was laid off twice from the same job in that timespan. I am White, male over the age of 45, raised Christian(Methodist), and believe myself to be a patriot, so to see me as a progressive puts me pretty much in the minority based on my demographic.
But in my 32 years of being a registered voter I have seen a transformation occur in Congress.. I have seen them go from looking out for the American Citizen, doing their jobs to the best of their ability, to only looking out for themselves. Using their office to better themselves financially, selling out to the highest bidder and not caring what their constituency believes or expects of them as a representative. Elected officials in Washington have forgotten whom it is they work for, and that has left me jaded, disappointed, and of the belief that my concerns will never be addressed.
To combat this, I have always managed to try and focus on what I was doing, making sure my actions and choices were best for me, and not allowing what was going on in DC to affect how I lived, or how I moved forward with my goals. In the big picture, what goes on in Congress has no bearing on how successful I could be in my own life, and that my destiny depends on what I do, not what some rich asshole does as my elected representative. In 2008, Barak Obama announced he was running for President, and once I started listening to what he had to say, I had “Hope” to coin an awkward and overused word. I believed in him, I felt he could do what he said he could do, to achieve what he set out to accomplish, and for the first time in over 20 years, believed things could change for the better.
Fast forward Eight years, and although I overall pleased with what he has done as the President, I witnessed hatred towards the man because of the color of his skin, hatred toward him for caring for the uninsured, the poor, the weak, and the minority of this country. He did not accomplish all that he set out to do, and at the same time he also managed to still bring hope to me and what I felt was best for this country. Now, what I feel is best may not be what you feel is best, but this is how I feel and not about what the “majority” or the “minority” feels is best. I have a lot to criticize him for, most of all having to do with the drone program, along with his failure to get a single payer health plan in place, but for the most part, I was ok with him as president.
The 2016 election was something to behold. You had the establishment Clinton, you had the Billionaire Trump, both of which came with a TON of baggage and a lot of detractors fro both sides of the aisle. I could never see myself voting for Donald Trump, having seen how he carried himself, how he treated his employees, how he declared bankruptcy so many times and yet still claimed to be a successful businessman, how he treated women, not to mention the fact he was boorish, vulgar, and above all else, stated that he and he alone could fix what was wrong with America. So I voted for Hillary, not my ideal choice, but she was the most experienced, had a track record as Secretary of State, Senator, and First Lady to Bill Clinton (whom I voted for….Twice).
Well we all know what happened, Trump won the Electoral College (not the popular vote), is now The President, and has been in office for nearly 4 months now. In those four months he has been active on Twitter, mostly at 3am, he has bragged about how great he is doing, has done all he can to drill into the American people about how HUGE he won, criticize the media at every turn (which they deserve for the most part), and tout successes that actually were put in place prior to him taking office by the previous administration. He has played more golf this year than Tiger Woods, and decided that the Presidency is a 9-5 job Monday-Friday. I could go on and on about my issues with the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania avenue, but that would take up all the available storage on this blog.
Let me address what happened two days ago. I decided to post a comment on my Facebook page regarding Trump. The post was the following:
I’m probably gonna catch hell for this but….If you voted for this asshole…you have weakened the future of this country, and I hope you’re happy.
As expected, that brought out the wrath of the Raging Redneck Robert Arnold, a person I consider a good friend and a person that has shared a seat next to me for nearly six years on “The Sports Nerds” a Webcast I host every Sunday night from 7-9pm Eastern on Crowdcast in which we talk about Sports, pop culture, movies, business, and whatever else we decide to talk about. his response to me was as follows:
Quit being butt-hurt. Get over it already. You fucking libs need to grow the fuck up and quit crying like little whiny bitches. Trump could come out and say we need to raise taxes, provide free college, save the whales, and fully fund planned parenthood and ya all would bitch about that. Shut the fuck up. Go to work. Pay your taxes. And get over the shit already.
My initial reaction was to lash out at Arnie, but that’s not my style, I don’t enjoy confrontations, and to be honest politics are volatile, and I didn’t want to get into a pissing contest with him on Facebook. Some of my FB friends came to my defense and decided they wanted to put him in his place, but if you know Arnie like I know him, all that does is egg him on and he will only push back and could eventually say something about your upbringing or your mother. I decided to wait it out and see what reaction he would get and I was not disappointed. Thank you to my friends Adam Wolf, Trey Johnson, and Shelly Kanner, for sticking up for what I said and for being there for me, I appreciate you more than you know, but in the end, this is my fight and I need to stand up for myself in these situations as well.
