The Next American President Thread (2016)

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  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited May 2016 Posts: 23,883
    chrisisall wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    If someone goes negative on him, I suspect his numbers will collapse
    But how? He doesn't lie, cheat or steal, he has no affairs, no one ever got killed because of him... how can you go negative on a boyscout?
    Age, and the socialist angle. That can be played up. America is still trickle down oriented overall compared to other countries, it just needs a rebalancing. The young generation is more in need of help, and they are the big Bernie supporters.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited May 2016 Posts: 17,801
    Age? The man is the definition of 'spry for his age'. Socialist? No negative connotation for younger folk. Trickle down? Means nothing except to us in the know. We know it's a code phrase for wealth-hoarding.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Yes, that's my point. He has the young generation. He doesn't have the Latinos or African Americans, nor does he have all those middle aged and older voters who are die hard Clintonites. Are they going to go with him, or decide to go with Trump to keep their current jobs & get new ones. That's the key.

    The 'he's risky - be afraid' argument goes out the window if it's Bernie vs. Trump. They are then both risky. Take your pick.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    bondjames wrote: »
    Yes, that's my point. He has the young generation. He doesn't have the Latinos or African Americans, nor does he have all those middle aged and older voters who are die hard Clintonites. Are they going to go with him, or decide to go with Trump to keep their current jobs & get new ones. That's the key.

    The 'he's risky - be afraid' argument goes out the window if it's Bernie vs. Trump. They are then both risky. Take your pick.
    Clinton is full stop corrupt.
    Trump is a brainless clown.
    Sanders is the only real choice.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    I'm still hoping for Biden.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    bondjames wrote: »
    I'm still hoping for Biden.
    I like Biden!
  • Posts: 1,631
    bondjames wrote: »
    I'm still hoping for Biden.

    Sadly we're well beyond the point where that would be possible. He was the one Democrat I felt I could comfortably vote for back in 2008, and I would have voted for him over McCain had he gotten to the top of the ticket. He would have been far and away my pick in this cycle, assuming everything else went the same way.
  • edited May 2016 Posts: 3,566
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Socialist? No negative connotation for younger folk.

    And if "younger folk" were the only ones voting, maybe Bernie would stand a chance. But they aren't, and therefore he doesn't. If the Republican party were to train their guns on him for a few weeks, Bernie would be burnt toast. Socialistsocialistsocialist, that's all you'd hear from now to the election...and we'd be left with the hideousness of a President Trump for at least four years. The 'Pubes have been taking the piss out of Hillary for a quarter of a century now, and in all that time have managed to turn maybe a third of the population irrevocably against her. The percentage that's left is still enough for her to win...or it would be if Bernie would face the obvious and actually start supporting the (all but settled now) Democratic nominee. If you think the race was stacked against him, consider this: Bernie isn't actually a registered Democrat! The D party didn't really need to let him participate at all, that they did is a tribute to the party's desire to keep their left wing satisfied. Bernie's brought Hillary a good several degrees leftward due to his presence in the primaries, but pretty soon it will be time to solidify his gains and think about what he can accomplish with his increased stature as an independent, left-leaning senator in a Democratically-controlled Senate. It's time to get on the bus or get thrown under it, Bernie...

    And regarding the whole "corruption" issue: I would submit that Hillary is neither more nor less corrupt than the system as a whole. You want to fix the system, fine, fix the system -- but to start with THIS candidate, given that we are indeed faced with a choice of one or the other, no substitutions allowed -- and it's therefore going to be either Hillary or Trump, you can't have Bernie or Biden or Romney -- it seems foolish to me to take the absolutist position. Praying for the FBI to cart Hillary away at this late date is like praying for God On High to come take all the True Believers off to heaven when the bombs start falling. It's a fantasy, a delusion, it's just not going to happen. "My way or the highway"? Fine, get your car gassed up & make sure there's plenty of air in your tires. The rest of us are just going to have to choose between Hillary or The Donald. I've said all along that I'll be happy to vote for whoever the Democratic candidate happens to be. I trust enough people out there share my position in this regard...otherwise we'll being Heiling Drumpf for the next four years if not longer.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Ron Paul had a majority of the youth support, and when it came to support from military personnnel he had more support than all other candidates from both parties combined. It didn t help him much.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    you can't have Bernie
    Sir, you don't KNOW that. The rotund female has not intonated.

