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Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#104676: Nov 9th 2015 at 8:57:14 AM

It made the rounds on the comedy shows last week, but seems to have been a flash meme.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
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
#104678: Nov 9th 2015 at 10:42:21 AM

The state level and House things are true, but the focus on number of states is misleading, the implicit suggestion that the Dems need to start running Blue Dogs (you know, the guys who lost in 2010) is stupid and the idea that the Republicans are going to move left on immigration and win the presidency is laughable.

Also I call bull on Clinton being to the left of Obama and the idea that Sanders is to the far left of Obama.

Still the point about the Dems having serious trouble at local levels and not really talking about it, that's a fair one.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#104679: Nov 9th 2015 at 10:48:30 AM

It's also something that's not exactly new. I know we've brought it up a few times over the past couple of years.

In any case, I'm failing to see how the primary between Sanders and Clinton isn't important or is somehow a distraction. What, are they not supposed to put forth any candidates at all? It's not a zero-sum thing, this whole presidential versus what they should be doing in the states thing.

Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#104680: Nov 9th 2015 at 10:52:52 AM

Vox loves its clickbait. There's a reason why they don't allow comments.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#104681: Nov 9th 2015 at 11:55:28 AM

Saw that one before, and it doesn't quite stack up. Yes, the GOP has managed to game the system and yes, the Democrats very much need a strategy for dealing with downticket races, but at the same time, time, demographics, and US polling on most of the issues on are the Democrats' side. The GOP relies more and more heavily on culture warrior issues to drive the vote, the economic issues they win on (like recent GOP victory in Kentucky) are about long-term losers like Big Coal. The GOP has entrenched themselves on some hills that the tide is definitely going to wash over, and other hills that are already underwater.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#104682: Nov 9th 2015 at 11:57:33 AM

The Democrats will lose any ability to deliver legislative solutions or groom politicians for national office if they don't get a serious ground game going at the state and local levels. That said, the Republican party has zero future ideologically. All they can hope to accomplish is run as many states into the ground as possible before everyone revolts.

edited 9th Nov '15 11:58:09 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#104683: Nov 9th 2015 at 11:58:46 AM

Plus, Vox is mistaking (intentionally, of course) a waiting-based strategy for complacency.

Democrats know that 2010 blatantly skewed the electoral map, and that the Supreme Court shed all pretense of neutrality or sanity around that time. So they're watching the Tea Party have its day in the sun and cannibalize its reputation in exchange for power (such as with ridiculous gerrymandering that pisses everyone off), while holding a lock on an increasingly-imperial Presidency, waiting for 2020 so they can force a redrawing of Congressional districts with more and more independent commissions, and waiting for the Supreme Court's current conservative justices to die or retire so they can appoint replacements not baptized in Republican kool-aid. (In fact, so they can appoint, hopefully, explicitly partisan replacements who won't stand in the way of their desired reforms.)

Now, what the Democrats do need to do while they wait for the Republican lead is get out the vote and get the message to donors for Senate races. The fundamentals favor a Democratic push in 2016, and going all-in on the Senate could well recapture it for the Democratic Party (necessary to ram judicial appointments over Republican opposition).

And Vox is also giving way, way too much weight to the Republicans' Presidential chances. The Democrats are not being "complacent" about the Presidency when the candidates take the chance to swerve left. They're optimistic, and they see a chance to make some changes for the better and push the pendulum back a bit after Obama passes the baton.

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#104684: Nov 9th 2015 at 12:24:38 PM

Vox is also pro Technocrat, but that's another issue. Their main issue is the need for horserace to drive readership.

Also, I'm pretty sure Rubio isn't going to be able to magically capture the Latino vote like everyone keeps expecting him to. He long since abandoned his Immigration position, last I checked, to avoid taking heat from the rest of the Repubs and Conservatives.

(Also Latinos aren't a lock step group, he might capture Hispanic people of Cuban descent in Florid...)

edited 9th Nov '15 12:28:21 PM by PotatoesRock

AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#104685: Nov 9th 2015 at 12:38:10 PM

[up]Or at least the conservative Catholics if he pushes for anti-birth control and abortion policies along whatever promotes strong core family values. Since there is no short supply of these in Latin communities.

