2016 Presidential Horse Race

[NorthDakota]

1. I don't know how I became the de facto Trump defender. I think he's awful.

2. It depends what you or Trump mean(s) when you say "Mexicans." You seem to be talking about people of Mexican heritage who live in the United States. Some of those people are Mexicans (illegal immigrants) and some of them are Mexican-Americans (legal immigrants, immigrant-citizens, natural-born citizens). When Trump says he wants to prevent Meixcans from entering the country illegally, he's not talking about "people of Mexican heritage," he's talking about citizens of the country of Mexico.

3. Comments on Muslims aside, Trump has made no statements (of which I'm aware) with regards to restricting legal immigration from Mexico. His statements have not been anti-Mexican-people-coming-into-the-United-States. His statements have always been anti-people-coming-into-the-United-States-illegally, and I honestly don't know how anyone can be against that.

Bleeding heart liberal response to this will be amusing.

 

[GoIrish41]

Step one would be to stop creating new levers of power. That's why the Affordable Care Act is so dangerous. There's nothing (or at least very little) more fundamental to your personhood than your health, and now politicians and the special interests behind those politicians have control over it. That's terrifying. Even if you're 100% happy with the people pulling the levers at a given time in history, the very idea that the levers exist makes you vulnerable to the whims of whatever group grabs power next.

I won't get into the 20 million people who have health insurance who probably don't see the ACA as anything as terrifying as you suggest.

But OK, that's your start ... no new levers. There are still a shitload of levers that your plan so far has not accounted for -- employees and officials of federal agencies, Congress, staffers, DoD employees, etc., etc. Given that writing laws to outlaw the affect of money on politics would be naive and impossible, I was curious how you planned "the much more prudent course of action ... destroy(ing) the levers of power so that nobody can use them for their own ends" is thoughtful and practical. It seems to me that your suggestion would be to completely eliminate government?

 

[NDinL.A.]

I said asshole liberals. Maybe the right shoe does not fit but the left one does.

Rather amusing that you take issue with me calling you a liberal and then call me a Trumptard. I have repeatedly said I don't like Trump but I dislike people like you more so it may seem like enjoyment in your frustration is actually support.

Now either get off my lawn or mow it.

When did I take issue with it??? I just corrected you (I often have to with you). I don’t hate liberals (my wife and my mom are liberals). I don’t hate conservatives (my dad is a staunch conservative). I just hate racist POS like Trump and apparently you.

I laugh that you think I’m frustrated by you. You’re a twerp who gets off on racism – not surprising that you even seem to rejoice in it. You can’t frustrate me. Anyone who is so incredibly stupid that he equates peaceful protests to violent ones can’t frustrate me. And for someone who “doesn’t like Trump”, you sure do like him a lot. (Insert: Trump supporter is a Trump supporter meme.)

But judging by your last line, I sure as hell have frustrated you lol.

 

[wizards8507]

It seems to me that your suggestion would be to completely eliminate government?

I'm neither a purist nor an anarchist. There are a number of legitimate functions of government, including the federal government. The first practical, real-world policy change I'd like to see would be for the vast majority of federal programs to be returned to the states. This won't happen unless the American people get behind it in large numbers, because the existing political establishment certainly isn't going to voluntarily give up power.

 

[woolybug25]

I don't think so...I read it as him telling him in kinder terms to go fvck himself.

He's not an idiot. He took a page out of the Trump catalog. He didn't say it directly, but he knew exactly what he was saying.

In my opinion, it crossed the line. I rarely (like maybe 2 in my entire time here) give neg reps. But he has one incoming.

 

[NorthDakota]

He's not an idiot. He took a page out of the Trump catalog. He didn't say it directly, but he knew exactly what he was saying.

In my opinion, it crossed the line. I rarely (like maybe 2 in my entire time here) give neg reps. But he has one incoming.

I make an effort to not jump to conclusions. I also don't know the person in question. I could probably make a decent argument that the racism/prejudice/stereotyping has been done by you guys jumping on him for a pretty harmless statement.

But maybe you are right. Hopefully he answers honestly.

 

[dales5050]

I don't think so...I read it as him telling him in kinder terms to go fvck himself.

I would never tell anyone to go f*ck yourself. That would obviously cross a line. Last thing I would want on this sunny Wednesday is an infraction.