    :))
  • I can hear her warming up even now. Shake the wax loose from your ears, my friend... (:|
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    mp,550x550,matte,ffffff,t.3u2.jpg
  • Gee, I knew Batman vs. Superman was a dud -- but do you really think THAT'S the best way to translate Superman into the movies?
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Definitely.
  • I'd like to see Bernie try on the white suit & black string tie of his cousin from Tennessee -- Colonel Harlan Sanders. Those campaign promises shore are finger-lickin' good!
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    I basically agree with all you said, @BeatlesSansEarmuffs.
  • Except maybe about the chicken...
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited May 2016 Posts: 17,801
    2016-05-30-1464633888-9490158-chickentrumpcolonelberniesandersmeme400x209.jpg
    There ya go Beatles! :))
  • Buh-KAWW! =))
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    I basically agree with all you said, @BeatlesSansEarmuffs.
    The problem here is, we need to start the change NOW. Hillary is just another bacteria-filled band aid. The system can't be changed without, you know, CHANGING IT.
    Capitalism is destroying itself, and it's taking us down with it. If people aren't making decent wages, they cant be good consumers, and the flow of money stagnates. ANY good Capitalism-based economy DEPENDS upon consumers having discretionary income to fuel it. The 1%, in hoarding wealth to impress themselves in what is purely a numbers game is sowing the seeds of their own destruction. What good is being rich in a world where poverty makes you hated and in the end, a target for violence? Bernie is NOT a Socialist, and mainly because pure Socialism is NOT the answer. Bernie is about something new, something daring, and indeed the only real key to our salvation as a working, living society: BALANCE. Balance between Socialism & Capitalism. Hence why he defines himself as Social Democrat.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited May 2016 Posts: 17,801
    Feudal System Economics 101-
    You hoard all the farm-able land, all the animals, and all the water. You decide all the plebes don't get any because they are scum. You look powerful to other kingdoms because you rule the essentials. You take pride in all that you have amassed.
    But you lose the ability to trade because your lowly workers die off or leave, leaving you with wilted crops, dying herds, no artisans to repair your castle after storms, and no willing army to defend your keep.
    But you WON!
    Because at one time you had more than ANYONE!
    How cool is that?
    Now transfer that to present day.....
  • Posts: 11,119
    This very topic makes me afraid....it prevents me from giving any sensible comment. Because whatever I say, it's no good.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited May 2016 Posts: 12,480
    @chrisisall, I simply disagree with that strong of opinion against Hilary (I feel she has faults, has made mistakes, but is not totally corrupt or in any way evil, no) and just in general the practicalities of Bernie's ideas.

    All of the following is simply my opinion. I am not actually trying to dissuade/persuade anyone ... I'd just like people to step back and think it all through. Again. In the middle of the ever increasing strong rhetoric and tearing down from all sides that is going on.

    I am not looking to argue socialism vs. capitalism. I'm just putting forth my opinion once in full; I don't aim to continue explaining or asking others to explain themselves to me.

    Even if the goal is to change the system - and I do feel we should work on that and change the system as feasible, practical, and reality-based - that will take more time, and I do think the Democratic party in general has a much better record of policies that have helped our country. However, I always look at all candidates from every party and do not vote solely because of any party. So let's work on the system, I agree with that - but get a president in place that is neither extreme, because the Trump option is genuinely dangerous and the Sanders option would be a frozen, locked, and arguing from within government; stymied and stalemated at nearly every turn.

    I do not think Bernie Sanders has any real chance of beating Hilary Clinton. I also feel that his ideas are far too left, too much dressed as socialism for the majority of Americans (and by that I include American businesses) to get behind. Do I want free college tuition for all students? Why, yes I do. Is that practical now? No, it isn't. It will take years of lobbying and effort to make it sway that way. Let's work on it. But don't expect Sanders to become president with a magic wand to make his ideas happen.

    I do agree in general with the ideas, thoughts, and proposals that Hilary Clinton has put forth. Will she need to compromise at times and work hard to accomplish things? Yes, of course. But she is far more a voice of reason, from all I am hearing.

    Do you really feel Sanders' ideas and big changes he proposes would be passed by the present sitting Congress and supported in many states? I do not see that happening at all.

    Because Trump is such a dangerous faction, and not just a "say it like it is" guy, I do not believe that it is helpful to the Democratic party - or to our country - for Bernie to continue to cause a wider/stronger split by tearing Hilary down. Once the numbers are in (delegates), I hope he will support Hilary. Period. Because of the negativity on all sides of this presidential race, it feels like the public is being pushed to choose between 3 bad choices. If the American people get fed up with everybody and decide not to vote, it could be catastrophic for our country.

    Bernie could work with Hilary in making the Democratic system better and indeed get our government to make stronger changes. But I feel he has little to no chance of becoming the nominee OR of making his ideas/promises a reality if he were to become president.

