2020 Presidential Candidates

[Rogar]

Then why Velcro on all the extraneous agenda items to the environmental stuff? If it truly is the life and death proposition they claim it to be, aren’t they diluting their argument with all the sideshows?

I don't know if I understand the question enough to give an opinion, but many of the European countries are ahead of the U.S. in taking climate change more seriously and reducing fossil fuel use. I can only assume the politics are different there.

From what I can tell this early it looks like the dems will be running on a platform of medicare for all and to a lessor degree, the new green deal. Or at least a more active approach to climate change. As much as I like both of these, I'm not seeing this as a strategy to beat Trump's apparently strong economy. It seems like he's missing an opportunity to promote what Americans seem to treasure the most, their wallet. Assuming he is still president in 2020.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Then why Velcro on all the extraneous agenda items to the environmental stuff? If it truly is the life and death proposition they claim it to be, aren’t they diluting their argument with all the sideshows?

it's hard to get people to care about life and death issues sometimes. Or else people's main concern in this thread wouldn't be with the sideshows, but whether it would at least tackle the main problem somewhat or not, and how it compares to other proposals like I have presented in likely effectiveness, that would be the WHOLE of the debate if it was easy to get people to care about life and death issues.

So they can make a proposal with the potential for very broad popular support like the GND or one intended to win over conservatives who would support Pruitt at EPA, but that's impossible anyway, they won't support anything.

[LDAHL]

I see some of the candidates are taking on slavery reparations as a campaign issue. This is really shaping up as a hormone-free, free range chicken in every pot sort of election. Senator Warren is even offering a child care program that will put the “nanny” in “nanny state”.

And the bidding has just begun.

[Yppej]

I support reparations. We should be mitigating the damage we did in this country first, before we offer social services to non-citizens. Yes, I still have my immigrant envy.

Take the value of 40 acres and a mule in 1865, adjust for inflation, and assign the amount to each person identified as Black or Mulatto in the 1870 census. Hire certified genealogists to trace their descendants. Divide the money by the number of descendants. Say it is $100,000 and you have 2 descendants on average each generation, a generation lasting roughly 20 years.

1890 = 2
1910 = 2 + 4
1930 = 2 + 4 + 8
1950 = 2 + 4 + 8 + 16
1970 = 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32
1990 = 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 + 64
2010 = 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 + 64 + 128
2030 = 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 + 64 + 128 + 256 = 510

So $100,000/roughly 500 = $200 per person

But people would likely have more than one enslaved ancestor. And the present day value of 40 acres of rural land and a mule is probably well over $100K. But I think economists can come up with a figure. And I don't think it would be a bank breaking figure compared to some other costs like decades of war in Afghanistan, the war on drugs, border wall, etc.

Let's be honest there is not enough money on planet earth for sufficient reparations for something as evil as slavery. But a token amount, as fulfillment of that 40 acres and a mule promise, would be a good, healing gesture.

There's even something in it for Republican Utah where genealogists abound.

And we absolutely should lock up the modern day slave masters along with Robert Kraft and throw away the key.

ETA: Companies like Aetna, which insured slaves and thus profited from them, could be asked to contribute as well.

[LDAHL]

I see Gov Inslee is now in with a planetary salvation platform.

Joe Biden referred to Mike Pence as a decent man. Fortunately, alert social justice warriors sounded the alarm and he was forced to withdraw the courtesy.

[Alan]

I see Gov Inslee is now in with a planetary salvation platform.

Joe Biden referred to Mike Pence as a decent man. Fortunately, alert social justice warriors sounded the alarm and he was forced to withdraw the courtesy.

And the far left wing of the Democratic Party has threatened to primary anyone deemed to be too moderate. If the Democratic Presidential hopefuls are paying attention, 2020 is shaping up to be a good year for Republicans.

[jp1]

Usually when a topic about the 'rabid left' comes up here I've already read about it on my Facebook feed. Somehow none of my friends found Biden's unforced error noteworthy enough to mention. Even on google news I had to specifically search for Biden to find out what the story was. personally I still think Biden' a decent guy but he and I clearly have a different definition of decent. But this won't have any effect on my vote 12 months from now. I wasn't even considering voting Biden in the primary before this happened, and I'm still not considering him now.

[JaneV2.0]

"Far left wing," as characterized by the right usually indicates someone with a philosophy similar to mine--IOW a European centrist.

Joe Biden has never been a contender for my vote, either.

[catherine]

"Far left wing," as characterized by the right usually indicates someone with a philosophy similar to mine--IOW a European centrist.

Exactly.

[jp1]

Jane, since the republicans don't actually have any policy ideas their best hope besides racism is to keep shouting 'THEY'RE GOING TO FORCE YOU TO DO SOCIALISM!!!SOCIALISM!!!" and hope that the word is as scary as the word liberal used to be.