2016 Presidential Horse Race

[phgreek]

The smug style in American liberalism - Vox

Author write this from observing IE???

Did you write this?

 

[irishfan]

Ted Cruz, John Kasich join forces to stop Donald Trump - CNNPolitics.com

I'm sure this won't backfire.

 

[Legacy]

If Trump Won’t Release Tax Returns, His Delegates Should Abstain on First Ballot

If Donald Trump won’t release his tax returns prior to the GOP convention, the delegates pledged to him on the first ballot should abstain from giving him their votes. Other than their vote not counting, there are no realistic consequences for any delegate doing so on the first ballot. A few states make breaking the first-ballot pledge rule a misdemeanor, but no one is ever prosecuted. In theory, state leaders could exact political retribution but such discipline is rarely exercised.

(National Review)

 

[RDU Irish]

Ted Cruz, John Kasich join forces to stop Donald Trump - CNNPolitics.com

I'm sure this won't backfire.

"Kasich's camp has been working for weeks to get Cruz on board with a divide-and-conquer strategy against Trump."

#NeverTrump is a cute marketing bit but make no mistake - it is the only chance either of them have of getting the nomination. I suspect Cruz fought the inevitable, knowing he was never coming out on top of a brokered convention so why "really" #NeverTrump? The hilarity is how he must have thought he actually had a chance a few weeks ago and now is wising up - what else would you expect from an ideologue.

 

[Irish8248]

Kasich/Cruz ticket? Better than anything starting with Trump

 

[wizards8507]

Up to 54,000 signees and counting

(Petition) Allow Open Carry of Firearms at the Quicken Loans Arena during the RNC Convention in July.

Secret Service: We’re not allowing firearms at the Republican National Convention

(Donald Trump)

Donald Trump: ‘I will get rid of gun-free zones on schools’

That's idiotic. The First Amendment doesn't apply on private property.

 

[woolybug25]

That's idiotic. The First Amendment doesn't apply on private property.

There are a ton of conservatives that have called to the end of Gun Free Zones, including private businesses. Look at the laws in Texas for instance.

A quick Google search will show you an endless amount of pro gun sites talking about how unfair the laws are, and in some cases, even how to get around the laws. In the pro gun lobby, you cannot say that they haven't wanted to get rid of gun free zones in ALL CASES. That simply isn't true.

You're just using the private property as excuse because you know that this is a clear case of hypocrisy by the Republican Party.

 

[Legacy]

What Trump’s taxes could tell us about the candidate (from Marketwatch)

Trump’s tax returns would also provide plenty of information about revenue and expense items that were not on the campaign disclosure forms, including personal mortgages, charitable deductions, unusual tax credits, foreign investments including bank accounts in tax havens, and an overall federal tax rate.

For example, the line on the return associated with Trump’s real estate income could be confusing to non-experts, says Andrew Schmidt, a professor of accounting and tax at North Carolina State University. “Trump’s real estate activities likely generate substantial tax deductions: depreciation, interest, and many other legitimate expenses. That means the amount reported on his return for those activities will look lower than most voters expect,” said Schmidt. “In fact, Trump may even report a tax loss for many of his real estate activities. His supporters may unwittingly equate tax losses with financial reporting losses and question Trump’s overall business acumen, especially if some of Trump’s more prominent properties generate tax losses.”

Trump’s tax reform platform includes proposed changes to tax laws that allow U.S. multinationals to hold hundreds of billions of dollars of profits in accounts in lower-tax countries rather than bringing those profits back to the U.S. That reduces their U.S. tax liability.

Citizens for Tax Justice and the U.S. Public Interest Group ranked the Fortune 500 companies based on how many offshore subsidiaries they have and by the amount of cash they’re holding overseas. The stock portfolio listed in the Trump campaign disclosure includes 22 of the top 30 companies that are under fire in the U.S. and European Union for their aggressive use of tax avoidance strategies that, although legal, have become quite controversial.

Blum guesses that the Trump tax returns take full advantage of offshore arrangements to defer income from licensing his name. “His name could become a trademark owned by an offshore shell company in a tax haven and the shell would license its use. That income would remain untaxed until repatriated,” said Blum. “Imagine the name of a U.S. president being the property of an offshore shell!”

 

[wizards8507]

You're just using the private property as excuse because you know that this is a clear case of hypocrisy by the Republican Party.

Not even a little bit. I think marijuana use should be legal but that doesn't mean you can smoke in my house. The second amendment doesn't mean you can carry a 9 mm on your hip in a room full of presidential candidates.

 

[Ndaccountant]

The smug style in American liberalism - Vox

You're a jackass for posting that. You can't really support that do you? I guess I need to block you.

 

[GoIrish41]

Not even a little bit. I think marijuana use should be legal but that doesn't mean you can smoke in my house. The second amendment doesn't mean you can carry a 9 mm on your hip in a room full of presidential candidates.

