2016 US Presidential election thread

[Onkel Neal]

As requested, here's your industrial strength thread to discuss the 2016 Presidential election and candidates.

I'm sure I will remain undediced for at least another 6 months, but one thing I can guarantee, I am not voting for anyone named Bush or Clinton. We need some new blood, or at least someone else.:smug:

As far as a poll, I'm going to suggest we wait until Jan 2016, There are still hundreds of congressmen who have not thrown their hat into the ring yet. And my press agent is on sabbatical until Dec.

[Platapus]

For this election, I just want the ability to vote for a candidate instead of voting against the other candidate. It has been far too long since I have been able to vote for a candidate.

But if they keep offering up nutters, I will have to vote against them.

Wouldn't it be nice for a nice moderate candidate to run.

A boy can dream.

[mapuc]

No President can take USA out if its debt-that for sure.

The question will be: Do America want a President who is more focused on his/her own country- Domestic politics or Do America want a President who is more focused on foreign affairs or a President who are focused on both ?

Markus

[Platapus]

We can fix our financial difficulties. But since it took several generations to get into this hole, it will take several generations to get out of the hole.

There is no quick fix to our problems. What this country needs to do is commit itself to a multi-generation plan of action. But politicians have a hard time looking past the next election. For a Representative, this is about 18 months. Any plan that may garner benefits after a Representative may leave office won't be considered. A representative only want's programs that will help them get re-elected in no more than 18 months.

There are no 18 month programs that can seriously start fixing our problems.

So we could fix our financial problems... but we won't. Instead we will spend our money on short term plans that only serve political goals and not the goal of fixing the country.

Crikey I am all depressed... again.

[Platapus]

No President can take USA out if its debt-that for sure.

The question will be: Do America want a President who is more focused on his/her own country- Domestic politics or Do America want a President who is more focused on foreign affairs or a President who are focused on both ?

Markus

Well considering that the Congress is the body responsible for domestic issues and the Executive branch is the foreign policy body, I want a Congress interested in running the country and an Executive interested in a workable and equitable foreign policy.

The President, as the chief Executive implements the domestic policies approved by the Congress. The President advises and ASKS congress to consider issues pertaining to domestic issues. But the President never tells the Congress.

Even members of Congress that share the same party as the President will shut that down. Congress won't give up their constitutional power to any president regardless of political power.

[AngusJS]

Your candidate is stupid. Mine is awesome. Unless your candidate is my candidate - in which case, ignore the first sentence.

There, I win the thread. :woot:

[HunterICX]

Uh..oh....
http://i.imgur.com/MQnBgIc.jpg

[Wolferz]

As we go through yet another blizzard of buffoonery.:-?

It takes a minimum of ten years to undo any piece of legislation so perhaps we could increase terms to ten years?

I know...
:haha::har::haha::har:

[Betonov]

Go for Musssomeli. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_A._Mussomeli)

He has a certain brutal honesty on himself that he became the most hated ambasador in Slovenia ever and I admire him for it.

[Jimbuna]

I'm expecting a Clinton v Bush election, even at this early stage.

[Bilge_Rat]

http://40.media.tumblr.com/6b9d8d6b901c5f074a936fe1d4163f75/tumblr_inline_npsnk2H5NB1tti4cw_1280.jpg

Bernie, Bernie, Bernie...:ping:

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

Uh..oh....
http://i.imgur.com/MQnBgIc.jpg


Man, that is an awesome signature you have, Hunter. And this picture above's pretty good too.

[Von Tonner]

OMG, there is a circus touring the USA right now who is missing a clown.

"So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd.

[AVGWarhawk]

I'm voting Ben Carson.

https://casescorner.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/bencarson_forpresident-2016_blogbanner.png

[Mr Quatro]

I'm voting Ben Carson.



Nice enough looking guy, clean, articulate, but no black man can win three times in a row :woot:


Todays poll shows Clinton 47% to Bush's 44%
in a Clinton vs Bush

with Hillary losing ground every poll

I urge all rednecks not to let us down

Jeb's the man in November 2016 :yeah:

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Anyone who wants to be President shouldn't be President.

Or at the very least get their head examined.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Go for Musssomeli. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_A._Mussomeli)

He has a certain brutal honesty on himself that he became the most hated ambasador in Slovenia ever and I admire him for it.

From his wiki:

"His hobbies include writing poetry and short plays.[2]"

That screams a word I can't write in these fora.

[Betonov]

That screams a word I can't write in these fora.

Artist ?? :hmmm:

[Betonov]

"So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd.

Good thing his wife already betrayed her nation and declared herself an Austrian.
If that clown wins we will deny she ever existed.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Artist ?? :hmmm:

More like "artist"

[mapuc]

Well considering that the Congress is the body responsible for domestic issues and the Executive branch is the foreign policy body, I want a Congress interested in running the country and an Executive interested in a workable and equitable foreign policy.

The President, as the chief Executive implements the domestic policies approved by the Congress. The President advises and ASKS congress to consider issues pertaining to domestic issues. But the President never tells the Congress.

Even members of Congress that share the same party as the President will shut that down. Congress won't give up their constitutional power to any president regardless of political power.


I know you have a huge knowledge about the laws, how the government a.s.o works in USA. And when I read you answer to my posting I was like-not again.

Reason, most of the things I write I write from memories what I have heard our specialist have said on TV, Radio, or Internet.

When I wrote my post, I had a Danish TV-expert to the USA's government a.s.o in my memories.

Remembering him saying about your President before and under WWII about isolismen
(can't find the exact word for it. There were group who was very strong before WWII and was absolutely not interested in getting USA involved) and your President after WWII.

Sometimes I get the feeling-These expert(Danish, Swedish and German) Seems to know absolutely nothing.

Markus

[Platapus]

Anyone who wants to be President shouldn't be President.

Or at the very least get their head examined.

Anybody who wants the presidency so much that he'll spend two years organizing and campaigning for it is not to be trusted with the office.
David Broder (http://www.famous-quotes.com/author.php?aid=1000)

[Wolferz]

Remembering him saying about your President before and after WWII about isolismen
(can't find the exact word for it. There were group who was very strong before WWII and was absolutely not interested in getting USA involved) and your President after WWII.

Isolationism is the word you seek.:salute:

The members of congress were not keen on getting embroiled in another war back then either.

[mapuc]

Isolationism is the word you seek.:salute:

The members of congress were not keen on getting embroiled in another war back then either.

Thank you :salute:

But what I remember from my history it was not only the Congress, even many of the ordinary American on the street wasn't keen on getting involved.

Back to topic.

Markus

[Platapus]

Isolationism is the word you seek.:salute:

The members of congress were not keen on getting embroiled in another war back then either.

I think we need to stay out of isolationism. :D

[Rockstar]

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/jky242/89349ea384a8a2f1dabff3befa41c606.jpg

You think Im joking?

[Tchocky]

I don't see Bush winning the nomination.

I don't see him winning Iowa or New Hampshire primaries and the wide nature of the GOP field gives great benefit to momentum.

Trump isn't running as a Republican, he's running as a joke. Every word written on him is in excess and a waste of electrons.

[Wolferz]

Trump is just the misdirection element. Like Pat Paulsen was.:-?

[Platapus]

I think some people will think long and hard before voting for a President of the same party as what holds both houses of Congress

House, Senate, and Presidency all held by the same party does not bode well for the country.

[ikalugin]

Your face if Rand Paul wins.

Mine would be:
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/197yg8i8l628egif/ku-xlarge.gif

[Torplexed]

Trump isn't running as a Republican, he's running as a joke. Every word written on him is in excess and a waste of electrons.


I wonder what his campaign slogan will be? We shall overcomb?

http://files.shandymedia.com/images/photos/hollyscoop/p17bdu4vhm13k917frtsh3ek8pa4.jpg

[ikalugin]

Well our domestic clown (Zhirinovsky) not only stayed around for longer than anyone else really (other than the commie party head ofcourse, but who cares about them?) and runs for president every so often.

He even gets some votes.

[Betonov]

Rand Paul won't get near the White house.
His policy is ending the corporate socialism the pupeteers enjoy

[Cybermat47]

I want Jesse Ventura to be President :O:

[Torplexed]

I want Jesse Ventura to be President :O:

Oh yeah. A ex-wrestler full-blown twoofer for president. :88)

Jesse's probable presidential slogan:

"I ain't got no time to think".

[Betonov]

http://content7.flixster.com/question/56/37/17/5637173_std.jpg

I'm here to lead, not to read

[ikalugin]

I heard that GOP candidates are rather Hawkish. Are there any doves in the midst of the presidential candidates?

[Torplexed]

I heard that GOP candidates are rather Hawkish. Are there any doves in the midst of the presidential candidates?

Bernie Sanders is probably the only dove. He has to climb over Mount Hillary to even have a shot.

http://qz.com/422442/what-would-a-president-bernie-sanderss-foreign-policy-look-like/

He's not known for good hair days either.

http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr05/2013/7/18/10/enhanced-buzz-21549-1374157836-4.jpg

[ikalugin]

Nothing on "EVILL RUSSIANS MUST BE STOUPED NAU"? Sounds like a great man.

[AVGWarhawk]

http://content7.flixster.com/question/56/37/17/5637173_std.jpg

I'm here to lead, not to read

Get to the choppa!!!

https://the-two-malcontents.com/wp-content/uploads/marineone_485.jpg

[nikimcbee]

I heard that GOP candidates are rather Hawkish. Are there any doves in the midst of the presidential candidates?

It's political pre-season. Everyone is a hawk at the moment.:doh:

[nikimcbee]

Get to the choppa!!!

https://the-two-malcontents.com/wp-content/uploads/marineone_485.jpg

It's not a toooo-mah!

I'm president of the solarverse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI2SIIxkR8I

[vienna]

I think we need to stay out of isolationism. :D

Someone once said the main problem was apathy, but they couldn't muster any interest in the subject...


Trump isn't running as a Republican, he's running as a joke. Every word written on him is in excess and a waste of electrons.

He doesn't stand a chance of winning at all, but he could be a very big thorn in the GOP far right as far as drawing attention to matters they do not want openly raised during the campaigns. The far right has made a practice of concentrating on nebulous platitudes regarding patriotism, 'family values', idealistic conservative 'moralities', and the like; they really, really don't want to talk specifics such as the economy, fiscal responsibility, and the growing class divide that threatens to upset American society on all levels. If Trump can maintain enough of a momentum to remain in the top ten of GOP candidates and therefore be eligible to participate in the one or two GOP Presidential candidate debates, he could negatively impact the overall GOP strategy in much the same manner Perot torpedoed GHW Bush in 1992 by drawing attention to the shortcomings in GOP economic policies as they regard the larger middle-class electorate. Remember how Perot's persistence over economic issues only served to solidify the whole "It's the economy, stupid" meme and how GHW Bush was unable or unwilling to adequately counter the effect. Perot got about 20% percent of the vote (including mine; I didn't like either GHW Bush or Clinton) and demonstrated there was a significant sentiment for a more direct, open, and focused response to economic issues. This is the essential weakness now facing the GOP. As long as the far right holds sway over the party's decisions and policies and continues to fail to address the issues affecting the larger electorate on specific, everyday concerns rather than flag-waving, drum thumping, sloganeering, a 'wild card' such as Trump and, to a lesser degree Rand Paul, could cast a very harsh light on GOP shortcomings. Remember the last three GOP administrations post-Eisenhower [Nixon/Ford, Reagan/GHW Bush, GW Bush] have resulted in the most severe economic crises and the three most severe recessions since WWII. There are people within the GOP who are highly capable and who have a grasp of what are really basic issues, but they are overshadowed and shouted down by the bellicose far right, who may be better referred to as the 'far wrong'...


