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And now there might be Bloomberg? I could see where he could edge out the present top contenders. I guess he is undecided about going all in so far.
If Bloomberg knocks out Biden I would be happy.
If they run Bloomberg, we'll have another 20 years of Trump
Someone needs to quote nancy reagan to him.
I'm confused about Bloomberg. I thought he was a Republican. Then Wikipedia says he is a Knight of the British Empire. How is that possible?
I don't know enough about Bloomberg to pass judgement, but he seems to be strong on environmental issues which is pretty much my preferred platform. He has a science background and has pledged to give away large portions of his billions. I'd suspect he is less likely to be labeled a socialist than some of the others and I've not heard of him proposing huge taxes to pay for an unlikely health plan. I suppose part of his downfall is being a product of the wealthy coastal elite.
The reason I hard that he was running is that he did not see anyone else well positioned to beat Trump.
I would assume this would be bad news for Biden as it adds another name To what passes as the centrist segment of the party.
And now there might be Bloomberg? I wonder if his platform will include a national ban on big gulps, black roofs, cell phones in schools, yard waste, sodium in processed foods, transfats and loud headphones?
I wonder if his platform will include a national ban on big gulps, black roofs, cell phones in schools, yard waste, sodium in processed foods, transfats and loud headphones?
I'd forgotten about those things, although they seem far less significant than making arms deals in order to dig up dirt on a political opponent.
I'd forgotten about those things, although they seem far less significant than making arms deals in order to dig up dirt on a political opponent.Oh, I don't know about that, Bloomberg has a tendency to legislate whatever he thinks is good for us and I'm a big C.S. Lewis fan.
"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive."
I hear Warren and Sanders are pretty exercised over Bloomberg and Bezos speaking on the phone. Just think how outraged they’d be if they had lunch.
I'm finding fascinating today to watch the lower-tier candidates attacking Mayor Pete as "unqualified to be up here" due to his gender.
I wonder which of the front-runners coordinated this?
I hear Warren and Sanders are pretty exercised over Bloomberg and Bezos speaking on the phone. Just think how outraged they’d be if they had lunch.
I've had breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Bezos dozens of times. He's not much of a conversationalist.
I'm glad that book-selling thing worked out for him.
iris lilies
11-11-19, 5:38pm
I've had breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Bezos dozens of times. He's not much of a conversationalist.
I'm glad that book-selling thing worked out for him.
Didn't Amazon lose money for something like a dozen years? I used his website regularly for library business decades ago because he was first to the market with good online data sbout books. He offered product details, and later, reviews. I believe he started out with books because they (theoretically) had an existing product number in the ISBN, and they were easy to wrap and ship—no breakage.
I heard Steve Bullock tonight. His basic message was I am electable because I come from a rural state. He got mostly softball questions, though one man noted, "Senator Tester looks like a farmer. You look like a lawyer." One I thought easy question was what path he has to the nomination, but he was vague.
He did not impress me. I and one other person asked him specific policy questions and he could not answer them. He said people don't vote on foreign policy and appeared to have spent a Sarah Palinesque amount of time familiarizing himself with it. Well some people vote on it, which is why Gabbard is ahead of him in the polls.
He was unfamiliar with Codepink although they have been in the news recently with Jane Fonda's arrests protesting inaction on climate change.
Driving home through New Hampshire I saw one campaign sign up, for Andrew Yang.
Bullock has even less of a chance than the Woo Woo lady. I’d consider myself pretty well informed about the current crop of candidates but i had to go wikipedia this guy to find out who he was. I’ve at least heard of the Woo Woo lady with the alliterative nickname.
There were probably 50 people there, whereas I heard Sestak had an event recently and only one person showed up. I haven't seen him myself.
Our hometown boy, Mike Bennett, is still hanging in even though he's not qualified for the debates since early on. He's a moderate and from my view is a good politician but his shortcoming is that he lacks charisma. I guess with modern media the likes of "Silent Cal" Coolidge will never be elected. His claim for hanging on is that the upper tiers don't have a clear leader yet and that the country needs a moderate.
I see that the filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary is Friday. Is that the practical limit for new entrants, or are more thrilling surprises in store? I heard Hillary is still playing it coy, but that may just be to promote interest in her book.
Deval Patrick is running. He was my governor and a generally capable technocrat but not at all inspiring.
Deval Patrick is running. He was my governor and a generally capable technocrat but not at all inspiring.
Well, he wouldn’t be the first Bain Capital guy to run for President.
Another exciting debate tonight. Will they pile on the Mayor of the fourth largest city in Indiana because he polls so well in Iowa. Will anyone heed Mr. Obama’s plea that plans be rooted in reality?
I'm reminded of Malcolm Gladwell's paradox of choice. Some choice is better than than none, but it doesn't follow that more choice is better than some, because of analysis paralysis.
I'm reminded of Malcolm Gladwell's paradox of choice. Some choice is better than than none, but it doesn't follow that more choice is better than some, because of analysis paralysis.
I’m not sure we didn’t get better candidates from smoke filled rooms than we do from primary elections and a gauntlet of debates. Maybe a group of jaded party chieftains assessing who in most likely to defeat the opposition works better than turning the process over to the most zealous members of your own party or mobs of previously unaffiliated zealots looking for a flag of convenience.
....turning the process over to the most zealous members of your own party or mobs of previously unaffiliated zealots looking for a flag of convenience.
Seems to me like that's how Donald got elected, but I accept the process. I think the immediacy of the media and access to large and various forms of information that may or not be correct has significantly changed the essential elements of the primary and election process. It's not like the newspaper/radio days or even Newsweek/ABC TV. Something obviously the Russians have recognized, but also the various candidates and their media campaigns, such as say, Obama is not a U.S. citizen.
Gladwell brings up the example of multiple flavors of Oreos, each being supposedly different when they are essentially the same cookie. People get into analysis paralysis and just grab something off the shelf, but maybe something distinct rather than similar.
Seems to me like that's how Donald got elected, but I accept the process. I think the immediacy of the media and access to large and various forms of information that may or not be correct has significantly changed the essential elements of the primary and election process. It's not like the newspaper/radio days or even Newsweek/ABC TV. Something obviously the Russians have recognized, but also the various candidates and their media campaigns, such as say, Obama is not a U.S. citizen.
I think so. He hadn’t said or done much prior to the 2016 to indicate Republican leanings.
I’m not sure I blame the media all that much. I don’t believe there was ever a golden age of media fairness and objectivity. What we basically had was the viewpoint of establishment respectability and not much else. I don’t know that there was much less nonsense than today, and I have trouble believing that Russian internet trolls are having any more influence today than any of the disinformation campaigns of the past.
Was Eric Swalwell wise to get out before the eruption of Fartgate?
Was Eric Swalwell wise to get out before the eruption of Fartgate?That poor guy just happened to be on camera at the wrong time. Rumor has it Chris Matthews has a history of startling everyone on set without any hint of embarrassment or ownership.
Watching tonight's Democratic debate. Elizabeth Warren began with an all out promise to confiscate wealth from the top 1%. Cory Booker said "as Democrats we need to forget about taxing wealth, we need to concentrate on growing wealth for everyone". I think he found his true Spartacus moment!
Teacher Terry
11-21-19, 12:00am
We could just repeal the tax cuts trump gave and that would be great.
We could just repeal the tax cuts trump gave and that would be great.
I guess you wouldn't appreciate Senator Booker's idea then. It's refreshing to hear a Democrat essentially say "We're not interested in taking from your neighbor, we want to help you become more affluent and we'll all be better off as a result". I guess it's refreshing because it's essentially a Republican ideology.
Maybe there's a visceral thrill in taking things from others that's simply inherent in the Democratic psyche that I just don't understand.
Maybe there's a visceral thrill in taking things from others that's simply inherent in the Democratic psyche that I just don't understand.
Perhaps. Similar to that visceral thrill Republicans seem to get in denying even small necessities, like a school lunch for a kid whose parents are behind in their lunch bill, that I just don't understand.
Btw, Alan, I'm simultaneously bummed and pleased that you didn't fall for my attempt at pushing your buttons. I promise to try harder next time.
Teacher Terry
11-21-19, 1:11am
As soon as those tax cuts were made republicans started talking about cutting SS and Medicare calling them entitlements. Workers earned these.
As soon as those tax cuts were made republicans started talking about cutting SS and Medicare calling them entitlements. Workers earned these.
Republicans have been talking about unsustainable entitlement spending for a lot longer than that.
If they were truly, earned and paid for on an actuarialy sound basis, it might be different. But they are not.
Btw, Alan, I'm simultaneously bummed and pleased that you didn't fall for my attempt at pushing your buttons. I promise to try harder next time.
Good luck!
Perhaps. Similar to that visceral thrill Republicans seem to get in denying even small necessities, like a school lunch for a kid whose parents are behind in their lunch bill, that I just don't understand.
My wife works at a school with a high percentage of students from low income families. All the students in the school get free breakfast and lunch as well as sending many of them home with weekend meals on Fridays. That's all a local initiative funded by our property taxes and benevolence from several local churches as well as the traditional SNAP programs dependant on Federal funding, and a perfect example of why local governments are preferable to national ones. Of course, we live in a bright red area so sitting on our thumbs waiting for the feds to take care of things like this is outside our working model.
Thanks for reminding me how wonderful it is to live in a conservative community.
Teacher Terry
11-21-19, 12:59pm
Alan, that’s great! When I was a social worker in Wisconsin we set up a summer lunch program at the poor schools for children to eat a cold lunch. Adults couldn’t eat. It was a sandwich, milk and piece of fruit. Food couldn’t be taken out. We never knew how many kids would show up so we were always calling each other and driving food around. The highlight was a piece of cold fried chicken on Friday. I brought all my kids outgrown clothes and the kids could pick what they wanted. It was a combination of federal and state money. Many of my blue collar democratic friends were against it saying people needed to take care of their own kids.
ApatheticNoMore
11-21-19, 2:30pm
I guess you wouldn't appreciate Senator Booker's idea then. It's refreshing to hear a Democrat essentially say "We're not interested in taking from your neighbor, we want to help you become more affluent and we'll all be better off as a result". I guess it's refreshing because it's essentially a Republican ideology.
Well it's going to hit hard limits to growth sometime though. Although it's not always clear when and how.
But there is an argument that a different path could have been taken in that the U.S. could have emulated Germany and focused on high paying jobs etc. and that's not the route it went. And would more people in the U.S. be better off if so, maybe. But we never adopted that type of policy and so that's not the economy we have, we kind of went the low wage route ... which works not so well in a high cost of living country.
The Booker discussion was essentially a tax disagreement, on what type of income to tax, I don't think he's necessarily wrong in preferring capital gains and estate to wealth taxes so. I have no huge issues with Booker, he's qualified, and he's good on the criminal justice type issues he emphasizes, much weaker on other issues.
Wayne Messam dropped out.
flowerseverywhere
11-22-19, 8:03pm
I guess you wouldn't appreciate Senator Booker's idea then. It's refreshing to hear a Democrat essentially say "We're not interested in taking from your neighbor, we want to help you become more affluent and we'll all be better off as a result". I guess it's refreshing because it's essentially a Republican ideology.
