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Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

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Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#791

Post by mch82 »

mch82 wrote: post #648
masondixon wrote: post #636

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We would never try to ban any use of language. Its more like advice. We say: "Stop calling everything racist and sexist that is not racist or sexist because you are missing the real underlying issues. We want everyone to be happy just like you do, but we think your method is flawed." Then we win the election because you missed the point. This is why you will find such exuberant Trump supporters. There are many tears…

Muslims often say: "Stop calling all of us terrorists and stop saying Islam encourages terrorism because you are missing the real underlying issues. We want everyone to be happy just like you do, but we think your understanding of terrorism is flawed." Can you recognize the parallel between your statement and the one I've paraphrased above?

Okay. Done with those edits. This is a tricky thing to try to express, so I hope I pulled it off.

Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#792

Post by peterclary »

somedangedname wrote: post #187
magic5227 wrote: post #99

Great, another climate change denier https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-views-of-the-Thiel-Founda...

He's not a big fan of democracy either: "Most importantly, I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible." https://www.cato-unbound.org/2009/04/13/peter-thiel/educatio...

Thank you for that article. I shall read it in depth later, but a cursory glance suggests that Mr Thiel believes, as many do, that freedom means not being compelled to help his fellow humans, or even his own immediate society, by taxation or any other means.

The article also has a very alarming quote:

"The fate of our world may depend on the effort of a single person who builds or propagates the machinery of freedom that makes the world safe for capitalism."

What happened to making the world safe for people?

Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#793

Post by Mc_Big_G »

BurningFrog wrote: post #669

Relevant column: "I don't see a moral obligation for anyone to serve in a Trump administration. But people who opposed Donald Trump, on both the left and right, should commit right now to one thing: We will not tar good people for joining the Trump administration. Their motives will not be questioned, and if things do turn out as some of his critics fear, the people in his foreign and domestic policy apparatus will n…

You can't chum the water and not take any responsibility when the swimmers get attacked by a shark.

Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#794

Post by ant6n »

masondixon wrote: post #710
robinwarren wrote: post #598

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not have a go here, I'd be interested to hear your rationale. On a less important note, re the argument being at a level of "how could you vote for someone who said that". That may not be people refusing to engage with what you see as the important points, but them focusing on what they see as the most important points. That doesn't make it right but if it is the case you may do well to understand their point of…

> they may see everything else as somewhat irrelevant Yep. But this is what made everyone miss what was happening. It was an emotional response. But in this case Clinton provided so many analogous examples, which were ignored, which is just plain bias. As bad as someone is you always have to ask: could the same be said as my candidate? And with Hillary is was a yes on everything. It was always a question of "How coul…

I'm having trouble with this implied connection of corruption and feminists, 'sjws', etc.

Another issue: are you agreeing with _anything_ feminists are saying?

Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#795

Post by masondixon »

late2part wrote: post #706
mrgordon wrote: post #647

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep in mind that Thiel sued Gawker to stop freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Trump doesn't care and will appoint Thiel to a major position in his administration anyway. Trump also repeatedly sued (or threatened to sue) newspapers who published factual stories about him as well as women who he sexually abused. This is a chilling precedent for free speech: if you are rich enough, then you can just sue to sil…

It's my perception part of Thiel's motivation was to stop Gawker from outing closet homosexuals. And the freedom of speech you so vigorously protect was to reveal details of a B-List celebrities sexual activities. Where is the moral courage on that? Yes Freedom of Speech is paramount among our rights, but it's not inviolately absolute. The Gawker guys were scum but that's not why they lost their lawsuit. They lost th…

This is more about privacy.

Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#796

Post by masondixon »

return0 wrote: post #665
masondixon wrote: post #575

A huge issue today is the lack of calm, reasoned debate. As a Trump supporter I have never been able to properly explain the rationale to a liberal. I believe there is a worthy debate beneath all the political smear, but it is never reached. I believe the reason for this is the liberal media and the incredibly effective Democratic party election machine. The argument stays at the high level of "how could you vote for…

Wise decision to create a new account for this comment! I have the same problem trying to explain to my european friends why trump won and why it is not all crazy.