<O>

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Well our domestic clown (Zhirinovsky) not only stayed around for longer than anyone else really (other than the commie party head ofcourse, but who cares about them?) and runs for president every so often.

He even gets some votes.

We need a random quote generator for that guy.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

I don't see Bush winning the nomination.

I don't see him winning Iowa or New Hampshire primaries and the wide nature of the GOP field gives great benefit to momentum.

Trump isn't running as a Republican, he's running as a joke. Every word written on him is in excess and a waste of electrons.

I can't see anyone other than Bush getting it. He could win if the GOP can successfully suppress the vote in swing states and/or change those state electoral votes to not winner-take-all than gerrymander those electoral votes like they have w/many Congressional seats.

[Harvs]

I wonder what his campaign slogan will be? We shall overcomb?

http://files.shandymedia.com/images/photos/hollyscoop/p17bdu4vhm13k917frtsh3ek8pa4.jpg

Your fired!!!

[AngusJS]

Trump campaign paid background actors to "show support" at announcement speech:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/donald-trump-campaign-offered-actors-803161

[Bilge_Rat]

not really political, but one more reason why Rand Paul is one of the more interesting politicians:

http://www.newyorker.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rakich-Rand-Paul-at-Bat-690.jpg

http://www.newyorker.com/news/sporting-scene/rand-paul-at-bat

[XabbaRus]

Donald Trump, lordy lordy. He's not to popular up here near Aberdeen. Unless you play golf of course.

[Platapus]

I can't see anyone other than Bush getting it. He could win if the GOP can successfully suppress the vote in swing states and/or change those state electoral votes to not winner-take-all than gerrymander those electoral votes like they have w/many Congressional seats.

Well... no none of these will happen.

1. "GOP can successfully suppress the vote in swing states". That would be really tough to do as there are multiple sides monitoring elections looking out for this. The closest anyone has come in recent years is Florida choosing to purge their registrar records close to the election. Even then, any disenfranchised voter would be able to cast a provisional ballot and their vote would be counted after their registration status was reviewed.

As a result of the Florida incident, many states, including mine, have adopted laws requiring a minimum time between purging and elections.

Suppressing the vote at the polls is a rather hard thing to do because there are people like me there. I am a precinct chief and one of my duties is to make sure that the area around my polling location is free of interference. If I even think there is voter interference at my poll, I have phone numbers to call that will make several piles of crap hit several fans very quickly.

It is one thing for a political group to claim voter suppression, yet another to actually have it in significant numbers to effect an election.

2. "change those state electoral votes to not winner-take-all" First of all, that would have to get past each individual state's legislature. Even if one party controls all the houses, the opposing party will certainly protest and that means the State Supreme Court will get involved and there is no way that could happen before the next election.

Besides, if a party changes the law, it will apply the next election and that might not be in the original party's best interest. Not too many parties will risk that.

3. "gerrymander those electoral votes like they have w/many Congressional seats." Redistricting effects the number of representatives as well as the electors. Redistricting can only be done in response to the Census. This not being a Census year, the only way a state can be redistricted is if a claim can be made that there was a significant change in population and even then it would be a tough sell. Any such request will be challenged by the opposing party and delayed until after the election.

The major political parties are not interested in messing with the Electoral College system. While covered in warts, the Electoral College system is a known system and both major parties have invested a lot of money in the studying and modeling of the Electoral College. And just like redistricting, any changes to the Electoral College will apply in future elections when it may not be advantageous to the party requesting the change.

The major political parties like the Electoral College just the way it is because it favors the present two major party system that we have.

[Tango589]

After reading the bit about Hillary Clinton, I have a question. Has she played the 'my husband was President' card at all?

[Jimbuna]

I'm not so sure that would be in her best interests.

http://i.imgur.com/NKsjT6z.jpg

[Oberon]

I think both of the top presidential candidates are distancing themselves from their presidential predecessors. Which is probably a wise move. :03:

[Oberon]

So 'Isidewith' has updated for 2016:
http://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz (http://www.isidewith.com/elections/2016-presidential/)

Unsurprisingly I got the Bernie Sanders option:

http://i.imgur.com/9hufeSd.jpg

Can't say I disagree with a guy that says:

http://i.imgur.com/cLGnScc.jpg

And

http://i.imgur.com/7FVdu3d.jpg

That being said, I think he needs to firm up his stance on firearms a bit, he's a bit unsure on where he's coming from on that one, however in a way I can understand that since I can see both sides of the Gun Control argument in America, even though I live in a nation with strict control laws.

Still, since old Bernie is standing as an Independent he has as much chance at being President as the Liberal Democrats have of being relevant in UK politics in the next decade. :03:

EDIT: Oh, wait, I see that he's going for the Democratic nomination. Well...that makes sense considering his political leaning but I'd wager that he won't be able to stand up to the financial campaign juggernaut that is the Clinton.

[AVGWarhawk]

After reading the bit about Hillary Clinton, I have a question. Has she played the 'my husband was President' card at all?

Not yet. I'm thinking she will state it is a package deal. Hillary and First Lady Bill.

[Oberon]

To quote an amusing exchange on twitter:

"Welcome to @Twitter, @POTUS! One question: Does that username stay with the office? #askingforafriend"

"Good question, @billclinton. The handle comes with the house. Know anyone interested in @FLOTUS?"

[Armistead]

"We Shall Overcomb" ~ Donald Trump

[Platapus]

"We Shall Overcomb" ~ Donald Trump

Nicely played! :up:

[Torvald Von Mansee]

To quote an amusing exchange on twitter:

Bill would actually be FGOTUS

Doesn't really come off the tongue, though.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

So 'Isidewith' has updated for 2016:
http://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz (http://www.isidewith.com/elections/2016-presidential/)

Unsurprisingly I got the Bernie Sanders option:

http://i.imgur.com/9hufeSd.jpg

Can't say I disagree with a guy that says:

http://i.imgur.com/cLGnScc.jpg

And

http://i.imgur.com/7FVdu3d.jpg

That being said, I think he needs to firm up his stance on firearms a bit, he's a bit unsure on where he's coming from on that one, however in a way I can understand that since I can see both sides of the Gun Control argument in America, even though I live in a nation with strict control laws.

Still, since old Bernie is standing as an Independent he has as much chance at being President as the Liberal Democrats have of being relevant in UK politics in the next decade. :03:

EDIT: Oh, wait, I see that he's going for the Democratic nomination. Well...that makes sense considering his political leaning but I'd wager that he won't be able to stand up to the financial campaign juggernaut that is the Clinton.

Me:

Sanders - 70%
Clinton - 68%
Christie - 53%

etc.

[vienna]

Bill would actually be FGOTUS

Doesn't really come off the tongue, though.


Hmm, might just prompt: "FGOTUS 'bout it!"...


<O>

[Onkel Neal]

LA Gov Bobby Jundal is in the race (http://cbs12.com/news/top-stories/stories/louisiana-gov-bobby-jindal-declares-2016-candidacy-26823.shtml)

It’s time to level with the American people. This President, and his apprentice-in-waiting Hillary Clinton, are leading America down the path to destruction. Economically, culturally, and internationally. But the most devastating thing they have tried to do is redefine the American Dream.

Instead of the dream being to have opportunity and freedom to control your own destiny and make your own way, their dream is for the government to take care of you and make people dependent on the government. We want to guarantee equal opportunity, but they want to guarantee equal outcomes.

[vienna]

Another GOP candidate doomed to fail...

It will, however, be interesting to see, if he can muster enough support to make the debate cut, how he will affect the races of the other candidates should he try to pin them on specifics...


<O>

[Onkel Neal]

NJ governor Chris Christie is in.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/06/30/christie-promises-cringe-worthy-campaign-in-2016-launch.html

Not sure how far he will get, seems like his state is having a lot of problems.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/06/30/its-hard-to-overstate-chris-christies-unpopularity-problem/

Meanwhile, the Donald is riding high in the polls.... :shifty:

[Torplexed]

Apparently, British bookies have Trump near 30/1 for the nomination - down from 66/1 a few weeks ago. I wonder what the wagering is on how long that rat on his head masquerading as hair has been dead.

Even so, Jeb! Bush remains the favorite for the nomination. Hillary Clinton the favorite for the presidency.

Scott Walker hasn't formally announced yet, so he's probably not counted as being in the clown car, even though he's got one foot on the running board.

[vienna]

The GOP clown car:


http://41.media.tumblr.com/bcc3834debb2429ce3e597f769554a74/tumblr_nmyjkv2VD61taq1ako1_1280.jpg


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVLDN7BhGu0/VU3_CxBMXNI/AAAAAAAAmw0/RpRxWhtsf-c/s1600/81991e38ed40a75620d5d3f489c4fda5.jpg



<O>

[Onkel Neal]

I bet Bernie Sanders ends up Obamaing Hillary by the end of the first quarter 2016. Man, I bet she knows it's coming too. :D

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/bernie-sanders-tells-madison-crowd-he-seeks-political-revolution-b99530702z1-311345541.html

http://cdn.thedailybeast.com/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/07/02/ridiculed-senator-fires-back-at-hillary/jcr:content/image.crop.800.500.jpg/1435866636800.cached.jpg

[Wolferz]

Another ignorant son of GHW...
Thinks the cure for the economy is..(drum roll please)............
.................
People need to work longer hours!:haha::har::doh:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/jeb-bush-%e2%80%98people-need-to-work-longer-hours%e2%80%99/ar-AAcJu62?ocid=iehp

What a maroon!

[CaptainHaplo]

Just remember that if you don't like any of the candidates currently running, you do have the opportunity to write in a candidate.

I got 14 votes that I know of last go round and I think I can pull close to 20 this time. So feel free to help me get there.....

Unlike most politicians, I am not one to avoid issues! You may not agree with my stance, but you never have to wonder where I stand. Just ask!

[Frömmler Vogel]

+1 for the hapless ticket. :D

[Wolferz]

+1 for the haplo ticket. :D

*fixed that for you*:03::O::D

[vienna]

Just remember that if you don't like any of the candidates currently running, you do have the opportunity to write in a candidate.

I got 14 votes that I know of last go round and I think I can pull close to 20 this time. So feel free to help me get there.....

Unlike most politicians, I am not one to avoid issues! You may not agree with my stance, but you never have to wonder where I stand. Just ask!

I'm not sure about your candidacy; who's your running mate, because, I swear, if you pick Plain, I'm agonna run a'g'in' ya...


<O>

[Betonov]

I'm voting for McBee and Torplexed team.

[Torplexed]

I'm voting for McBee and Torplexed team.

Oh yeah. That'll cure what ails America. :O:

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Bacon-Nation.gif

[darius359au]

Oh yeah. That'll cure what ails America. :O:

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Bacon-Nation.gif

Now that's a party to vote for Bacon for all!:up::har::har:

[Sailor Steve]

"As soon as the masses find out they can vote themselves more bacon, the end of civilization as we know it is only a bite away."

Tard the grumpycat

[nikimcbee]

I'm voting for McBee and Torplexed team.

