AMA: Fuzzy Bear

[Fuzzy Bear]

What democrat candidate for pres, who is seriously considering running, would you vote for over Trump?

Of declared candidates, I would consider voting for the following:

Michael Bloomberg
Tulsi Gabbard
Amy Klobuchar
Michael Bennet

I see Biden as past his prime.  He's not sharp; not at all. 

I consider the pending impeachment proceedings to be a partisan sham, and I would vote for Trump if the election were held today because I view the whole exercise as a partisan exercise that should not be allowed to succeed by the voters.  I could be persuaded if people actually showed me a crime Donald Trump committed, but they haven't done so, and Ghost of Ruin posting over and over that Trump is a criminal isn't proof.  I can be convinced, but I'm not convinced as of now.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

You consider yourself born-again, right? If I'm remembering that right, what was your conversion experience?

[Fuzzy Bear]

You consider yourself born-again, right? If I'm remembering that right, what was your conversion experience?

When I was 8 years old, I went to the Billy Graham Pavillion at the NY World's Fair.  (This was 1965.)  Rev. Graham was on screen, and he presented the Gospel as what it is; a matter of faith in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and the only means by which one could have Eternal Life.  "This is your decision!" said Rev. Graham.  And I made that decision.  I wanted Eternal Life.  I believed Jesus died for my sins, and I believed He was the Son of God and the only way by which I'd get to Heaven.  So I said the prayer he led the group in.  And something happened.  For 3 weeks or so after that, I was very conscious of my decision and was the best behaved little boy imaginable.

Now I didn't have Bible-believing folks that led me in the faith.  My decision wasn't really celebrated or built on.  As I grew, I became aware of the ways of the World, and became seduced by the World and it's pleasures.  I became an alcoholic, and while I sobered up at age 27, I still was unsanctified in my life.  But the work Christ did on the Cross for me, which I accepted and believe in as a Child, is not undone.  He kept me from all sorts of harm years of stupidity and rebellion could have brought me.  In 1993, I went up to an altar at a church service at an Amway function and again gave my heart and life to Jesus.  And something happened there.  I felt the infilling of his Holy Spirit and the power of God delivering me from bondages and sanctifying my flesh.  From that day forward, I didn't have sex with any woman until I married my wife.  I stopped watching obscene movies.  (A few weeks before going back to the altar, I rented an Andrew "Dice" Clay video of dirty jokes and enjoyed it immensely; God gave me a distaste for all of these sort of things.) 

My faith has been built because I have been instructed in Faith.  I have a Godly wife, and our priority is that all of our children and grandchildren be saved.  But it started with the childlike faith of an 8 year old boy who admitted he was a sinner, believed in Jesus as his Savior, and confessed that he believed that Jesus was the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  My salvation is not by my works; it is by the Redemptive Work of Christ on the Cross.  And while I lived over 2 decades as a jackass, at times in rebellion toward what God intended for me, His Love outlasted my rebellion, and He restored me and let me to His call on my life.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Opinion of Lawton Chilles?

Generally positive.  I voted for him for Governor twice.

Chiles understood the fundamental problem with Florida.  He described Florida as "more of a crowd than a community" and that's very accurate, even now.  One reason I support Democrats for most state offices in Florida is because GOP policies by Florida's Republicans tend to exacerbate that problem.

[OSR stands with Israel]

- Would you support Ron DeSantis if he ran for President in 2024

- What’s your opinion on the Wealth Tax

- Donald Trump or Andy Beshear

[darklordoftech]

- How do you feel about the 1990s as far as morality goes? You had Clinton’s sex scandals, but you also had the creation of the sex offender registry, school dress codes became stricter about showing skin, parents supervised their children and teenagers more than before, and crime rates went down.

- Am I correct in thinking that you’re a paleocon when it comes to social issues, trade, and foreign policy, and on the left when it comes to the economic issues that fall-along left-right lines?

- How do you feel about immigration?

- Am I correct that you prefer Pat Buchanan over the Bushes?

- What do you think of Tipper Gore?

- Do you think that the 104th Congress was hypocritical for legalizing media consolidation while running against “Hollywood”?

[lfromnj]

Which Democrat for president would you be most likely to support?

[Fuzzy Bear]

Which Democrat for president would you be most likely to support?

The ones I have a positive opinion on are:

Michael Bloomberg
Tulsi Gabbard
Michael Bennet
Steve Bullock
Michael Bennet
Amy Klobuchar

I think Biden is too old, and the Ukraine issue has permanently hurt his chances.  I like Sanders, but not as President.

