I have never ever in my entire life hated a man like I hate him. He and his leaches are the most evil people this country has ever been faced against.

I concur, Lukk. I am outraged at him calling Obama "bad, sick". When Obama has so graciously held his tongue. But of course.

I would imagine that a branch of the govt was investigating T&team's contact with a foreign power during the campaign, (and rightly so, as it may have been treasonous) probably did wire tap.

In July 2016, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack accused Donald Trump of encouraging the Russian government to hack the email of Hillary Clinton, Trump's opponent in the 2016 presidential election. Several other Democratic Senators claimed Trump's comments appeared to violate the Logan Act.[17][18]Laurence Tribe, a professor of constitutional law at Harvard Law School, also commented on the incident saying, "Trump's "jokes" inviting an adversary to wage cyberwar against the U.S. appear to violate the Logan Act and might even constitute treason."[19]

On December 29, 2016, retired lieutenant general Michael T. Flynn, President-elect Trump's pick for national security adviser, spoke with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, the exact same day the Obama administration announced retaliatory measures in response to Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential campaign.[20] At the time, Acting US Attorney General Sally Yates, along with senior national security officials suspected that Flynn might have violated the Logan Act with those conversations.[21] On February 13, 2017, Flynn resigned from the position of National Security Advisor.[22]

Best to turn the anger into positive action. Do you have a republican congressperson or state representative? Work to vote them out of office in the next election. It's the only way.

It is appalling, isn't it? One can only hope that hubris & our tradition of the rule of law will be the downfall of such a deeply disturbing agenda. It will take time, tho & the uncertainty is almost excruciating, while it seems a lot of destruction to our democracy is being executed in haste before the hammer falls.

Hoovb, that's exactly what I'm going to do. My boss has become pretty active in this fight and I intend to speak with her tomorrow about joining her.

Mtn, I told my husband months ago that I KNEW deep inside that he was working with the Russians to secure his win. It would surprise me if he actually wasn't. It only makes sense that other agencies would be investigating him, not just for the items you mentioned above but because of all his conflicts of interest.

It is amazing that the French are calling for Obama to be their leader now. Although the idea is kind of silly, it speaks volumes as to just how much that man and his family are loved all over this world. "When they go low, we go high" and so he does, that's why he's so respected by the people in this world who really matter. Personally, I hope that he decides to start helping as a "private citizen" to get this evil neanderthal out of office. He could really really bring so many more people together if he did.

I fear I'm becoming like the proverbial ostrich with its head stuck in the sand, but I simply can't take in the news reports these days. I can't watch it or listen to it. I've even had to greatly reduce my time spent listening to my beloved NPR because they play snippets of "Hair Trump" (that's good!) speaking, and it literally makes my skin crawl. It makes fury well up inside of me. It puts me in the rottenest of rotten moods. And that is just not how I want to live ... so I have distanced myself to the extent of being completely ignorant of what is taking place. Some of you may not agree with this tack, but that's ok. It's my own sanity, happiness, and health that's at stake.

I ventured into the Hot Topics forum around the time of his inauguration, but I can't go there anymore either. While I do enjoy the like-mindedness that I have found there, the intense focus drains me. And of course, the petty back-biting (which is all too easy to engage in) is not productive in the least, IMO.

So now this thread is back and the "What did I miss" thread has gone missing.

IdaClaire, I have to say that I find it mortifying over in HT that so many people with whose viewpoints I generally agree show all the ignorance and intolerance that their foes do.

I agree with your thoughts, but I am not going to let him make me hate. Not going down to his level.

Ida, I cannot take Hot Topics, period! And if you want to protect your sanity, happiness, etc. stay away! LOL I listen to the early morning news and usually that's about it. Enough to know what's going on, but not hearing it all day long.

The thing that started to really become obvious to me about HT is how, along with the insults flying, people seem to beat other over the heads with strong opinions but nobody appears to really be hearing the other side. It's like one big p!ssing match, and while I'll admit that a good stinger lobbed back at the other side can feel momentarily satisfying, it's still a very draining experience and wholly unproductive. I don't want to feel that way about my fellow human beings.

