Politics

[novicius]

Yeah George, you are right: cut the defense budget! I fully agree! :up: #georgeforpresident

Your problem is, there is only one candidate that is standing and saying they will do that -- Bernie Sanders. Everyone else is rattling sabers (Hillary not the least of them)...

[overpowered]

Doesn't Rand Paul also want to cut back on the military?

[George]

Yes, I believe so. I'm not a huge Rand fan, but I like a lot of what he says.

This says it all, for me. Put this on my tombstone (along with bacon and pineapple!):


...our country is being bankrupted...by those on the right who want unlimited military spending, and those on the left who want unlimited domestic spending.

Source: http://gtxforums.net/showthread.php?82-Politics&p=61191&viewfull=1#post61191

For those who didn't get the joke: Tombstone is a brand of frozen pizza sold in America that used to run TV commercials showing a guy standing against a wall, about to face a firing squad. The firing squad leader would ask the condemned man, "What do you want on your tombstone?" The man about to be shot would break into a happy grin and say "Pepperoni and sausage!" or something like that.

[novicius]

LoL, we're not anywhere near unlimited domestic spending. :lol:

[Freude am Fahren]

Yeah, if we moved 10% of the defense budget to domestic spending, it would help a lot of things here and really have no effect on our safety from enemies abroad. Really it'd make us safer probably with better infrastructure and education.

[Jason]

You'd love DC's roads, George, they aren't touched for years! :lol:

[JoshInKC]

Maybe we just need more...no...SOME spending cuts!
Here in Kansas, where Brownback is the governor, there are no longer any cuts to be had. Our education system is hemorrhaging underpaid teachers, our roads are crumbling (and the legislature is stripping cash from the future roads budget), many hospitals are having budgetary issues due to the rejection of medicaid expansion, etc, etc. Contrary to promises, pretty much all measures of growth are lagging behind national and regional rates, etc,etc. Finally, neither businesses nor people are relocating to take advantage of the low tax rates, in fact - they're fleeing. It's pretty damn ugly.

[Jason]

Maybe that's the goal of aggressive cuts? To get rid of the people.

[overpowered]

Bernie actually crushed Hillary with voters under 30.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/02/bernie-sanders-crushed-hillary-clinton-by-70-points-among-young-people-in-iowa-but/

[overpowered]

Groundhog Sees Republican Candidate List, Predicts Six More Months of Assholes

http://www.freewoodpost.com/2016/02/02/groundhog-sees-republican-candidate-list-predicts-six-more-months-of-assholes/

[overpowered]

http://gawker.com/trump-encouragers-ralliers-to-knock-the-crap-out-of-p-1756448417


So if you see someone getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of ‘em. Would you? Seriously. Ok? Just knock the hell—I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees. I promise. I promise.

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10154510631224746

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRZZpk_9k8E

:smh:

[overpowered]

When you're an extreme right winger like Cruz, and even Fox News is calling you on your bullshit, maybe it's time to cut back on the lying.

http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/02/01/fox-news-host-tears-ted-cruz-a-new-one-over-fact-checked-false-obamacare-claims/

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1275724155787562

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1275784625781515

[overpowered]

Six Out Of Six Coin Flips For Hillary? Bernie Sanders Fans Are Suspicious

http://reverbpress.com/politics/hillary-clinton-iowa-caucus-coin-flips/

[FaultyMario]

BS needs to stengthen his ties to the Democrat faithful, those that see Hillary as neocon but are afraid to be left out of government if only a band of outsiders comes along with Bernie.

[novicius]

You think? I'm pretty sure any steps towards appeasing the Democratic Establishment would be met by cries of betrayal.

[21Kid]

When you're an extreme right winger like Cruz, and even Fox News is calling you on your bullshit, maybe it's time to cut back on the lying.

http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/02/01/fox-news-host-tears-ted-cruz-a-new-one-over-fact-checked-false-obamacare-claims/

And he complains that the rich are getting richer... :? Like he's for the average person??? :erm: And he wants lower costs... well, medicare is the lowest cost option. Maybe we should install a single payer system then. ;)

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=990294544341575

[overpowered]

10 things that they don't tell you about the Flint water crisis.

http://michaelmoore.com/10FactsOnFlint/

[novicius]

And he complains that the rich are getting richer... :? Like he's for the average person??? :erm: And he wants lower costs... well, medicare is the lowest cost option. Maybe we should install a single payer system then. ;)
That's what so incredibly sad about all of this -- you can summarize the facts but people will still stubbornly cling to whatever shit fantasy they have. :smh:

[MR2 Fan]

Rand Paul has dropped out, is that 11 left on the GOP side?

[FaultyMario]

You think? I'm pretty sure any steps towards appeasing the Democratic Establishment would be met by cries of betrayal.

The Occupy Wall Street leadership can only take him so far in a national race. The Obama organization is a great example; keep the spinal chord of the campaign with the fresh ideas interacting with the bulk of public opinion and keep some politicians doing politics.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ways-sanders-campaign-differs-obamas-2008/story?id=36531149

TL:DR - The Bern needs high profile endorsements and to go after the black vote, he needs to make it clear that by criticizing Obama he is in no way attacking the african american interests anymore that Hillary is looking after them by bowing down to the president.

I really hope, BS pulls through, though. That awful TPP needs to be brought down, and a North American re-configuration of the agricultural systems is possible under our current rules, but we need to focus on food security.

[LHutton]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=990294544341575
LOL. Most advanced country in the world can't even do clean water right.

[MR2 Fan]

Rick Santorum has dropped out of the GOP race also.

Funny because I totally forgot he was running to begin with.

[thesameguy]

Who?

[Freude am Fahren]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=santorum&defid=942955

[21Kid]

:lol:

[MR2 Fan]

According to wikipedia, there's "only" 9 GOP candidates left in case anyone else at home was keeping score

[Tom Servo]

He must have finally gotten the message.

http://www.theonion.com/article/frustrated-rick-santorum-still-waiting-go-ahead-go-52185

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAK0KXEpF8U


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkhUivqzWv0

[overpowered]

Jimmy Carter thinks Trump would be better than Cruz because Trump is "malleable" and can change his position on things whereas Cruz is not.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/jimmy-carter-donald-trump-ted-cruz-218707

I suppose he's got a decent point there. They both still scare the crap out of me.

[novicius]

Political correctness, like ANYTHING else, can be used for evil. #shrug

[overpowered]

I think that was their point.

[novicius]

I think Carlin was against any form of political correctness, not just extreme usage.

[G'day Mate]

So according to Trump now, Cruz stol the Iowa victory?

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/02/03/donald-trump-says-ted-cruz-stole-victory-in-iowa-caucuses/?_r=0

Hmmm, reminds me of someone else ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1j4Y_x9LNk

[overpowered]

Trump isn't the only one saying it. Apparently Cruz did send out some misleading information. The guy is a snake.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpOZVN4_Ihc

:?

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN0eOO4x9H8

[LHutton]

Political correctness, like ANYTHING else, can be used for evil. #shrug
Case in point:

http://www.vdare.com/posts/the-iron-curtain-descends-dutch-political-police-repress-internet-immivasion-dissent


Dutch police have been visiting the homes of people critical of asylum centres on Twitter, urging them to delete posts…

[overpowered]

Cruz tries to blame the Flint water crisis on far left Democrats in Flint.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/cruz-injects-bogus-partisanship-flint-crisis

Er, no. The water crisis was was a result of orders by a Republican governor using powers given to him by a Republican state legislature over objections by the Democrats in Flint.

[21Kid]

They always blame everything on "the other guy" even if they directly caused it. :smh:

[21Kid]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpOZVN4_Ihc

:?
AGAIN, DON'T FORGET: DONALD TRUMP WANTS TO BANG HIS DAUGHTER (http://www.cc.com/video-clips/qa0jdp/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-again--don-t-forget--donald-trump-wants-to-bang-his-daughter)

[George]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN0eOO4x9H8

I actually watched that last night, until Mrs. Clinton came on and I ran screaming from the room. :lol:

Yes, I know, I was as surprised as anyone, but I walked in the door after work and my left-leaning wife had it on CNN. The kids were playing in another room instead of yelling for Spongebob Squarepants or Phineas & Ferb on TV instead of some boring show for grown-ups, and I ended up watching all of what Sanders had to say from the time a guy stood up and said he made $41K/year and wanted to know why he should vote for a man who promises to raise taxes. I'd guess I saw at least 30 minutes of Sanders, and maybe more.

