News Breaking Down the 2016 POTUS Race Contenders & Issues

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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are currently the leading candidates for the 2016 presidential election, with their character and qualifications being significant issues among voters. The crowded field includes 36 declared Republican candidates and 19 declared Democratic candidates, with many others considering runs. Major topics of discussion include nationalism versus internationalism and the stability of the nation-state system versus global governance. Recent polls show Trump as the front-runner, although his support has decreased, while Carly Fiorina has gained traction following strong debate performances. The election cycle is characterized as unusual, with many candidates and shifting public opinions on key issues.
  • #101
Part of the reason for the dim view may be because some of these kids spent $80K on a career path without a good outlook for employment at the end of it? Don't get me wrong, I loathe the idea of all our jobs being lost overseas, and Trump has a point there... I just see him as a serious danger on the world stage.

Everyone is always told to pursue the career of their dreams, and a lot of them do, but a rational person will make a weighted choice between what they love doing, and what will put food on the table... There's a limit to how many marine biologists the government can employ, if you don't have some skills the private sector can use then employment opportunities will be limited... unless you want fries with that.
 
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  • #102
phinds said:
No, I take a dim view of anyone who thinks The Donald would make a good president regardless of their other characteristics.

As do I but here is one explanation of why Trump is being successful and might win

My finding is the result of a national poll I conducted in the last five days of December under the auspices of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, sampling 1,800 registered voters across the country and the political spectrum. Running a standard statistical analysis, I found that education, income, gender, age, ideology and religiosity had no significant bearing on a Republican voter’s preferred candidate. Only two of the variables I looked at were statistically significant: authoritarianism, followed by fear of terrorism, though the former was far more significant than the latter.

Authoritarianism is not a new, untested concept in the American electorate. Since the rise of Nazi Germany, it has been one of the most widely studied ideas in social science. While its causes are still debated, the political behavior of authoritarians is not. Authoritarians obey. They rally to and follow strong leaders. And they respond aggressively to outsiders, especially when they feel threatened. From pledging to “make America great again” by building a wall on the border to promising to close mosques and ban Muslims from visiting the United States, Trump is playing directly to authoritarian inclinations.

Not all authoritarians are Republicans by any means; in national surveys since 1992, many authoritarians have also self-identified as independents and Democrats. And in the 2008 Democratic primary, the political scientist Marc Hetherington found that authoritarianism mattered more than income, ideology, gender, age and education in predicting whether voters preferred Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama. But Hetherington has also found, based on 14 years of polling, that authoritarians have steadily moved from the Democratic to the Republican Party over time. He hypothesizes that the trend began decades ago, as Democrats embraced civil rights, gay rights, employment protections and other political positions valuing freedom and equality. In my poll results, authoritarianism was not a statistically significant factor in the Democratic primary race, at least not so far, but it does appear to be playing an important role on the Republican side. Indeed, 49 percent of likely Republican primary voters I surveyed score in the top quarter of the authoritarian scale—more than twice as many as Democratic voters.

Political pollsters have missed this key component of Trump’s support
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/01/donald-trump-2016-authoritarian-213533#ixzz3zn78P7VI
In his book "Political Animal" Rick Shenkman without specifically talking about Trump provides light on his campaign strategy. excerpt for a review of the book. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...rumps-appeal-and-its-not-the-art-of-the-deal/

Shenkman, editor of the History News Network, delves into evolutionary psychology to illuminate why American voters so often misread their leaders, resist politicians who offer hard truths and succumb to facile arguments. It’s not that voters are stupid or ignorant, though certainly some of us are one or the other, or both. Rather, he contends, it’s that we’re hard-wired for a different world and different politics.

“There’s a mismatch between the brains we inherited from the Stone Age, when mankind lived in small communities,” Shenkman writes, “and the brain we need to deal with challenges we face in a democratic society consisting of millions of people.”

And talented politicians can exploit that mismatch. Trump is just the latest.

.........

