Top 3 Republican Presidential Candidates

[webthing]

November 18, 2015

1. Donald Trump: 27%
2. Marco Rubio: 13%
3. Ted Cruz: 11%
4. Jeb Bush: 9%
4. Ben Carson: 9%
6. John Kasich: 7%
7. Chris Christie: 6%

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-s...s-drivers-seat

[iomegajaz]

I remember being dumbfounded in 1999/2000 when learned friends such as Xerxes suggested they would vote for GWB. Unfortunately, Trump leading this poll doesn't surprise me as much as it really, really should.

[gaekwad2]

Some people will do anything to spite dem libruls.

Al Gore and Michael Moore should start a campaign against suicide.

[ElChevelle]

This is going to be a tough election cycle.
As usual, I hate everyone.

[gaekwad2]

My ranking would be Sanders, Clinton, Cthulhu, any republican candidate. But I'm not sure about Clinton vs Cthulhu yet.

[Zeekid]

I your talking about the KFC Col Sanders, I'm with you.

reminder, Isis is also the result of Saddam Hussein invading Kuwait.

[gaekwad2]

Not really, but if you want to go back you also have to consider who armed Saddam in the first place and encouraged him to invade Iran.

And who, on behalf of british oil companies, replaced Iran's democratic government with a dictatorship by the Shah, causing the rise of Khomeini.

And don't forget who is still supporting the islamic fundamentalist rulers of Saudi Arabia despite their ties to both Al Qaeda and ISIS.

Should I go on?

[swingdjted]

I'm having trouble taking anything the candidates say seriously. They're either playing a political game with no honesty, or they're just taking wing-nuttery to extremes to the point of buffoonery. Perhaps I'll build trust for a candidate later, but for now I just can't find much will to take these people seriously.

[zorrilla]

H. Clinton.

[gaekwad2]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/op...hers.html?_r=0

[iomegajaz]

Commie propaganda.

[thinktink]

This, from a class of people that believes this:

Originally Posted by FoxNews

MSNBC Host: 'Star Wars' Is Racist Because Darth Vader Is Black:

The countdown is on for the seventh installment of the "Star Wars" movie franchise, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and one MSNBC host isn't particularly excited.

On her show on Sunday, Melissa Harris-Perry asserted that "Star Wars" is racist.

She explained that when iconic villain Darth Vader was in his black costume and voiced by African American actor James Earl Jones, "he was terrible and bad and awful and used to cut off white men's hands, and didn't, you know, actually claim his son."

"But as soon as he claims his son and goes over to the good, he takes off his mask and he is white," Harris-Perry continued. "Yes, I have many, many feelings about that."

"Star Wars" fact-checkers quickly took to social media to point out several holes in Harris-Perry's theory, including that Vader was revealed as the father of two Caucasian characters - Luke Sykwalker and Princess Leia - well before his helmet-off reveal, Vader is clearly Caucasian in the three prequel films and the villainous Imperial Stormtroopers wear all white, as opposed to black.

"The 'Grapevine' conclusion?" Bret Baier said on "Special Report" tonight. "Don't mess with 'Star Wars' fans."

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/12/1...th-vader-black



This, is all that needs to be said about Democrats. That's it, end of discussion. Nothing more needed. Done.

[gaekwad2]

Yup, the discussion pretty much ended when you decided to quote fox "news".

[thinktink]

Originally Posted by gaekwad2

Yup, the discussion pretty much ended when you decided to quote fox "news".

http://www.vox.com/2015/12/16/103010...t-harris-perry
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...-a6775406.html
http://hiphollywood.com/2015/12/3-re...y-out-of-line/
https://ricochet.com/problematic-darth-vader/
http://www.forwardprogressives.com/m...l-issue-video/

https://www.google.com/search?q=But+...el=fs&start=10

It just chaps your hide that "Faux News" is right and you are wrong, doesn't it?

You know why I source "Faux News" and not MSNBC? Because "Faux News" is not full of piss-ants like Mellisa Harris-Perry.

[gaekwad2]

No, because you're not interested in a real discussion. So you post a source you know will be dismissed.

