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I voted. I voted for more Rs than Ds but those Rs were mostly judges.
Republicans have taken control of the Senate. That is all.
Yeah, I had a mix today. Kasich is an alright Governor, the republican treasurer is a douche who only wants to use it to propel himself to a Senate seat (he got elected as treasurer and the very next year already was running for Senator) so I went democrat there. State judges and local judges/prosecutor were mostly republican, but they do a good job so they got my vote.Quote:
Originally Posted by souljahbill
And county commissioners and city positions ended up mostly democrat as the current commissioners/city council (mostly republicans) are fucking brain dead morons. The city council is hated by what seems like the entire city (for one reason or another after multiple horrible decisions and/or fuckups in recent years).
So it ended up being probably a 50/50 mix combined federal/state/county/city.
While they took control of it, they don't have enough to override any vetos by Obama, so I have little to no faith of anything changing or getting done still these next two years. The House and (possibly now Senate) will still try to repeatedly repeal Obamacare and keep trotting out repeals for various Obama programs or bills, Obama will veto, nothing will change, rinse, wash, repeat, nothing will still get done.Quote:
Originally Posted by bdoughty
Instead of working together with Obama on things, they'll just continue trotting out bills trying to force Obama to go on record as vetoing it and just continue to play partisan politics. It's all that will ever happen anymore. We've reached the point of non-return in terms of nonpartisan politics and trying to get things done for the good of the country instead of toeing the party line and trying win brownie points and money with their party donors.
The only thing anything will ever get done in this country ever again (short of just completely firing the entirety of congress and starting over or forcing term limits on career politicians) is one party or the other having full power in control of the White House, Senate and House. Short of that, nothing will ever get done, now and in the future.
You obviously read the American Politics script because this is EXACTLY what will happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by SmoothPancakes
I'm still hopeful, though not overly so, that we'll see a split in one of the parties and we'll have a legitimate third party sometime in my lifetime. I don't see this cycle ending otherwise.Quote:
Originally Posted by SmoothPancakes
One of the two things I'm most envious about England's politics is their multi-party system. Not that it's necessarily better for the government (I don't know much about the efficiency of their government so I can't compare), but it at least seems significantly more likely that one would be able to find a party that matches their ideas, and not have to lump themselves in with the Ds or the Rs just to conform (I get labeled as a D at work because I've voted for Obama, yet I'm probably one of the only ones at work willing to consider both parties when voting). The other thing I'm jealous of England is that they don't start the campaign for Prime Minister until a matter of weeks before the election. I want to say they have a law against it. Can you imagine how much more could get done in American politics if they weren't running for re-election from Day 1 (or at least from halfway through their term)?
Oh, and Question Time/PMQs. Definitely wish we had something that forced our governmental leaders to actually answer questions.
As a Libertarian I have long hoped for a third party as an alternative to our two collectivist parties. Sadly, so many now look to government as a solution to their problems and are willing to cede liberty for security I doubt a viable third party is possible. If for example Libertarians split 30% from the GOP (fiscal conservatives, socially more liberal) in elections it would guarantee Dem victory. If an even more extreme left/collectivist party formed (say Green or socialist) took 30% from the Dems it would guarantee GOP victory. Both parties have done their share to undermine individual Liberty and responsibility over the generations. As I have stated elsewhere our choice is between collectivism and extreme collectivism. At my age I just want to see a slowing in the decline of liberty. I for one like gridlock in government, that is the way it was founded.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffHCross
Again with government getting stuff done. Smooth, I am for government filling a role. But, as with Rome when certain groups are allowed to vote themselves stuff (bread, circuses) in the name of government doing FOR the people, there will have to be others that the government will do stuff "TO". Government is supposed to be for all, not the wealthy, not the poor and not the "working families" or what ever slogan is used. Should be for all.Quote:
Originally Posted by SmoothPancakes
So Smooth, how is Kasich as a governor? Of the GOP candidates, he's the one I like most.
#1 doesn't matter as he has less than 0% chance of winning the nomination - he expanded Obamacare/medicaid in Ohio - that's a death sentence in todays GOP.Quote:
Originally Posted by souljahbill
#2 he's center right (used to be more conservative) but has moved left/toward the center in recent years
I'm aware that he won't win. It'll either Trump or Cruz and there's no way I'm voting for either. Kasich is a Republican I could actually vote for.Quote:
Originally Posted by CLW
Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I will never vote for Trump or Cruz. Both of those fuckers can blow me. The way Trump has been going, he's damn near Hitler, Jr. Rubio and Bush I'm really not feeling, but depending on what kind of messages they shape with their campaigns if they were to take the nomination, I'd be willing to consider them.
For me, Kasich is the one Republican running for President right now that I would actually vote for come next November. During his time as Governor here in Ohio, he's had some good and not so good ideas from my point of view, namely selling off prisons to private for-profit entities and Senate Bill 5.
