• Current Events & Politics
    Welcome Guest
    Please read before posting:
    Forum Guidelines Bluelight Rules
  • Current Events & Politics Moderators: deficiT | tryptakid | Foreigner

Election 2020 The 2020 Candidates: Right, Left and Center!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Pete Buttigieg officially announces 2020 campaign
Pete Buttigieg.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, formally entered the 2020 presidential race on Sunday.

Should he win the Democratic nomination and the general election, he would become the youngest-ever and first openly gay president. In front of a crowd of thousands in South Bend, Buttigieg touted some of his accomplishments, including reviving the city's downtown, and hit back against politicians peddling false hope. "There is a myth being sold to industrial and rural communities," he said. "The myth that we can stop the clock and turn it back. It comes from people who think the only way to reach communities like ours is through resentment and nostalgia, selling an impossible promise of returning to a bygone era that was never as great as advertised to begin with."

Buttigieg also spoke about security, democracy, freedom, and the state of the country. "The horror show in Washington is mesmerizing, all-consuming," he said. "But starting today, we are going to change the channel. Sometimes a dark moment brings out the best in us, what is good in us, dare I say, what is great in us." An Afghanistan War veteran and Rhodes Scholar, Buttigieg launched his presidential exploratory committee in January, and has already raised more than $7 million.
Click to expand...
 
Trump campaign raises $30 million in first quarter

President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump's first-quarter haul was an uptick from the $21 million he raised during the final quarter of 2018. | Scott Olson/Getty Images

President Donald Trump's reelection campaign raised $30 million during the first three months of the year, getting off to a fast fundraising start while his potential Democratic rivals stockpile cash for a long and expensive primary ahead.

The Trump campaign ended the first quarter with $40.8 million in its bank account, it said on Sunday — a sum that shows Trump is beginning to stockpile serious money for the eventual 2020 general election. Trump filed campaign finance paperwork to run for reelection earlier than any other president, and he has been raising and spending money through his campaign committee since soon after he took office in 2017. The fundraising figures were first reported by the Associated Press.

Trump's $30 million far outstripped the leading Democratic presidential contenders — reflecting the advantage of a largely undivided party supporting Trump and the small- and large-dollar money machines already whirring to boost his campaign. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) raised $18.2 million in the first quarter in his bid for the Democratic nomination, his campaign said, while Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) announced raising $12 million.

Trump's first-quarter haul was an uptick from the $21 million that the president raised during the final quarter of 2018.

The Republican National Committee also brought in $45.8 million in the first quarter, according to the Trump campaign, bringing its cash reserves close to $41 million.

The increased fundraising pace is coming with increased spending by the Trump campaign. Filings earlier this year showed that Trump had 16 people on his campaign payroll in late 2018 — a number that is expected to increase rapidly this year as the campaign builds its infrastructure for 2020. Trump, the RNC and joint fundraising committees feeding the two entities have also spent big on digital advertising this year to attract new donors on Facebook and Google, according to advertising disclosures from both platforms.
Click to expand...

The Dems need to coalesce around a small number of candidates quickly. They'll spend all their money on the primary otherwise.

Will the Republicans primary anyone against Trump?
 
Breaking story... I wonder who is backing him?

Bill Weld officially announces he is challenging Trump for GOP nomination in 2020

Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld announced Monday he is officially entering the race for president, becoming the first Republican to challenge President Donald Trump in the 2020 race.

"Ours is a nation built on courage, resilience, and independence. In these times of great political strife, when both major parties are entrenched in their 'win at all cost' battles, the voices of the American people are being ignored and our nation is suffering," Weld, who had previously formed an exploratory committee, said in a statement.

"It is time for patriotic men and women across our great nation to stand and plant a flag. It is time to return to the principles of Lincoln -- equality, dignity, and opportunity for all. There is no greater cause on earth than to preserve what truly makes America great. I am ready to lead that fight."
Click to expand...
 
Very interesting. I was wondering who'd be brave enough to challenge on the Rep side. I think you're dead correct though that the Dems need to focus or they'll spend themselves out of it too early and not bring a strongly supported candidate to the forefront.
 
Trump should not face a primary challenger. He was ushered in by the party. The R's had a chance to replace his name on the ballot. They failed. This is a failure America needs to live through: growing pains. America will never learn from her mistakes if we keep solving all her fuck-up's.