    Trump vs. Clinton
    Trump vs. Sanders
    Trump vs. anybody other than another fascist/bigoted/racist/violence promoting, mentally unstable person ... I vote Democrat.

    If by some miracle Bernie is the nominee, I will vote for him. But I believe there is nothing sustainable about his campaign nor his ideas becoming reality anytime soon in our country.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,266
    Can we call her Hilly if she wins?

    II hope no-one wil vote for Trump. With the system in place right now it doesn't really matter which democrat wins. Look at what little Obama could do in 8 years, thanks to congress. And he was/is the sanest president for a long, long, long time.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited May 2016 Posts: 23,883
    He was the smartest and probably the sanest president, yes. However, he did not exhibit the type of leadership and strength that I personally expected from him. His skills at winning office (twice) far surpassed his skills at managing the political elements of Washington DC.

    That is what disappoints me the most about him. He had the people's vote and support, but he wasn't able to lever that properly into real power. That takes skill and experience.
  • Posts: 11,119
    bondjames wrote: »
    He was the smartest and probably the sanest president, yes. However, he did not exhibit the type of leadership and strength that I personally expected from him. His skills at winning office (twice) far surpassed his skills at managing the political elements of Washington DC.

    That is what disappoints me the most about him. He had the people's vote and support, but he wasn't able to lever that properly into real power. That takes skill and experience.

    Hitler also showed leadership....and especially strength.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,266
    bondjames wrote: »
    He was the smartest and probably the sanest president, yes. However, he did not exhibit the type of leadership and strength that I personally expected from him. His skills at winning office (twice) far surpassed his skills at managing the political elements of Washington DC.

    That is what disappoints me the most about him. He had the people's vote and support, but he wasn't able to lever that properly into real power. That takes skill and experience.

    Hitler also showed leadership....and especially strength.

    Are you now comparing Obama with Hitler?

    bondjames wrote: »
    He was the smartest and probably the sanest president, yes. However, he did not exhibit the type of leadership and strength that I personally expected from him. His skills at winning office (twice) far surpassed his skills at managing the political elements of Washington DC.

    That is what disappoints me the most about him. He had the people's vote and support, but he wasn't able to lever that properly into real power. That takes skill and experience.

    I don't think it's possible anymore with congress beeing that polarised. The republicans stop(ped) at nothing to halt anything going foreward.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited May 2016 Posts: 23,883
    bondjames wrote: »
    He was the smartest and probably the sanest president, yes. However, he did not exhibit the type of leadership and strength that I personally expected from him. His skills at winning office (twice) far surpassed his skills at managing the political elements of Washington DC.

    That is what disappoints me the most about him. He had the people's vote and support, but he wasn't able to lever that properly into real power. That takes skill and experience.

    Hitler also showed leadership....and especially strength.
    What a joke of a comment, but not unexpected.
    bondjames wrote: »
    He was the smartest and probably the sanest president, yes. However, he did not exhibit the type of leadership and strength that I personally expected from him. His skills at winning office (twice) far surpassed his skills at managing the political elements of Washington DC.

    That is what disappoints me the most about him. He had the people's vote and support, but he wasn't able to lever that properly into real power. That takes skill and experience.

    I don't think it's possible anymore with congress beeing that polarised. The republicans stop(ped) at nothing to halt anything going foreward.
    That is true, & there's no question that they used his race against him from the start, and that he played into it as well by being too nice and losing their respect. Politics 101, and he did and has shown naivety several times during his tenure with the 'grand old party' and their 'white men'.

    Someone like Biden could have navigated Congress much better due to his evergreen status and his in-ring political skills (which are absolutely formidable). However, there is the small problem about 'the people' and their vote.

    It's difficult to get a candidate who can win with the people like Obama did and then pivot to dealing confidently with the Machiavellian machinations of Washington inside game politics. Almost impossible imho.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    I think GG was NOT putting Obama into category of Hitler. He was making a statement I think, that putting all one's hope in a STRONG and decisive leader could mean people get swayed to vote for a dictator like Hitler. I interpreted GG's comment different from you. It was an extreme way of making a valid point. I have no problem with his comment.

    Personally, I am not highly disappointed with Obama for leadership. I still rate him as quite a good president, in that area also. He has been stymied tons, but I don't think he showed a big lack of leadership; I don't see that at all.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801

    the Sanders option would be a frozen, locked, and arguing from within government; stymied and stalemated at nearly every turn.

    I disagree... he'd make his desires known to the American people, and get them fired up about the stonewalling to a degree where the a-holes would cave just to secure their jobs next time around. This is the time for bold action, not "Oh, okay, we'll keep the status quo going for a little longer....."
    [-X
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