Jennifer Rubin: Trump glorifies himself; Pete glorifies public service

[MBS]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/07/03/trump-glorifies-himself-buttigieg-glorifies-public-service/?

The contrast could not be more striking: A narcissistic 73-year-old president who has used his office to enrich himself and his relatives is planning a militaristic, bombastic tribute starring himself (who else?). Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Afghanistan war veteran and mayor of South Bend, Ind., Pete Buttigieg, introduces a plan for national service.. . . . . There is a lot to like in this. For one thing, Buttigieg’s plan loosens’ Democrats obsession with free college, and instead provides a post-high-school project whereby young people could earn something. Only about 30 percent of Americans go to college, a number out of whack with the time spent trying to give tuition away to generally wealthier students. In the debates Buttigieg pointed out that we should also look out for ways to make not going to college affordable. This program might lead to college, but it might also lead to non-college accreditation and meaningful work that doesn’t require a college degree.

In addition, Buttigieg’s proposal is a repudiation of the Trumpian autocratic promise that “I alone can fix it,” a tagline for every tinpot dictator who insists the answers are “easy” as long as he is in power. Back on Earth One, our nagging social and economic problems are complex, longstanding and not amenable to snap solutions. A core principle of patriotism and democracy is that the citizens attend to their own well-being; they are not passive observers of the Great Leader. Ironically, Buttigieg’s plan is the sort of thing conservatives favored before they joined a cult supporting consolidation of power in the executive branch of the federal government. It encourages activity outside the federal government, fostering local and state engagement through the kinds of civic institutions that have withered in recent years. While Trump never leaves us alone, intruding into every crevice of society (Fourth of July, even), Buttigieg reaffirms that the federal government is supposed to be limited; it is our potential that should be limitless.

Finally, Buttigieg makes a compelling case for the program’s ability to foster understanding and unity across social, racial, political and geographic divides. .. This is quintessential Buttigieg — wonky and understated in presentation but deeply patriotic. If you’re keeping a list of good ideas from all the candidates for the next president to tap, put this one on it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Jennifer Rubin is right on this issue.

OF course the trumpers won't like it: this program brings people together, shows them how much they all have in common with each other, how working together will increase our community nationwide.

I've heard Pete talk about community as something that we as a nation have lost. This is at least party because people no longer spend their lives working in one place for one company. We've been scattered as the big bosses have looked for ways to cut costs and to increase their take.

As a result, many people feel unmoored, with a lack of community increasing their sense of isolation. Pete's program would help wipe out feelings of isolation as it helps folks work for the common good. They would be more likely to feel as though they're part of something bigger than themselves. The country would benefit.

[Celerity]

2. thank you so much for this post!

I hope you put it in the main group (sorry if you did and I missed it)

[MBS]

3. I hadn't, but I'll do it now. n/t

[Celerity]

4. +1

[SWBTATTReg]

6. Neat!

[SWBTATTReg]

5. I really honestly feel that most normal people do want to help their communities, working ...

hand in hand with each other. rump is the opposite of what America stands for. He stands for 'what can they get out of the system while enriching themselves and screwing everyone else'. He does nothing to unify the country, and knocks everyone that stand against his gutter politics and policies, calling us traitors, when in fact it's him that is the traitor to the American values that allow us to oppose him and his racist and bigoted agenda.

rump is the very definition of BS, selfishness, and the ugly American...shameful and a disgrace. No wonder the world is sitting back watching in horrid fascination as this ugly chapter plays out.

One note...this ugly chapter is coming to an end. Nov. 2020 will be here soon, believe it or not (to some here it is of course not soon enough), and a new chapter will be written that will be titled 'The New American Era' and
new anti-discriminatory policies and laws will be enacted right and left, new safeguards will be built into the American mindset and something like rump will never ever be allowed again.

The name 'Trump' will be similar to Benedict Arnold's name in that he will be recognized (and family too) as one of the worst traitors in American history (I apologize to fellow DUers, I never want to utter or write this POS' name).

Happy Fourth of July to everyone and be safe.

[Celerity]

7. I am absolutely against the death penalty, but not many tears would be shed in our household

if Rump ended up doing the old Tyburn Tree ballet at the end of a rope



For much of its history, public executions took place at Tyburn, with prisoners processed from Newgate Prison in the City, via St Giles in the Fields and Oxford Street. After the late 18th century, when public executions were no longer carried out at Tyburn, they were carried out at Newgate Prison itself and at Horsemonger Lane Gaol in Southwark.

The first recorded execution took place at a site next to the stream in 1196. William Fitz Osbert, populist leader who played a major role in an 1196 popular revolt in London, was cornered in the church of St Mary le Bow. He was dragged naked behind a horse to Tyburn, where he was hanged.

[SWBTATTReg]

9. Personally, I want him to be around when the ridicule and everything starts up after he is ...

thrown out of office in Nov. 2020 (and our new president is sworn in the first part of 2021)...

I suspect that when he's gone, the ridicule and/or worse will start up and not subside anytime soon, for he and his. He's going to regret every single thing hateful, anti-American, etc. that's he done.

However, should a jury find him guilty of sins that are beyond the pale, then he and his ilk should be stripped of all of their ill-gotten assets and in turn, those assets should be given to those he and his ilk have hurt.

No pardon should be provided either for I (imho) think he's guilty of some pretty serious crap (sex crimes and the like, all sickening)...

[MBS]

8. THANK YOU for this.

I really really needed to hear this this evening .

[SWBTATTReg]

10. Thank you for your very nice words. Please have, from the bottom of my heart, a nice Fourth!!