Democratic Election Thread

[TGHusker]

So what?!

 

Even if Bernie got into the White House and wasn't able to live out his promises, so what? I

I expect our president to bring a solid political agenda. When you consider Obama, for example, landmark healthcare reform was a major priority for him. It had been a "want to" movement for a long time, but the time was ripe to do it - and it was extremely tumultuous. His administration went to work on gay rights and achieved a lot there, starting with a concrete and overdue step in repealing don't ask/don't tell. Energy policy, immigration reform, they've worked hard at these things over the course of 8 years, but the future will depend on the priorities of the next guy. Normalizing Iran relations only began towards the end of his 2nd term, while Guantanamo probably won't be closed at all -- as simple a priority as that seemed.

 

I've seen Bernie rail on and on (and on, and on...) about wealth distribution and money in campaigns, both of which I agree are problems. I've seen him promise political revolution, but that is not an agenda so much as a desire. And absolutely I can both like what he says and feel he simply doesn't have a productive approach to the office which he seeks. The U.S. Presidency isn't a chair reserved for the guy I agree with most, or the one who speaks to my heart on the state of politics today.

 

Actually, I'm kind of surprised that Martin O'Malley is not a (much) more legitimate candidate with his platform. A sign of the times, I suppose.

 

Bernie support almost seems like a political reaction to Trump. Trump stands for something awful and people still endorse him; Bernie markets himself as the guy who stands most resolutely against that crap and always has. It's been effective and I'm positive his heart is in the right place. I'm less than impressed with his focus on a national $15 minimum wage and his 2nd healthcare revolution that might need to be inch-perfect, if it's not resoundingly optimistic in its promises already. And as much as I disdain what Trump, Cruz, and the Tea Party have to offer, I don't see a Dem primary ballot as a productive way of expressing a negative reaction.

 

We're not electing a supreme ruler here whose edicts all become law. We're electing someone that will have to work within the system to build on and solidify the tracks Obama laid. So, yes, I'd be extremely concerned with a candidate whose focuses were so singularly shake-things-up that he might be far from the best one to accomplish the nontrivial task in front of him. I strongly, fundamentally disagree with the notion that "nothing has changed" absent a complete shakeup of the order.

 

I hope that one day there are a hundred more of Bernie Sanders in Congress. But there's not, and putting one anti-Wall Street firebrand into office won't change that.

 

 

I would want someone to come in and make waves - have a solid agenda. Shoot for the stars and get the moon by trying. At this point I don't trust the Trump waves but I think Bernie would have good motives.

The problem with Trump is that for all of the hand ringing conservatives have had wt Obama executive actions (who E.As were less in # than others before him), I fear Trump will make Obama look like a beginner at it. Trump would want his crown and I think shred the constitution worse than what we (I am one - but not far right - getting more moderate as time goes by it appears) conservatives claim Obama has. This may be contradictory, but I would prefer an open honest progressive to a closet one who talks conservative talk to win a repub primary. At least I know what I'm getting. I think Trump, who was a progressive in many of his attitudes even in the past few years cannot be trusted. Yes, Ronal Reagan, the Icon of modern conservatism was once a Democrat. But he evolved after many years of seeing the Dem party slide left and Reagan had many years of proving he was a conservative. He'd be considered a moderate in today's political world. Trump hasn't proven his conservative credentials. He is talking as a 'nationalist' (anti Muslim, anti immigrant, anti free trade, etc ) and making it sound that 'nationalism' is the same as 'conservatism' and it is not. He is sucking in too many non-thinking conservatives as a result.

Bernie reminds me of some of my old favorite Dems growing up in SD - George McGovern (Senator from SD) and HHH (Senator from Min an VP - I did my last very lengthy final history report on him as a history major) - to the left of me - yes but honest and real and wanting the best for the country and the ordinary citizen. HHH would have been president if not for the LBJ war link. He'd been better off not being the vp under LBJ.

[HuskerNation1]

As a lifelong conservative (no longer Republican).....If it came down to Trump or Sanders.....I would have to strongly consider voting for Sanders.

 

 

Now....that's about the only scenario. But....it's possible.

 

Umm...you and I are both Conservatives and also not Trump's biggest supporters, but if you are willing to vote for a self-proclaimed socialists that wants to raise taxes up to 90% to pay for a bunch of free government programs, then you are not even close to a Conservative. If you feel that negatively about both guys, I would suggest writing in someone's name before voting for the further candidate from Conservatism ever to run for office.

[Danny Bateman]

 

 

Lol. I literally had a thought earlier after watching the SNL vid on the first page...

