Very well said. My old man can attest to the struggle of running a small-business with a couple employees while managing the overhead of health insurance both for himself, and them.
This is honestly how Democrats should be pushing it: We're Pro Small-Business. (1) Entrepreneurship, (2) Innovation, (3) True competition, (4) Keeping money within communities... I could go on.
This is probably a standard headline for reporting trends, but really it's Steadily Poor:
Republicans largely approve of the president’s handling of Iran, immigration, Israel, and the economy, while most Democrats and independents disapprove.
President Trump’s overall job approval rating is holding steady. Thirty-seven percent approve of the way he is handling his job, unchanged from the AP-NORC poll conducted in May and similar to the 36% who approved in early February, before the war in Iran began. The public continues to disapprove of his handling of Iran, with 34% approving, also unchanged from May. The poll was conducted as Trump suggested a deal with Iran had been reached but before it was signed.
Something I don't quite get with these polls and what I wish to see more of is a trend of what percent of people self-identify as independent, Republican, and Democrat over time. One would expect that the concentration of die-hard Republicans would remain unchanged or even strengthen in time as the more dilute "moderate" Republicans abandon the party in switching to Independent. Put another way, if only 10 Republicans remained in the party, you can bet your ass they'd be the biggest zealots and he'd have 100% approval among Republicans. I'm sure weighting techniques factor this in, but I'd just like to see how party identity has changed over the years more in these polls.
Interestingly, the methodology for this poll indicates an oversampling of Jewish respondents.
Part of what contributed to that is how many people bought the "muH BoTh SiDeS" bullshit, too. Harris was better in every way. Hell so was Biden even in his senility.
Cue McConnell obstruction bullshit with lazy filibuster. Mere 3 month period over Obamas 8 years where he had a supermajority, and even then Lieberman fucked him.
Idk why people say this. It wasn't the turning point. Trump had been hounding Obama on the false birther issue since he was elected practically, stoking the flames of the tea party. It was inevitable he was going to run.
Been saying since the start: Iran is likely in on all this
IRGC Coup -- The IRGC has LONG been wanting to make a move over the Ayatollah. Now the new Ayatollah is a sockpuppet and the IRGC has completely taken over by way of coup.
Quelled Civil Unrest -- Prior to this conflict, civil unrest in Iran was heavily mounting. Thousands upon thousands out on the street. Now Iranian dissidents hopeful for being rescued were baited out of their homes, only to be slaughtered the first time Trump left them hanging, and the second time Israel and USA suddenly became the new threat and rallied the masses around while also indicating nobody was actually coming to save them from the tyranny within.
Superficial Damage -- Most damage done to Iran has largely been superficial for media optics. Even their nuclear program has largely remained intact.
New Cashflow -- Not only has this massively benefitted Russia with lifted oil sanctions, the IRGC got a massive injection into their own economy, both with the new toll system but also the literal cited fucking article above.
Meanwhile Trump doesn't give a shit. His goal as a Trojan Orange has been a success.
Screaming Israel over and over does not preclude coordination with Iran and Russia. These things are not mutually-exclusive. This should be abundantly obvious when all parties are lead by psychopaths, and when each and every single one benefit.
This is what you're missing in your obsession over Israel.
Really quick - do you acknowledge Russia' actions in Ukraine are illegal and morally wrong and unjustified?
Whether it was Trump being stupid, Trump sabotaging the country, or Trump coordinating with them directly -- I'm not even sure that matters so much, but it is very clear that Iran, Russia, and Israel are all better off now than they were before the strikes. Which to me tracks for Trump selling off America.
Also can we stop pretending that Trump is actually making these decisions and isn't a sock-puppet letting his administration run things? Did we not see the article where JD Vance was running the show in the Situation Room? Do we not yet understand that this administration is being run by the surrounding psychopaths?
Would we know if they stopped a plot? Would it not at least be an imperfect deterrent for those considering but deciding against it?