That's the first time I've heard Sanders speak - due to disinterest on my part for sure, but also due to how cleverly the Democrats have been concealing their televised debates, such as on the night before Christmas, or when a football playoff game is on the other channel - and I must say I was impressed with his sincerity and preparedness.

No, I'm not crossing the aisle, but despite being an established politician, he doesn't look or sound like one. That's refreshing. I can see why some folks like him.

[21Kid]

http://www.trumpdonald.org

[Crazed_Insanity]

Yep, I'm sick of career politicians as well, but amazingly Sanders does smell like breath of fresh air. I think he's pretty much the ONLY viable candidate. If he's not running, I really have no idea who I'd be voting for.

[MR2 Fan]

They always blame everything on "the other guy" even if they directly caused it. :smh:

It's a political strategy of Karl Rove, blame the other party for everything you're doing, because un-educated voters can't tell who is who.

Edit: Having said that, if I was in charge of DNC or *cringe* Democratic SuperPACs and running ads, I would be making some very clear, in your face ads about the complete hypocrisy of the republicans and who they're blaming for their own screw ups.

Also, the governor of Michigan needs to be recalled/impeached, or he needs to resign. If poisoning thousands of children then trying actively to cover up the facts that it's happening doesn't warrant losing your job, I don't know what does.

[21Kid]

Yup. :|

[overpowered]

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ctp3EZve--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/okz2wdtriw6pfaycwu9g.png

Counrty?

[overpowered]

http://images.dailykos.com/images/205093/story_image/TrusTed.png

TRUS? What's that?

https://www.google.com/#q=trus

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1111989675480443

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10156525021810080

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Im1ExWe1NQ

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/4/1479848/-Congressional-committee-not-amused-as-Big-Pharma-Bro-smirked-his-way-through-hearing

[LHutton]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1111989675480443
It's a good job she didn't consult the Saudis on hitting a woman with a rock.

[21Kid]

http://images.dailykos.com/images/205093/story_image/TrusTed.png

TRUS? What's that?

https://www.google.com/#q=trus :lol:
A transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is an ultrasound technique that is used to view a man's prostate and surrounding tissues. The ultrasound transducer (probe) sends sound waves through the wall of the rectum into the prostate gland, which is located directly in front of the rectum.

[novicius]

:lol: :up:

Oh gawdamn that's funny! :D

[Tom Servo]

Boy, I hope the santorum is kept to a minimum during that.

[21Kid]

:lol:

[overpowered]

Cruz lied about Carson leading up to the Iowa Caucus to get people to vote for him instead of Carson.

http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/02/05/proof-that-ted-cruz-was-caught-in-lies-regarding-carson-dropping-out/

[21Kid]

:smh: They are competing for the worst liar contest apparently.

[overpowered]

Carson's still worse on that percentage wise, though Cruz is worse in raw numbers.

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/ted-cruz/
http://www.politifact.com/personalities/ben-carson/

[thesameguy]

That's a surprise. I would have imagined Ben Carson to know more words than Cruz and have a lot more lies to put together.

[overpowered]

It may just be the amount of stuff checked by Politifact. Hard to know. I'm not sure how they decide which statements to check.

Also, Carson talks a lot slower.

[overpowered]

Rick Snyder and some of his staff need to go to prison.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/flint-water-legionnaires_us_56b3e627e4b08069c7a6b487

[overpowered]

Rubio was arrested in 1990.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rubios-summer-of-90-an-arrest-then-newfound-purpose/2016/01/21/3582a72e-c04d-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10204077363373516

[overpowered]

The Republican dream ticket:

Cruz/Shkreli - You know they're crooks and you just don't care!

[novicius]

What I want to know is who are the racist white supremacists gonna vote for once Trump drops out?

Guess the Aztecs won in the end. :lol: ;)

[novicius]

$153 million in Bill and Hillary Clinton speaking fees, documented (http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/05/politics/hillary-clinton-bill-clinton-paid-speeches/).

Just a guess but I'm imagining that these big donors liked what they heard.

[overpowered]

All the terrible things Hillary Clinton has done — in one big list

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/all-the-terrible-things-hillary-clinton-has-done-in-one-big-list-2016-02-04

[overpowered]

Ron Paul warns Republicans not to vote for Ted Cruz

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/05/ron-paul-warns-republicans-not-to-vote-for-ted-cruz/

[Godson]

So, let's play a game. I am from the mindset if I can't argue both sides I shouldn't have any sides. So what sort of good information to support trump and cruz do we have?

How about Hilary and Sanders?

[overpowered]

http://45.media.tumblr.com/80433430085a92887a55a2c3c7dceeed/tumblr_mik898Gf621qagzn2o1_500.gif

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1238098519534457

[overpowered]

Wut?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQNnSSgVcVk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8ut_cqv2Vo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Kf7aCeJL4

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/attn/videos/992953674073425/

[Freude am Fahren]

https://media.giphy.com/media/117t2N1cJTtO7u/giphy.gif

[FaultyMario]

GOP debates are such a charade.
It's like it's scripted by pollsters and focus group experts.

Except for Trump who seems to have fun saying outrageous things and bullshitting people like a used-car salesman. And Rubio and Cruz who actually believe in they shit they spout.

[LHutton]

I'm beginning to think ISIS opened the prisons and sent them all to the EU.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/iraqi-refugee-raped-10-year-old-boy-at-austrian-swimming-pool-a6857721.html



A 10-year-old boy has been raped at a public swimming pool in Vienna, according to local media reports.

Local newspaper Kronen Zeitung described the assailant as a 20-year-old Iraqi refugee, who was arrested at the scene of the incident in late December.

It was reported that the child was taken to hospital for treatment over "severe" injuries.

Austrian police did not initially release details of the rape, which took place on 22 December at the Theresienbad pool, in order to protect the victim, according to Kronen Zeitung.

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1265457810137220

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1142879939079102

[LHutton]

I thought presidents had to be born in the US anyway. I know it was mentioned when Schwarzenegger became a governor.

[Sad, little man]

They have to be a "natural born citizen." And the definition of whatever the fuck that means is the center of the uncertainty about his eligibility.

[LHutton]

So he was born naturally and now he's a citizen but does that make him a natural born citizen? Not by my understanding of it.

[JoshInKC]

So, let's play a game. I am from the mindset if I can't argue both sides I shouldn't have any sides. So what sort of good information to support trump and cruz do we have?

How about Hilary and Sanders?
I've been thinking about this since I read your post this morning and here's what I've come up with, in an order to support my argument:

Trump is running from an angry conservative populist playbook - "I'm an outsider, the regular Joes support me, I'm not tied to those dirty insider politics, &c." The issues he's primarily campaigning on are those that resonate with the angry populist crowd - Illegal Mexicans taking our jobs, China is taking our jobs, the current leadership is weak, muslims are scary, and maybe most importantly he's campaigning on the fact that he's a white guy. This plays directly into a lot of peoples fears and concerns - His whole platform is really "Remember how great it used to be? I'm the guy whose strong enough to turn back the clock, and make America the biggest baddest kid on the block for the foreseeable future." As far as I can tell, he doesn't really have any functional, implementable, policies to make this happen, or really make much of anything happen. So, I guess the reason to vote for him would be if you're really angry about things that are of a cultural and global scope thoroughly beyond the control of the president.

Cruz is playing a substantially more respectable version of Trump's issues - "Keep Mexicans away from our jobs, bomb the muslims, people are poor because they're lazy, &c." The difference is that Cruz - being a senator, is part of the establishment that Trump is fighting against. Functionally, he's likely to attempt to implement what'll amount to a slightly more socially conservative version of George W. Bush's policies. Cruz would theoretically be a much better and more effective president than Trump, due his having at least some idea of how government (and reality) actually works, but as far as I can discern he is pretty much despised by everyone who has ever had anything to do with him, including those who should be on his side. His campaign is not being run very well, and it seems like he's actually driving voters away with the combination of transparently skeezy tactics and general slimy demeanour. So, if you're interested in a return of the 2000-2008 policy direction combined with a candidate who looks like a cartoon snail, he's your man.