What if everyone just said screw it and wound up writing in Jim Webb.

Anywho, that's why Hillary will probably get my vote. I feel like she's got a better chance of getting stuff done working with Congress. And I don't find her as untrustworthy as a lot of other folks.

It's a legitimate beef that no one may want to play ball with Bernie. The Supreme Court is 5-4 Repubs as well.

It's a shame too, because he makes some really good points. Healthcare here is so ridiculous. Tax Wall Street. The stats about CEO salary increases far outstripping the American worker always sicken me.

 

 

 

Even if Bernie got into the White House and wasn't able to live out his promises, so what? It's not like white middle class people have it bad in our country, at all, especially in the midwest. I'd rather keep the status quo with a .01% chance of fixing the system or at least making progress to check the greed of wall street than i would keep the status quo knowing that nothing is ever gonna change over the next 4/8 years.

I just disagree with the premise that "nothing is gonna change" if a candidate besides Bernie winds up in the White House. I think that HRC is a very viable candidate and can affect very positive change if she winds up winning.

 

I found what she did in the last debate to be very telling. Clinging tightly to Obama's legacy worked for people who agree that the last 7 years haven't been a waste, and I do.

 

I could see why someone who was discontent with the current state of things could yearn for change. I'm assessing potential downside, as well.

 

I guess it boils down to opinion on outcomes. I'm OK with incremental change because I think we're making real improvements. I wouldn't be OK with nothing.

[HuskerNation1]

 

Lol. I literally had a thought earlier after watching the SNL vid on the first page...

 

What if everyone just said screw it and wound up writing in Jim Webb.

 

Anywho, that's why Hillary will probably get my vote. I feel like she's got a better chance of getting stuff done working with Congress. And I don't find her as untrustworthy as a lot of other folks.

 

It's a legitimate beef that no one may want to play ball with Bernie. The Supreme Court is 5-4 Repubs as well.

 

It's a shame too, because he makes some really good points. Healthcare here is so ridiculous. Tax Wall Street. The stats about CEO salary increases far outstripping the American worker always sicken me.

I'd love to see some courageous people step forward - one repub and one dem and form a coalition ticket and run as independent - Rand Paul/ Liz Warren for example. This would have been the ideal climate for something like that - but it is wishful thoughts of fantasy. The fear that most of us have is that if we vote for that independent ticket, we might cause our worse nightmare to be elected from 'that other party'.

For it to work, a coalition ticket would have to start early and build support from the general population. They won't get support from the party machines or the big political action committees or the donor class.

 

 

As you suggested Webb earlier, I would be good with a Rubio/Webb ticket. Warren is very extreme like Sanders, and given only 27% feel this country is on the right track, pursuing policies that are even further left will make the right track/wrong track numbers even worse.

[Landlord]

All I know of Webb is how much of an idiot ass he made of himself in the first democratic election, but it was hilarious to watch.

 

 

From what I know of Rand Paul I really like him. He seems like what I would consider a "true" Conservative that's tired of all the fearmongering and partisanship. Trevor Noah of The Daily Show seems to really like him as well. I wouldn't have any problem voting for a guy like that.

[zoogs]

Rand Paul definitely has a certain appeal to me, although I'm fairly skeptical of him as well. I can't accept at all a candidate who intends to roll back women's health issues such as abortion.

 

I started out liking Rubio but I'm growing increasingly skeptical.

 

The Republican Party kinda needs to sort itself out. It seems you can't make it in that party without being a whole lot of Tea Party right now. But they're only attempting to pander to their voter base.

[Danny Bateman]

Hmmm... So Rubio basicallly tries to lie about his intentions while still planning to roll out Republican policies? Color me not surprised at all-- though he had fooled me, as he seemed like one of the reasonable ones.

 

Plus, I mean.......... The boots.

 

I guess there's not a truly good one in the bunch. Rand seemed good too, but I didn't know he'd be so gung-ho about attacking women's rights. I guess this is just an exercise in polishing turds.

[BigRedBuster]

One of the best looks of the campaign.

 

 

Hilary must have farted.

[TGHusker]

 

 

Lol. I literally had a thought earlier after watching the SNL vid on the first page...

 

What if everyone just said screw it and wound up writing in Jim Webb.

 

Anywho, that's why Hillary will probably get my vote. I feel like she's got a better chance of getting stuff done working with Congress. And I don't find her as untrustworthy as a lot of other folks.

 

It's a legitimate beef that no one may want to play ball with Bernie. The Supreme Court is 5-4 Repubs as well.

