"Independent"

[tallslenderguy]

 

[tallslenderguy]

This too. Similar vein.

 

[tobetrained]

@tallslenderguy I watched that first interview multiple times since you posted this. I could not understand any of her points. I read this article today. I'm glad to see I'm not alone. Did you find something worthwhile?

[think before following links] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/29/karine-jean-pierre-book-backlash-00626014

And, the less I say about Bernie on this site the better, most likely. 😀

[Pozzible]

4 hours ago, tobetrained said:

@tallslenderguy I watched that first interview multiple times since you posted this. I could not understand any of her points. I read this article today. I'm glad to see I'm not alone. Did you find something worthwhile?

[think before following links] [think before following links] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/29/karine-jean-pierre-book-backlash-00626014

And, the less I say about Bernie on this site the better, most likely. 😀

I like Jeanne-Pierrre in the briefing room. The one book interview I watched was a fiasco. I didn’t watch the Bernie interview. I think he has a lot of ideas that are discussion-worthy. But not so practical if fully implemented. 

[tallslenderguy]

6 hours ago, tobetrained said:

@tallslenderguy I watched that first interview multiple times since you posted this. I could not understand any of her points. I read this article today. I'm glad to see I'm not alone. Did you find something worthwhile?

[think before following links] [think before following links] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/29/karine-jean-pierre-book-backlash-00626014

And, the less I say about Bernie on this site the better, most likely. 😀

i listen to a broad spectrum of people on both sides. my posting the video was not intended as an endorsement of Jean Pierre. i don't think Colbert threw her soft balls or endorsed much of what she said. my point is to hear the voices of those in power positions.

 

[tobetrained]

got it. the video title does beg the question, is there a better system than the two-party system? Or, alternatively, are all systems equally bad?

[tallslenderguy]

15 minutes ago, tobetrained said:

got it. the video title does beg the question, is there a better system than the two-party system? Or, alternatively, are all systems equally bad?

She states right up front that she is not advocating that people become Independent. i feel Stephen did a good job in a short interview when asking about the title: "... do you recommend that everyone leave the [democrat] party, and if so, where would they go?  Organization is how you face tyranny" .  my overall feel about Pierre was mixed. i think she made a salient point to Colbert's query: "I'm not suggesting that every one leave the party, i am not saying that we need a third party, i'm saying right now the two party system is not working."  i feel she becomes disingenuous when she answers Colbert's question about why democrats are dissatisfied that she wrote the book as a "road map" and her main issue with the democrats is there's "no fight, no teeth."   Interestingly (to me) her answers played well to the audience, less well to Colbert.  Which i found disappointing, because i thought Colbert's audience would be more critically informed.  i listen to audience response in Trump rallies, political discussions, because they are the voters being influenced. i was disappointed with her answer because it played well in the moment, but i do not think that's why the current administration is in power. 

[tallslenderguy]

 

[tobetrained]

re: "no fight, no teeth" and Colbert's audience response:

Isn't that what the shutdown is about? Democrats wanting to fight and stand up to Trump?... a base rally regardless of its impact or those hurt by it.

I agree on Trump's audience... I would further that, it's the same road Democrats are on as Reps were 12-15 years ago. Then Reps had been outta power presidential since the 80s expect for 2000-2008 (which ended badly for them) and were on the cusp of another Clinton running for the WH post-Obama.... and felt lost. They made themselves more and more extremist and opened themselves up to someone like Trump, a sort of pied piper character.

I kinda seen Dems on that very same extremist road. Colbert's audience response was completely within expectation of that and Dems today. Though I, too, wish it wasn't...hopefully not putting words in your mouth there.

[tobetrained]

@tallslenderguy Pete gives a good and dense interview. I don't know if he really commits to anything, which shouldn't be a problem as he's "not running." 😀

I heard him do it here, and another person from the left... like a tactic Reps use, he said / deflected, "leave it to municipalities, etc" or something similar. This is like Reps saying, "leave it to the states" or "states' rights."

I think this is a Dem tactic as they run so many of the our cities. But, like states' rights w Reps, they never say what they will do if those smaller geographies do something they don't like or don't do something they want.

[tallslenderguy]

@tobetrained 

i think you provide thoughtful criticism, it leaves me wondering, who (if anyone)  resonates with you  to support as a government representative and why?

