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ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#279326: May 3rd 2019 at 11:12:36 AM

It always seems to me that when the economy is said to be strong the indicators seem to be things like Amazon and Wal-Mart shares going up. In other words, the rich are getting richer. Not something that makes a difference to the ordinary working-class American.

My musician page
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#279327: May 3rd 2019 at 11:17:52 AM

Yeah, unemployment rate + stock market are the typical measures I think? Which... ignores SO many factors and people.

Ikiniks nor there from neither here Since: Jan, 2012
nor there
#279328: May 3rd 2019 at 11:20:38 AM

Gonna be honest here, fuck Bernie.

That's not being entirely fair to him, I know, but my goodness. The sheer fanaticism his supporters have for him is far too reminiscent of another crowd of fanatics surrounding a political figure. I'd thought that the reactionary extremism Trump brought about would lead to more extremist reactionaries from other political positions. I don't think I'm right about that, but I do see the crazy getting worse on the Bernie trainwreck as time goes on. I still remember how a lot of Bernie supporters jumped to the Trump wagon when it became clear that they weren't gonna feeeeeeel the Bern 2016. Not all of them, but still quite a lot, and that says quite a bit. I don't think the majority of his supporters are made up of fanatics, but I'm seeing a worrying number of them.

That, and I just plain don't think he'll be good for the country, especially not in terms of how effective he or his policies may actually be. I'm not that center, but I'm not that far left either.

But I really don't want Trump again. So fuck him too, and I don't think that's unfair.

So really, I'm in for whoever the not-Bernie Democratic candidate turns out to be. I'd rather the country get something resembling some stability/grounding before it starts going bungie-jumping into the Sarlacc pit with the frayed g-string that passes for a political climate nowadays. I'm fine with baby steps towards progress (but it would be really swell if the one of the first, if not the first baby step was fixing that whole internment-camp-for-tots bullshit please). It would be preferable just to get of the crazy bus for now, please and thanks.

but maybe somewhere
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#279329: May 3rd 2019 at 11:24:42 AM

[up]I'm no fan of Sanders but the current frontrunner (Biden) isn't any better than him. In some ways, he's worse.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#279330: May 3rd 2019 at 11:32:30 AM

That's not being entirely fair to him, I know, but my goodness. The sheer fanaticism his supporters have for him is far too reminiscent of another crowd of fanatics surrounding a political figure. I'd thought that the reactionary extremism Trump brought about would lead to more extremist reactionaries from other political positions. I don't think I'm right about that, but I do see the crazy getting worse on the Bernie trainwreck as time goes on. I still remember how a lot of Bernie supporters jumped to the Trump wagon when it became clear that they weren't gonna feeeeeeel the Bern 2016. Not all of them, but still quite a lot, and that says quite a bit. I don't think the majority of his supporters are made up of fanatics, but I'm seeing a worrying number of them.

I don't like Sanders and I'm not fond of some of his more obnoxious fans but calling them reactionaries is an abuse of the term.

Reaction specifically refers to the rejection of modernity and embrace of traditional values. Which hardly describes Sanders or his committed fans.

Also, I feel the need to point out that fewer Bernie supporters voted for Trump in 2016 than Clinton voters for Mc Cain in 2008.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Ikiniks nor there from neither here Since: Jan, 2012
nor there
#279331: May 3rd 2019 at 11:58:03 AM

[up][up] I disagree with that, but again, not-Sanders is the best option I see.

[up] Duly noted. But I feel and think that Clinton->Mc Cain is far less of a mental pretzeling than Bernie->Trump.

but maybe somewhere
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#279332: May 3rd 2019 at 12:16:00 PM

I just hope that the Democrats hawk their own policies and qualifications, rather than attacking each other. Don't do the GOP's job for them, for fuck's sake.

On a related topic, what do you guys think of Biden and Warren running on the same ticket? Too old?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#279333: May 3rd 2019 at 12:17:44 PM

Pretty sure Warren would rather stay in the Senate than be in close quarters with Biden on a regular basis in a mostly symbolic role.

She’s REALLY not a fan of Biden.

Edited by wisewillow on May 3rd 2019 at 12:19:40 PM

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#279334: May 3rd 2019 at 12:22:02 PM

Oh, it would be one of the biggest Enemy Mine tickets in recent memory (probably more hostile than Kennedy/Johnson). But I could envision a scenario in which one of them comes up right behind the other in the primary (mainly because Warren didn't suffer a drop when Biden declared), and come together to unify the various wings of the party.

Not my ideal ticket, TBH.

With all that said, I hope that they keep their feud down during the primary and the election (if one of them wins), we don't need frontrunning Dems being torn down by their own side. So far, so good, but its a long race, and tensions are only going to get higher.

Edited by Rationalinsanity on May 3rd 2019 at 4:24:04 PM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Soban Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
#279335: May 3rd 2019 at 12:24:50 PM

>I just hope that the Democrats hawk their own policies and qualifications, rather than attacking each other

Part of the reasons that politicians do that is because in our current system, if there are two politicians who are close to each other but either one would get the majority of the vote and they both run with someone else who would get a minority of the vote, they split the vote and neither wins.