 

It's a shame too, because he makes some really good points. Healthcare here is so ridiculous. Tax Wall Street. The stats about CEO salary increases far outstripping the American worker always sicken me.

I'd love to see some courageous people step forward - one repub and one dem and form a coalition ticket and run as independent - Rand Paul/ Liz Warren for example. This would have been the ideal climate for something like that - but it is wishful thoughts of fantasy. The fear that most of us have is that if we vote for that independent ticket, we might cause our worse nightmare to be elected from 'that other party'.

For it to work, a coalition ticket would have to start early and build support from the general population. They won't get support from the party machines or the big political action committees or the donor class.

 

 

As you suggested Webb earlier, I would be good with a Rubio/Webb ticket. Warren is very extreme like Sanders, and given only 27% feel this country is on the right track, pursuing policies that are even further left will make the right track/wrong track numbers even worse.

 

Yes, Warren is too liberal for me also - only mentioned her as an example. The thing I like about Rand Paul is that many of his same issue are important to those on the center left as well. Military spending, liberty issues, big corporations/wall street. Sincere people on both sides have a desire to address those issue - just different methods. It would be nice to see them say first "We agree this is an issue (name the issue) that needs to be fixed now - let's work together to find the best path forward" Yes - too idealistic in our partisan political world.

Rubio/Webb would be great too - probably a bit closer in ideology. Webb seems to be a throw back to what Dems uses to be - strong on national D and not wild eye left leaning fanatics (as some in the repub race are wild eye right leaning fanatics).

 

As I think back to the last 3 election cycles - it seems that the repubs have been pushing candidates who are more and more far right. Romney was considered the conservative candidate against McCain. He was considered a moderate when he won the nomination, and this time around - almost a leftist if you listen to some far right groups. It is saddening. If both parties keep pushing to the extremes we'll won't have functional govt in DC for some time. Yes, one party if it holds the Congress and the White House may get some thing done, but then the next go around, the other party will come in and try to reverse it all (like the repubs want to do now).

[TGHusker]

One of the best looks of the campaign.

 

 

Hilary must have farted.

Priceless - he must have either heard one of Hillary's laughs or another tall story.

[Danny Bateman]

Hillary finally altered her tactics today. She stopped trying to disparage Bernie, which was clearly blowing up in her face and benefiting him, and opted to simply point out that a lot of what he is saying we can do has very little chance of actually coming to fruition. He just doesn't seem to have a plan for much of anything right now, so much as grand ideas.

 

That seems like common sense to me, though a lot of people don't seem to care.

 

This is how she should've been campaigning all along. Not attacking and trying to overtly poke holes in Bernie's campaign, just pointing out the ones that are already there. For someone as smart as she is, she can sure be terrible at campaigning.

[TGHusker]

Consider the source but wouldn't this shake things up:

 

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/tom-delay-hillary-clinton-indict-fbi/2016/01/25/id/710813/

 

The FBI is ready to indict Hillary Clinton and if its recommendation isn't followed by the U.S. attorney general, the agency's investigators plan to blow the whistle and go public with their findings, former U.S. House Majority leader Tom DeLay tells Newsmax TV.

"I have friends that are in the FBI and they tell me they're ready to indict," DeLay said Monday on "The Steve Malzberg Show."

 

 

 

(Maybe Hillary's coughing spells will become a secret illness that will allow her to drop out graciously before the law clamps down on her - or do avoid the clamps. - Ya, wild, baseless speculation on my part. But with the Clinton's one is always wondering what is going on. Most likely if she is indicted she will have a Bill like statement - Never had sex wt that women - dig her heals in and blame it all on a right wing and/or in Sander's case - a left wing conspiracy coming together to derail her coronation. )

 

[BigRedBuster]

That would definitely make things interesting.

 

Foxnews will show outrage that such a criminal is within our government and close to being President.

 

MSNBC will show outrage that conservatives would even think about ruining the impeccable image of such a wonderful woman and American.

 

She would just claim it's a right wing conspiracy and 40% Americans would defend her.

[Moiraine]

I wish Bernie was younger and more attractive. I like him and I don't like Hillary but I'm concerned about his ability to win the election.

[Landlord]

I wish Bernie was younger and more attractive. I like him and I don't like Hillary but I'm concerned about his ability to win the election.

 

 

I hear this a lot, mostly from the Clinton camp, but I don't understand how the argument actually works. He polls better against the Republican candidates than Hilary does. If he went up against Trump, he'd completely decimate the guy.