Even though “Political Animals” never mentions Trump and does not touch on the 2016 presidential race, it’s impossible to read the book without thinking of the GOP front-runner, who has fashioned a campaign that appeals to instinct, anger, fear

..........
.Much has been made of Trump tapping into the anger and disaffection of portions of the GOP base. From an evolutionary perspective, Shenkman explains, anger was indeed useful for us as hunter-gatherers. “In a crisis requiring quick action, anger gave us the focus we needed to succeed,” he writes. In modern politics, however, “anger undermines democracy,” Shenkman argues. “People who are angry cannot see others’ point of view. Angry people don’t compromise.”
...............
But still, we let ourselves believe them, especially if they offer easy narratives and scapegoats. Voters “do not want the truth,” Shenkman writes. “We want hope. If the truth robs us of hope, we don’t want to hear it.” Skepticism, he explains, requires higher-order thinking and consumes more energy, time and brain power.
.

.
I blame the media for dwelling so much on Trump and his tactics. America, We have a big problem... I will fix it... I will make American great again...
Fear and Hope over and over drowning out the other candidates.
 
  • #103
Dotini said:
Do you take a dim view of those who have lost their jobs to foreign competition? Do you take a dim view of young men and women who have graduated college with $80k debt and no prospect of employment?
What are Trump's plans for addressing US corporations contracting for lower cost labor overseas, burgeoning student debt, and perceived lack of opportunities for university/college graduates?

Why do so many students take on such large debt? Why didn't they work and save (with their parents) for college? Why didn't they find a lower cost alternative? How about working while in school, or during summers?Meanwhile - some comedic relief - Johnny Depp stars as Donald Trump in Gloriously Absurd Funny or Die Movie
https://www.yahoo.com/movies/johnny-depp-stars-as-donald-trump-in-gloriously-160258808.html

Depp has the look. :oldlaugh:
 
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  • #104
Astronuc said:
What are Trump's plans for addressing US corporations contracting for lower cost labor overseas, burgeoning student debt, and perceived lack of opportunities for university/college graduates?

Depp has the look. :oldlaugh:

As far as I know , Trump plans to lower US corporate taxation to 15% and to "make much better deals" in order to bring a flood of US jobs back home from China, Japan and Mexico. And of course build the Great Wall. In brief, he is selling the slogan "Make America Great Again", a different way of saying "Peace and Prosperity". And of course populist nationalists are lapping it up. I think they are desperate, sincere and committed.

But please don't mistake me for a Trump fan, I'm already retired and wealthy. I haven't voted for a major party presidential ticket for the last 6 election cycles. I have thought Trump was an amusing loose cannon who would soon enough launch himself through the rails of the galleon to the bottom of the sea. But it now seems Trump will not self-destruct, so it's up to the establishment to take him down with dirty tricks since there's no way they will have a better message. Cue Donald Segretti.

8d8f9a9db25f0c4b67deb4b6d455b37fabf8d7bd.jpg

Johnny Depp as Donald Trump (http://www.funnyordie.com/slideshows/94b53afd14/9-very-classy-photos-from-the-fodtrumpmovie?_cc=__d___&_ccid=57698c4cefe2c0f4)
 
  • #105
Greg Bernhardt said:
Rubio's poor performance was a bit unexpected. It appears he's another 4 years away from being a viable candidate.
Christie trashed him in the last debate; Rick Santorum's endorsement of Rubio ended up as a Christie attack ad against Rubio (worst endorsement ever, even worse than Palin's endorsement of Trump), plus $6 million worth of attack ads run by Bush or groups supporting Bush.

But still, between Bush and Kasich, Trump had $5 million worth of attack ads aimed at him and he won. And Bush had the least amount of money spent on attack ads against him (a little less than $3 million spent mainly by Rubio) and he barely beat out Rubio.

Rubio survived, but only because Bush didn't do any better than Rubio. Kasich's a long shot to raise the money needed to compete in states past New Hampshire. All in all, it was a win for both Trump and Cruz (who barely spent any money or time in New Hampshire and still came in third).

