Upcoming Discussion Sessions:
· 9am Monday December 17 at the North Shore Senior Center
· 10am Thursday December 20 at the Northbrook Library
· 7:15pm Wednesday January 2 at The Lodge
· 9:30am Wednesday January 16 at the JCC on Revere Drive
Trump says he will
“own” the government shut-down if his Wall isn’t funded, or “build it through
the Military”. Who has the edge in this show-down: Trump, or Pelosi/Schumer? The Republican House
has not funded it. Most Americans don’t want it. How effective would a Wall be
in addressing the broader issue of legal and illegal immigration? Would a
shut-down be good, politically, for Trump with his core supporters, today about
33% of America…but bad for Republicans?
Is Trump lying to
“sell” his Wall? Trump claims terrorists are being caught at the border. Yet his own
administration cannot support his claims. Facts do not support Trump’s
contention that routine border controls allow immigrants and refugees to enter
that are “terrorists, rapists, criminals, murderers, diseased, druggies”. Looking
at the big picture, what’s the greater risk to national
security—Immigrants? Islamic Terrorists?
White Supremacists? Looking at facts vs. emotion, haven’t most significant
attacks, in recent years, been by home-grown Americans?
How should Democrats approach Trump’s deepening
legal problems? Cohen gets 3 years for covering
up Trump’s “dirty deeds” and following his “path of darkness”. Cohen says history will not see HIM as the villain.
Trump says Cohen is a liar. Should impeachment be considered by the House in
January? How dangerous is it for Trump
to say “the people would revolt if I am impeached”?
Turncoats? Or Patriots? Trump, his base and Conservative Media continue to
hammer Mueller and Comey. But polls show 29% approval of Trump’s handling of
the Russia investigation, and 40% approval of Mueller. Comey: “Our country is led by those who will lie
about anything, backed by those who will believe anything, based on information
from media sources that will say anything.”
Are Republicans taking a politically smart move in totally
dismissing court charges of Trump indictable activities? Are they correct in acting like “this is no
big deal”?
What should we make of a letter signed by 44 ex-Senators
imploring the current Senate to act for the good of the country during these
trying times, and not to act along partisan lines?
The beginning of
Conservative angst? Tucker Carlson on Trump: “I don’t think he’s
capable.” Carlson can’t stand Trump’s self-aggrandizement and boasting. Asked
whether Trump has kept his promises, the usually quick-witted, long-winded
Carlson had just one word: “No.”
How is Trump managing the Economy? Is the GOP Tax
Plan working out? When developing his tax plan and
advised that the deficit would explode, Trump is reported to have replied, “That’s OK, because I’ll be gone.”
Mitch McConnell
said the Senate would take up a long-awaited bipartisan bill that aims to
reduce the number of people in the nation's crowded prisons. Your thoughts.
Your thoughts about Trump eliminating Obama’s EPA
standards on wetlands?
What should we make of the Russian spy who wants a
plea deal? She had ties to Trump supporters, the NRA, and was
called upon by Trump at a campaign presser, asking about his thoughts on Russian
Sanctions (at the same time Trump was developing his hotel in Moscow)?
What should we make of the President’s “Chief of
Staff” saga?
TIME “Person of the Year” is a group of imprisoned or
murdered journalists. Your thoughts.
The AMAZON
deal—are we talking about “corporate welfare”? How good a deal for the cities? Similar to
cities using taxpayer dollars to pay for sports stadiums. Does it work?
How is Trump’s “America First” approach working out? Trump prefers an
America that stands alone, not needing partners vs. teaming up with other
countries to seek common goals (like NATO against Russia). Building coalitions is the approach taken by previous
U.S. Presidents.
North Korea is still working on its ballistic
missile program. The summit helped
Kim. How has it helped the U.S.? How
would a second summit help matters?
Does pulling out of
the intermediate nuke treaty help Russia’s military more than it helps the
U.S.? Is it a good idea to “Build up our nukes until other countries
come to their senses.”?
How Conservative
is the Supreme Court? It left lower court victories intact for Planned
Parenthood in a legal battle with states over access by Medicaid patients to
the group's services. The dispute did not involve abortion, but it keeps a
hot-button political issue off the docket. Three court conservatives said the
court should have taken the case. But Roberts and Kavanaugh decided with the
Liberals.
Growing Anti-Semitism in Europe? More than one in three European Jews have
considered emigrating over the past five years because they no longer feel safe
amid a surge in anti-Semitism. A European Union study in 12 countries that are
home to 96 percent of European Jews showed widespread malaise at a rise in hate
crimes which Jewish communities blame in part on anti-Semitic comments by
politicians that stoke a climate of impunity. Feelings of insecurity were
particularly acute among Jews in France, followed by Poland, Belgium and Germany.
In what way is “America
so much stronger than we were two years ago”?
How much of
Trump’s support comes from Conservatives (i.e., Traditional Republicans who are
the flip side of Progressives)? How
many are “cultish” followers of Donald Trump—his dominant personality, his
“America first” nationalism, his unique “disrupter in chief” attack mode?
Will the new Congress do anything with respect to
Gun Control?
During his
Thanksgiving call to U.S. troops, Trump politicized the Military by asking
deployed Commanders how they felt about domestic political issues. Commanders side-stepped answering. Trump attacked the 9th
Circuit, defended his support of the Saudi’s. Asked what he is most thankful
for, said he was thankful for doing such an outstanding job as President.
Are things better
or worse now with Iran?
Merkel will not
seek reelection. Did Germany’s immigrant situation do her in?