Maybe there's a visceral thrill in taking things from others that's simply inherent in the Democratic psyche that I just don't understand.
i don’t think that is a core republican ideology, its a basic human ideology. Children cannot learn if there is not enough food, so food assistance could very well be the tool that helps a child learn to read, write and do math. It’s about the balance of helping those in need so they can rise up. I know two women who were left with small children and deadbeat husbands. Through government assistance they became a nurse and it worker, so the temporary assistance made them into productive tax paying proud citizens.
I have voted for many republicans. They used to be the party of fiscal responsibility. The party of family values and religious freedom. I’m not seeing much fiscal responsibility these days, nor religious freedom unless you believe in Jesus. Family values aren’t doing so great either.
perhaps instead of sorting out things going on into Republican and Democrat, how about everybody moving towards the middle to find workable solutions. In the past three years, More people don’t have health insurance, scalebacks of environmental protections are putting water and air at risk, our schools are showing no improvement. and eminent domain battles are raging in Texas.
There has got got to be a better way than governing by tweet, name calling, and these ongoing investigations that are costing taxpayers a fortune. All the money in the world in the pockets of the wealthy does not make up for unraveling the fabric of the lowest classes.
Teacher Terry
11-22-19, 8:27pm
I never vote a straight party ticket. Many Republicans have been worthy of my vote.
I heard Cory Booker today. It was a poorly organized event with people in three different rooms craning their necks to see him and most standing or sitting. Luckily I guess I look old because I was offered a chair. This is the first time this has happened to me and I was psyched.
Booker did not impress me at all. He twice said he is not interested in policy proposals because he wants people to vote with their hearts not their heads. He kept talking about the Civil Rights era and his parents' experiences rather than current issues. Except for one man asking him why he was in New Hampshire not South Carolina he got all softball questions. I was not called on, but had something more substantive prepared.
He said he would not speak long because wanted lots of time for Q&A, then blathered on a little more in his vague way before saying again he wasn't going to talk much. Then he took fewer questions than a lot of other candidates, but his answers were so longwinded it took up all the time. The man sure does love to hear himself talk.
Thanks, Yppej, I appreciate the reports very much--only candidate I heard in person was Bernie, and his charisma was incredible.
You're welcome Tybee. This year is the first time I have ever heard presidential candidates speak. It's my hobby now. Though I did hear Geraldine Ferraro back in the day.
I see Bloomberg will be making a fashionably late entrance to the party. Normally we would see a fairly short list of surviving hopefuls by South Carolina, but this cycle looks like it may be different.
I never vote a straight party ticket. Many Republicans have been worthy of my vote.
I once thought that way, but at least on the national level the person doesn't seem to matter. They all seem unanimous in supporting the party line and few if any cross over. State and local elections I think are different, but I'll be voting a straight party ticket on the national level for the foreseeable future.
Teacher Terry
11-25-19, 12:32pm
Roger, I totally agree with you now on the national level. My husband always used to cross over and voted for Reid for senator because he did a great job for our state. We have had many good republican governors here that did great things for human services and the schools.
I see Bloomberg will be making a fashionably late entrance to the party. Normally we would see a fairly short list of surviving hopefuls by South Carolina, but this cycle looks like it may be different.Bloomberg News announced yesterday that they will continue their policy not to investigate candidate Bloomberg, his family or his foundation, and in the interest of fairness they would offer the same lack of interest or curiosity to the entire Democratic Presidential field. Trump on the other hand.....
Bloomberg News announced yesterday that they will continue their policy not to investigate candidate Bloomberg, his family or his foundation, and in the interest of fairness they would offer the same lack of interest or curiosity to the entire Democratic Presidential field. Trump on the other hand.....
I don’t think the Bloomberg organization was ever much of a source of searing criticism of Bloomberg in particular or Democrats in general. And in fairness to them, not covering Trump news would pretty much limit them to reporting on issues most Americans don’t care about. Like dog shows. Or pretty much anywhere that isn’t America.
Bye bye Bullock and Sestak.
Harris is out too.Yes but I'd expect either Biden, Sanders or Buttigieg to pick her as a running mate, well, if Stacey Abrams isn't available.
How much longer for Booker, I wonder.
Yes but I'd expect either Biden, Sanders or Buttigieg to pick her as a running mate, well, if Stacey Abrams isn't available.
Yeah, but isn't she an aggressive sort of VP who might upstage some of the candidates like Biden?
Yeah, but isn't she an aggressive sort of VP who might upstage some of the candidates like Biden?
I think she burned her bridges with Biden when she attacked him over busing during the debates. Also, the progressive wing of the party seems to have issues with her career as a prosecutor.
I see damning evidence has surfaced against Mayor Pete. He allegedly rang a bell for the Salvation Army.
gimmethesimplelife
12-6-19, 10:37am
Yes but I'd expect either Biden, Sanders or Buttigieg to pick her as a running mate, well, if Stacey Abrams isn't available.I LOVE the idea if a Buttigieg/Harris ticket! I truly believe they could at least attempt to steer America in a better direction. Rob
gimmethesimplelife
12-6-19, 10:42am
You're welcome Tybee. This year is the first time I have ever heard presidential candidates speak. It's my hobby now. Though I did hear Geraldine Ferraro back in the day.Years ago when I lived in Portland, during the Clinton/Bush faceoff in 1992, Clinton came to Portland. He spoke at a public square a block from my job and I had the chance to hear him during my lunch break. Now there was a great speaker and charisma. Rob
gimmethesimplelife
12-6-19, 10:45am
I see damning evidence has surfaced against Mayor Pete. He allegedly rang a bell for the Salvation Army.The Salvation Army does have a rep for being anti gay.....
Rob
iris lilies
12-6-19, 11:14am
Years ago when I lived in Portland, during the Clinton/Bush faceoff in 1992, Clinton came to Portland. He spoke at a public square a block from my job and I had the chance to hear him during my lunch break. Now there was a great speaker and charisma. Rob
The Bill and Al show came to my workplace that year. Both of them. I vaguely remember listening to parts of their speeches but it was crowded and cold weather, easier to watch on tv if
i really wanted to catch the whole thing.
The Salvation Army does have a rep for being anti gay.....
Rob
I think we may have reached the point in certain quarters where not being aggressively pro-something is equated with being anti-something. Obviously, Pete didn’t have a problem with participating. Or at least not enough of one to refrain. If he wasn’t offended, I see no reason to be offended on his behalf.
iris lilies
12-6-19, 1:18pm
Ps I believe I voted for the Bill and Al ticket that year, probably the last remnants of my Democratic activity. That, or perhaps it was 1996.
gimmethesimplelife
12-6-19, 2:49pm
Ps I believe I voted for the Bill and Al ticket that year, probably the last remnants of my Democratic activity. That, or perhaps it was 1996.IL, you have me intrigued here. Given your many conservative stances, I'm surprised that you voted Democrat in the past. Did Clinton and his eight years in office seal the deal for you to be conservative? No snark here, I'm just curious. Rob
I think we may have reached the point in certain quarters where not being aggressively pro-something is equated with being anti-something. Obviously, Pete didn’t have a problem with participating. Or at least not enough of one to refrain. If he wasn’t offended, I see no reason to be offended on his behalf.
Personally I'm willing to cut Pete some slack. He's a politician, and if he hadn't participated in the event he would have been slammed for "promoting the gay agenda" or whatever.
That said, I'm also not willing to donate money to an organization whose belief system includes the belief that I should be dead.
iris lilies
12-6-19, 4:08pm
IL, you have me intrigued here. Given your many conservative stances, I'm surprised that you voted Democrat in the past. Did Clinton and his eight years in office seal the deal for you to be conservative? No snark here, I'm just curious. Rob
It was the long arm reach of the federal government into my neighborhood, their lying and bureaucratic methods, that sealed the deal and turned me. Years of it. Their blunder-headed stupidity culminated in a Housing and Urban Development dept. map of “buildable lots” in my neighborhood that included my two lots of flower garden space.
This plan was presented in a public meeting, one of half a dozen, where the Feds were soliciting “ideas” about developing more public housing in our immediate area. I was shocked, to say the least, to see that “idea” so thanks Bill Clinton and your minions. Over my dead body.
Had they come to take my lots, we would have had a mini Ruby Ridge here at the iris lilies flower farm.
I have told this story many times. I’ve also said that the biggest campaign contribution I ever gave was to a Democrat, for $1000. I got some5ong oit of it, but regardless, the politician was a Democrat.
gimmethesimplelife
12-6-19, 5:16pm
Personally I'm willing to cut Pete some slack. He's a politician, and if he hadn't participated in the event he would have been slammed for "promoting the gay agenda" or whatever.
That said, I'm also not willing to donate money to an organization whose belief system includes the belief that I should be dead.Fair take in my book.....and I believe you are right.....to not ring the bell could have caused issues of the sort you refer to. Rob
Teacher Terry
12-6-19, 5:53pm
I really admire the Salvation Army for the work they do to help addicts and alcoholics recover through their housing and work programs. They have helped many of my clients. However, I do hate that they are so intolerant especially since one of my stepson’s and a good friend of mine are gay. I do donate yearly because the majority of the money goes to the clients.
rosarugosa
12-6-19, 6:07pm
I have such mixed feelings about the SA. First of all, they are a religious organization, and that's a big NO for me right there. The anti-gay thing is also a really big deal for me.
On the plus side, I understand that they are often in the trenches providing help to those who need it most. I have a very dear friend who was basically "saved" by them, he might have died in the gutter without them. He has been working in one of their stores now for over a decade, has an apartment and has really turned his life around. He isn't highly compensated but he loves his job! So I always give to the bell-ringers and consider that my thank-you because I never had to let dear friend move in with us.
iris lilies
12-6-19, 6:17pm
For 15 years I lived across the street from an empty Salvation Army building. The grass was always cut, the building problems were promptly attended to when we called about street people moving in and etc. Granted, they didn’t paint the trim and it started to look bad before they sold it, but all in all they were decent absentee owners.
Somewhere in that time an energetic young pastor started outdoor services every Sunday during nice weather. He probably had a sum total of 10 people show up. He tried valiantly to build a congregation, but no luck. He did hold services for few months and I found it hilarious that my extremely progressive and tolerant neighborhood was not at all tolerant about Christian goings-on’s. They were so concerned that someone might be offended! They earnestly queried me and DH about how bothered were were by this display of (horrors!) Christian ferver.
This was long about the same time I was seeing the light politically, as referenced in another thread. A light bulb was going off in my head.
I was usually out working in my garden during the services because it’s the only time I had to work in the Garden, the weekend. I do remember once changing clothes to put on a longer pair of shorts because the pair I was working in were pretty short and kind of awful and really not appropriate for church!
For anyone who wondered what happened to the property, the Salvation Army sold it to a developer who sat on it and let it go downhill. That developer sold it to another developer who let it go downhill and then he Razzed the building which is fine since it was a modern building. And then yet a third developer came by to build high-end houses and we are very happy about that.
In renovating our house DH would often go to the Salvation Army Center downtown and pick up a day laborer to help him with this and that. He probably did that 6-7 times.
