2016 American Presidential Campaign

[spacejunk]

It's hard not to feel that Obama - for all his statesman's poise, inspiring oratory and uncharacteristic Presidential dignity - has disappointed a lot of people.
Whether it is unfair or not is probably beside the point - having a hostile Congress, prepared to force government shutdowns to further their political agenda hasn't helped Obama achieve a lot of what he intended, or what gave his supporters Hope.

But - from my amateur, outsider's analysis, anyway - it seems like a lot of the greatly dissilussioned public sentiment that has pushed Sanders - and Trump, of all people - into such threatening positions in their respective parties is partly due to the sense that the political landscape is littered with party-line bullshit and needs shaking up.

Slickness has become a something of a weakness rather than a strength.
It's really hard for me to view this contest - particularly the Dem nomination - with any balance, but Hillary seems to look worse and worse as time goes on.
Go Bernie!

 

[Bardeaux]

Bernie isn't going to stand a chance.

The DNC has an entirely non-democratic method of nomination via their superdelegate system. It's basically a politburo-style method of candidate selection that gives all of the power to high ranking Democratic Party officials at the expense of popular selection.

The party seems to not want my vote in the general election, a long with many others.

 

[spacejunk]

Yeah, i'm not optimistic about the democratic nomination.

 

[Bardeaux]

For example, a close tie in Iowa and a Sanders landslide in New Hampshire has left Sanders with a total of 44 delegates. Clinton has 394.

Looks like I won't be voting in 2016.

 

[LiquidMethod]

having voted for him, i'm disappointed in some things that obama's done and not done but he's been an outstanding president.

haha good one! Outstanding in what respect? He has virtually failed in every one of his promises. He promised to be the most open and transparent president in history followed by a track record of being the most dishonest, secretive and vindictive president in US history. He has turned down more Freedom of Information requests than all other presidents. He has indicted, harassed and jailed more journalists and government whistleblowers than any other president. And he's charged more Americans with the archaic Espionage Act of 1917 than all other presidents combined.

He constantly promises to protect the rights of all US citizens yet when he signed the 2012 Nation Defense Authorization Act, he signed away virtually all our constitutional rights. The Posse Comitatus law that since 1878 prohibited US military from interfering with civil matters on US soil was repealed. Now members of the armed forces can break into our homes and arrest us without a warrant as our Fourth Amendment search and seizure laws requiring arrest warrants to enter our homes have been abolished. Our habeas corpus rights from the 1215 Magna Carta acting as the oldest human right in English-speaking civilization legally protecting citizens from government tyranny by prohibiting the feds from detaining us without just cause was wiped out. Under habeas corpus, the government must either charge us with a crime at the time of arrest or simply let us go. Yet 2012 NDAA instantaneously turned our supposed democratic republic into a bona fide totalitarian police state. So now without being charged, any US military or law enforcement personnel can break into our homes and arrest us without warrants or charges and imprison us for an unlimited length of time without trial or legal representation, further violating our Sixth Amendment rights to a fair and speedy trial as well as denying us the right to due process.

Foreign policy-wise, he has pushed the world into a new Cold War and Europe into a period of political insanity not seen since 1914. In 2012 he placed full tax paid-support behind the Islamic Slate vowing to remove Assad for yet another US regime change. Obama coddles and protects terrorists. He's establishing a military airbase in northeastern Syria to support Turkey and their terrorist allies. Obama's Pentagon provides 45-minute warnings to ISIS prior to dropping bombs in order to preserve Islamic State's safety.

People had hope for Obama in '08. I personally did. Which is why I'm so surprised that intelligent people are still buying into this dog and pony show that is the US presidential election. Bernie Sanders is eliciting same hope that Obama did, yet Sanders answers virtually zero questions related to foreign policy. Expect more of the same no matter who gets elected.

 

[spacejunk]

To be fair, the bar has been set pretty low...

 

[socko]

Remember everyone, evitable is a word. She's been trying to be president one way or another since 1992, and it's just disgusting.

 

[quiet roar]

For example, a close tie in Iowa and a Sanders landslide in New Hampshire has left Sanders with a total of 44 delegates. Clinton has 394.

Looks like I won't be voting in 2016.

Wouldn't a vote for a third party be better than not voting at all?

 

[Lylawinesnob]

It's disturbing, but I have such a low opinion of the presidential election I find it hard to care, I don't see much changing no matter who gets in. It's a game of pick the most charismatic retard. Or of whom the next person to spit on the constitution should be.

