After reading a little, I don't think it would be easy for the Democrats to take back any branch of the government, with a majority, in 2018. But if we come out in force, in the mid-term elections, we can make substantial progress, toward winning a majority in 2020. A two stage battle to win back both the house and the senate in 8 years.
Turnout for mid-terms is usually pretty low, with Democratic voters being somewhat more complacent, about mid-terms, than Republican voters. We have to get people fired-up about it, which will probably be easier than usual, with the direction that the incumbents appear to be taking the country.
Another challenge is putting forth exceptional candidates. It takes a combination of knowledge, compassion, and creativity. But all that is useless, without a measure of charisma.
The third problem, that I see, is Gerrymandering:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/01/31/the-supreme-court-will-examine-partisan-gerrymandering-in-2017-that-could-change-the-voting-map/?utm_term=.e4980df4977f
Gerrymandering ... but y'all have to stop throwing the blue collar workers under the bus, or the janitor won't take your trash out. Right now, y'all are good with The Man replacing all blue collar workers with robots, so they don't have to pay a minimum wage. But white collar workers are easier to replace, so do keep up the caste and class warfare, just so you can have a cheaper latte.
That assumes there will be elections. Once Bannon's coup is complete, we will all be thinking happy thoughts as we labor for the greater glory of the Fatherland. That is, if we're lucky enough to have white skin and a penis.
I would be happy to suspend elections, until the American people got a clue ;-) But not holding my breath for either. Back to the Founding Fathers ... you have to be a White adult male, holding sufficient property .. or you don't get to vote ;-))
Quote from: Atheon on February 01, 2017, 10:24:38 AM
That assumes there will be elections. Once Bannon's coup is complete, we will all be thinking happy thoughts as we labor for the greater glory of the Fatherland. That is, if we're lucky enough to have white skin and a penis.
I have both, but I'd be happy to give them both to a wood chipper if it would prevent the coming civil war. I wondered which country Chump would make war on first, and realized he's already at war with one: America, and he'll likely have to win that war before he takes on further militarism - except the Middle East , of course, since we've always been and always will be at war with the Middle East.
I'm afraid the polarity of the country is about to come to a head.
Quote from: Atheon on February 01, 2017, 10:24:38 AM
That assumes there will be elections.
Yeah, I'm afraid that last election we had may be just that.
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 01, 2017, 04:52:44 PM
I have both, but I'd be happy to give them both to a wood chipper if it would prevent the coming civil war. I wondered which country Chump would make war on first, and realized he's already at war with one: America, and he'll likely have to win that war before he takes on further militarism - except the Middle East , of course, since we've always been and always will be at war with the Middle East.
I'm afraid the polarity of the country is about to come to a head.
Bill, George W and Barak made war on America ... and America is still winning. Trump will lose this war too, the Feds always lose the war they start.
Again, we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 01, 2017, 07:41:45 PM
Again, we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?
Yes, I expect to see the the majority of the religious burning in Hell, for following the wrong god. The atheists will be found innocent, by reason of sanity ;-)
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 01, 2017, 02:27:28 AM
The third problem, that I see, is Gerrymandering:
The next us census is 2020 which will be followed by congressional redistricting which, in 32 states, is handled by the state legislature. Democrats must focus on winning these state legislatures.
Quote from: Poison Tree on February 01, 2017, 09:37:04 PM
The next us census is 2020 which will be followed by congressional redistricting which, in 32 states, is handled by the state legislature. Democrats must focus on winning these state legislatures.
Thanks for responding to the topic, rather than the rant.
My strategy is simple: I would say that Democrats need to get out and vote for the Democratic candidate, in pretty much
every office that is up for reelection.
Here in Indiana, we must, at the very least, keep Senator Joe Donnelly in office. He is up for reelection in 2018.
Hoosier Democrats lost the one really important position we had, when we lost the office of Indiana Secretary of Education, this election. I fear we may not get that one back.