I see serial fabulist Joe B is on a "No Malarkey" tour of Iowa. To me, that displays either an unprecedented level of self-unawareness or the boldest Chutzpah since "I am not a crook".
Why did he choose "Malarkey" over "Horsefeathers" or "Balderdash" ? Was his research of Iowan attitudes limited to a viewing of "The Music Man"?
I see serial fabulist Joe B is on a "No Malarkey" tour of Iowa. To me, that displays either an unprecedented level of self-unawareness or the boldest Chutzpah since "I am not a crook".
Why did he choose "Malarkey" over "Horsefeathers" or "Balderdash" ? Was his research of Iowan attitudes limited to a viewing of "The Music Man"?
For more general hilarity, check out #lookfat on twitter.
ApatheticNoMore
12-7-19, 1:08pm
I believe the Salvation Army throws less of their item donations away that some like the Goodwill, but I have never seen the thrifts compared conclusively. But that has to be an important consideration when donating items. I don't donate money to any of them, ok sometimes the extra penny round up if shopping at the Goodwill, sue me.
Is the pack looking to tear Mayor Pete down? Now I’m hearing demands he violate his NDA with McKinsey & Co and confess his capitalist sins.
I fully expect to see published photos of him lunching at Chik-fil-a with Mark Zuckerberg, sipping Big Gulps through plastic straws they bought at Hobby Lobby.
Is the pack looking to tear Mayor Pete down? Now I’m hearing demands he violate his NDA with McKinsey & Co and confess his capitalist sins.
Well, the last couple weeks, CNN and MSNBC kept banging the "Mayor Pete has 0% support in the black community, and the black community is the base of the Democratic Party, so he should give up" drum.
Cory Booker is whining about race. He says there are more billionaires than black people in the race. He is failing first grade math. There are two billionaires, Steyer and Bloomberg, and two blacks, Booker and Patrick. 2 = 2, 2 is not greater than 2.
Cory Booker is whining about race. He says there are more billionaires than black people in the race. He is failing first grade math. There are two billionaires, Steyer and Bloomberg, and two blacks, Booker and Patrick. 2 = 2, 2 is not greater than 2.
Political mathematics is really more art than science. You can round to the nearest sound bite, as Senator Booker does here. You can apply the commutative hyperbole principle, as when President Trump estimates the size or importance of things he likes. Conversely, you can apply the sufficient minutiae theorem the way Senator Warren did in claiming her DNA proved Harvard correct in advertising her as a groundbreaking person of color. Under the method of rule substitution, Senator Clinton triumphed in the 2016 election. In Sanders subset theory, millionaires and billionaires must be assigned different moral categories based on the net worth of the observer. Recent Republican congresses have demonstrated the law of elasticity of urgency in judicial confirmations.
Today I heard Joe Biden speak. This was the biggest campaign event I have been to yet, but it was very old school. There were lots of staffers around with clipboards asking people to sign in. Warren, Castro and Booker all had people sign in via text. I had signed up online in advance, but that did not guarantee me a seat. Everyone had to wait outdoors for a half hour or so, first come first served in a line that snaked a few blocks. We were only let in a few at a time, but not because there was any rhyme or reason to the seating. There were empty skipped seats but people were directed to the stage or balconies. Several of us turned down Biden stickers, only to be told we could not get in without them and had to take them. That was a lie.
The audience was the whitest of the 11 events I have been to, so I am surprised that Biden is seen as a candidate for minorities. He had all the politically correct speech down, including that slavery is the "original sin" in America, yet opposed reparations. He said government must help the middle class but it was unclear how since he said like his father he "doesn't want a handout."
Biden was generally vague and used lots of anecdotes. He took a half dozen or so questions and droned on and on in his replies. There was a large press corps there and I imagined they must he so bored following him around and hearing the same thing all the time. I had a good question prepared that would have shaken things up but I was not called on. People asked things already covered on the news, like who he would pick as vice president. This led to long anecdotes about when he was selected as vice president as well as identity politics pandering, talking about how he has many females and African-Americans in mind. My bet is Stacey Abrams so he can be doubly politically correct.
One man held a sign about climate change. Biden kept looking at him. Finally he told him, "Ask me about climate change. I want a question on that." He then claimed credit for the Paris climate accords and said he would reinstate them with some sort of indexing to changes in scientific assessments. Hey Joe, how about not killing trees by pushing unwanted campaign stickers on people?
He kept saying, "For real" and "no joke" again and again. I wouldn't want to be stuck listening to him for four years, one hour was more than enough for me.
Thanks, Yppej, I really appreciate these reports from the field!
gimmethesimplelife
12-30-19, 9:00am
Today I heard Joe Biden speak. This was the biggest campaign event I have been to yet, but it was very old school. There were lots of staffers around with clipboards asking people to sign in. Warren, Castro and Booker all had people sign in via text. I had signed up online in advance, but that did not guarantee me a seat. Everyone had to wait outdoors for a half hour or so, first come first served in a line that snaked a few blocks. We were only let in a few at a time, but not because there was any rhyme or reason to the seating. There were empty skipped seats but people were directed to the stage or balconies. Several of us turned down Biden stickers, only to be told we could not get in without them and had to take them. That was a lie.
The audience was the whitest of the 11 events I have been to, so I am surprised that Biden is seen as a candidate for minorities. He had all the politically correct speech down, including that slavery is the "original sin" in America, yet opposed reparations. He said government must help the middle class but it was unclear how since he said like his father he "doesn't want a handout."
Biden was generally vague and used lots of anecdotes. He took a half dozen or so questions and droned on and on in his replies. There was a large press corps there and I imagined they must he so bored following him around and hearing the same thing all the time. I had a good question prepared that would have shaken things up but I was not called on. People asked things already covered on the news, like who he would pick as vice president. This led to long anecdotes about when he was selected as vice president as well as identity politics pandering, talking about how he has many females and African-Americans in mind. My bet is Stacey Abrams so he can be doubly politically correct.
One man held a sign about climate change. Biden kept looking at him. Finally he told him, "Ask me about climate change. I want a question on that." He then claimed credit for the Paris climate accords and said he would reinstate them with some sort of indexing to changes in scientific assessments. Hey Joe, how about not killing trees by pushing unwanted campaign stickers on people?
He kept saying, "For real" and "no joke" again and again. I wouldn't want to be stuck listening to him for four years, one hour was more than enough for me.Thank You for your take on Biden! I myself don't care for Biden as a candidate and I can't see him winning over Millenials. To me he seems out of touch and out of date for a world changing so rapidly and moving so fast. I cringe at the prospect of a Biden/Trump showdown.....my take is Trump would win. I'll vote for Biden if that's the race coming......but I wouldn't be voting for Biden. I'd be voting 85006, approval of expanded Medicaid for the working poor, and of course I'd be voting against Trump, US Customs and Border Patrol, and the vast majority of US LEO's.
I'm crossing my fingers that Warren or Mayor Pete get the Democratic nomination. Rob
How is a vote for Biden a vote against the vast majority of law enforcement officers? I suspect the candidate would be horrified to be identified with that line of thinking.
gimmethesimplelife
12-30-19, 12:47pm
How is a vote for Biden a vote against the vast majority of law enforcement officers? I suspect the candidate would be horrified to be identified with that line of thinking.Most - but not all - LEO's support Trump. Voting against Trump in a way is a quick and efficient way to vote against American policing in it's current form - ditto for voting against US CBP. Rob
Most - but not all - LEO's support Trump.
Where is your source for that?
gimmethesimplelife
1-1-20, 7:37pm
Where is your source for that?Most leo's I have known of a conservative or at least lean that way. I'm sur not every last leo is conservative but the majority seems to be. Rob
Most leo's I have known of a conservative or at least lean that way. I'm sur not every last leo is conservative but the majority seems to be. RobWhat makes you think being conservative equals being a Trump supporter? Do you not listen when we talk?
apparently the International Union of Police Associations supports him. How many of the 100,000 members agree, I don't know. But I haven't heard about any backlash from members over this announcement.
https://www.courthousenews.com/police-union-backs-trump-for-re-election-in-2020/
apparently the International Union of Police Associations supports him. How many of the 100,000 members agree, I don't know. But I haven't heard about any backlash from members over this announcement.
https://www.courthousenews.com/police-union-backs-trump-for-re-election-in-2020/
In 2018, there were 686,665 full-time law enforcement officers employed in the United States.
In 2018, there were 686,665 full-time law enforcement officers employed in the United States.
I suppose the IUPA could be an outlier. Since the Fraternal Order of Police represents many more LEOs (346,000) it will be more indicative if they re-endorse trump as they did in 2016.
I suppose the IUPA could be an outlier.
I have also found on other social issues in the past that union endorsement was perhaps a poor proxy for the views of the overall membership...
iris lilies
1-2-20, 2:47pm
Well, the last couple weeks, CNN and MSNBC kept banging the "Mayor Pete has 0% support in the black community, and the black community is the base of the Democratic Party, so he should give up" drum.
This line of thinking is such bullshit. The black vote is not the core of the Democratic party. And if black voters are indeed disrespecting Mayor Pete for the chief reason that he is a gay man, why support that point of view? What a ridiculous position.
I am listening to Scott Adams (chronicler of Dilbert) who say he is socially “left of Bernie” and he has some very interesting things to say about Donald Trump’s ability to speak to a crowd and engender a following. That doesn't mean he supports Trump. But to the black and white thinkers (several here on this board) his opinion would translate as pro-Trump.
Anyway, Dilbert thinks Biden is embarrassing and is surprised the Democrat machine is allowing him to go this far, given Biden fairly serious problems in speaking and campaigning. Dilbert says he has yet to meet a Biden supporter. That certainly rings true for this board. He says Warren, Bernie (the socialists) cannot beat Trump in a general election, and Joe
biden is too much of a tired and worn out pol.
But the Democratic party kingmakers are doing things like what bae posted, tamping down the Mayor Petes and Gabbards and etc.
way to dig your own graves, Dems.
If it goes to a brokered convention, there may be worse positions than the majority’s second choice.
Oddly enough, I’ve read that Trump is polling surprisingly well among blacks. Much better, anyway, than the last several GOP candidates (an admittedly low bar).
But the Democratic party kingmakers are doing things like what bae posted, tamping down the Mayor Petes and Gabbards and etc.
way to dig your own graves, Dems.
I agree. They're clueless. I see this in market research all the time when you see executives so invested in what they believe to be true about their product that it makes it very difficult to report the findings of the research. They won't believe it. Even when they pay a LOT of money to do the research, they expect the results are going to corroborate their beliefs, and if they don't, they just do what they want anyway, with disastrous results.
I have also found on other social issues in the past that union endorsement was perhaps a poor proxy for the views of the overall membership...
I can't find any post election polling data, but if this is even close to how people actually voted, I'd say that, yes, police officers were quite supportive of trump.
https://www.policemag.com/342098/the-2016-police-presidential-poll
I think the logic behind Biden is precisely his ... blankness. He seems like a tabla rasa, sort of a political reset period in which relatively little happens. Can we afford that? I don't know, but the wild swing in one direction from Trump, then the potential wild swing to the left from someone like Bernie ... it starts to seem like a game, like people don't really want to make adult choices that might help stabilize our world, they just a. have a personal agenda or b. delight in the chaos and dismay that extremist candidates create.