Remember, we're still months and months away from the party conventions, let alone the general. In reality, I doubt either of these guys make it to the general election unless Trump feels real fancy and decides to run as a third party candidate. I can maybe see Cruz making the ticket as vp if someone can find something useful about him, but I dunno. In my mind, the one to watch on the republican side is Kasich - he's running a smart campaign, using the "slow and steady wins the race" philosophy and not sticking his foot in his mouth and acting like a fool.

Clinton is pretty simple - Do you want a continuation of the past 20 years of the Democratic party? Vote for her. She's the living embodiment of establishment democratic politics - Strongly neoliberal pro-business stances combined with a somewhat softer stance on helping the disadvantaged. Being real, she's a bit more conservative than Obama - The Clintons have never been very progressive, despite what the R's would have you believe. On a lot of very real, important levels, she's not that different from GW Bush - remember, her husband presided over gigantic social welfare cuts, and she was a senator from New York who has gotten huge amounts of cash money from Wall St. donors and banks. The main difference between her and the Republican platform is being socially progressive on issues that don't cost any real money - abortion, gay marriage, etc. But in this election she's fairly strong on foreign policy, has experience at several levels of government, and to be frank - It's her turn. That's not my view, but it is the view of the majority of the DNC. She'll a be continuation of business as usual, and at this point, the race is hers to lose.

Sanders is the only serious candidate who has policies to the left of Nixon, and I would note, not that far to the left. A vote for him would be a vote for some actual progressive policies - Raise (or at least, don't cut) taxes on big business, probably little in the way of increases to military spending, increases to the social safety net, a distaste for foreign military intervention, and of course - free college tuition. Really, he's not going to be the democratic candidate - he's way too left-wing for the money people to seriously support, so he's maybe on the ticket as a vp at best, unless some completely crazy shit goes down. Of course, if by some weird chance he was elected president, he'd get pretty much nothing done due to the reality of dealing with congress, and I'm pretty sure he knows it. In reality, he's just out there pushing the envelope of acceptable public discussions that can be had at high levels of American politics, and he's been doing a decent job of it. He's just too weird and wacky and shouty to be really electable.

So, that's my general view of the four named candidates, and I apologize for not really selling Trump well - If you take politics halfway seriously it's really hard to come up with any reasons to vote for Trump. He's just too divorced from reality, actual politics, and governing to have anything to vote for. I don't know if any of this was of any value, but it was at least a little interesting to have to sit down and formalise my thoughts.

[Godson]

That's pretty much what I have gleamed from all of the nonsense I have seen so far.

Anyone else want to add in?

[novicius]

Rubio is still the GOP Establishment's boy of choice. He might be an empty suit but he's got smokey-room approvals and money behind him.

[21Kid]

I don't think Bernie should be counted out quite so easily, honestly. There are a lot of people on the left that are also sick of the "same old game" in Washington. And as you mentioned, that's exactly what Hillary is. Voting for her is voting for a continuation of the same old policies.

Bernie Sanders is the only candidate that is working to help regular people, IMO. Everyone else is beholden to their corporate donors and will perpetuate the status-quo. At least he would try and do something to bring things back to the middle. Hillary might stay the course, but everyone else would drag us even further to the right.

[Jason]

It'll take a lot of "Sanders Democrats" being voted into Congress over the next several election cycles for anything to actually change in terms of universal healthcare, lobbying, and campaign financing.

At the very least Sanders is bring the discussion to the national stage for once. So maybe enough people will start to care about those issues to vote for representatives that might go against their own self interests.

[novicius]

The gerrymandering across the states has got to come down first. It'll remain business as usual until that happens.

[21Kid]

Along with the legal bribery of Citizens United.

[JoshInKC]

Yeah, moving the national conversation is really what Bernie is doing. And I understand the thought behind "Sanders shouldn't be counted out so easily," but looking at it from my (attempt at a pretty objective) position - The people fired up about Sanders are, by and large - young. And I mean that in electoral politics terms - mostly under 35, and nearly all of the remnant under 45 or 50. That means that they are pretty much exclusively from generation x and millennials. Subsequently, while they are the vast majority of voices you hear from on the internet, they are not the majority of of actual voters. It can be a bit difficult to discern in the echo chamber of the internet, but Bernie is not a huge runaway success among the actual decision makers and voters. Remember - if voting reality was an actual reflection of the internet, Obama would have utterly crushed Romney with probably something like 75% of the popular vote. Actual "show up and tick the box on a ballot" voting demographics still skew very heavily toward baby boomers, who are generally at least a bit more conservative than their younger counterparts.
For Sanders to have anything resembling a chance in the general, he would have to rally young voters in numbers completely beyond any historical reckoning. Obama did pretty well with the young, but not in anywhere near the numbers that Bernie would need, and Obama had a big head start with motivating (young and old) African Americans to get to the polls. Being responsible for electing the first Jewish president doesn't carry nearly the historical cachet that electing the first black one does.

Edited to add: I apologize if this all came off as overly cynical, but I fancy myself something of a realist as far as this stuff is concerned - and this is what the numbers and historical particulars are telling me. I have personal favorites and preferences that I'd love to cast a vote for in the general, but I can't in good faith pretend that people have a good chance when as far as I can see, they don't.

[Crazed_Insanity]

Anyway, rather than voting for lesser of 2 evils.... I'd rather vote for a candidate I really like... even if he doesn't win in the end.

[21Kid]

Bernie Sanders had already broken the previous contributions record, held by President Obama, back in December with over 2 million contributions.
The average contribution is just $27, owing to the over 1 million individual donors rather than corporate or big money donations that usually fuel political campaigns. As of Jan 30th at 12:30pm EST the campaign had received 3,013,064 contributions.

The Sanders campaign now has over 3 million campaign contributions. This is more than any other candidate has achieved in history.He's already broken some records. And he's not even the front-runner.

[JoshInKC]

Billi: That's got nothing to do with what I posted, and I apologize if it somehow came across that way. I'm not trying to sway anyone to vote for who I think will win, especially in primary season - thats a losing proposition no matter how you slice it. Your vote is your own, and should go to who you want to win, there's little downside to that in our political framework, barring a repeat of the Nader/Gore thing, which I don't think has ever been proven to have had any real statistical effect. "Who you think will win" should not have anything to do with how you vote - bandwagon politics like that can get pretty creepy very quickly.

[Crazed_Insanity]

I understand what you're saying and you certainly don't need to apologize for having realistic view of the situation.

[thesameguy]

I used to be of the mentality that you might as well vote for the lesser of two evils if the actual good choices don't have a chance, but that simply cannot be the answer. I wonder how many otherwise good, viable candidates never have a chance because the polls show "people don't elect those types of individuals." It's definitely useful to show that the people are interested in a certain type of candidate so they aren't summarily discarded on the next go.

The real advantage "we" have right now is that the GOP is such a shit show that nobody thinks this is a two-horse race. If it might be Hillary or one of those nine assclowns, there's no reason it can't be Bernie or one of those ten assclowns. :up:

[novicius]

First things first: Bernie has to topple the juggernaut that is Hillary and get the nomination. No small task.

[thesameguy]

She is awfully juggernaut-y, isn't she? I guess that's what 30+ years of sucking ass gets you.

[Jason]

Hillary is more moderate than I'd like, but I'll gladly vote for her in the general election, should she win the Democratic nomination. I'll take moderate over varying levels of conservative any day of the week.

[novicius]

Agreed, HRC will get my vote too -- I just hope Bernie topples her first.

[Godson]

I'd like to write in vote Mike Rowe.

[LHutton]

First things first: Bernie has to topple the juggernaut that is Hillary and get the nomination. No small task.
Apologies in advance.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSuvOVH0aSQ

[FaultyMario]

Just vote to repeal the patriot act (or whatevs is now called), force a renegotiation of TPP, and configure a bio/eco safety net for north american food supplies.

[overpowered]

http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/02/08/enforcing-this-new-bill-is-going-to-be-a-pain-in-the-ass-for-michigan-republicans/


Michigan Republicans have modified an animal cruelty bill to make ANY kind of anal sex and oral illegal and punishable by up to fifteen years in prison. Never mind that, in 2003, the Supreme Court made such a law unconstitutional. Michigan Republicans just do what they want.