If elected, Betonov, We'll appoint you to Minister of Navy and Minister of Lunches.
Oh yeah. That'll cure what ails America. :O:

http://pyxis.homestead.com/Bacon-Nation.gif

OMFG!:har::har::har:
I spend the day in Everett (WA) and this is what I come home to!:haha::haha::har::salute::up:
A month ago, I adopted a third boston (rescue), and that look just like her!:har::har::har:

[Betonov]

If elected, Betonov, We'll appoint you to Minister of Navy and Minister of Lunches.


Nah, I'd be happy with a more modest position.
Secretary of trade and cooperation between USA and EU and the ambasador of Balkan cuisine.

[nikimcbee]

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/o5nsggxy59cjw36/AAAEZy5oS9vcUi2GHjmpAot0a

[Betonov]

No no, that's American

THIS is Balkan :)
http://dlc0216k33qhf.cloudfront.net/images/images/000/038/814/original/avantbon_2014_01_429932_112960998834405_1224634995 _n.jpg?1397515393

[Torplexed]

It seems The Donald has become quite the popular piñata in Mexico. Quite the likeness except the hair on the piñata looks much more realistic than the hair on Donald.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/donald.jpg

[Wolferz]

It seems The Donald has become quite the popular piñata in Mexico. Quite the likeness except the hair on the piñata looks much more realistic than the hair on Donald.

http://pyxis.homestead.com/donald.jpg

They both look smug and full of crap that will rot your teeth...

Hand me the stick, it's clobberin time. :shucks:

[STEED]

Donald Trump would have a field day if he was in charge of Greece, non stop abuse at the EU. :haha:

[Wolferz]

Donald Trump would have a field day if he was in charge of Greece, non stop abuse at the EU. :haha:

He'd fire the whole country.:haha:

[Onkel Neal]

I think Donald just took his act too far. (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/18/draft-dodging-trump-says-pow-mccain-not-a-war-hero.html)


Meanwhile, my frontrunner is in the race. (http://nypost.com/2015/07/17/how-workers-are-winning-in-scott-walkers-wisconsin/)

[Torplexed]

I think Donald just took his act too far. (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/18/draft-dodging-trump-says-pow-mccain-not-a-war-hero.html)


Meanwhile, my frontrunner is in the race. (http://nypost.com/2015/07/17/how-workers-are-winning-in-scott-walkers-wisconsin/)

So, the Donald doesn't like John McCain

He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, OK? I hate to tell you.” I guess that means Donald doesn't like Tang commander Richard O'Kane either. Or the thousands captured on Wake or Bataan, or in the Battle of the Bulge. Or captured parachuting from crippled bombers. What a mouthy idiot.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/RichardOKane.jpg

[darius359au]

Watching trump in action makes me wonder is there anything in the rules of who can run for president about how sane the candidate has to be? ,because being on the outside looking in trump is bat.... crazy - who told him insulting some of the biggest voting blocs out there was a good idea for his campaign... though from what I can see it looks like trump only takes advice from trump!

[Buddahaid]

I don't know. He gets bonus points for being entertaining.

[Torplexed]

Watching trump in action makes me wonder is there anything in the rules of who can run for president about how sane the candidate has to be? ,

Not insane. Just arrogant and pompous and apparently with no filters whatsoever. To boot, he feels the need to personally respond to every slight or insult leveled at him. As a president, he would be easily baited into rants and self-destructive retorts going by his track record so far.

I think what keeps the GOP awake at night, is knowing that with his money, temper and bluster, Trump could break with the party and potentially do what Texas billionaire Ross Perot did as an independent candidate in 1992: take away millions of Republic votes, and tip the election to the Democrats.

[Oberon]

Oh christ...so a Clinton and a Bush running against each other...and we have another Perot?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF4COZv6wGY

[Torplexed]

Oh christ...so a Clinton and a Bush running against each other...and we have another Perot?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF4COZv6wGY

History doesn't always repeat itself. Sometimes it just screams, "Why the hell don't you listen to me?" and then lets fly with a big stick. :D

[Onkel Neal]

Chris Christie’s Biggest Flip-Flop Ever: He Now Prefers Bon Jovi to Bruce Springsteen

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/22/chris-christie-s-biggest-flip-flop-ever-he-now-prefers-bon-jovi-to-bruce-springsteen.html

:hmmm:

It’s that Springsteen hates politicians like Christie who want to cut taxes for the rich and pick fights with unions.

Christie has always known this, and it never seemed to matter much to him.

At the concert in 2012, he mocked Springsteen’s mid-show “lecture” to Goldberg. “He’s telling us that rich people like him are "screwing" over poor people like us in the audience,” Christie said, “except that us in the audience aren’t poor, because we can afford to pay 98 bucks to him to see his show. That’s what he’s saying.”

Well, they say the Boss is born to run, but he won't support Christie. :arrgh!:

[August]

I think what keeps the GOP awake at night, is knowing that with his money, temper and bluster, Trump could break with the party and potentially do what Texas billionaire Ross Perot did as an independent candidate in 1992: take away millions of Republic votes, and tip the election to the Democrats.

I've heard similar speculation, even that Trump is secretly working for Clinton. He's got to know that he doesn't have a chance in the general election. I guess we'll see how it all plays out.

[Onkel Neal]

Hey, Trump was in Laredo today...I was in Laredo today... I wonder, is there any connection? Nah, I was working.

[Wolferz]

Hey, Trump was in Laredo today...I was in Laredo today... I wonder, is there any connection? Nah, I was working.


Trump wasn't.:haha:

[Jimbuna]

Trump wasn't.:haha:

LOL :)

[Onkel Neal]

Hillary's biggest nightmare :har:

Joe Biden 'Not Saying No' to Potential Presidential Run (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/joe-biden-potential-presidential-run/story?id=32827969)

Of all the Dems, he's one I could live with. Another draft dodger, but that's getting to be the norm for all politicians.:hmmm:

[Oberon]

I dunno, I hear Bernie has been prowling around just under the surface, ready for a chance to strike. But he'll probably just be run down by the Clinton financial juggernaut. If he isn't...God, imagine the outcry if he became president. I think you'd have to close GT! :har:

[Torplexed]

I think at present Hillary loses to Trump. She caps at 46% I doubt she goes any higher. Her sketchy ethics and a neo-con foreign policy won't generate much excitement with a Democratic party that already seems tired of her. Hillary is good on women's issues but not much else. Sanders beats Trump one to one but doesn't beat Hillary yet.

I wonder what goes through the millionaire Koch Brothers minds when they see Trump? It's hard to buy a candidate we can manipulate with this rich political clown running around and saying all the things we wish our candidates could say, but can't.

[mapuc]

Said by a Danish Journalist:

"The American love Donald Trump for his strait talk and not wrapping things into diplomatically chit-chat"

Markus

[Oberon]

There's a trend for that at the moment, Jeremy Corbyn is doing well for the Labour leadership election in the UK for a similar reason, and part of the Farage charm in UKIP is that he's un-PC.
It's a backlash I think from the years we've had spin force fed to us from well paid spin-doctors. The old political double-speak that promises everything but commits to nothing.
That being said, just because someone is straight-talking and different from the status quo, it doesn't mean that they're going to be a good leader. NSDAP was something different from the norm, so was Communism, and look how well that turned out.

And yes, I know...I'll issue it to myself:

http://i.imgur.com/zQQMQMD.jpg

[August]

That being said, just because someone is straight-talking and different from the status quo, it doesn't mean that they're going to be a good leader.

This ^. Those who appreciate his straight talking need to start thinking what "President Trump" might be like.

[em2nought]

I dunno, I hear Bernie has been prowling around just under the surface, ready for a chance to strike. But he'll probably just be run down by the Clinton financial juggernaut. If he isn't...God, imagine the outcry if he became president. I think you'd have to close GT! :har:

It would be surprisingly quiet because most of us would have an aneurysm. :D

[Wolferz]

Strip away the exorbitant presidential salary and retirement stipend and you would see them all bow out poste haste.

The president gets a nice house to live in, three squares a day, top notch medical care, security and first class transportation. All free gratis.
Why does he/she need to get paid?

Thomas Jefferson never accepted a single dime from the people he served while in office.

[Tchocky]

Strip away the exorbitant presidential salary and retirement stipend and you would see them all bow out poste haste.

The president gets a nice house to live in, three squares a day, top notch medical care, security and first class transportation. All free gratis.
Why does he/she need to get paid?

Thomas Jefferson never accepted a single dime from the people he served while in office.


Almost anyone running for the nomination could make a lot more in the private sector.

Nobody wants to be President for the money.

[Wolferz]

Almost anyone running for the nomination could make a lot more in the private sector.

Nobody wants to be President for the money.

But they still cash the checks. Go figure, right?:-?

The Clintons are the worst of the bunch. Moved to New York so HIl-dog could run for the senate seat from there. Bought a house, built a barracks for the Secret Service detail and charged the government rent to make the mortgage payment.:hmmm::down:

If Hill-dog gets elected POTUS, they'll do it again for a nice vacation home.

[Platapus]

Strip away the exorbitant presidential salary and retirement stipend and you would see them all bow out poste haste.

The president gets a nice house to live in, three squares a day, top notch medical care, security and first class transportation. All free gratis.
Why does he/she need to get paid?

Thomas Jefferson never accepted a single dime from the people he served while in office.

Just to pick a nit, the president pays for his own food unless it is an official state function.

He is a president, not a king

[mapuc]

Just to pick a nit, the president pays for his own food unless it is an official state function.

He is a president, not a king

I remember you mention something like this in a old thread, made by me.

Markus

[mapuc]

A second comment on Mr Donald Trump

This Danish Journalist also said.

Trump is also a "problem" for the Republican.

The anchor man asked the journalist

Could the republican refuse to support Trump ?

Indeed they can-this however could give the democrat the win-Trump has said he would go solo if the republican refuse to support him-if he is picked by the people. If he goes solo he will take many supporters with him.

My thoughts= Looks like the republican is facing a smaller chaos.

Is this Danish Journalist right ?

Is Trump a headache in the eyes of the republican(not the ordinary people) ?

Markus

[Oberon]

Trump is a bigger threat to the Republican Party than Hilary Clinton. I think that this would be a fair assessment at this moment in time. :yep:

[August]

A second comment on Mr Donald Trump

This Danish Journalist also said.

Trump is also a "problem" for the Republican.

The anchor man asked the journalist

Could the republican refuse to support Trump ?

Indeed they can-this however could give the democrat the win-Trump has said he would go solo if the republican refuse to support him-if he is picked by the people. If he goes solo he will take many supporters with him.

My thoughts= Looks like the republican is facing a smaller chaos.

Is this Danish Journalist right ?

Is Trump a headache in the eyes of the republican(not the ordinary people) ?

Markus

Short answer is yes.

If Trump wins the Republican nomination he'll likely loose the general election since unaffiliated voters hate him even more than Hillary. On the other hand if he looses the nomination he'll run as an independent and split the republican vote. Either way his presence almost guarantees a Democratic win.

What i'm starting to suspect is maybe that's his real plan.

[Wolferz]

Just to pick a nit, the president pays for his own food unless it is an official state function.

He is a president, not a king

Does he?

Is he?

Kind of acts like a king.