I'm not a fan of Biden but I do idealize the concept of resetting and then looking more logically at who would be a still-reasonable shift one way or the other in 2024.
ApatheticNoMore
1-2-20, 3:36pm
I am listening to Scott Adams (chronicler of Dilbert) who say he is socially “left of Bernie” and he has some very interesting things to say about Donald Trump’s ability to speak to a crowd and engender a following. That doesn't mean he supports Trump. But to the black and white thinkers (several here on this board) his opinion would translate as pro-Trump.
yea I've heard this garbage from him before, he is pro-Trump, he really is, however he wants to spin it. No I don't think it seeps into Dilbert cartoons necessarily though. I know his claims, they seem to me unprovable, and also unfalsifiable, as honestly neither here nor there, except that the guy likes Trump.
Anyway, Dilbert thinks Biden is embarrassing and is surprised the Democrat machine is allowing him to go this far, given Biden fairly serious problems in speaking and campaigning.
Maybe they have less control of the process than all that. Maybe they want to lose.
Dilbert says he has yet to meet a Biden supporter. That certainly rings true for this board. He says Warren, Bernie (the socialists) cannot beat Trump in a general election, and Joe biden is too much of a tired and worn out pol.
How does he know?
But the Democratic party kingmakers are doing things like what bae posted, tamping down the Mayor Petes and Gabbards and etc.
way to dig your own graves, Dems.
They are definitely not clamping down on mayor Pete. It's Sanders they don't want. Gabbard, maybe there is something to them blacking out Gabbard. However, any honest analysis might admit that in many ways she digs her own grave, I mean it seems to me a way to lose Dem voters is to go constantly on Fox and Brietbart. And no I don't care "but Sanders went on Fox". He went on Fox like once. He isn't *constantly* running to right wing media to win the Dem primary. None of the others are. Gabbard doesn't seem to know how the game is played at all, at the very least run like a Dem in the Dem primary and then run to appeal to a wider base, or she doesn't want to play the game at all.
ApatheticNoMore
1-2-20, 3:43pm
I think the logic behind Biden is precisely his ... blankness. He seems like a tabla rasa, sort of a political reset period in which relatively little happens.
only he's served in office for many years, he has a real record to go by (as do most others), he's not tabla rasa (that's more Mayor Pete who really has no record to look up). Biden is status quo though that's for sure.
Scott Adams turns out to be quite the outspoken woman-hater, more's the pity.
I found the Dilbert cartoons pretty much on point.
I don't much care what he has to say re politics.
only he's served in office for many years, he has a real record to go by (as do most others), he's not tabla rasa (that's more Mayor Pete who really has no record to look up). Biden is status quo though that's for sure.True, tabla rasa isn't really accurate as far as him per se, but he's just so ... lol, he's sort of equally objectionable to everyone, IMO. Like subway seats. The ultimate MEH candidate. When Obama was president I had to think hard to remember the veep's name. I certainly don't see him as a long term answer to anything, but as a period where people could calm down a little, where the vendetta election protocol has a chance to die - We have had four presidents in a row increasingly despised by half the population. Maybe someone grudgingly tolerated by all to diffuse the feud?
I personally would love a far left candidate to erase the taste of Trump, but I'm willing to meet in the middle. how about the Magas conceding that they had an Extreme consolation prize for tolerating eight years of Obama and joining me there?
iris lilies
1-2-20, 6:35pm
Scott Adams turns out to be quite the outspoken woman-hater, more's the pity.
I found the Dilbert cartoons pretty much on point.
I don't much care what he has to say re politics.
maybe i like him because I havent heard him before, but Dilbert wss sadly brilliant.
Scott Adams turns out to be quite the outspoken woman-hater, more's the pity.
I found the Dilbert cartoons pretty much on point.
I don't much care what he has to say re politics.
I always figured SA was that guy in the basement no one would go to prom with, personified in Dilbert. In the comic, he portrayed himself as a dweeb, and his female compatriots as equally socially challenged. I'll stick with that version. Don't know if I can "forgive" his misogyny, but I'll always hold his roast of corporate nonsense in the highest regard.
maybe i like him because I havent heard him before, but Dilbert wss sadly brilliant.
Yes it was. I identified with his tech writer character, Alice, natch.
Castro is out. A few more need to get realistic and go bye-bye.
Yes it was. I identified with his tech writer character, Alice, natch.
I preferred Catbert or Dogbert :-)
gimmethesimplelife
1-2-20, 9:40pm
This line of thinking is such bullshit. The black vote is not the core of the Democratic party. And if black voters are indeed disrespecting Mayor Pete for the chief reason that he is a gay man, why support that point of view? What a ridiculous position.
I am listening to Scott Adams (chronicler of Dilbert) who say he is socially “left of Bernie” and he has some very interesting things to say about Donald Trump’s ability to speak to a crowd and engender a following. That doesn't mean he supports Trump. But to the black and white thinkers (several here on this board) his opinion would translate as pro-Trump.
Anyway, Dilbert thinks Biden is embarrassing and is surprised the Democrat machine is allowing him to go this far, given Biden fairly serious problems in speaking and campaigning. Dilbert says he has yet to meet a Biden supporter. That certainly rings true for this board. He says Warren, Bernie (the socialists) cannot beat Trump in a general election, and Joe
biden is too much of a tired and worn out pol.
But the Democratic party kingmakers are doing things like what bae posted, tamping down the Mayor Petes and Gabbards and etc.
way to dig your own graves, Dems.Don't drop dead of shock, IL, but I agree with you here. It would be wiser for the Democratic party to elevate new blood such as Gabbard or Mayor Pete than recycle someone like Joe Biden who has all the charisma of a melting ice cube. Also, I worry that he's too much of an "establishment" politician as Hillary Clinton was.....such likely will not work for him if he squares off against Trump. Rob
Scott Adams turns out to be quite the outspoken woman-hater, more's the pity.
I found the Dilbert cartoons pretty much on point.
I don't much care what he has to say re politics.
Defining “literary” a bit broadly, it seems to me that cancel culture seems less effective against literary types than other public figures. A Scott.Adams or JK Rowling seem better able to defy twitter mobs than actors or standup comics. I wonder why that would be.
Defining “literary” a bit broadly, it seems to me that cancel culture seems less effective against literary types than other public figures. A Scott.Adams or JK Rowling seem better able to defy twitter mobs than actors or standup comics. I wonder why that would be.
Twitterers may be inversely proportional to literary types. Twitterers may not pay much attention to people who write things longer than 160 characters.
Tonight I heard Deval Patrick speak in rural New Hampshire. He is a smooth* but vague speaker, which the audience caught on to. He is also telegenic, not having visibly aged much since he was my governor. Since I lived under both his terms as governor I knew his record and asked him a question about it. He lied twice in his answer, once claiming he did something he did not do, and another time claiming one of his Republican successors didn't do something he in fact did do. Since this event I have come up with the nickname Dishonest Deval for him.
Speaking of Republicans, he tried to take credit for Romneycare. He was light on policy, claiming we need to get away from "silos" and move into some unspecified namby-pamby unity to restore the country, which he said he is best equipped to do because he has worked in both the private and public sector. He proudly listed 3 socially aware clients of his at Bain Capital, but I have to wonder how many of the other type he had, that gobble up companies and lay off their workers, the kind that came up during Romney's campaign.
There was no mention of foreign policy and little of domestic policy, though he did say universal national service should be mandatory. All I could think of is my son who rarely leaves the house and suffers from extreme germaphobia/OCD, social anxiety and depression. Forcing him to do two years of this just might make him suicidal again. Patrick talked about mental illness briefly, mentioning his wife's struggles, but I feel he really doesn't understand it. She never wanted to be in the public eye but he put his career first, and she would be paraded out for events like the State of the State address. I was glad she didn't come tonight.
He did a little Obama name dropping although he worked in the Clinton Justice Department. That didn't go over well with the audience either, who said things like "I don't want Republican lite" and "None of the Democratic nominees have inspired me for decades now. I vote for the lesser of two evils in general elections" and "I like Bernie the best right now".
Patrick is following the standard Democratic insider script and trying to play it safe, which I think didn't win him any converts. One man raised concerns about immigration, illegality, and the impact of the country to absorb unlimited numbers of people, and Patrick told him he was wrong. So not only can Patrick not persuade the left, but with responses like this on immigration, pooh-poohing valid concerns, he's not going to win over Trump voters like he claims he can. I don't know who he thinks he can round up to support his campaign.
The event was hosted by the town Democratic committee and they have a different candidate every month. I wasn't aware until I got there you get a full meal, there are alcoholic beverages available for a donation, and a hat is passed around to cover the cost of renting the church basement. I didn't bring any money with me as past events I've gone to were free except one dinner where I had to buy a ticket in advance and knew. Patrick was aware though. He brought a dish. But he was late so everyone had already filled their plates, and we had to wait around while he ate.
* He stalled more than any of the other candidates I've seen. He would start to answer a question, get stuck, then ask what is your name and go off on a tangent until you could see him coming up with his answer. The smoothness was in his prepared remarks, not answers to questions.
Woo Woo Williamson is out.
gimmethesimplelife
1-11-20, 9:59am
Sanders has the lead in Iowa.....I just don't know what to make of this as I don't believe Sanders can beat Trump. But I've been known to be wrong. And Mayor Pete has slid a bit in polls. Warren is #2 in Iowa. Will be glad when this is over! Rob
Sanders and Yang poll best along Trump voters. The both understand the suffering of people left out of the economic mainstream.
I appreciate your reports, yppej.
gimmethesimplelife
1-11-20, 1:08pm
Tonight I heard Deval Patrick speak in rural New Hampshire. He is a smooth* but vague speaker, which the audience caught on to. He is also telegenic, not having visibly aged much since he was my governor. Since I lived under both his terms as governor I knew his record and asked him a question about it. He lied twice in his answer, once claiming he did something he did not do, and another time claiming one of his Republican successors didn't do something he in fact did do. Since this event I have come up with the nickname Dishonest Deval for him.
Speaking of Republicans, he tried to take credit for Romneycare. He was light on policy, claiming we need to get away from "silos" and move into some unspecified namby-pamby unity to restore the country, which he said he is best equipped to do because he has worked in both the private and public sector. He proudly listed 3 socially aware clients of his at Bain Capital, but I have to wonder how many of the other type he had, that gobble up companies and lay off their workers, the kind that came up during Romney's campaign.
There was no mention of foreign policy and little of domestic policy, though he did say universal national service should be mandatory. All I could think of is my son who rarely leaves the house and suffers from extreme germaphobia/OCD, social anxiety and depression. Forcing him to do two years of this just might make him suicidal again. Patrick talked about mental illness briefly, mentioning his wife's struggles, but I feel he really doesn't understand it. She never wanted to be in the public eye but he put his career first, and she would be paraded out for events like the State of the State address. I was glad she didn't come tonight.
He did a little Obama name dropping although he worked in the Clinton Justice Department. That didn't go over well with the audience either, who said things like "I don't want Republican lite" and "None of the Democratic nominees have inspired me for decades now. I vote for the lesser of two evils in general elections" and "I like Bernie the best right now".