 

[dales5050]

He's not an idiot. He took a page out of the Trump catalog. He didn't say it directly, but he knew exactly what he was saying.

In my opinion, it crossed the line. I rarely (like maybe 2 in my entire time here) give neg reps. But he has one incoming.

It's pretty clear, with my poor use of my education, that I am not smart enough to plot out anything such as you suggest. I guess I need to go rethink my life and just what your negative rep means.

 

[woolybug25]

I make an effort to not jump to conclusions. I also don't know the person in question. I could probably make a decent argument that the racism/prejudice/stereotyping has been done by you guys jumping on him for a pretty harmless statement.

But maybe you are right. Hopefully he answers honestly.

You're either really naive or intentionally obtuse. Judging by his follow up, I'll stand by my neg rep. He should have been put on vacation. He didn't "accidentally" insert a lawn mowing joke to a Latino during an argument. Give me a break.

 

[GoIrish41]

Here's a snippet of WaPo's review of The Fractured Republic:



I don't think nostalgia about the post-war GOP can be helpful because, absent World War III, we're very unlikely to ever regain the social, political, and economic cohesion of Levin's "consolidating America". Our future is going to be much more pluralistic, and will necessitate different solutions than what worked 60 or 70 years ago.



Good on you for being able to come up with something. I'd suggest that liberals need to think hard about what sort of opposition party they'd (realistically) like to see emerge from the post-Trump wreckage of the GOP. Currently, we look to be on a similar trajectory to Europe, which involves an American right that is much more driven by white populist nationalism than universal ideals. No one wins if that happens.

I think this is a solid point. The current political age seems to be one of Absolute Goods and Absolute Evils, with little space in between. In my view, that is going to eat this country from within unless we change the tone of the entire country. I'll do my best not to be a smug asshole when the Dems win the election, and will attempt to reach out to Republicans.

The GOP is right, we cannot take another four years like those we've had under Obama. But it would be disingenuous to suggest that disfunction was all on the president. We can no longer afford petty political fights that dominate our politics so nothing ever gets done to address the shrinking middle class, the hardship of the poor, the gross wealth accumulation of the rich, and the political sway the wealthy have over our government. We can't afford out of control culture police that try to shape every aspect of our lives as if we are some robot slaves to a single ideology. Enough is enough.

There are no absolute goods or absolute evils -- we must occupy that small space in between where compromise and cooperation are the cure for what ails this country.

 

[woolybug25]

It's pretty clear, with my poor use of my education, that I am not smart enough to plot out anything such as you suggest. I guess I need to go rethink my life and just what your negative rep means.

I don't have to mess around with false conjecture. So you can take it to mean exactly what I say it means... which is go fuck yourself.

 

[NorthDakota]

You're either really naive or intentionally obtuse. Judging by his follow up, I'll stand by my neg rep. He should have been put on vacation. He didn't "accidentally" insert a lawn mowing joke to a Latino during an argument. Give me a break.

I guess I don't associate our hispanic brothers with lawn mowing....mostly just having good food, jumping borders, the drug trade, and being pretty good at baseball and soccer.

 

[dales5050]

I don't have to mess around with false conjecture. So you can take it to mean exactly what I say it means... which is go fuck yourself.

The pain.

We're all assholes. Just takes some coaxing to bring most out of the shadows. Internet upvote for you despite the negative rep you gave me. Still trying to get over that you know.

 

[NorthDakota]

You're either really naive or intentionally obtuse. Judging by his follow up, I'll stand by my neg rep. He should have been put on vacation. He didn't "accidentally" insert a lawn mowing joke to a Latino during an argument. Give me a break.

Judging by his follow up. You were correct.

 

[woolybug25]

The pain.

We're all assholes. Just takes some coaxing to bring most out of the shadows. Internet upvote for you despite the negative rep you gave me. Still trying to get over that you know.

Don't waste the keystroke. We all may be assholes, but at least some of us don't have to use racist comments as a last resort in debate. Some people can walk away when they have been intellectually bested, you showed to be that special breed of weirdo that stoops to level of backhanded racism as a last resort. LA made you look stupid, so stupid, that the only person that could make it worse was yourself. Kinda pathetic, really.

Congrats.

 

[dales5050]

When did I take issue with it??? I just corrected you (I often have to with you). I don’t hate liberals (my wife and my mom are liberals). I don’t hate conservatives (my dad is a staunch conservative). I just hate racist POS like Trump and apparently you.

