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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#274401: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:01:58 AM

I'd ask you what position or policy of his you like but that would be cruel, they obviously don't exist.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#274402: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:14:54 AM

Not Trump and not Biden has a lot to say for it.

Beto's biggest appeal is the relative lack of horrible past votes and policies so many other candidates are saddled with.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Mar 15th 2019 at 11:15:19 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#274403: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:18:07 AM

[up]

Which also means that he's got no established platform, which is a bit discouraging.

And in international news, the manifesto that (allegedly) was written by the shooter contains this little tidbit: "Were/are you a supporter of Donald Trump?" the author of the manifesto wrote. "As a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose? Sure. As a policy maker and leader? Dear god no."

Even Beggars Won't Choose It in action? And apologies if it was too soon to make that kind of joke, but the nigh-constant shootings in the US have made me develop a bleak sense of humor with shit like this.

Edited by ironballs16 on Mar 15th 2019 at 2:25:19 PM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#274404: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:21:05 AM

Wouldn't that depend on what the rest of his votes are?

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#274405: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:23:51 AM

For better or worse, I at least have a good guess of what kind of President Sanders would be.

I have no clue wtf Beto would do as President.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#274406: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:24:41 AM

What votes? He's not a house representative anymore. By the way, fully agree with Fourthspartan, he doesn't have the policies, also being deliberately vague on details when announcing his run, nor the experience I'd be comfortable with.

Life is unfair...
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#274407: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:29:27 AM

[up][up]That's what I find is a genuine problem, because even I don't think he actually has zero policy positions.

But it's not just that I don't hear people talking about his policies, but I don't hear people talking about people talking about his policies.

All the coverage I've seen has been about his star-power, charisma, appeal, etc. All those personal attributes that make him so eminently runnable. Plus the teasing, gossip, ''will he/won't he?" speculation and all that nonsense. It's all branding and no substance, which has been completely absent from the discussion.

I'm sure he's a decent human being - which is indeed more than you can say about the country's current leadership - but I just don't think that's enough. More concerning, much like Booker, is if his particular "appeal" and "reach across the aisle" attitude is used to enable non-progressive policies.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#274408: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:29:59 AM

In a sense Beto is a lot like candidate Obama, hence I suppose why a lot of the Obama people are backing him.


He's not as scandal free as Obama however, given he had a DWI arrest, which is something Trump could actually hold against him without being a hypocrite, not that it would stop him.

Edited by CaptainCapsase on Mar 15th 2019 at 2:30:22 PM

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#274409: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:33:14 AM

A DWI seems rather minor and petty compared to what Trump's suspected of, I gotta say. Unless someone died because of this I doubt it could gain much traction.

It's pretty funny that Trump decided to go after the fact that he makes hand gestures while talking, though.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#274410: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:42:23 AM

I'll give Beto the benefit of the doubt for now and hope he does come out with some concrete policies soon.

My family is originally from El Paso, and seeing him come out so strongly against the wall and defend the value of immigrants was really heartening. Now, that's something every candidate has done, but him being right there on the scene, living and talking with people in the city struck a cord with a lot of Hispanics.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#274411: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:42:32 AM

[up][up] It provides a jumping off point to paint him as an alcoholic, and they might end up finding more problematic behavior from his youth if they dig enough.

Edited by CaptainCapsase on Mar 15th 2019 at 2:45:05 PM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#274412: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:46:04 AM

I confess I'm a bit wary of O'Rourke now. He's sounding now populist than proper and between them, Sanders, Trump, and Brexit have given me an inherent distrust of populism.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#274413: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:47:28 AM

Not Trump and not Biden has a lot to say for it. Beto's biggest appeal is the relative lack of horrible past votes and policies so many other candidates are saddled with.

Firstly, not Trump is such a low standard to have that I'm not going to even dignify that with a serious rebuttal.

Secondly, he has no bad things in his record because he has no record. He's a vacuous empty suit who stands for nothing and believes thing.