But Indiana is a blood-red state. I have more hope for California.
California isn't called the Left Coast for nothing. But the way things are going there, Gringos Need Not Apply. Self hating identity politics will disarm any Anglos still in the state.
At this point I'm just glad that I'm closer to dying of old age than ever. Of course this is true for every man, woman and child who ever breathed in oxygen.
You ARE closer to dying of old age than you ever were. By the time you finish reading this you'll be even closer.
Quote from: Baruch on February 02, 2017, 03:47:07 AM
California isn't called the Left Coast for nothing. But the way things are going there, Gringos Need Not Apply. Self hating identity politics will disarm any Anglos still in the state.
Why do you insist on inflammatory rhetoric? And why must you always take these barely relevant tangents? The topic is about considering what is a good strategy, for the Democrats to shorten the time necessary, to mitigate the disaster, that was the last election.
To paraphrase Gold Five:
"Stay on topic! Stay on topic!"
I know there are a lot of Democrats on here. Aren't any interested in strategizing? Or do they just think it's hopeless?
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 02, 2017, 11:35:43 AM
Why do you insist on inflammatory rhetoric? And why must you always take these barely relevant tangents? The topic is about considering what is a good strategy, for the Democrats to shorten the time necessary, to mitigate the disaster, that was the last election.
To paraphrase Gold Five: "Stay on topic! Stay on topic!"
Ask me about the Berkeley Central Committee ... comrade ;-) I happen to be pro-immigrant and pro-Mexican ... but even the Hispanics in California want a fiscally responsible state government, and don't want 80 million Mexicans moving there. It is California, not Texas, who is speaking of secession ... stop the fanatics in California.
Quote from: Baruch on February 02, 2017, 03:47:07 AM
California isn't called the Left Coast for nothing. But the way things are going there, Gringos Need Not Apply. Self hating identity politics will disarm any Anglos still in the state.
>mfw you think whites don't have the social power in California
(https://llwproductions.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/syncronized-swimmer-making-funny-face.jpg)
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 02, 2017, 11:38:09 AMI know there are a lot of Democrats on here. Aren't any interested in strategizing? Or do they just think it's hopeless?
Yes, yes, no. I think we need something more substantive than just "Democrats need to get out and vote for the Democratic candidate". That goes without saying, though given the number of eligible voters who stayed home on election day, it apparently still needs to be said.
We need to register non-voters and persuade political moderates badly. We need to remind the public that the Dems are with them on much of the issues (http://www.sanluisobispo.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article115327813.html). And we also need to ensure that the politicians do not waiver in their support of these policies when they get into office. We also need to cast the shadow of Daddy Trump over each and every Republican running for office. Their loyalties to the orange disaster and the ruinous policies they have in common should be in the forefront of everyone's minds on election day.
I have a more detailed gameplan that I'll be expounding on later, but that's the basic outline.
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 02, 2017, 06:46:37 PM
I think we need something more substantive than just "Democrats need to get out and vote for the Democratic candidate". That goes without saying, though given the number of eligible voters who stayed home on election day, it apparently still needs to be said.
It's a major problem though, with mid-term elections. The Republicans seem to have an advantage in that regard, so I listed it first.
Quote from: Hydra009We need to register non-voters and persuade political moderates badly. We need to remind the public that the Dems are with them on much of the issues (http://www.sanluisobispo.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article115327813.html).
"A darkening cloud has settled over the country, creeping into many nooks and crannies; however, according to Michael Moore in his latest dialogue, the majority of Americans wanted Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump. The only reason he is president-elect is because of an arcane, insane, 18th-century idea called the Electoral College. Unless we change that, we’ll continue to have presidents we didn’t elect and didn’t want.
We live in a country where a majority believe in climate change, they believe women should be paid the same as men, they want a debt-free college education, they don’t want us invading countries, they want a raise in the minimum wage, and they want a single-payer health care system. None of this has changed. We live in a country where the majority agree with the “liberal†position.