I'd bet the FLOTUS rarely sets foot in the kitchen because there's a real chef in there. Sometimes five!


http://mentalfloss.com/article/20681/who-pays-obama-familys-food

Like all presidents, Barack Obama and his family will have to pay for their own food while they're living in the White House. But does someone actually send them a bill? How does this system work?
President Obama may have his own executive chef now, but when his family and personal guests eat what's coming out of the kitchen, he'll have to foot the bill himself. Luckily for him, though, the government picks up the tab if he's having a state function at the White House, which could get pricey since the White House's website touts that its five chefs can crank out dinner for 140 or hors d'oeuvres for over a thousand people.
Does someone really keep track? Apparently, the White House functions like a luxury hotel in this regard. At the end of each month, the president receives a bill for his food and incidental expenses. Nancy Reagan was famously taken aback by this practice when an usher presented her first bill in 1981, saying, "Nobody ever told us the president and his wife are charged for every meal, as well as incidentals like dry cleaning, toothpaste, and other toiletries."� (Once they got used to the bills, though, the Reagans loved the White House; President Reagan often joked that all the amenities made it like living in an eight-star hotel.)

The POTUS is still coming out like a bandit.:yep:

[Platapus]

The actual purchasing of the food is rotated by members of the Whitehouse staff on a somewhat random basis, presumably to prevent someone from selling bad food to the prez. They are re-reimbursed by the President for the food.

So yes, technically no one sends a "bill" to the president, but he hardly gets it for free.

I remember reading an article during the Reagan regime comparing the perks of the president and the perks of the heads of the mega corporations... Not as much difference as you might think.

The key being that one (the president) is paid by the tax payers and the other (CEO) is paid by... the taxpayers in the form of a subsidy or tax expenditure. :) So in the end the tax payers end up payin'

[Oberon]

Short answer is yes.

If Trump wins the Republican nomination he'll likely loose the general election since unaffiliated voters hate him even more than Hillary. On the other hand if he looses the nomination he'll run as an independent and split the republican vote. Either way his presence almost guarantees a Democratic win.

What i'm starting to suspect is maybe that's his real plan.

I dunno, I can't really see Mr 'Birth Certificate' Trump as a Democrat plant. I'd say that he was more the result of the failure of the GOP to deal with the Tea Party crowd between the last election and this one.
Honestly, from what I've seen so far, Trump notwithstanding, the Republicans are operating on the same sort of routine that lost them the last election. There's no real candidate to fire up the crowds in there, except the whack-job. I mean, Jeb Bush is going to be forever under the shadow of his Dad and brother, Ted Cruz is...well, Ted Cruz, Chris Christie is still recovering from his bridges, and Ben Carson is going for the Obama vote (which has already been done). I mean, they've got the fact that Hilary, if she wins the Democratic vote (which she very likely will) will be running for the first woman president of the US, and the only counter the GOP has to that is Carly Fiorina, and she's going to need to shout to make herself heard over the Trumpnado.
The mainstream GOP needs to get its act together and fast or it's going to be out of the game again for 2016. :dead:

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

I just watched the two hour Voters First Republican Forum and I got the impression that all the candidates (there 14 out of 17 there) said nearly the same thing just in a slightly different way, with the topics ranging from the budget ,immigration and the foreign policy and of course Hillary Clinton. Here's a breakdown from AP on it http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-latest-pataki-says-gop-must-unite-around-ideas-in-2016/ar-BBlmJsP

[Wolferz]

I just watched the two hour Voters First Republican Forum and I got the impression that all the candidates (there 14 out of 17 there) said nearly the same thing just in a slightly different way, with the topics ranging from the budget ,immigration and the foreign policy and of course Hillary Clinton. Here's a breakdown from AP on it http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-latest-pataki-says-gop-must-unite-around-ideas-in-2016/ar-BBlmJsP


They arrived on the Reince Pribus.
It's short and yellow.:haha:

[Torplexed]

I just watched the two hour Voters First Republican Forum and I got the impression that all the candidates (there 14 out of 17 there) said nearly the same thing just in a slightly different way, with the topics ranging from the budget ,immigration and the foreign policy and of course Hillary Clinton. Here's a breakdown from AP on it http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-latest-pataki-says-gop-must-unite-around-ideas-in-2016/ar-BBlmJsP

I'll wait till they get the field narrowed down to at least the top dirty dozen, or someone tops 40%, before I start paying too much detailed attention to their canned peaches...I mean speeches.

[August]

I dunno, I can't really see Mr 'Birth Certificate' Trump as a Democrat plant.

I can. Until relatively recently what he says and where he puts his money are two different things.

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/donald-trump-donations-democrats-hillary-clinton-119071.html

[Betonov]

Trumps ego is just to bloated to let himself be used as a democratic ploy to split the republican vote. If ego had a mass Trump would become a black hole.

[Tchocky]

I can. Until relatively recently what he says and where he puts his money are two different things.

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/donald-trump-donations-democrats-hillary-clinton-119071.html

The thought exercise for this one breaks down when you consider Mr Trump's character - nobody would ever trust this man with anything clandestine.

It's an appealing idea, because if he's a plant then there isn't an unhinged blowhard sitting on top of major party polls just because he likes the sound of his own voice.

I just don't think it's likely.

[vienna]

It looks like the Pauls, father and son, have a bit of a sticky situation to deal with:

Rand Paul super PAC head indicted over alleged 2012 campaign finance violations

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/05/rand-paul-super-pac-head-indicted-over-alleged-2012-campaign-finance-violations/


<O>

[Oberon]

So, who will be watching the GOP Debate tonight? I'll try to catch a bit of it, but got an early morning tomorrow so can't stay up too late.

Anyway, here's the essential documentation:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CKd0LONWUAA0maV.jpg:large

[Onkel Neal]

I don't drink, so I'll pass, but I hope I will be able to watch, partly for the educational value, and partly for the guilty pleasure of the entertainment value. I am not interested in Trump as president, but I understand why he is doing so well early on--people want someone who will speak their mind. Have to give Trump credit for that, he is not playing politician.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/06/donald-trumps-first-place-surge-isnt-as-impressive-as-his-image-rehab/

Amazing. But I doubt it will last.

[Oberon]

Could always make it shots or sips of Dr Pepper, that's probably what I'll do. :03:

[Platapus]

I have no interest in hearing what any politician has to say. Simply there is little correlation between what they say now and what they may do if elected.

I always snicker when someone who has never been POTUS start to declare what they will do when they become POTUS... They have no idea what the job is about.

And unless they are talking about the Executive Branch, any time a wannabe says "I will do this", what they really mean is that "I will ASK congress"

It does not matter what the POTUS wants to do, what matters is what Congress will allow the POTUS to do.

Nah, I can't think this debate will be even entertainment. :nope:

[mapuc]

I have not CNN or other English speaking news channel- Would have been interesting to see this debate.

Markus

[Oberon]

Indeed, seems it's a bit hard to find a live stream of it outside of the States, bit of a shame really.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

I'm trying to think which would be more entertaining to watch, this GOP debate or the final episode of The Daily Show.:hmmm:

[Torplexed]

So, who will be watching the GOP Debate tonight? I'll try to catch a bit of it, but got an early morning tomorrow so can't stay up too late.

Anyway, here's the essential documentation:

Hic* so ish tronald Dump Preshident yet*? Weeee.

[Oberon]

:haha:

http://cdn.meme.am/instances/36522381.jpg

[Wolferz]

So, who will be watching the GOP Debate tonight? I'll try to catch a bit of it, but got an early morning tomorrow so can't stay up too late.

Anyway, here's the essential documentation:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CKd0LONWUAA0maV.jpg:large

If I was a drinker, I'd have a major hangover this morning.:haha:

[Catfish]

Thanks, after seeing parts of this 'discussion' and Mr. Trump, i understand the US much better.

[Oberon]

Thanks, after seeing parts of this 'discussion' and Mr. Trump, i understand the US much better.

You're doing a better job than the rest of the world and most of the US then. :yep:

[Wolferz]

What debate?

It looked more like a Faux News sychophantic attack piece to me.:haha:

Trump kind of carpet bombed all of them including that loaded panel of Faux News talking heads.:har:

Megyn Kelly should go ahead an change her hair color so she can at least try to look like she has some brains.

[Oberon]

BBC overview:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33815103

Meanwhile Trump rages:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33823575

[Betonov]

Mr Trump's admission that he might run as an independent angered fellow Republican contender Rand Paul who said: "He buys and sells politicians of all stripes."
"You'd better believe it," Mr Trump said. "Most of the people on this stage I've given to, just so you understand, a lot of money."


Cheeky little bugger :haha:

He might be a jackass, but he's far from a moron

[Subnuts]

I was walking home today, and was suddenly struck by my realization that Donald Trump is really just Nikita Khrushchev reborn as an American billionaire with a bad comb-over.

Think about it. Both men:


Are loud, obnoxious, and incredibly egotistical.
Are prone to making rash statements about foreign nations.
Are obsessed with Eastern European women.
Love the idea of building giant walls to the keep the Bad People out.
Have the foreign policy skills of an eight year old, and love the idea of flaunting military power at every opportunity.
Yield way too much power.
Are media-darling attention whores.
Are loved by millions of people. For some reason.
Are surprisingly adept at covering up their embarrassing past failures.
Have core policy positions based entirely around NOT doing what their predecessor did.

You could make a point and say that Nikita Khrushchev was a communist and Donald Trump isn't, but when you have as much money as The Donald, you don't spend a lot of time thinking about equally dividing it up amongst everyone, do you?

I, for one, hope Mr. Trump ends up as US ambassador the UN, and spends his entire tenure pounding his shoe on his desk and threatening to bury everyone...in money.

[Betonov]

Are obsessed with Eastern European women.



His latest is from south/central Europe :03:

[mapuc]

This Debate was discussed on the Swedish and the Danish news

Here is what the Danish reporter in USA said

Trump is more harmful than beneficial for the Republican Party. He has about 20-25% supporting him, we must not forget the other 75-80% which runs "away screaming" as soon as they hear the word trump or when he opens his mouth


Sometime I wish I had CNN, so I could for my self hear and see if this is correct.

Markus

[Wolferz]

This Debate was discussed on the Swedish and the Danish news

Here is what the Danish reporter in USA said

Trump is more harmful than beneficial for the Republican Party. He has about 20-25% supporting him, we must not forget the other 75-80% which runs "away screaming" as soon as they hear the word trump or when he opens his mouth


Sometime I wish I had CNN, so I could for my self hear and see if this is correct.

Markus Got YouTube?:D

[mapuc]

Got YouTube?:D

Thank you :salute:

Why didn't I think of this, maybe some one postet the whole debate on yt

Markus

[mapuc]

What i'm starting to suspect is maybe that's his real plan.

Was reading an article when I remembered your answer

Used google translate

"How good friends are the Republican Donald Trump really to the democratic power-couple, Hillary and Bill Clinton?

And is Donald Trump a true Republican, when he was for several years posted millions of dollars in the Clinton family's foundation, "The Clinton Foundation"?

The issues have occupied the American media and the country's political establishment after the battle to become the next US president in recent weeks has begun to taper off.

although the two politicians are on opposite political wing, it is not many years ago that "The Donald" - as the American billionaire is also called - donated millions of dollars to The Clinton Foundation

Satirist Joe Queenan has in an ironic commentary in The Wall Street Journal actually speculated on whether Hillary and Bill Clinton placed Donald Trump as another Trojan horse in the Republican Party to create internal discord and derail presidential debate

And his response:

But all the allegations were, however, swept directly from the table by Donald Trump during the debate.