Patrick is following the standard Democratic insider script and trying to play it safe, which I think didn't win him any converts. One man raised concerns about immigration, illegality, and the impact of the country to absorb unlimited numbers of people, and Patrick told him he was wrong. So not only can Patrick not persuade the left, but with responses like this on immigration, pooh-poohing valid concerns, he's not going to win over Trump voters like he claims he can. I don't know who he thinks he can round up to support his campaign.
The event was hosted by the town Democratic committee and they have a different candidate every month. I wasn't aware until I got there you get a full meal, there are alcoholic beverages available for a donation, and a hat is passed around to cover the cost of renting the church basement. I didn't bring any money with me as past events I've gone to were free except one dinner where I had to buy a ticket in advance and knew. Patrick was aware though. He brought a dish. But he was late so everyone had already filled their plates, and we had to wait around while he ate.
* He stalled more than any of the other candidates I've seen. He would start to answer a question, get stuck, then ask what is your name and go off on a tangent until you could see him coming up with his answer. The smoothness was in his prepared remarks, not answers to questions.Thank You, yppeg, for your take on Deval Patrick, former Massachusetts Governor. I've seen media bites of him before and instinctively something about him just rubbed me the wrong way. I'm glad he's gaining no traction. Rob
gimmethesimplelife
1-11-20, 1:09pm
I appreciate your reports, yppej.Ditto. Rob
My pleasure Jane and Rob.
iris lilies
1-11-20, 10:33pm
My pleasure Jane and Rob.
I heard a joke recently about Iowans in these election years. The joke can easily be applied to people from New Hampshire:
A newsman asked a New Hampshire resident who he was supporting for president.
The New Hampshire citizen said “I’m not sure yet, I’m still thinking it over. I’ve only been able to talk to these guys four times.”
I had someone say to me years back that they were voting for X because they’d talked to him. Sometimes you just wonder ...
I had someone say to me years back that they were voting for X because they’d talked to him. Sometimes you just wonder ...
I've noticed that in city council elections those who go door to door win. But you never see them again until the next election, and only then if they have a strong challenger.
I heard Michael Bennet today and was impressed. He is more centrist than I am, but he was smart, knew the issues, pragmatic, bipartisan, and not a panderer. One woman pressed him to commit to a female running mate and he would not. He said he would not promise free college to get votes, as it's more important to do free pre-K even though little kids don't vote. He was strong on climate change, education, and poverty but weak on healthcare. This was the first audience in which anyone other than me asked about foreign relations, probably because of recent events with Iran, and he gave standard Democratic responses.
People made a big fuss about Joe Lieberman being the first Jew on a major party ticket. Now years later this is sometimes mentioned in relation to Bernie Sanders, but I had never known this about Bennet. His mother is a Holocaust survivor. His wife was present sporting fabulous gray hair. She works or worked for Earth Justice, a legal offshoot of the Sierra Club, which may explain his strong environmental record.
He was open, taking many unscreened questions, even after his handlers told him to stop, but did not stick around for selfies as he has committed to 50 more New Hampshire town halls before the primary, which will be a challenge with the impeachment trial. He is not particularly charismatic, but attracted the most impressive audience yet of the 13 candidate events I have been to. They asked serious thoughtful qiestions not what can you do for me or my pet program. No children were in attendance, but there were lots of college students as well as older adults. Again, he did not pander to the students, but instead talked about revamping secondary education so the 70% of people who do not go on to college can get living wage jobs.
C-Span was present. If you watch the coverage I am the woman in a purple sweater sitting at the counter who asked a question.
I would like to hear what those of you here from Colorado think of him.
I've been pulling for Bennet from the day he announced his candidacy. He has had a full career of various political experiences. I don't know of any significant controversies while representing the state as a U.S. Senator, other than typical political differences. From what I know he is pretty much within the lines of what you'd expect from a centrist. He seems to be especially strong on environmental issues. His main platform is being called "the real deal" intended to contrast the unrealistic dream wishes of the more liberal candidates. The talks I've heard him give have elements of bringing the parties together and working out of the party polarization we have now.
His weaknesses, which I think are pretty much self-admitted, are that he doesn't have any attention getting glitzy grand scheme such as Medicare for all or free education. He also has sort of a milk toast personality although I've seen him being dynamic when needed. His recent claim to fame is a fiery tirade against Ted Cruz for blocking the federal budget while our state was in severe need of assistance after historic flooding a couple of years ago. It was one of the most watched something or another at the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUD2AErqbwM I still get some entertainment value from seeing it.
I'd vote for him in a minute over any of the other front runners. It's too bad he's not been more popular, or hasn't raised the big money at least. It seems like money rates higher than most things in determining the top dogs.
ApatheticNoMore
1-13-20, 3:26am
You can't win just being strong on environmental issues (and of course a D+ rating from Greenpeace on environmental issues and I'm not remotely convinced Bennet IS good on environmental issues - as that's really bottom of the pack).
https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/climate2020/
But anyway you can't win on just that even if he was the strongest person in the world on it, I think the evidence is pretty strong for that, Jay Inslee crashed and burned trying to run a whole campaign on climate change, Steyer is doing about as well as anyone can running on that, and he's a billionaire so he can outspend almost everyone. Oh I definitely think Sanders is strong on it though has too much on his plate, and it's where a lot of the actual energy of the environmental movement is going now - to Sanders, but it's pretty obviously not all he's running on (again a lot on his plate).
But what is the one true road to victory over Trump? And yes Trump is as bad as one can get environmentally pretty much. Well that I couldn't possibly say, I've never claimed to know, it's possible even if we could play out all possible scenarios Trump wins, I don't know. But it's not just running on environmental issues I'm afraid, in fact you can't even achieve victory on environmental issues that way I suspect.
iris lilies
1-13-20, 11:56am
I've noticed that in city council elections those who go door to door win. But you never see them again until the next election, and only then if they have a strong challenger.
Yes to personal campaiging, but I still see them after they are elected.
Years ago I was astonished when a candidate for our alderman seat called our household to ask what our concerns were. He asked an open end question. That he called directly, and then with a real question, was amazing. He worked hard in that campaign and won. He was running against others including a friend of ours. I probably voted for our friend but he was a weaker candidate for sure.
He turned out to be a super strong alderman and we (our neighborhood) had a strong relationship with him for many hears.
Anyway, the winning candidate went on to rise in city politics.I think he is a gifted politician. And he has the right credentials: he is black, his wife is white, he isnt an attorney, and his kids are bi racial.
When he ran for mayor last time around he didnt do well from his sitting position of power and I was sad, because it seems his time has come and gone. The Mayorial field was all about women power.
Soon after we bought our Hermann house the mayor of Hermann knocked on our door, campaigning during a contentious election. He has since talked to DH a couple of times and invited him to have a beer. This is of course tiny Hermann of population 2,500. It is cute.
I see Senator Spartacus ( D-Thrace) has dropped out.
Another one down for the count--Cory Booker.
NOTE Yppej, I stalked you on C-Span :). Very cool! The house party formats are great opportunities--sounds like you've taken advantage of many of them, and we are all the wiser for it!
Another one down for the count--Cory Booker.
NOTE Yppej, I stalked you on C-Span :). Very cool! The house party formats are great opportunities--sounds like you've taken advantage of many of them, and we are all the wiser for it!
Wow, really liking this house party format thing on c-span--will have to look for others on there. Very impressed by Bennet, and thank you!
I read Bernie is pulling very slightly ahead in Iowa. But now there are claims being circulated that Sanders and Warren met in 2018 and he told her he didn’t think a woman could win.
I see the DNC is changing the rules for participation in debates going forward that will be good news for self-funded candidates like Bloomberg. I think it would be fun to see things come down to a contest between the socialist millionaire and the Big Gulp billionaire.
I heard John Kerry said he is “absolutely not running for President”. Is that a maybe?
Apparently he was overheard considering a run to rescue the party from Bernie.
I heard John Kerry said he is “absolutely not running for President”. Is that a maybe?
Apparently he was overheard considering a run to rescue the party from Bernie.
"Suppose they threw a party and nobody came?"
I felt a little chill a while back when Hillary was talking about all those people who were yearning for her to run again.
"I was a Republican for 30 years but the GOP is now a sea of corruption. As an independent I look forward to voting for @ewarren in Minnesota's open primary. Her focus on corruption in Washington and on Wall Street is what our Country needs right now. No more politics as usual." --Richard Painter, ethics lawyer, George W. Bush administration.
"I was a Republican for 30 years but the GOP is now a sea of corruption. As an independent I look forward to voting for @ewarren in Minnesota's open primary. Her focus on corruption in Washington and on Wall Street is what our Country needs right now. No more politics as usual." --Richard Painter, ethics lawyer, George W. Bush administration.
It’s a pretty old trope, bringing out some apostate from the other party in an effort to validate your own. The I-didn’t-leave-them-they-left-me gambit.
Warren’s star seems to be fading a bit at this point. It looks like there’s more interest in the Dem’s reform-minded base for a revolutionary than a hall monitor. The moderate wing seems to be with Biden, although perhaps more out of inertia than enthusiasm.
It’s a pretty old trope, bringing out some apostate from the other party in an effort to validate your own. The I-didn’t-leave-them-they-left-me gambit.
Warren’s star seems to be fading a bit at this point. It looks like there’s more interest in the Dem’s reform-minded base for a revolutionary than a hall monitor. The moderate wing seems to be with Biden, although perhaps more out of inertia than enthusiasm.
There is a virtual army of "apostates" to choose from. Men and women who still see some role for ethics and character in government.
There is a virtual army of "apostates" to choose from. Men and women who still see some role for ethics and character in government.
Then we’re saved! An army of Republicans disaffected by Trump’s enormities, hitherto undetected by the polls, will rise up to abolish private health insurance and vaporize all our college debt.
Not having seen Tom Steyer yet I signed up for one of his events. Turns out it is a big dinner that all the Democratic presidential candidates are invited to, but not really a dinner as no food is served. Tickets are $20 but the Steyer campaign assured me I would get in for free. Fast forward a few days and I get an email that I must make a separate trip to their NH campaign headquarters to pick up my ticket. I don't know what sales pitch they had in mind for me, but I declined. I have been to events for 13 other candidates and never had to go ahead of the event to their office for a ticket. The one other event involving a ticket I got an e-ticket. We are in the 21st century after all.
Remember, "Which one of these just doesn't belong?" on Sesame Street? If when you watched the last debate you thought Tom Steyer, you're right. Not only is he a little off, but so is his campaign.
I didn't think he was so bad. Honestly, I would take any of them over the current office holder.
The early results are in and Michael Bloomberg won in Dixville Notch despite not being on the ballot. Three of five voters wrote him in. He got votes from both parties.
Well that's weird. So it's an open primary?
iris lilies
2-11-20, 10:09am
Last night NPR covered Dixville Notch and their first-in-the-state polling status. Funny!
I heard this morning that the only candidate to win three N.H. primaries was Richard Nixon.
Yesterday was bad. Today? We’re not answering the phone. Amazing how popular we are today!
