American Politics

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

In a way, I almost agree with Mike Malloy that Republicans should be allowed to take control of everything.  Let them have the Presidency, let them control Congress.  Hell, let them appoint a judge or two.  It won't take very long for the people to realize their mistake when there is no middle class, a weakened educational system, a xenophobic attitude, and a bankrupt government, and a new oligo-corporatocracy.  But, no matter how quickly they realize it, it will already be too late.quote>

There is an inconsistency here in the definition of "Republicans". Those accusations seem to be aimed at traditional Republicans, but the trend at the moment is towards Tea Partiers. Despite operating under the same brand, the two groups are not the same and aren't even necessarily all that fond of each other. Much in the same way that Progressives and Blue Dogs are not the same and not that fond of each other.

As for there being buyer's remorse after putting the Tea Party in power... yes, it is inevitable, simply because the Tea Partiers suffer from the same key flaw that the Progressives do: they stick to their own ideology even when it blatantly defies reality. Progressives will want to support all their pet social programs and will expand the budget in places they shouldn't; Tea Partiers will want to cut taxes and spending purely for the sake of cutting taxes and spending and will cut the budget in places they shouldn't. Progressives will want their big government and will sometimes regulate things they shouldn't; Tea Partiers will want their small government and will sometimes not regulate things they should. Neither group will ever singlehandedly be able to solve our nation's problems because neither is capable of putting aside their emotional desires and being rational.

...the problem is, being emotional is an inevitable human condition. People feel more than they think. They act based on what they want to believe is true, not on what actually is true, and the two will never jive. The end result is that, in politics as in many things, the American people will continue endlessly chasing whatever the fad of the moment happens to be, and endlessly wondering why nothing they try ever works.

(and you wonder why I have so little faith in humanity)

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: blade2k5

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

C'mon you guys.  You know you can vote for the party of sweetness and light or the party of light and sweetness.  In spite of the donkey's socialist leanings and the GOP's right-wing posture, both of these are pretty much centrist.  Your whole setup leans this way with all those checks and balances, advise and consent, etc. etc.

By the time Obama leaves office in six years I will be surprised if he has done much of anything.

quote>

What makes you think Obama is going to get a second term?  His chances of getting re-elected are about as good as a doorknob gaining intelligenge.

quote>

they thought the same thing about W Bush.

And if i recall clinton was not as popular his 2nd time around.

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

In a way, I almost agree with Mike Malloy that Republicans should be allowed to take control of everything.  Let them have the Presidency, let them control Congress.  Hell, let them appoint a judge or two.  It won't take very long for the people to realize their mistake when there is no middle class, a weakened educational system, a xenophobic attitude, and a bankrupt government, and a new oligo-corporatocracy.  But, no matter how quickly they realize it, it will already be too late.quote>

That's as asinine as suggesting the Democrats be allowed to control everything.  When one party controls two branches of government, it has more power than it knows how to use responsibly.  It wasn't Republicans who put party goals above democratic ideals and shoved an unwanted health care reform bill down the collective throat of the American people and then dared to call those same people idiots for suggesting that Congress had overstepped its authority.

The problem with principled ideology is that it often accompanies an absolute refusal to actually look at a situation objectively, and if you won't do that, you're living in a fantasy land regardless of which end of the political spectrum to which you ascribe.

[Larks2242 251]

Originally posted by: blade2k5

What makes you think Obama is going to get a second term?  His chances of getting re-elected are about as good as a doorknob gaining intelligenge.

quote>

Hey it worked for John Conyers

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Originally posted by: blade2k5

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

C'mon you guys.  You know you can vote for the party of sweetness and light or the party of light and sweetness.  In spite of the donkey's socialist leanings and the GOP's right-wing posture, both of these are pretty much centrist.  Your whole setup leans this way with all those checks and balances, advise and consent, etc. etc.

By the time Obama leaves office in six years I will be surprised if he has done much of anything.

quote>

What makes you think Obama is going to get a second term?  His chances of getting re-elected are about as good as a doorknob gaining intelligenge.

quote>

Electoral inertia.  The Dems will nominate an incumbent president unless he really screws up, and who have the GOP got who can beat an incumbent?

Post Hoc:  Just how many one-term presidents have there been in the last century, not counting the ones that died in office?

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

Post Hoc:  Just how many one-term presidents have there been in the last century, not counting the ones that died in office?

quote>

Starting at the beginning of the 20th century:  Taft, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Bush 41.

[blade2k5 1,523]

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

Electoral inertia.  The Dems will nominate an incumbent president unless he really screws up, and who have the GOP got who can beat an incumbent?quote>

Way to state the obvious.  Of course the Dems are going to nominate the incumbant Dem President, anyone with a brain between their ears knows that.  Doesn't mean he's going to win, not with his popularity dropping faster than you can flush a toilet.  As far as a Rep opponent, who knows yet, no-one has announced their intentions yet, but I can tell you that Palin will not run.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: blade2k5

As far as a Rep opponent, who knows yet, no-one has announced their intentions yet, but I can tell you that Palin will not run.

quote>

If she does, that would be a sure-fire way to re-elect Obama.

[blade2k5 1,523]

Originally posted by: Meg

Originally posted by: blade2k5

As far as a Rep opponent, who knows yet, no-one has announced their intentions yet, but I can tell you that Palin will not run.

quote>

If she does, that would be a sure-fire way to re-elect Obama.quote>

Trust me, she's not going to run.  She can't win and she knows it.

