(10-07-2015, 12:28 PM)username Wrote: I don't know...maybe he has a shot at it but because he's likable, I hate to see him throw his hat in the ring for the 3^rd time and lose given all he's been through. I don't feel that way about any of the other candidates but Joe tugs at my heart strings.

Biden is a very likable man to me too. He has made it known that he doesn't want the emotional ad aired.

"The vice president appreciates that they are trying to help," the person close to the vice president said. "But he has seen the ad and thinks the ad treads on sacred ground and hopes they don't run it."

In a statement, the super PAC said it would "honor his wishes" and pull the ad. Story: http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/t...story.html

I think that's a smart call on his part.

That's a horrible ad. Shame on his PAC for exploiting his tragedies like that. It made me a little sick watching it.

I think Joe would be better served in the Speaker of the House position. Is he eligible for that position? I don't know what is required and I think he'd be great in it as he is highly regarded by both sides.

(10-09-2015, 10:36 AM)Duchess Wrote: I think Joe would be better served in the Speaker of the House position. Is he eligible for that position? I don't know what is required and I think he'd be great in it as he is highly regarded by both sides.

The Speaker is elected by the House of Representatives.

If Biden were to be elected as a Congressman after he finishes up as Vice President, I believe that he would be eligible then.

But, unless the House becomes majority Democrat instead of Republican, he probably wouldn't win the House election (in my opinion).

Thanks, Hot D, I don't know one darn thing about how that works.

(10-09-2015, 11:47 AM)Duchess Wrote: Thanks, Hot D, I don't know one darn thing about how that works.

Apparently, I don't either. I just checked my facts.

The Speaker of the House does not have to be a member of the House. I did not know that.

There has never been a Speaker who wasn't a member of the House, however.

I'm hoping Sarah Palin will be the next Speaker of the House.

(10-09-2015, 04:20 PM)BlueTiki Wrote: I'm hoping Sarah Palin will be the next Speaker of the House.

Yes!! The entertainment value....priceless!

I'm in Vegas and was bummed I couldn't get in to see Trump at TI, yesterday.

And I'll be home before the debates . . . damn!

(10-09-2015, 04:20 PM)BlueTiki Wrote: I'm hoping Sarah Palin will be the next Speaker of the House.

Well, she is out of a job and I bet she'd love to be back in a power position.

It might be fun to start a "Draft Sarah Palin" campaign.

But, I see that the Republicans are pushing hard on Paul Ryan to throw his hat into the Speaker ring.

I have a good impression of him, based on what I know from his VP run on the Romney ticket.

He apparently sincerely does not want the job and told Boehner so before Boehner backed McCarthy, but his party is asking him to do it for the team.

I just saw a different Biden for POTUS ad put out by his PAC. I think he's going to run or he would have/should have already shut these ads down. :(

(10-13-2015, 02:16 PM)username Wrote: I just saw a different Biden for POTUS ad put out by his PAC. I think he's going to run or he would have/should have already shut these ads down. :(

If the old man runs, it will just water down Hilly's chance!

(10-13-2015, 02:16 PM)username Wrote: I just saw a different Biden for POTUS ad put out by his PAC.

I just saw it moments ago. It's beautifully produced and sounds like a campaign ad.

I find myself extremely apathetic about this race. The liberals are too liberal (although Bernie is making an effort) and the conservatives too conservative.

What are you gonna do when you dislike labor unions, this attack on the 1% and the religious right/NRA equally?

Meh.

10/13/15 First Democratic Debate



It was an informative debate, in my opinion. Income equality, foreign policy, the biggest threat to America, black lives, education, immigration, gun control, financial corruption and campaign finance absurdity, the candidates' biggest perception problems/criticisms, the candidates' enemies...were all topics addressed.

I thought that Bernie Sanders did a good job driving home his points that income inequality is a very serious problem that needs to be addressed; with 1% of the American population holding more wealth than 90% of the population combined.

Hillary Clinton was well-prepared and not as stiff as usual; her prepping paid off and she made her points well too, but without the same level of passion and conviction that Bernie commanded. She did differentiate herself from Sanders when it comes to foreign intervention, gun control, staunch support of capitalism, and the fact that she's a woman (I didn't think mentioning she would be the first woman president several times was necessary).

