[mycleverid]

(09-27-2011 12:17 PM)basilransom Wrote:  

But as the primaries inched closer, Obama's camp grew in size and fervor, and became hugely popular at Clinton's expense.

Um, go back and look at the numbers. I don't know if Nate Silver's old website is archived anywhere since his move to the NYT, but you'll see the Obama was more of a squeaker than the narrative now makes it sound.

History is marked by triumphalism among teams who won by a field goal. By April 2008, yes, Clinton was trailing by ten and needing a touchdown and an onside kick to go her way to have any hope. But, she was still winning primaries and trying to force a contested convention.

Being a politically active Democrat (which, BTW, is a great way to game college girls if you don't mind a steady diet of 6s), I'll tell ya that there was a large section of us who didn't accept Obama until the Clintons told us the jig was up. There were many of us who wanted competence, not hope.

I admit none of that compares to the stomach wrenching turns the GOP primary could take if the Anybody But Romney crowd doesn't start pulling together behind one candidate.

[Samseau]

I didn't even know about this Herman Cain guy.

Cain is black, and endorses most conservative issues. It would make sense for the republicans to field their own black man to beat down Obama's blackness.


I think if Herman Cain is nominated, he can win the presidency.

[Brian]

(09-27-2011 02:25 PM)Samseau Wrote:  

I didn't even know about this Herman Cain guy.

Cain is black, and endorses most conservative issues. It would make sense for the republicans to field their own black man to beat down Obama's blackness.


I think if Herman Cain is nominated, he can win the presidency.

yep...if the Repub's run a white guy Obama will get all the black vote but Cain would take a lot of it because even the blacks are sick of Obama (although not enough to vote for a white guy) - this guy has the potential to be a great uniter because the white conservatives will love him and the blacks will like him. plus the whole country will be in such disarray from Obama and his idiots that anyone who can get begin to clean up the mess will look brilliant. Plus it will be great watching all the so called racist tea partiers in love with a black guy.

[mycleverid]

(09-27-2011 02:37 PM)Brian Wrote:  

Plus it will be great watching all the so called racist tea partiers in love with a black guy.

FTR, I don't think the Tea Party is racist. I do however think it has become an umbrella term, especially in the media, for a whole host of aggrieved right-wing constituencies. And the old Dixiecrats and worse are one of those constituencies.

In American politics, politically active racists have been like barnacles. They attach themselves to the bottom of whatever movement they think will carry them.

A century ago they were attached to the progressive labor movement. Then they found the Klan in the 30s Democratic South. Then they attached to the Dixiecrats and eventually to Nixon's southern strategy in the 70s, completing their transfer out of the Democratic party. They attached to the militia movement in the 90s and now they want to attach to the Tea Party movement.

It does make a convenient narrative for progressives.

[Basil Ransom]

Looks like Christie won't run.

The speculators agree:

[Chad Daring]

   

[thegmanifesto]

"Obama will go down as one of, if not the, worst presidents ever."

Can't be the worst.

He was exactly like Bush. It is almost amazing how there is no difference between the two.

But he did get Bin Ladin for the tie breaking win.

In all fairness, I think anyone that would have been president over the last term would have done a terrible job.

The next president will get ginsued as well.

--

In regards to Christie, I don't think he will run.

If he has half a brain (which it does seem he does) he will avoid this next election like the plague.

Then maybe ride in down the road.

You would have to want to be a glutton for punishment to want to be president for the next term.

[Vitriol]

(09-27-2011 01:06 PM)iknowexactly Wrote:  

The Repubs have become so blatantly a single-issue party, totally for the rich -- 'no more taxes no matter what' to the exclusion of any other issue-- there's really nothing for them to campaign on but that.

This has become so prevalent in American politics in the past several years it has made me totally indifferent. Republicans generally are about keeping taxes low and government small so our benevolent corporate overlords and rich cronies (who have zero accountability) can fill the power vacuum. Most the sheep in the U.S. who are living paycheck to paycheck buy into this without looking at the bigger picture.

Democrats also spit our rhetoric about "giving everyone an education" because that will inevitably solve all of our problems.

Both parties are conservative in the sense that they have shared moral views and generally want to keep the status quo where it's at, only promising a "better" form of the current system we already have.

[thegmanifesto]

Here is the craziest thing about American politics for me:

The only two guys that make any sense at all to me are:

Bernie Sanders (a Socialist)
Ron Paul (a Libertarian)

I don't agree with either of these guys 100% but I do feel they are both not corrupt and actually do make sense often.

Which is more than I can say about any of the other ones.

[Brian]

Obama is worse then Bush. Its like Bush was driving the car into the wall at 35 mph and Obama said "hey, let me take over, i can take care of the problem" then proceeded to slam down the gas pedal, crank it up to 100, and aim right for the wall.

