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3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#99601: Aug 29th 2015 at 3:08:17 PM

Time for a New World Order?

"You can reply to this Message!"
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
#99602: Aug 29th 2015 at 3:24:24 PM

Yeah size means nothing, India is bigger and has its elections in a shorter period, the European elections for the European parliament are held over a shorter time and they cover the entire of the EU.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#99603: Aug 29th 2015 at 3:44:12 PM

I could imagine President Hogan because of his role as The Dean in China IL, where arbitrary shenanigans were the order of the day.

darksidevoid Anti-Gnosis Weapon from The Frontiers (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
#99604: Aug 29th 2015 at 3:45:26 PM

General election debates are about soundbytes. Primary debates are not only about soundbytes. The importance of them is in getting candidates to define their positions, and in allowing voters to see how they answer substantive challenges to their positions (if not by the other candidates, then at least by the moderators). Debates are the only environment in which they can be forced to do the latter on the national stage and in which they will almost surely be called out in real time for evasions. What else is going to provide us with that? Cable news interviews full of softball questions without followups? Campaign news releases and internet echo chambers?

With a large number of debates, candidates can be prompted to go in depth about issue positions, with a given night centered around foreign policy or immigration. With a small number of debates, you can only skim the surface, leading to more soundbytes and shallow reductions of genuine differences of opinion than substance. This is another reason why I think we should err on the side of many debates rather than few.

I do concur about polls not mattering until 2016, however. As for why other countries have much shorter elections, it's largely because they restricted election length by law, not because they're smaller. The U.S. can't do that, both by conventional behavior of the Parties and by law. Many countries with different political systems aren't harmed by the dearth of debates that comes with short election seasons, because they're both parliamentary and use a system of voting other than the U.S.'s first-past-the-post and SMDP combo. Proportional Representation systems in particular have a vigorous exchange of ideas during the process of coalition-building and governing.

GM: AGOG S4 & F/WC RP; Co-GM: TABA, SOTR, UUA RP; Sub-GM: TTS RP. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#99606: Aug 29th 2015 at 8:45:42 PM

The Democrats had 19 primary debates in the 2008 primary, twelve of which were before the first primary votes were cast.
Wait, seriously? Were these televised debates, because honestly my recollection of previous election cycles is that you have 2-3 debates before/during the early primaries, then by the time 10 states have voted the candidates are pretty well decided on already, then you have another 2-3 between the two sides.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
darksidevoid Anti-Gnosis Weapon from The Frontiers (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
#99607: Aug 29th 2015 at 9:40:35 PM

Yep, I'm reasonably sure they were TV debates. Here:

GM: AGOG S4 & F/WC RP; Co-GM: TABA, SOTR, UUA RP; Sub-GM: TTS RP. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#99608: Aug 29th 2015 at 9:52:53 PM

I don't really think the public cares about having that many debates though. I don't really think it helps serve the democratic process that much.

NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#99609: Aug 29th 2015 at 11:49:33 PM

I gotta say about Trump and Kelly...she's not a quality journalist, but damn, man, leave the lady alone. Just because I disagree with her politics and journalistic standards does not mean I want her attacked nonstop by Trump.

What did Megyn Kelly do to Trump to merit this level of sheer vitriol from him?

Kind of scary that Trump broke a treaty agreement with no lesser devil than Roger Ailes.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#99610: Aug 29th 2015 at 11:49:56 PM

She didn't kiss his ass

Oh really when?
probablyinsane Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!
#99611: Aug 29th 2015 at 11:56:04 PM

The longer Trump gets the lion's share of the media's attention, the more I think he's gonna win.

Plants are aliens, and fungi are nanomachines.
NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#99612: Aug 29th 2015 at 11:58:10 PM

And given what's going around, apparently there was another meeting...and Ailes basically had nothing he could say or do to control Trump.

They made this monster, and now its out of their control.

If Rupert Murdoch goes senile, we could be seeing a new, even worse leadership of the American Right Wing.

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#99613: Aug 30th 2015 at 12:10:20 AM

Rupert Murdoch hasn't been in the driver's seat for a while.

And I don't think Trump is leading anything, personally. He's in a unique situation where he doesn't have to abide by the national consensus, but that's a little different from actually having input in said consensus. Trump is not able to finance primary battles all over the US, for example - he's not Koch Brothers rich, and what works for him is unlikely to lead less well-heeled iconoclasts to the top.