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...al-candidates-attacks-new-hampshire.html?_r=0
 
  • #106
Dotini said:
Do you take a dim view of those who have lost their jobs to foreign competition? Do you take a dim view of young men and women who have graduated college with $80k debt and no prospect of employment?
What does that have to do with Trump? Are you saying the unemployed would be smart to vote For trump? For what reason?
 
  • #107
Rubio under pressure as Republicans debate in South Carolina
http://news.yahoo.com/rubio-under-pressure-republicans-debate-075954788.html

Experience seems to be an issue, along with positions on immigration, health care, foreign and domestic commerce and the regulation thereof, . . . .

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/gop-candidates-to-senate-don-1364649168953398.html
GOP candidates urge Senate to block Obama’s Supreme Court pick
 
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  • #108
South Carolina republican caucus primary is this Saturday, February 20.

George W. Bush offers tough Trump takedown in campaign debut
http://news.yahoo.com/brothers-foreign-policy-controversies-shadow-jeb-bush-sc-093223612--election.html

Will GW's presence help his brother Jeb?
http://news.yahoo.com/george-w-bush-save-jeb-110700528.htmlThe SC democratic caucus primary is the following Saturday, February 27.Nomination of a Supreme Court justice to replace the late Antonin Scalia is a looming issue.
 
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  • #109
SC uses primaries (like NH), not caucuses (like Iowa).
 
  • #110
jtbell said:
SC uses primaries (like NH), not caucuses (like Iowa).
Correction made. I was looking at a page that had Nevada caucus and South Carolina primary in a list and transposed the caucus/primary. :confused:
 
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  • #111
The Democrats in SC have in fact used caucuses in the past. My wife participated in our local Democratic presidential caucus in 1988, at which she was the only supporter of Paul Simon.
 
  • #112
  • #113
jtbell said:
A new TV commercial for Rubio talks about "morning in America" while showing the sun rising over Vancouver, British Columbia. :rolleyes:

http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-35589655
Yeah, all those cities by the sea look alike. Rubio is advertising metaphorically.

It would have been great if Ted Cruz had done the add. :biggrin: Trump would have been all over him.Rubio's add mentions $20 trillion of national debt, which it probably will be when Obama leaves office.

US Debt as of February 2016: $18,989,803,014,663 - according to the Concord Coalition on February 16, 201
http://www.concordcoalition.org/us-total-national-debt?gclid=CPTd-M-S_soCFdgVgQod6K4Mvg

Code: 
   Date           Debt US$
09/30/2015   18,150,604,277,750.63
09/30/2014   17,824,071,380,733.82
09/30/2013   16,738,183,526,697.32
09/30/2012   16,066,241,407,385.89
09/30/2011   14,790,340,328,557.15
09/30/2010   13,561,623,030,891.79
09/30/2009   11,909,829,003,511.75
09/30/2008   10,024,724,896,912.49
09/30/2007    9,007,653,372,262.48
09/30/2006    8,506,973,899,215.23
09/30/2005    7,932,709,661,723.50
09/30/2004    7,379,052,696,330.32
09/30/2003    6,783,231,062,743.62
09/30/2002    6,228,235,965,597.16
09/30/2001    5,807,463,412,200.06
09/30/2000    5,674,178,209,886.86

Source: https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm

Congress is a partner is this debacle.
 
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  • #115
Astronuc said:
US Debt as of February 2016: $18,989,803,014,663 - according to the Concord Coalition on February 16, 201
http://www.concordcoalition.org/us-total-national-debt?gclid=CPTd-M-S_soCFdgVgQod6K4Mvg

Congress is a partner is this debacle.

Should the world and US economies turn to recession, this US debt will still be owed by the US taxpayer. The collapse of this debt bubble would be horrific to behold. Not only are congress and the executive responsible, but so are regulatory agencies such as the Fed . In my view, particular culpability must reside with the academics who provided the imprimatur of theoretical legitimacy to go so far out on the limb. They served up the Kool-Aid that the bankers, politicians, legislators, regulators and pundits so eagerly drank to justify the risks. Trump has repeatedly warned of this debt bubble, as have others before him.
 