Your (the generic "your") Mileage May Vary. ;-)

FWIW, scattered amongst the HT flame battles are actual thoughtful, interesting posts (& I like to imagine I contribute to the latter). I don't have too much trouble ignoring the p***ing matches, tho they definitely tend to sidetrack threads. I find them predictable, tiresome, but also a bit funny & kind of enlightening.

Too bad some people don't realize they're ceding the moral high ground by lowering themselves to mere bickering. I guess it's more important for some to vent their rage.

Carol, I do agree that HT contains a good number of incredibly thoughtful, interesting, and insightful posts. That's pretty much what kept me returning. There are unquestionably some highly intelligent, articulate participants in that forum.

IdaClaire, since November 8 I have buried my head in the sand. For the first couple of months, I stayed away from social media except for a cat group. My husband watches the news but he must keep the door to his den closed. I have limited my television watching to Hallmark Channel, Netflix (OMG I discovered the Gilmore Girls!) and other streaming services where I can control the content.

Unfortunately, I can't control the conversations around me outside of my home and unfortunately he is still a topic.

What I am doing is supporting the groups that are going to suffer/and who are suffering the most under him and speaking up when I hear ugly, ignorant and hateful comments.

Lukk,

I too feel a bit like "Obama, help us!". But that is very sticky. It is not presidential to be anything other than supportive to your successor. But times like this you wonder if the left are fools for trying to be civil against incivility.

I spend a lot of time in HT. I find it very therapeutic to express my thoughts on all that is going on, I like to think I contribute some light, not just heat, and I find I learn things. I'm able to exercise some of my argument skills which keeps my mental acuity going.

What I find upsetting is how many people can't see the things that are so blatantly obvious to me...and when the administration spokespeople start talking about the next 8 years instead of 4. :-0

Marlene, that sounds like how it is around our house. DH watches the news - all news channels, so of course that includes one that makes me want to retch each time I see it on one of our screens. He does have the decency to change the channel if he happens to be watching that one when I walk in, so I appreciate him being sensitive to my feelings in that regard. I record a lot of programs (love a good English murder mystery) so there's always something to catch up on, and I even enjoy mindless shows that I've seen a million times (I just don't think little boys get any cuter than Ron Howard's Opie). As for turning off NPR during my commute, I am enjoying Sirius radio and reconnecting with some of the new wave (I guess it's technically old wave now!) that I enjoyed in the 80s.

And yes - like you, I've moving forward with doing what I can for whom I can. This means busying myself with various aspects of our church's mission projects, both abroad and in our local community, and I hope that somehow is making a difference in countering the divisiveness, fear, and outright hatred I've seen gathering even greater steam since President Obama left office.

Everybody is dealing in their own ways, certainly. I, as a perpetually curious person, am hungry to learn every new development. At the same time, I strive to stay skeptical & investigate before forming an opinion. The thing that bothers me to no end is lazy reporting from news media that hyperbolizes & skips the use of qualifiers like 'may', 'might' & 'if'. I sometimes wonder whether it's a deliberate choice to attract attention. Headlines are often misleading these days; when you read the article, it can be contradictory, or contain a 'buried lede'.

I try to totally avoid the TV pundits - that stuff is maddening!

I'm like carolb, I definitely want to know what is going on and do my own research on it. I think I feel like (haha) I need to be able to address whatever comes up, just in case I run into someone ripe for good information. Is that crazy or what?? It goes along with what Annie expressed; how can they not see what is so clear?

I used to never discuss politics. At work I always just busied myself with something until the subject changed. I don't do it anymore. I don't argue but I state known facts and identify them as such. I quote the republicans that have spoken out, it goes over better. I never thought I would be grateful for Lindsay Graham or George Will but there ya go. :-)

Did anyone else see George Steph this morning?

https://youtu.be/NsDQOz_M-AI

I continue to listen to NPR and read the NYT and Washington Post. I am determined to be as informed as possible about what is going on. Because I live minutes from the White House, I have been able to attend several protests and rallies; it's cathartic. And now that it is known that it irritates HT, I enjoy them even more. My husband (who works on Capitol Hill) hates the news. He has too much proximity to/information about the events at hand to want to seek out more. But my son (who works at a think tank in DC) really enjoys the buzz.... And meanwhile, my niece will be graduating from SAIS at Johns Hopkins in May, and had been looking forward to starting a career in the State Department. Her roommate, a fellow student at SAIS, is Muslim and both are anxious about finding work with the current administration.

