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

SolipsistOwl Since: Jan, 2016
#115851: Mar 15th 2016 at 10:57:36 AM

The Year of the Angry Economists

The economists are really angry this year. They have cause. Leading presidential candidates in both political parties are trashing the trade agreements that many have devoted their careers to promoting. This is not supposed to happen in the America they know.

Donald Trump has catapulted to the top of the Republican field at least in part on a commitment to renege on NAFTA and other trade agreements the United States has signed over the last quarter century. Senator Bernie Sanders remains a real contender to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in large part because of his consistent record opposing these trade deals.

So, when you see an economist who is angry that major presidential candidates are advocating "protectionist" policies, treat it just like the debate over the size of Donald Trump's fingers. It should be a source of great amusement. These economists are totally fine with protectionism of all sorts, as long it benefits the wealthy and not ordinary workers.

Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#115852: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:00:16 AM

I know it's not going to happen, but I just wish any Republican was going to the nominee except for him, even if they might be more likely to win (see Tobias' comment about holding one's breath that the nation isn't stupid enough to elect him). Because at least then, there will be a halfway normal debate between the Parties' candidates.

Trump's manner/ideology and what he brings to American politics is so toxic that I just can't stand several more months of him (let alone years). I just want his political life to fall apart and not be remembered in the future except as a joke on late night tv.

Luminosity Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Lovey-Dovey
#115853: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:03:06 AM

[up] I do not see it this way. It might not look it, but Trump is the least likely nominee to actually win the general election. Cruz or That-Other-Douche-Whose-Name-I-Forgot are no better, but their toxicity is not as famous, so they don't inspire nearly as much terror and urgency into stopping them as Trump does.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#115854: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:04:30 AM

Most of the purple folks and even some of the red folks like me have been pushed into the blue by the ridiculous and asinine antics of the Republican party - not just in this election, but over the course of the last decade at least. As many of our international tropers have pointed out in the past, it's a commentary on the state of American politics that a person like Hillary Clinton can even be considered a liberal candidate in the first place.

Which is exactly why the Democrat party is currently so heavily divided between what effectively amounts to Republican Democrat Clinton and Democrat Democrat Sanders.

edited 15th Mar '16 11:05:46 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#115855: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:06:45 AM

Donald Trump has won the Republican caucus in the Northern Mariana Islands, picking up nine pledged delegates.

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.
Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#115856: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:07:18 AM

@Luminosity- Well, Cruz seems to be covertly but obviously gunning to be Trump's running mate and Trump likewise is covertly but obviously indicating that as well. So I don't really think of him as an alternative.

But with Rubio and Kasich, they are... slightly better policy wise (and way better humanity wise) and I'd hope that they can be challenged on the issues. Whereas Trump is all about personal insults.

edited 15th Mar '16 11:07:57 AM by Hodor2

SolipsistOwl Since: Jan, 2016
#115857: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:07:32 AM

How well any candidate does in the general election depends on who they're facing as well as the VP running-mate for both.

Trump has been promising administration positions to Carson, Cruz, Christie, etc... Of course his VP will be a 'good cop' establishment-type to balance him out. So, whether he can win the presidency depends more on the Democratic nominee and any potential third-party vote-splitters.

edited 15th Mar '16 11:08:43 AM by SolipsistOwl

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#115858: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:09:16 AM

But who? Every Establishment-type loathes him. Unless he managed to lobotomize Jeb with a gold-plated ice pick and dragged him out on stage with him, it's not an Establishment guy.

Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#115859: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:13:18 AM

...So, according to Facebook, the Florida primaries are today. :/

Uh...

The fuck does that mean? Folks are telling me they just voted, and I'm feelin' like I missed something. Pretty sure the big one's later in the year, but also pretty sure I'm not registered yet since I don't seem to have a little card anywhere saying I am.

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#115860: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:14:52 AM

These are the party nomination elections.

You choose who represents what party in the general election.

It's kinda important.

Oh really when?
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#115861: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:15:15 AM

The Florida primaries for Democrats and Republicans are today.

My state actually ragequit the Republican primary. In response to the party telling us that whoever wins the state will automatically be awarded all Colorado delegates, we took our ball and went home. I honestly don't know how I feel about that.

edited 15th Mar '16 11:17:37 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#115862: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:18:36 AM

...How long d'you reckon they're open, and do they register people in the same building?

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#115863: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:18:50 AM

Florida has closed primaries, so if you're registered as either a Democrat or a Republican, you can vote for who you want to be that party's nominee for the general election (which is the one in November, which actually decides who will be president). Your choices are (on the Democratic side), Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton and (on the Republican side) Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, or John Kasich.

If you're not registered for either party, then don't worry about it, you can't vote in the primaries (in Florida) anyway.

For specific information about your polling place and all that, check the Florida Division of Elections website.

edited 15th Mar '16 11:20:26 AM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Knowlessman hey i dunno, why don't you tell me from Stupidtown, USA (FL) Since: Jun, 2013 Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
hey i dunno, why don't you tell me
#115864: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:20:52 AM

Ah. 'Kay.

Can registering for whatever party be done in the same building, d'you reckon, or is that a process? Righto.

edited 15th Mar '16 11:21:13 AM by Knowlessman

i care but i'm restless, i'm here but i'm really gone, i'm wrong and i'm sorry, baby
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#115866: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:41:32 AM

Can registering for whatever party be done in the same building, d'you reckon, or is that a process?
For the record, I'm not really sure with primaries. I'm registered as an independent, so I've never voted in one. I believe that in Florida, during the general election you can register on the spot and cast a "provisional ballot" which will officially count once your registration goes through (and they confirm that you're actually eligible to vote).

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#115867: Mar 15th 2016 at 11:45:53 AM

I wonder if the formation of the Lion's Guard / The Schutzstaffel II will affect any further Trump rallies.

I mean, considering how brutal the first one was, I cannot imagine they'll hold back.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#115868: Mar 15th 2016 at 12:03:16 PM

Can someone explain to me how the territories can give candidates delegates toward becoming the nominee when they can't even legally vote in the presidential election?

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#115869: Mar 15th 2016 at 12:07:34 PM

Because primaries work on whatever rules the individual parties write for them, not on federal election laws.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#115870: Mar 15th 2016 at 12:08:52 PM

Because the parties created the primary system out of thin air about 60 years ago and didn't bother trying to have things make rational sense.

And no, I'm not joking. That's why.

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
thatguythere47 Since: Jul, 2010
#115871: Mar 15th 2016 at 12:25:37 PM

So uh for some reason like every big site I've tried to check (cnn, msnbc, fucking fox, fivethirty, etc) will not bloody load. Youtube, this site, facebook whatever is working fine so no idea what the hell is wrong. Anyone else getting this issue? And if not mind posting the election predictions here?

EDIT: so it's definitely tied to chrome. Weird.

EDIT: To anyone else having issues: disable then renable all your extensions.

edited 15th Mar '16 12:55:41 PM by thatguythere47

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#115873: Mar 15th 2016 at 12:39:52 PM

[up] I thought Carson was told by God to endorse Trump. So which is it, Carson?

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#115874: Mar 15th 2016 at 12:40:49 PM

[up] To err is human? smile

Keep Rolling On
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#115875: Mar 15th 2016 at 12:58:38 PM

So, can the Midwest technically be considered part of the East Coast? While it's name is the Midwest, it is closer to the Northeast and South (Which are the East Coast) than the West.


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