PDS

In this--Trump's first tangible (i.e., non-blowhard) action as a potential President--it is good to see he didn't pick an establishment, elitist, Pro-Iraq War, Pro NAFTA type. Pence is going to take the Endless War Machine, grab it by the throat and... Michael: you have been right all along!! Trump truly is a man of principle!!!

100% correct on all fronts. Well said.

I'm hoping it's Newt I am going to predict it is Ted Cruz.

Give it a rest, will ya? Do you realize that virtually everybody you are talking to on this forum is "government educated", as you call it, i.e., they went to public schools of some kind, at one time or another? Do you not also realize that most on this forum did not learn Objectivism in those public schools? We get it. You're proud of yourself as an electrician. You're proud you don't have college degrees. You're proud you've made some money. Good for you. I suspect you're not only the person around who makes payrolls twice a month and has some money in the bank. And Bob is not the only one who Trump rubs the wrong way. Please give your tropes a rest.

In fairness to Bob, I doubt he would care as much that Trump is a boor were Trump not running for President. In unfairness to Bob, I am still waiting to hear how he knows he's smarter than 95% of the rest of us.

Carol: No more hit and runs. Please stick around!

Has this restoration of occurred as of yet? Is so, I missed it.

I'm confused. Is being smarter than 95% of the human race a claim worth repeating, especially when you're talking to MSK, William, and Jonathan--no slouches in that department themselves? You specifically claim this makes you feel superior, but you're using the claim more like an appeal to authority. You think you're shooting a bullet out of your gun and a little tiny flag droops out instead. Now, if you were/are smarter than 95% of the people on this forum---that would be worth bragging about...!

18 short words plus at least 5 fallacies wedged into a single sentence. Greg--I believe this may be your personal record.

Incredibly, Lucretius is more subtle that you are giving him credit for, and Greg is less subtle than you are giving him credit for...

How do you know Bill Clinton tried to influence an investigation, let alone bribe somebody?

Hmmm. Today's Trump sure doesn't sound like he did way back in 2014 either. I'm sure glad Trump and I never became golfing buddies... A cynic might conclude that...ah, never mind.

Hmmm. Today's Trump sure doesn't sound like he did way back in 2013: "My concern is that the negligence of a few will adversely affect the majority. I've long been a believer in the "look at the solution, not the problem" theory. In this case, the solution is clear. We will have to leave borders behind and go for global unity when it comes to financial stability. Is this possible? Is this a new frontier? Yes and no. There is the fait accompli strategy -- stay under the radar -- and the passive aggressive strategy, acts of terror used to paralyze and so on -- so the bottom line must be balance. Rationality must rule. There are philosophical approaches to economics. However, at this point, we don't so much need philosophy as we need action. Which way to proceed is the question." A cynic might conclude that...ah, never mind.

He does have big ones. And that brunette in the red necklace seems to want a closer look at them...

Gee, Baal. Thanks. I have also heard that sometime in the recent past, we Americans landed astronauts on the moon. Can you help me with that puzzle too?

Has Britain recently lost a World War while I wasn't paying attention? In the last 200 years, has Britain shown a fondness for monarchic rule, or one person rule? Do the English have a fondness for totalitarianism as reflected in centuries of its literature, music, or mythology? I didn't think so. Forgot what Santanna said, and remember instead what happened to the Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Why not pursue both?

There are a lot of things not to like about Trump winning, but I don't think this is one of them. Bill Clinton won in the early 90's with a low 40% plurality. That didn't seem to affect him much. Nobody complained that he hadn't won fair and square. No recent President has won much more than 50% of the vote, so a 40%+ plurality victory, ala Bill Clinton, doesn't say much--one way or another. Moreover, the same will likely be true for Hillary.

No thank you. Let us avoid both Godwin's Law and reductio ad Hilterum just this once. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Anybody who has done even a modicum of martial arts knows that the best way to beat someone begins and ends with hip rotation. Hip rotation generates the necessary power for any beating. Of course, if the idea is simply to "win the fight", a direct strike to a vital area is in order. Maybe an eye gouge? Make sure the person is not wearing glasses if you go that route. This Saudi fellow doesn't really know how to beat on somebody.** ------------------------------------------------- **For the "SJW" subset of OL that loves to pretend to be offended (both of you), the following disclaimer is in order: I am kidding. I don't condone wife beating. I barely condone dog beatings.**** ****This last sentence is a joke too. Don't get your knickers in a twist, for chrisssakes.

These essays are wonderful for all of the obvious reasons, and one perhaps more subtle as well: GHS is an outstanding writer. When discussing complicated issues, the presence of outstanding, crystal-clear writing has a multiplier effect in helping others to understand those issues. Thank you George.

Lots of wisdom in these comments, me thinks.

William: You owe me one. Your link to one of Trump's tweets forced me to read his last 5-6 tweets from just today. What a sad state of affairs. I really cannot recall anybody this thin-skinned since roughly junior high school. It makes my head spin to think Trump has a 1 in 2.5 chance of becoming President. If he gets over 40% of the vote in November I will be pretty shocked.

Baal: I agree wholeheartedly. The man is 70 years old, but he still acts like this. If my 15 year old daughter acted like that I would be mortified.

Perhaps I was rationalizing, in a limited way, about human nature to make myself feel better.