I actually met Ron Paul and spoke with him briefly in his office a couple of years back (around 2008) and while I liked him and what he stood for the thing I walked away thinking was how frail and old he seemed. Like a strong breeze would knock him over. Nice guy though.

Whoever takes over in 2012 is going to have a difficult job, but if someone stands up there and says "listen, we've been partying way too long, spending money we dont have, and its got to stop. yes, its going to hurt for a while, but its take our medicine or die a slow death, and we're going to take our medicine" then i think the American people would embrace and stand behind that even if it meant dealing with a nasty couple of years. Instead we just get more lies and BS and the can gets kicked down the road.

[thegmanifesto]

"but if someone stands up there and says "listen, we've been partying way too long, spending money we dont have, and its got to stop. yes, its going to hurt for a while, but its take our medicine or die a slow death, and we're going to take our medicine" then i think the American people would embrace and stand behind that even if it meant dealing with a nasty couple of years."

That will happen as soon as American girls stop wearing Ugg Boots and Flip-Flops.

No matter who gets in, (even if he has noble ideas) the elites will throw their hooks in the guy and he will be exactly like Bush. Or Obama.

Left and Right doesn't matter anymore (if it ever did). It's all about benefiting the elites- Wall Street, CEO's etc.

Was Bush conservative? No.

Was Obama liberal? No.

The both did (and do) things that benefit the rich. That's it.

[Brian]

(09-27-2011 05:04 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

"but if someone stands up there and says "listen, we've been partying way too long, spending money we dont have, and its got to stop. yes, its going to hurt for a while, but its take our medicine or die a slow death, and we're going to take our medicine" then i think the American people would embrace and stand behind that even if it meant dealing with a nasty couple of years."

That will happen as soon as American girls stop wearing Ugg Boots and Flip-Flops.

at some point its going to happen, its just a matter of when. there may be a time when the American girls realize if they dont get their fat asses off the couch and exercise and clean themselves up they will become cat ladies while the girls who are doing the work are the ones getting the reward. it all goes in cycles. i'm not holding my breath on that but the situation is always changing.

[El Rey]

(09-27-2011 05:04 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

That will happen as soon as American girls stop wearing Ugg Boots and Flip-Flops.

No matter who gets in, (even if he has noble ideas) the elites will throw their hooks in the guy and he will be exactly like Bush. Or Obama.

Left and Right doesn't matter anymore (if it ever did). It's all about benefiting the elites- Wall Street, CEO's etc.

Was Bush conservative? No.

Was Obama liberal? No.

The both did (and do) things that benefit the rich. That's it.

Yep. American policy has pretty much been the same under each president starting with Reagan. Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, Obama - it's been deregulation, lower taxes for upper class, military and intelligence buildup and increased presence around the world, tax loopholes for corporations, wielding more power to the Fed, lobbyist and corporate influence taking over gov't, etc.

The Powers That Be just use stupid social issues (abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, gun control, death penalty, etc.) to distract the average citizen from what's really going on. There is no such thing as an election anymore. It's just a selection now, as both candidates are vetted by The Powers That Be. That's why I rarely waste my time with politics bullshit or the news.

[Brian]

you know what though...as much as the game is rigged in favor of 'the rich'... the 'poor' are sitting on their collective asses all day, watching flat screens, driving cars w/2k rims, and texting on their Iphones, all courtesy of the government.

[Chad Daring]

(09-27-2011 05:55 PM)Brian Wrote:  

you know what though...as much as the game is rigged in favor of 'the rich'... the 'poor' are sitting on their collective asses all day, watching flat screens, driving cars w/2k rims, and texting on their Iphones, all courtesy of the government.

What gets me is those people are considered poor (said it yourself) and me with my meager TWO jobs (going on three) and not even $100 left at the end of every month after bills is considered "well enough" off.

(sorry for being slightly off topic)

[thegmanifesto]

(09-27-2011 05:55 PM)Brian Wrote:  

you know what though...as much as the game is rigged in favor of 'the rich'... the 'poor' are sitting on their collective asses all day, watching flat screens, driving cars w/2k rims, and texting on their Iphones, all courtesy of the government.

Small price to pay to keep everyone in line.

Your right though, the "Middle" gets the short end of the stick.

[Basil Ransom]

Curious... If you were the emperor of the US, how would you fight obesity?

I'd probably tax sugar. In basically everything, besides fruits. And end crop subsidies. Maybe tax vegetable oils.

Can't think of anything else.

[Chad Daring]

(09-27-2011 07:03 PM)basilransom Wrote:  

Curious... If you were the emperor of the US, how would you fight obesity?

I'd probably tax sugar. In basically everything, besides fruits. And end crop subsidies. Maybe tax vegetable oils.

Can't think of anything else.

Annual physical fitness tests.

Measure body fat percentage, cardiovascular endurance, and basic lifting strength.