They might want to review this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_v._Texas

[overpowered]

Poll: John McCain, Ann Kirkpatrick in theoretical dead heat in Arizona

http://ktar.com/story/884402/poll-john-mccain-ann-kirkpatrick-in-theoretical-dead-heat-in-arizona/

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10153463420883736

[21Kid]

While Cruz contended that waterboarding was not torture, Trump was more direct in his defense of the practice during the debate.
"I'd bring back waterboarding," Trump said during the debate. "And I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.
:(

[overpowered]

Apparently in New Hampshire, independents can choose to vote in either the republican or democratic primary. Some are saying that because of that Kasich could come on strong because he's arguably the most moderate clown in the car.

[21Kid]

HE’S PROBABLY RUNNING THE MOST NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN OF ANY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE . . . IN A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY SEASON. . . . IT SEEMS LIKE ONCE YOU’RE NOT WITH HIM, YOU BECOME A FOCAL POINT OF HIS ATTACKS.
Clinton senior campaign strategist Joel Benenson
Really??? I think they are getting scared. That is far from anything that I've seen. If anything this just points out how much Hillary is the same old politician. Playing the victim and accusing the other person of something they are not.


“I really want to, once again, call out the Sanders campaign, which claims they like to run a positive campaign,” Clinton added Sunday on ABC. “But they have been quite artful in raising questions and trying to cast doubts about my record.”

Yet even Clinton supporters scratch their heads at the accusations of dirty campaigning. If mentioning her record and ties to SuperPACs is raising questions, I think that's more on her than him...

[overpowered]

Rick Snyder declines to testify before congress on the Flint crisis.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/08/politics/flint-water-congress-hearing-snyder/

He really needs to be in prison.

[thesameguy]

I like the idea that you can respond to Congress with a "Thanks, but I'd rather not."

[21Kid]

It shouldn't have been an invitation in the first place :mad:

[LHutton]

Apparently in New Hampshire, independents can choose to vote in either the republican or democratic primary. Some are saying that because of that Kasich could come on strong because he's arguably the most moderate clown in the car.
There's an argument that everyone should be able to vote in both primaries, so long as everyone actually voted for who they wanted as President, and not for some easily beatable fool.

[Crazed_Insanity]

A bit of side note... Samantha Bee should've taken over the Daily Show!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO4nGExCFDc&list=PLur87nTwD0BtKbpRwLlNBGgNkBFnl_xvT

[Alan P]

Interesting that Cruz is being forecast to be in fourth place. Also quite a big gap between Sanders and Clinton. I thought it would be tighter.

[overpowered]

New Hampshire is not Iowa.

[overpowered]

Interesting to see Kasich and Bush in second and third and both breaking into double digits. Maybe there's something to that independent voter thing.

[JoshInKC]

Yeah, primary season is kinda weird and can have bizarre knock-on effects. Since so much of the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries are built around these idiotic "Meet the real people," pancake dinner types of events, candidates have to strategize pretty intently and subtly on where they need to concentrate their efforts. South Carolina is less face-to-face, so that's the point at which you start to see real differences in each candidate's campaign infrastructure.

This is not a sane system.

[overpowered]

Looks like Cruz has just barely gotten above Bush to be in 3rd so far. 78% reporting so that could still change.

[Jason]

Super delegates are bullshit.

[overpowered]

https://vimeo.com/153640576

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10154529343234746

[21Kid]

:( From 2009, but it sets a precedence.
How a Clinton staffer ‘blackmailed’ reporters (http://nypost.com/2016/02/10/hillary-blackmailed-media-to-get-positive-coverage-report/)


Hillary Clinton’s high-powered press operation “blackmailed” reporters by promising perks in exchange for flattering coverage, according to a report Tuesday. Using the Freedom of Information Act, Gawker obtained an exchange of *e-mails between Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines and Marc Ambinder, a writer for The Atlantic magazine, that demonstrated how the process worked.

[overpowered]

I missed this whopper.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/sep/30/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-unemployment-rate-may-be-42-perc/

He repeated it again last night at about 11:55


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYokDat1OXg

[MR2 Fan]

I missed this whopper.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/sep/30/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-unemployment-rate-may-be-42-perc/

He repeated it again last night at about 11:55


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYokDat1OXg

So he actually had a "source" for that insane number, I really thought he was just making it up as usual

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=524421604410164

[Kchrpm]

I don't know much about the Paul's, so I don't have an opinion on this article. Still, I am reading it, and thought others might be interested:

http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/rand-paul-was-always-bullshit-1758264900

[Crazed_Insanity]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10154529343234746

Ha! :up:

[MR2 Fan]

Carly Fiorina and Chris Christie have dropped out of the race....7 left....Ben Carson may drop out also soon

[novicius]

Super delegates are bullshit.
Yep. Thankfully we can ignore them.

After Sanders' Big Win in New Hampshire, Establishment Figures Want to Scare You with Superdelegates. Here's Why It's Bullshit (http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/after-sanders-big-win-in-new-hampshire-establishme.html).


A: Here’s why it doesn’t matter: Superdelegates have never decided a Democratic nomination. It would be insane, even by the corrupt standards of the Democratic National Committee, if a small group of party elites went against the will of the people to choose the presidential nominee.

This has already been an incredibly tense election, and Sanders voters are already expressing their unwillingness to vote for Clinton in the general election. When you look at the astounding numbers from Iowa and New Hampshire, where more than 80 percent of young voters have chosen Sanders over Clinton, regardless of gender, it’s clear that Clinton already finds herself in a very tenuous position for the general election. It will be tough to motivate young supporters, but any hint that Bernie was screwed by the establishment will result in total abandonment.

[thesameguy]

That makes me so happy to read. :up:

[Sad, little man]

Carly Fiorina and Chris Christie have dropped out of the race....7 left....Ben Carson may drop out also soon
He can only drop out if he's aware that he's still in it, and it's not entirely clear that he himself realizes that. I predict that he will continue campaigning well into December.

[MR2 Fan]

He can only drop out if he's aware that he's still in it, and it's not entirely clear that he himself realizes that. I predict that he will continue campaigning well into December.

so you mean he did practice brain surgery on himself? makes sense

[Jason]

He can only drop out if he's aware that he's still in it, and it's not entirely clear that he himself realizes that. I predict that he will continue campaigning well into December.

:lol:

[Jason]

Yep. Thankfully we can ignore them.

After Sanders' Big Win in New Hampshire, Establishment Figures Want to Scare You with Superdelegates. Here's Why It's Bullshit (http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/after-sanders-big-win-in-new-hampshire-establishme.html).

One can hope :up:

That all being said... young voters who refuse to vote for Clinton in the general, could result in us having a President Trump for 4-8 years. Hopefully, if it comes to Clinton in the general, Sanders can do some convincing of his fans.

[MR2 Fan]

One can hope :up:

That all being said... young voters who refuse to vote for Clinton in the general, could result in us having a President Trump for 4-8 years. Hopefully, if it comes to Clinton in the general, Sanders can do some convincing of his fans.

Sanders got twice as many overall votes as Trump.

With a field of practically 10 GOP candidates (1% went to Rand Paul who already dropped out), Trump only got 34% last night...I don't think we'll see his numbers increase that much among GOP supporters honestly, but then again, if he's against Ted Cruz.....ughhh, I can't figure out who's worse

[novicius]

Alternately if Michael Bloomberg runs as an Independent and no candidate gets enough Electoral College votes to win, then the Republican-controlled House gets to pick the President. All sorts of ways this could go down.

[overpowered]

McCain on the candidate's rhetoric on interrogation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpyMdoUbU3s

[Yw-slayer]

I agree with him and listened to all of that, but is anyone who wants to vote for one of these jokers really going to listen to and be swayed by that? Thanks for posting that, though, it reminds us that there are sensible Republicans out there.

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=969584273077252

[LHutton]

The best Republican candidate is probably Ronald Reagan, and he's dead and exhibited early Alzeheimer's symptoms during his 2nd term, so that's really saying something.

[novicius]

Some Thoughts on the Presidential Race and SocioCapitalism (http://blogmaverick.com/2016/02/08/some-thoughts-on-the-presidential-race-and-sociocapitalism/) by Mark Cuban.

