Politics 2016 (election edition)

[ditty]

One more thing about Bernie that I don't think has been discussed enough.  Having lived through the sectarian left conflicts of the 60s and 70s, I am not sure that when push came to shove people would support Bernie either.  Bernie has deep roots in the radical politics of that era and while I don't have a problem with the fact that he is basically a communist, and maybe plenty of young people don't either since they were not alive during the cold war, if he had become the nominee, alot of that part of his life would be taken out and examined in some detail.  

 

Yea, the common refrain about Bernie is that he is  a democratic socialist not a communist, but he sure as hell was pals with plenty of radicals and supported all sorts of groups that aspired to being Trotskyites, Maoists, and maybe some Stalinists. Look at the trouble Obama got in for simply being acquainted with Bill Ayers.  Bernie was actually friends and associates with folks like that.  While posters of Che can be quite chic, America has not ever been friendly to those going that far left.  Jill Stein will pick up all those votes now, but most mainstream voters are pretty MOR when push comes to shove. 

 

edit- I read way too many comments on the internet and I am always astounded when people say Obama has tried to turn the US into a socialist state and that Hillary will continue to do the same. These folks (Barack and Hillary( are so middle off the road it is ridiculous, but masses of folks believe them to be communists. Wait until the media got a hold of Bernie's past ideas.  It would have been very very ugly.  

 

LouieB

 

Associates can be concerning.  Everyone should be concerned about Donald Trump's pick of Paul Manafort to advise.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Manafort

 

http://www.politifact.com/global-news/article/2016/may/02/paul-manafort-donald-trumps-top-adviser-and-his-ti/

Lobbying for Viktor Yanukovych

[ditty]

I thought it was going to be Newt.  I heard Hannity go on and on about him yesterday.  Which kinda makes sense now that this has come to light. 

 

http://www.salon.com/2016/07/14/report_sean_hannity_flew_newt_gingrich_on_private_jet_to_trump_vp_audition/

 

Me too, yeah for Indiana, bad for Indiana.  Now the Indiana republican's can replace Pence with someone less divisive, that may win the governor election.  

[KevinG]

Me too, yeah for Indiana, bad for Indiana.  Now the Indiana republican's can replace Pence with someone less divisive, that may win the governor election.  

 

I assume you live in Indiana, and I gather you are on the left of the political spectrum (pardon if I over stepped my bounds but that is what I see from your posts).

 

I am interested in a first hand account of the job Pence has done as governor, how you state has fared in the last couple of years under his leadership.  All I know about your state is from that Religious freedom bill BS from a couple of months ago.  I understand that you may not be a fan of his and his policies, but an honest assessment from someone who has seen it first hand would be interesting. 

[ditty]

I assume you live in Indiana, and I gather you are on the left of the political spectrum (pardon if I over stepped my bounds but that is what I see from your posts).

 

I am interested in a first hand account of the job Pence has done as governor, how you state has fared in the last couple of years under his leadership.  All I know about your state is from that Religious freedom bill BS from a couple of months ago.  I understand that you may not be a fan of his and his policies, but an honest assessment from someone who has seen it first hand would be interesting. 

 

Yes, I lean further left ever year, the right goes further right.

 

Trying to be partial, ha, not much.  He didn't do much of anything in congress either.

 

• He’s a member of the Tea Party movement and therefore in the pockets of the Koch brothers.
• Cut state taxes in 2013, but Mitch Daniels, previous governor, should really get all that credit for previously doing most of the cutting.
• He deleted the state Facebook comments once and was taken to task for that.
• Of course RFRA in 2015, that he eventually revised.
• Was one of the governors against Syrian refugees, no surprise there?
• Here’s his 2016 masterpiece https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/house/1337 and the back lash is great https://www.facebook.com/Periods-for-Pence-565501973618299/  The ACLU sued and won an injunction https://www.aclu.org/news/victory-federal-judge-blocks-states-anti-abortion-measure

[ditty]

Mike Pence: Sarah Palin Without The Charisma

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-schmeltzer/mike-pence-sarah-palin_b_11003128.html

[Winston Legthigh]

Mike Pence: Sarah Palin Without The Charisma

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-schmeltzer/mike-pence-sarah-palin_b_11003128.html

 

I extracted this from that article:

 

Deep Thoughts from Mike Pence

[ditty]

I extracted this from that article:

 

Deep Thoughts from Mike Pence

 

He really is a dumb ass

[KevinG]

Anyone else read for some T in the P?  

 

 

I am not a graphic designer, but I would think that the first day of graphic designer class is not make a logo look like one letter is having its way with another. *

 

*though to be fair, I think any logo that the Trump team would have come up with, would have been met with ridicule.  

[Doctor B]

I cannot remember a 2 week period that has made me so sad , so fearful, and so angry. I feel I am living in Yeats's Second Coming.

[LouieB]

The center can not hold, but honestly it is looking like Hillary being a centrist is at least reasonable.  This shit from the RNC is just beyond belief and the convention and fall campaign have not yet started. Woe to anyone voting for these clowns (and you know who you are that are.)

 

LouieB

[Winston Legthigh]

I enjoyed this article. 

 

Is this the best we can do?

[lost highway]

Too bad about the heading, "Is this the best country can do for president?".

 

I myself have wondered what country can do for president. It seems country votes for people that it doesn't actually like for nominee. Country should be more thoughtful in nomination process and maybe next time country will nominate Kasich, and O'Malley, or Sanders.

[Doctor B]

Or Jim Webb

[Bob_Roberts]

Too bad about the heading, "Is this the best country can do for president?".

 

I myself have wondered what country can do for president. It seems country votes for people that it doesn't actually like for nominee. Country should be more thoughtful in nomination process and maybe next time country will nominate Kasich, and O'Malley, or Sanders.

lol

Is Mike Pence an albino?