In a sense Beto is a lot like candidate Obama, hence I suppose why a lot of the Obama people are backing less than that.

He's not as scandal free as Obama however, given he had a DWI arrest, which is something Trump could actually hold against him without being a hypocrite, not that it would stop him.

He's like Obama in the most superficial manner possible, he has Obama's confidence and quite literally nothing else. Intellectually and policy wise O'Rourke is nothing like Obama, if anything his vacuous slogans and constant flip flopping is almost Trumpian.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Mar 15th 2019 at 11:49:31 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#274414: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:48:46 AM

"Talk less! Smile more! Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for!"

Yeah, Beto's definitely a populist.

Disgusted, but not surprised
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#274415: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:49:25 AM

Ideally, we would support candidates who have more to offer than not being Trump/Biden/Gabbard.

i'm tired, my friend
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#274416: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:49:47 AM

He's like Obama in the most superficial manner possible, he has Obama's confidence and quite literally nothing else. Intellectually O'Rourke is simply incomparably to Obama.

Which is why I said candidate Obama, who out of necessity didn't emphasize the wonkish stuff, and was still a relative unknown.

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#274417: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:50:05 AM

... O’Rourke has a voting record from his time in Congress.

PhiSat Planeswalker from Everywhere and Nowhere Since: Jan, 2011
Planeswalker
#274418: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:50:56 AM

Trump actually has a history of really hating people who drive under the influence (or at least, seeming to for cameras, he fired a Kardashian or something for it on Celebrity Apprentice). Kind of weird he'd choose to instead nitpick hand gestures, but then nothing the Orange ever does makes much sense.

Oissu!
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#274419: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:51:14 AM

"He's better then Trump" is an argument tailor made for General Elections, the fact anyone is seriously making it before the actual primary has begun is utterly baffling.

... O’Rourke has a voting record from his time in Congress.

I was exaggerating slightly, there are no serious flaws or controversies because he has never stood for anything.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Mar 15th 2019 at 11:51:58 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#274420: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:51:31 AM

[up][up][up] And so did Obama, but he didn't really have a brand because of his low profile prior to '08-'09.

@PhysicalStamina: I'd prefer a Wonkish, non-ideological, and boring functionary honestly.

Edited by CaptainCapsase on Mar 15th 2019 at 2:55:19 PM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#274421: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:53:08 AM

Trump's dislike of alcoholism is one of his few redeeming qualities.

Mind you, he's well known to regularly use cocaine.

And almost certainly still does.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Mar 15th 2019 at 11:53:22 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#274422: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:58:54 AM

Huh, Trump has a redeeming quality? I have slightly more respect for him now. I mean, it doesn't change my overall low opinion of him, but it's something.

Leviticus 19:34
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#274423: Mar 15th 2019 at 11:59:27 AM

It's rich of Trump to make fun of O'Rourke's gesturing. Trump is infamous for his repetitive arm and hand movements during speeches.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#274424: Mar 15th 2019 at 12:00:24 PM

@Physical Stamina: I'd prefer a Wonkish, non-ideological, and boring functionary honestly.

This is just baffling.

It's impossible to be non-ideological, anyone who has an opinion about policies or holds any social or economic position are by definition ideological. If one thinks they aren't then they're just embracing the status-quo's ideology, whatever it may be.

Furthermore considering that we're a democracy and thus the desires of the electorate determine leadership I cannot imagine why anyone would think a "boring functionary" would be a good choice. I love politics and policies so much that I've chosen Political Science as my degree, but even I think the idea that some boring wonk is a good choice is ridiculous. We should want a person who can win (i.e. non boring) who also has good strong policy.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Mar 15th 2019 at 12:01:53 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#274425: Mar 15th 2019 at 12:01:00 PM

[up]x4 While on the clock.

I have no proof of that, but it wouod explain a lot.

Edited by HailMuffins on Mar 15th 2019 at 4:01:49 PM


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