Obviously not 100% on target but hits closer than most I've read, IMO. Interesting read, at least.

[21Kid]

McCain on the candidate's rhetoric on interrogation.It is very worrying that not only do they want to carpet bomb an entire region, but they would go back to and expand prohibited torture techniques that don't even work. :(

[novicius]

That makes me so happy to read. :up:
The more I think about it, the more I'm CONVINCED that the DNC Establishment needs to pick Clinton over the popular vote. They need to set the precedent of nominating their pick soon as possible in order to have the history in place for when they REALLY need to use the power.

[21Kid]

This Chart Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Bernie Sanders' Fanbase (http://www.attn.com/stories/5830/chart-explains-how-sanders-won-nh-primary)

http://static.images.publisher.attn.com/sites/default/files/Ca0d2taW4AIRNyq.jpg

[Kchrpm]

This Chart Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Bernie Sanders' Fanbase (http://www.attn.com/stories/5830/chart-explains-how-sanders-won-nh-primary)

*In New Hampshire

[21Kid]

I didn't write the title. ;)

[LHutton]

https://us.yahoo.com/news/tamir-rice-cleveland-ambulance-ride-143125924.html


Cleveland wants Tamir Rice’s family to pay $500 for his final ambulance ride

The city of Cleveland wants the family of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old boy who was fatally shot by police 15 months ago, to pay for his ambulance ride.

[21Kid]

Bernie Sandwiches !!! :lol:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6RVKCqGhCM

[Freude am Fahren]

This Chart Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Bernie Sanders' Fanbase (http://www.attn.com/stories/5830/chart-explains-how-sanders-won-nh-primary)

http://static.images.publisher.attn.com/sites/default/files/Ca0d2taW4AIRNyq.jpg

I think that says more about Hillary :)

[George]

I think it says more about people who have worked hard all their lives who don't want the fruits of their labor confiscated.

I'll admit this is 75% a troll post, but if you think about it, I might just be right.

[novicius]

You're assuming waaay too much to say that they worked hard, George.

[Kchrpm]

They most certainly walked uphill both ways on molten lava rocks in subzero temperatures to get there, though.

[thesameguy]

In the end, though, I think it's immaterial. I've worked my ass off my whole life. I lost it all once, epically, when my business was stolen and again in a fire. Each time I've worked hard to get it all back. Some people simply aren't capable of a relevant level of output, but that doesn't mean they deserve to suffer. Some people are capable of a certain level of output but have "messed up" priorities. They don't deserve to suffer either. I am okay with helping. I like working, producing, and achieving. I think more important than basic human empathy, though, is that the Cans are grossly outnumbered by the Will Nots - and if you push that too far eventually the Will Nots are going to come for what the Cans have earned anyway... you may not be able to easily outwork me, but you can probably shoot me in the face without much effort. When most of life for most people in this country isn't about just staying alive, I think the point has been reached when we can put the brakes on the accumulation race and make sure as many people as possible are comfortable. Let's not push it until the Will Nots are really against a wall.

The thing I am least happy about in my life is that I do pretty well, but having had it happen I am always concerned about what I've earned vaporizing. I could easily afford to be more generous with what I have, but I am literally always worried about five or ten years from now and the potential that I can no longer take care of myself. If I knew that spreading my 2016 excess around wasn't going to hamstring me in 2026 because a system was there to support me, I'd do it. I'm appreciative of a government that's interested in helping establish that system.

[overpowered]

More treason from GOP in congress.

http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/02/11/shocking-iran-reveals-congressional-republicans-tried-to-keep-american-prisoners-locked-up-until-after-elections/

[overpowered]

http://i.giphy.com/1j18nO4TL8242Lsc.gif

I wish.

[overpowered]

Bernie's the first non-christian to win a major party primary ever (he's of Jewish origin but says he's not religious).

Bernie also won the NH primary by the largest margin of any non-incumbent since JFK.

[novicius]

In the end, though, I think it's immaterial. I've worked my ass off my whole life. I lost it all once, epically, when my business was stolen and again in a fire. Each time I've worked hard to get it all back.
Yes I also had an LLC that utterly consumed my work week and was nonetheless destroyed in the late '90's. I've had dozens of freelance customers while I was working my 50ish hours a week at a "real job" and had it all crumble and give away the clients when I couldn't satisfy everyone. But at no point would I qualify it as "hard work". Landscaping, that's hard work. Working in a warehouse or being a delivery driver, that's hard work. Manufacturing or skilled trades by the dozens outdoors in WI all year 'round, that's hard work.

Hell, George worked in the restaurant business for years before transferring to the white collar life so the fact that he'd call people who collect returns on their investments doing "hard work" surprises me. Long work hours maybe but hard work? Compared to kitchen or waitstaff? Not hardly.

Basically, at $200,000+ USD annually, a switchover occurs from the number of folks getting paid hourly (doctors, lawyers [my father being one], etc.). You're starting to count households that live off of economic machines (large inheritances, stocks, land, commerce) that they've inherited, bought or built -- but even the built ones aren't depending upon their hourly work by this point. Their direction, education and experience maybe but not their work (and it certainly isn't "hard work").

But the Puritan work ethic is so profoundly powering the American psyche that we want to qualify the work of the wealthy as being "hard work". It makes it more dear and sacrosanct when the reality is that their Working Poor are the ones doing the real hard work.

Just my $0.02 as a Socio-Capitalist. :)

[thesameguy]

Well put. I've put in countless long hours, but if I had to choose between a 60 hour work week at a desk with adequate time for fucking around on the internet or a perfect 40 hour week putting roofs on? HA! Not even. It positively drives me up a wall when people with those high-paying desk jobs whine about hard work. I get that not everyone is blessed with a work smarter not harder brain and someone has to make big decisions and blah blah, but telling someone who comes home too tired and sore to move that you too worked hard? I'm not buying it.

I don't know how you rightfully and righteously "cap" earnings and the spoils of victory - I'm totally satisfied driving a 30 year old Ford, but I'm not going to tell someone they can't work for a Maybach if they want. I don't know how society gets to say "you have enough, give the rest away" with a straight face. But rather than pretending the problem of gross inequity doesn't exist or that the people on one end earned their position with massive amounts of labor the people on the other side could have but didn't expend is not going to get us anywhere. People who can't get treatment they need, people who are pushed so far they take out their frustration on those around them, and people who shut down because they feel powerless aren't just drains on society, they work actively against it. I don't understand how any hardcore capitalist can spout off about the importance of workplace morale to corporate productivity while simultaneously ignoring the effects of societal morale on societal productivity. That person is lying to themselves.

We're done fighting to survive, let's start fighting for happiness - and someone needs to throw the first dart at the board to see how it goes.

[overpowered]

Gloria Steinem and Madeleine Albright suck.

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ucrczi/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-the-democratic-gender-divide

Steinem's comment is especially offensive. Susan Sarandon nailed it.

[overpowered]

Kanye West manages to come up with something even more stupid.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/10/entertainment/kanye-west-bill-cosby-innocent-tweet/

[overpowered]

Oregon standoff is over. Even Cliven Bundy is arrested.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cliven-bundy-father-rancher-resistance-faces-prison-his-devotees-n516831

[MR2 Fan]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/269203-cruz-takes-down-campaign-ad-featuring-softcore-porn-actress

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10208716134209072

[LHutton]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/12/exclusive-u-s-allies-now-fighting-cia-backed-rebels.html


Exclusive: U.S. Allies Now Fighting CIA-Backed Rebels

Not long ago, U.S. jets and Shia militias worked together to battle ISIS. Today, those militias are trying to take down American proxies in Syria.

Iraqi militias who once fought ISIS with U.S. help are now working with Russian and Iranian forces to crush American-backed rebels in the strategic Syrian city of Aleppo, two defense officials have told the Daily Beast.

[21Kid]

Agree with both TSG and Novi.

As much as I strive to be in the $200k+ club. I wouldn't mind at all if my income above that gets taxed more. I don't think any amount of money above $200k will make me any happier than it would knowing that money could be used to help others. Which, lets be honest, is everyone at this point.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw4GDxrTxg4

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWtkdf_c4Bs

[overpowered]

Emails Indicate Flint Lead Tests Withheld from Public at Snyder's Command (http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/02/11/emails-indicate-flint-lead-tests-withheld-public-snyders-command)

[Freude am Fahren]

Agree with both TSG and Novi.