- I told Hillary Clinton that she should come to my wedding, and so she did. She could not do otherwise, since I supported her fund, he said, stressing that he has supported several Democratic candidates over the years.

- When they call, I support them. And you know what? When I need help two or three years later, I call them. They are there for me, said Donald Trump during the debate

End of article "

Has shortened the article because it was very long

Markus

[Catfish]

I was just joking or or maybe being cynical (~=german humour :O:) when saying i understood what the US 'system' is about, after watching parts of the public roundup :)

I understand it as follows: The "Republicans" (whatever this really means, or what the party stands for) is indeed a bunch of individuals, who maybe share some basic interests, but who are egoistic enough (not meant negative here) to speak out what they think is the truth, even if deviating from the current party 'guidance'. Which is why the Republicans are hard to define, it very much depends on the person, not party doctrine.

I think this is pretty good and straightforward or even honest, but it sure does not help the 'party', as an organisation, to get much votes.

Personally, i think i would be more democrat in the US thinking of mindset, but the death of democracy is to stand back for 'the greater good'. Sometimes it is good to change political parties, just for letting the 'vote loser' define themselves again.

Dont know if i described that right :-? :)

Greetings,
Catfish

[Torplexed]

My gist on the debate is that Marco Rubio is looking pretty good right now — by default.

You had Chris Christie and Rand Paul self-immolating and both were pouring gasoline on each other and themselves. Most of the underling table is done, except for Carly Fiorina. She's really sharp, but she's got a lot of catching up to do. True to form, debate-challenged Rick Perry couldn't even pronounce Reagan's name correctly--Ronald Raven? Reagan developed dementia during the presidency. I guess Perry has dementia while running for it.

Of all the times for Jon Stewart to be retiring...

[Platapus]

Are loud, obnoxious, and incredibly egotistical.

Are prone to making rash statements about foreign nations.
Are obsessed with Eastern European women.
Love the idea of building giant walls to the keep the Bad People out.
Have the foreign policy skills of an eight year old, and love the idea of flaunting military power at every opportunity.
Yield way too much power.
Are media-darling attention whores.
Are loved by millions of people. For some reason.
Are surprisingly adept at covering up their embarrassing past failures.
Have core policy positions based entirely around NOT doing what their predecessor did.

That's actually a good description of some of our past presidents.. except for that eastern European thing. :)

[vienna]

Saw the "debate" and laughed myself silly watching the rending of the GOP by their own hands. The one thing that truly amazes me about the US today is the fact both parties, GOP nad DEM, put forth candidates who give the lie to any pretext of their clowns being the "best and brightest" they have to offer. Once again the US will be left with choosing the "lesser of two evils" and once again will be the worse for the effort. Theodore White once started a series of books documenting Presidentaial elections, starting with JFK in 1960, and stopped after the election of Nixon in 1968. The series title was "The Making of a President"; when he wrote the volume on Nixon, he changed the title to "The Selling of a President". Mr. White was ahead of is time. Now, more than ever in US history, we get leaders who are the result of PR spin rather than any ability, qualifications, or leadership. I don't think, at this time, there is anyone of either party, I would truly feel confident about giving my vote. It is truly a sad state of affairs...

Fox news really outdidthemselves. I have never seen a more blatant attempt to bait and prod just for the sake of provoking sensationalistic soundbites to be used to tout their particular strain of "Fair & Balanced" quasi-journalism. Since when is a supposedly serious discussion of matters important to the future of the nation deemed trivial enough to be marred by the interruption of commercials: "The GOP is brought to you tonight by "Be Right Laundry Soap", the latest Apple device ("GOP? We've Gt An App For That!", and the season premiere/latest reality show presented by Fox!". I swear, at times, the "debate" looked more like an episode of Jerry Springer than anything else: "Donald Trump, we have run tests on your politcal DNA and you are indeed the father of political bombast!". I almost expected a couple of the candidates to strip down to tank tops and throw chairs at each other, only to be stopped by burly bouncers. Maybe next time Fox can get Maury Povich to moderate...

Perhaps Fox can just go whole hog and mash-up the next debate with one of theri "Idol"-type programs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXHTJ5v4B5I


<O>

[vienna]

My gist on the debate is that Marco Rubio is looking pretty good right now — by default.

You had Chris Christie and Rand Paul self-immolating and both were pouring gasoline on each other and themselves. Most of the underling table is done, except for Carly Fiorina. She's really sharp, but she's got a lot of catching up to do. True to form, debate-challenged Rick Perry couldn't even pronounce Reagan's name correctly--Ronald Raven? Reagan developed dementia during the presidency. I guess Perry has dementia while running for it.

Of all the times for Jon Stewart to be retiring...

Amen, brother... :up:

A couple of weeks ago, I read an article where David Letterman had expressed regret for retiring; he seemed to be champing at the bit; so much raw material and no place to show...

I'm really looking forward to when Saturday Night Live! returns to the air; I'm sure none of the cadidates and their parties aren't...


<O>

[Oberon]

All our hopes rest on Colbert and John Oliver now, although I think Trever Noah will do well once he gets over the whole "I don't like him because he's not Jon Stewart' phase of viewership.

Meanwhile, apparently insulting Rosie O'Donnell is ok, but insulting Megyn Kelly...big no-no.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33833516

Ah, you have to laugh...if you didn't, you would cry. :dead:

[Torplexed]

Meanwhile, apparently insulting Rosie O'Donnell is ok, but insulting Megyn Kelly...big no-no.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33833516

Ah, you have to laugh...if you didn't, you would cry. :dead:

Likely Fox News and the GOP would love to see Trump gone because they are worried what would happen if he wins the primary or if he has a serious following and chooses to run as an independent. They are going to jump on the now exposed sexist chink in Trump's armor.

It's predictable. They've been looking for a gaffe, any gaffe the public doesn't just brush off with a laugh. Blatant sexism is so not OK in this day and age. Having Megyn Kelly ask the question may have been a purposeful direct challenge to get the predicted response Trump has to female reporters. I expect there will be a lot of poking Trump with a stick to get the fateful soundbite in the weeks to come.

[Wolferz]

Who the GOP have dubbed to be their propaganda outlet.:hmmm:

As if we didn't know already.:haha:

[Rockstar]

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/jky242/3a4ea5554ea0a2f16cbe8bbc6224c5cd.jpg

[mapuc]

Going to see this Debate later today when I have the time to it.

During the discussion on Danish TV, which was ca 6-7 minutes, most of it was about this Mr Trump.

I want to know more about the others.

Markus

[BossMark]

So is Mrs Clinton still the favourite to become the next president?

[Wolferz]

So is Mrs Clinton still the favourite to become the next president?



Old iron britches has defecated in her mess kit one too many times.

Besides, it will be business as usual and the next POTUS will be selected by his or her new boss...
The head of the Masonic Order.:-?

[Torplexed]

So is Mrs Clinton still the favourite to become the next president?

I don't know if I would say favorite. After almost 25 years in the public eye in sometimes in public office she doesn't exactly excite the electorate anymore. Certainly not in the sense that Obama did in 2008. I do find it interesting that Bernie Sanders has made a strong showing among democrats and that there are continual pushes to recruit others into the race for the democratic nominee. (like Joe Biden and Howard Schultz) You do get the sense that even on the left, there are many anxious not to have to look at those pantsuits for the next four years.

[Oberon]

Likely Fox News and the GOP would love to see Trump gone because they are worried what would happen if he wins the primary or if he has a serious following and chooses to run as an independent. They are going to jump on the now exposed sexist chink in Trump's armor.

It's predictable. They've been looking for a gaffe, any gaffe the public doesn't just brush off with a laugh. Blatant sexism is so not OK in this day and age. Having Megyn Kelly ask the question may have been a purposeful direct challenge to get the predicted response Trump has to female reporters. I expect there will be a lot of poking Trump with a stick to get the fateful soundbite in the weeks to come.

This is true, they need to destroy Trump with any means possible...and yet in doing so and doing so in an obvious manner they may well in fact improve his chances by making him appear even more as breaking away from the norms of the GOP which I think is part of what has got him this far. If Fox News and the GOP are shown to be running scared from Trump, then he is only going to gain popularity from it from those who don't like the GOPs attempts to break back into the center ground. It would be interesting to see how many of the Tea Party crowd have been wooed by Trump, if any.

Honestly, if the GOP want to stand a chance against Trump, they should push Fiorina forward a bit, she seemed to poll well in the early debate the other night but lacked an opportunity to go head to head with the big guns. I think she could have undermined Trump spectacularly. :yep:

I don't know if I would say favorite. After almost 25 years in the public eye in sometimes in public office she doesn't exactly excite the electorate anymore. Certainly not in the sense that Obama did in 2008. I do find it interesting that Bernie Sanders has made a strong showing among democrats and that there are continual pushes to recruit others into the race for the democratic nominee. (like Joe Biden and Howard Schultz) You do get the sense that even on the left, there are many anxious not to have to look at those pantsuits for the next four years.

Aye, Saunders has got a good innings amongst the left, especially in the youth and those of a more socialist persuasion. He's a bit like the UKs Jeremy Corbyn. Honestly though, I don't think he's quite got the financial power to make it to victory. One of the other major contenders will eventually steamroller him. That being said, if he did win it, and Trump won the GOP...it would make for a very crazy election. :doh:

[Wolferz]

I don't know if I would say favorite. After almost 25 years in the public eye in sometimes in public office she doesn't exactly excite the electorate anymore. Certainly not in the sense that Obama did in 2008. I do find it interesting that Bernie Sanders has made a strong showing among democrats and that there are continual pushes to recruit others into the race for the democratic nominee. (like Joe Biden and Howard Schultz) You do get the sense that even on the left, there are many anxious not to have to look at those pantsuits for the next four years.

Adding another wrinkle to the aging former FLOTUS...

I dread the thought of a menopausal or post menopausal POTUS:timeout:

[Oberon]

I dread the thought of a menopausal or post menopausal POTUS:timeout:

Steady on, Donald. :O:

[Torplexed]

Steady on, Donald. :O:

Speaking of which, it looks like the Sunday chat shows here are going full-bore on whether the Donald crossed the line in hinting that the debate host who had the temerity to ask him tough questions was on her period.

It seems the break-out leader in the GOP primary race has finally managed to convince even his most ardent admirers in the media that he's beyond boorish. But, knowing Donald he'll double-down on his critics before conceding anything. :O:

[Onkel Neal]

Speaking of which, it looks like the Sunday chat shows here are going full-bore on whether the Donald crossed the line in hinting that the debate host who had the temerity to ask him tough questions was on her period.

It seems the break-out leader in the GOP primary race has finally managed to convince even his most ardent admirers in the media that he's beyond boorish. :O:

I hope so. I like to think he has no supporters. he's just polling well because we're very early in the race.

Meanwhile, wildly amusing on the other side (http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/09/politics/bernie-sanders-seattle-rally/) :har:

[Oberon]

I hope so. I like to think he has no supporters. he's just polling well because we're very early in the race.

Meanwhile, wildly amusing on the other side (http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/09/politics/bernie-sanders-seattle-rally/) :har:

I was just about to post about that...I mean, this is the guy who walked with Martin Luther King for goodness sake.
Some people...

http://alfahir.hu/sites/default/files/indexfoto/uncle_sam_facepalm_0.jpg

Still, at least his next stop was more successful, 15,000 turnout.