But yeah, all liberals (except those of the independent, vox, hiphollywood and forwardprogressives, apparently) immediately believed what some film critic said and started rallying against Star Wars, even starting a campaign to #boycottstarwarsvii and- oops, those were your conservatard friends who got pissed because the new one's "too pc".

nevermind that you seem to find a film critic's opinion more important than politicians telling blatant lies

[iomegajaz]

Originally Posted by thinktink

This, from a class of people that believes this:

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/12/1...th-vader-black



This, is all that needs to be said about Democrats. That's it, end of discussion. Nothing more needed. Done.

If you're suggesting that one clearly unhinged talking head's theory about racism in Star Wars is representative of the broader Democrat population... I feel bad for you, son; I've got 99 problems, but delusion ain't one.

[thinktink]

Originally Posted by iomegajaz

...one clearly unhinged talking head's theory...

...representative of the broader Democrat population...

I have a question for you:
https://www.google.com/search?q=How+...ry+been+on+TV?

Originally Posted by http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/melissa-harris-perry-biography

On July 1 2014, Harris-Perry will return to her alma mater, Wake Forest University, as professor of Politics and International Affairs. Harris-Perry has been named a Presidential Chair, an endowed position that recognizes and supports exceptional faculty who embody Wake Forest’s teacher-scholar ideas. ...

I have another question for you:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Why+...+been+fired%3F


What?

[iomegajaz]

One should avoid inferring credibility from long-term appearance on TV. Two and a Half Men, for example, lasted a number of seasons.

I'm unfamiliar with Wake Forest university so cannot speak to its bona fides; suffice to say that on the face of quotes posted in this thread, I don't know that I would pay it much heed.

You seem to want to paint The Democrat with a single tarred brush comprised of little straw men. Might I offer that you consider and/or concede, as learned folks tend to do, that some measure of intellect does actually reside on the other side of the fence?

FWIW, I lean to the left but I carry no card.

[thinktink]

Originally Posted by iomegajaz

One should avoid inferring credibility from long-term appearance on TV. ...

Other than actually getting elected into office, what other PRACTICAL method is there for measuring how well a viewpoint resonates with the base?

Originally Posted by iomegajaz

I'm unfamiliar with Wake Forest university so cannot speak to its bona fides; suffice to say that on the face of quotes posted in this thread, I don't know that I would pay it much heed.

You apparently didn't read the rest of MSNBC's page on her: "Harris-Perry is author of the well-received book “Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America” (Yale 2011)". (That means she's published.) There's even more.

Originally Posted by iomegajaz

...that you consider and/or concede...

I will do no such bloody foolish thing until I see all of these so-called fringe elements of the Democrat party removed. Removed from national TV, syndicated radio, all of the major universities, all positions of power, authority, and social influence.

For as long as Mellisa Harris-Perry (and all the rest like her, Bill Ayers (why isn't he still in jail?), Obama, Michael Moore, Maxine Waters, George Soros, Robin Morgan, Catherine MacKinnon...) is in ANY position of prominence, whether it be TV, radio, or university she will continue to be an embarrassment to the whole of the Left Wing.

[EDIT/]
If you can throw her under the bus so damnably quickly, why can't MSNBC?

[gaekwad2]

You don't even know what the actual left wing (let alone its fringe) looks like.

And you apparently still don't recognize the difference between an opinion piece and a factual lie. Hint: She didn't claim George Lucas was a member of the kkk (or celebrated 9/11, if you still don't get it), she just misinterpreted the old bad guys wear/are black and good guys white (warriors of the light ) trope (which is religious more than racist, but claiming that racism didn't contribute to its popularity at all would be just as foolish).

Not sure why I'm even trying to talk sense to you, let's just call it an early christmas present for the terminally boneheaded.

[thinktink]

Originally Posted by gaekwad2

...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/

[gaekwad2]

*bzzzt* wrong

try this for a start

[iomegajaz]

Are all published authors worthy of respect?

If the comeuppance of such people (seemingly the left-leaning equivalent of Bill O'Reilly or Ann Coulter..? I'm unfamiliar with who's considered batshit crazy these days) is the hill on which you choose to die, I wish you well and leave you to shout at the rain.

[thinktink]

Nothing but a bait-and-switch between old democrats and new democrats.

