American Politics the 2016 edition

A Person wrote: Norbert wrote: As a non-American absolute outsider I ask: are these two the best candidates that both parties can offer? H. Clinton and Trump, dumb and dumber, if you ask my opinion. They are definitely not the best we have to offer, but they are what the political parties that are in power have given us. We don't really get to choose anything else or we would.

Well said.

The T wrote: All of the usual platitudes of geniuses who really know what's going on unlike the uneducated rest of the non-prog world who don't realize that such discoveries as "all politicians are dirty" or "politics suck" are the uncontested truths of serious intellect. Yet when local state legislature elections and in general the elections that truly affect people take place, all the geniuses and the Bernie college kids stay home philosophizing and only the religious nuts and the conservatives go out and actually vote. And then states are slowly turned into red experiments of bigotry and backwardness like North Carolina. But hey, it's OK, at least they all spoke their minds about politics on the Internet.

The T wrote: All of the usual platitudes of geniuses who really know what's going on unlike the uneducated rest of the non-prog world who don't realize that such discoveries as "all politicians are dirty" or "politics suck" are the uncontested truths of serious intellect. Yet when local state legislature elections and in general the elections that truly affect people take place, all the geniuses and the Bernie college kids stay home philosophizing and only the religious nuts and the conservatives go out and actually vote. And then states are slowly turned into red experiments of bigotry and backwardness like North Carolina. But hey, it's OK, at least they all spoke their minds about politics on the Internet.

you sir... just won the thread with that.

WELL said...

seriously...  good luck people waiting on your perfect candidate.  This isn't a beauty contest, they all are flawed selfsih petty individuals. Even Bernie as he has shown to anyone with their eyes upon. His ego-centric campaign threatens to bring into power someone completely opposed to anything he stands for. Only because.. what.. Hillary has ties to Wall Street. Get a f**king LIFE!!! Better yet.. grow up and live one first

They are all flawed.  Much as every single damn one of us is.  You vote on ISSUES.. not candidates.  Trustworthy? Who is stupid enough to trust ANY politician. Chasing money? Hey.. we all Americans!!! It is in our collective DNA's to f**k over anyone and everyone to get an extra buck. 

It should be about issues. Voting for issues you care about. Be it directly for.. or against someone that will tear down any chance of getting progress on those things you do care about. Somewhere along the way.. many lost that.. but... the right sure didn't. They'll line up behind him though they dispise him as much as we do.  I'll give those f**kers credit for one thing.. and being smarter than many on the left.  There are degrees of winning. There is getting what you what.. and there is denying those fundamentally opposed to what you would like to have.

They will vote... and even though outnumbered in general.. if the majority doesn't vote. They don't win... more than that. If you don't win, you lose.

Catcher10 wrote: I have always found politics so entertaining..... I'm a Republican, not sure who I am voting for.....all I know is November is going to be fun and entertaining, as is each convention......Popcorn, dip/chips, soda and my sofa

Nobody told you to join PA, the bastion of straight white men.^

emigre80 wrote: I've been staying away from posting on this thread - and this will be my last post on it - because of this kind of nonsense.  Trump has posted a list of potential Supreme Court nominees - of course to calm the fears of those holdouts like Ryan that want him to demonstrate that he will do what he can to destroy the rights of women, minorities, the LBGTQ community, and whatever religious denominations Republicans decide to demonize. The list includes a fine set of Neanderthals who want to curtail reproductive rights, gender equality, gay rights and gun control. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-court-list-idUSKCN0YA2XV   I have a 24 year old daughter whose civil and reproductive rights will be trashed by a President Trump who sees women as trophies rather than people. She is among those who will be harmed by his agenda.  I can see you don't care about her. I wonder how you will justify your cavalier attitude towards this election to any women that you do happen to care about.

As someone who is a part of one of the minorities you mentioned, I understand your concern, but my view is different. I look at the history of minority rights in the US and see that they are won by people, not politicians. Slavery and segregation did not end with the passing of a law, the women's suffrage movement was not preceded by being given a right to vote, LGBT acceptance was not won before Stonewall. Not even the New Deal was possible without pressure from a more militant working class movement. To really secure the rights of women and other minorities and marginalized people, it has to be from the bottom up. It is definitely helpful if there is some acceptance on top, and I think people in swing states will have to think hard about their vote, but that to me is only the result, and not the cause.

I hate all politicians and would happily vote for a third party or do a write in protest vote if I didn't think it would just enable Trump & the Repukes. Much as I hate it I have to vote for Hellary.

timothy leary wrote: Because all college kids have their Daddies paying for everything. Stereotype much?

if the shoe fits...

idealism is great... pragmatism is born out of living a life. Growing up. Getting out of college out of mommy and daddies house.  Seeing that life is not black and white... but many shades of grey... and a very long road.

The US is like the old Victorian you were born it, back it the day it was the pride of the neighborhood. You love and want to much to love. Unfortunately you can't love it becauses through neglect it has now become the laughingstock of the neighborhood.  The shutters have fallen off, the paint is chipping off, the wiring is rodent eaten... the plumbing leaks and a bunch of racist ignorant yokkels are squating in it. Burning crosses in the yard and firing their guns at passing cars...

So what do you do with it. Sign over the papers to the squatters? Of course not.. you run them out of town.

Then you can get to the real job at hand. Making the place respectable. You don't make progress by burning the thing down.. you make it by renovating a room at a time.  Baby steps man. 

micky wrote:  Baby steps man.

micky wrote: Then you can get to the real job at hand. Making the place respectable. You don't make progress by burning the thing down.. you make it by renovating a room at a time.  Baby steps man.