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  • #116
Astronuc said:
Congress is a partner is this debacle.
Since 2010 not so much. How many times does Congress need to shut down the government, or threaten to do so, over excessive spending fights before it's no longer a partner to excessive spending.
 
  • #117
mheslep said:
Since 2010 not so much. How many times does Congress need to shut down the government, or threaten to do so, over excessive spending fights before it's no longer a partner to excessive spending.
All blame goes to Republicans. They're terrorists for "holding the economy hostage" in the debt ceiling fight, unwilling to compromise and yet still somehow responsible for high debts. Meanwhile, Clinton balanced the budget all by himself! :rolleyes:

The reality is that both Clinton and Obama put significant effort into increasing the debt substantially beyond what it currently is (what they succeeded in adding) and only failed to increase it further due to concerted Republican efforts to stop them. It's one of the only real (hollow/incomplete) "successes" of the recent Republican controlled Congresses!
 
  • #119
Ted Cruz Vows To Sell Off Or Give Away Nevada’s Public Lands
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/02/19/3751233/ted-cruz-public-lands-ad/

Not all citizens. Just those who have the money.

Of course, the State could purchase it for all Nevadans. OK, they won't, because that would be using taxpayer money.

So, sell the good land off to those who can afford it. And I'm sure, they shouldn't have to pay property taxes.

Where and when does the nonsense end?
 
  • #121
jtbell said:
Bush has dropped out.

!Jeb
 
  • #122
Trump wins in South Carolina, Clinton in Nevada
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c4f378baf5404e569d3a2a4e2581996b/republicans-face-s-carolina-dems-battle-nevada

Jeb Bush Ends Presidential Campaign
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/20/467505778/jeb-bush-ends-presidential-campaign
https://www.yahoo.com/politics/jeb-bush-drops-republican-race-president-014432613--election.html

Donald Trump has won the South Carolina primary, while Florida Sen. Marco Rubio appears to have edged out Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for second place.
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/20/467507410/trump-cruz-and-rubio-battle-for-south-carolina-prize

Earlier tonight, there were reports that Trump was losing support.
Code: 
Trump  31%
Cruz  19%
Rubio  17%
Kasich 10%
Bush  9%
Carson  7%
South Carolina
https://www.washingtonpost.com/2016-election-results/south-carolina/
Donald Trump is favored to win the Republican primary in the crucial Palmetto State. (6:25 pm EST)

Washington Post analysis and data from Huffington Post's Pollster. Feb 18

New data: Donald Trump loses support ahead of South Carolina primary
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-dat...head-of-south-carolina-primary-election-2016/

NBC: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz lead the field into the South Carolina Republican Primary. (before precincts begin reporting)
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/201...licans-next-choose-presidential-races-n521651

"Many Palmetto State republicans apparently have indicated that sharing religious beliefs with a presidential candidate is important to them, including 45 percent who feel it matters a great deal, 32 percent feel that it matters somewhat, while 11 percent apparently feel it does not matter much, and 11 percent who expressed sharing religious beliefs doesn't matter at all." Kind of interesting influence. I have to wonder how strong the sentiment is across the south and in the Midwest.

Cruz Hopes To Overcome Bitter Accusations With Faith
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/19/46736...pes-to-overcome-bitter-accusations-with-faithMeanwhile - way out west - apparently Hillary Clinton declares a big win. 5% is not a big margin.
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/20/467503655/hillary-clinton-projected-to-win-nevada-caucuses
 
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  • #123
Wealthy donors drawn to Rubio White House bid after Bush drops out
http://news.yahoo.com/wealthy-donors-drawn-rubio-white-house-bid-bush-052900358.html

"Jeb's network is already naturally migrating to Marco," said Gaylord Hughey, a top Bush fundraiser from Texas, echoing what four other top donors told Reuters. "It's the clear path."

