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Chalkos Sidequest Proliferator from The Internets Since: Oct, 2010
Sidequest Proliferator
#32776: Oct 15th 2012 at 10:44:44 PM

ahahaha Virgil Goode

The interesting thing is, from what I know of him, the man doesn't actually believe most of the batshit stuff the Constitution Party believes (like that zoning is a conspiracy of the UN to abolish the concept of private property in the United States). My dad (a local government lawyer) had been considering voting for him based simply on the fact that he was a pretty decent representative up until I mentioned that being a part of the platform.

GlennMagusHarvey Since: Jan, 2001
#32777: Oct 15th 2012 at 10:47:58 PM

Unfortunately, the Republican Party is not too much different these days; instead of believing that property zoning is a U.N. conspiracy to dissolve property rights, they believe that Agenda 21 (a non-binding sustainable development plan for developing countries) is a U.N. conspiracy to erode U.S. sovereignty.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#32778: Oct 15th 2012 at 10:59:04 PM

Romney Campaign Sues in Wisconsin to Extend Ballot Deadline.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#32779: Oct 15th 2012 at 11:10:33 PM

It's utter bunk to simultaneously be for cutting early voting rights and for extending time for absentee ballots to be turned in by.

Likewise, I think that for any of us Dems who think Romney's case should be thrown out, we should ask ourselves "Do we want Romney to lose because of less democracy?"

Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#32780: Oct 15th 2012 at 11:11:32 PM

I know Stein is ending up on the Oregon ballot. Usually we're pretty good about including a pretty wide range of third parties in any case.

It's always bugged me that not only do we already have strategic voting making third parties unlikely to be more than a spoiler, but we can't get more than a small handful of states to even include the same ones. That much does need to be locked down on the federal level. For a national position, everyone really does need to be playing off the same list.

edited 15th Oct '12 11:11:48 PM by Pykrete

Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#32781: Oct 15th 2012 at 11:43:02 PM

I think it'd help at least a bit if we required all candidates who CAN theoretically get 270+ electoral votes to be allowed into the debates.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#32782: Oct 15th 2012 at 11:52:03 PM

How could you require that? The debates aren't an official function of government; they're just something the Republican and Democratic candidates agree to get together to do.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#32783: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:06:16 AM

[up][up]

So basically Obama and Romney?

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#32784: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:35:30 AM

[up][up]That is the problem with it

[up]The Greens and Libertarians at the least are on the ballot in enough states to hypothetically get 270 electoral votes.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#32785: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:45:20 AM

[up]

As are The Constitution Party.

....I want see Virgil Goode debate Jill Stein.

edited 16th Oct '12 12:49:46 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#32786: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:47:22 AM

Wasn't sure about them. Still, if 270 is possible for them, they should be allowed into the debate.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#32787: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:54:21 AM

Upon searching about Third Parties and the debates, I found this.

edited 16th Oct '12 12:59:22 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#32788: Oct 16th 2012 at 1:08:30 AM

I'm pretty sure it's only the two major parties that get on the Presidential part of the ballot, though there's probably a write in section I've simply never used. As regards third parties, I'm just kind of terrified of what kind of Libertarian nutjobs might end up popping on to the gubernatorial tickets.

I mean... seriously. The big two have enough crazy people in this state and it's a circus to begin with. Just. Oi, there's a lot of changes to the process that I think would be beneficial but the process would also bring out a lot of nuts.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#32789: Oct 16th 2012 at 1:34:23 AM

"I'm pretty sure it's only the two major parties that get on the Presidential part of the ballot, though there's probably a write in section I've simply never used."

It varies by the State.

Here's the Green Party's current situation in regards to the ballots.

And here's the Libertarian Party.

edited 16th Oct '12 1:45:02 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#32790: Oct 16th 2012 at 1:44:14 AM

Wait? They ARE on the ballot here? I could have sworn that when I searched, they weren't. Still, given my electoral district, strategic voting comes into play, and Obama's basically got my vote by default.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#32791: Oct 16th 2012 at 2:19:05 AM

I've been wondering. what do you guys personally think of Virgil Goode and the Constitution Party?

