Trump now STRONGLY DEFENDS Bill Clinton

[ALAYMAN]

This thinking really didn't pop up until they found Monica Lewinsky under Clinton's desk, then it was "CHARACTER MATTERS IN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS".

Of course, character matters, but policy does too. It’s not a one size fits all, or some sort of all or nothing. It’s not an either/or, but a both/and.

We will never have a perfect politician, just like there are no perfect people. No one candidate will punch the ticket for every kind of voter and their expectations. It’s the old “you can please some of the people some of the time“ cliché.

So again, it boils down for me to pragmatic decision-making, combined with principle choices. In my case, and I’ve said this before, when the conservative political choice of candidates starts blatantly backing pro abortion policies my pragmatism will pivot to a greater distribution of principle for my deliberations, and at that time I will entirely withhold my vote, for my conscience sake.

 

[abcaines]

Only if a person believes in an inept and weak God who does not set kings up and put them down.

Why did Hitler's ineptitude kick in and make him decide to turn on the Soviet Union?

I'm asking rhetorically, of course...

 

[sword]

Trump DEFENDS Bill Clinton after 'terrible' Epstein files photo dump

Trump, speaking at a press conference Monday, defended Clinton and blamed 'mostly Democrats' for their release and acknowledged 'there are photos of me, too.'

www.dailymail.co.uk

The truth is Trump is copying the Bill Clinton playbook in many areas. They both support the following.

1. Cutting federal spending
2. Cutting the number of federal employees.
3. Reforming social procrams
4. strong border security.
5. Expanding the wall
6. Deporting illegal aliens
7. Promoting peace in the middle east
8. Strengthening of NATO. (Different plans but same goal).
9. Both promoted free / fair trade and used tariffs like Trump

• Banana Dispute Tariffs (1999): Clinton imposed 100% tariffs on over $500 million of European luxury goods (crystal, cheese, Parma ham) to pressure the EU to comply with a WTO ruling regarding preferential treatment for bananas from certain countries.
• Steel Tariffs (2000): He imposed duties (10% on wire rod, 19% on line pipe) on imported steel that exceeded specific quotas, aiming to protect domestic producers.
• China Trade Sanctions (1995): The administration placed sanctions on Chinese goods in response to human rights issues and unfair trade practices, though this was part of broader negotiations.

 

[Ransom]

In addition it is worth noting that not all philosophy proponents and ethicists think personal virtue is the most valuable or absolutely necessary asset to leadership effectiveness.

Not sure if Niccolo Machiavelli is the best example to appeal to. He believed deceit and fraud were necessary tools of statecraft, and had little use for Christianity except as a means to keep social order; as Marlowe's chorus Machiavel says in The Jew of Malta: "I count religion but a childish toy."

Just because corrupt people fail to uphold a good principle doesn't mean the fault lies in the principle. Gross utilitarianism and pragmatism are no substitute.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Not sure if Niccolo Machiavelli is the best example to appeal to. He believed deceit and fraud were necessary tools of statecraft, and had little use for Christianity except as a means to keep social order; as Marlowe's chorus Machiavel says in The Jew of Malta: "I count religion but a childish toy."

Just because corrupt people fail to uphold a good principle doesn't mean the fault lies in the principle. Gross utilitarianism and pragmatism are no substitute.

To clarify for me, what exactly is the principle you refer to here?

That we should expect our leaders to be morally upright?
That often leaders are morally corrupt?
That leaders can have moral lapses in their private lives and their policies can bless and strengthen those they govern?
That leaders can be morally upright and their policies can be disastrous for those they govern?
That God can and does use immoral leaders to accomplish His purpose?

All of the above?
None of the above?

 

[AverageJoe]

Just gotta keep voting republican and everything gonna be ok. Just keep voting republican. Vote republican no matter what! As long as they got an R, I’m voting for that guy. Republican no matter what.