As much as I strive to be in the $200k+ club. I wouldn't mind at all if my income above that gets taxed more. I don't think any amount of money above $200k will make me any happier than it would knowing that money could be used to help others. Which, lets be honest, is everyone at this point.

Yeah, and people pretend like they actually lose money by crossing that line into the next tax bracket. NO! You only get taxed more on the amount over that line!

Are there some serious problems with how we spend that money? Absolutely. You want to pay less taxes? Elect people that wont encourage spending trillions on "defense"

[21Kid]

I didn't realize that for the longest time... :o Until I got close enough for a change in tax bracket to actually matter.
I think the SSI cap of $118k should be raised too.

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1130730233621837

[21Kid]

She did take a position on the TPP and Keystone. I think she took both positions actually!!!

[Crazed_Insanity]

The emails probably would reveal all the answers you're looking for.

[overpowered]

https://media.giphy.com/media/3o6gaQaIZcGAW7hCfu/giphy.gif

[LHutton]

Now people get fined because of migrants.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/643622/Calais-migrant-crisis-truckers-Mariusz-Pudzianowski-refugees-lorries-baseball-bat

http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/78/590x/Mariusz-Pudzianowski-643622.jpg


They picked on the WRONG trucker! Strongman threatens Calais migrants with a BASEBALL BAT
A STRONGMAN trucker boss who lost more than £60,000 in fines and damages when marauding Calais migrants broke into his lorry has promised to confront the next group with a BASEBALL BAT.

Fearsome Mariusz Pudzianowski, a former World’s Strongest Man, branded rampaging migrants at the French port “human garbage” in a provocative Facebook post which showed him holding a wooden bat.

The 19-stone bodybuilder took to social media in fury after being fined £40,000 when French officials caught eight migrants hiding in one of his trucks bound for Britain.
However, by the time they were discovered the vandals had already caused a whopping £23,000 of damage to the goods he was transporting, leaving the international haulage boss with an eye-watering £63,000 bill.

Mr Pudzianowski, a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) expert, and five times World’s Strongest Man winner, could now face prosecution over allegations of inciting hatred and racism.

[thesameguy]

That Young Turks video is really interesting purely for how hard he comes down on Clinton. I guess in one way it's sad there is the same infighting on the Democrat & Republican side, but in another way is Clinton really a modern Democrat?

[Freude am Fahren]

She's some kind of liberal neo-con

[21Kid]

She's only taken those stances recently, when feeling threatened by Bernie.

[thesameguy]

Is my math correct that Bernie had approximately 188,235 contributors? $34 x 188,235 = $6.4m?

I'm just trying to wrap my head around what it takes to buy an election from a crowdsourcing perspective. It makes me really mad that corporations can own a politician when all it takes is thirty bucks from two hundred thousand people to outdo them.

[Jason]

Agree with both TSG and Novi.

As much as I strive to be in the $200k+ club. I wouldn't mind at all if my income above that gets taxed more. I don't think any amount of money above $200k will make me any happier than it would knowing that money could be used to help others. Which, lets be honest, is everyone at this point.

I've been moving up the tax brackets slowly but surely over the last 15 years... and you know what, my life is the best it's ever been. Even with the government taking more of my money. I'm still not in the $200k+ club, but I imagine if I were, I'd be even better off than I am now, even with the terrible government taking all of my money.

[Jason]

Bernie's the first non-christian to win a major party primary ever (he's of Jewish origin but says he's not religious).

If he wins the nomination, this is going to be something that the Republican nominee* harps on.

* unless it's Trump. Trump isn't Christian in any serious way, but he has to claim it for the Republican nomination.

[Jason]

Yes I also had an LLC that utterly consumed my work week and was nonetheless destroyed in the late '90's. I've had dozens of freelance customers while I was working my 50ish hours a week at a "real job" and had it all crumble and give away the clients when I couldn't satisfy everyone. But at no point would I qualify it as "hard work". Landscaping, that's hard work. Working in a warehouse or being a delivery driver, that's hard work. Manufacturing or skilled trades by the dozens outdoors in WI all year 'round, that's hard work.

Hell, George worked in the restaurant business for years before transferring to the white collar life so the fact that he'd call people who collect returns on their investments doing "hard work" surprises me. Long work hours maybe but hard work? Compared to kitchen or waitstaff? Not hardly.

Basically, at $200,000+ USD annually, a switchover occurs from the number of folks getting paid hourly (doctors, lawyers [my father being one], etc.). You're starting to count households that live off of economic machines (large inheritances, stocks, land, commerce) that they've inherited, bought or built -- but even the built ones aren't depending upon their hourly work by this point. Their direction, education and experience maybe but not their work (and it certainly isn't "hard work").

But the Puritan work ethic is so profoundly powering the American psyche that we want to qualify the work of the wealthy as being "hard work". It makes it more dear and sacrosanct when the reality is that their Working Poor are the ones doing the real hard work.

Just my $0.02 as a Socio-Capitalist. :)

My two hardest jobs: KFC (no joke, it was intense speed based labor in a very hot and humid environment) and at a school warehouse (no a/c, metal warehouse, desert climate, pallets of reams of paper). Both jobs paid next to nothing compared to what I do now. What I do now? Sit on my ass and surf the internet 50% of the time, and hurry my ass typing and moving a mouse around 50% of the time.

[Jason]

Yeah, and people pretend like they actually lose money by crossing that line into the next tax bracket. NO! You only get taxed more on the amount over that line!

Are there some serious problems with how we spend that money? Absolutely. You want to pay less taxes? Elect people that wont encourage spending trillions on "defense"

If we reform campaign financing, and lobbying, and also get single item approval on spending bills, I have a feeling spending will go down dramatically without impacting the quality of service. There's a lot of bloat in the government just from handing out large contracts to companies who purposefully drag their feet to pull more money out of the government.

[Jason]

I didn't realize that for the longest time... :o Until I got close enough for a change in tax bracket to actually matter.
I think the SSI cap of $118k should be raised too.

I figured it out the second year I did my taxes and filled in a different tax bracket. :P

It's crazy that more people don't understand this.

[JoshInKC]

That Young Turks video is really interesting purely for how hard he comes down on Clinton. I guess in one way it's sad there is the same infighting on the Democrat & Republican side, but in another way is Clinton really a modern Democrat?
Clinton is pretty much the definition of modern democrat, at least for the past quarter century. The current democratic party is basically a creation of the mindset coming out of the 1988 Dukakis loss to Bush Sr. - A realignment to substantially greater fiscal conservatism (especially in regards to "free trade" and deregulation) combined with somewhat reduced leftist social policies. This is sometimes called "The Third Way," if you want to look it up. The leading edge of this shift towards the middle was Bill Clinton, and almost every major democrat campaigning for national since Clinton has been very much a "New Democrat," especially his wife.
With Sanders doing well, we could be beginning to see a shift back towards the left in at least some of the party, but it's really too early to tell at this point; and - if Hillary wins the nomination and the presidency, as I think is very possible, that'll help solidify the future of the centrist wing in power for a while yet.

[thesameguy]

In retrospect, that really seems about right. I just wish it wasn't. :|

[Jason]

Obama campaigned on a pretty progressive platform, which is partially what invigorated a lot of the youth vote. Unfortunately, his presidency has gone more moderate (out of necessity, I imagine), which I know has disappointed some of the more staunch progressives. It'll be interesting to see if similar happens with Sanders, should he be elected.

[thesameguy]

Realistically, it probably will. But I hope that a slightly different campaign and an even more progressive platform will yield slightly more progressive results. I'll take anything I can get.

[overpowered]

There's a reasonable chance that the Democrats could regain control of the Senate next election. Due to gerrymandering, there's no chance in the House.

If Bernie's message resonates enough, that could change.

[Freude am Fahren]

https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/12647284_1967750800115864_3625951921895757503_n.jp g?oh=d70d3f3c65dca81d1822e3116f44bb7f&oe=5763B549

[Jason]

Realistically, it probably will. But I hope that a slightly different campaign and an even more progressive platform will yield slightly more progressive results. I'll take anything I can get.

