US Politics - From barbarism to decadence

[Tormund Ukrainesbane]

The sad thing (for Republicans) is that Palin is probably the only person out there who could garner any kind of support at the base of the party. Mitt Romney couldn't buy the election last time, he won't be able to buy it this time. Gingrich is a toad. Huckabee is bumpkin. They have no one. Ron Paul could probably get decent numbers if the actual party would support him (which they won't), but he's older than dirt.

[alguien]

The sad thing (for Republicans) is that Palin is probably the only person out there who could garner any kind of support at the base of the party. Mitt Romney couldn't buy the election last time, he won't be able to buy it this time. Gingrich is a toad. Huckabee is bumpkin. They have no one. Ron Paul could probably get decent numbers if the actual party would support him (which they won't), but he's older than dirt.

My guess is that it will be Thune, Daniels, or Pawlenty, or some combination thereof.

[Former Lord of Winterfell]

The sad thing (for Republicans) is that Palin is probably the only person out there who could garner any kind of support at the base of the party. Mitt Romney couldn't buy the election last time, he won't be able to buy it this time. Gingrich is a toad. Huckabee is bumpkin. They have no one. Ron Paul could probably get decent numbers if the actual party would support him (which they won't), but he's older than dirt.

I agree - the field is thin right now, but it's not too late yet for someone to step up. I've been hoping for Mitch Daniels, who's got a pretty solid rep in terms of controlling spending. Tim Pawlenty comes across as just too wimpy. Some of the other folks out there just need more experience. I rather like Chris Christie, but I'm not sure the country would elect a guy that heavy, sad to say.

[Shryke]

I remember reading something about how alot of the GOPs up and coming stars got decimated by various scandals back during Bush's reign.

Though the field, frankly, doesn't look much better on the Democrats side anymore either.

[awesome possum]

I've been hoping for Mitch Daniels, who's got a pretty solid rep in terms of controlling spending.

For some Republicans, maybe. His dealing with the Indiana toll roads shows that he's sort of clueless otherwise. In 2006 he strong-armed permission to sell the Indiana Toll Road through the Legislature. While the $3.6 billion dollars (one third of the normal 10 year highway spending budget) will be spent within 10 years, the lease will run for 75 years. That's not good business.

He also forced the building of a new interstate highway, I-69, with the idea of making it a toll road. Then studies came out that the road will be so lightly used (because there are already perfectly good roads that get people from point A to point B,) that he instead started pushing to build a toll road that allows drivers to bypass Indianapolis.... which isn't that large of a city and already has a decent road that allows one to bypass downtown.

He's said he's open to the idea of a value-added tax, which have been common ... in stagnated European economies.

Then there's the fact that as many as 40 percent of the alleged jobs "created" via Indiana taxpayer dollars and constantly touted by the Daniels administration never materialized, all while refusing to release any concrete evidence

Then there's his failed attempt to privatize the state's welfare system, which only ended up costing taxpayers money in the end... but helped make a few people wealthier.

That's not even mentioning his role as Budget Director for the Bush administration.

Then again, let him run on that record.

[Crazydog7]

Tomorrow if I can make it to the polls I'm voting Green because it doesn't matter worth a damn in South Carolina anyway.

[Guest Raidne]

Oh yeah? Try to get excited on voting for any of these positions:

Delegate to the United States House of Representatives

Mayor of the District of Columbia

Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia

At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia (two to be elected)

Ward 1 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia

Ward 3 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia

Ward 5 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia

Ward 6 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia

Ward Member of the State Board of Education (Wards 1,3,5 & 6)

United States Representative

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (286 Commissioners)

Hey, so, for the my non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives, I have the option of electing a conservative, the current liberal delegate, or this woman:

I am here for my babies kidnapped by kat sabilous

department of social services and the department of children

and family services in Hollywood, ca. I am Queen GIVE ME

BACK MY KIDS Noble, I have 994 trillion law suit active in the

us supreme here in dc against this government currently

aiding and abetting smith’s kidnapping of my kids in this

stolen country. Prima Facie discovery Evidence is proof of

target victimization for life and robbed of my family.

Hmmm....I am equally excited about electing my shadow Representative, who is not recognized by the U.S. House as an actual member.

