A divorce rate of somewhere between 40-50% has already changed the definition of traditional family. LGBTQ has nothing to do with that. If kids can grow up in a stable family environment with two parents, regardless of sex or whether or not they're married, then that it a good thing.

Clearwaters,

The Obama family earned over $16 million on book deals alone and another $70 million on miscellaneous arrangements while serving in the White House. Surely you're not accusing the Obama family of doing something illegal.

The Obama family earned over $16 million on book deals alone and another $70 million on miscellaneous arrangements while serving in the White House.

That's not what Forbes says, Brushworks. Do you trust Forbes? It's not CNN. It's not MSNBC. Here's what Forbes has to say about Obama's earnings. Don't skip over the part where it says:

He donated all post-tax profits from the children's book to provide scholarships for children of wounded and fallen soldiers.

Do you have a source, Brushworks? I know he made a lot in book royalties, but I'm curious about your $70 million "miscellaneous" arrangements. If Trump wants to write a book, I wouldn't begrudge those proceeds. I find that less offensive than Trump hosting foreign leaders and vacationing at his own resorts. All those secret service people have to stay close to him and I doubt he's letting them stay for free. He made such a big fuss advertising he wasn't charging the Japanese prime minster that I'm sure he'd mention if his protection detail stayed for free.

His kids travel the world making Trump corporation deals, and we pay for it. Each time he vacations or plays golf, his resorts get a huge publicity boost. He knows this. And don't forget how his staff blatantly promoted his daughter's fashion line.

Actually Chi, it was in the news a few weeks ago that the Secret Service is billed for EVERYTHING they use including 62,000 in golf cart rentals! He is raking this country over the coals from every angle.

Unfortunately, children learning about Trump's government-gutting administration will not be surprised or shocked. They will have learned to be as unquestioning and entertainment-focused as the easily led pouters who elected a shallow salesman, spouting promises and lies. They will attend ruined public schools where they learn nothing *dangerous* about weighing facts or objective thinking. They will be docile suckers, happily fleeced by the next Great White Hope.

Alisande,

Profits from the children's books was signed prior to white house. He released two more books that earned several million $.

The question is: should a president, ANY president be allowed to make profits while serving in the White House. Yes or no? Or is it yes for one but no for another?

I don't even really think about Melania--I'm too worried about #45's daughter-wife Ivanka and her Russian collaborating husband.

The first former First Family to turn their status into a money making machine were the Clintons, Bill and Hillary. Both personally and in raising money for his foundation. Never before nor to the same extent since.

Hey I see the embers burning low here so I came by to offer some gasoline. Remember how everybody laughed at Trump when he said he was wiretapped? CNN says he was not lying like everyone said.

Elmer, I wish that I could like that statement more than once. We had two real nominees running for POTUS. I damn sure wasn't going to choose Clinton. If that makes me some sort of "easily led pouters" so be it.

Thanks PK. Enjoy my comment along with knowing that my political views don't consistently follow any group.

Source

Making money from writing books is not a problem as it is not a situation in which the pres is likely to alter policies toward his own interests and against those of the nation as a result. That is not the case with a president who hasn't divested of his global business interests and put his assets in a blind trust.

How do we know how much obama made? Because he released his tax returns every year. We would know a lot more about trump if he'd release his tax returns. Though even that wouldn't demonstrate things like pressuring the President of Argentina to approve the permits for his building in Buenos Aires. But there are reasons why he won't release his returns. That in itself is telling.

We now know that trump was actively pursuing a building deal in Moscow that needed putin's approval during the campaign. Do you think that might have had any impact on all the complimentary things he has said about putin? Do you think that putting tillerson, ex CEO of Exxon, in as Secy of State -- a man with zero experience outside of Exxon -- might have anything to do with russian interests in the pursuit of oil exploration in the arctic? ... a deal between russia and Exxon that was squashed by obama sanctions that was estimated to be worth $500B -- yes, that's half a trillion dollars... sanctions that mike flynn, trump's nat'l security advisor, discussed lifting with russia?

Not to mention, e.g., Azerbaijan with it's ties to Iran, or the Batumi tower or how Ivanka got her Chinese trademarks same day she dined with the Chinese president and so on.

Whatever level of corruption anyone thinks obama and clinton were up to, it's all nanoparticles compared to trump.

Not quite trickyputt. Manafort was wire tapped, not trump tower, and by the FBI, not obama.

The question is: should a president, ANY president be allowed to make
profits while serving in the White House. Yes or no? Or is it yes for
one but no for another?

I'd have to add, it depends on HOW they're making their profits.

Should any president be of the population which has to make a profit and pay taxes and when running for president which all children should be allowed to do should the crooked woman running justice department allow a 2ncd wiretap on the opponents campaingn manager even though the first had no evidence and goy closed down. Go ask that CIA Clapper guy who said none of this happened. I fertilize in your direction!