The American way has long been to progress at a very slow and measured pace, due to checks and balances. Keeps anyone from really rocking the boat too hard at any given time... but is also really fucking frustrating when there's clear problems to fix.

[tigeraid]

Triumph vs. Social Justice Warriors:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j556MWGVVqI

[thesameguy]

The American way has long been to progress at a very slow and measured pace, due to checks and balances. Keeps anyone from really rocking the boat too hard at any given time... but is also really fucking frustrating when there's clear problems to fix.

It's probably not representative of reality, but in my head I picture our government as a counterbalance to wacky, wild Americans. We the people find something or somewhere new and the government is the reality check that keeps people safe from whatever it is we've uncovered. In recent times, I feel like corporate America has somehow reserved the right to do all the trailblazing, and now the government exists primary to protect those interests and secondarily to ensure the people aren't completely screwed in the process.

I will pretty readily buy into the idea that maybe things are too far advanced for the people to be wild and crazy, and maybe the government needs to do proactive thinking instead of reactive, but I resent to my core any legislation that puts corporate interest above public interest. That is offensive at every level. To that end, if we can't have the complete wild west where it is literally every man for himself and the government struggling to keep people alive, I want a system where the government has put the people on a pedestal and corporate America gets to fight for the scraps. I think it's positively insane to entertain whether Proctor & Gamble thinks more highly of me than Lockheed Martin, so fuck them both. Let's get the guy on the corner a jacket and some aspirin and let P&G and Lockheed worry about how they fit into that equation.

In retrospect, maybe this should be in the Alcoholics Unanimous thread.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib_VIGWFufk

[MR2 Fan]

It's probably not representative of reality, but in my head I picture our government as a counterbalance to wacky, wild Americans. We the people find something or somewhere new and the government is the reality check that keeps people safe from whatever it is we've uncovered. In recent times, I feel like corporate America has somehow reserved the right to do all the trailblazing, and now the government exists primary to protect those interests and secondarily to ensure the people aren't completely screwed in the process.

I will pretty readily buy into the idea that maybe things are too far advanced for the people to be wild and crazy, and maybe the government needs to do proactive thinking instead of reactive, but I resent to my core any legislation that puts corporate interest above public interest. That is offensive at every level. To that end, if we can't have the complete wild west where it is literally every man for himself and the government struggling to keep people alive, I want a system where the government has put the people on a pedestal and corporate America gets to fight for the scraps. I think it's positively insane to entertain whether Proctor & Gamble thinks more highly of me than Lockheed Martin, so fuck them both. Let's get the guy on the corner a jacket and some aspirin and let P&G and Lockheed worry about how they fit into that equation.

In retrospect, maybe this should be in the Alcoholics Unanimous thread.

I agree, especially when it comes to regulation. Just a few days ago a congressman was trying to mandate minimum seat widths for airlines, since they keep getting smaller (even though people are getting bigger), it was shot down and a rep for the airline lobby said that people will decide with their wallets, which is one of the biggest B.S. excuses I hear, especially when it's ALL airlines doing the same thing....and there's only a few left as they're all working toward a couple of air carriers.

The GOP and their supports love to blame everything on government, but it's proper government which keeps corporations from killing people for profit and theoretically which can charge companies with more taxes who move jobs overseas.

The thing that scares me the most, and what I've mentioned before, is that government for the most part is limited to their own country....however corporations can spread and cause problems and spread issues all over the world.

The solution IMO is the new technology that empowers people to create their own things....localized commerce, and not globalized, needs to be the focus for a better future.

[MR2 Fan]

BREAKING NEWS: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is DEAD

Am I sad? no.

He was one of the worst judges we've had in ages.

[novicius]

No way Congress lets Obama pick his replacement, no way... but here's hoping he can. #fingerscrossed

[Godson]

All of my ultra conservative friends are losing their shit over his passing. It is both sad and mildly entertaining.

[Alan P]

Surely to leave the bench one Justice short for what could be a year or more wouldn't be on? The whole point in there being 9 means that there can't be any hung decisions?

[LHutton]

Unless the 9th one dies.

[novicius]

All of my ultra conservative friends are losing their shit over his passing. It is both sad and mildly entertaining.
Well I'm definitely laughing. :lol:

The longest it has ever taken a Supreme Court appointment is 107 days (Clarence Thomas). Obama has 341 days left. :twisted:

[MR2 Fan]

here's a shock, Mitch McConnell has already said he doesn't want the next one to be picked until after the next election. The amount of shit they get away with these days is sickening

[JoshInKC]

Yeah, stakes have gone up a bit. This sh!t might be getting real fun with this fallout.

[Jason]

here's a shock, Mitch McConnell has already said he doesn't want the next one to be picked until after the next election. The amount of shit they get away with these days is sickening

Obama has almost 25% left of his term, but hey, he doesn't represent the American people any longer, and shouldn't have his constitutional powers.

[Crazed_Insanity]

If they don't let Obama pick one now, maybe later on Bernie or Hillary can just nominate Obama as the next justice! ;)

[JoshInKC]

There are undoubtedly some very serious conversations going on right now about that very subject. This might add an interesting new wrinkle to the next 9 1/2 months. Who does Obama nominate? How do we think we'll do in November? &c. &c.
I'm sure hill staffers have been in full on hyperventilating panic mode for the past 12 hours. hahah

[overpowered]

45 times Secretary Clinton pushed the trade bill she now opposes

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/15/politics/45-times-secretary-clinton-pushed-the-trade-bill-she-now-opposes/index.html

[overpowered]

If the the GOP in the Senate actually tries to hold out until the election, they will most blatantly show themselves to be putting their politics before the welfare of the country. The SCOTUS cannot properly function with an even number of judges. Right now they've got 4 liberals, 3 conservatives and a conservative leaning moderate. 4-4 just won't work. If they try to hold out, they will alienate independents heavily. That could not only hurt their chances in the presidential election. It could damage their hold on congress.

Meanwhile, all of the GOP candidates agreed with McConnell that we should wait until the next president is elected. It's pure idiocy.

If Bernie or Hillary becomes president, it would be hilarious if Obama ended up being a Supreme Court Justice.

Scalia has been by far the worst of the SCOTUS. I'm glad that he's no longer on the bench. I didn't wish for his death; just his retirement.

[overpowered]

When someone is as horrible as Scalia, the "too soon" rule does not apply for humor.

Justice Scalia Dead Following 30-Year Battle With Social Progress (http://www.theonion.com/graphic/justice-scalia-dead-following-30-year-battle-socia-52356)

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1230929093588453

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=996113057093057

[overpowered]

The Constitution of the United States is at stake. Article II, Section 2 clearly provides that the President, and the President alone, nominates judges. The Senate is empowered to give advice and consent. But my Democratic colleagues want to change the rules. They want to reinterpret the Constitution to require a supermajority for confirmation. In effect, they would take away the power to nominate from the President and grant it to a minority of 41 Senators.


[T]he Republican conference intends to restore the principle that, regardless of party, any President's judicial nominees, after full debate, deserve a simple up-or-down vote. I know that some of our colleagues wish that restoration of this principle were not required. But it is a measured step that my friends on the other side of the aisle have unfortunately made necessary. For the first time in 214 years, they have changed the Senate's 'advise and consent' responsibilities to 'advise and obstruct.'

Duh?

[LHutton]

https://us.yahoo.com/politics/what-does-justice-scalias-death-mean-for-pending-000410173.html


Justice Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court’s conservative firebrand, died Saturday, leaving the fate of a controversial and high-stakes term very much up in the air.

The Reagan appointee had heard and potentially already cast votes in several high-profile cases that could decide issues from whether universities can continue to use affirmative action to if unions can collect fees from nonmembers to survive.

Scalia’s votes in those cases will be invalidated, sending the justices back to the drawing board to renegotiate those decisions. His death will likely also lead to 4-4 splits on some key issues, with the remaining four liberals and four conservatives facing off against each other.

[overpowered]

My mole in the White House tells me Obama will nominate 46-year-old Judge Sri Srinivasan, an Indian-American jurist who Obama nominated in 2013 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit -- and the Senate confirmed unanimously. Having confirmed him unanimously just three years ago, it would be difficult (but hardly impossible) for Republicans to oppose him now. (Twelve former Solicitors General, including Republican notables as Paul Clement and Kenneth Starr had endorsed his confirmation. Moreover, the D.C. Circuit has long been a Supreme Court farm team – Scalia himself, along with John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg were judges there before ascending to the Supreme Court.)