[Torplexed]

Hey! Welcome to Seattle Bernie! :D Like what you see so far? Ain't we something? Just meekly stand back and let someone else run the event. A shout out to the boys in security for deciding to just sit back and watch the show rather than demonstrate some rarely seen Seattle bravado and take back the stage. :rotfl2:

Yes, black lives matter. Camera-hungry publicity hounds, not so much.


http://www.mynorthwest.com/emedia/apimage/ap_424ece282d8b4c138028a64b97b315b2.jpg?filter=myn w/620x370_cropped

[Onkel Neal]

At least no one got shot! :shucks:

[Torplexed]

At least no one got shot! :shucks:

True and all good. But then it's difficult to aim properly through the green haze of marijuana smoke that hangs over the city these days. :D

[Oberon]

At least no one got shot! :shucks:

...yet. :hmmm:

[BossMark]

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee374/rothwellwhite1/bossmarks%20pictures/trump1_zps4juigmmm.jpg
Donald Trump Look-alike

[mapuc]

1. The video I found on yt, was not the right one-it was a debate with some GOP a 2015 debate-There where not Trump in this debate, there were a woman. Wonder what kind of debate I may have found.

2. I have alway have a higher respect for a politician who are not afraid of speaking strait and not talking in diplomatically tone. Not meaning I agree to what they say or I would vote for them. But after Mr Trumps accusations on this female journalist period, I lost respect for him, that have absolutely nothing to do with speaking, non-political correctness.

Markus

[Oberon]

You might have found the pre-debate debate...or whatever it's called. It confused me too but apparently there was another debate before the main debate, and the woman you saw is probably Carly Fiorina. The stats indicate she did well in the debate she was in, but for some reason didn't wind up going up against the big guns, which is a pity because she'd probably have bounced Trump spectacularly if he'd tried the same stunts he pulled on Megyn Kelly.

[Oberon]

Apparently Fox is going around youtube and smacking people with takedowns on any uploads of the debate.

Try here:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4406746003001/watch-a-replay-of-fox-news-prime-time-presidential-debate/?#sp=show-clips

[Torplexed]

According to the AP, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has stopped paying his 2016 presidential campaign's staff in the key early primary state of South Carolina, amid flagging poling numbers and sluggish fundraising.

I sense the first dropout of the 2016 presidential race may be coming. I guess the big glasses look didn't help.

[Onkel Neal]

Good, he needs to go.

[vienna]

The GOP needs a good herd thinning...


<O>

[vienna]

With the emergence of Carly Fiorina as a newly viable candidate following the "Kid's Table" undercard debate, it has been noted very few voters outside of California, where she started her political career, know of her or her record. Here is an interesting article from the Los Angeles Times Business Section:

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-non-californians-carly-fiorina-20150811-column.html#page=1

I would kind of like to see a head to head campaign between Carly and Hillary...


<O>

[August]

I would kind of like to see a head to head campaign between Carly and Hillary...

Incompetence vs Evil? Sounds like a loose loose situation for America to me.

[vienna]

Incompetence vs Evil? Sounds like a loose loose situation for America to me.

Right now, with the current list of candidates, any outcome would be pretty much a lose-lose...

...still it would be kind of fun to watch the two of them having at each other over the course of a Presidential run...

...besides, Hillary, according to Rubio, is the winner based on resume; I'm just waiting to see if the Clinton campaign might take a run with that quote. I'm also pretty sure the GOP powers-that-be aren't very happy for Rubio making that statement...


<O>

[Platapus]

American Democracy: Where you often vote against a candidate instead of for a candidate. :nope:

[Onkel Neal]

Incompetence vs Evil? Sounds like a loose loose situation for America to me.

In before Steve :O:

http://i.imgur.com/K1Qjo.jpg

[Torplexed]

Looks like Hillary Clinton is intent on making the same fatal mistakes she did in the 2008 campaign trail when she fumbled the game to Obama. She believes that it is all about her, and isn't taking her primary rival seriously. Plus, she keeps punting on the key issues and is not catering to her democratic base. This is an opening that Bernie Sanders has been able to capitalize on. Having to turn over her e-mail server to the Department of Justice sure isn't helping either.

[August]

In before Steve :O:

:O:

http://img.memecdn.com/as-far-as-i-amp-039-m-concerned-spelling-is-different-from-grammar_o_2250145.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

On the other hand, writing "Nazi's" instead of "Nazis" is indeed a grammar problem. :O:

[Onkel Neal]

Looks like Hillary Clinton is intent on making the same fatal mistakes she did in the 2008 campaign trail when she fumbled the game to Obama. She believes that it is all about her, and isn't taking her primary rival seriously. Plus, she keeps punting on the key issues and is not catering to her democratic base. This is an opening that Bernie Sanders has been able to capitalize on. Having to turn over her e-mail server to the Department of Justice sure isn't helping either.

Yeah, Sean Hannity is losing (loosing?) his mind over the secret Clinton server, swears that will bring her down. Meanwhile, a New Hampshire poll shows Comrade Bernie leading Hillary (http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/08/poll_bernie_sanders_surges_ahead_of_hillary_clinto n_in_nh_44_37) 44% to 37%. It's deja vue all over again. :88)

[Oberon]

God, imagine that, Bernie vs Trump.

It would be the most entertaining show on American airwaves... :doh:

[August]

I'd vote for Saunders over Trump without hesitation.

[August]

BTW this is a funny goof on Clinton's email server scandal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prls6Iz3B3E

[Onkel Neal]

I'd vote for Saunders over Trump without hesitation.

Honestly? If it comes to that, I'm moving to.... somewhere else.

[August]

Honestly? If it comes to that, I'm moving to.... somewhere else.

I wouldn't much like it either but i'm more or less aboard the "anybody but trump or clinton" bandwagon.

[Betonov]

Honestly? If it comes to that, I'm moving to.... somewhere else.

Canada ?? :har:

[Oberon]

http://i.imgur.com/M23cZKy.jpg

[Wolferz]

It's OK Oberon,
We still have plenty of room to add more rings to this circus.:woot:

Cirque du solame

[vienna]

Yeah, Sean Hannity is losing (loosing?) his mind over the secret Clinton server, swears that will bring her down. Meanwhile, a New Hampshire poll shows Comrade Bernie leading Hillary (http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/08/poll_bernie_sanders_surges_ahead_of_hillary_clinto n_in_nh_44_37)44% to 37%. It's deja vue all over again. :88)

Hannity and Limbaugh, et al, were also losing it when Benghazi happened crowing that the attack would bring down Clinton and Obama, but so far, meh. This latest brouhaha is added to a bit of a long list of "things to bring down Clinton and/or Obama" since 2009; all of them have been "meh". I'll believe this will do it when it actually happens...


Honestly? If it comes to that, I'm moving to.... somewhere else.

Right after the election of Nixon in 1968, a sketch on Laugh-In showed Dick Martin walking up to an airline reservations counter and asking for immediate reservations on the next flight out of the US:

Counter Clerk: And how many are in your party, sir?

Dick Martin: 200 million...


Canada ?? :har:

Do we know if Neal can speak Canadian? :hmmm:


<O>

[Onkel Neal]

Canada: lovely nation, awesome people, too cold.

Maybe Germany. I'll get out my Re-elect Bush t-shirt.

[Torplexed]

Look like Jeb Bush got the same treatment from Black Lives Matter that Bernie got.


After hijacking a campaign event featuring 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders last weekend, members of the Black Lives Matter movement struck again on Wednesday, this time interrupting Republican candidate Jeb Bush while he was speaking at a town hall in Nevada.

According to the Los Angeles Times, dozens of protesters aligned with the movement began chanting "black lives matter," which caused the event to come to an abrupt end. As a result, Bush left without delivering his customary closing statement, posing for photos or speaking to audience members.
http://www.latinpost.com/articles/71908/20150813/black-lives-matter-protesters-shut-down-jeb-bush-town-hall-campaign-event-in-nevada-video.htm

So, when is it Trump's turn? I wanna see the tussle for the mike and the mix-up with the crowd. :)

[Betonov]

Canada: lovely nation, awesome people, too cold.

Maybe Germany. I'll get out my Re-elect Bush t-shirt.

You know, you could consider Slovenia. We're a gateway nation to the north, east, south and west and two major european transport corridors intersect here.

[vienna]

You know, you could consider Slovenia. We're a gateway nation to the north, east, south and west and two major european transport corridors intersect here.

Maybe so, but, dude...it's Slovenia... :D


<O>

[Betonov]

Maybe so, but, dude...it's Slovenia... :D


<O>

I know, comrade Bernie is a right winger where I come from :haha:

[STEED]

One for those who like conspiracy's
Donald Trump forced to take break from campaign trail for jury servicehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/11804881/Donald-Trump-forced-to-take-break-from-campaign-trail-for-jury-service.html


Donald Trump - "Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty"

[Onkel Neal]

Hannity and Limbaugh, et al, were also losing it when Benghazi happened crowing that the attack would bring down Clinton and Obama, but so far, meh. This latest brouhaha is added to a bit of a long list of "things to bring down Clinton and/or Obama" since 2009; all of them have been "meh". I'll believe this will do it when it actually happens...





I dunno. Yesterday on NPR, Diane Rehms was freaking out, arguing with her guests that two emails out of 60 is nothing to go after Hillary for. One of her guests, he wasn't the usual cherry picked liberal, he kept insisting that if Hillary comingled her emails on a private server, she was in for some unpleasant legal proceedings.

Her IT people deleted 30,000 emails before turning over the server. I've got news for her, the Justic Dept and FBI can easily examine other emails coming from govt employees to her and from her on the govt servers. If they don't show up on her server, it'll be pretty obvious she had them deleted. That's a coverup.

http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/hillary-clinton-should-be-terrified-that-jim-comey-is-investigating-her-email-crimes/

I'm going to guess when this comes out, she ends up paying a hefty fine, probably avoid jail time. But the crux is, she really doesn't abide by the rules, and she's willing to lie about it with no shame.

[vienna]

I dunno. Yesterday on NPR, Diane Rehms was freaking out, arguing with her guests that two emails out of 60 is nothing to go after Hillary for. One of her guests, he wasn't the usual cherry picked liberal, he kept insisting that if Hillary comingled her emails on a private server, she was in for some unpleasant legal proceedings.

Her IT people deleted 30,000 emails before turning over the server. I've got news for her, the Justic Dept and FBI can easily examine other emails coming from govt employees to her and from her on the govt servers. If they don't show up on her server, it'll be pretty obvious she had them deleted. That's a coverup.

http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/hillary-clinton-should-be-terrified-that-jim-comey-is-investigating-her-email-crimes/

I'm going to guess when this comes out, she ends up paying a hefty fine, probably avoid jail time. But the crux is, she really doesn't abide by the rules, and she's willing to lie about it with no shame.

The reasons you gave for the emails not being "lost" are precisely the reasons a coverup may be unlikely. The ability to fully delete any emails, even on 'secure' servers is very low if someone really wants to find the messages and has the resources to do so; I believe the FBI, in particular, and the Justice Department have such resources; if not, there are plenty of outside operation who could do the job. Merely deleting data from a server is not necessarily evidence of a coverup. It is SOP in government at all levels to attempt to thoroughly wipe drives after their usefulness has ended; when I worked for the County of Los Angeles, one of the tasks I was given was to wipe the drives of employees who had left the County's employ. We also wiped the drives of PCs and laptops that were being retired and donated to non-profits for their programs. Even the private sector routinely wipes drives and I have personally wiped drives for many of the private concerns who hired me for their projects. I am really quite sure if local governments and private sector concerns are wary enough to wipe drives, the standards must be even higher at the federal level and even more so at the White Hose Cabinet level...