But it would be OK to carry one at a school full of children? That is the argument being put forward by a lot of folks. Are Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and John Kasich worthy of such sensible protection than your daughter or my son?

 

[Ndaccountant]

But it would be OK to carry one at a school full of children? That is the argument being put forward by a lot of folks. Are Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and John Kasich worthy of such sensible protection than your daughter or my son?

I think you are right. As a society, I don't we should want to put kids at risk in case some sicko takes advantage of a law even if it means telling people (in this case, gun carriers) they might not feel as secure and comfortable as they might want to. But should that begin and end with guns? What about bathrooms? What about other hot button societal discussions?

 

[NorthDakota]

But it would be OK to carry one at a school full of children? That is the argument being put forward by a lot of folks. Are Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and John Kasich worthy of such sensible protection than your daughter or my son?

I'd say it's OK to have them at school.

 

[GoIrish41]

I think you are right. As a society, I don't we should want to put kids at risk in case some sicko takes advantage of a law even if it means telling people (in this case, gun carriers) they might not feel as secure and comfortable as they might want to. But should that begin and end with guns? What about bathrooms? What about other hot button societal discussions?

I don't think there is much of a parallel between the two issues, but, for the record, I don't disagree about the bathroom debate. There are a whole lot of people who will feel uncomfortable going into a bathroom with people of the opposite sex -- no matter if people want to believe they are something they are not.

I fully believe that these people should be allowed to "self identify" however they choose, and that nobody should give them a moment's grief about their choice, but expecting everyone to live with being uncomfortable going into a public restroom seems like too much to ask. Besides, public restrooms seem like an odd stage for such a social protest. It isn't as if there are not facilities available and that anyone is being denied access to them. IMHO, people should be allowed to do whatever they want if it doesn't affect anyone else.

 

[GoIrish41]

I'd say it's OK to have them at school.

But not around presidential candidates? How do you square that?

 

[Legacy]

But it would be OK to carry one at a school full of children? That is the argument being put forward by a lot of folks. Are Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and John Kasich worthy of such sensible protection than your daughter or my son?

We are talking about white children in predominently white schools, right? Because when was the last mass shooting in a predominately minority school?

NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN GUN ASSOCIATION

True freedom for any person should be judged by the ability to protect him or herself within that Society

VISION STATEMENT

THE GOAL OF THE NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN GUN ASSOCIATION IS TO HAVE EVERY AFRICAN AMERICAN INTRODUCED TO FIREARM USE FOR HOME PROTECTION, COMPETITIVE SHOOTING, AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. WE ARE A CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON SELF PRESERVATION OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ARMED PROTECTION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.

 

[GoIrish41]

We are talking about white children in predominently white schools, right? Because when was the last mass shooting in a predominately minority school?

NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN GUN ASSOCIATION

True freedom for any person should be judged by the ability to protect him or herself within that Society

Restricting where people can carry guns is a public safety issue that has absolutely zero to do with race. I think the position of the National African American Gun Association is as dumb as the NRA's position. The answer to the gun violence problem is not to have more guns. I think it is a nonsensical position.

 

[pkt77242]

I don't think there is much of a parallel between the two issues, but, for the record, I don't disagree about the bathroom debate. There are a whole lot of people who will feel uncomfortable going into a bathroom with people of the opposite sex -- no matter if people want to believe they are something they are not.

I fully believe that these people should be allowed to "self identify" however they choose, and that nobody should give them a moment's grief about their choice, but expecting everyone to live with being uncomfortable going into a public restroom seems like too much to ask. Besides, public restrooms seem like an odd stage for such a social protest. It isn't as if there are not facilities available and that anyone is being denied access to them. IMHO, people should be allowed to do whatever they want if it doesn't affect anyone else.

My issue with it is that most of us have shared a bathroom with a trans person at one time or another and I have yet to see one story about a trans person molesting or raping someone. The reason that these laws are being passed right now is that it is an election year and they view it as a way to turn out the vote (on both sides). Basically trans has become part of the gay/abortion wedge driving issues that turn out voters.

 

[wizards8507]

Restricting where people can carry guns is a public safety issue that has absolutely zero to do with race. I think the position of the National African American Gun Association is as dumb as the NRA's position. The answer to the gun violence problem is not to have more guns. I think it is a nonsensical position.

Restricting where people can carry guns only restricts where law abiders can carry guns, by virtue of the fact that the evil-doers don't give a damn about what restrictions you pass. In a world of "good guys" and "bad guys," restrictions only disarm the "good guys" and tip the scales in favor of the "bad guys."

 

[pkt77242]

Restricting where people can carry guns only restricts where law abiders can carry guns, by virtue of the fact that the evil-doers don't give a damn about what restrictions you pass. In a world of "good guys" and "bad guys," restrictions only disarm the "good guys" and tip the scales in favor of the "bad guys."