[tobetrained]

@tallslenderguy Well, partisanship has grown so it’s harder to provide blanket support and time can change things (see Obama comment below). But let’s start with US politics on the D side:

Hilary Clinton. Although she supported things I’m skeptical about, like Universal Healthcare, she is the only candidate in history – multiple times – to provide potential solutions to the idea with (mostly) functional financing. And she always kept an eye on how to budget for things – which Democrats have forgotten entirely. In general, she worked harder than most as a Senator from NY, where I lived at that time. Bill Clinton too, despite his issues, worked across the isle to develop a robust economy, which can’t be ignored – leaving the annual budget in surplus. Imagine! 

Others but nowhere near an exhaustive list, but a random Dem/leaning selection: Buttigieg, Golden (very disappointing he's retiring), Peltola, Tester, McCaskill, Bayh (Sr and Jr), Angus King, (throwback) Minge, and the list goes on.

On the Republican side it’s more limited due to longer-standing issue-based differences. If I could do one election over it would be 2012 and to vote for Romney over Obama.

Romney, at that time, got the central global question of today correct: Putin is the greatest threat to democracy. Obama got that terribly terribly wrong with the ramifications nowhere near over. If you haven’t, go search for their 2012 foreign policy debate, Obama (dismissively to Romney): Putin!? Putin!? – it’s so sad now to see, given actual history. We’d be better off now if Romney had won. And Obama’s second term was such a mess from the Syrian red line, to Russia annexing Crimea without significant response, and the horribly elitist tragedy which was TPP – and I’m for trade deals.

Elsewhere, I respect Collins a lot and I’d vote for Murkowski for anything. I always give a listen to Tom Cole and, through listening to him, I started paying attention to Stephanie Bice (both of OK). I listened to Pat Toomey a lot. This is not an exhaustive list either.

Outside the US, I listen to Canada’s current PM Carney. He just put out a budget which will reduce their Federal workforce in similar proportion to that Trump has done in the US - and no protests up there, as yet. There are differences on many aspects but top-line number, similar.

I was a fan of Macron, but – by all French accounts – he’s become a bit too stuck in his own head. I very much like Attal as well but his future is murky after being thrown under the bus by Macron. I do give a read to Merz, when translated.  I’m very interested in the new Dutch centrist government, to be led by Jetten of D66. But it’s way too soon to know how this will play out given their fragmented election result last week. But it was a great day of vote count fun.

I appreciate Mexico’s Sheinbaum but not a fan of policies…but not easy for her in that role whatsoever and on so many levels.

And last but certainly not least is von der Leyen. She has got that EU hodgepodge working as much as anyone could. 

Regardless, any leader willing to do the unpopular things while stepping on the toes of ideological purists get my time and vote. I try to avoid those who grandstand or claim political altruism. In this country, usually they're just looking to run for President and trying to create a lane for themselves or just shoring up support for their next election.

Edited 21 hours ago by tobetrained
added user tag

[tallslenderguy]

15 hours ago, tobetrained said:

 

Regardless, any leader willing to do the unpopular things while stepping on the toes of ideological purists get my time and vote. I try to avoid those who grandstand or claim political altruism. In this country, usually they're just looking to run for President and trying to create a lane for themselves or just shoring up support for their next election.

Thank you for your thoughtful response.  Would you unpack this one some more? What (and who?) , in your opinion, constitutes "unpopular things" and a grandstanding"ideological purist?  

What are issues that you believe should be front and center?  What to you would constitute, in a diverse US, taxation with representation?  You've written some on healthcare, for instance (and i may have missed if you've answered this one, so point me?), what do you see as a solution/s to healthcare needs in the US?  But, of course, that is just one of many issues, and i don't want to direct your answer, more looking for your list of what you think a government should provide, what constitutes: "... a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."

(BTW, my tone here is really wanting to understand you perspective in more detail, not a challenge or disagreement, i am appreciative of your input and contributions to this vast topic) 

[tobetrained]

@tallslenderguy Conversations are never a problem. I had been responding to you videos for same reason and purpose. Equally, there a lot to unpack in your Qs. Let me figure out to write a compact reply but touch on as much as I can.

But, here's a really interest thought experiment which demonstrates the basis for the above response, I've updated the $ to approx. current prices:

Let's say you were given $100 trillion in gold (4x current tradable volume). You can't keep it for yourself or those you know. What would you do with it?

But don't cheat and use AI! 😃