Cronosonic (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#99614: Aug 30th 2015 at 12:53:33 AM

Murdoch hates Trump with a passion, knows he's absolutely toxic to the Republican cause, and wants him out of the race, but the boss at Fox News loves him too much to stop giving him airtime.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#99615: Aug 30th 2015 at 12:57:43 AM

Kelly basically brought up his bad behavior in regards to women, which he then proceeded to double down on. Repeatedly, directly about her. And Fox, in a sudden spurt of moral fiber, has stood by her. I don't think Trump has ever considered that he needs to filter what he says, which is why all the awful shit he says sounds both honest and genuine.

So far it's been a blessing for him, and at this point who knows if it'll turn into a curse later on. I'm not so concerned about him wining a presidential election, but it does seem oddly more likely that he'll win the candidacy. I'm basically in wait and see mode, as panicking at this point takes too much energy.

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
#99616: Aug 30th 2015 at 1:25:40 AM

She I think was for him the face of how Fox acted in the primary debate, they fact checked him, they made him declare that he had no party loyalty, they asked him when he actually became a republican. In the end they didn't go easy on him, they engaged in something approaching actual quality journalism for a moment and it made him mad.

edited 30th Aug '15 1:25:56 AM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#99617: Aug 30th 2015 at 3:57:52 AM

What exactly is wrong with Kelly anyway? Apart from Shep Smith, I like her more than just about every other talking head they got. And it ain't cuz she's pretty either because all the other pretty ones grate on my nerves by a LOT.

As for Trump, here's the thing....for all his billions, he still pales in comparison to, say, the Koch brothers, and I'm sure there are others who back the GOP that also count as richer than he. And we're not even getting to the billionaires who are politically independant or liberal.

If the hairdo thinks he can buy the election, he's gonna go bankrupt, personally and otherwise.

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
#99618: Aug 30th 2015 at 4:01:19 AM

Kelly may well be the best of the Fox talking heads, but that doesn't change the fact that her job by and large consists of racist fearmongerin and paranoia stoking in an attempt to lie to people so much that they they go against their own interests and vote Republican.

The best of bullshit mountain is still part of bullshit mountain.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#99619: Aug 30th 2015 at 4:07:14 AM

[up] Maybe that's why Trump is upset, he was expecting racist fearmongering and got asked actual journalistic questions. wild mass guess

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
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
#99620: Aug 30th 2015 at 4:10:03 AM

That's is genuinely it, he didn't want to be asked about women or if he's loyal to the party, he wanted to be asked to elaborate on how Mexicans are all rapists out to destroy the US.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#99621: Aug 30th 2015 at 4:23:13 AM

You know for all this talk about Trump, I have yet to meet an actual supporter of his, both in real life and online. Until that day comes I refuse to believe he stands a chance.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#99622: Aug 30th 2015 at 4:25:00 AM

You'd be surprised. Both in real life, and especially online, we surround ourselves with people who share our opinions. You're probably just not friends with the kind of people who like Trump.

BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#99623: Aug 30th 2015 at 4:35:33 AM

[up][up] I have dealt with two idiots who are big Trump supporters. Both of them are under the delusion that they, too, can become billionaires despite not being born with giant trust funds.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#99624: Aug 30th 2015 at 4:45:31 AM

[up][up] No, but my family, and their friends, are Republicans. And they hate this guy. I think some of them would rather vote Democrat than let him get the White House. Mind you I haven't gone out west, where my more "radical" right wing relatives live, but I'm sure they wouldn't like the guy ether.

[up] I fail to see what's so bad about thinking you can succeed, unless their method is "follow everything Donald Trump says and we will magically become rich."

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#99625: Aug 30th 2015 at 5:20:06 AM

I'm not so concerned about him wining a presidential election, but it does seem oddly more likely that he'll win the candidacy. I'm basically in wait and see mode, as panicking at this point takes too much energy.

Honestly, panicking about anything this far out is a waste of your time and energy. Frontrunners have a tendency to fall apart, especially when it's still so far out.

For the 2008 election, the frontrunner in 2007 was Rudy Guiliani, and McCain was fighting Fred Thompson for 2nd place. McCain also wasn't in the top 4 for fundraising and was polling in the single digits at one point. Meanwhile Clinton led all polls for the Democrats until January of 2008.

For the 2012 election, in August of 2011 Michele Bachman and Ricky Perry were temporarily at the top of the heap.

For the 2004 election, Howard Dean was the frontrunner at this point in the race.

For the '96 election, Dole was losing early primaries to Steve Forbes and Pat Buchanan.

For '92, the early primaries were won not by Bill Clinton, but Tom Harkin, Paul Tsongas, and Jerry Brown.

I know it's impossible not to think or talk about it, but it's still very, very premature to worry. It's absolutely worth watching, and taking it as a caution about the state of the party and politics in general, but that's about it.

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |

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