There are 3 locations in N.H. that do this. You have to have 100 voters or less. Or,it may be a population; that’s 100 or less.
also, Lyndon Johnson called Nixon a “chronic campaigner.”
frugal-one
2-11-20, 5:01pm
See trump saying republicans should vote in the primaries for the dem candidate they think could not beat him for prez.
Don’t understand why we are paying for trump to be in NH? he is unopposed as the rep candidate?
See trump saying republicans should vote in the primaries for the dem candidate they think could not beat him for prez.
Don’t understand why we are paying for trump to be in NH? he is unopposed as the rep candidate?
William Weld is running against him in NH. Not particularly successfully.
Yes NH has an open primary.
iris lilies
3-1-20, 9:38pm
Mayor Pete dropped out so that his party will have a clearer picture of who should defeat Bernie.
I guess mayor Pete wants Joe Biden to get the nomination? Then Biden can run against Trump, lose, and mayor Pete will be positioned for 2024.
Teacher Terry
3-1-20, 10:55pm
I wish Amy and Warren would drop out as well as Bloomberg. It’s really between Joe and Bernie at this point. I expect to see both Amy and Pete in the future. Both are smart and capable.
Pete had been my third choice. Now that he's out I will probably vote for my fourth choice, Bernie. Ugggh. All these old white men. Yes, I get it. In 2060 Pete will still be younger than either Bernie or Biden are today, so he's got plenty of time, but geez.
Teacher Terry
3-2-20, 1:24am
Maybe Pete or Amy will be the Vice President running.
ApatheticNoMore
3-2-20, 1:51am
Maybe Pete or Amy will be the Vice President running.
Nah Stacy Abrams, they probably don't bring enough diversity to the ticket. Well if it's Sanders he will choose someone aligned with him, they might also be diverse.
I posted this on the "Bernie" thread, but it really goes here. This thread has been a fascinating journal on this topic across the past year. Thanks for starting it, Williamsmith, wherever you are.
Anyway, this is what I posted over on the other thread:
The DNC are having their way with the moderate candidates. Amy Klobuchar is bowing out tonight and endorsing Biden.
iris lilies
3-2-20, 3:49pm
I posted this on the "Bernie" thread, but it really goes here. This thread has been a fascinating journal on this topic across the past year. Thanks for starting it, Williamsmith, wherever you are.
Anyway, this is what I posted over on the other thread:
The DNC are having their way with the moderate candidates. Amy Klobuchar is bowing out tonight and endorsing Biden.
Well, Biden vs Trump, not so epic.
Well, Biden vs Trump, not so epic.
It would be an epic contest between two of America’s most talented and experienced liars, made all the more exciting by nearly non-existent powers of self-control on either side.
It would be an epic contest between two of America’s most talented and experienced liars, made all the more exciting by nearly non-existent powers of self-control on either side.
trump’s lies have and are being counted daily. Don’t think you will ever find a bigger liar or braggart!
Well, Biden vs Trump, not so epic.
Saw the Obamas and Mayor Pete are endorsing Biden. Hoping the black voter turnout will be the same as when Obama ran.
Teacher Terry
3-2-20, 5:27pm
L, Biden doesn’t hold a candle to trump. Not even in the same lying league. Biden’s might be more due to memory issues.
iris lilies
3-2-20, 5:49pm
L, Biden doesn’t hold a candle to trump. Not even in the same lying league. Biden’s might be more due to memory issues.
How about we stop running old people, be they male or female.
L, Biden doesn’t hold a candle to trump. Not even in the same lying league. Biden’s might be more due to memory issues.
It is not age related. Years ago he was plagiarizing other people's speeches. It got so bad in 1988 he dropped out of the presidential race. He has run 3 times for president and so far won one state. He is weak, weak, weak.
L, Biden doesnÂ’t hold a candle to trump. Not even in the same lying league. BidenÂ’s might be more due to memory issues.
I donÂ’t think youÂ’re giving Mr Biden enough credit. He has lied about the number of his degrees and class standing. He has lied about being arrested in South Africa. He has lied about his first wife being killed by a drunk driver. He has channeled the spirit of Nial Kinnock. He has claimed President Roosevelt went on television after the 1929 crash to calm the public. He has distorted his record on any number of issues. He has invented Afghanistan war stories he has claimed to have heard.
If the goal of the Democrats is to match the President fib for fib, gaffe for gaffe and embarrassment for embarrassment, they could not make a better choice.
Teacher Terry
3-2-20, 10:24pm
He is not my candidate but better than the orange moron.
ApatheticNoMore
3-2-20, 11:48pm
The reality is Biden will probably leave many Trump policies in place, not even reverse his executive orders probably, but that's what people wanted I guess, heaven forbid they got someone who would actually fight for anything. True better than the orange moron.
I guess I am feeling like Teacher Terry on this one.
LDAHL, who do you think should be our next president? Obviously not Biden.
The reality is Biden will probably leave many Trump policies in place, not even reverse his executive orders probably, but that's what people wanted I guess, heaven forbid they got someone who would actually fight for anything. True better than the orange moron.
I hope you're wrong, and if he's elected, I hope he surrounds himself with smart, honest, capable, energetic people who scramble to repair most of the damage Trump has done, but like you, I despair of anything really changing under his administration. I suspect the revolution is dead for now.
I guess I am feeling like Teacher Terry on this one.
LDAHL, who do you think should be our next president? Obviously not Biden.
Who I think should be President and whatÂ’s currently on offer are two different things. I cling bitterly to what may be the least influential philosophy in American politics. I favor small, locally administered government, fiscal responsibility as a moral issue, a strong defense capability, justice administered on an individual basis rather than the current fashion in identity politics. I think of rights in terms of liberties that ought not be infringed rather than an Amazon shopping cart. I take the somewhat bleak view that every right come with a responsibility. I am a social conservative in the mold of Edmund Burke and a fiscal conservative in the mold of Calvin Coolidge.
I would like to see a Mitt Romney or Marco Rubio or Nikki Haley on the menu. That obviously isnÂ’t happening. So right now, between Trump and Biden, I would vote Libertarian. I consider Bernie so dangerously wrong about so many things, both practically and as a statement of what we think we want, I would probably take a few stiff drinks and vote for Trump.
Thanks, LDAHL, that helps me understand your point of view much better. I am with you on Mitt Romney and Nikki Haley--we lived in SC when she was governor and she did an excellent job.
LDAHL it sounds like among the current crop of candidates you might like Bill Weld.
I cast my paper ballot today, no lines 5 minutes or less in and out. Primaries are wonderful.
LDAHL it sounds like among the current crop of candidates you might like Bill Weld.
I cast my paper ballot today, no lines 5 minutes or less in and out. Primaries are wonderful.
Weld will be my protest vote in the WI primary.
As to last night, I drew a few conclusions.
If Republicans had fallen into line as quickly as the Democrats seem to be, Trump wouldn’t be in office today.
For all the talk of oligarchy, all half a billion will buy you is American Samoa.
Democrats are just not that into Elizabeth Warren.
Biden seemed to perform best in states where he didn’t campaign.
Given the last-minute dropouts, early voting for primaries does not seem to be a very good idea.
I think Biden has early dementia. He can’t form full or cogent sentences. He throws out buzz words and uses nonverbals to get the crowd to cheer. He has frequent blank, confused looks on his face. It’s sad and embarrassing.
Bernie has delicate health with his recent MI. Still gives a good speech and is mentally sharp.
Warren could do the job but sadly she’s not gonna get enough votes.
I think Biden has early dementia. He can’t form full or cogent sentences. He throws out buzz words and uses nonverbals to get the crowd to cheer. He has frequent blank, confused looks on his face. It’s sad and embarrassing.
Bernie has delicate health with his recent MI. Still gives a good speech and is mentally sharp.
Warren could do the job but sadly she’s not gonna get enough votes.
I have had exactly the same thoughts about Biden. He seems to blank out and then compensates with nonsensical words--I have also feared he might have dementia.
He talks in word salad. When you see his speeches written out exactly how he spoke them, it’s almost unintelligible. It’s actually diagnostic.
Of course Trump talks in a similar way. I think I’ll start to put my hope in local leadership rather than national ...
As to last night, I drew a few conclusions.
If Republicans had fallen into line as quickly as the Democrats seem to be, Trump wouldn’t be in office today.
For all the talk of oligarchy, all half a billion will buy you is American Samoa.
Democrats are just not that into Elizabeth Warren.
Biden seemed to perform best in states where he didn’t campaign.
Given the last-minute dropouts, early voting for primaries does not seem to be a very good idea.
I love your take-aways, LDAHL! lol Funny but true.
I was reading about why Warren stays in the race instead of giving the progressives a consolidated front, like the moderates did. She supposedly is going to stick it out because she's hoping that if it comes down to Bernie and Biden, she could be a spoiler at the convention, representing the more politically agile bridge between the two of them.
I love your take-aways, LDAHL! lol Funny but true.
I was reading about why Warren stays in the race instead of giving the progressives a consolidated front, like the moderates did. She supposedly is going to stick it out because she's hoping that if it comes down to Bernie and Biden, she could be a spoiler at the convention, representing the more politically agile bridge between the two of them.
I could see that happening. A too-clever-by-half scheme to leverage her paltry haul of delegates into a kingmaker position and VP or cabinet post.
I like Biden, he has been my choice since the beginning.
Seems most of my friends feel the same?
He is also the most feared by Trump.
Some of his speech problems are due to his stuttering, especially when it seems he cannot get the words out.
I would recommend reading about his history and life of public service.
Thank you, Tenngal, I did not know that. I found this interesting article on him and stuttering:
https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/accessibility/471707-how-joe-bidens-gaffes-have-affected-his-campaign-and
One of my sons had a stuttering problem and almost completely disfluent as a small child. Word substitution is definitely something that happens with stuttering. Interesting!
Looks like Bloomberg is out. After $500,000,000 in sunk costs, he has concluded that “ money can’t buy me love”.
iris lilies
3-4-20, 12:11pm
Looks like Bloomberg is out. After $500,000,000 in sunk costs, he has concluded that “ money can’t buy me love”.
This is somewhat cheering, right? That all the money in the world still can’t buy an election or even a high result on super Tuesday?
Bloomberg sent me three distinct mailings a couple days ago. My neighbor remark he got three mailings as well. How many trees died so that this idiot could get his moment in the limelight?
This is somewhat cheering, right? That all the money in the world still can’t buy an election or even a high result on super Tuesday?
Bloomberg sent me three distinct mailings a couple days ago. My neighbor remark he got three mailings as well. How many trees died so that this idiot could get his moment in the limelight?
So is his failure due to him, or to his campaign strategy, I wonder. Being so late to the party couldn't have advantaged him in any way, could it have?
So is his failure due to him, or to his campaign strategy, I wonder. Being so late to the party couldn't have advantaged him in any way, could it have?
Before Trump, I might have thought his wretched personality would have tanked his chances. I'm thankful he's gone.
I’m glad Bloomberg is done. His ads have been nearly wall to wall on radio and TV here in the Chicago area.