[Tormund Ukrainesbane]

I remember reading something about how alot of the GOPs up and coming stars got decimated by various scandals back during Bush's reign.

Though the field, frankly, doesn't look much better on the Democrats side anymore either.

Obama gets 40% of the vote standard just for being a sitting president. All he has to do is not completely fuck up in the next 2 years and he's golden

[Arthmail]

American politics is such a swamp, i can't even build up the interest to pretend to get angry anymore.

[Shryke]

Hey, guess what? Turns out Kennedy and the rest of the chucklefucks that were pro-Citizens United were wrong:

"With the advent of the Internet, prompt disclosure of expenditures can provide shareholders and citizens with the information needed to hold corporations and elected officials accountable for their positions," Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote in January. "This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages."

But Kennedy and the high court majority were wrong. Because of loopholes in tax laws and a weak enforcement policy at the Federal Election Commission, corporations and wealthy donors have been able to spend huge sums on campaign ads, confident the public will not know who they are, election law experts say.

Corporate donors have been able to hide their contributions despite the opposition of shareholders and customers — the very groups cited by Kennedy.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-court-campaign-money-20101027,0,341608.story

I am shocked. Shocked I tell you!

[TerraPrime]

I rather like Chris Christie, but I'm not sure the country would elect a guy that heavy, sad to say.

So.... you find it objectionable to say that many people will not vote for Obama on account of his skin color, but you believe that Christie may suffer for his weight? So, in your analysis, weight-ism is more pernicious and prevalent than racism, in the U.S.? Did I read that right?

[Tormund Ukrainesbane]

So.... you find it objectionable to say that many people will not vote for Obama on account of his skin color, but you believe that Christie may suffer for his weight? So, in your analysis, weight-ism is more pernicious and prevalent than racism, in the U.S.? Did I read that right?

I didn't read where he said it was right. Just that it is. And it is far more socially acceptable to mock and deride fat people in this country than people of another skin color. I don't think that's a controversial issue.

[Former Lord of Winterfell]

So.... you find it objectionable to say that many people will not vote for Obama on account of his skin color, but you believe that Christie may suffer for his weight?

No. I'm sure there are many poeple -- millions, even -- who will not vote for Obama because of the color of his skin. Of course, that number may be balanced or perhaps even outnumbered by those who will vote for him because of the color of his skin. I don't really know how that will play out. And of course, that has little or nothing to do with who gets the GOP nomination.

Do I believe there will be some people who will be less likely to vote for Chris Christie because of his weight? Sure. I think physical attractiveness plays some role in how some people cast their votes. I think there have been studies on that, and I don't think there's anything novel or controversial in that proposition except whatever you chose to manufacture for the purpose of mock outrage. Doesn't make it right. Just a fact.

So, in your analysis, weight-ism is more pernicious and prevalent than racism, in the U.S.? Did I read that right?

No, you didn't. But thanks for playing.

[TerraPrime]

I didn't read where he said it was right. Just that it is. And it is far more socially acceptable to mock and deride fat people in this country than people of another skin color. I don't think that's a controversial issue.

No, I'm not saying that he thinks it's right, either.

I'm just a tad tickled that someone who does not want to believe that racism plays a measurable role in Obama's election will tell us, at the same time, that Christie's weight can make him un-electable. Know what I mean?

[Tormund Ukrainesbane]

I don't think that racism plays a role in Obama's election either. He won by a landslide. I think almost everyone who voted against him because he was black would have voted against him if he was white because he's a democrat socialist fascist marxist hitler.

[MinDonner]

53% is not really a landslide.

[Tormund Ukrainesbane]

It is when it's 8.5 million votes. (Nearly the total combined population of Tennessee and Utah)

[Ken Stone]

I don't think that racism plays a role in Obama's election either. He won by a landslide. I think almost everyone who voted against him because he was black would have voted against him if he was white because he's a democrat socialist fascist marxist hitler.

So basically since Racists all vote Republican anyway, it didn't hurt him that he is black?

[MinDonner]

A small percentage is still a small percentage, regardless of the size of the population.

Or, (topical!) a $10 tip may be great if you only bought one beer, but is scarcely adequate if you were wining and dining 50 people with a 5-course banquet. Raw numbers are pretty meaningless out of context.

[Shryke]

I like this:

Most negative campaign season ever my ass.