For me it's more a question of balance within a situation. I concur that many of Trump's statements are silly and problematical.....The issues is that his detractors go too far with the criticism and themselves issues statements that are 'Trump-like' themselves in their relationship to reality.

Personally, for what's it's worth, I don't like this trend away from cool analysis and towards emotionalism....We have seen it with the response to the Brexit result and now with anything to do with Trump.

I see a problem with the language and incitement. The people who complain about Trump's language are themselves often guilty of the same worrying hyperbolic reactions. With Black lives matter we have seen hyperbole lead to murders....this polarisation in reaction over Trump isn't a positive thing.

I agree with you that Trump is often immature with his statements. I don't agree that he shouldn't have responded to this....widely media reported attack on his character. Just because you agreed with the sentiments of the attack doesn't mean he shouldn't respond.

I don't agree that he said anything inappropriate indeed the reaction to what he said has been hyperbolic and unbalanced.

During my teaching career I've also spent quite a time with Muslims and the more I've learnt about the religion the more concerned I've become as a humanist secularist about the future implications of an increased 'pious' Islamic population within the country...indeed though I'd also say this about any increase in religious percentage population from any religion.

While I feel that many secular and reformist Muslims are fine and should be welcomed and that positive examples of western leaning groups do indeed exist within Islamic countries I also think that you have fallen prey to the 'group think' on religions in this country that believes they are all the same and that focus on problems is a negative.

Any look at view surveys from the majority of Muslims within Islamic countries and indeed within western ones it shows quite clearly the problems related to homosexuals, women, Jews and division between religion and state.

To ignore this and say no politician should address it is to ignore the problem......though I'd agree that talk of banning people purely on religion isn't going to work or help.

To finish on Trump though your comment that 'I think he was just being a c**t, because that's what he is, a pampered, spoiled, arrogant rich egocentric c**t'.....Apart from the swearing I wouldn't disagree with the character analysis.....though it must be said that on many policies he's actually a left learning republican.....Many on the left don't actually know a lot about his views other than through the 'hate' lens the lefty media and commentators feed them.

The thing is in reality ....will he be a more positive than Clinton for jobs, the economy and foreign policy......when you take away the emotionalism I honestly couldn't say.

Edited by Stirlingsays (04 Aug 2016 3.52pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

For Clinton, with those emails, It generally regards in censure, and disciplinary action, to be distributing secret information via an personal server (unless that server has been vetted and sufficiently encrypted).

More important, from a security position is how did those files get onto a digital format. For example, in defence, there is a very strong policy on memory sticks, media such as CD/DVDS, external drives etc.

You can't just email out either, because the mail system tends to also be self contained and locked down to the nth degree. And we didn't deal with anything above classified or restricted.

Secret documents, the real concern is how the f**k people are getting those onto private networks, not so much that they're using private networks. Its possible, but its a massive effort to do so (at least here it is), and would be a deliberate effort to do so (and likely result in you being fired).

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]

It can't be denied there's truth in that amusing comment.

For a lot of people Trump represents just giving the 'middle finger' to a system they feel has failed them...A bit like Brexit was I suppose.

If there is a Trump presidency....Currently I feel that's a 70/30 from me....If the world is going to get one then I feel his will be a confrontational one....though not as in your face as he puts out.

The west will get its own 'Putin'. Relations with Russia will certainly improve....I haven't thought through if I like that or not.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Signs of Trump campaign actually cracking from disaffected republicans he is ranting his way to defeat hopefully.

Kind of hard to ignore the future President of the World's strongest power though. If he was someone down the road annoying you, fair enough. This is someone putting themselves in the limelight and who should be able to put up with all the 'pussies' who are basically calling him out on his crap.
He really doesn't need defending on here - his bodyguards and stooges can do that.
Lowest common denominator politics is a sad sign for the world as a whole. May as well vote for a turnip as vote for Trump or Clinton.

Red and Blue Army!

Yes but it has no power if no one buys into it. It is only the weak minded that allow antagonism and the negative power of words to have any strength.

We all have the power to laugh in the face of people who perpetuate, dogma, division, oppression and prejudice. They can torture, us beat, us or kill us but they will never harm us with words if we don't let them.