I also think there's a difference between the public choosing to buy Obama's book, and taxpayer money funneled into Trump businesses. If Obama made the government pay him millions for his books, I would have a problem with that. But he didn't. People chose to buy them.

I don't have a problem with his increased membership fees making him money. That's public choice. Pocketing government money for his own companies is completely different. He chooses to fly to his resorts constantly. He could entertain elsewhere, somewhere where he doesn't directly profit. I heard there's a nice place in DC for that purpose. :)

And there's a nice place with a golf course and great security nearby as well.

This is a bit off topic but I saw it in the headlines today and it makes me so angry.

They are trying to repeal Obamacare again in the short time they have left to only need a simple majority. I don't agree with their new policy where insurance can charge more for people with pre-existing conditions. Everyone with a past medical issue, chronic disease or cancer diagnosis can be charged whatever insurance wants. Prior versions made it so that people with continual coverage would be protected but this new version eliminates that and says that insurance can review medical history and change prices on renewal contracts.

I still have 30 years before Medicare so this is a big concern to me. What if I have a child with a chronic medical condition?

They are so focused on destroying anything Obama did and fulfilling campaign promises. It doesn't matter to them if people die because they can't afford to treat their cancer and would rather not bankrupt their survivors. It's disgusting. I believe healthcare is a basic human right, not reserved for the wealthy or healthy.

Chi, if I could like this a million times, I would. My husband and I will be greatly impacted if we lose the ACA program.

Thanks, Rita. Your story is common. I know some people have seen increased costs with the ACA but I think those who benefit are much higher. Often those with the higher costs were in states that didn't want to have anything to do with Obama and refused the subsidies.

It is alarming how many people want Obamacare repealed but are happy with the ACA. It's just baffling. I don't know anyone who wants it repealed. Except my uncle but he's been on fully- funded TriCare since he was 18 so he's never paid a premium in his life, nor will he ever need to.

Many of the low informed cult followers of the Orange man were interviewed . They said they like ACA but hate Obamacare. See now how tRump got elected?

Obamacare IS the ACA. What am I missing? Is the message in the last few posts indicating that people are ignorant about what Obamacare is and what the ACA is? If so, yup, that's pretty bad. Same/same.

Yes, Suzie, it was touching on how some people have been interviewed saying they hate Obamacare and it needs to be repealed, and that they have their healthcare now through the ACA, which they like.

The first two obviously aren't official or scientific but it's pretty funny, in a sad way.

https://youtu.be/sx2scvIFGjE

https://youtu.be/N6m7pWEMPlA

Favorite quote on why she prefers the ACA: "Well, I mean, I'm not the biggest fan of Obama so I don't support him in the Obama things that he's got going on."

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/upshot/one-third-dont-know-obamacare-and-affordable-care-act-are-the-same.html?smid=tw-share&mtrref=thehill.com&_r=0

I don't know how you reason with people who would prefer a First Lady who is an uneducated model/porn actress to a woman with a law degree from Harvard.

Gosh, I just realized that Trump personifies that description!

All Is Lost.

Take heart, chisue, not all is lost...there will likely be a civility backlash with the next president....

"A civility backlash," may this come true, please.

This discussion is about Melania Trump, right?

o j

We've had a few really terrible presidents, a few really great ones, and the vast majority fell somewhere in the middle. And yet the Union survives. And it will survive yet again.

We had two horrible candidates from which to choose in this past election, and one of them won (I could care less about the "popular vote" as that is NOT how we elect presidents in this country and I doubt it eve will be). Do I like Trump? No. Do I find him an embarrassment? Yes, but Bill Clinton was also an embarrassment, and there have been others. But he's the only president we have and if we love our country, we must wish him success in his presidency as that is what is best for the country. Do any of your truly want anarchy? Just where has that ever worked?

Melania is not my cup of tea as a First Lady, but Michelle was not, either, and it had nothing to do with her being black. Barbara and Laura Bush are my idea of what a First Lady should be: dignified, gracious, warm, and humble.

No one knows what goes on inside a marriage. I read "authoritatively" that Hillary is now going to dump Bill - that he didn't help her enough. Well, she's stuck with him through a whole lot more than that, so only Hillary and Bill know. The same is true for Melania and The Donald. I guess we'll find out when he is no longer president.

I thought the Kitchen Table was for general conversation, not "Hot Topics". Surely, one can control ones "loathing" enough to post in the right place.

Just my opinion, but NO president, not even Nixon or Clinton is the embarrassment that Frumpy is.

As for posting in hot topics, Kitchen Table is not restricted to any one set of topics. Rule of thumb in the forum(s) is if you want to participate, please do but keep it civil. If you don't care for the topic, than go participate in a topic you do like.