I laugh that you think I’m frustrated by you. You’re a twerp who gets off on racism – not surprising that you even seem to rejoice in it. You can’t frustrate me. Anyone who is so incredibly stupid that he equates peaceful protests to violent ones can’t frustrate me. And for someone who “doesn’t like Trump”, you sure do like him a lot. (Insert: Trump supporter is a Trump supporter meme.)

But judging by your last line, I sure as hell have frustrated you lol.

Pending vacation or ban...whatever. But did want to respond.

You can dance around the presentation all you want but you're a hateful person. You're an asshole. But that's ok. We all are.

Your challenge is you don't have the courage to admit it and for some reason staying inside of the lines matter to you.

 

[dales5050]

Don't waste the keystroke. We all may be assholes, but at least some of us don't have to use racist comments as a last resort in debate. Some people can walk away when they have been intellectually bested, you showed to be that special breed of weirdo that stoops to level of backhanded racism as a last resort. LA made you look stupid, so stupid, that the only person that could make it worse was yourself. Kinda pathetic, really.

Congrats.

An asshole is an asshole.

FWIW, it was more of a go get your shinebox or bitch comment than a racist one. It was an insult for sure but he posted before he was not Mexican. But I still don't care how you took it or what you think.

Anyways, I'll gladly leave. It's been swell.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Anyways, I'll gladly leave. It's been swell.

Allow me to show you the door.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

This is nice. No off-season drama to divert us away from the real issues: people racing horses to claim the throne of America.

 

[GATTACA!]

Dales been around since 2010 and that's the way he chooses to go out? Kinda pathetic IMO.

 

[NorthDakota]

This is nice. No off-season drama to divert us away from the real issues: people racing horses to claim the throne of America.

Since a Kenyan won last time does that mean it's an endurance race?

 

[GoIrish41]

Allow me to show you the door.

Good riddance to bad trash! Good call!

 

[connor_in]

 

[BGIF]

Bernie stayed in while Dale packed it in.

 

[connor_in]

Bernie stayed in while Dale packed it in.

EEEEWWWWWWW !!!

Sounds like it has sexual connotations to it that we should probably just pass over, mmm'Kay

 

[NDinL.A.]

Pending vacation or ban...whatever. But did want to respond.

You can dance around the presentation all you want but you're a hateful person. You're an asshole. But that's ok. We all are.

Your challenge is you don't have the courage to admit it and for some reason staying inside of the lines matter to you.

Courage to admit I'm an asshole? You think THAT'S courage? Hahahahahaha. Homie, I've admitted that PLENTY of times on this site. If admitting you're an asshole makes one courageous, then I'm a fucking Navy Seal lol.

I hate racists. I've already said that, so you're not breaking news here chief. I think it's about the most idiotic thing one can be. Makes no sense to me. So if that makes me a hateful person, so be it. Other than that, I'm really a happy dude.

And at least I'm not an idiot who equates peace with violence, who thinks that all Latinos are Mexicans, and who is so lost he can't even bag on a dude well. But that's just me. Peace.

 

[GoIrish41]

Courage to admit I'm an asshole? You think THAT'S courage? Hahahahahaha. Homie, I've admitted that PLENTY of times on this site. If admitting you're an asshole makes one courageous, then I'm a fucking Navy Seal lol.

I hate racists. I've already said that, so you're not breaking news here chief. I think it's about the most idiotic thing one can be. Makes no sense to me. So if that makes me a hateful person, so be it. Other than that, I'm really a happy dude.

And at least I'm not an idiot who equates peace with violence, who thinks that all Latinos are Mexicans, and who is so lost he can't even bag on a dude well. But that's just me. Peace.

I would not expect a response.

 

[ACamp1900]

 

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

What a lively thread today, so many good zingers. Even Ndinla made me chuckle.

 

[Bubbles]

White men to be more specific.

Man, you guys got it rough. You poor, poor thing.

I hate racists.

FWIW, I read your above lumping of all white people into some privileged, protected group as a fairly racist sentiment, but maybe I read it wrong.

My family and I have been subject to plenty of racism over the last few years: "Pastey, cracker, ghost" not to mention questionable treatment in places where we the minority....but you know what? Those people were all ignorant...I didn't hate them.....didn't hate racism....just pitied them, and life goes on. We stopped working/shopping/visiting those places we felt unwanted and moved to a better place.