"It's a stampede," added another donor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wanted to give Bush some time after dropping out before he went public with his support of Rubio, the U.S. senator from Florida.
Rubio, the new establishment candidate.John Kasich's South Carolina Primary Speech
http://news.yahoo.com/video/john-kasichs-south-carolina-primary-011802505.html
 
  • #124
Latest http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/2016_presidential_race.html on GOP possible match ups versus Clinton, suggesting nearly anybody standing up can beat Clinton in the general election, *except* for Trump:

  • Clinton vs Trump: Clinton by 2.8
  • Clinton vs Rubio: Rubio by 4.7
  • Clinton vs Cruz: Cruz by 0.8.
  • Clinton vs Kasich: Kasich by 7.4
Assuming Trump is beaten in the primaries, he may be doing the GOP a favor by drawing the Democratic smears, i.e. a sort of honeypot, like this comparison of Trump to Hitler published in the Washington Post, a former newspaper and now tabloid.
 
  • #125
mheslep said:
Latest http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/2016_presidential_race.html on GOP possible match ups versus Clinton, suggesting nearly anybody standing up can beat Clinton in the general election, *except* for Trump:

  • Clinton vs Trump: Clinton by 2.8
  • Clinton vs Rubio: Rubio by 4.7
  • Clinton vs Cruz: Cruz by 0.8.
  • Clinton vs Kasich: Kasich by 7.4
Assuming Trump is beaten in the primaries, he may be doing the GOP a favor by drawing the Democratic smears, i.e. a sort of honeypot, like this comparison of Trump to Hitler published in the Washington Post, a former newspaper and now tabloid.

This is assuming that Clinton actually wins the Democratic nomination. There is still a (strong) possibility that Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic nomination, and I've seen other polls which indicate that Sanders can handily beat all of the other GOP candidates for the presidency (including Trump). I'll provide a link to that poll subsequently once I find it.

Aside: It is curious that Clinton's primarily line of attack against Sanders is that she is "more electable" than Sanders, when the polls indicate the opposite.
 
  • #126
StatGuy2000 said:
There is still a (strong) possibility that Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic nomination,
Sanders has done better than expected and well in the NE, but he's completely non-competitive with Clinton in the South. Since SC and Nevada: Clinton 502 delegates, Sanders 70, and Sanders doesn't have four other guys he can claim are drawing off his votes and delegates. In the South, Sanders is no contest. Georgia is Clinton +38. Texas is Clinton +29. Florida is Clinton +39. NC Clinton +20. Virginia Clinton +17. The Democratic nomination is over unless Clinton gets a criminal referral from the FBI on the handling of classified information.

Edit
StatGuy2000 said:
Aside: It is curious that Clinton's primarily line of attack against Sanders is that she is "more electable" than Sanders, when the polls indicate the opposite.
Agreed.
 
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  • #127
Learn how to speak to the audience - Kasich thanks women ‘who left their kitchens’ to support him
https://www.yahoo.com/politics/kasich-women-who-left-their-kitchens-204507982.html

Well, the may have been the case 40 years ago. My mom spent a lot of time in the kitchen. So did I in the afternoon before dinner.

Ted Cruz fires longtime campaign spokesman Rick Tyler over tweet (not sure about Facebook) about Rubio and the Bible
https://www.yahoo.com/politics/ted-cruz-fires-spokesman-over-facebook-post-about-223008143.html

GOP to Kasich: Get out <- That's not nice!
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/gop-insiders-want-kasich-gone-219634
Republican leaders want him to step aside in favor of other establishment candidates.
 
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  • #128
mheslep said:
Sanders has done better than expected and well in the NE, but he's completely non-competitive with Clinton in the South. Since SC and Nevada: Clinton 502 delegates, Sanders 70, and Sanders doesn't have four other guys he can claim are drawing off his votes and delegates. In the South, Sanders is no contest. Georgia is Clinton +38. Texas is Clinton +29. Florida is Clinton +39. NC Clinton +20. Virginia Clinton +17. The Democratic nomination is over unless Clinton gets a criminal referral from the FBI on the handling of classified information.