Honestly the way things are going I'm less tolerant of the left now; they went too far left. It's quite terrifying and this is probably a worse political season than 2016, all things considered. People will look back in time and laugh at our ignorance.
 
Sanders takes on Fox — and emerges triumphant
"The Democratic front-runner ventured where his rivals haven't dared, and notched an hour of positive publicity."

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bernie Sanders entered the Fox's den on Monday night — and he not only survived the hourlong encounter, but often dominated.

Appearing at a Fox News-hosted town hall, smack in the middle of Trump Country, the Democratic presidential front-runner played the part, swatting down tough questions from the hosts about health care, defense spending and his newfound wealth. At one point, the Vermont senator even led the network’s audience in a call-and-response that found them cheering loudly for his policies. (emphasis mine)

In the days preceding the event, Sanders faced backlash from liberals who said he shouldn’t participate given the network's nativist bent and cheerleading for President Donald Trump. But when it was over, Sanders had received an hour of positive exposure on the highest-rated cable channel — something none of his primary rivals have yet risked.

The town hall took place in a cultural center in the shadows of a former steel mill here, in a Pennsylvania county that voted for Trump after twice supporting Barack Obama. But the room was packed with Sanders supporters, and the Vermont senator fed off the energy of the crowd.

Still, the image of an audience on Fox News rallying behind the democratic socialist and his left-wing platform gave Sanders the appearance of strong support in an area that was key to the president’s victory in 2016.

For the Sanders campaign, it was an ideal end to a four-day swing through the industrial Midwest that was meant to show that he's the presidential candidate best positioned to beat Trump. Significant numbers of Democratic primary voters are more concerned with a candidate's ability to win than his or her ideology, according to recent polls.

Some of the difficult questions asked by the hosts, Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, were about Sanders’ "Medicare for All" plan.

When asked how he would fund the program, Sanders didn't shy away from the fact that many Americans would pay more in taxes. But he insisted the “overwhelming majority” would end up spending less money overall because they would not pay for deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs. He also downplayed concerns that people would be kicked off their insurance, arguing that millions already lose their health insurance when they get fired from or quit their jobs. His health care plan, he said, "gives you freedom of choice."

One of the most surprising moments of the town hall occurred when Baier asked the members of the audience to raise their hands if they received health insurance through an employer. Most indicated they did. Then he asked how many would be willing to switch to Sanders‘ plan, and most people appeared to raise their hands again.

Sanders also was quizzed at length about his wealth. A half-hour before the town hall, he’d released 10 years’ of his tax returns, which showed that he first earned more than $1 million in annual income during the 2016 presidential campaign, thanks in part to proceeds from his book sales.
However, he pushed back strongly against the implication that it is hypocritical for him to be a millionaire.

"If anyone thinks I should apologize for writing a best-selling book, I’m sorry, I’m not going to do it," he said, adding that he "voted against Trump’s tax bill" — an overhaul to the tax system that has been criticized as largely benefiting the wealthy.
Asked by Baier whether his wealth was “the definition of capitalism and the American Dream,“ Sanders said no, adding that he was fighting for “a society not where a just few people can make a whole lot of money, but a society where everybody in this country has the opportunity to live in security and dignity.”

Throughout the exchange, Sanders was largely able to stick to his message when asked about his income, charitable giving and personal taxes, saying companies such as Amazon were paying nothing in federal taxes and that wealthy people should contribute more in order to alleviate poverty.

He parried other questions as well. When MacCallum said some would argue that Sanders supported felons' right to vote because it benefited him politically, she was booed by the crowd. "Oh, come on," he said. Asked about those who say that he is too old to be president, he shot back, "Well, follow me around the campaign trail."

Sanders also was asked by an audience member how he would challenge the idea that "socialism is bad."

He replied with familiar talking points: "Democratic socialism to me is creating a government and an economy and a society which works for all, rather than just the top 1 percent. It means ending the absurd inequalities that exist today."

On the hot-button topic of abortion, Sanders‘ responses prompted an immediate rebuke from conservatives on social media. MacCallum asked him whether "a woman should be able to terminate a pregnancy up until the moment of birth." He replied: "I think that that happens very, very rarely, and I think this is being made into a political issue. So I think it’s rare, it’s being made into a political issue. But at the end of the day, I believe that the decision over abortion belongs to a woman and her physician, not the federal government."