With that being said, Arnie’s response is exactly what I expected, he is of the same opinion that I am, in that what happens in Washington has no bearing on how you live your life, how you succeed, and how you approach success. You are responsible for your own actions (Or inactions) and what happens in Government has no impact on how successful you can be in your life. That much we agree on, but I have decided to look at the big picture regarding the government and it has allowed me to come to a decision when it comes to politics. I will not sit idly by and allow a Reality Show host, a failed businessman, a charlatan dressed up like a leader, a Liar-In-Chief, or a man who has no respect for Women, the American people, the people that work for him, the media, elected officials of other countries, attempt to destroy a country from within that I love, that my ancestors fought and DIED for dating back to the Revolutionary War, and enrich his personal wealth at the same time.
That’s right I said ancestors… I have documented proof that I have ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and WWII. I have a great Uncle who was a decorated war hero in WWII during Guadalcanal and an ancestor that was actually the thirteenth signer of the Mayflower Compact. I am not worthy of their sacrifice, and my life and what I have accomplished pales in comparison, but it is my history and I am proud of it. So to say I should just “shut the fuck up” is not going to happen. I will defend this country however I can to the best of my ability from tyrants, from unqualified idiots, and those that seek to destroy this country from within, whether it be in Congress, the Supreme Court, or in the White House. I am not “Butt Hurt” I am not a “whiny bitch” and I will not “get over it”.
I witnessed for the entire eight years of the Obama Administration the vitriol, the racism, the hatred, and the utter disdain the Republican Party, the right wing nut jobs and the ignorant assholes that blasted MY President whom I voted for TWICE. If you or anyone else thinks I am just gonna “get over it” when a man who couldn’t hold Obama’s JOCK or conduct an intelligent conversation with a mole cricket is holding the highest office in the land, you’re wrong. This guy is not qualified to hold the office of DOG CATCHER let alone President of the United States, and I will blast him, I will criticize him, I will make fun of him, and I will do everything in my power to see that he does not sit in office any longer that he is allowed. You go ahead and live with your blinders on, you go ahead and believe that he will “make america great again”, I for one will fight him every step of the way.
One last thing… for those that posted on my FB page how he was the only choice considering the “alternative” I have news for you… you decided to elect a man that has never held political office, has had double digit bankruptcies, believes in molesting women, has been married 3 times, his current wife apparently worked in this country illegally for a time, and is living in New York instead of Washington, he is an adulterer, he is a draft dodger, and he wouldn’t know the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, or the Declaration of Independence if you rolled them all up and slapped him upside the head with it. You call her Crooked Hillary, you call her a liar, you accuse her of murder, yet one thing you can NEVER deny… ON PAPER, she is the most qualified politician to EVER run for office, you cant deny it, you cant defend it, and you most certainly cant sell it…
If you don’t like my politics, my ideas, or my patriotism… them get the fuck off my timeline and un-follow me…
Go Fuck Yourself…
Scott A. Wright… The Sports Nerd…
Few things….
As a Canadian, I find American politics hilarious. You guys get so bent out of shape over a flag it’s fascinating. As the great George Carlin once said (and I’m paraphrasing)….”Too much pride for a flag. Too much pride will ruin ya. Never forget Proverbs 16:18.”
That being said. I get it. No side was gonna be happy with however was in power. Some people will hate on Trump, others on Hilary.
But the divide that has been created…As an outsider looking in…Is scary. You guys are becoming your own worst enemy. The hatred between races, political backgrounds, religious beliefs…I can’t ever remember it this bad in my 40 years on planet earth.
And sorry Scott, but I agree with Robert. Complaining about the guy isn’t going to do anything. He’s been voted in, and that’s democracy. By the rules of your land, he’s the president.
You don’t have to like him, and I get it…The guy seems built for late night TV rather than the office but still…He really, doesn’t hurt or hinder your every day life. I know my Prime Minister doesnt do a thing for me, but everyone seems to love the guy. Doesn’t make a single ounce of difference who is in power….Wanna change the world, let’s change ourselves and how WE choose to live daily.