From the various different news sources I've followed, Sanders is primarily non-competitive among older (and especially older African-American voters), who comprised a significant chunk of the primary voting in Nevada, and likely many of the other states as well. That being said, the early polls have shown Clinton being far ahead of Sanders, only to see her lead diminish (after all, the Sanders campaign have sought to reach out to African American and Hispanic American voters, and Clinton is not necessarily as popular among minority voters compared to her husband), so in no way do I think that the Democratic nomination is even close to being over -- not by a long shot. I am of course setting aside any of the controversy regarding the handling of classified information on Clinton's part, which from what I've read amounts to a whole bunch of nothing.
 
  • #129
StatGuy2000 said:
That being said, the early polls have shown Clinton being far ahead of Sanders, only to see her lead diminish
Not really the case. Sanders and Clinton were http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/ia/iowa_democratic_presidential_caucus-3195.html Sanders has never been remotely close in the South. I agree he'll improve, but he's still down double digits with a week to go in Texas. There's no such history in the southern polls to show when Sanders has ever had any strength, in any southern state.

StatGuy2000 said:
(after all, the Sanders campaign have sought to reach out to African American and Hispanic American voters, and Clinton is not necessarily as popular among minority voters compared to her husband),

The candidates don't include Bill; its Bernie v Hillary. Among minorities, it is no contest.

Diff-Between-White-and-Non-White-Dmocrats.png
 
  • #130
mheslep said:
Not really the case. Sanders and Clinton were http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/ia/iowa_democratic_presidential_caucus-3195.html Sanders has never been remotely close in the South. I agree he'll improve, but he's still down double digits with a week to go in Texas. There's no such history in the southern polls to show when Sanders has ever had any strength, in any southern state.
The candidates don't include Bill; its Bernie v Hillary. Among minorities, it is no contest.

Diff-Between-White-and-Non-White-Dmocrats.png

The graphics above indicates that, while there is still a sizable gap in support between Clinton and Sanders among non-white Democratic voters, that gap has narrowed somewhat (the trajectory of support for Sanders is on the upswing, and the support for Clinton is on the downswing). This indicates to me that there is still room for the Sanders campaign to make inroads among non-white voters if they tailor their message in the right way (the article you linked indicates some problems that the campaign has in that area).

Unlike you, I am at this stage by no means dismissing a Sanders win just yet. For a supposed front-runner (and when I say front-runner, all of the media commentary had seemed to indicate that Clinton was a virtual shoo-in for the Democratic presidential nomination, many months before actual campaigning even begun), Clinton ought to be doing much better than she actually is.
 
  • #132
Can anyone clarify Sanders is a Marxist and/or his Marxist ties? Also, it seems Sanders backed the terrorist IRA group during their prison starvation tactic? (these are easily found on google, but I can easily find the many sources if you want, I just can't right at this moment as I am so busy) Is he just some hippy that goes back and forth between anti-government issues when what we need right now is someone that can bring things together?
 
  • #133
  • #134
Astronuc said:
"Ohio Gov. John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson remain in the race, but neither was competitive in Nevada."
To give Rubio and Cruz a chance everyone else needs to drop out.
 
  • #135
Greg Bernhardt said:
To give Rubio and Cruz a chance everyone else needs to drop out.
I'm sure Cruz feels Rubio et al should drop out, and Rubio feels Cruz et al should drop out.Cruz made comment a few days ago about having an active military of 1.4 million. Ostensibly, he would have to cut other parts of the federal budget so as not to increase overall spending.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/south.../2016/02/ted-cruz-2016-military-policy-219322
 
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  • #136
Evo said:
Can anyone clarify Sanders is a Marxist and/or his Marxist ties? Also, it seems Sanders backed the terrorist IRA group during their prison starvation tactic?
It appears there are a number of sites, which portray Sanders as a Marxist.