The president actually doesn't have very much power. That is why the presidential elections get SO MUCH coverage. IF voting in a new president from one of the TWO traditional parties made any difference, the election would be almost over before we knew it. The real power in government sits on Capital Hill with 523 members, 511 of whom are millionaires, 9 that are almost millionaires, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth warren and someone else I can't remember. The legislative branch. Congress. They construct the laws that twist and torture the meaning of the constitution until it suits them. They levy taxes (they don't pay much attention to Amendment 16), disburse fund( Article 1, Section 8), ratify the presidential cabinet members, ratify supreme court members...etc. Why do you think Obama had such a hard go of it? The only thing he can actually control is the military as commander in chief. Now look up over all of those "public servants". If you look in the right place, you can see the puppet masters pulling their strings.
If you are sick of the political climate in this country, I agree! I am working on it. Unfortunately it will take me a few years... pay attention in 2018! #Revolution

 

[Lylawinesnob]

The electoral college is a cumbersome and convoluted way to vote. It is outdated and doesn't work perfectly, or even work well sometimes if most of the time.
I think I just described every government everything.
The United States Government is a cumbersome and convoluted way to govern. It is outdated and doesn't work perfectly, or even well sometimes if not most of the time.
The Affordable Care Act is a cumbersome and convoluted way to provide health care . It is outdated and doesn't work perfectly, or even well sometimes if not most of the time.
Hmm.... I feel like the best way to clean house is to unite behind a third party congress in 2018. A congress with Common sense, an understanding of equality and justice... that could actually make a difference. No matter who is president Hilary, Trump... same shit different owner. Bernie love him dearly, appreciate what he stands for, misses the mark but closer to good than anybody else.... Congress will still be Congress, they will still have masters to serve and it isn't the public.

 

[Lylawinesnob]

haha good one! Outstanding in what respect? He has virtually failed in every one of his promises. He promised to be the most open and transparent president in history followed by a track record of being the most dishonest, secretive and vindictive president in US history. He has turned down more Freedom of Information requests than all other presidents. He has indicted, harassed and jailed more journalists and government whistleblowers than any other president. And he's charged more Americans with the archaic Espionage Act of 1917 than all other presidents combined.

He constantly promises to protect the rights of all US citizens yet when he signed the 2012 Nation Defense Authorization Act, he signed away virtually all our constitutional rights. The Posse Comitatus law that since 1878 prohibited US military from interfering with civil matters on US soil was repealed. Now members of the armed forces can break into our homes and arrest us without a warrant as our Fourth Amendment search and seizure laws requiring arrest warrants to enter our homes have been abolished. Our habeas corpus rights from the 1215 Magna Carta acting as the oldest human right in English-speaking civilization legally protecting citizens from government tyranny by prohibiting the feds from detaining us without just cause was wiped out. Under habeas corpus, the government must either charge us with a crime at the time of arrest or simply let us go. Yet 2012 NDAA instantaneously turned our supposed democratic republic into a bona fide totalitarian police state. So now without being charged, any US military or law enforcement personnel can break into our homes and arrest us without warrants or charges and imprison us for an unlimited length of time without trial or legal representation, further violating our Sixth Amendment rights to a fair and speedy trial as well as denying us the right to due process.

Foreign policy-wise, he has pushed the world into a new Cold War and Europe into a period of political insanity not seen since 1914. In 2012 he placed full tax paid-support behind the Islamic Slate vowing to remove Assad for yet another US regime change. Obama coddles and protects terrorists. He's establishing a military airbase in northeastern Syria to support Turkey and their terrorist allies. Obama's Pentagon provides 45-minute warnings to ISIS prior to dropping bombs in order to preserve Islamic State's safety.

People had hope for Obama in '08. I personally did. Which is why I'm so surprised that intelligent people are still buying into this dog and pony show that is the US presidential election. Bernie Sanders is eliciting same hope that Obama did, yet Sanders answers virtually zero questions related to foreign policy. Expect more of the same no matter who gets elected.

So what are you gonna do about it?

 

[spacejunk]

The president actually doesn't have very much power. That is why the presidential elections get SO MUCH coverage. IF voting in a new president from one of the TWO traditional parties made any difference, the election would be almost over before we knew it. The real power in government sits on Capital Hill with 523 members, 511 of whom are millionaires, 9 that are almost millionaires, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth warren and someone else I can't remember. The legislative branch. Congress. They construct the laws that twist and torture the meaning of the constitution until it suits them. They levy taxes (they don't pay much attention to Amendment 16), disburse fund( Article 1, Section 8), ratify the presidential cabinet members, ratify supreme court members...etc. Why do you think Obama had such a hard go of it? The only thing he can actually control is the military as commander in chief. Now look up over all of those "public servants". If you look in the right place, you can see the puppet masters pulling their strings.
If you are sick of the political climate in this country, I agree! I am working on it. Unfortunately it will take me a few years... pay attention in 2018! #Revolution

Kanye, is that you?

In all seriousness though, i totally agree with the sentiments of this post. The US President really isn't as poweful as people seem to make out. Obama seems to be a prime example of this - just look at Gitmo.

 

[Lylawinesnob]

Bernie isn't going to stand a chance.

The DNC has an entirely non-democratic method of nomination via their superdelegate system. It's basically a politburo-style method of candidate selection that gives all of the power to high ranking Democratic Party officials at the expense of popular selection.

