2016 Presidential Horse Race

[Cackalacky]

What percentage of voters do you think understand WTF you are talking about? You have valid concerns, I just don't think that more than half of the STEM trained population would A) care, or B) look into. And that segment of the population is miniscule. Most people voting can't make correct change! So while I appreciate your passion for this litmus test YOU are applying, I wonder how you think this issue translates to the, like, totally huge portion of, like, the people in the, like, country, that like, can't walk and totally, like, chew gum.

Maybe they need more education?????

 

[RDU Irish]

Maybe they need more education?????

The more dependency you create, the less education your sheep will pursue.

 

[GoIrish41]

Bravo Chris Christy!!!! If only the GOP would speak like this more often ...

Christie remarks on drug addiction go viral | MSNBC

 

[RDU Irish]

Bravo Chris Christy!!!! If only the GOP would speak like this more often ...

Christie remarks on drug addiction go viral | MSNBC

I don't have to watch it, I already know Chris wants to double our incarceration rate. As if we are not already pacing the developed world in incarceration rate. HEY, I'm a tough guy and I'm gonna throw everyone in jail - see how tough I am?!!

Double down on the failed war on drugs, elect Chris Christie president.

 

[Corry]

Well, maybe not ALL accounts:

Does that article insinuate Clinton killed two people?

 

[RDU Irish]

It only points out the incredibly short life span of known Clinton associates in the slammer. How you would ever make the leap that the Clintons had anything to do with it is beyond me.

 

[Cackalacky]

The more dependency you create, the less education your sheep will pursue.

The more educated you are the less dependent you need be????

 

[RDU Irish]

The more educated you are the less dependent you need be????

You use question marks, I would use exclamation points.

 

[GoIrish41]

I don't have to watch it, I already know Chris wants to double our incarceration rate. As if we are not already pacing the developed world in incarceration rate. HEY, I'm a tough guy and I'm gonna throw everyone in jail - see how tough I am?!!

Double down on the failed war on drugs, elect Chris Christie president.

Uh ... Maybe you should read it. His comments were about treatment programs for the addicted.

 

[Cackalacky]

You use question marks, I would use exclamation points.

Precisely!!!

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Clinton was a practicing lawyer until she became First Lady. She was damn good at it by all accounts.



"Well other than her profession, she has a spouse."



Yeah, they do. A decent harbinger of the damage the Clintons would do to liberalism in the coming decades. She was raised a Republican and acted like it.



Did you miss the part where I said Harvard? Also he has a BA, not a BS. Google is your friend.

I know your socialist tendencies lead you to defend the Bern, but use your head: what qualifications does he have to teach at the college level and what the hell was he teaching? Social justice? Income inequality? "Fair" housing?

 

[Buster Bluth]

I know your socialist tendencies lead you to defend the Bern, but use your head: what qualifications does he have to teach at the college level and what the hell was he teaching? Social justice? Income inequality? "Fair" housing?

Is this where I say he doesn't need any fancy schmancy liberal PhDs because he's self-made, winning four terms as mayor of Burlington and worked with policies in the real world instead of some idealistic classroom run by ivory tower sociopaths who hate America?

I think Bernie was basically a guest at Harvard because 1) some of the policies he instituted in Burlington were "firsts" for the country and being able to share those experiences with students in political science is kinda valuable and 2) his popularity as mayor of Burlington made him the favorite to win a Congressional election in the near future.

But really I have no idea. And really I don't give a shit.

 

[kmoose]

Does that article insinuate Clinton killed two people?

There was a TON of speculation, at the time, about whether or not the Clintons had anything to do with Vince Foster's "suicide"...

 

[Cackalacky]

Ben Carson Tells Andrew's University about The Great Pyramids and What He Thinks They Were Used For.

by DAVID BADASH
November 04, 2015 5:58 PM
You'll Never Believe Why Ben Carson Thinks The Great Pyramids In Egypt Were Built (Video)

GOP frontrunner Ben Carson has a rather unique perspective on why ancient Egyptians built the Great Pyramids.