I don't know how you reason with people who would prefer a First Lady who is an uneducated model/porn actress to a woman with a law degree from Harvard. HELLO! Give proof of Porn. She speaks 5 languages . Where are records of Michelle's Harvard grades also was affirmation action involved. She was friends with Jessie Jackson's daughter??? Did that help her get into Harvard. Why did she give up her law degree? Where are the records of both Obama? We knew Bush Had a C average.

I thought the Kitchen Table was for general conversation, not "Hot
Topics". Surely, one can control ones "loathing" enough to post in the
right place.

Begs the question ... why did you post on this thread?

HOW DID MY ORIGINAL COMMENT GET SO TWISTED.?????????

Hey, Ron. Google is your friend. I have seen so many frontal naked pictures of Melania kissing another naked woman ...just on Facebook alone. She dropped out of college and was a call girl and "model" You'll get an eyeful when you google, believe me. As far as Michelle, she was a Princeton grad and a lawyer for years. She was a terrific first lady and was loved by many. She wasn't a mannequin.

ronm...you've been victimized by fake news.

Melania did pose nude with another female model. Newspapers published her pics. Trump acknowledged them.

---------------

It's affirmative action, not affirmation action. In any case, even if it did help Michelle get into harvard, it didn't help her stay there, nor did it help her pass the bar, which she did. They both let their law licenses go because they stopped practicing law.

From factcheck.org

Q: Did Barack and Michelle Obama “surrender” their law licenses to avoid ethics charges?

A: No. A court official confirms that no public disciplinary proceeding has ever been brought against either of them, contrary to a false Internet rumor. By voluntarily inactivating their licenses, they avoid a requirement to take continuing education classes and pay hundreds of dollars in annual fees. Both could practice law again if they chose to do so.

----------------

Obama's out -- trump is in. Rather than worry about Michelle's Harvard grades, I'd rather see trump's tax returns to learn more about how his personal business ties may be impacting his policy choices -- are they made in the best interest of the nation or for his own self-enrichment? IMO, that's more important now to the nation than how Michelle did in school 30 years ago.

enjoyingspring, that's what happens when it comes to anything political.

Look into Melania's language skills. I have never found info on her being *fluent* in all those languages. I could list as knowing French, Spanish, and Arabic (as I have enough for travel) but am far from fluent.

She's surely not fluent in Engish. I don't know about the other languages. The irony is tRump hates immigrants and yet two of his three wives are and both speak broken English.

Many Europeans are fluent in multiple languages. It's an accomplishment, don't get me wrong, but there's far more emphasis on multiple languages from early childhood there than in the US, where it's generally a high school elective. Little kids pick up languages like little sponges.

Ah, but they were both white. Big difference in his eyes.

In addition to the taxes, I'd LOVE to see a total of the profits he's made this year by charging the Secret Service and our tax dollars for all of the housing, flights and utilities (ie golf carts) that they've needed while protecting him and his family. And of course from what I've read that's without any discounts. I honestly believe that one of the reasons he goes to his hotels every freaking weekend is so he can profit from it.

Lukkiirish read this. Also google Judicialwatch.org. And see what these people are all about. Just the truth.

http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-obama-travel-cost-now-105662975-27/

Judicial watch does seek out a lot of info.

Judicial Watch sometimes draws wrong & inappropriate conclusions in their work.

ron - not debating you on this here. I've done detailed sorting through supporting papers they claim to have used- and what they said was not what the documents showed at all. So, just offering a different view to balance your statement.

Thank you meanom. All I want to know is the truth. Do you have websites you trust? Would like to have links. Thanks again.

I have not found a single source - although politifact is consistent and covers wide topics.

Here's a recent article on presidential travel costs, and mentions some trips included in the JW one you linked.

Even if the Obama report is true, that's still roughly $13 million a year. Trump has already spent well over that this year. We don't have a lot of actual data but projections have him at around $30 million already this year. If he keeps it up he will obliterate Obama's travel expenses.

But more importantly, Obama did not personally profit from his travel expenses like Trump is. That is the big issue.

I would like to see an end to the wars. If the president could do this as he said in the campaign, instead of talking more aggression, we would save billions.

Also google Judicialwatch.org. And see what these people are all about. Just the truth.

I did that before I read the report (and I still haven't read it). Every citation described Judicial Watch as a conservative group. To me, that assumes some bias.

Additionally, to what Chi says is that historically All Presidents campaign to back the new nominee, granted some more than others but all the same.

Also, the Obama had no personal gain regarding their travel accomodations and their appearances were not self profiting for their private affairs. Trump is utilizing every thing he can for personal gain.

Ron, I can appreciate that your interest is to seek the truth, I think that is the case with the majority of people.

You can often cut to the truth if you remember to 'consider the source' and 'follow the money'. There are more 'think tanks' flacking biased 'facts' than you can shake a stick at.