I just can't believe that people of any political persuasion find his kind of behavior acceptable. I mean really, our leader is lowering the bar for personal behavior, that is what upsets me the most.

Mtn, I was very surprised to see Bush speak out at first but as you're probably aware the Bushes have grown to have a very good relationship with the Obama's so maybe it wasn't so surprising after all? I believe at some point Obama will need to stand up. I did hear him say that if the situation warranted it, he would and I'm hoping that we're getting close to that point.

This probably sounds crazy but I honestly believe that the Democrats need to find someone that the masses can relate to and stand behind fast. While he may be popular, I don't think that Bernie is that guy, I think it has to be another business person who's financially equal or even superior to Trump, someone who stands for the exact opposite of him, is highly respected on the world platform and "gets it" on the middle class level as well, a Bill Gates or Warren Buffet maybe?.

Please, not someone that has zero governmental experience. I want to see some type of track record in politics! It is not like running a business.

Gyr, I understand but the majority of people have not been happy with the statis quo of our government representatives and do WANT to see some change. I think both of those people have a much better understanding of government practice than cheetohead does and more importantly, they have the intelligence and maturity to put the "right" people in place to help them along. Trump may be too ignorant and self grandiosed to believe someone else might know better, but not all successful people are. Bill Gates has also worked with world leaders with his charity and has built relationships, I suspect Warren Buffet has too...if change is what we need, then I honestly believe someone of that calibur would at the very least be able to bring people together.

While all this side-bar conversation is going on, you might want to keep an eye on any further executive orders he may attempt to execute and anything else he is doing.

I have come to the conclusion that the "thing" in office is a necessary learning experience for our country. I have hope that the devastation to our country's moral and ethical code will bring us all together. In the meantime, the current administration keeps digging a very very deep hole.

I've been listening to a lot more classical music when I'm in the car. But my blood pressure is still too high.

I always kept up with politics as far as the big stuff went but this election awakened something in me. I'm paying attention more than ever and watch a lot of the political shows. Conversely, my DH, who's much more knowledgeable about world affairs, has become more like Ida Claire. He keeps up, but would rather watch ESPN than MSNBC. While I am worried and outraged, his attitude is...we're stuck for the time being, let's see what happens. However, he is thinking of joining the Science March in April.

I was a long time lurker on HT and jumped into it last summer. For the most part I enjoy the posts, have learned a lot and, like Annie, find it therapeutic. Last night I did however post about something that had bothered me for a bit, something I was guilty of a few times in the heat of argument until I realized it was pointless and wrong.....name calling. One conservative poster in particular never seems to post without calling liberals "snowflakes." Likewise, some liberals constantly refer to the conservatives as right wing nut jobs (RWNJ's). I asked to put an end to this schoolyard behavior. I hope it takes hold.

Yes, it often does seem to be a pissing contest between the libs and conserves on HT. Neither side is ever going to have an epiphany and agree with the other side, no matter how logical and reasoned the argument. I almost wish they had two forums...one for liberals and one for conservatives so that all the contention and backbiting would be gone.

As far as Trump goes, he seems more unglued with each passing day. I don't doubt for a minute he has colluded with Russia for quite some time. I would say I'd be thrilled if he resigned or was impeached, but Pence has his own crazy. I shudder at what the Republicans will foist on this country. If Trump goes, can't we throw out the rest of them and have a special election? If only.

While I despise 45 and virtually all his cabinet, what gets me most is the word I hear about the behavior of local politicians at their town hall meetings. They're avoiding them and/or blaming paid protesters (what?!?) I get the feeling they have hitched their wagons to the mess in the Oval Office and think that because he's so loud and he's got such vocal supporters that they can get away with the awful behaviors.

45 may have drained the swamp and it all flowed down to local levels of government!