Change the conversation, change the world
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The Great Pyramid of Giza was built around 2560 B.C. Dr. Ben Carson in a video unearthed by Buzzfeed today shared his own views of why the pyramids of Egypt, some of the oldest and greatest structures still in existence around the world, were constructed.

Joseph, of the Old Testament, built the pyramids, Carson said, to store grain. In other words, the pyramids, which most believe were created as tombs, are actually great big silos, according to Carson.

“My own personal theory is that Joseph built the pyramids to store grain,” Dr. Carson told the graduating class in 1998 at Andrews University. “Now all the archeologists think that they were made for the pharaohs’ graves. But, you know, it would have to be something awfully big if you stop and think about it. And I don’t think it’d just disappear over the course of time to store that much grain.”

Andrews University is the first school of higher education started by Seventh-day Adventists, Dr. Carson's faith.

Buzzfeed notes that the Biblical story of Joseph says he "helped the Egyptians survive the famine." Carson, in the video below, calls him one of his "favorite Bible characters."

“And when you look at the way that the pyramids are made, with many chambers that are hermetically sealed, they’d have to be that way for various reasons. And various of scientists have said, ‘Well, you know there were alien beings that came down and they have special knowledge and that’s how—’ you know, it doesn’t require an alien being when God is with you.”

Carson goes on to explain why he believes God exists, and then repeats a conversation he had with a scientist about the creation of the universe. Carson attacks scientists by saying, "they never have an answer for any of these things," referring to scientific theories that don't necessarily match up as able to co-exist.

"That's the wonderful thing about having a relationship with God," Carson tells the graduating students. "God has already told us what happened," he said, suggesting an inquisitive mind isn't necessary. "We don't have to come up with fanciful theories so we can take the place of God."

Watch:



Of course, Twitter immediately convulsed in hysterics:

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I like this clip about Carson's tax plan (although to be fair, he backed off the 10% claim during the last debate and said it'd be more like 15%). I find it comical though because I can relate to it personally, being around people who mis-quote the Bible or who take it completely out of context.

From The Young Turks:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RealBenCarson">@realBenCarson</a> Is Wrong About The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bible?src=hash">#Bible</a>
<a href="https://t.co/gg6MgvZFob">https://t.co/gg6MgvZFob</a></p>— The Young Turks (@TheYoungTurks) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheYoungTurks/status/661967535420477440">November 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[wizards8507]

Ben Carson Tells Andrew's University about The Great Pyramids and What He Thinks They Were Used For.

I suppose you think the pyramids were tombs?

1. Zero bodies or mummies were ever found in the pyramids.

2. Egyptian royalty was interred in the Valley of the Kings.

3. The supposed "sarcophagi" they found in the pyramids aren't big enough to fit am adult human, let alone human within a series of coffins as was the custom.

4. It's exciting to me, as a Republican primary voter, that this is the best hit piece the media can come up with.

5. Keep attacking Carson and Trump, please. Neither will be the actual nominee and the longer heat stays of Rubio and company, the better.

6. Who the fuck cares? This "story" is EVERYWHERE.

 

[woolybug25]

I suppose you think the pyramids were tombs?

1. Zero bodies or mummies were ever found in the pyramids.

2. Egyptian royalty was interred in the Valley of the Kings.

3. The supposed "sarcophagi" they found in the pyramids aren't big enough to fit am adult human, let alone human within a series of coffins as was the custom.

4. It's exciting to me, as a Republican primary voter, that this is the best hit piece the media can come up with.

5. Keep attacking Carson and Trump, please. Neither will be the actual nominee and the longer heat stays of Rubio and company, the better.

6. Who the fuck cares? This "story" is EVERYWHERE.

Yet you left out the biggest point of him believing that Moses personally built them with the help of god. Carson goes even beyond a literal interpretation of the bible, but actually makes his own stories in bizarre attempts to discredit history.

But to your latter point, if one of the other candidates can somehow win, then Carson/Trump have done a masterful job in eating all of the crazy pills so they don't get any heat until the election. Unfortunately for the party, I think one of them could actually win and ends up getting slaughtered in the general by Clinton. Her polished political army will take their craziness and run against that alone. Meanwhile, Carson will be running around trying to convince people that Moses rode a brontosaurus.