Sanders in his own words: "I don’t believe government should own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a fair deal." The statement is about 2/3's down the page in the following link:
https://berniesanders.com/democratic-socialism-in-the-united-states/

Some 'Marxist' website on Sanders: http://www.marxist.com/usa-bernie-sanders-and-the-2016-presidential-election.htm

Regarding the IRA, it seems more a matter of protesting British treatment of incarcerted IRA members. A letter to Thatcher is posted, a
http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/h...t-Thatcher-about-the-IRA-hunger-strikers.html

I haven't found any endorsement or support of the IRA or their use of violence against Protestants or others.As for Sanders ability to unite the country, some his rhetoric seems somewhat divisive, or at least inflammatory to some.
 
  • #137
Astronuc said:
It appears there are a number of sites, which portray Sanders as a Marxist.

Sanders in his own words: "I don’t believe government should own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a fair deal." The statement is about 2/3's down the page in the following link:
https://berniesanders.com/democratic-socialism-in-the-united-states/

Some 'Marxist' website on Sanders: http://www.marxist.com/usa-bernie-sanders-and-the-2016-presidential-election.htm

Regarding the IRA, it seems more a matter of protesting British treatment of incarcerted IRA members. A letter to Thatcher is posted, a
http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/h...t-Thatcher-about-the-IRA-hunger-strikers.html

I haven't found any endorsement or support of the IRA or their use of violence against Protestants or others.As for Sanders ability to unite the country, some his rhetoric seems somewhat divisive, or at least inflammatory to some.
Thank you! We need to scrap the whole bunch of contenders and start over with a fresh batch, just IMO.

Why isn't Mitt Romney running? If he stepped into the race right now, wouldn't he more or less be guaranteed the Republican nomination?
 
  • #138
Evo said:
Why isn't Mitt Romney running? If he stepped into the race right now, wouldn't he more or less be guaranteed the Republican nomination?
He doesn't want to lose for a third time (against Hillary). I am not sure Trump voters would switch to Romney. Trump voters are trying to make a statement.
 
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  • #139
Chris Collins explains his support for Trump’s candidacy - What!? Temporary insanity? One too many :headbang: ?
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/washington-politics/chris-collins-explains-his-support-for-trumps-candidacy-20160224
WASHINGTON – Rep. Chris Collins, a mainstream Republican from Clarence, on Wednesday became the first sitting member of Congress to endorse bombastic billionaire Donald Trump for president.

“Donald Trump has clearly demonstrated that he has both the guts and the fortitude to return our nation’s jobs stolen by China, take on our enemies like ISIS, Iran, North Korea and Russia, and most importantly, re-establish the opportunity for our children and grandchildren to attain the American Dream,” Collins said in a statement released first to The Buffalo News.
:oldsurprised:

I heard Collins say that Trump is a businessman, and we need to run the country like a business.

It reminds me of a comment a manager once made to me, "A business is not a democracy." Funny that the top managers made out like bandits when the company crashed. Two had received nice bonuses and golden parachutes. Didn't leave much for the remaining stockholders.
 
  • #140
  • #141
Astronuc said:
Chris Collins explains his support for Trump’s candidacy - What!?
Heh heh! Just one more piece of writing on the wall that Trump - like it or not - is nearly certain to be the Republican nominee and quite possibly the next US president. We all need to wrap our heads around that.
 
  • #142
Dotini said:
Heh heh! Just one more piece of writing on the wall that Trump - like it or not - is nearly certain to be the Republican nominee and quite possibly the next US president. We all need to wrap our heads around that.

I have always conceded that Trump may win the nomination, but I don't think he will ever actually elected president (there's a big difference between winning the nomination and winning the general presidential election). But if in the (unlikely) event that Trump actually gets elected, I am considering renouncing my US citizenship.