He is an "I, me, mine" type of person. But "politics" is the art of getting things done, and respectable politics is about compromising or collaborating, or coming to consensus. The stuff I was listening to on the radio this morning was a case in point. Water issues. You pollute water and send it down stream, your problem is solved. You have saved money. But you have just caused a problem for the people down stream, and COST them money. So we have a "winner" (you) and a "loser," (them). One political solution is the folks with the biggest stick and who are the meanest fighters will be the "winners" and tough luck for the rest. Yes, this is ONE way of doing politics, but I would hazard a guess it is the way that most people dislike and why they say, "It was politics" with such disdain. It thrives on violence and breeds ever more violence. I am with John McCain, this does not appeal to our "better angels." I think the idea of having a head of state is that he should display leadership and come up with the "everybody wins" solutions. "Statesmanship" is the art of bringing folks together, of representing the best of your country. There are certain people who just don't have the mindset of that way of life. I try and avoid "winners and losers" I, me, mine kinds of people, they cause a lot of unnecessary strife. And frankly, most of the "I, me, mine" winners/losers people I grew up with also have a trail of bankruptcies and/or ruined lives in their wake. Oh, and they get more and more mentally unhinged as they age and can't control everything around them anymore. Quite a few turn to drugs or drink to get that "in control" high.

I can only take so much of HT. I read the posts of the people I agree with and skip over those with whom I don't. It just ends up p!ssing me off.

Last night I had a dream about Barack Obama. He was right here among us. He asked me about a surgery I recently had. Everyone was hugging him. He was so funny and we were all laughing. I held his hand. It was so cool.

I hate 45 with a white hot passion. He is playing us for fools. I just hope and pray that cooler heads behind the scenes are getting their ducks in a row before they throw him in a padded cell.

Joaniepoanie, I wholeheartedly agree about the name calling! How can anyone claim the moral high ground while using such contemptuous and hostile language?

Sadly, pleas for better behaviour on message boards tend to make little difference to the worst offenders, IMPE.

I recall a study from not that long ago that found that the idea of people only acting like bullies when they're online is inaccurate; it was found they tended to be that way offline as well.

I've been reading a lot of Garrison Keillor lately, whom I really like. I thought this was especially good.

Trump is what he is, and God help us now

My husband and I decided that action is keeping us sane! We have gotten behind the race in the 6th district here in Georgia (to replace the money grubbing Tom Price). We've been on marches with our daughter, are scheduled for more, hosting a phone bank and postcard writing campaign here at our clubhouse. Donated to planned parenthood, ACLU, subscribed to New York Times and Washington Post to boost readership. Oh, and I play the Hamilton soundtrack on a loop to keep up the motivation.

Just keep swimming!

ACLU, SPLC, PP. Whatever it takes! And, please the NYT and WashPo- subscribe: a free press is more important than ever!

In response to joanie: I agree that Pence has his own "crazy", and I probably agree with nothing that he stands for, but: I don't think he is a crazy person like dt. I believe that he believes in the three branches of government and their separate, but equal, powers. I think that the chaos of dt would not exist with Pence. I wouldn't like it, but I think the United States would survive it. Trump: I don't know?

Edit to add: frightening to add: what is really crazy is how many are willing to walk this path of crazy with dt for what: power? fear of twitter rant? what? Thankfully, Graham and McCain and standing tall.

It boils down to 'team spirit', in my opinion. Remember Reagan's 11th Commandment of Republicanism?

I don't care if cheetohead agrees or believes in the 3 branches of government, but I do care that he doesn't respect it. He doesn't respect anything unless there's a purpose that will serve him at that moment. His treatment of President Obama is a perfect example of that!

I'm another who doesn't agree with Pence on much of anything, but he also knows how to be diplomatic in the way he conducts himself. On the international front that's key.

I am just weary of hearing about politics in general. While I enjoy a good political discussion I don't want to hear about politics or politicians everywhere, all the time. I have grown numb to the news reports too. I want stories other then those about the current or past administration. Don't get me wrong- political views and discussions have their place, but it seems very hard to get away from it even in places you wouldn't expect it.