[jff]

lol

Is Mike Pence an albino?

 

Can wood be albino?

[calvino]

Yep - the Albino Redwood.

[jff]

Yep - the Albino Redwood.

 

Then, yeah, I guess Pence being albino is plausible.

[lost highway]

Strategy question: did Clinton gain more votes from the center for her VP pick or did she lose more from the far left? (Talk amongst yourselves).

[calvino]

I thought Kaine's 1st speech after he was introduced by Clinton was a good - sure he was pandering, but that's politics. Might help get some of the middle of the road Republicans/Independents to the polls for the ticket, because they are not Trump/Pence. I would have preferred a more progressive running mate - I laughed when Clinton introduced Kaine as a 'progressive'.

[ih8music]

I think it was a smart choice, especially given that Trump went with a hard line conservative for his VP. Presidential elections are won by attracting independents -- so as much as I would have loved seeing Warren on the ticket, it would have been a really risky move. That said, I wish Kaine had some mass appeal going for him other than his fluency with Spanish.

[ditty]

I'm officially and Independent after this Friday's announcement.  Count me as extremely disappointed.  The two party system is a joke.  It's the crazy extremist vs. the panderer.  I still believe there's only one sane vote though on November 8.  

[KevinG]

I'm officially and Independent after this Friday's announcement.  Count me as extremely disappointed.  The two party system is a joke.  It's the crazy extremist vs. the panderer.  I still believe there's only one sane vote though on November 8.  

 

I think you are talking about the DNC's email thing, with how they try to stop Sanders (if not correct me), but I have some thoughts on it.  

 

As disappointing as it is, it is not that shocking, or surprising.

 

One thing people have forgotten about this whole thing is Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat.  He is not a member of the Democrat party.  Yes he caucused with the Democrats, but has for fund raising and other political party functions in his time in congress and the senate he did not participate.  Without getting into the mess of money in politics we need to take as a given that it costs a lot of money for a political party to run.  Members of the party are required to do their due diligence to help other members of the party to win.  Sanders does not do this.  He does not help the party.  

 

So ever since 2008 the Democrats have been grooming Clinton for 2016.  They have planned, fund raised, and done what they can to Clinton elected.  Now, Sanders waltzes in and tries to usurp and undo the 8 years of work you have done.  Of course the party big wigs are pissed.  Of course they are trying to stop it.  This should not be a shock.  Ever since Sanders got into the race they have tried to stop him, it was no secret.  Look at the debate schedule.  Now, everyone is all up in arms over the emails.  Anyone who pays attention new this was going on.  Sanders himself knew it was going on.  You have to be willfully obtuse not understand it.  This doesn't make it right, it doesn't excuse it.  But for Sanders supporters to act all shocked and refuse to vote for Hillary (or vote for Trump) is just silly.  The two party system is a joke, yes, but until we change the system (and no, I don't know how to do that) we are stuck with what we got.  

 

Just imagine if the Russians hacked the RNC emails.  I am sure it would make the DNC's look like love letters.  

[NoJ]

On Saturday night I met an angry Bernie supporter who is going to vote for the cheeto. I tried to talk sense into him but it didn't take. Sad!

[ditty]

I think you are talking about the DNC's email thing, with how they try to stop Sanders (if not correct me), but I have some thoughts on it.  

 

As disappointing as it is, it is not that shocking, or surprising.

 

One thing people have forgotten about this whole thing is Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat.  He is not a member of the Democrat party.  Yes he caucused with the Democrats, but has for fund raising and other political party functions in his time in congress and the senate he did not participate.  Without getting into the mess of money in politics we need to take as a given that it costs a lot of money for a political party to run.  Members of the party are required to do their due diligence to help other members of the party to win.  Sanders does not do this.  He does not help the party.  

 

 

So ever since 2008 the Democrats have been grooming Clinton for 2016.  They have planned, fund raised, and done what they can to Clinton elected.  Now, Sanders waltzes in and tries to usurp and undo the 8 years of work you have done.  Of course the party big wigs are pissed.  Of course they are trying to stop it.  This should not be a shock.  Ever since Sanders got into the race they have tried to stop him, it was no secret.  Look at the debate schedule.  Now, everyone is all up in arms over the emails.  Anyone who pays attention new this was going on.  Sanders himself knew it was going on.  You have to be willfully obtuse not understand it.  This doesn't make it right, it doesn't excuse it.  But for Sanders supporters to act all shocked and refuse to vote for Hillary (or vote for Trump) is just silly.  The two party system is a joke, yes, but until we change the system (and no, I don't know how to do that) we are stuck with what we got.  

 

Just imagine if the Russians hacked the RNC emails.  I am sure it would make the DNC's look like love letters.  

I'm referring to Clinton's VP pick of Kaine, per Losthighways question.  I will always vote left, but there's no more Democrat, automatic vote for me. 

 

I understand what you are saying about Sanders.  Screw the grooming of Clinton, the President of the United States is not a right.  She knew this grooming was in place as much as the rest of us and the last 8 years around her has been a shit show.  I pay way to much attention to be willfully obtuse.  

 

As for the DNC email leak, any large group / company who can't protect their info in this day and age is a joke.  What does it take for these large entities to protect their info?  Is the lose less than what it would cost to fix and therefore "part of business"?  

[Winston Legthigh]

On Saturday night I met an angry Bernie supporter who is going to vote for the cheeto. I tried to talk sense into him but it didn't take. Sad!

I'm trying to fathom this.

 

That sounds like my friend who accidentally missed the first of four final exams he had. With a shrug of his shoulders, he said "fuck it" and skipped the other three too.