Couldn't the same be said about bathrooms? Restricting trans people from using the bathroom of their choice only affects them (the good person who isn't going to harm you) but it won't stop a child molester or rapist from following someone into the opposite sex bathroom (or from hiding in it).

 

[drayer54]

Restricting where people can carry guns is a public safety issue that has absolutely zero to do with race. I think the position of the National African American Gun Association is as dumb as the NRA's position. The answer to the gun violence problem is not to have more guns. I think it is a nonsensical position.

I agree that restricting where people can carry guns is a public safety issue, especially considering how many "gun free zones" have been the target of mass shootings. I don't see how keeping people who live in dangerous communities from accessing weapons for home defense keeps them safe. What seems nonsensical to me is continuing to drive policies that limit freedom and have been proven to not work.

The very logic that somehow a criminal will not cause harm because a law is in place is absurd as the very idea of limiting individual liberty for the false security that some people think it provides.

Common sense gun control to me would be to repeal any gun control measure that hasn't worked.

 

[RDU Irish]

I would rather some drag queen use the lady's room so I don't have to explain to my son what that lady is doing at the urinal. End of the day, they are addressing problem that never existed and legislating morality and social norms - the reason bible thumpers can never keep the power they eventually take from Dems for good reason.

Lots of other stuff in that bill, I think the bathroom thing is being used for cover to dispute other issues. For one, saying municipalities can't make their own minimum wage - complete hypocrisy for state legislators to whine about Fed cram downs and then do that to municipalities. But I digress.

 

[NorthDakota]

But not around presidential candidates? How do you square that?

Was the GOP or the owner of the venue the one who decided it? If GOP, I disagree with their decision. If the owner of the venue, it's their decision to make.

 

[drayer54]

Couldn't the same be said about bathrooms? Restricting trans people from using the bathroom of their choice only affects them (the good person who isn't going to harm you) but it won't stop a child molester or rapist from following someone into the opposite sex bathroom (or from hiding in it).

NO! Don't you know? Criminals don't become criminals anymore once you pass a law. I'm sure once rape and sexual assault become banned, these tragedies will simply go away.

 

[wizards8507]

My issue with it is that most of us have shared a bathroom with a trans person at one time or another and I have yet to see one story about a trans person molesting or raping someone.

Couldn't the same be said about bathrooms? Restricting trans people from using the bathroom of their choice only affects them (the good person who isn't going to harm you) but it won't stop a child molester or rapist from following someone into the opposite sex bathroom (or from hiding in it).

The "bathroom" debate actually has very little to do with bathrooms. Locker rooms and showers are a much bigger concern than bathrooms with private stalls. Sure, some of us may have been in a bathroom with a trans person in a different stall, but that's way different than a trans female high school student taking a shower after gym class with her penis visible to the room.

Remember, we're only talking about GOVERNMENT buildings with this law, meaning schools above all else.

 

[GoIrish41]

My issue with it is that most of us have shared a bathroom with a trans person at one time or another and I have yet to see one story about a trans person molesting or raping someone. The reason that these laws are being passed right now is that it is an election year and they view it as a way to turn out the vote (on both sides). Basically trans has become part of the gay/abortion wedge driving issues that turn out voters.

Yeah, I think the justifications being used are ridiculous and offensive in their own right. I've never heard a story about a transgender person assaulting anyone. That argument is providing a solution to a problem that does not exist. And I understand that this bathroom issue is a political football, but if I had to come down on one side or the other -- even though it puts me on the same side of an issue with folks who I almost never agree with about anything -- I'd choose not making many, many people feel uncomfortable so a few can feel better about themselves.

 

[wizards8507]

I've never heard a story about a transgender person assaulting anyone.

The allegation is not about transgender people assaulting other people. The allegation is about faux-transgender people abusing this new privilege to use whatever bathroom they want to assault people.

 

[wizards8507]

Serious, straightforward question for everyone.

You have a biological XY male high school student who identifies as female. Where does this person shower after gym class? Do you have any concern with the other girls in the class being subjected to her penis in the showers?

 

[RDU Irish]

WTF is the point of making some law that will absolutely never be enforced? Who is going to be checking parts at the public restrooms? Really? Brings back thoughts of the good ole SNL "Pat" skits.

 

[wizards8507]

WTF is the point of making some law that will absolutely never be enforced? Who is going to be checking parts at the public restrooms? Really? Brings back thoughts of the good ole SNL "Pat" skits.

It has very little to do with restrooms. It's about locker rooms and showers at SCHOOLS. There's no enforcement necessary. Everyone will see a penis. It's not like a bathroom where everyone is in a stall in privacy.

People arguing this law have no idea what the law actually says. People think it applies to every bathroom in the state of North Carolina. It's not. It applies only to government facilities (primarily schools) and it applies to locker rooms, showers, and changing facilities, not just bathrooms. If McDonalds wants to have trans-friendly bathrooms in Raleigh, they're free to do so.