That sounds like my great uncle, my father, and my late mother-in-law. They all voted (D) even if they were wrong. Party before principles is what I always called it.

 

[subllibrm]

Explain again the weakness in stating that scripture gives moral qualifications for a Pastor but not a secular leader?

Non sequitur.

 

[Bruh]

That sounds like my great uncle, my father, and my late mother-in-law. They all voted (D) even if they were wrong. Party before principles is what I always called it.

The party itself has no principles, republican that is. Their platform is a lie.

 

[subllibrm]

Only if a person believes in an inept and weak God who does not set kings up and put them down.

Thirty million people testify against him being retrained.

The argument was that God used Stalin to restrain Hitler. Did God run out of restrainers to deal with Stalin?

This is not a claim of an ineffectual God. It's pointing out the weakness of the argument. Did I mention non sequitur?

 

[subllibrm]

Party before principles is what I always called it.

When I say that here I am accused of having TDS.

 

[Jo]

Perhaps he should have been more selective about the people he associated with. Running around with women like Stormy Daniels doesn’t normally lead to good outcomes.

I would not be at all surprised if Trump had dealings with Epstein. My understanding is that they were neighbors in Florida. Trump is married to a woman who was a former model and is 24 years his junior.

Sound familiar? At least he married her. I'm just not a fan of Trump or his previous lifestyle and strange remarks. Sad that the Republican party could not find a better candidate to represent.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Thirty million people testify against him being retrained.

The argument was that God used Stalin to restrain Hitler. Did God run out of restrainers to deal with Stalin?

This is not a claim of an ineffectual God. It's pointing out the weakness of the argument. Did I mention non sequitur?

You love to deflect.
Stalin aside, do you deny that God has used immoral, corrupt leaders for His purpose?

 

[subllibrm]

You love to deflect.
Stalin aside, do you deny that God has used immoral, corrupt leaders for His purpose?

Of course He has. In His sovereignty He has appointed all the leaders throughout the ages. Outside of His will, AOC would not hold the office of US Representative.

 

[subllibrm]

You love to deflect.
Stalin aside, do you deny that God has used immoral, corrupt leaders for His purpose?

Stalin aside.

And who is deflecting?

 

[Ransom]

To clarify for me, what exactly is the principle you refer to here?

That we should expect our leaders to be morally upright?

We should expect everyone to be morally upright.

The specific principle I was referring to is "as goes the king, so goes the country"--meaning that, as a general rule, the character, morality, and behaviour of the leader affect the direction of the country. Upright leadership leads to prosperity, while immoral and corrupt leadership leads to decline.

It's not universally true, but it is generally true, and is a good goal to strive for.

 

[aleshanee]

Of course He has. In His sovereignty He has appointed all the leaders throughout the ages. Outside of His will, AOC would not hold the office of US Representative.

then what are you complaining for?......... if the model of calvinism is correct then american elections mean nothing and God appointed trump as president...... ...none of us.... not even you... had anything to do or say about it.............. ...... so do us all a favor and quit your whining.....

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Stalin aside.

And who is deflecting?

I said Stalin aside because you were using him to deflect the issue.

 

[DrHuk&Duck]

I would not be at all surprised if Trump had dealings with Epstein. My understanding is that they were neighbors in Florida. Trump is married to a woman who was a former model and is 24 years his junior.

Sound familiar? At least he married her. I'm just not a fan of Trump or his previous lifestyle and strange remarks. Sad that the Republican party could not find a better candidate to represent.

I’m not a fan of Trump, but I still prefer him over Biden.

 

[BrianH]

Wrong. “It’s the economy, stupid.” - James Carville

I don’t necessarily think that’s always true. Bill Clinton maintained a historically strong economy, yet Bush won over Gore anyway.

 

[subllibrm]

I said Stalin aside because you were using him to deflect the issue.

What issue? That God used Stalin to stop Hitler but was unable to stop Stalin?