Back to Trump….To be brutally honest, I can’t keep up with who he’s pissing off from day to day…So yeah, I completely understand the views of people that are sick of him lol
Oh hell, I’m Canadian….Let me grab my popcorn and keep watching this mess 🙂
Jon,
thanks for commenting, and while I agree with how he won’t affect how I live my life, and I will continue doing what I have been doing in regards to my day-to-day life and career, it is my right as am American to complain about the leaders we have elected into office, it may not change anything, but I will continue to voice my opposition. Actually, my biggest complaint is what Congress has become, and to that, I can change it with my vote and I will continue to do so…. Thanks!!
Absolutely. And the beautiful thing about democracy is that you are allowed to voice your opinion and are free to do it without the fear for being prosecuted. Bravo for speaking up man. I know politics can be…A heated debate.
And like you, I vote on policy, much more than party.
I posted this on Facebook, but will post it here
One should never be afraid to express ones political opinion, It is after all letting people know your perspective that allows for change to begin.
Narrow minded people will attack and offer nothing more than derogatory rhetoric.
The reality is that there is some serious stuff happening that is heading towards a flash back from the 50’s and that cannot be good.
From a world perspective Scott, there is a lot of laughing going on, albeit veiled laughter at the facy that something monumentally stupid could happen that will effect the worldwide community, but laughter none the less.
Yes one has to get on with the process of day to day living, however when things start to happen that threaten the existence of freedom within day to day living, then that is the time to express your opinion.
America has sent itself backwards a few generations and is coming across as a very weak willed community that is allowing something very extraordinary to happen.
I am not sure what is required before someone is seen to be doing the wrong thing when it comes to “running a country” but how much farcical stuff does this guy have to do before he is removed.
The world watches, has placed the US on the sidelines and deleted any credibility that it may have had out of the trash can as well.
America is Great Again, to itself, but as far as world credibility ??? it is a shame that all the good work has been undone.
Thanks for commenting Russell…
We are now the laughing stock of the World… after so much progress had been made.
It is redeemable, It is how America now responds to this that will determine how the world responds to America.
However the response needs to be considered and decisive not ill conceived and divisive
The problem with “Shut up and get over it” is that it goes against everything American. We are Americans and we love our Free Speech and with that in mind speaking your mind on policies you do not like or want to change is how you change them. Should we keep quiet and ignore Lake O? Should we keep quiet and ignore the KKK? You keep quiet on things you like that are not threatened. When you shut up and keep quiet you give permission to keep going down the road you are on. Complacency is permission. So no Do not Shut up. If you do not like the policies, possible criminal acts and the like coming out of this Administration make your voice heard do not give your permission through silence. Telling someone to “Shut up and get over it” is at best rude at worst it is trying to silence you and get “permission” through inaction. Do not shut up. Be heard. And Never give permission to policies you do not like through silence.
Joe (j’Alex)
AS I mentioned in the original post, I will continue to criticize, mock, make fun of, and hold him accountable as the President of the United States. The responsibility of holding that office comes with expectations, and thus far he has not lived up to them. Thanks for your perspective on this.
By the way… in case you want to feel old… your namesake, my son, is 23 now..
Just thought you should know….lol
I wasn’t going to do this, but I find myself with spare time. Thus, here it comes. Yes, the Libs have been butt-hurt since Hillary lost the election. Cry about the popular vote all you want, but that is how the ‘Constitution’ is written. DEAL WITH IT! My beef, and the beef of millions of registered voters, is the political elite establishment. The Chuck Schumer’s, John McCain’s, Nacny Pelosi’s, Paul Ryan’s and the rest of wretched corrupt that stink up the Capital Building. Their behavior since Donald Trump won the election, is not a reflection of their politics. It is a reflection of their FEAR. That is right, I said FEAR. Here it comes, a Star Wars reference: “All those who gain power are afraid to lose it.” If someone like Hillary Clinton can lose an election in which she was pitted up against Donald Trump, the rest of them are scrambling. The reactions have been different across the board, but it is all in fear of losing their next election to someone who has never held a political office before. I say GOOD! We need fresh ideas and new blood in Congress. The ‘established’ way of doing things is coming to an end. The so-called ‘weakened’ nation is not because of what one person temporarily residing at 1600 Pennsylvania is doing. It is the result of pointless bickering among the establishment in Congress that gets nothing done. They haven’t gotten anything done in a long time. They ‘claim’ to be doing this ‘for’ and ‘in the interest’ of the American people. Bullshit! They do what they do for self-preservation and self-interest. You can’t tell me that John McCain or Chuck Schumer have any fucking clue what Americans go through on a day to day basis. Both are old enough that they should be spending their days in a retirement home playing Gin and shuffleboard. Not all are like this. I give kudos to Republican Representative Jason Caffetz from Utah. He recently announced he would not be running for re-election to his seat in Congress and returning to the private sector. This is a glowing example of what those who get elected should follow.