The party seems to not want my vote in the general election, a long with many others.

\


Interesting way for "The Peoples Party" to elect a representative.

 

[Lylawinesnob]

Well, as president there are a few things you can do, but without the support of congress they are mostly moot. The checks and balances that were designed to keep any one branch from becoming to powerful did not account for the legislate and the judiciary branch to join forces.

 

[Lylawinesnob]

Hillary Clinton is a corrupt, pathological liar. I don't understand the collective amnesia when it comes to scandals her and her husband have been involved in. And realistically a vote of Hillary is also a vote for Bill. They represent the very worst kind of exploitative pseudo-liberali

Hilary is a politician. Calling a politician corrupt pathological liar is like calling bacon pork. Corrupt liars they have always has been, we just call them something nicer, POLITICIANS.

 

[Lylawinesnob]

The only thing that impresses me is he isn't establishment. Guy makes me cringe listening to him. Rand Paul is by far the most sensible love him or hate him.

Have you heard of Gary Johnson? Reasonable, good man, actually gets what government is supposed to do, and what it isn't supposed to do. Then he doesn't let it do what it shouldn't. Solid man Gary.

 

[Lylawinesnob]

We live in a capitalist society, Trump is the ultimate capitalist. Trump is the embodiment of the establishment, I would say.

Diplomacy isn't business. Business is a cut-throat game where you take as much as you can regardless of the consequences so long as you come out on top, being a businessman requires being a ruthless player in the game, like Trump. Being a diplomat requires patience, tact, trustworthiness and sometimes, maybe a little humility. Trump has none of these qualities. The government isn't a corporation with missiles.

As far as Bernie goes, I'm not so sure he's envisioning an expansion of government, but rather a restructuring of government. As of now, Wall St has it's hand so firmly in our government's pocket that our rockets get bigger and bigger every year. I think directing money away from corporate subsidies and into education and skills training, away from increasing military spending towards our recovering vets isn't really an expansion. Just a redirection.

We do not live in a pure capitalist society, it is mixed Oligarchy and socialism.

The Poor must suffer for the crime of being poor. Low wages, no benefits, social safety net half the size of corporate subsidies. STARVE POOR PEOPLE! YOU SHOULD WORK HARDER. Capitalism!
The banks are too big to fail. They need a bail out! Socialism!

The Billionaire banks lost all the middle classes money and homes with risky speculation that should have never been legally reintroduced by repealing Glass-Stegall I mean, the reason they passed Glass Steagall after the great depression is because BANKS and SECURITIES firms started gambling with the market. You know, like the stuff that precipitated the 2008 crash

The more money you have, the less you have to worry about breaking the law, paying taxes, or basically anything if you can afford to buy a senator or representative, it is all good! Need some government money?!?! Buy a public servant today!. OLIGARCHY!

The government is not a traditional business. The business of government is to provide for the public defense and common welfare. The government is not supposed to be good or evil, simply just and equitable. The government is not a business, it is not intended to bring in profit. The Federal Government is gaining far to much power, power that it should never have seized, and should be divested back where it belongs.

Bernie is a good man, but he misses the point. You cannot take from the top and give to the bottom as he suggest. You cannot take from the middle and give to the bottom and the top as the is done now. The only thing that can be done is a monumental decrease in the percentage of income tax that is the same percentage no matter what that percentage amounts to. The same slice of pie, no matter how big the pie. It would be simpler burn it to the ground and start over than try and clean it all up.

 

[Lylawinesnob]

Watching too much fox news drops. Im not in love with obama or some fanboi, but he has done a pretty good job overall. He was handed a pile of shit and things have improved including the economy.

I think he is pretty respected even if he is a giant pussy that doesn't wage war every time someone pisses him off. I think he has accomplished a lot but people love to blame him for everything and he's not even that liberal.

I think its of kind of disrspectful showing so much disdain for someone who is still our current commander in chief. Seems pretty low class, even though it has become a staple in recent debates.

If you every want to set the place on fire, call me. I'll bring the matches!

 

[Lylawinesnob]

I think it's clear G&L's original post was about the federal deficit, not private debt (considering that he called it national debt and was talking about Obama). The article you posted was attempting to mitigate the large increase in federal debt by showing that other types of debt had decreased to offset the overall debt of the nation:



That said, I don't think a focus on reducing the deficit is a good idea. The better idea is to focus on the economy and let the rate of debt to GDP to decline over time.

The National Deficit and the National debt are two separate things. Every year congress makes a budget they think they can live with. Then they find out how much money they have. (Millionaires making budgets do it backwards I guess) When congress wants more money than we have, the difference between the two is the national Deficit. So reducing the deficit would be easy. Congress needs to learn to count, and not just ask mommy for more.

 

[Lylawinesnob]

If anyone is interested, yes. this is my first time in this forum. Yes, I am bored. Yes, I am elevated.