This is the time that the Bernie Sanders’ delightful “Our Revolution†has been picked up by many young as well as older people throughout the country.
Let’s take over the Democratic Party and return it to the people. They, the Democratic Party, have failed us miserably."
W. R. COLE, ARROYO GRANDERead more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article115327813.html#storylink=cpy
I'm not sure I follow this guy's reasoning, in concluding that the Democratic Party has failed us. His first paragraph concedes, that our failure was the fault of the electoral college system(by an unprecedented 2.9 million votes), not anything the Democrats did wrong. Unless his contention is that Hillary should have won by a landslide, against such a candidate as Trump. But the propaganda machine on the right is much more willing to sink to the, lowest levels of slandering and giving outright false information. Plus they had the help of the Russians.
But that being said, I agree with you wholeheartedly, that what the Democrats need most is to wake-up the masses, to the fact, that they agree with us on most of the issues.
That is, while they still do agree with us. The propagation of "alternative facts" entices more Americans, to the Dark Side, every day.
Quote from: Hydra009And we also need to ensure that the politicians do not waiver in their support of these policies when they get into office.
"Support the policies,"
yes. The "Do not waiver" part is what I have trouble with. That sounds like what the Republicans have been doing, that blocked most every progressive action lately, including denying Obama the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice for over a year. The inflexibility of both sides is what is causing a lot of this hostility in the country.
Quote from: Hydra009We also need to cast the shadow of Daddy Trump over each and every Republican running for office. Their loyalties to the orange disaster and the ruinous policies they have in common should be in the forefront of everyone's minds on election day.
This is a good idea, as long as you don't take it too far and make false connections, just to smear your opponent. Good integrity is still important. It's just harder to win that way. (Donald Trump, is the master of taking the "quick and easy path" of fear and hate, in his lust for power. Just like any well trained Lord-of-the-Sith.)
Democrats simply need to fight for something, not against something. And fight, not shadow box from Triangulation. The DNC hates the deplorables as much as the RNC. That isn't fighting, that is cohabitation with the enemy ;-)
And yes, we should get rid of all 18th century ideas, like voting and the USA.
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 03, 2017, 07:21:54 AM
The only reason he is president-elect is because of an arcane, insane, 18th-century idea called the Electoral College. Unless we change that, we’ll continue to have presidents we didn’t elect and didn’t want.
And so far this century those have both been from the GOP. That's likely to continue to be the case.
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 03, 2017, 07:21:54 AM
Good integrity is still important.
Only to the good guys. The bad guys always have the advantage because they don't have to follow any rules, they'll just make their own. And then not follow them, either.
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 03, 2017, 01:46:16 PM
Only to the good guys. The bad guys always have the advantage because they don't have to follow any rules, they'll just make their own. And then not follow them, either.
Integrity matters to the system of government we live under. People need to weed out the assholes a lot better. Which goes along with the whole problem, of putting forth really good candidates.
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 03, 2017, 01:46:16 PM
Only to the good guys. The bad guys always have the advantage because they don't have to follow any rules, they'll just make their own. And then not follow them, either.
You might be ready to read Machiavelli. Time to graduate from the Komsomol.
Quote from: Baruch on February 03, 2017, 06:13:15 PM
You might be ready to read Machiavelli. Time to graduate from the Komsomol.
The Prince was assigned reading in Bible college, but I didn't read the whole thing(I was overloaded with reading assignments). I remember some of the classroom discussions. Mostly about situational ethics.
There has to be an alternative response to lying shit-hole propaganda, than to give back in kind.
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 04, 2017, 04:05:14 AM
The Prince was assigned reading in Bible college, but I didn't read the whole thing(I was overloaded with reading assignments). I remember some of the classroom discussions. Mostly about situational ethics.
Deceit and murder ethics ... do you speak Italian, is your dagger sharp and at your side, do you have a Family to protect and profit you? The world to today was invented by the Medici during the Renaissance ... failure to understand this is ..