[morriswalters 16]

Extending the tax cuts will be the opening salvo.  If the Dems stand pat on no tax cuts for the rich and the Republicans do them the favor of not compromising it could be an interesting season.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: blade2k5

Trust me, she's not going to run.  She can't win and she knows it.quote>

Have they figured out that, by picking her to "energize" the right, they sent the moderates screaming in the other direction?

[Larks2242 251]

Originally posted by: blade2k5

Trust me, she's not going to run.  She can't win and she knows it.

quote>

She can run, but it ends at the primary.

[blade2k5 1,523]

Originally posted by: Meg

Originally posted by: blade2k5

Trust me, she's not going to run.  She can't win and she knows it.quote>

Have they figured out that, by picking her to "energize" the right, they sent the moderates screaming in the other direction?

quote>

Just because 'they' pick her to energize the right doesn't mean she's going to make a bid for the presidency.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Meg

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

Post Hoc:  Just how many one-term presidents have there been in the last century, not counting the ones that died in office?

quote>

Starting at the beginning of the 20th century:  Taft, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Bush 41.

quote>

Nixon was elected to a 2nd term. he just never finished it.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

Originally posted by: Meg

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

Post Hoc:  Just how many one-term presidents have there been in the last century, not counting the ones that died in office?

quote>

Starting at the beginning of the 20th century:  Taft, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Bush 41.

quote>

Nixon was elected to a 2nd term. he just never finished it.

quote>

Yeah, I was just counting the ones who had been re-elected President.   Which means that Johnson should be added to that list.  He wasn't elected when he became President but he was re-elected.

and, of course, Ford never ran for national office at all.   The only President to get there without being on a national ballot.

[Duke87 1,070]

One thing that must be kept in mind is that a large factor to Obama winning in 2008 was the "Obama Fever" - a lot of people voted for him because they were salivating at the thought of having our first black president, and at the thought that he was the answer to all our prayers, including a not insignificant number of people who normally do not bother to vote.

Well, re-electing the first black president doesn't have the same romantic ring to it, and now people have had a good chance to see that he not only isn't capable of walking on water but is a rather poor swimmer to boot. So, this major factor will not be in play the second time around.

I wouldn't be so convinced that Sarah Palin would have no chance of beating him... but she has firmly stated she has no intention of running for president and there's really little reason to believe she'll be changing her mind. The Republican candidate in 2012 will probably, like last time, be someone who we aren't hearing much about right now and aren't thinking of.

On the Bush tax cuts issue... I am getting annoyed at how everyone keeps calling the idea of extending them a "tax cut" when all it really is is a preservation of the status quo. If nothing is done, everyone's tax rates will go up. The GOP's plan is simply to prevent that from happening. The Dem's plan of extending only the lower brackets is not a tax cut for the middle class as they are billing it, it is a tax hike for the wealthy. Seriously guys, cut the bullcrap about "No tax cuts for the rich!". Nobody is proposing any.

[morriswalters 16]

It is what it is, an extension of the Bush tax cuts.  Call it what you will.  It was a temporary tax cut or else they wouldn't have to pass it again.  In terms of tax cuts on the rich, when was American politics about reality?  This will be a power play, which if it is handled correctly by either party could make or break either.  I think you can guess who I favor.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Duke87

I wouldn't be so convinced that Sarah Palin would have no chance of beating him... but she has firmly stated she has no intention of running for president and there's really little reason to believe she'll be changing her mind. The Republican candidate in 2012 will probably, like last time, be someone who we aren't hearing much about right now and aren't thinking of.quote>

Hillary Clinton said she wasnt going to run either around 2006. Yet she did. I would never belive any politician who said thier  not interested in  running for office.The party will decide and see if they can spin the public image of Palin.

but its easy enough to just wait and see next year to see who is and who is not running.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

I would certainly vote for Hannity if he ran. McCain is a moderate so him also. Mit Romney is a maybe (depends on who he runs against and who will be his vice president). I will never vote for Giuliani, despite the hotness of Giuliani Girl. I would rather vote for a libertarian or independent than a republican, though

[Easy Bakes 253]

Besides You think the GOP is goign to run out there someone who has a "Reality" show?

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/sarah-palin-alaska/

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Politics notwithstanding, today is Veteran's Day and it is a time for a pause.  Remember the politicians who having caused the mess, now sit comfortably at home while the boots on the ground get knocked over.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Im voteing for Page flip bug

[Larks2242 251]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

Im voteing for Page flip bug

quote>

Well that would have to be a write in

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I don't know which post this is on this page, but I got the previous one when I asked for the last post.  Maybe some one should learn to play it to ensure we get here.

Someone should learn to push the spell check button on even the most trivial smart remark.

Meanwhile, I have been busy getting SC4 working again (it is, now), so I haven't been paying much attention to the excitement in the U.S. since the election.  Obama seems to be making the same vapid noises as before so I assume he is still either asleep or being mushroom managed.

[morriswalters 16]

Mushroom managed????

[Larks2242 251]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Originally posted by: Larks2242

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

Im voteing for Page flip bug

quote>

Well that would have to be a write in quote>

And you better spell it right, or some twit will sue.

Barbarosa

quote>

What?

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

 so I assume he is still either asleep or being mushroom managed.

quote>

Huh????

[sneakeypete 16]

Actually he's in japan, Not because of china, and he's also not trying to be friendly with countries around it to not put pressure on them economically.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Originally posted by: morriswalters

Mushroom managed????

quote>

Kept in the dark and fed lots of horse manoevers.

[Larks2242 251]

But you can't keep the president in the dark he is the PRESIDENT