I cannot imagine myself voting for Warren, Harris, or Castro under any circumstances.  I do not think Pete Buttigieg has experience at a high enough level (although I view him more positively than a slew of the folks running).  The only candidate who went from "Never!" to "Slim chance" is Cory Booker, whom I think more of now than when the process started.

If the election were held today, I would vote for Trump.  This would be a vote against the impeachment process, which I consider unjustified, and a purely political act which would set an awful precedent if it is allowed to stand.  There are compelling reasons to consider NOT voting for Trump, but there are also compelling reasons to vote FOR Trump.  It will not be the end of the world for me if Trump is not reelected.  What would NOT be good is if the actions of Schiff, Nadler, Pelosi and company are declared legitimate and allowed to be regarded as such.  If that's the case, one can only imaging the "Resistance to Socialism" that the GOP will take toward the next Democratic President, or the impeachment of a Democratic President for violating his oath of office by foisting "socialism" in the form of M4A on Americans.  Pelosi, Schiff, Nadler, and the Unhinged Left have pushed the Democratic House to this point.  My vote for Trump at this point is a vote against the whole impeachment process, which I consider to have no legitimacy whatsoever.

[Comrade Funk]

Which Democrat for president would you be most likely to support?

I cannot imagine myself voting for Warren, Harris, or Castro under any circumstances.  I do not think Pete Buttigieg has experience at a high enough level (although I view him more positively than a slew of the folks running).  The only candidate who went from "Never!" to "Slim chance" is Cory Booker, whom I think more of now than when the process started.
 against the whole impeachment process, which I consider to have no legitimacy whatsoever.

Didn't stop you from supporting the moron last time, who had far less experience.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Which Democrat for president would you be most likely to support?

I cannot imagine myself voting for Warren, Harris, or Castro under any circumstances.  I do not think Pete Buttigieg has experience at a high enough level (although I view him more positively than a slew of the folks running).  The only candidate who went from "Never!" to "Slim chance" is Cory Booker, whom I think more of now than when the process started.
 against the whole impeachment process, which I consider to have no legitimacy whatsoever.

Didn't stop you from supporting the moron last time, who had far less experience.

Trump's experience in business, at a high level, and at an international level, is far, far more experience than Buttigieg has.

[Gracile]

In your opinion, what is the Democratic Party's path to victory in Florida after their string of high-profile election defeats in the last few years?

[Fuzzy Bear]

In your opinion, what is the Democratic Party's path to victory in Florida after their string of high-profile election defeats in the last few years?

The Democratic Party's path to victory in Florida is highly demography-driving.  Florida has five (5) demographic trends, some of which counteract each other:

1.  An influx of wealthier, and more Republican, retirees in The Villages, and on the Treasure Coast and in the Naples Area.

2.  An influx of Hispanic immigrants, whose children are turning 18, most of whom will be Democrats.

3.  An influx of Puerto Ricans, who are already American citizens, and mostly Democrats.

4.  The increasing black population, and the likelihood that Florida will end up granting all convicted felons their voting rights back, once pending litigation is resolved in the Courts.

5.  An increasing population of less well off white females who are caregivers to elderly parents and who are concerned about safety net issues.

Retirees come to Florida for low taxes, and that is more important now because Florida housing is not cheap as it once was.  This drives the GOP vote.  But the other trends drive the Democratic vote.  

The key is the Cuban vote in South Florida.  These Cubans are trending Democratic, but they are put off by thee socialist overtures some of the national Democrats as reminding of Castro.  They are the wild card.

The Democrats path to victory is there, but it changes, and is turnout driven.  They have to do a better job of registering and turning out voters.  They have done it in Presidential years, but not in off years.  It would help if they could elect more local officials.  Counties such as Pinellas are lean D in most races, but still have loads of local Republicans elected.  

They need to turn out voters.

They need to elect more local officials, to build up their depleted bench.  

The path to victory is there, but the Democrats will have to master doing several things at once.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Why did you vote for yourself and not for either Leinad or Myself for Governor in the Southern elections in Atlasia?

[Fuzzy Bear]

- How do you feel about the 1990s as far as morality goes? You had Clinton’s sex scandals, but you also had the creation of the sex offender registry, school dress codes became stricter about showing skin, parents supervised their children and teenagers more than before, and crime rates went down.

The increase of school dress codes was as much to prevent gang violence as it was a decency/morals issue. 

