Some thoughts as we head into Election Week

There has been a campaign ad that I've been impressed with recently. While people likely know where it is from, I'd rather repeat the message of the ad, rather than promote a candidate. This is the message I'd like to see all of us aspire to.

"There is only one America, no Democratic rivers, no Republican mountains. Just this great land and all that's possible on it, with a fresh start. Cures we can find, futures we can shape, work to reward, dignity to protect. There is so much we can do if we choose to take on problems and not each other..."

Removing the name from the last line, "We don't need everyone in this country to always agree, just to agree we all love this country, and go from there."

Fantine said:

“It's very dramatic when two people come together to work something out. It's easy to take a gun and annihilate your opposition, but what is really exciting to me is to see people with differing views come together and finally respect each other.”
― Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

View attachment 287161

Click to expand...

Seriously, if Mister Rogers were still alive today, he'd be over 90 and I'd still vote for him to be President any day over Trump or Biden.

Fantine said:

“It's very dramatic when two people come together to work something out. It's easy to take a gun and annihilate your opposition, but what is really exciting to me is to see people with differing views come together and finally respect each other.”
― Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

View attachment 287161

Click to expand...

Would that it were so.

SarahsKnight said:

Seriously, if Mister Rogers were still alive today, he'd be over 90 and I'd still vote for him to be President any day over Trump or Biden.

Click to expand...

I'm just curious about statements like this. Would policies the person has make any difference at all? Would issues like having troops in foreign lands and keeping them there not be an issue? Would issues like what the cooperative tax rates are which determines whether or not jobs stay in America make any difference? Would the healthy three levels and branches or government which keep each one in check matter at all? Because Mr Rogers came across as a nice, sweet guy that would be the only issue?

Bobber said:

I'm just curious about statements like this. Would policies the person has make any difference at all? Would issues like having troops in foreign lands and keeping them there not be an issue? Would issues like what the cooperative tax rates are which determines whether or not jobs stay in America make any difference? Would the healthy three levels and branches or government which keep each one in check matter at all? Because Mr Rogers came across as a nice, sweet guy that would be the only issue?

Click to expand...

Its more than about being "nice". Its about doing things to heal the growing divide thats threatening to become the biggest single threat to our country.... instead of feeding it.

durangodawood said:

Its more than about being "nice". Its about doing things to heal the growing divide thats threatening to become the biggest single threat to our country.... instead of feeding it.

Click to expand...

Depending on people's perceptions everyone has different opinions on that. There's many which feel the Dems under Obama actually fed into the nation being more divided. I get it you may not agree with that but other people think differently.

Bobber said:

Depending on people's perceptions everyone has different opinions on that. There's many which feel the Dems under Obama actually fed into the nation being more divided. I get it you may not agree with that but other people think differently.

Click to expand...

So? Either way, the point about about Mr Rogers stands. There is something very important right now about not driving the wedge deeper.

I’ve kinda got election fatigue. Over the years, I’ve given money to both Democratic and Republican candidates. I made the mistake of giving them my phone #’s and email address. So every 2 years I’m bombarded with robocalls, texts, and emails from both sides. The volume seems to double in Presidential election years. I changed my email address this year, which has helped. But I still have a landline, which I’ve unplugged at least once a week. There comes a point where I can’t take this nasty, ugly, show-no-mercy tribal warfare anymore. I just want it to be over.

BTW, though I certainly hope Joe and Kamala win, I’m not voting for them. Donald Trump has Missouri’s EVs in the bag. My vote will only make a difference in the local/state races. I’m writing in Mayor Pete Buttigieg for Pres., and Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth for VP. They’re 2 of the best people in government—young, accomplished, super smart, and cutting-edge. They’re the future.

Bobber said:

Depending on people's perceptions everyone has different opinions on that. There's many which feel the Dems under Obama actually fed into the nation being more divided. I get it you may not agree with that but other people think differently.

Click to expand...