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
GlennMagusHarvey Since: Jan, 2001
#32792: Oct 16th 2012 at 4:28:59 AM

^^^ So what is Pennsylvania for the Libertarians? What does purple mean on that map?

^^ Unless you're in a state that's completely not competitive, you should also think about strategic voting.

DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#32793: Oct 16th 2012 at 11:58:12 AM

Possibly replying to something that's already been resolved-

Alright, here's the deal, about the unemployment thing. I don't know, or really even care if the number's accurate. The fact is, we've been treating that statistic as accurate since the start of the recession. It's been used to accuse Obama of "not doing his job." Now, it's looking positive for him, and suddenly it's a lie.

You can't have it both ways. You can't suddenly point out the possible flaws and inadequacies of a survey the moment is goes against your preconceptions/interests. It might have a margin of error, but it's highly unlikely it's suddenly become drastically less accurate than it was in the past, back when people were accepting it.

Edit: All surveys are going to have a margin of error. Best you can do is look for the trend, and learn what margin of error is, and what it means.

edited 16th Oct '12 11:58:53 AM by DrTentacles

Enkufka Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ from Bay of White fish Since: Dec, 2009
Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ
#32794: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:08:51 PM

[up]Thank you for that explanation

Early voting upheld in Ohio, Fox fucks up reporting on the decision.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry
#32795: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:10:14 PM

So, I've discovered that voting may involve walking 20 miles to my precinct office on election day. Here's hoping I can work out a time to vote at the courthouse during the early voting period.

If not, I will totally do it, just so I can tell my kids when they whine that voting is too inconvenient.

edited 16th Oct '12 12:14:17 PM by EdwardsGrizzly

<><
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#32796: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:14:40 PM

And we wonder why our voting numbers are so low.

Couchpotato20 Will kill you from Hell Since: Apr, 2011
Will kill you
#32797: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:23:08 PM

Hopefully the President brings up the Washington Post story from today re: Romney sham jobs plan.

7 million of his 12 million jobs are over a TEN year period and the number comes from a study done by a Rice University professor.

3 million of this 12 million jobs are from a Citigroup study that didn't even evaluate Romney's policies but rather talked about how energy independence including fuel efficiency standards Romney will eliminate would create 2.5-3.5 million jobs

2 million of the 12 million jobs are from "clamping down on China". This came from from an International Trade Commission study that again, did not evaluate Romney's proposals, but rather were estimating the impact of China no longer infringing on US intellectual property.

In other words, his jobs plan is completely bogus

"I don't give a rat's ass about going to hell. I guess it's because I feel like I'm already there." -Mugen
LooseCannon The Groose Is Loose from Everywhere and Nowhere Since: Jun, 2012
The Groose Is Loose
#32798: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:27:48 PM

I found this funny.

Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me.
Couchpotato20 Will kill you from Hell Since: Apr, 2011
Will kill you
#32799: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:34:14 PM

^

IF you like that you'll love this. waii

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/16/anderson-cooper-mitt-romney_n_1969641.html

Anderson Cooper ftw

"I don't give a rat's ass about going to hell. I guess it's because I feel like I'm already there." -Mugen
Enkufka Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ from Bay of White fish Since: Dec, 2009
Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ
#32800: Oct 16th 2012 at 12:34:25 PM

Also going to remind that Romney cites 6 "independent" "studies" which support his tax plan.

One is from the Heritage Foundation, which, while known for some rather good statistical studies, is also known for becoming pants-on-head-stupid when it comes to evaluating policies in support of Conservative policies.

One is from a Bush Jr economist who said that the boosted economic activity which comes from the lowered taxes would more than make up for the loss of revenue. And we all know how well THAT turned out.

One is from the American Enterprise Institute, which requires that Romney cut preferences for investments, which Romney has promised not to do, and would in fact only go half-way to making the plan workable.

One is his advisers arguing by assertion that the plan works.

And the last two are from the same person in two places, which argued Romney's plan works if you assume growth would be much stronger and if you define middle class as households making less than $100,000 rather than households making less than $200,000. This latter figure is the one Romney has used when he has said his plan would not raise taxes on the middle class.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/10/the-6-studies-paul-ryan-cited-prove-mitt-romneys-tax-plan-is-impossible/263541/

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry

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