It should be noted the use of a private server does not necessarily violate any existing Federal law. The big problem with the explosion of technology is the laws and regulations pertaining to such technology are woefully hit and miss. Government being what it is, and the Congress being who they are, action to address the very fast-moving leaps in technology is painfully slow, particularly when compared to the private sector. Should the use of a private server be prohibited? Most probably, yes, but it is not at this time...

As a side to the server question, given current Sec. of State John Kerry' s recent statement of his belief foreign interests (China, Russia, etc.) are probably able to read current government email systems, the use of an off-network anonymous server may not be such a bad idea; of course, then you have the question of data then possibly leaking through mismanagement of those servers...

This whole situation is little more than a continuation of the Congressional GOP's effort to hang something, anything on Hillary Clinton, particularly over the Benghazi incident. After at least five separate probe that I can recall, including a very recent bi-partisan Congressional probe, the fabled "smoking gun" has yet to be found. When the existence of Clinton's private server came to light, the GOP seized on it and demanded the emails and server be turned over to the GOP-chaired Congressional committees. Instead, the data, and now the server, have been turned over to proper investigative entities in the Justice Department and the FBI. If the data and server had gone to the hands of Congress, the concerns about national security would be gravely endangered. Congress, particularly partisan Congress, is a veritable fountain of leaks. If Congress and the GOP are so concerned about National Security, let the professional do their jobs, give their findings, and let the chips fall where they may, good or bad. Letting the pros do the job is infinitely better than letting some ham handed Congressional aide fumble around...

The GOP should be very careful. They've already been burned once trying to chase down a Clinton. They need to remember how the whole Ken Starr-led investigation made them look foolish and petty and resulted in the elevation of Bill Clinton's popularity, which continues today. The GOP Congressional insistence on having the data server turned over to them smells of a fishing expedition, much like Starr starting out to investigate Whitewater. Starr found nothing actionable regarding Whitewater, and glommed onto the whole Lewinski mess as a face-saving effort. The end result was an embarrassment to the GOP leadership and a loss of confidence among the voting populace. Remember the short-lived GOP revolution during the Clinton years? 'm sure Newt Gingrich remembers. Thing s can go sideways real fast. Just last week it was reported that one of the emails being cited by GOP members as a breach of security by Hillary Clinton had actually been previously declassified some time ago by the State Dept.; in fact the GOP members had released a redacted copy of the email in question, yet the previously declassified email had been released in full, without redactions. Sometimes you have to be careful what you ask for: you might not like the results...

All the Above is why I still say I'll believe this matter will take down Clinton (or Obama) when it happens...


<O>

[Bilge_Rat]

the problem with the Clinton email issue is that it has become so politicized at this point that it is hard to know what the truth is.

if I look at THIS report, it is hard to see what the fuss is about:


Clinton aides have maintained that nothing on her server was classified at the time she saw it, suggesting that classified messages were given the label after the fact.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the State Department, said that was the case with two emails, adding that it remained unclear "whether, in fact, this material is actually classified."

"Department employees circulated these emails on unclassified systems in 2009 and 2011, and ultimately some were forwarded to Secretary Clinton," Kirby said Tuesday. "They were not marked as classified." [NBC News, 8/12/15 (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/private-clinton-emails-included-two-top-secret-messages-investigators-n408186)]







Associated Press Sources: Emails Don't Include Any "Form Of Sensitive Sourcing." The Associated Press reported that their sources indicate that "nothing in the emails [Clinton] received makes clear reference to communications intercepts, confidential intelligence methods or any other form of sensitive sourcing." The AP also reported that their sources disagreed about whether the emails contained classified information. From the AP (emphasis added):



http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/08/14/more-myths-and-facts-on-top-secret-materials-in/204946

to me, it's more of a case that the GOP knows they can't win on the issues, so are resorting to mud slinging.

[Bilge_Rat]

another view on the email controversy:





As a former Department of Justice official who regularly dealt with classified information, I am glad a team of officials from the FBI, the intelligence community and other agencies is not currently reviewing every email I sent and received while I worked in government. If they did, they would likely find arguably classified information that was transmitted over unclassified networks—and the same thing is undoubtedly true for other senior officials at the White House, the State Department and other top national security agencies.

The sheer volume of information now considered classified, as well as the extreme, and often absurd, interpretations by intelligence officials about what is and is not classified, make it nearly impossible for officials charged with operating in both the classified and unclassified worlds to do so without ever mixing the two.


From the intelligence community’s perspective, the border between these two worlds looks like a brick wall. Many intelligence officials spend their entire day working inside so-called Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities, designed to be impenetrable to eavesdropping, and using only separate, classified email systems to communicate with others in government. In these hermetically sealed environments, there is no need to ever sort through the differences between classified and unclassified information.

But for officials charged with dealing with the public, the media and other governments, the lines become much harder to draw.

The Associated Press reported last week that one of the Clinton emails that intelligence officials claim is classified—something the State Department disputes—involved a discussion of drones operating in Pakistan, a fact that is still considered top secret even though it has been openly discussed by government officials on numerous occasions.

The continued top secret classification of drone strikes is silly enough on its own, but the way in which intelligence officials would judge any email conversation about them is even more farcical. According to the AP, the email exchange in question began with an aide to Clinton circulating a news story about the drone program. Obviously, circulating a news story cannot be considered disseminating classified information. But if, for example, that story reported on a successful strike against an Al Qaeda official, and another official responded by writing “great news,” that email would be considered classified because it confirms the existence of the drone program—yes, the same drone program that officials openly discuss with reporters on a near daily basis.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/the-real-clinton-email-scandal-our-ridiculous-classification-rules-121507.html#ixzz3jHPwEhko

[Wolferz]

SECRECY
The first refuge of the incompetent

[vienna]

I think it should be noted Clinton or her representatives have opposed only the turning over of the emails and/or the servers to Congressional committees or entities, not to legitimate law Federal enforcement agencies (e.g., the FBI). The professionals at the agencies, who are highly trained in computer forensics and, more importantly, the preservation of whatever level of security need to protect possibly sensitive data. To allow a "civilian" entity such as the Congress and its staffers to conduct some ramshackle "investigation" in an environment ripe with leaks and security breaches is highly questionable and a serious hazard to national security. After seeing how sensitive information has been leaked in the past, one would think the Congressional leadership would embrace having the work done by those professionals whose job it is to protect national security; that is, of course, making the assumption there is actually "Congressional leadership"...

In regards to the politicizing of the probes, the specter of a GOP "fishing expedition" is very highly possible. Under the guise of investigating the Benghazi incident, they could pull a Ken Starr and attempt to see f they might find something on Hillary or Obama, no matter how spurious. Imagine the glee of the GOP if they were to stumble upon a metaphorical pair of stained tighty-whities...


<O>

[vienna]

Just came across this regarding the next GOP debate:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/19/heres-who-qualifies-for-the-second-gop-debate-and-fiorina-still-has-lots-of-work-to-do/

... kinda like the "Fox speedboat" vs. the "CNN ocean liner" comparison...


<O>

[Oberon]

Vote for Deez Nuts!
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/08/19/presidential-candidate-deez-nuts-does-not-exist.html?source=socialflow&via=twitter_page&account=thedailybeast&medium=twitter

[ikalugin]

Is there any candidate that is not openly anti-Russian?

[Oberon]

Is there any candidate that is not openly anti-Russian?

Putin. :yep:

[ikalugin]

You mean Underwood? Though it would sort of amusing to see Putin and Obama exchanged. Some people just enjoy seeing the world consumed by flames though.

[Oberon]

:haha: :yeah:

I really must get around to watching that. So many good series to get through. :yep:

EDIT: Putin and Obama exchanged would be amusing, I think Putin would get very frustrated with the US Congress and Senate though and ask for his old job back.

[ikalugin]

Well or he would actually pull of what all those tinfoilhat people are afraid of (and probably wish for).

[August]

Some people just enjoy seeing the world consumed by flames though.

Yeah as long as the flames are kissing someone elses butt and not their own it's great entertainment for some people.

[Oberon]

Well or he would actually pull of what all those tinfoilhat people are afraid of (and probably wish for).

:haha: Good point, I guess he has had experience with the likes of Delimkhanov and Zhuravlyov and the fun and games that happen between the two of them. :03:

Yeah as long as the flames are kissing someone elses butt and not their own it's great entertainment for some people.

Snag is, flames spread. :haha:

[Cybermat47]

http://youtu.be/tW1VDnmuLso

"The American.......................... dream................................ is dead!"

-Batman 2015

[Oberon]

Pfft, everyone knows that Alfred is the true hero of Gotham, who else could headbutt Superman and shoot a Predator? :yep:

[Jimbuna]

Putin. :yep:

LOL :)

[Betonov]

Putin would start sheding the skin of his head when the rest of his hair would fall of just trying to run Slovenia.
He'd go Lovecraft level mad trying to run the US :haha:

[Dan D]

Donald Trump is living a "polymorphously-perverse symbiosis with his ferret-toupee" (Titanic-Magazin)

[Schroeder]

Donald Trump is living a "polymorphously-perverse symbiosis with his ferret-toupee" (Titanic-Magazin)
So you think Dowly is his fashion advisor?:06:


:O:

[Sailor Steve]

So you think Dowly is his fashion advisor?
No. Just his hat.

[vienna]

Donald Trump is living a "polymorphously-perverse symbiosis with his ferret-toupee" (Titanic-Magazin)

Gee, I wonder how they really fell about him... :hmmm:


<O>

[Betonov]

As a member of the international community PLEASE vote for Bernie

http://i.imgur.com/Imc6pAe.jpg

[Onkel Neal]

Man, Trump is on a roll. I think he seriously has a shot if he can do three things: 1. dial down his off the cuff rhetoric a smidge, or at least don't say something so awful he has a Dean moment; 2. play up the Jobs President and cut middle class taxes/tax reform even more, & 3. make a serious effort to address the black vote.

Meanwhile, Hillary's day just got a whole lot worse :O:

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Saturday summoned Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, to his Washington residence for a meeting, the latest indication that he is seriously considering a presidential bid.

Mr. Biden and Ms. Warren met for lunch on the veranda at the Naval Observatory with no aides present, according to a Democrat briefed on the conversation.

The conversation, which lasted for well over an hour, touched on policy issues and both the Republican and Democratic presidential primary campaigns. Mr. Biden made clear that he was seriously considering a bid of his own, but did not directly ask Ms. Warren for her support.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/08/22/biden-mulling-white-house-bid-meets-with-elizabeth-warren/

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2015/08/22/us/22biden-firstdraft/22biden-firstdraft-tmagArticle.jpg

[Betonov]

I love how the Slovene yellow papers are loosing it over how the US will have a Slovene first lady if Trump wins, while the wench keeps telling everyone over there how she's Austrian :nope:

[Torplexed]

I love how the Slovene yellow papers are loosing it over how the US will have a Slovene first lady if Trump wins, while the wench keeps telling everyone over there how she's Austrian :nope:

To make matters worse, most Americans think Austria is somewhere near New Zealand. :88)

[mapuc]

One thing for sure-the American politicians are not like our Politicians whether it is the Danish or the Swedish.

