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TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#131676: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:32:14 PM

[up] Kaine is fine. And please stop with the whole progressive=automatically better for the country. You run into the risk of promoting politicians who have no grip on reality.

Clinton knows what she's doing. I just hope Kaine goes all out in the VP debate and tear Pence a new one

New Survey coming this weekend!
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#131677: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:33:56 PM

[up]Clinton needs progressives. At this point I'm legitimately doubting her ability to win against anyone that isn't Trump. That's going to be a big problem four years from now.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#131678: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:35:37 PM

Unless the GOP goes utterly apeshit and becomes politically toxic. By 2020 Latinos will be even more vital a demographic to win.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#131679: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:36:29 PM

[up][up]I'd hope so. I want to see a Republican in the white house in 2020.

Leviticus 19:34
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#131680: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:37:01 PM

They're already apeshit and the race is neck and neck. Clinton needs every advantage she can get. Like it or not Bernie's supporters are the future of the Democratic party. If they don't start courting them then we're looking at a Republican win in a few years time.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#131682: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:38:09 PM

Just looked through Kaine's positions, and he reminds me of Jed Bartlet. Moderate on economic issues, pragmatic on foreign policy and personally against abortion while supporting (most) reproductive rights. His evolution on LGBT rights is typical for a moderate Democrat.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
BonsaiForest Since: Jan, 2001
#131683: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:42:33 PM

Considering Trump picked a VP only the far right could possibly like, why should Hillary pick a VP that would excite liberals? I mean, I think it runs the risk of increasing polarization and scaring away fence-sitting voters.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#131684: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:45:00 PM

[up][up][up]I'd be worried about that if the election wasn't still months away. Seriously, caution is one thing, but it really seems like you are overestimating how long these things stay in the public consciousness.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#131685: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:45:07 PM

I think that Clinton is banking on winning over minorities, moderates, and even Republicans who won't vote for Trump. She thinks that her progressive shift and a fear of Trump will be enough to keep liberals in her tent.

I hope she's right.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#131686: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:56:08 PM

The Virginia Supreme Court struck down Governor Terry McAuliffe’s (D) move to restore voting rights for over 200,000 convicted felons on Friday.

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
#131687: Jul 22nd 2016 at 5:56:21 PM

Well, I probably would have preferred Castro or Booker, but they're almost certain to run in 2020 or 2024. And it doesn't really seem like the trend among Democrats is for the VP to be groomed for future President (oddly it's more of a Republican thing- not sure why).

Although she's well-loved, I wasn't really big on Warren as VP. Not just because of the important seat she has and the good she does in Congress, but because she's been doing a good job as an "attack dog" on twitter, but at the same time, they could open her up to attacks in ads and during the debates.

Edit- Reading about him on The Other Wiki, seems like a good pick. Not sure why everyone on twitter/the Berniesphere seems to hate him.

edited 22nd Jul '16 5:59:40 PM by Hodor2

Lightysnake Since: May, 2010
#131688: Jul 22nd 2016 at 6:01:31 PM

He's slightly more moderate/conservative leaning, and any ideological impurity in the eyes of that crowd must be purged.

Except Tulsi Gabbard. She's fine.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#131689: Jul 22nd 2016 at 6:14:50 PM

@Rational: I think we all do, but I'm becoming less an less confident by the day. Jesus, Trump would be the icing on top of a massive "fuck you" from the baby boomers to my generation. When the best case scenario is George W. Bush 2.0, you know you've fucked up as a nation.

edited 22nd Jul '16 6:16:08 PM by CaptainCapsase

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#131690: Jul 22nd 2016 at 6:18:47 PM

I just had a strange and rather morbid thought. Given that Trump's reaction to Saddam's use of gas was "meh", I wonder what his positions on the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions are?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#131691: Jul 22nd 2016 at 6:21:38 PM

[up] As with most other things, I don't think he has any actual, heartfelt positions. He'll say whatever it is he thinks will get the crowds to vote for him. Once in office, he'd basically do whatever he thought would get him more attention, while GOP elites tear each other to shreds in the backgrounds trying to gain influence over him.

edited 22nd Jul '16 6:24:11 PM by CaptainCapsase

BonsaiForest Since: Jan, 2001
#131692: Jul 22nd 2016 at 6:38:16 PM

How Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton's VP, defies the religious stereotype

Since then, Kaine also has been outspoken about his faith, sometimes rivaling his counterpart, Governor Mike Pence, in the number of times he invokes it. This has not been without controversy. For example, Kaine has said many times that he is personally pro-life but politically pro-choice—in other words, that he is anti-abortion himself, as a matter of conscience, but believes the government should not coerce that moral view on women.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#131693: Jul 22nd 2016 at 6:39:17 PM

Is that viewpoint really that rare? A lot of people don't personally like abortion but understand that it's better to make it unnecessary than banning it outright.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#131694: Jul 22nd 2016 at 6:43:09 PM

The Vice Presidential debate will certainly be interesting.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#131695: Jul 22nd 2016 at 6:43:10 PM

[up][up]I've seen that position before. In fact, it's the position of Joe Biden, and Obama too, IIRC. In fact, quite a few pro-choice people I've spoken to (and, naturally, argued with) have stated that they view abortion's legalization as a necessary evil or simply that being anti-abortion is something they shouldn't force on others.

edited 22nd Jul '16 6:43:21 PM by Protagonist506

Leviticus 19:34
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#131696: Jul 22nd 2016 at 7:00:01 PM

I mean, being a born and raised atheist, and secular humanist, who does not believe the fetus in its early stages is a person in the legal sense, I'm not a fan of abortion myself when it comes to my own body. But it's not my place to impose my personal values on other women who think differently, and for many people it's not worth it to keep the baby, whether medical, economic, psychological, or what have you. And while I don't think it should be treated as casually as going to the dentist for a checkup, it's not something that should be shamed or stigmatized either.

edited 22nd Jul '16 7:04:37 PM by AlleyOop

DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#131697: Jul 22nd 2016 at 7:01:39 PM

One assumes that abortion would be significantly less called for in a society where sex education and contraceptives aren't stigmatised to begin with.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#131698: Jul 22nd 2016 at 7:03:20 PM

I never really understood saying it's not human early on, but at the same time, I never really got why that should matter.

edited 22nd Jul '16 7:04:34 PM by LSBK

nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#131700: Jul 22nd 2016 at 7:04:32 PM

The best way to get rid of abortion is the widespread use of free, effective contraceptives. Banning it just drives it underground and endangers the lives of women. I would say I would never get an abortion, but I'm a man so that statement is meaningless. I just believe it's not my place to decide for any women.


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