Occasionally, I will lash out at some of the established politicians on Twitter. Who knows if they read it. But when I see them make an overtly stupid comment, I can’t help but call them out. Enter Maxine Waters. How this person keeps getting re-elected is beyond me. She recently said she would have supported the firing of James Comey if Hillary had done it. But she doesn’t becuase Trump did it. WTF? All those Dems that called for his firing are now pissy about it. Well, I am here to tell you that yes, he should have been fired. A long ass time ago. Why? He inserted himself into the controversy and became the controversy. If the head of any Agency becomes the focal point of any controversy, they are no longer doing their job. They have failed at their job and need to be held accountable. Comey screwed up. And it started with his press conference last July. He never should have done it. That wasn’t his job. The FBI has the responsibility for ‘investigating’. Their finding in an investigation are presented to Justice Department. Their personnel are responsible for determining whether or not charges should be brought against the subject of the investigation. This is how any law enforcement agency conducts investigation and prosecution. I’ll be honest, Comey isn’t the only one that should be or have been fired. When the head of an agency is continually testifying before Congress for other than normal briefings, there is a problem. Someone isn’t keeping their house in order. New leadership is needed. A person I would like to cite as an example is former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Hugh Shelton. During his tenure, which ended shortly after 9/11, you rarely saw him in the public eye. When you did see him in press conferences, it was with SecDef. The man was the consummate professional. Probably from his time as a Commander in Special Forces. I personally had the honor of serving under General Shelton during my service in the military. I can say without a doubt, his example of leadership and getting the job done had a profound impact.(Of course, I don’t go ‘unheard’….LOL).
Comey’s firing by Trump is an example of accountability. Not cover up. This nation, has become one in which it is not the individual’s fault for their actions anymore. Someone else is to blame. No one is held responsible and accountable. And yes, if Trump fucks up, he should be held accountable as well. But so far, he hasn’t done anything that warrants Maxine Waters cries for impeachment. We need to get back to holding people accountable. For every action, there is a consequential result. Good actions need to be rewarded. Bad actions need to be punished. We can start by keeping score in youth sports. Our youth can learn more about life when they lose a game than they can when they all get the same trophy for participating.
They won’t get ‘butt-hurt’ when they don’t get their way.
I agree with most of what you are saying Arnie, and we have had discussions about these issues on the show. I will respectfully disagree with you on the reasons surrounding Comey’s firing. Trump has stated publicly that he fired Comey over the investigation over his ties to “The Russian investigation”. I agree he should have been fired by Obama, but the same issue would have come up, as to the “timing” of the firing. trump is getting blasted by both the left and the right as to how coincidental the firing is, and if Obama had fired Comey after he did what he did in October, he would have been blasted for the same thing Trump is now. Again, let me be clear, I agree Comey should have been fired for the exact reasons you stated, but the reason it is getting so much heat is because of the timing.
Thank you for engaging in this, I know we have mutual respect for each other and that although we are on separate sides of the political spectrum, it has not affected our friendship. I look forward to your return to the show, we have missed you.
“Timing” is an excuse for anyone to give a reason for their displeasure. No matter when a politician does something, if someone wants to attack that politician, they will default to ‘timing’. When the dust settles on all this, I guarantee that the one thing that will come out of this, is that taxpayer dollars were wasted and Congress will continue to get nothing done. Waste of time and waste of taxpayer dollars.