The Catholic Message Board

I open this thread because I'm sure people might have a lot of things to say, but the this section seems to have so far only extremely specific questions.

As Americans (mostly), what do you feel about the second Trump administration overall - domestic policy, foreign policy, economic policy, appointments, culture of life, religious liberty, etc.?

I get my news from Indian media, Catholic media, and social media. I do not usually consume American news media directly.

Much too broad a question. Suffice it to say that since the 1830s, the Catholic vote was overwhelmingly Democratic. Beginning in the late 60's, the Catholic vote has been moving away from the Democratic party to the Republicans. In 2024, Trump won the Republican vote by nearly 30 points, the largest Catholic vote for a Republican in history.

It is definitely starting to become the case that the Democrats are the party of the secularists, the atheists, and the irreligious, and the Republicans are the religious party. Biden in 2020 was one of the few remaining Democrats who was relatively friendly to religion. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, told a group of evangelicals who shouted "Christ is King" at one of her rallies that they were at the wrong rally and she made security force them to leave.

Specifically, is 'the swamp being drained'? If so, in what ways?

In part, DOGE.

Doom wrote: ↑Sat Jul 19, 2025 5:15 pm Kamala Harris, on the other hand, told a group of evangelicals who shouted "Christ is King" at one of her rallies that they were at the wrong rally and she made security force them to leave.

Of course, this would offend Christians of all denominations. Sincere Catholics in particular must have become outraged to learn that the FBI considered Latin-oriented Catholics dangerous enough to be monitored.

Stella wrote: ↑Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:44 pm Specifically, is 'the swamp being drained'? If so, in what ways?

Yes, but I guess if you have to ask that question, you probably wouldn't either understand or believe the answer. You're liberal, and most of us here are not. He's removed a lot of unwanted baggage, and that's a good thing economically, and seven ways to Sunday.

Doom wrote: ↑Sat Jul 19, 2025 5:15 pm Much too broad a question. Suffice it to say that since the 1830s, the Catholic vote was overwhelmingly Democratic. Beginning in the late 60's, the Catholic vote has been moving away from the Democratic party to the Republicans. In 2024, Trump won the Republican vote by nearly 30 points, the largest Catholic vote for a Republican in history.

It is definitely starting to become the case that the Democrats are the party of the secularists, the atheists, and the irreligious, and the Republicans are the religious party. Biden in 2020 was one of the few remaining Democrats who was relatively friendly to religion. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, told a group of evangelicals who shouted "Christ is King" at one of her rallies that they were at the wrong rally and she made security force them to leave.

My question was broad, yes, but I don't feel you addressed it at all. You mention things before it, and people other than him.

Jack3 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 19, 2025 1:06 pm I open this thread because I'm sure people might have a lot of things to say, but the this section seems to have so far only extremely specific questions.

As Americans (mostly), what do you feel about the second Trump administration overall - domestic policy, foreign policy, economic policy, appointments, culture of life, religious liberty, etc.?

I get my news from Indian media, Catholic media, and social media. I do not usually consume American news media directly.

O.K., I'll mention at least one that benefits me personally. I won't see the increase until I file my tax returns next year, but I'm getting a 22% increase in my SS.

anawim wrote: ↑Sun Jul 20, 2025 4:53 am

Stella wrote: ↑Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:44 pm Specifically, is 'the swamp being drained'? If so, in what ways?

Yes, but I guess if you have to ask that question, you probably wouldn't either understand or believe the answer. You're liberal, and most of us here are not. He's removed a lot of unwanted baggage, and that's a good thing economically, and seven ways to Sunday.

I'm not a fan of Trump but I'm not liberal. I'm a life long conservative voter in Australia. Here there isn't that absolute hate of the left/right as there is in the US. Each side is mostly regarded as a different way of viewing society and regarded as a good way of democracy and keeping balance.

But I don't get the trust in Trump and I'm curious about whether that trust remains so solid as time passes.

Stella wrote: ↑Sun Jul 20, 2025 5:34 pm
But I don't get the trust in Trump and I'm curious about whether that trust remains so solid as time passes.