But is Srinivasan progressive? He had been Obama’s principal Deputy Solicitor General before the nomination, arguing Supreme Court cases in support of affirmative action and against Indiana’s restrictive voter ID law, for example. But this record doesn’t prove much. (Having once worked as an assistant Solicitor General, I know the inhabitants of that office will argue whatever halfway respectable arguments the Justice Department and, indirectly, the President, wants made.)

Before the Obama administration, Srinivasan worked for five years in George W. Bush’s Justice Department. Prior to that, as an attorney in the private firm of O'Melveny & Myers, he defended Exxon Mobil in a lawsuit brought by Indonesians who accused the company’s security forces of torture, murder, and other violations against their people; successfully represented a newspaper that fired its employees for unionizing; and defended Enron’s former CEO, Jeffrey Skilling, later convicted for financial fraud. But in these instances, too, it could be argued he was just representing clients. Another clue: After graduating Stanford Law School in 1995, Srinivasan clerked for two Republican-appointed jurists – Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor – both of whom were considered moderate.

Since he became a judge on the D.C. Circuit, he hasn’t tipped his hand. But I discovered one morsel of information that might interest you: In 2000, he worked on Al Gore’s legal team in the infamous Supreme Court case of “Bush v. Gore.”

My suspicion is Obama couldn't do better than Srinivasan. No other nominee with get a majority of Senate votes. What do you think?

I don't see how they can hold out for over 11 months.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in4dOf7ova8

I looked it up. Kennedy was nominated on November 30, 1987 and confirmed by the Senate on February 3rd, 1988 and commissioned on February 11, 1988.

William Rehnquist and Lewis F. Powell, Jr. came close, being nominated and confirmed in December before an election year though not actually commissioned until early January of an election year.

William J. Brennan, Jr. was nominated and confirmed in October of 1956, an election year, right before an election. That one's as clear cut as it gets and it's only 60 years ago as opposed to Ted's 80 year number.

Frank Murphy was nominated and confirmed in January 1940, which is also short of Ted's 80 year lie (though only by 4 years).

[Freude am Fahren]

Also, when people use lame duck (Cruz didn't I don't think, but Rubio did) to refer to the last year of a presidency, they are complete morons. What, 1/4 of a term is a lame duck session now? Election to inaguration, that's it.

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12705605_10108117886362471_8573653701992499847_n.j pg?oh=52ad99507a64eaabffa5d81a423681e7&oe=572A7B35
(yes I checked veracity).

Also, even if it were true, you'd have to look at how many justices died or retired in an election year. Considering we've never had more than 120 or so days before a new judge, I'm going to go with not many.

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=518928244956355

[overpowered]

Also, when people use lame duck (Cruz didn't I don't think, but Rubio did) to refer to the last year of a presidency, they are complete morons. What, 1/4 of a term is a lame duck session now? Election to inaguration, that's it.

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12705605_10108117886362471_8573653701992499847_n.j pg?oh=52ad99507a64eaabffa5d81a423681e7&oe=572A7B35
(yes I checked veracity).

Also, even if it were true, you'd have to look at how many justices died or retired in an election year. Considering we've never had more than 120 or so days before a new judge, I'm going to go with not many.

Mitch McConnell also voted for Kennedy in 1988.

[overpowered]

Some people are suggesting Anita Hill would be a good choice. That would make for a very awkward workplace in the SCOTUS. Thomas might choose to retire a bit earlier than before.

The thing is, she's never been a judge. SCOTUS judges tend to have a background of judicial decisions that can be analyzed. We have no idea what she would be like as a judge.

[overpowered]

The longest it has ever taken a Supreme Court appointment is 107 days (Clarence Thomas). Obama has 341 days left. :twisted:Source?

That may be the longest single approval period but it's not the longest vacancy. There has actually been one vacancy longer than Obama's remaining days and quite a few longer than 107 days.

http://time.com/4224348/scalia-vacancy-supreme-court/

[overpowered]

Not that GOP senators give a shit what the people think but:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-senate-advise

[Freude am Fahren]

The longest confirmation process was actually 125 days from everything I've seen, for Brandeis 100 years ago.

Point is though, I don't think Obama will wait that long to nominate someone, so it would be that number you need to watch.

Also of note, there was a 27 month vacancy before they settled on 9 judges.

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10205631596532512

Bernie was born in 1941 in the U.S., so I doubt he knew any of the relatives that he lost but he no doubt heard stories from his family about them and probably even saw pictures of them.

[overpowered]

Rubio repeats the 80 year lie.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byzTZ9TRoWc

[LHutton]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/syria-calls-condemn-turkish-attacks-kurds-160215042458989.html


Syria calls on UN to condemn Turkish attacks on Kurds

[George]

This supreme court debate reminds me why I happily changed parties to something other than Republican when I moved to my current state and was asked for party affiliation when getting a new drivers license.

It is the president's DUTY to appoint a justice, whoever the president may be. That should be obvious to all, even to those who would put the Bible above the Constitution. :smh:

[overpowered]

The Koch Brothers' Dirty War on Solar Power

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-koch-brothers-dirty-war-on-solar-power-20160211

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFOwlMCdto

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=10204440259126931

[Alan P]

This supreme court debate reminds me why I happily changed parties to something other than Republican when I moved to my current state and was asked for party affiliation when getting a new drivers license.
:smh:

Sorry, what? You got asked for your political affiliation when you applied for your drivers licence? Are you serious? Was there an option for 'none of your fucking business'? I don't get why they would even ask!

[George]

Alan, I completely understand where you're coming from, as I'm that guy who won't give my name and address to cash register jockeys who seem astonished that I don't want to be in their corporate databases.

However, as a new resident to the state a the time, I was also registering to vote as well as getting my DL. You can do both things in one place here.

[Freude am Fahren]

And when you register to vote, yes you can say no affiliation. But then in most states you can't vote in the primary, which sucks.

[overpowered]

Sorry, what? You got asked for your political affiliation when you applied for your drivers licence? Are you serious? Was there an option for 'none of your fucking business'? I don't get why they would even ask!It's common to register to vote when you apply for a new driver's license because you moved to a different state. Our driver's licensing is handled at the state level.

When you register to vote (regardless of where you do it), they do ask you for your party affiliation. In most states, you can only vote in the primaries/caucuses of the party you designated when you registered. You can change your affiliation any time before the elections by filling out a form.

[overpowered]

Seems like Mitch McConnell & the Republican Senate believe a Black President only gets 3/5 of a term....





(for those that don't know where the 3/5 thing comes from -- I assume almost all non-US people won't get that

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-Fifths_Compromise )

[Godson]

That. Is. Fucking. Gold.

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6y5938aJF8

[21Kid]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFOwlMCdto

Wow. I didn't realize there was that much fraud going on... in the senate. :smh:

[Freude am Fahren]

Just heard on Fox News (!) there's never been an election with a vacant seat on the Supreme Court. So much for tradition.

[21Kid]

Seems to be accurate. :smh:
Audience booed facts at the Republican presidential debate

[Crazed_Insanity]

Trump running for president is also a fact. I have no problems booing that fact.

[overpowered]

Wow. I didn't realize there was that much fraud going on... in the senate. :smh:I haven't watched it since last night but IIRC it was a state senate; not the U.S. Senate.

[overpowered]

“Is Jeb Bush related to George W. Bush?”

“Is Jeb Bush Catholic?”

“What political party is Jeb Bush?”

http://reverbpress.com/politics/you-wont-believe-what-low-info-voters-in-sc-googled-during-the-gop-debate/

[overpowered]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/download/?fbid=1284708278222483

[overpowered]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPWHubdI8iQ&t=160

[overpowered]

Obama Compiles Shortlist Of Gay, Transsexual Abortion Doctors To Replace Scalia

http://www.theonion.com/article/obama-compiles-shortlist-gay-transsexual-abortion--52361

[overpowered]

The tin foil hats are in full swing on Scalia's death because you know, it's completely unexpected for an obese 79 year old to die of a heart attack.