The steps taken here were, for the most part, for the better, but these things have been offset by the destigmatization of premarital sex and teen pregnancy.  It sounds awful to advocate "stigmatizing" people, but the reality is that the fear of social stigmas kept people from engaging in behaviors that could cause people long-term hardship.  The decision by many young people to have sex outside of marriage (indeed, outside of even living together) is usually a decision to be poor, long-term.  This is evidenced by the disproportionate number of poor families that are headed by women, many (if not most) of them have never married.  There are people in this situation (female single moms and male dads with child support burdens) who NEVER get out of their financial binds.

Am I correct in thinking that you’re a paleocon when it comes to social issues, trade, and foreign policy, and on the left when it comes to the economic issues that fall-along left-right lines?

More or less, yes.  At one time, I'd be a socially conservative Democrat who voted the AFL-CIO line, but that sort of political being has become quickly endangered.

How do you feel about immigration?

The quick answer is that I agree with Trump on enforcement issues, including "The Wall".  I certainly think that immigration is an issue of American sovereignty.  I believe that we, as a nation, have the legal right to say who comes in and who doesn't.  I certainly think that Trump was correct in imposing a ban on immigration from certain areas in the world due to concerns about vetting of refugees, and we don't have to take a hit in security just to please the rest of the World or the American Left.

I believe in enforcing our current immigration laws.  Personally, I don't believe in high levels of immigration, because such immigration from Mexico and Central America is the migration of the unskilled to our nation, and the unchecked illegal immigration we have now places economic stress on our own low skill and structurally unemployed workers.  Mixed in with those who are coming here for work are members of transnational criminal gangs such as MS-13.  These gang members conduct their "business" on both sides of the border, and much of that is violent drug criminality and human trafficking.  This is a clear and present danger to American citizens, and people here pretending that is isn't is just ridiculous.  Our immigration laws ought to be enforced; it is a public safety issue.

I do believe that there should be amnesty, and a path to citizenship for the DACA group.  I also believe that any immigrant who serves in the military and receives an honorable discharge should receive citizenship upon completion of their enlistment.  If they are married, that should be extended to their spouse and biological children not born in America.  Beyond that, I am opposed to a general amnesty for those here illegally until The Wall is built.  We have gone that route, and it gave others incentive to come here illegally in hopes of a second future amnesty.

Am I correct that you prefer Pat Buchanan over the Bushes?

Yes. 

What do you think of Tipper Gore?

She's OK.  I was saddened to learn that she and Al Gore had separated.

Do you think that the 104th Congress was hypocritical for legalizing media consolidation while running against “Hollywood”?

I am more concerned about the correctness of actions than I am about the motives behind it.  I am not a fan of media consolidation, but "Too big to compete against!" is our mantra these days, I suppose.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Why did you vote for yourself and not for either Leinad or Myself for Governor in the Southern elections in Atlasia?

Undecided. 

I noted after the fact that others whom I think well of voted for you, so that's a decision I would probably redo.

[Fuzzy Bear]

- Would you support Ron DeSantis if he ran for President in 2024

- What’s your opinion on the Wealth Tax

- Donald Trump or Andy Beshear

I oppose the Wealth Tax.  It's a bad idea.

Andy Beshear hasn't even been Governor yet.  Steve Beshear is one of the Democrats I'd consider voting for.

Ron DeSantis has obstructed implementation of Florida's Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to convicted felons who have served their sentences.  As such, I cannot support him for President, and I am rather unlikely to support his re-election as Governor.

[Kingpoleon]

Do you condemn the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem?

[slothdem]

What is your educational background? Your writing is exceptionally strong for a message board.

[Continential]

Would you support Warren over DeSantis?

Do you support the ERA?

What made Nikki Fried win in 2018?

If you could describe your views, what would it be?

[darklordoftech]

What Church do you belong to? Do you consider yourself to be an “evangelical”?

[PSOL]

Since you’ve revived this thread, I’ll point back to some questions you didn’t answer before.

Why do you think Christianity is declining among the American public? What are the factors you see that are causing people to lose faith in Christianity?

What are your opinions on anti-capitalism and those claiming to adhere to it? What is Socialism to you? What are your, and your community’s, opinions on the DSA or more ideologically defined groups believing in Communism or Anarchism? Has public perception changed wildly over the times, or is it the same?
I’m gonna keep on posting this till I get a reply.

[darklordoftech]

How would you have ruled on Roper v. Simmons?

[KaiserDave]

Please elaborate on Rick Scott.

I believe we share a hatred of him.

[morgankingsley]

How many kids do you have

[Fuzzy Bear]

How many kids do you have

Three (3) sons.  Two (2) are my wife's sons who were abandoned by their father, whom I legally adopted.  The third is a grandson who my wife and I have adopted due to "adult dysfunction".  (He has been with us for just about all of his life.)