Teacher Terry
3-4-20, 1:29pm
I spent grades k-6th in speech therapy as did my brother. My mom also had the same problem. She taught us young to know which words he couldn’t say and have a substitute ready. What Biden is doing is unfortunately not related to stuttering. I think he’s getting dementia and he never used to do this. Sure hope his VP is younger and smart. Warren should drop out as her votes would go to Bernie who is much sharper. I am not worried about Bernie radically changing
things as they wouldn’t get passed.
I can't believe that this country can't do better than Biden and Trump. I would think you could just pick two random people in the grocery store or somewhere and do better than that.
It's feeling a lot like 2016.
I can't believe that this country can't do better than Biden and Trump. I would think you could just pick two random people in the grocery store or somewhere and do better than that.
It's feeling a lot like 2016.
It also feels like there is a HUGE generation gap and the Millennials will be so happy to see the Boomers die off. If we left the choice to the Millennials, I guarantee it wouldn't be a Biden-Trump race. Maybe there should be some weighting system to make their votes count by a factor of 1.5 or something, since they're going to be stuck with this world a lot longer than we will
It also feels like there is a HUGE generation gap and the Millennials will be so happy to see the Boomers die off. If we left the choice to the Millenials, I guarantee it wouldn't be a Biden-Trump race. Maybe there should be some weighting system to make their votes count by a factor of 1.5 or something, since they're going to be stuck with this world a lot longer than we will
Maybe they can just round us all up and shoot us, to make room for them...
Maybe they can just round us all up and shoot us, to make room for them...
With the added benefit of reducing the population and related health care expenditures!
OTOH, maybe they wouldn't be so wise with their choices--would the Kardashian dynasty replace the Trump one?
But I've always heard that the millennials love Bernie, and he isn't exactly a youngster.
But I've always heard that the millennials love Bernie, and he isn't exactly a youngster.
That's true. He definitely has the young vote. I read an interesting analysis (https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/03/opinions/primary-results-commentary-super-tuesday/index.html) by Van Jones: "Super Tuesday leaves us with a lover and a fighter -- we need both" talking about how Joe appeals to the older moderates' need for restoration, not revolution, and Bernie appeals to the younger people who feel that no one listens to them and are more eager for change. The candidate who can acknowledge and make both groups comfortable will win
But Bernie is an anomaly. If bae's idea came to fruition, the Millennials would probably put him in the Boomer Protection Program.
But Bernie is an anomaly. If bae's idea came to fruition, the Millennials would probably put him in the Boomer Protection Program.
The Baby Boomers are reckoned to begin in 1946. Bernie was born in 1941, three months before Pearl Harbor and the entrance of the USA into WWII. Which would place him in the "Silent Generation", a member of the "Lucky Few".
The Baby Boomers are reckoned to begin in 1946. Bernie was born in 1941, three months before Pearl Harbor and the entrance of the USA into WWII. Which would place him in the "Silent Generation", a member of the "Lucky Few".
So he's grandfathered in. Literally.
So he's grandfathered in. Literally.
Point: catherine!
I’m glad Bloomberg is done. His ads have been nearly wall to wall on radio and TV here in the Chicago area.
3133
The Millennials don't need to shoot anyone, they just need to get their voter participation rates up to or above those of older voters.
ApatheticNoMore
3-5-20, 12:37am
The Millennials don't need to shoot anyone, they just need to get their voter participation rates up to or above those of older voters.
That are the single largest population group in the U.S. at present, so yes, they already have the numbers. They are inheriting a near hopeless situation.
That are the single largest population group in the U.S. at present, so yes, they already have the numbers. They are inheriting a near hopeless situation.
I grew up doing duck-and-cover drills, with air raid sirens, and fallout shelters.
Hopeless.... Hmmmph.
They are inheriting a near hopeless situation.
How so? I might describe places like South Sudan or Somalia as “near hopeless”, but why do you think the US is in such dire straits?
iris lilies
3-5-20, 8:19am
I grew up doing duck-and-cover drills, with air raid sirens, and fallout shelters.
Hopeless.... Hmmmph.
As a young adult of barely house buying age, I saw real estate double in price and beyond me in the bubble of the 70’s.
when I did finally buy a house I paid 11% on my mortgage. I looked at houses where, to assume the loan, the interest-rate was 14%.
Unemployment was high and I was released into the job market when it was higher than in our most recent recession of 2008.
The threat of nuclear war was a real thing.
As a young adult of barely house buying age, I saw real estate double in price and beyond me in the bubble of the 70’s.
when I did finally buy a house I paid 11% on my mortgage. I looked at houses where, to assume the loan, the interest-rate was 14%.
Unemployment was high and I was released into the job market when it was higher than in our most recent recession of 2008.
The threat of nuclear war was a real thing.
On the plus side, the music was way better.
Also, women were second class citizens, and of course, it wasn't a great time for minorities, either. Thankfully we are on the upswing in both of those areas now.
But I think ANM is saying that we are on the downswing in other areas, most notably the environment.
Interjecting - we are in a significant transition stage. Hindsight shows us where the collective we have been but shows very little of where we are going.
My local Art Centre is an innocuous case example. It has just been closed so lots of emotional drama.
Hindsight :
- people didn't move around about 50 years ago so an art centre brought art (music, dance, and all visual forms of the time) to the community. Today, people travel and move around with jobs, to international museums etc.
- technology has changed society in so many ways. Where a large art piece held a place of prominence in a home and was passed down, today that same space is often occupied by a very large TV screen - just one example with so many more changes in communication, including access with virtual tours of the world's art.
- people view art differently today. Significant art was the dominant theme in a room; today art is more of an accessory that is rotated with the cushions or wall colour.
- in the past, one's activities focused on family or local events but today people want and will travel for "experiences" - think Disneyworld, rock group tours, Vegas, big lavish houses with all the bells and whistles, etc. I met a builder on my vacation to Newfoundland and we chatted at the motel's hot tub. I asked him to help me understand the need for large houses as that was his business. He explained that it was often two people with a really good income, perhaps one child, who built houses with 4000-5000 and more sq ft homes. They wanted what their peers were enjoying. They wanted that experience.
Hindsight doesn't help much and that is the cause of so much malaise in society and between generations, IMHO anyway. We don't yet know where we are going. .
My community's discussion about the loss of the art centre and the fate of its current collection is meeting this evening. It will be interesting to see if any millennials attend or whether it is just those with hindsight of how it used to be and wondering how to regain that vision today.
iris lilies
3-5-20, 9:30am
That’s interesting about art centers becoming less prominent in peoples lives due to travel and exposure of the arts via Web.
I’m not sure that I buy the space in our homes occupied by a TV was where a piece of art sat in the last generation. I can’t think of anyone where that would be true.
The art question around its place in society today is really interesting (maybe needs its own thread).
I think art has a less important place for a few reasons:
Liberal arts in general gets much less respect in schools. If schools are cutting budgets, art is the first target. With a higher emphasis on STEM and getting an ROI out of a college education, people aren't taught the value of the fine arts.
The point about the internet is a good one. Just like brick and mortar stores, people will look online at things. Why go to a museum?
As a society, are we becoming more prosaic and less poetic? Less fiction, more non-fiction. More function, less form?
With younger people more concerned about the environment, is nature viewed as the most relevant "art" form? How are younger people interpreting art these days? What is it "for"?
Hmmm, really interesting topic.
I’m old enough to remember black and white TV, and I can’t ever recall a time when the general public cared all that much about art, except to mock nonrepresentational art.
It was more or less considered the plaything of the wealthy.
Catherine, It is an interesting topic. Children's picture books are all about STEM now, however they do have ART in the illustrations, magnificent art, but the emphasis is on non fiction. Not much being published that is fantasy or old fashioned story telling.
I’m old enough to remember black and white TV, and I can’t ever recall a time when the general public cared all that much about art, except to mock nonrepresentational art.
It was more or less considered the plaything of the wealthy.
haha, LDAHL, your left brain is showing! ;)
The discussion is about art in a broad sense, not wealthy benefactors supporting galleries in SOHO.
I see Warren is out and the Democrats have finished circling the wagons against Bernie’s barstool bolsheviks. AOC’s campaign to “primary” the insufficiently progressive Democrats seems to be failing.
Is the revolution over? Is it down to a race between a guy who can’t recall the truths we hold self-evident or the guy who simply doesn’t care about any document that doesn’t have his name on it?
haha, LDAHL, your left brain is showing! ;)
The discussion is about art in a broad sense, not wealthy benefactors supporting galleries in SOHO.
It’s true that I’m a Philistine from way back. I think art should be treated like religion or fountain drinks. Everybody should be free to suit their own tastes, and government shouldn’t support or suppress it in any way. If there’s a market for it among willing buyers, fine. If not, that’s fine too.
It’s true that I’m a Philistine from way back. I think art should be treated like religion or fountain drinks. Everybody should be free to suit their own tastes, and government shouldn’t support or suppress it in any way. If there’s a market for it among willing buyers, fine. If not, that’s fine too.
I detest it when local governments decide to require public "art" as a condition for building permits.
When we were designing our last campus for my startup, the City decided we needed to spend a certain amount on public "art". Most of us were a bit miffed at this, it was rather a lot of money. But to get permits, we had to comply. Now, art is a matter of opinion. We commissioned a giant brass bull, anatomically correct, and placed it proudly and rampantly on the main campus corner by the crossroads of the two main public roads at the entrance to the campus.
I believe one of our founders went on to write a business book, titled "How To Castrate A Bull" :-)
The machine is out in full force. Gabbard won delegates so now they want to change the criteria to exclude her from debates, just like they changed it to allow Bloomberg in. Some of the media are in on it too. CNN did numerous town halls with lower polling candidates like Deval Patrick but not her. I also heard numerous false statements from various news outlets in Super Tuesday coverage such as Gabbard dropped out or Warren is the only woman left in the race.
The machine is out in full force. Gabbard won delegates so now they want to change the criteria to exclude her from debates, just like they changed it to allow Bloomberg in. Some of the media are in on it too. CNN did numerous town halls with lower polling candidates like Deval Patrick but not her. I also heard numerous false statements from various news outlets in Super Tuesday coverage such as Gabbard dropped out or Warren is the only woman left in the race.
The NYT, CNN, Colbert, etc., those reliable organs of progressive upper management, have been pretty much anti-Gabbard from the beginning. At a time of projecting “unity”, why expect the DNC to behave differently?
I have started looking at third party candidates. I like Lincoln Chafee but I don't know if the Libertarians will nominate him. Unlike Biden he voted against the Iraq war.
So after last night, is it safe to say that unless Biden dissolves into an incoherent ranting mass in the very near future, that It won’t be Bernie?
So after last night, is it safe to say that unless Biden dissolves into an incoherent ranting mass in the very near future, that It won’t be Bernie?
:(
The DNC won this battle. A Pyrrhic victory, IMHO. Although I have to say that Biden's speech was quite good. Somber, reassuring. The calm before the storm before Trump eats his lunch.
iris lilies
3-11-20, 9:31am
Local radio pundits were speculating as to who Joe Biden would choose as a running mate and the consensus was it has to be a woman or he is absolutely dead but there is no woman in current politics who will bring much to the ticket.
So they floated the idea of Claire McCaskill our state’s recent former Senator as VP. That might be a good choice for uncle Joe. I wonder if Claire would accept? I don’t think she has any desire to be president so she might just hang in there as Vice President, Making room for their golden boy in 2024 whoever that is. Maybe Mayor Pete
...there is no woman who will bring much to the ticket.
