Editor,
A short time ago, a contributor to the online forum of the Daily Journal suggested to a frequent letter writer (not me), that he should stop trying to make people think the way he does, and that, he should try to find common ground to agree upon with other people.
My response to this suggestion is, the contributor does not understand that most LTE writers are just presenting their own opinions, backed by facts and evidence, to the readers and that it is up to the readers to make up their own opinions on what was written in the LTE (Of course, there are those LTE writers who don’t use facts or evidence to support their opinions).
Secondly, to find common ground to agree upon with other people, both parties need to be talking the truth, backed by facts and evidence, and not political rhetoric. If one party only lies, makes things up without evidence, or, denies facts and truths, then, there could never be any common ground to agree on.
That, in a nut shell, is what is dividing Americans now. This isn’t rocket science!
Michael Oberg
San Mateo
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(11) comments
Good morning, Michael
I hope your most recent LTE suggests you are turning over a new leaf.
In Dirk’s 8/8 LTE about Donald Trump, he mentioned the moral missteps of some past accomplished political leaders. Without a doubt, Trump has also misstepped. You asked, “Ok Dirk, please tell us what Trump accomplished?” I answered your question with a list of 17 different accomplishments. You apparently ignored the list, and your silence, noted by another reader, was deafening.
In today’s LTE, you asserted it is difficult for persons with different POVs to find common ground. So, with respect to the list of accomplishments posted in response to a question posed by you only four days ago, was there nothing on that list you believe may have been a good thing? How ‘bout the appointment of five openly gay ambassadors and encouraging an initiative to decriminalize homosexuality across the globe? Can we not find common ground on that issue?
Michael, if common ground can be found… as you have suggested… through the exchange of ideas supported by facts and evidence, then I look forward to you turning over that new leaf.
Thanks for your letter, Mr. Oberg. Allow me to mark your, as Mr. Fowler described, turning of a new leaf on today’s calendar. I, for one, will be happy you’ll stop objecting about Obama putting kids in cages, because Obama did do that. I’ll be glad to see an end to your lies that COVID deaths under Trump was over 750,000 people because that number is attributable to Biden, who is closer, or more, than double the number of deaths under Trump, showing us Biden’s plan for COVID was to continue allowing people to die. And of course, I’m hoping to see an end to your incessant references to the debunked “insurrection” that was allowed to occur due to Pelosi’s dereliction of duty to protect the Capitol. I can easily find more examples of your past fake news and lies but in the spirit of unity, I hope to begin to find common ground with you to stop the division. As you say, this isn’t rocket science. BTW, if you want links, I can provide them but they’re easily found with simple searches. I’d love it if perhaps you can convince a few of the other rabid lefties contributing to the hard and soft copies of the DJ to find common ground. Up to now, they’re not as open to talking the truth, or backing up their assertions with facts and evidence.
Terrence, don't hold your breath. Too many times you have indeed provided the truth with receipts and evidence and then Mike, Rel, TafD, Jorg etc.. disappear when they are faced with it.
What does that tell you? One is entitled to one's own opinions, but one is not entitled to their own facts, that's the part these same individuals don't understand because there is always some liberal outlet or tabloid which support "their" truths by twisting the facts. Or the likes of FB, formerly Twitter, Google, NextDoor that do the censoring of the truths they don't want Mike, Rel, TafD or Jorg and the rest of their followers to know. I do wish these people would take their emotional blinders off and search all four corners for the real truth, not just one liberal corner, but I think their heals have dug into deeply to change at this stage.
Well, Not So Common, since you invoked my name twice, (and you apparently wish to stay behind a nom de plume) with your personal opinions not based in any facts whatsoever, I am inclined to call you out. First, I am a political junkie who has voted both sides of the aisle since the days of JFK, so I know viable sources of facts and/or truth in today's environment. Second, might I remind you it was Kelly Anne Conway who coined the phrase of "alternative facts" and is an avid user today. Third, if I were to hunt for conspiracy theories amongst the commentators here, you head the top of list. Not so surprising as it is a practice of righties to accuse opposite views with their own failings. Finally, any time you have a question about my commentary that deserves a reply, I will debate you every day and twice on Sunday based on the facts.
Well, why didn’t you provide a fact, point to something you said that is factual, and where someone else said you were incorrect, yet you were actually correct. Or point to something i have said that is not factal??? From day one when Trump was shot I did say it’s a government coup, which sounds like a conspiracy, but three weeks later, it sure looks like it was a coup. Your past from 60 years ago is not relevant today, you are a political hack, overly emotional, and you see things as you wish them to be and not as they are. You can say that you’re honest and unbiased but that doesn’t make you honest and unbiased. If you’d like a list of your dishonesty comments , just let me know and Ill provide a list. I stay anonymous because I don’t want people like you and your woke crowd to cancel me, picket outside my home, attack my workplace, or attack my family .
I will Venmo you $500 right now to debate me on live stream. It can just be audio. But it will be recorded. Invite Jorg and the rest of the clowns too. Its time to expose you bad actors for the doers of iniquity that you are.
LittleFoot, I’m betting Rel won’t respond but if he does, I’d say you set up a monetary amount, say $50 for each lie from Rel (or any of the rest of the “clowns” that are invited) that you debunk. You’d get your $500 back in a short amount of time. Rel always accuses me of lying on Obama putting kids in cages so start with that one. Easy $50.
LittleFoot and Terence
A debate. An intriguing idea, but I think ultimately it would be an unsatisfying experience. Based on what I’ve seen in these pages, the progressives are far too happy with supporting their POVs with unsupported talking points and a “because I said so” justification of their opinions. You can pin a progressive’s ears back with facts and evidence, but it will not make any difference. They will still tell you inflation is not real, the Afghanistan withdrawal worked out OK, we need unchecked migration across our southern border, and if they feel they have been set back on their heels on any particular issue… get ready for the progressives’ old standby… everything is racist. Good luck.
Thanks for your response, Not So Common. I understand what you’re saying, but if Mr. Oberg is willing to go out on a limb and profess his desire to start backing up his comments with facts and evidence, I’ll give him a chance. In the past, Mike O hasn’t done a stellar job but tomorrow is a new day. You’ve likely noticed that former (and loud) Trump haters have converted to become Trump supporters. We know it can be done and some folks are realizing they love America more than they hate Trump and they realize Cackling Kamala and Stolen Valor A-Walz are disasters.
We shall see if Mr. Oberg is sincere. Also note that recently, Ms. Sue Lempert stated she would stop writing about politics. And Mr. Craig Weisner stated he would start writing columns that would attempt to give people hope or motivate them to do better and to spark mutually helpful discussions. We shall see if they’re sincere and able to follow through. And if they're successful, maybe some of the rabid lefties on the site will learn something and not allow their misplaced pride to continue to rule them.
Of course, we also know that others, such as Rel, below, will continue to willfully ignore Biden/Harris and their America Last policies. Sure, Rel will continue with his fake news and lies along with launching personal attacks but what else does he have? Rel still believes his so-called insurrection was due to Trump (debunked) when we all know it was Pelosi’s dereliction of duty in not protecting the Capitol. Rel also continues to deny that Obama put kids in cages even though I supplied a link from his beloved left-wing AP showing him the truth. Apparently, Rel can’t handle the truth - even if it’s directly in front of him.
It is even more difficult for him to walk the talk. Mr. Oberg's sanctimony is appalling.
Finally, Trump made some sense: He praised he Norwegian educational system as superior! I have no idea how he would know, but from personal experience, I have to say he was right, - for a change.
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