You can't piss in my coffee right as I'm watching you and then expect me to believe it's sugar.

[swingdjted]

Oy. Political parties are more and more often defined by the people that are on the unproductive extremes. These extremes are entertaining and thus get good media ratings, but that doesn't necessarily mean they represent the true left-leaning and right-leaning voters.

Please try not to judge an entire political party based on the extremism you experience when you hear radio shows or TV programs. Perhaps I am naive, but I believe that most voters are too busy being productive in their societies to waste time with most of that propaganda. The sad part about all of this is that many politicians believe that voters really are as crazy as those that claim to represent them in the media.

As far as the Star Wars argument... Someone's profiting from all this Star Wars discussion, regardless of which side is being discussed. That person is laughing all the way to the bank.

Although I tend to lean politically left-liberal more often than right-conservative (but certainly not always), I have to say this: Scary dark vs. reassuring light is not necessarily a racism thing. It's yet another situation where correlation does not necessarily equal causation. Yes, Blacks are darker than Whites when it comes to skin color. Yes, there are more who fear dark when compared to those who fear light. Despite this, that correlation does not provide a valid argument that would state that all fear of dark/black items and experiences is a result of racism, regardless of what people with multiple media viewers may tell you. It is just as absurd to believe that a significant number of people within the same political party of such extremists agree with such nonsense.

That said, can't we find a candidate that shows enough leadership skills to avoid these kinds of bullshit?

[gaekwad2]

Both parties have moved to the right, actually.

Take away the socialist rhetoric and Sanders is little more than LBJ jr., and Obama/Clinton are pretty much on par with Nixon (except that the latter actually managed to end a war).

But I guess it's hard to see from inside the US echo chamber.

As for the black/white thing, there actually is an opposite traditional narrative (from somewhere in Africa iirc) in which blacks are the children of the sun and whites are pale because they live in night and darkness. For obvious reasons that didn't catch on. (cue bronzed vs pale in western culture, but that's 100% classist)

Being overly sensitive about things that correlate with racist stereotypes is understandable, though it reeks of overcompensation for not wanting to fight those who might actually kill you and frame it as self defense or suicide (as you can see, the worst thing that can happen in cultural studies is that you get laughed at and used by some reactionary bozo to hide the fact that he has no point). But putting it on par with (or even acting like it's worse than) right-wing hatemongering is just vile, no matter how much it might hurt your precious feelings* to have somebody insinuate that something you like might have racist undertones.

*extra points for irony in how the same people usually tell blacks to "get over it" whenever they bring up slavery, jim crow, police racism and so on and so on

And as for leadership, as questionable as that proposition is in the first place (tries desperately not to godwin the thread), aren't you expecting a little too much from people who have to be corrupt to finance their campaigns?

[swingdjted]

Star Wars can be entertaining, but I'm not someone that will jump to defend it just because it can be enjoyed. I haven't seen all the movies, nor am I going out of my way to eventually watch them. I think I may have seen one from the original trilogy and two from the newer trilogy.

I just mentioned what I did in the previous post because some people take things too far in my opinion. It would be easier for me to speak out against actions that are more provably intentional.

It can be difficult for someone to pick up on subtleties when compared to someone that has been directly victimized. Having lived the life of a white male, I have witnessed but not experienced firsthand. However, from about the year 2000 through 2006, I taught in schools that were nearly 100% black, then two years in a predominantly Native American school. Since then I have taught in rural schools with mostly White poverty students. I would hope that by now I have at least some understanding of when racism is happening.

However, it would be easier for me to accept a complaint about the movie's glorification of killing in general long before I'd be as specific as Black/White racism in the movie.

It is very sad that our country still has a major problem with racism (especially in light of the recent tragedies involving some police officers), but hopefully over time things will be better with better education and the dying off of the older more racist generations.

Still undecided. I'm considering the ramblings of one candidate, but I'm just not sure enough to post yet. I'll eventually endorse someone, probably even in a public way here, but I'm just not sold on anyone yet.

[gaekwad2]

This seems like a pretty good analysis (by someone who definitely isn't an evil pinko).

[MikaelaArsenault]

Donald Trump

Ben Carson

Ted Cruz

Either that or I would replace Ted Cruz with Marco Rubio.