An example

Between two election in Denmark most of the parties who's in opposition post daily or weekly things which most of the Danish people like to hear. From the Government there's nothing but silence

this is until some month and weeks before an election-then even the parties and the politicians in the government start to-copy the opposition and do the same-write/say stuff the Danes love to hear.

So far I haven't seen any of the other Republicans copy Trump.

That's the different

Markus

[Oberon]

http://i.imgur.com/sTESWwu.jpg

[August]

So far I haven't seen any of the other Republicans copy Trump.

That's because Trump is not really a Republican as the Republicans themselves would define it.

Y'see party affiliation over here is not really binding. Anyone can say they're a republican or a democrat one week and change their mind the next. We've even has politicians run and get elected as one party then once they're in office change their affiliation to the other. People can and often do register to vote in one partes primary and then go vote straight ticket for the other in the actual election.

Theoretically Barack Obama could decide to run for the Republican nomination in 2020 and that would automatically make him just as much of a Republican in the eyes of the law as Jeb Bush or any other party favorite.

I still say Donald Trump is nothing but a Stalking Horse for Hillary.

[mapuc]

^ Thank you for your answer

"Y'see party affiliation over here is not really binding."
The same happens here. After almost every election some politicians who was running for a party, suddenly change course and join another party, which makes many people angry.

End of off topic discussion.

Markus

[August]

End of off topic discussion.

What was off topic?

[mapuc]

What was off topic?


Comparison between two Scandinavian countries politician and the American politician This thread is about the future president thereof this off topic.

Markus

[vienna]

That's because Trump is not really a Republican as the Republicans themselves would define it.

Y'see party affiliation over here is not really binding. Anyone can say they're a republican or a democrat one week and change their mind the next. We've even has politicians run and get elected as one party then once they're in office change their affiliation to the other. People can and often do register to vote in one partes primary and then go vote straight ticket for the other in the actual election.

Theoretically Barack Obama could decide to run for the Republican nomination in 2020 and that would automatically make him just as much of a Republican in the eyes of the law as Jeb Bush or any other party favorite.

I still say Donald Trump is nothing but a Stalking Horse for Hillary.

Obama couldn't run again for President, even theoretically, since the US Constitution prohibits any person serving more than two terms as President...

Regarding why other GOP candidates are not copying Trump, well, for one thing, he is Donald Trump, pretty much a unique figure even in the stratified realm of billionaire businessmen. His style is his own and he just doesn't give a damn about what other people, particularly other GOP candidates, think of him. With his wealth, he is virtually untouchable by the usual GOP power brokers; the best they can hope for is some skeleton to come out of his closet or for him to insert his foot in his mouth up to the knee. If he decides to run as an independent, the GOP will have a long row to plow...

Way back in Post #43 in this thread, I noted Trump's tendency to speak about issues the GOP leadership would rather not address; as Neal pointed out a few posts back, Trump has elevated issues such as jobs and tax cuts into the spotlight, issues on which the GOP is rather weak. The GOP leadership runs the lead-up to the General Election as a sort of beauty contest: all the candidates come out and blather generalities and clichés while never being direct about the real issues. As long as they work 'America', 'patriotism', 'family values', 'Faith', and other such over-used terms into their stock statements, why bother being specific or detailed as to what they would do as President? They are little better than beauty contestants who answer "world peace" to any question presented to them. What Trump has done is cast a very bright light on the other GOP candidate's shallowness. The candidates are unable to deviate from the party leadership's strategies out of fear of losing actual and/or potential financial and logistical support in their runs. Trump has no such fears. The Koch Brothers, Citizens United, and other such individuals or organizations can't buy or threaten a person such as Trump but they do keep a tight rein on the other GOP contenders...

The real shame is that Trump is Trump; consider if a rational, viable person of Trump's considerable wealth chose to run on those same issues in defiance of the established political and financial order. Then we might have something...


<O>

[Betonov]

The real shame is that Trump is Trump; consider if a rational, viable person of Trump's considerable wealth chose to run on those same issues in defiance of the established political and financial order. Then we might have something...


<O>

Good post.
Trump can be a different Trump, he just needs to be blatantly honest on issues and bite his tongue when trying to be ''shocking'' and ''witty''

[vienna]

The cover of the latest Time Magazine:


https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/trump-cover-final.jpg?w=386&quality=65&strip=color&h=515


An apt message to the GOP?...


<O>

[August]

Obama couldn't run again for President, even theoretically, since the US Constitution prohibits any person serving more than two terms as President...

Ah I thought it was more than 2 consecutive terms.

[vienna]

Found this interesting:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-gop-pollster-tried-why-144549293.html

The comment about the GOP leadership losing the grassroots is telling and the attitudes by the panelists towards the press is interesting...


<O>

[Platapus]

Ah I thought it was more than 2 consecutive terms.


22nd Amendment

"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."

So the most time a person can be president is 10 years and that is only if they were appointed president.

[August]

22nd Amendment

"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."

So the most time a person can be president is 10 years and that is only if they were appointed president.


Yeah I looked it up the other day when just before I responded to Vienna. You don't think I just took his word for it do you?

[vienna]

Yeah I looked it up the other day when just before I responded to Vienna. You don't think I just took his word for it do you?

...and, yet, you still responded you "thought it was more than 2 consecutive terms"... :hmmm:


...oh, and, by the way...


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SggyReOhIxg/TxU2iPVyxNI/AAAAAAAADeI/5XqtC4FBbGE/s1600/faith.jpg


<O>

[August]

...and, yet, you still responded you "thought it was more than 2 consecutive terms"... :hmmm:

Yes I thought that it was. I read your post, opened another tab in my browser, looked it up, then posted what I thought was an acknowledgement of your accuracy. What would you have had me say instead?

...oh, and, by the way...

How can I have faith in a guy who doesn't even capitalize his username? :)

[mapuc]

I try to understand the psychological aspect of the American election and the psychological nature of an American voter.

Markus

[razark]

So the most time a person can be president is 10 years and that is only if they were appointed president.
What if a former two-term president were to become Speaker of the House, and the President and VP were to resign immediately after inauguration?

[Platapus]

What if a former two-term president were to become Speaker of the House, and the President and VP were to resign immediately after inauguration?

A most interesting question.

The 22nd Amendment states

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

U.S.C Title 3 section 19 states

a)(1) If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, inability, or failure to qualify, there is neither a President nor Vice President to discharge the powers and duties of the office of President, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, upon his resignation as Speaker and as Representative in Congress, act as President.

Please note the underlined words as they are important.

If the President and Vice President can not discharge their duties, the Speaker of the House does not become president, but only acts as president.

So in the case of your example of a two term former president becoming Speaker of the House, Yes, if the president and the vice president resign without nominating their replacement, then the Speaker of the House would then "act" as president.

So far we have had only one president resign. Richard Nixon in 1974 resigned. Eventually Gerald Ford became president under steps kinda similar to your example

On 10 Oct 73, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned, creating a vacancy. Since we still had a President (Nixon) the Speaker of the House (Carl Albert) did not automatically move up.

The Speaker of the House would only move up if there were no replacements confirmed by the Senate and the House.

With the advice of the Senate (actually they told Nixon), Nixon nominated, on 12 Oct 73, Gerald Ford who was the House Minority Leader. Ford was confirmed by the Senate on 27 Nov 73 and confirmed by the House on 6 Dec 73. Hence became the Vice President (not acting VP) on 6 Dec 73.

When Nixon resigned on 9 Aug 74, Ford became President (25th Amendment) creating another vacancy in the office of Vice President.

Because we had a president (Ford) the Speaker of the House did not automatically move up. Ford nominated Nelson Rockefeller for Vice President.

Almost interesting trivia, the two other people considered for Vice President at this time were George H.W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld.

After a long confirmation hearing, Rockefeller was confirmed as Vice President on 19 Dec 74.

So in this instance we had two people (Ford and Rockefeller) appointed to the office of Vice President and one (Ford) later "promoted" to president and none of them were ever the Speaker of the House.

[Torplexed]

I beginning to think Trump is actually more like Obama than he lets on. He's selling hope and change. But instead of saying "Yes We Can," it's "Yes I can." Trump, the one-man government.

I do wish somebody would drop out. I'm tired of tracking all the also-rans. Instead, it look like more are getting in.

[Onkel Neal]

We need more debates :)

[vienna]

I found this interesting:

"Why rich political donors are wasting a lot of money"

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-rich-political-donors-are-wasting-a-lot-of-money-200003712.html#


<O>

[Onkel Neal]

Bernie Sanderz is coming on strong!
I bet Hillary is starting to sweat.

http://www.newsweek.com/poll-sanders-tops-clinton-new-hampshire-369204


Senator Bernie Sanders has opened a nine-point lead over fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton among party supporters in New Hampshire, according to an NBC News/Marist Poll released on Sunday.

The survey showed that 41 percent of Democratic voters would back Sanders while 32 percent would cast a vote for Clinton if the poll were held today and Vice President Joe Biden were on the ballot.

In July, Sanders had 32 percent support while Clinton had 42 percent backing in the same poll.

New Hampshire is due to hold its presidential primaries in January and many campaigns are courting voters in the small New England state.

NBC also reported that its polling shows Clinton with a lead in Iowa, another state with an early voice in the nomination process, though her margin over Sanders has shrunk to 11 percentage points from 24 points in July.

Meanwhile, the next Repub debate is in 10 days, and Carly and Dr. Carson look to wrench the lead from the Donald as Republicans favor anyone not already a politician. Get your popcorn ready!

[Oberon]

Will be very interesting to see if the relatively low key, low paid Sanders campaign can unseat the juggernaut of the Clinton campaign. Sanders has raised about $15m, while Clinton has raised $67m. He should be the underdog, and yet he's biting at Clintons heels. Perhaps the fact that this has only been a two horse race so far has helped.

Meanwhile, in the GOP, can someone tell them that the joke is over now, it's no longer funny and that they're actually trying to be electable. :yep:

[ikalugin]

If trump wins it would show the weakeness of US political system.

[STEED]

I hear from the radio...

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f18323f0b0ca5da379fa091fcf1dbfd760c1aa0f/c=60-0-963-679&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/01/24/USATODAY/USATODAY/635577234651294049-AX189-37CC-9.JPG

Could be running again for vice President is this a joke? :hmmm:

[Oberon]

I hear from the radio...

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f18323f0b0ca5da379fa091fcf1dbfd760c1aa0f/c=60-0-963-679&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/01/24/USATODAY/USATODAY/635577234651294049-AX189-37CC-9.JPG

Could be running again for vice President is this a joke? :hmmm:

Oh christ....Trump/Palin.

No...my mind implodes just trying to contemplate it. :dead:

[Torplexed]

You can't run for vice-president without being picked by the party nominee for president.

However, I've heard she wants a cabinet position. She wants to head the Department of Energy, so she can abolish it.

“I think a lot about the Department of Energy, because energy is my baby, oil and gas and minerals, those things that God has dumped on this part of the earth for mankind's use instead of us relying on unfriendly foreign nations, for us to import their -- their resources," Palin told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday.http://38.media.tumblr.com/ede920e064f0b98aee49362299224f94/tumblr_n9nbz8xfzk1rxevt4o1_250.gif