Early feedback shows internet viewers and Facebook posters rating Bernie Sanders as the winner at 75%. Political pundits and television viewers are rating Hillary Clinton as the winner.

The loudest applause of the night came when Bernie Sanders stated "Let me say — let me say something that may not be great politics, but I think the secretary is right, and that is that the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails."



^ Clinton agreed and thanked Sanders. Sanders went on to say that American people want to hear about real issues like income inequality and media should focus more on those topics.

I thought Martin O'Malley made some decent points and was well-spoken. Webb and Chafee really don't stand a chance, in my opinion. Webb made some good points on his efforts in favor of veterans and did okay, but he doesn't seem focused to me. Chafee was laughable, I felt sorry for him.

"Income inequality" is just socialism by another name. I heard one candidate say recently that there ought to be a cap on how much money any one person can earn.

The government would just mismanage that money too. Lot of promises being floated: free public college tuitions, $15 minimum wage, blah, blah. Our insurance rate is going up 15% this year but of course there's no correlation to Obamacare. I'm sure we're paying the "cadillac tax" for our very good policy.

I hate everybody.

(10-14-2015, 12:09 PM)username Wrote: "Income inequality" is just socialism by another name. I heard one candidate say recently that there ought to be a cap on how much money any one person can earn.

The government would just mismanage that money too. Lot of promises being floated: free public college tuitions, $15 minimum wage, blah, blah. Our insurance rate is going up 15% this year but of course there's no correlation to Obamacare. I'm sure we're paying the "cadillac tax" for our very good policy.

I hate everybody.

The government wastes more money in one day than the 1% makes in a year. The Clintons are the 1% and pretty much every state senator when you add in all the perks and free health care. I'm voting for whomever wants smaller government. I don't need a babysitter or a handout.

I'm with you I hate all of them. It's every man/woman for themselves today. I'm OK with that though.

I don't see income inequality as just another word for socialism, though one of the goal's of socialism is more equality in the standard of living for all.

Every developed country has some elements of socialism in their economic and social systems. We already have social security, welfare, etc...

Sanders seems to be advocating for a closure of the gap between the very rich and the other 90% of the population by paying people at least a minimum wage that keeps them at or above the poverty level.

He is warning that the middle class has been dissipating over the last 40 years and nothing is being done to address the problem. He wants people to join together and to take action now.

He sees America headed towards an Oligarchy as result of Citizens United and banking/Wall Street/Corporate abuses; I think he's right.

He recognizes that a college degree today is the equivalent of a high school diploma 50 years ago, so ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to pursue higher education just like they do high schools (using higher taxing of Wall Street) could help close the income gap in the future.

He's right that other developed countries provide health care as a basic right, that Americans work more hours with less income equality than other developed countries, that more Americans are incarcerated than in any other developed country (by body and percentage counts), etc...

Anyway, I understand and agree with much of Bernie's Democratic Socialist platform. More policies aimed at improving the public good in our capitalistic model are needed in my opinion too.

But, I'm not optimistic that he'd be able to make such radical changes in a 4 year term and I don't find some of his proposals feasible. I don't think Bernie will be elected, but I admire the man and his passion. I think he's succeeding in creating an awareness and enthusiasm that will outlive him and might improve the lives of millions in the country.

73-year-old Bernie has always been in favor of gay marriage, against war unless domestic or ally security is threatened, in favor of a society where all people are treated more equally, in favor of criminal action against big money players whose financial crimes directly harm the economy of the people, etc.. He's a rock star with a lot of people under 30. I think that's kinda cool.

Did Vermont have single payer health care at one point?

I thought Huckabee saying he trusted Bernie with his tax dollars like he trusted a North Korean chef with his Labrador was kinda funny.

It's been interesting watching Trump and Jeb Bush over W's responsibility for 9/11.

Trump says George W. Bush bears some responsibility for ⁹⁄₁₁ because it happened on his watch and that W didn't keep America safe. Trump claims that he would have prevented ⁹⁄₁₁ were he President at the time.

Jeb Bush essentially contends that Donald Trump is full of shit (my paraphrase). He asserts that his brother kept America safe in the wake of ⁹⁄₁₁ and that W wasn't responsible for the attack.

No politician, Democrat or Republican, has publicly gone after W. for the ⁹⁄₁₁ attacks, though there has long been talk that some warnings were overlooked or ignored prior to the attacks.