;)

Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#797

Post by masondixon »

mtw wrote: post #757
masondixon wrote: post #575

A huge issue today is the lack of calm, reasoned debate. As a Trump supporter I have never been able to properly explain the rationale to a liberal. I believe there is a worthy debate beneath all the political smear, but it is never reached. I believe the reason for this is the liberal media and the incredibly effective Democratic party election machine. The argument stays at the high level of "how could you vote for…

So how can you explain the rationale?

Its in this thread somewhere.

Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#798

Post by Chris2048 »

lunula wrote: post #546
Rapzid wrote: post #259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently because they supported his campaign too.. Man, it's hard to watch. I see evidence and hope very much that the pivot people thought would happen when he got the GOP nomination has happened now that he has won the White House and everything is sinking in. I didn't support Trump for prez, but I really hope he is successful and was a little excited shortly after the shock wore off. Excited for the unknown and…

> Excited for the unknown and the prospect that he might shake up the establishment. A lot of people say he isn't part of the establishment. The idea that someone who is rich and embedded in the media for the entire professional life is not part of the establishment is really confusing to me. Why do you have this perception? I am honestly curious.

Being rich doesn't automatically make you part of the establishment. Leaders of the establishment are often rich as a result of their connections, but the two things are not synonymous.

Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#799

Post by masondixon »

59nadir wrote: post #675
masondixon wrote: post #674

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the right has changed. 10 years ago it was all anti-abortion, anti gay marriage, super religious, anti-healthcare. I always use to say "I could never vote for the Republicans because of this". So I support most the left-wing policies. But mostly it is a vote against the progressive movement, and the Bernie faction. And corruption is the ultimate destructive force in politics and the Clinton's oozed it. I thin…

What do you think characterizes the Bernie faction?

Socialism. Rich should pay for everything. Entrepreneurs are homogenous and replaceable. Someone is always going to create Apple Computer. Etc.

Money out of politics is good - but the Dems will never let it happen.

Re: Peter Thiel To Join Trump Transition Team

#800

Post by tptacek »

BurningFrog wrote: post #669

Relevant column: "I don't see a moral obligation for anyone to serve in a Trump administration. But people who opposed Donald Trump, on both the left and right, should commit right now to one thing: We will not tar good people for joining the Trump administration. Their motives will not be questioned, and if things do turn out as some of his critics fear, the people in his foreign and domestic policy apparatus will n…

I agree entirely with McArdle on this. At this point, I would be extremely reassured by an administration that is "wrong within normal parameters".

That's not what we're likely to get. We've gotten the following trial balloons for appointments:

* John Bolton or Newt Gingrich for State

* Larry Kudlow or Steven Mnuchin for Treasury

* Joe Arpaio for DHS

* Steve Bannon for Chief Of Staff

* Chris Christie or Rudy Giuliani for AG

I do not believe we should cheerlead the spectacular failure of a Trump administration. While I'd rather see Trump serve 4 years than 8, if massive infrastructure spending restores jobs to Ohio and Wisconsin and cements the Rust Belt vote for Trump in '20, so be it. I'm not a Republican, and I think much of Republican ideology is wrongheaded, but I also know the country needs to flip back and forth between the two parties, almost by design, and some of what the GOP does that sticks will be good, and the bad can be corrected.

But what we're looking at now is wrong beyond normal parameters. The suggested appointments I just listed are comically unqualified. One of those State appointments is ideologically opposed to the concept of diplomacy. Their DHS suggestion is (or was) about to be indicted for launching politically motivated bogus prosecutions against local politicians! The people of Maricopa County just tossed him out on his ass. One of those AG trial balloons would have, as a first order of business, the task of excusing himself from an upcoming felony prosecution. The other has made a name for himself in 2016 by loudly proclaiming his intent to lock up Trump's political opposition.

There is every reason to believe that a candidate famous for bragging about his vindictiveness and ability to retain a grudge, working with a party whose best and brightest almost uniformly refused to support him, will run a disastrous, counterproductive, dangerous administration.

I completely agree with McArdle. If Trump appoints Jaime Dimon to Treasury, I will be grateful and relieved. Not because I think the apotheosis of the Wall Street Elite belongs at the head of Treasury, but because at least it's a sign we're getting a normal GOP administration. I am not hopeful.

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