Really??? That kind of thinking makes me mad.
iris lilies
3-11-20, 9:36am
Really??? That kind of thinking makes me mad.
well, they were looking at current high profile candidates. eliz Warren wouldn’t run with Bidenthey think. Gabbard too out there. Kamela Harris too much baggage according to them.
It’s all high speculation, but I actually think Claire Bear is a decent idea. She is known as a “moderate” in the Democratic circles and she has Senator Cred.
In my opinion, most of the (outstanding) women available would be wasted in the role--unless, of course, Biden's health suddenly fails. I can't imagine Harris or Warren cooling their heels attending funerals. I've seen Stacey Abrams' name bandied about--maybe she's young enough to absorb the wasted time--but she's busy trying to clean up voter suppression. The Democratic party is very deep with brilliant, hardworking women right now, IMO.
well, they were looking at current high profile candidates. eliz Warren wouldn’t run with Bidenthey think. Gabbard too out there. Kamela Harris too much baggage according to them.
It’s all high speculation, but I actually think Claire Bear is a decent idea. She is known as a “moderate” in the Democratic circles and she has Senator Cred.
Gee, I thought Klobuchar might be someone worth considering. I'm sure there are a lot of options, unless the establishment and the pundits prefer to think that considering a female VP is a last resort or a consolation prize.
It’s 2016 all over again.
Teacher Terry
3-11-20, 11:44am
Catherine, I hope he chooses Amy too.
She would be a safe choice. Unless you like wolves, I guess.
But there's no Democratic pairing I wouldn't vote for.
catherine
3-11-20, 12:27pm
Hey, I was reading comments on the WSJ attached to an op-ed on Bernie's demise, and there seems to be some agreement that maybe Hillary is on the short list. That's all we need. If that's the case, we should really look at how qualified the Speaker of the House is to be President. Oops, that's Nancy Pelosi--almost 80 (she shares my birthday). And so who's next in the line of succession?
Hey, I was reading comments on the WSJ attached to an op-ed on Bernie's demise, and there seems to be some agreement that maybe Hillary is on the short list. That's all we need. If that's the case, we should really look at how qualified the Speaker of the House is to be President. Oops, that's Nancy Pelosi--almost 80 (she shares my birthday). And so who's next in the line of succession?
Alexander Haig? There, in the White House, anyway. Ah, memories.
Alexander Haig? There, in the White House, anyway. Ah, memories.
Hey Jane, I'm in charge here.
Hey Jane, I'm in charge here.
OMG - I remember that. Scared me to death. Nothing compared to the noise that comes out of the WH these days, tho.
I wonder if it would be legal for Obama to be VP? Just a whimsical speculation.
Could be Jean Shaheen or Maggie Hassan. I would bet Stacey Abrams though after he pandered to the SC audience and said he would put a black woman on the Supreme Court.
Wouldn't another George Shultz be a wonderful asset in our troubled world right now?
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2020/0310/Why-this-centenarian-statesman-is-hopeful-but-cautious-about-the-future
Tonight's debate drew contrasts but was less shrill than the previous two. What struck me was how old both Biden and Sanders seemed, and how the narrowing of the field has removed not just diversity but energy from the race for the Democratic nomination. The back and forth on votes both of them took decades ago seemed irrelevant in the midst of a pandemic. Sanders had a good closing response whereas Biden's was rambling, but this will not change the trajectory of the race.
ApatheticNoMore
3-16-20, 12:30am
It was a debate conducted on a pretty high intellectual level (unlike the endless stupid bar fights we have been subjected to). Sanders answers were better, the thing is it's not going to help him as even though he is right, I'm sure it went over the heads of 80% or more of the people watching. Woosh. You really need to be a political junkie.
It was only so relevant to the crisis. I mean how can you talk about stopping the spread of corona and not talk about sick leave policy ... but free college. How ridiculous the talking points get sometimes, non-free college never killed anyone, people working sick is going to kill people. All talk of making people whole is garbage, not only can that not pass in the current congress, it's nothing anyone is even trying to do, the current house doesn't even want that.
Yes ANM. I have zero confidence I would be made whole if affected. I work for a company with more than 500 employees and one that self-insures versus using an insurance company, so I have zero protections at this point against testing and treatment costs and lost wages.
ApatheticNoMore
3-16-20, 10:45am
I and my partner might fall into the size of company that might get more sick time if the Senate wakes up on the right side of the bed today and decides to reduce deaths by some small fraction (wouldn't want to reduce them too much, so no giving everyone sick time even for the crisis). If they wake up on the wrong side all bets are off.
There of course is no such thing exactly as a size of company, it all depends on how the books are jiggled and cooked, my company could or could not be combined with a sister company to get the results wanted, I think it works out regardless to between 50 and 500 people, but it's not so clear so clear it does, all depending on math and what answer you want maybe?
But it's rather fantasy to have Biden there talking about making people whole, when the most the Dems can announce through the House (never mind the Senate) is we loosened some food stamp restrictions and got 20% of the working population sick time. Even with sick time there is possible asymptomatic transmission and no testing (how I wish I lived in South Korea). But it just prevents the most egregious crazy of people having symptoms and working through them.
After last night, is the book pretty much closed on the Sanders campaign?
catherine
3-18-20, 10:32am
After last night, is the book pretty much closed on the Sanders campaign?
Why do you keep asking?? :) After the last Super Tuesday you were quick to post the same question. I know hope springs eternal for you. I saw a FB meme posted by one of my conservative high school acquaintances that had a picture of people grasping for TP and it said "Now how do you like socialism?" Ridiculous. So ill-informed, yet there go those perceptions that being a democratic socialist is one step from those old fear-mongering images of Russian communist scarcity.
If anything, this virus points out the need for more reasonable measures that ensure better protection.
Yeah, Bernie will probably abandon his campaign, but he has succeeded in elevating the national dialogue in terms of the shortcomings of our current healthcare system and the need for better support for minimuml wage workers and other people strained by some of our country's economic policies.
In retrospect, I think only Bernie and Yang showed the kind of foresight and insight that we need now.
Teacher Terry
3-18-20, 10:38am
Bernie is a intelligent person who has had a consistent message for 40 years. We all get it L you don’t like him. We would be in a different situation with this virus if he was the president versus the orange moron.
I’m curious how people panic buying TP has anything to do with socialism. Capitalism, on the other hand, is directly linked to the people I read about the other day, who had driven all over Ohio buying up every bottle of hand sanitizer hoping to make a big windfall selling it for obscene prices on amazon.
Why do you keep asking?? :) After the last Super Tuesday you were quick to post the same question. I know hope springs eternal for you. I saw a FB meme posted by one of my conservative high school acquaintances that had a picture of people grasping for TP and it said "Now how do you like socialism?" Ridiculous. So ill-informed, yet there go those perceptions that being a democratic socialist is one step from those old fear-mongering images of Russian communist scarcity.
If anything, this virus points out the need for more reasonable measures that ensure better protection.
Yeah, Bernie will probably abandon his campaign, but he has succeeded in elevating the national dialogue in terms of the shortcomings of our current healthcare system and the need for better support for minimuml wage workers and other people strained by some of our country's economic policies.
I keep asking because he is such an interesting case. A non-Democrat fighting hard to gain power using the Democratic Party as a vehicle. A millionaire socialist, doing his utmost to revive the class resentments of the 1930s. A professional politician claiming outsider status. A man who can’t help but praise Cuba’s claimed accomplishments in literacy or medicine without reference to the summary executions and establishment of a ruling dynasty. An old, old man whose primary allegiance seem to be among middle class and upper class youth.
The contradictions are legion; perhaps the biggest of which may be the damage he does to the future implementation of his ideas by creating division within his own party and reminding the country at large of socialism’s prior tragic failures.
The contradictions are legion; perhaps the biggest of which may be the damage he does to the future implementation of his ideas by creating division within his own party and reminding the country at large of socialism’s prior tragic failures.
I LOVE contradictions. They make life fascinating. You make a good point--maybe that's why I love Bernie.
(One of my favorite books that survived The Purge was Living with Contradiction by Esther de Wall: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Contradiction-Introduction-Benedictine-Spirituality/dp/0819217549--as a Catholic, it might interest you.)
As for socialism.. socialism is a broad term. You can have failures (Cuba, Venezuela) and you can have successes (Scandinavia). Sanders' difficulty was/is explaining what American Democratic socialism would look like. If it wound up looking in America like a bigger version of the city he led, Burlington, it would be a success. The younger people get it. They are not hog-tied to past perceptions. They are more open to a world where the few don't benefit at the expense of the many. They realize "Trickle-down economics" only trickles down so far. They feel that uncoupling health insurance from employer benefits is good for the employer and the employee. They feel that justice still needs to be better served in large swaths of our citizenry.
Bernie has survived the generation gap and the status quo and has gone very far in both 2016 and 2020 campaigns to point out that as great as we are, we can still do better. So, I think in way, he's won.
I LOVE contradictions. They make life fascinating. You make a good point--maybe that's why I love Bernie.
(One of my favorite books that survived The Purge was Living with Contradiction by Esther de Wall: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Contradiction-Introduction-Benedictine-Spirituality/dp/0819217549--as a Catholic, it might interest you.)
As for socialism.. socialism is a broad term. You can have failures (Cuba, Venezuela) and you can have successes (Scandinavia). Sanders' difficulty was/is explaining what American Democratic socialism would look like. If it wound up looking in America like a bigger version of the city he led, Burlington, it would be a success. The younger people get it. They are not hog-tied to past perceptions. They are more open to a world where the few don't benefit at the expense of the many. They realize "Trickle-down economics" only trickles down so far. They feel that uncoupling health insurance from employer benefits is good for the employer and the employee. Justice is still not served in large swaths of our citizenry.
Bernie has survived the generation gap and the status quo and has gone very far in both campaigns to point out that as great as we are, we can still do better.
I doubt Cuba would have been such a failure if we hadn't relentlessly sanctioned them over everything possible. We treated them like the scourge of the universe instead of the minor player they were.
In my opinion, Democratic socialism combines the best of two systems into one that works for everyone. Unlike our current kakistocracy.
In my opinion, Democratic socialism combines the best of two systems into one that works for everyone. Unlike our current kakistocracy.
I’d always considered our system to be more of a kleptocracy. But I think you’re right. After the last election we have certainly added in a large element of kakistocracy.
I’d always considered our system to be more of a kleptocracy. But I think you’re right. After the last election we have certainly added in a large element of kakistocracy.
Yeah, I debated whether to use kleptocracy, but decided we had devolved.
Teacher Terry
3-19-20, 2:59pm
The 2 brothers that bought up a ton of hand sanitizer and put it in a storage unit had amazon shut them down and contacted authorities. The police came and took it while thanking them for the donation:))
The police came and took it while thanking them for the donation:))
That part of the story is untrue.
Teacher Terry
3-19-20, 4:31pm
Well then someone put a fake video of the incident then.
Well then someone put a fake video of the incident then.
The New York Times said he donated most of it to a Church after getting a raft of death threats.
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