One of the prisons sold, the group that took over failed two audits and was cited for 47 contractual violations. While I fall VERY much on the conservative side when it comes to crime, prison and supporting the death penalty, the sales were for nothing more than a temporary influx of cash to offset a budget deficit. While many in prison are nothing more than human scum, they still are human and shouldn't be screwed over 10 ways from Sunday by shitty private companies that only care about sucking as much profit as possible from the prisons.
Senate Bill 5 was a republican attempt to "restrict", effectively kill off, the collective bargaining rights of public employees (police, fire, teachers, etc). Kasich signed the bill, but opponents got it before voters and it was overwhelmingly rejected by Ohio citizens 61% to 39%. Thankfully, Kasich was man enough to say that the people had spoken and he would respect what they have to say on the matter and has since dropped any attempts for something similar to SB5.
On the topic of schools, he is very supportive of charter schools and voucher programs, something I very much disagree with him on. During his time, funding for public schools have declined by around $500 million while funding for charter schools have gone up by at least 27-30%. So that is one thing that I very much oppose him on.
He urged the invasion of Iraq back in 2002, he wants ground troops to fight ISIS, opposed the nuclear agreement with Iran and wants to end sequestration and increase military spending, because spending more than the next 20 countries combined isn't enough. He also wants to send an entire carrier battle group through the South China Sea to "send a message" to China, likely ramping up tensions there.
He's been actually pretty decent on the environment. While he seems to be anti-EPA a lot, he has acknowledged that climate chance is real and is a problem, he has signed bills and taking actions to try and preserve the Great Lakes and protect Lake Erie's water quality as it affect the entirety of the northern border of Ohio and is a huge issue, especially after the water supply for the entire city of Toledo was made undrinkable for a number of days in 2014 by algae blooms on Lake Erie that got into the water system by the city's intake plants a couple miles out in Lake Erie. He has supported raising taxes on fracking in Ohio and has even opposed fracking in Ohio's state parks and forests.
As for supporting medicaid, yes, I know conservatives refuse to acknowledge the poor of this country and would rather they die than get the health care they need and deserve as simple human beings, but by enacting the medicaid expansion through Obamacare, he helped nearly 275,000 poor working Ohioans get insurance coverage.
He has agreed to abide by the ruling on *** marriage, and even came out against Kim Davis saying she's a government employee, not running a church, and that it's her responsibility to comply with and follow the law.
So, like every politician, he has his positives and his negatives. However, he is definitely more of a moderate conservative and while he does fall largely on the conservative side on many issues, he also is actually willing to use his brain and use logic. He's also not fucking batshit insane like Cruz or Trump, so that's another huge plus for him. I'm honestly pulling for him, because I would very much rather him than any of the other Republicans for President.
I'm actually in favor of trump. I don't follow politics that closely, nor do I care for the most part, but trump is a popular pick. Everyone knows him from The Apprentice as well as before that too. IMO, he has the best shot at beating Bernie's socialist agenda or Hillary's continuation of obama's plans.
As a republican, I do not think a safe pick in this election is wise for the nomination, even if they'd be better off for the country. We need a candidate that's going to win first and foremost. A lot of people don't like trump because he isn't afraid to offend. I think that that's a good thing. We've gotten way too soft, care way too much about what the rest of the world thinks of is, and have let political correctness turn us into a bunch of pussies. We need to become the leader of the world again and I think trump is the best candidate to do that as he wont take shit from anyone.
I also think business wise, he would do a lot of good for our economy. And I'll support anyone who will put more money in my pocket instead of taking it away from me.
No offense, but that post and that reasoning for being likely to vote for Trump scares the shit out of me.
Fair enough, but that's all I can say because I choose not to follow politics closely. I like some other things about him, like making Mexico pay for the wall, his support of the 2nd Amendment, and a few other things but I think his business mind will impact our country the most.Quote:
Originally Posted by SmoothPancakes
Yeah, not surprising, Trump wants to boycott Apple because they actually are interested in protecting the security of their users devices. Not surprising in the least. Der Fuhrer Trump and the NSA would LOVE the ability to get into any and every device and bypass security through a backdoor in the system. It would make spying on any citizen in the United States and elsewhere a cakewalk.
And I'm sure we can trust the government entirely to only use this demanded product only in this one sole case, and to never ever use it ever again. I'm sure they'll pinky swear. And better pray that coding never ends up anywhere on a government computer connected to the internet that hackers can break into and steal. Then everyone is potentially fucked once that gets out into the wild in the hands of criminals and hackers.
I will vote for any Democrat or Republican that will build a wall around Oregon to contain RAM. My apologies to Oregon in advance but the rest of society has to come first. Greater good and all.