Both parties think the other party has positions which they dislike but only one party thinks the other are not real Americans and therein lies the source of the division.

Speedwell said:

Both parties think the other party has positions which they dislike but only one party thinks the other are not real Americans and therein lies the source of the division.

Click to expand...

Funny I just heard a Dem the other day suggest this. If you vote for Trump you're not really an American. I know it was a celebrity. Can't remember who though.

And you know for sure what Biden said to one black man.....if you don't vote for me you're not truly black. In other words you don't even have a cultural heritage if you deny me.

jayem said:

I’m writing in Mayor Pete Buttigieg for Pres., and Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth for VP. They’re 2 of the best people in government—young, accomplished, super smart, and cutting-edge. They’re the future.

Click to expand...

Well maybe if the over 75 years of age politicians (as in Biden and Pelosi)give them a chance....maybe. Long time until then.

Bobber said:

I'm just curious about statements like this. Would policies the person has make any difference at all? Would issues like having troops in foreign lands and keeping them there not be an issue? Would issues like what the cooperative tax rates are which determines whether or not jobs stay in America make any difference? Would the healthy three levels and branches or government which keep each one in check matter at all? Because Mr Rogers came across as a nice, sweet guy that would be the only issue?

Click to expand...

Bobber said:

Funny I just heard a Dem the other day suggest this. If you vote for Trump you're not really an American. I know it was a celebrity. Can't remember who though.

And you know for sure what Biden said to one black man.....if you don't vote for me you're not truly black. In other words you don't even have a cultural heritage if you deny me.

Click to expand...

Biden also called Trump supporters "chumps" the other day. We went from deplorables to chumps.

Arc F1 said:

Biden also called Trump supporters "chumps" the other day. We went from deplorables to chumps.

Click to expand...

LOL! But loyal American chumps.

Speedwell said:

LOL! But loyal American chumps.

Click to expand...

He might have been giving us a compliment. I'm pretty sure chump is a step up from deplorables.

Arc F1 said:

Biden also called Trump supporters "chumps" the other day. We went from deplorables to chumps.

Click to expand...

Which is nothing compared to what Trump has called people who don't support him. For that matter, what Trump has said about his own supporters appears to be worse (and another story).

Speedwell said:

Both parties think the other party has positions which they dislike but only one party thinks the other are not real Americans and therein lies the source of the division.

Click to expand...

Yes. The proposed false equivalence around this issue is nonsense. There's nothing on the left like the quarter century long mental corral built by Republican party media.

Arc F1 said:

He might have been giving us a compliment. I'm pretty sure chump is a step up from deplorables.

Click to expand...

Biden called the Trump supporters who were protesting at Biden's drive-in rally 'chumps'.

Biden was holding a socially distanced rally at a parking lot in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday when the Trump supporters could be heard making a ruckus from a short distance away.

"I'll work as hard for those who don't support me as those who do, including those chumps out there with a microphone," Biden said of the Trump supporters, who appeared to be using a megaphone.
Vice President Joe Biden has called Trump supporters gathered outside his drive-in rally "chumps," but said he'd work hard for them if he win's next month's presidential election

Hank77 said:

Biden called the Trump supporters who were protesting at Biden's drive-in rally 'chumps'.

Biden was holding a socially distanced rally at a parking lot in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday when the Trump supporters could be heard making a ruckus from a short distance away.

"I'll work as hard for those who don't support me as those who do, including those chumps out there with a microphone," Biden said of the Trump supporters, who appeared to be using a megaphone.
Vice President Joe Biden has called Trump supporters gathered outside his drive-in rally "chumps," but said he'd work hard for them if he win's next month's presidential election

Click to expand...

I watched the video this morning. He has to talk to somebody because his supporters sure aren't showing up.

Arc F1 said:

I watched the video this morning. He has to talk to somebody because his supporters sure aren't showing up.

Click to expand...

Were you one of the Trump supporters that were there with a megaphone? If not Biden wasn't talking about you.