Draw a line. Everyone who scores on one side of the line gets reward (lets say an extra $1000 on their tax return) everyone on the other side of the line has to pay $1000 on April 15th.

If you're a middle/low class family thats struggling and say, needs a new car, you've got four people in the household (husband, wife, two kids) and you all pass the test thats $4000 in your pocket, thats your down payment right there.

Testing starts at age 12, kids aren't tested very hard but it makes it the parents job to not only keep their kids healthy, but to instill in them healthy beliefs and ideals.

If you cant pay the $1000 you can differ and go to a fat work camp where your used as manual labor to get shit done for the greater good of the country (guild roads, clean up trash, ect) until you've become fit enough to pass the test the next year.

[JayMillz]

I don't think the GOP will select a black or gay so Cain and Perry are out, Rupaul gets no respect and Palin has a little dark secret so I'd go with Romney. Be interesting how he deals with issues like RomneyCare.

[Rebel]

Personally I want somebody that will change the tax system.

It's insanity that a single mother who might pay a couple of grand in federal withholding gets 7 grand back at the end of the year.

The irs has turned into a welfare system. It's no mystery why we are broke.

I personally would like to see the fair tax but apparently the tax accounting business and others who benefit from the present tax structure will keep this from happening.

Of all the repubs who I believe have some smarts that are running.

Newt (Politically not possible)

Cain (This ain't happening as president but vice pres maybe?)

My dream ticket would be Christie Cain.
A moderate white guy who speaks his mind.
A conservative black guy with a good business background...

Christie thinking about it??

Christie might run..

[Dash Global]

Unless shit is going good (its not) or there is some crazy thing that has occurred (9/11) then the Presidency is an alternating door.

You can bet the farm that the Republicans will win the nomination 2012.

Just like you could have bet the farm the Democrats would win in 2008.

Americans are never satisfied and there is always something to bitch about.

In the end it doesnt really matter who is pres. Money controls everything.

So really the only things that TRULY matter are social issues (stuff to keep the general public entertained, as the elites could give a shit about if two women can marry or not) gay marriage, gun control, welfare to a degree, abortion ect. The finances / wars / foreign relations / taxes ect will all be controlled by the elites with power.

[jariel]

Presidents are puppets, so at this point, it doesn't even really matter.

Obama hasn't lived up to damn near any of his campaign rhetoric; there hasn't been shit for "change", he's just doing the bidding of the elite, anything else, and Michelle would already be on her way to becoming the next Jackie O.

I have no faith in "leaders" in this country anymore, it's a con game that people just keep falling for.

[Samseau]

(09-27-2011 04:31 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Here is the craziest thing about American politics for me:

The only two guys that make any sense at all to me are:

Bernie Sanders (a Socialist)
Ron Paul (a Libertarian)

I don't agree with either of these guys 100% but I do feel they are both not corrupt and actually do make sense often.

Which is more than I can say about any of the other ones.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/jon-stewar...w-ron-paul

Ron Paul got an interview with Jon Stewart

[speakeasy]

(09-27-2011 05:04 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Left and Right doesn't matter anymore (if it ever did).

There are a number of substantial issues where left and right make a serious difference. For example, tax cuts/hikes. A liberal will want to raise taxes(at least on the rich), and the right will want to slash taxes. Both policies have major implications for the economy, our productivity and deficit. You can't say that just doesn't matter. And then there are a host of other things left and right disagree on such as what to do about climate change, whether we should be trading carbon credits, whether we legalize gay marriage, what is the role of government in health care, do we extend unemployment benefits, do we increase school spending, etc etc. These are very real issues where there is a dividing line.

Obama is very much a liberal. At least under the surface, but obviously no President can 100% govern by his convictions. There's reality and realpolitik to deal with. There's an obstructionist congress to deal with. There's a generally conservative population to deal with, there's the election coming up. If he were take off gloves and come out as firebrand liberal it would have to be in his 2nd term, otherwise he might as well write himself off as a one term president. Just look at any polls, more Americans identify as conservative than identify as liberals. That's why it always seems like Republicans have a home court advantage. Bush was able to do almost anything he wanted for 8 years unimpeded. Obama has literally been forced to govern from the middle. You can't have a left-wing president in America. For that to happen in a democracy you need a left-wing population. Why do we have this Republican congress? Because people were pissed off about a public option in health care. Something that is the norm in the rest of the industrial world is seen as some sort of totalitarian communism here. And he got hit hard in the polls for it. So what is it supposed to do? Turn further left and guarantee a loss in 2012? Just remember where you're at folks. This ain't Sweden.

[haywire]

What do you guys think about Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin - are they in the race? Jindal seems too bright but is concentrating on Louisiana still, so I doubt he would run. Palin although quite idiotic does have the charisma to woo the stupid masses. Thoughts?