Kasich is the butt of every joke here in Ohio. He hasn't done anything really outside of worrying about national affairs.Quote:
Originally Posted by souljahbill
insert generic sig
That's how Bobby Jindal was for LA except it was terrible as a governor and even worse as a national figure.Quote:
Originally Posted by thatBuckeye
Pardon my ignorance my American friends, but I must ask... "How the heck is Trump doing what he is doing?" The things he says are crazy and yet the Republicans continue to flock to him. Enlighten me please. I know what the CNN pundits are saying but what does average Joe American citizen think?
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...cc36c527aa.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by jaymo76
It's fairly straight forward:Quote:
Originally Posted by jaymo76
#1 People are PISSED at ALL politicians and they don't care what he says because they think he isn't a politician. A ton of working class (factory) jobs are gone and are NEVER coming back and Trump has tapped into that anger.
You say Republicans are flocking to him and that's not entirely accurate - no real conservative would EVER vote for Trump b/c they know he doesn't mean/believe in 1% of the crap he is saying and just wants the power and will cut all kinds of deals with liberals if he gets into office
The latest info I have seen indicates somewhere around 40% of conservatives/republicans will NEVER vote for Trump in the primary or general. I am one of the 40% who will NEVER vote for Trump. Of course, I'm not voting for Clinton either so I'll show up vote 3rd party or just leave the POTUS space blank when I vote.
Unless until Trump is in a 1 v 1 matchup v. Cruz or Rubio he wins. Most likely it is a 1 v 1 after next Tuesday (super Tuesday lots of states have their primary including my state of Oklahoma).
Yeah, I figure Kasich will be out by the end of March. He's mainly hanging around just to get to Michigan and Ohio, hoping for any momentum from those two states (and maybe a couple of others around the Great Lakes). Other than that, he's a member of the walking dead with Carson. It's basically Trump, and then Rubio vs. Cruz at this point.
:up:Quote:
Originally Posted by SmoothPancakes
I've been on the Last Week Tonight train since its debut and this episode was easily one of the best (but doesn't top the feud with a FIFA official).Quote:
Originally Posted by gschwendt
http://youtu.be/DQmGMJBHhaI
I love Last Week Tonight. I'm half tempted to pay for HBO Go solely for that show.
Watching your Super Tuesday... Yikes! Two incredibly unlikable candidates for president have emerged. Devil you know or devil you don't?
Clinton is the only option for Democrats. Sanders is a socialist and will never get elected President, no matter what his rabid supporters say.
Republicans, it's you're fucked no matter what. Trump, Cruz and Rubio are all the same as trying to decide between a pineapple or a pine tree shoved up your ass, Little Nicky Hitler in Hell style.
Agreed that Sanders never had a chance. I have no love for any of the Republican nominees, just as I have no love for Clinton. We are fucked no matter who is elected. It almost makes me wish for four more years of Obama.
What we need for a President is really moot at this point as the zealots on both sides of the isle are hell bent on cutting of their nose to spite their face. As long as Congress continues to exist in it's current form, we are screwed, no matter who is in control of the House and the Senate. Congressional term limits would be the best place to start.
I couldn't agree more with everything you said. This whole "our way or absolutely nothing" shit, not only by Republicans but both parties, is start up fucking this country.Quote:
Originally Posted by bdoughty
Term limits for every position in Congress would be a godsend. Enough of these career politician jackasses. You can only be President for a max of two terms. Time to place a max, LIFETIME term limit on Congress as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdoughty
Here you go my friend. Might I suggest the West Coast as it has the most mild climate. The healthcare is free and the water is pure. Please check your guns at the border ... :D
http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLIsh/immigrate/index.asp
:D Will have to politely pass on that one.
:D probably true.
:D Probably not
But...
http://www.vox.com/2016/3/4/11161616...-policy-center
http://i.imgur.com/jwpsFEA.jpg
Feel the berrrrrrrrrrrn.
2016: Bernie won't win.
2017: President Sanders can't do that, can he?
2018: You watching The Hunger Games tonight? Nah, I am living in The Hunger Games.
Ted Cruz Ends Campaign. One crazy candidate is in. Just waiting on Hillary to Bern the Bern. Either way you get a candidate that holds no regard for telling the truth and is generally a horrible person. Maybe Canada is not such a bad idea...Spoiler: show
No way Trump wins.Quote:
Originally Posted by bdoughty
Keep saying that. Trump only killed the USFL. Hillary on the other hand...Quote:
Originally Posted by souljahbill
All Trump needs to do is plaster this over the media 24/7 and it is a gimme.
Who was on the board of directors at Walmart for 6 years? A company that fought against Unions for it's workers? A company that forced out the little guy in all those small towns?
http://i.imgur.com/1FCl66d.jpg
The irony is she is probably more of a conservative than Trump, truth be told. I won't vote for either but Trump will win.
Trump only has the angry white people vote. Hillary will have basically every other demographic. I don't even think it's going to be close.Quote:
Originally Posted by bdoughty