On that note, there have been various posts on Twitter from Americans who have stated they will move to Canada in the event that Trump is elected President. I don't know how serious any of these posts are (I suspect that many people say they will move to Canada to vent, without actually following through), but here is a link from the Huffington Post below discussing this.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/robert-waite/donald-trump-president_b_8828978.html
 
  • #143
StatGuy2000 said:
I have always conceded that Trump may win the nomination, but I don't think he will ever actually elected president (there's a big difference between winning the nomination and winning the general presidential election). But if in the (unlikely) event that Trump actually gets elected, I am considering renouncing my US citizenship.

On that note, there have been various posts on Twitter from Americans who have stated they will move to Canada in the event that Trump is elected President. I don't know how serious any of these posts are (I suspect that many people say they will move to Canada to vent, without actually following through), but here is a link from the Huffington Post below discussing this.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/robert-waite/donald-trump-president_b_8828978.html
If Trump is elected, I won't leave the US. But I will be very, very distressed.
 
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  • #144
lisab said:
If Trump is elected, I won't leave the US. But I will be very, very distressed.

As will I -- it was bad enough that the US was stuck with George W. Bush as president for 2 terms. ?:) The thought of a ******* (word censored) clown & carnival barker like Trump as president makes me shudder!

Now as it happens, I live in Canada, and hence will not have to leave the US.
 
  • #145
lisab said:
If Trump is elected, I won't leave the US. But I will be very, very distressed.
As an outsider, I believe it is all just political dramas mainly to filter all citizens'ideas to understand their desires ranging from those for basic needs or life support to many more for advanced levels of higher social development.
They are kind of mental challenges to all citizens particularly patriots but then everyone would be more considerate of their own votes and for the one they opt to choose as the next president. Don't be silly (:DD)
 
  • #146
We do not know the future - it is not set in stone. Perhaps a Trump presidency will have silver linings we cannot presently imagine?

My good friend John, a prominent Seattle bookseller, came down with shingles the very day GW won his second election. IMO, It's bad to take politics too seriously. I have friends, family, property and deep roots that are not worth abandoning, and I expect you might, too.

FWIW, I expect we will get Trump due to the poor choices we have made in the past.
 
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  • #147
Chris Collins' 2013 campaign vision statement similar to Trumps "make America great again" promise, “The United States of America will reclaim its past glory as the Land of Opportunity, restoring the promise of the American Dream, for our children and grandchildren.”

Does anyone have any clue to which period in our history either might be referring ?
 
  • #148
Astronuc said:
It appears there are a number of sites, which portray Sanders as a Marxist.

Sanders in his own words: "I don’t believe government should own the means of production, ..".

So he says; he may think otherwise. Few leftist politicians outside of the like of Venezuela talk any more about nationalizing companies given the failed history of state companies. Instead, they can propose seizing a large chunk of the company's profits and regulating it's every move. Why go to the trouble of keeping a firm on the national books when it can be controlled in detail by other means, and then, should the firm fail, lay blame on the foibles of private enterprise.

Sanders windfall profits tax:
https://votesmart.org/public-statem...ig-oils-big-profits&speechType=4#.Vs9iPahOmf0
 
Last edited:
  • #149
lisab said:
I will be very, very distressed.
As distressed as I at Obama's re-election?
 
  • #150
Op-Ed (LA Times) A presidential run by Michael Bloomberg could plunge the country into a constitutional crisis
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-e...-12th-amendment-bloomberg-20160225-story.html

In the next couple of weeks, Michael R. Bloomberg will decide whether to launch an independent bid for the presidency. That's an enticing prospect, since the continuing strength of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders threatens to force a radical choice between two extremes. Nevertheless, before succumbing to centrist temptation, the former New York City mayor should take a hard look at the Constitution. He will find that his run for the White House could precipitate one of the worst constitutional crises in American history.

The problem is the 12th Amendment. Enacted in 1804, it establishes the rules for presidential selection if no candidate secures a majority of 270 electoral votes — a distinct possibility should Bloomberg enter the race. The sphere of competition will then move from the states to the House of Representatives, . . . .
Even without Bloomberg, it could still move into the House of Representatives if neither GOP or Dem candidate obtains 270 electoral votes.
 

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