[iomegajaz]

Originally Posted by gaekwad2

This seems like a pretty good analysis (by someone who definitely isn't an evil pinko).

Thanks for the link; it was interesting to read... and I saw only one obvious typo.

[gaekwad2]

[Widdykats]

Originally Posted by gaekwad2

my ranking would be sanders, clinton, cthulhu, any republican candidate. But i'm not sure about clinton vs cthulhu yet.

ahahahahahahaha

[Widdykats]

Originally Posted by Widdykats

ahahahahahahaha

Oh Tag me screaming, leftist, pinko , commie bitch.

[swingdjted]

As an educator, it's easy to assume I would favor Sanders, but I have some reservations. His math isn't released. I fail to believe that he can pay for his promises just by pulling from the rich.

What needs to happen is that health care and education need to be looked at in terms of what the money actually pays for.

In health care, it is proven that preventative measures and cures cost far less than symptom treatment and addiction.

In education, especially college education, far too much money is spent on administration, landscaping, athletics, architecture, rock climbing walls, student centers, marketing, and other non-instructional costs. We don't need fitness centers on campuses. We have YMCA's and other stand-alone gyms for that. The money spent towards education should be prioritized towards instruction and instructional materials, and yet, those things take a back seat to everything else. Perhaps if this fix happened, colleges would be filled only with serious students that are there to learn, instead of goof-offs who are there for that "college experience". These over-grown pre-teens cause professors to compromise their standards to prevent a high failure rate, leaving many college classes to be less rigorous than high school classes. The student's campus selection causes colleges to focus more on initial appeal rather than useful career preparation and academic advancement.

With fixes such as these, health care and education could be paid for the way that Sanders wants when he's spouting off like a near-senile geriatric patient. He has good intentions, but he is lacking mathematical evidence that would suggest it could work. Not enough realism, but believable if looked at this way.

That said, he's still about the closest thing I have at this point for someone that would get my vote.

H. Clinton lies too much and eventually gets caught enough to admit it. She in far too many ways fits the negative connotations of a politician, being inconsistent with her votes and stances, evading challenging questions, war mongering, being able to be bought, etc.

As for the Republicans, Trump will get the world to hate us, and he would get us to hate us. He is in it to win a game. That's the story of his life. That is a reckless quality in a world-power nation leader.

The other Republicans seem to be heading in a better direction than the extremism of the past, but not enough for me as a left-of center liberal.

Carson needs to go back to being a brilliant doctor. He has no place and little sense in government.

Jeb is still a Bush whether or not he cares to write it on his campaign signs, and there is much to prove it. He favors one religion and its politics in a country that is not at all limited to just that.

Santorum's and Paul's tax plans are just plain stupid, worse than all other candidates of both parties.

Phone call, had to stop the post...

This should be helpful:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...sues.html?_r=0

[gaekwad2]

I still think Sanders is mainly about putting issues on the table. If he actually got elected he may well fail spectacularly (especially since he'd have both parties' establishment and the rest of the 1% working against him).

Trump is a fat version of Berlusconi. He's the antisocial asshole many wish they could be and get away with it (from gangsta rap fans to objectivists). You can see how the more offensive he gets, the more his fans like him. (Next he'll pick Phil Anselmo as his running mate.)

About education, that weird focus on athletics at school and college is a US specialty, the rest are pretty universal, except for the one thing you forgot: the way that you can get into any university if daddy's paying for it, even if the only thing you're interested in is Colombian nose powder.

[gaekwad2]

Going to university to learn is for commoners. If you're rich, it's all about networking. (And this is again universal, though the exact tricks to get around having to provide equal opportunities* while still being able to pretend you do vary from country to country.)

*which still wouldn't mean fair pay for people's work, let alone actual equality (but of course the latter is an evil thing anyway that leads directly to gulag and Pol Pot)

[ElChevelle]

Whoever gets the dictatorship....errrr, I mean presidency better be ready for war.
Thank you Putin!

[gaekwad2]

Somehow I feel Trump and Putin might actually get along very well.

[swingdjted]

http://nbc4i.com/2016/02/29/ohio-far...age-in-manure/

^ This is the town where my wife's parents and grandmother live. ^

[webthing]