Score/Range voting solves this problem, and a lot more besides.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#279336: May 3rd 2019 at 12:34:34 PM

I always just assumed "the economy is doing good" to be a short hand for "I and most of the people I know have jobs/know a lot of places are hiring".

Obviously there's going to be a lot more to it than that, but like most things, most people aren't actually going to think deeper about it than their immediate sphere. That really shouldn't be surprising.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#279337: May 3rd 2019 at 12:43:57 PM

Didn't the Democratic candidates agree to lay off the worst if the personal attacks for m during the primary to avoid the GOP co-opting whatever they do later? I remember reading about some kind of agreement early on.


Exclusive: Trump administration proposal would make it easier to deport immigrants who use public benefits

https://reut.rs/2GZZ0bZ

Edited by sgamer82 on May 3rd 2019 at 1:44:40 PM

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#279338: May 3rd 2019 at 12:45:26 PM

I still remember how a lot of Bernie supporters jumped to the Trump wagon when it became clear that they weren't gonna feeeeeeel the Bern 2016.

You may want to get your memory checked then, as the Bernie supporters going over to Trump happened at about the same rate as Hillary supporters going to Mc Cain (many of which won’t actually have been people going to the other side but Republicans/Republican leaners voting in the Dem primary to try and scupper a candidate they don’t like).

The Bernie cult crowd isn’t as big as people think it is, a big chunk of the Bernie cultists on twitter aren’t actual Bernie cultists, they’re Russian operatives trying to cause friction within the Democratic Party.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that twitter is full of real people, some of them are real, an awful lot of them are bots, Russian intelligence operatives and Russian bots.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#279339: May 3rd 2019 at 12:48:17 PM

The people on twitter may be phonies,fakes and frauds but there's no denying he does have sizeable following,enough to propel him to the presidency possibly

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#279340: May 3rd 2019 at 12:55:57 PM

Well, the District Court of Southern Ohio just declared the Congressional map unconstitutional, and forbid it from being used for the 2020 election.

Whether that decision will get overturned and/or stayed by an upper court is anyone's guess, though.

And with Biden, there's a rather sordid situation coming to light, as a company his son, Hunter, sits on the board of, Burisma Holdings, was being investigated by Ukraine's top prosecutor. Said prosecutor was facing international scorn for corruption, and Biden used his position as VP to help push him out by withholding financial aid to the country.

One may not necessarily relate to the other, but lord is that a bad look.

Edit: I mistakenly put that Biden sat on the board, not his son.

[down]

That part is disputable, but again - very bad optics for Biden.

Edited by ironballs16 on May 3rd 2019 at 4:18:49 AM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Soban Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
#279341: May 3rd 2019 at 1:12:14 PM

Donn't forget that his son was involved in why he was doing it. It's a bad look especially given that the same stuff is what we are currently eviscerating Trump for.

Edited by Soban on May 3rd 2019 at 4:13:02 AM

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#279342: May 3rd 2019 at 1:32:05 PM

You know what bothers me more than anything about Bernie Sanders? When the media uses his last name interchangeably with Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "Sanders says [dumb thing]" as a headline could refer to either one, and I have to actually read the content to find out which.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#279343: May 3rd 2019 at 1:34:43 PM

[up][tup]I get that headlines need to be short and clickbaity, but how hard is it to preface Sanders with the appropriate title?

Edited by Rationalinsanity on May 3rd 2019 at 5:35:08 AM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#279344: May 3rd 2019 at 1:37:55 PM

What do they have to gain by that? As you said, they're click-bait. Thus being unclear means you have to click to find out.

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#279345: May 3rd 2019 at 1:38:17 PM

Former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has been confirmed to have joined Caliburn International, which owns four unaccompanied migrant shelters in Texas under Comprehensive Health Services, on their board of Directors.

It looks like Kelly didn't have his career destroyed as he likely had the job waiting in the wings since Caliburn is owned by DC Capital Partners, which Kelly was apart of the board of advisors before joining Trump back in 2017.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#279346: May 3rd 2019 at 1:38:23 PM

You know what bothers me more than anything about Bernie Sanders? When the media uses his last name interchangeably with Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "Sanders says [dumb thing]" as a headline could refer to either one, and I have to actually read the content to find out which.

Oh. My. GOD. YES.

Every gosh darned time they mention "[Sarah Hackabee] Sanders doing x" for a second I wonder if they mean Bernie Sanders and it's so annoying.

It's cruel and exploitive and I hate it.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on May 3rd 2019 at 1:38:48 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#279347: May 3rd 2019 at 1:41:56 PM

It's also been an issue for this thread when I see someone mention something "Sanders" did and I wonder if they meant the other one.

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#279348: May 3rd 2019 at 1:42:56 PM

To a lesser extent, the same thing happens with "Clinton". Do you mean Bill, or Hillary? Yeah, it's usually easy to figure out via the context, but still.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#279349: May 3rd 2019 at 1:51:33 PM

Huh, so I am not the only one who always gets confused.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#279350: May 3rd 2019 at 1:55:18 PM

That's why I like Stephen Colbert's dubbing her "Huckasans" in order to help differentiate between the two without being too clunky.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"

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