He drew criticism from some liberals, meanwhile, for remarks he made when questioned about the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition to "sensible immigration reform," he called for "building proper facilities" on the border and "many, many more judges" to expedite hearings for migrants.

As Sanders traveled to Rust Belt states that were essential to Trump’s victory this weekend, he called on the president to keep his vow to working-class Americans and ditch the new NAFTA agreement. If elected, Sanders also said he would deny government contracts to companies that outsource jobs to other countries, such as General Motors.

Sanders had a similar message throughout the Fox News town hall. He attacked Trump, arguing that he didn’t keep his campaign promise to be a different kind of Republican and avoid cutting programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Feisty and confident, Sanders ended the engagement by gently ribbing the hosts of the network liberals despise. "Thank you very much," he told Baier and MacCallum, "and I hope I wasn’t too hard on you."
Click to expand...

obvious front runner and candidate that will landslide the general election is obvious. liberals need to fall line already, unless they really want 4 more years of trump
 
Seriously

I think the MSM thought Bernie would back down. Wait til the debates start...then shit will really start getting fun.

MSNBC had been bashing him for not releasing his taxes for months, now that he has...silence.
 
if nothing else, trump was a clear message that everyone is done with the same spineless corporate whores that don't actually differ all that much policy-wise. its clear as day when someone has integrity and conviction, and honestly wants what's best for the people they represent. nobody shows this better than bernie, and he's consistently shown it for decades

50529060_10108691651886848_7508646948547592192_o.jpg
 
What is that a picture of? Forgive me for my ignorance.

If Sanders wins it'll get interesting. He would be a more dignified president, and certainly more qualified. *shrugs* I still can't want him to win though. Some of his policy positions are just too far.
 
bernie getting arrested in the 60s while protesting segregation, charged with resisting arrest lol

www.chicagotribune.com

Feb. 19, 2016: Arrest photo of young activist Bernie Sanders emerges from Tribune archives

A negative of a photo of Bernie Sanders' arrest in August 1963 was found in the Chicago Tribune's archives.
www.chicagotribune.com www.chicagotribune.com

bernie organizing a sit in protest in 62
Bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-1962.png

stuff like this is the reason he excites, inspires, and motivates so many. he hasn't stopped being an activist, and still keeps working to make things better
 
Yep, Bernie's long, long track record of activism and putting himself on the line personally to fight for the rights of others who are not himself is what got me excited in the last primaries and what is getting me excited now. How many politicians can you look at and say "that person really wants what's best for the people as a whole"? Not many. I haven't ever seen or heard anything from him to suggest he is not that person. There are some weak arguments the Repubs are putting out there ("he has a lot of money!" - so what, it's irrelevant, so does Trump, way more in fact. Until a few years ago when he wrote his book, his net worth was under $1M. Now it's more but because of book sales. That is peas for a senator), but nothing that has convinced me that he isn't the real deal.

The Dems better not fuck up again. There is a sea of dubious potential candidates and only one really sticks out the way Bernie does.
 
So why are there like 2,001 challengers in the Dem field? "Smell them by the hair" Biden is surely going to shake things up. #entitlement #privilege

Not trying to trash on your party. Surely the Dem party looks a bit sturdier versus the Trump Tower where there's a Trump-sized hole in the floor. "I told him he had to go on a diet..." says Ronny Jackson.

omg pics don't want to work fml let's try this one

trumpdow.jpg


Never forget.
 
Last edited:
Shadowmeister said:
How many politicians can you look at and say "that person really wants what's best for the people as a whole"? Not many. I haven't ever seen or heard anything from him to suggest he is not that person.
Click to expand...

Actually, this is a great point, IMO. He is 'genuine', and you're correct that the arguments against him are pretty superficial. His vision of socialism warrants a lot of criticism in my view, but as a person doing things for the right reasons, he is a rare one.
 
We've had lots of cheerleaders for the civil rights movement. The more important thing is the resurrection of the US economy, reduction of national and state debts, and climbing out of the shit hole country we've become. Even the DEMS had a better plan for this in 2016. What happened, guys? This is why Trump's going to get re-elected.

I think I'll make that pic my signature.

NSFW:
trumpdow.jpg


Never forget the miniature crash of '18-'19.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top