Politics The 2016 US Presidential Election

Well, to give the GOP credit...they had at least one primary debate where they presented the candidates who weren't as high in the polls.
I think they should do that for the general, as you noted.

 

Anti-Trump ad with lots of celebrities. Very Funny.
article - Joss Whedon Returns to Twitter With Star-Studded Anti-Trump Video


I'm sure this will be shared.

 

Ok....who won??

 

Celebrities against a Republican. What a novel idea. Who woulda thunk it.

 

I don't think it's that it's Hollywood vs. the GOP. (that's cliché by now)
But I haven't seen this before...a mass ad and so professionally done too.

Usually it's one actor here and there, each doing their own thing, maybe an interview or a minor mag ad.
This may be unprecedented in current times.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I found this a fascinating analysis of Trump's speech.
It helps me to understand my father in law better. He has a similar speech pattern.
Donald Trump’s strange speaking style, as explained by linguists - Vox

 

I think that Clinton won where it matters*: policy.











*But I don't think that counts

 

Ok, then here...a neutral analysis on the substance in the debate.
Yes, it was there...you just had to sift through the drama.
Trump And Clinton Sounded As If They Were Talking About Two Different Countries

BUT...here's what many don't understand...
Policy is voted on by Congress...and executed by the Bureaucrats...and often nixed or played with by the Courts.
So the Prez can only suggest laws and policy...maybe influence or bully the 'crats...and can't do diddly about the Courts other than replace people who "may" vote for your agenda.

The power the Prez mostly has is foreign policy (and the military which projects power)

So there was nothing really discussed about the world, but Nukes. (which frankly frightens me if The Donald needs to make decisions on this)
But domestic...You gotta get the Congress to cooperate.
Or SLOWLY change the momentum of the 'Crats, by your political appointees (who are learning on the fly when first getting in...really the perm Staffers are in control)

There is no magic wand.
I don't care how "strong" you are.
Besides, more than half of Congress will cockblock you just because of their OWN egos and ambitions (much less seeing themselves the next prez) **This includes reps in your own party, BTW.

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On another note...and a good point I heard from an associate...
Why do you need tax cuts if you don't pay any taxes??

 

Trump and his followers seem to think he won because Twitter but post-debate polling seems to disagree. fivethirtyeight shows Hillary up 8 percent after the debate so that's pretty definitive.

The Donald spent some time during the debate rolling right over both Hillary and Lester. He says he wants to hit harder in the next one. I'm wondering how that will go; I feel like Anderson just won't put up with that shit.

He also made a big deal about not bringing up Bill's affair(s), as if A) not throwing shit around is some form of magnanimity on his part and B) that has any relevance to anything at all.

 

In the meantime...amazing how the worm turns.
2 unexpected newspapers have come out either for Clinton or against Trump.

USA Today - link
Arizona Republic - link

AR is a conservative newspaper, having never endorsed a Dem (since 1890)
USAT is supposedly neutral and never "taken sides"

Frankly IMHO, AR is being braver...actually taking a side. (and now getting drops and death threats for it)
Whereas, the other "punted"...but still unprecedented nevertheless.

Seems Clinton is now leading in all the swing states by some accounts (depends on who you're asking)

But being true to form, Trump is doubling down on his feud with the beauty queen
and deciding to bring up Bill's affairs, despite being advised to not do that by most of the GOP elite.

AND seems to have broken the law in the past by breaking the Cuban Embargo (there goes Florida...)

 

A followup on that newspaper endorsement story
Turns out NO major newspaper has gone for Trump.

LINK

A few have done Johnson, but quite a few that haven't endorsed a Dem, went for Hillary.
And then trounced on Trump just to make their point.

I know Mother Jones isn't a neutral source, but still...

 

I wish it wasn't so long...but with so much power wrapped up into one person with so much influence...it's probably best.
Gives us time to evaluate and issues to emerge.
It's not a easy job...I like making them sweat.

I just wish people would take it more seriously and invest themselves.
But many ignore it or just vote like it's the X-factor TV show.
I don't understand how you can just let Fate occur or not try to understand the factors or be manipulated.

Although, what the media focuses on can be arbitrary and fleeting. Lots of red herrings.

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And as a followup to the followup...another atypical endorsement.
Although the Atlantic isn't known for being "non" left-leaning...
LINK

It's quite wordy, but eloquent.
And although they came out for Hillary...the title is "Against Donald Trump"

And basically, this is what this election has turned into...not voting for someone that inspires
but voting AGAINST what many think is the most dangerous and unstable candidate in recent US history.

If I was Hillary, I'd be insulted...but she's driven on through being insulted before. (even by her own husband)
You've got to give her credit for being so stoic. (but many don't...)

Right now, she's become a firewall alternative to letting in power a megalomaniac. (could you imagine the friggin' Presidential Library he'd put up??? )

 

This is starting to get repetitive...
Former GOP congressmen lash out at Trump

All of them...signing.
All of them promoting other Republicans to not vote for Trump...don't do it for party, do it for America.

Now dammit...why can't you think this way always?
Or at least you let it get this far??

That's the whole friggin' problem in the first place.
Why nothing gets done.
I know I'd be fine with the GOP party if you'd stop playing partisan games and brinksmanship.

Why wait for scary???