 

[GoIrish41]

I suppose you think the pyramids were tombs?

1. Zero bodies or mummies were ever found in the pyramids.

2. Egyptian royalty was interred in the Valley of the Kings.

3. The supposed "sarcophagi" they found in the pyramids aren't big enough to fit am adult human, let alone human within a series of coffins as was the custom.

4. It's exciting to me, as a Republican primary voter, that this is the best hit piece the media can come up with.

5. Keep attacking Carson and Trump, please. Neither will be the actual nominee and the longer heat stays of Rubio and company, the better.

6. Who the fuck cares? This "story" is EVERYWHERE.

How much grain was found in the pyramids? Carson says things that people say when they are stoned. It isn't the best thing his opponents can come up with. It is just the latest stupid thing he said. And he and Trump currently hold the support of half of all republicans. What does that say about Rubio and company?

 

[wizards8507]

Meanwhile, Carson will be running around trying to convince people that Moses rode a brontosaurus.

Could you 'magine?

But you're wrong about Hillary. Mormons believe way crazier stuff than any of this and it wasn't a liability for Romney. He was a sucky candidate but Space Jesus had nothing to do with why. Hillary's liabilities are political. Political flaws are worse than personal flaws.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

A tale of two Ben Carsons - CNNPolitics.com

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Is this where I say he doesn't need any fancy schmancy liberal PhDs because he's self-made, winning four terms as mayor of Burlington and worked with policies in the real world instead of some idealistic classroom run by ivory tower sociopaths who hate America?

I think Bernie was basically a guest at Harvard because 1) some of the policies he instituted in Burlington were "firsts" for the country and being able to share those experiences with students in political science is kinda valuable and 2) his popularity as mayor of Burlington made him the favorite to win a Congressional election in the near future.

But really I have no idea. And really I don't give a shit.

So he came in and taught a couple classes part time teaching God knows what. Impressive.

Doesn't bother me at all (it's comical) but I assumed an institution as "prestigious" as Harvard would require their professors to have a PhD.

Outside of government no one has hired this clown to do a damn thing full time.

 

[woolybug25]

Could you 'magine?

But you're wrong about Hillary. Mormons believe way crazier stuff than any of this and it wasn't a liability for Romney. He was a sucky candidate but Space Jesus had nothing to do with why. Hillary's liabilities are political. Political flaws are worse than personal flaws.

I disagree. People will generally ignore personal flaws in order to vote their party line, but the "undecided" clearly discredit candidates on personality and how they "feel" about them.

There were a great deal of people that didn't vote for Romney simply because he was Mormon.

 

[wizards8507]

What does that say about Rubio and company?

It says that support is largely hype-driven when you have ten candidates in a race. It says that GOP primary voters hate the media and when the media goes after a candidate, it actually makes him more popular. It says that Marco Rubio made a big political miscalculation when he got on board with the Gang of Eight and, if he hadn't, he'd probably be at 40%.

 

[RDU Irish]

So what has Rubio actually accomplished in Washington? Or is he like Cruz and just fights a ton of losing battles?

 

[GoIrish41]

It says that support is largely hype-driven when you have ten candidates in a race. It says that GOP primary voters hate the media and when the media goes after a candidate, it actually makes him more popular. It says that Marco Rubio made a big political miscalculation when he got on board with the Gang of Eight and, if he hadn't, he'd probably be at 40%.

Or that Rubio is the next flash in the pan pretender who doesn't have the right amount of crazy to succeed in the GOP.

 

[connor_in]

just sayin...

 

[kmoose]

Or that Rubio is the next flash in the pan pretender who doesn't have the right amount of crazy to succeed in the GOP.

Or the right amount of entitlement and corruption to succeed in the Democratic Party?

 

[T Town Tommy]

Or the right amount of entitlement and corruption to succeed in the Democratic Party?