I've said it before; I'll say it again: As a NY'er, I've been following Trump for over 40 years. Don't like him as a person, but I trust him to get the job done. Implicitly. Hasn't waivered, and not about to change anytime soon. I just wish he could run for a third term.

If you are looking for a general response to a general question, my take is that Trump is, in some ways, our last, best hope.

Best hope? Because the rot in the Federal and other governments is so pervasive and so accepted and defended with such fury and rancor that only a wrecking ball has any chance to make changes. I referred to DOGE earlier. Having worked as a Federal employee, I witnessed firsthand and daily the fraud, waste, and abuse --- and violations of regulations and laws -- practiced and encouraged at every level in the ever expanding Government. And the retaliation against those who attempted to address it.

The problem with a wrecking ball, of course, is that it wrecks a lot of things. The entrenched apparatchiks argue that, unless one can guarantee that no collateral damage will happen, no changes can be made. No risk is acceptable. An infinite amount of time is necessary to ensure that perfection is the result. That argument conveniently protects their own feathered nests.

I view Trump as a person who can't keep his mouth shut, even when it is in his best interest to do so. He alienates when it is counterproductive. And I am furious about the Epstein files and about his reaction that it is a non-issue. HST, I am willing to put up with his New Yorkedness because we need the results. There is simply no other person in the US who would face and act upon the massive problems we face. Trump rushes off and tilts at windmills; the amazing thing is that he actually knocks some down.

Your last paragraph sums up my ambivalence towards him. When people ask why I voted for him, I shrug and say, "Given the choices, what else could I do?" But this also overlooks the tremendous good he has done, and bewails the good he could accomplish.

If he could only SHUT! HIS! MOUTH!

https://whitelungdisease.blogspot.com/ ... s_14.html

A buddy of mine, a New Yorker and a Progressive to his core, is not at all bothered by Trump's mouth. He says Trump is a typical New York wise guy and that they all act an talk the same way. He says Trump's demeanor just rolls of his back ... and he hates Trump.

Highlander wrote: ↑Wed Jul 23, 2025 12:57 pm A buddy of mine, a New Yorker and a Progressive to his core, is not at all bothered by Trump's mouth. He says Trump is a typical New York wise guy and that they all act an talk the same way. He says Trump's demeanor just rolls of his back ... and he hates Trump.

I've got a couple of people in my family tree who are not unlike Trump.

A friend of a friend on FB had been living and working in the Netherlands for several years. He went down a laundry list of what the Dutch are like: rude, loud, obnoxious, in your face, etc. I said, 'that sounds like your typical NYer. Since the city was founded or settled by the Dutch, maybe that's why we are like the way we are'.

A Dutch stereotype is that they tell you exactly what they are thinking, immediately upon thinking it. Seems to work for them.

Ed Feser wrote:for Trump to bring the U.S. into a major new war in the Middle East would be contrary to his own longstanding rhetoric...
But then, contradictory and reckless statements are par for the course with Trump. For example, Trump has portrayed himself as pro-life, but then came out in support of keeping abortion pills available and of federal funding for IVF. He promised to bring prices down, but has pursued trade policies that are likely to make prices higher. His DOGE project was predicated on the need to bring federal spending under control, but now he supports a bill that will add another $3 trillion to the national debt. And so on.

https://edwardfeser.blogspot.com/2025/0 ... r.html?m=1

One thing I liked about 45 was that he nuked the H-4B visa, which was used to allow spouses of H-1B visa holders to work. "Outsource 1 job and get 1 free"

47, is pro-H-1B now. He even put Mr. H-1B Lover Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Techies are doomed to a terrible job market now.

I do like 47's immigration enforcement.

I don't like his 180 on Epstein documents. This tells me that the cronyocracy got him.

47's DOGE found $150B of cuts. Only $9B was submitted as a recission bill. DOGE was a farce and totally phony, no wonder Elon moved on. He saw the writing on the wall: The cronyoracy will not let 47 cut anything.

Instead of cutting spending and balancing the budget, he pushed the Big Beautiful Crony Enriching Act which will increase the deficit by $2T over 10 years.

The tariff revenue? Here's a bunch of checks.

The Simpsons Episode WILL come to pass.

I'm going to miss this country. 2030 is going to be terrible.