"una condanna a morte"Other good reads ... Lives of the Artists by Vasari ... Autobiography by Cellini ... Book of the Courtier by Castigleone
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 04, 2017, 04:09:53 AM
There has to be an alternative response to lying shit-hole propaganda, than to give back in kind.
"ventilazione pugnale" - Cesare Borgia
OP there is a way to get ready for the next election. This isn't my idea. They were saying it on XM radio for a few months early in the campaign.
Follow the Tea Party take over. Look on the internet at their game plan last election. You have to get democrats volunteering in all the local election boards. The election boards for each district has a great influence on what candidates are put on the local ballot. You can try to stack the deck with all candidates that you like and leave out the ones you don't.
I don't know exactly how many voting districts there are but its a ground game that requires a lot of people.
Quote from: fencerider on February 04, 2017, 06:43:20 PM
OP there is a way to get ready for the next election. This isn't my idea. They were saying it on XM radio for a few months early in the campaign.
Follow the Tea Party take over. Look on the internet at their game plan last election. You have to get democrats volunteering in all the local election boards. The election boards for each district has a great influence on what candidates are put on the local ballot. You can try to stack the deck with all candidates that you like and leave out the ones you don't.
I don't know exactly how many voting districts there are but its a ground game that requires a lot of people.
The US has lover 3000 counties. Over 174,000 precincts.
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 03, 2017, 07:21:54 AM"Support the policies," yes. The "Do not waiver" part is what I have trouble with. That sounds like what the Republicans have been doing, that blocked most every progressive action lately, including denying Obama the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice for over a year. The inflexibility of both sides is what is causing a lot of this hostility in the country.
I meant not wavering in the context of ardently supporting liberal policies before
and after getting elected. As in not backing down from universal healthcare when you catch a little heat from Fox News or when a lobbyist strolls into town.
I fully support working with the Trump and the other Republicans towards common goals. Want to fix the country's infrastructure? Let's do it. Want to waste money for some grandiose border wall and do some Operation Wetback crap? No dice.
QuoteThis is a good idea, as long as you don't take it too far and make false connections, just to smear your opponent.
And it's the easiest target in the world and you can be 100% honest. It's a gimme.
QuoteGood integrity is still important. It's just harder to win that way.
It's the only way to win long term. Winning just to win is meaningless. Winning to advance sane policies is the only true victory.
Quote(Donald Trump, is the master of taking the "quick and easy path" of fear and hate, in his lust for power. Just like any well trained Lord-of-the-Sith.)
Quick and easy dies quick and easy, too. Just ask Palpatine. :)
Trump's out of step with America. Have you seen how young people are leaning? (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/08/14/donald-trump-historic-trouncing-among-younger-voters-hillary-clinton-president-poll/88666746/) It's a goddamn disaster for the Republicans just waiting to happen!
All you have to do is point that Trump's way off base every chance you get. Hey, did you hear he's pro-Torture? Did you hear that his pal Pompeo wants to put Snowden to death? Did you hear he can't even have a rational discussion with the PM of Australia without slamming down the phone like a big ol' man-baby? Just go to town with that stuff. Shout it from the rooftops.
Meanwhile, support Democrats who are actually liberal and who are willing to fight to enact liberal policies, policies that the public already largely agrees with. You know how
idiots low-information voters always say that they can't tell the Republican and Democrat candidates apart? Make it look laughably stupid in the primaries and then at the next presidential election. Lay out the policy differences in no uncertain terms. Ask the people if they want to support 4 more years of misrule or if they want to support a better way.
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 04, 2017, 04:09:53 AMThere has to be an alternative response to lying shit-hole propaganda, than to give back in kind.
There is. Call them out. Let 'em know that they're crackpots and suckers and let everyone else watching know it, too. If they like "alternative facts", let them carry that label around with 'em everywhere they go. Make them a joke.