Well... I think both parties have some of that. But Hillary circles the wagons around all the others if this is the requirement.

 

[RDU Irish]

Uh ... Maybe you should read it. His comments were about treatment programs for the addicted.

OK - went back and watched more of it. First of all, couldn't you link just the video of Christie? Listening to those hacks talk about it was painful.

I see drug legalization as a viable path to improving this problem. I am also practical enough to realize you will NEVER FIX IT and any solutions that would actually be effective are too draconian and "insensitive" to ever pass today's muster. In the good ole days, you had mental hospitals that would essentially lock up those that were threats to themselves and those around them but not criminal. Those places have been replaced by.... nothing - those people formerly in those facilities are now living under bridges and rambling incoherently in back alleys. 1) it is expensive as hell. 2) the facilities/environment made prisons look hospitable so the PR police had an easy time shutting them down. 3) many times you were trading one street addiction for a controlled medical addiction of the same vein.

Bring back these types of facilities. Take kids away from abusers - I don't care if you are "sick" if you can't control yourself then how the hell are you going to raise a child. And big time penalties for people that hurt others "under the influence". Making drugs legal undermines the criminal element and makes it safer to be a derelict. Much lesser evil but you have to accept the fact that people will always find ways to abuse their bodies - be it bath salts (who saw that coming) or cocaine.

 

[GoIrish41]

OK - went back and watched more of it. First of all, couldn't you link just the video of Christie? Listening to those hacks talk about it was painful.

I see drug legalization as a viable path to improving this problem. I am also practical enough to realize you will NEVER FIX IT and any solutions that would actually be effective are too draconian and "insensitive" to ever pass today's muster. In the good ole days, you had mental hospitals that would essentially lock up those that were threats to themselves and those around them but not criminal. Those places have been replaced by.... nothing - those people formerly in those facilities are now living under bridges and rambling incoherently in back alleys. 1) it is expensive as hell. 2) the facilities/environment made prisons look hospitable so the PR police had an easy time shutting them down. 3) many times you were trading one street addiction for a controlled medical addiction of the same vein.

Bring back these types of facilities. Take kids away from abusers - I don't care if you are "sick" if you can't control yourself then how the hell are you going to raise a child. And big time penalties for people that hurt others "under the influence". Making drugs legal undermines the criminal element and makes it safer to be a derelict. Much lesser evil but you have to accept the fact that people will always find ways to abuse their bodies - be it bath salts (who saw that coming) or cocaine.

I actually would support getting rid of prescriptions for drugs altogether -- particularly drugs that are used to manage pain. As you say, there will aways be people who will abuse their bodies -- we have all these restrictions now and there are still people who get their hands on it. People who have chronic pain -- say back pain -- have to suffer needlessly because of people who abuse prescription drugs. New laws have forced doctors to reduce the number of prescription pain medications they allow. Those with chronic pain are forced (at least in Pennsylvania) to sign papers promising they will not attempt to get the same medicanion from any other doctor, and submit to piss tests to make sure they are not taking more than was prescribed. Its insane. These people are just trying to get through their days without suffering. Because of these new stupid rules, some (more and more each day) abandon the pursuit of prescription pain medications because of the latesest crop of insane rules and restrictions on them, and turn to street drugs like heroine. I believe this plays a big role in the uptick in heoroine overdoses. "War on Drugs" policies continue to demonize drug users and toss them in prison (which is sort of what those "facilities" you are describing above have become. You want to talk about expensive ... we have more people locked up that any other country in the world.

Decriminalizing drug use takes away the financial incentives of drug cartels, dealers, and the like and we can start cutting the costs that our prison society has incurred. It also allows people to manage their own pain as they see fit and not have to suffer for no reason than there are people who would abuse the system. There are people who abuse it now, and often find themselves taking substances that are less safe.

You are right ... you are never going to fix the whole addiction problem no matter what we do. No need to make everyone else suffer because of people who lack personal control (whether it is a personal decision or a sickness). Back to the Christy comments ... If it is a sickness, deal with the sickness and remove the stigma. That's mostly what I liked about his comments.