Inter arma enim silent leges
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#104686: Nov 9th 2015 at 12:46:15 PM

Republicans are hoping that, by dangling a token out there, they can persuade people who are ideologically inclined to vote GOP but are turned off by the party's racial homogeneity to come to the polls. The problem is that neither Carson nor Rubio has said anything remotely positive about the group they are supposedly a member of.

Even though that may not cause a large number of voters to cross the line and go blue, it may keep them home, costing the Republicans the votes they'll need to have even the slightest chance of capturing the White House.

edited 9th Nov '15 12:46:27 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#104687: Nov 9th 2015 at 1:12:16 PM

So anyone else hear about the 6-year-old boy that got killed by Louisiana Marshals that were shooting at his father?

Well, apparently his father had his hands up when they opened fire, which the body cameras they were wearing captured. As a result, they're both in jail pending $1 million bond for bail, and house-arrest even if that bail gets posted.

In lighter news, saw a good political cartoon today speculating on who Donald Trump's running mate would be - Mr. Burns, Cruella DeVille, Simon Bar Sinister, Oil Can Harry, The Grinch, The Joker, Snidely Whiplash, and Dick Dastardly.

Personally, I'd hope for Dick Dastardly just to watch the mayhem that would ensue.

edited 9th Nov '15 1:34:28 PM by ironballs16

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#104688: Nov 9th 2015 at 1:49:44 PM

I still think the crazy Sheriff Joe from Maricopa County Arizona would be Trump's ideal running mate. He is an embodiment of Trump's key plank, beloved by those who want to see people "get tough" on illegals, loathed by pretty much everyone else, could be considered a political outsider because hard-right people love the position of County Sheriff for some reason.

Keybreak (Long Runner)
#104689: Nov 9th 2015 at 2:40:35 PM

Democrats Push for Automatic Voter Registration.

They say it would get people to vote more, but Republicans say it would lead to voter fraud, but Democrats say that Republicans are just trying to maintain their hold.

Automatic registration sounds like a good idea to me and I don't know how it could lead to fraud, but hey, I'm young and I haven't voted yet.

edited 9th Nov '15 2:41:10 PM by Keybreak

You gotta believe me when I scare you away, all that I wish for is that you would stay
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#104690: Nov 9th 2015 at 2:41:14 PM

Voter fraud doesn't even exist. It's just Republicans trying to keep everyone that isn't old and white from voting.

Oh really when?
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#104691: Nov 9th 2015 at 3:28:31 PM

Automatic registration and mandatory state issued I Ds should already be a thing. The fact that they aren't is bullshit.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#104692: Nov 9th 2015 at 3:35:49 PM

It's one of those things I'd like to see implemented in high school and colleges, really. "Hey kids you're gonna go get your voter ID issued to you today go downstairs."

Stuff like that. Takes the pressure off DM Vs. I had something more detailed in my head but right now I can't seem to think of the words.

Keybreak (Long Runner)
#104693: Nov 9th 2015 at 3:42:13 PM

But I feel like it should still be optional. You can't force someone to vote. If they don't want to then it's their loss.

But it'd be nice if they made it easier.

You gotta believe me when I scare you away, all that I wish for is that you would stay
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#104694: Nov 9th 2015 at 3:43:02 PM

No, make it mandatory. That'd solve a lot of issues.

Oh really when?
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#104695: Nov 9th 2015 at 3:46:38 PM

Automatic registration isn't the same thing as mandatory voting, guys. Automatic registration is supposed to make choosing to vote way easier than it is currently.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#104696: Nov 9th 2015 at 3:52:43 PM

My school had mandatory CPR training and community projects. Signing us up to vote and get I Ds isn't that out there.

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#104697: Nov 9th 2015 at 4:16:05 PM

Some people don't register to vote because they don't want to get picked for jury duty.

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Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#104699: Nov 9th 2015 at 4:18:31 PM

Which is stupid and short sighted, and doesn't actually prevent you from being called for jury duty, as I understand it. Also, being able to vote as soon as you show up to the polls far outweighs the inconvenience of jury duty.

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#104700: Nov 9th 2015 at 4:29:21 PM

I agree. I've only ever received a jury summons once, and I didn't actually have to go. It's just that a person who's living hand to mouth simply can't afford to sit on a jury, unable to work and bring home a paycheck that week, or however long it may take. Some people actually worry about stuff like that...

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.

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