Quote from: Baruch on February 01, 2017, 07:06:12 AM
Gerrymandering ... but y'all have to stop throwing the blue collar workers under the bus, or the janitor won't take your trash out. Right now, y'all are good with The Man replacing all blue collar workers with robots, so they don't have to pay a minimum wage. But white collar workers are easier to replace, so do keep up the caste and class warfare, just so you can have a cheaper latte.
Many people voted for Trump thinking he would drain the swamp and make processes clear and fair. As time passes, they will see he will do neither and only empower businesses to break all social rules for utter profiteering. In 2018, the farmers and other mid-nation voters may see that he is exactly what they feared government could be run amok.
Quote from: Cavebear on February 05, 2017, 05:02:27 AM
Many people voted for Trump thinking he would drain the swamp and make processes clear and fair. As time passes, they will see he will do neither and only empower businesses to break all social rules for utter profiteering. In 2018, the farmers and other mid-nation voters may see that he is exactly what they feared government could be run amok.
I am hoping for one giant Guantanamo prison, coast to coast, with daily beatings.
Quote from: Baruch on February 05, 2017, 09:18:03 AM
I am hoping for one giant Guantanamo prison, coast to coast, with daily beatings.
Sarcasm does not translate well into future quotes...
Quote from: Cavebear on February 05, 2017, 05:02:27 AM
Many people voted for Trump thinking he would drain the swamp and make processes clear and fair. As time passes, they will see he will do neither and only empower businesses to break all social rules for utter profiteering. In 2018, the farmers and other mid-nation voters may see that he is exactly what they feared government could be run amok.
Exactly. They thought he'd be the anti-corruption candidate. He's not by a long shot. Let 'em know about Trump's appointees. Let 'em know about Trump's conflicts of interest. Let 'em know that a Republican-backed bill designed to promote corruption is headed to Trump's desk (https://www.thestreet.com/story/13977811/1/anti-corruption-rule-killer-for-energy-companies-heads-to-trump-s-desk.html). Is he going to do the right thing and veto it or is he going to be a tool of special interests and pass it? If he chooses poorly, let his supporters and politically moderate people know what kind of President they got. Make it practically impossible to not know about his stance on corruption.
Trump was the Tea Party candidate ... I suspect the British were involved ;-) He is the enemy the D and R party, of everything that is right and good (about putrid American politics).
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 05, 2017, 11:33:01 AM
Exactly. They thought he'd be the anti-corruption candidate. He's not by a long shot. Let 'em know about Trump's appointees. Let 'em know about Trump's conflicts of interest. Let 'em know that a Republican-backed bill designed to promote corruption is headed to Trump's desk (https://www.thestreet.com/story/13977811/1/anti-corruption-rule-killer-for-energy-companies-heads-to-trump-s-desk.html). Is he going to do the right thing and veto it or is he going to be a tool of special interests and pass it? If he chooses poorly, let his supporters and politically moderate people know what kind of President they got. Make it practically impossible to not know about his stance on corruption.
LOL
The washington DC swamp drain has nothing to do with corporate business practices. Want something to whine about, how about OBAMA signing modifications to the insider trading STOCK act going on in DC, introduced by Harry Reid (D).
QuoteThe exact opposite happened last week when they eliminated some key provisions of their much publicized self-policing act. On Thursday, April 11th, Senator Harry Reid introduced and passed S. 716 with no debate and no recorded vote. The next day, after all scheduled business had already been finished, Rep. Eric Cantor introduced and passed the same bill, also with no debate and no recorded vote. President Obama signed this hastily-passed and under-examined bill into law on Monday, April 15th.
http://www.congressionaldish.com/s-716-gut-the-stock-act/
Keep telling yourself Hillary would NEVER do that because democrats are oh so pure and innocent....
When politicians are unanimous, and do a voice only vote ... you know the citizen is getting it in the ass.
Quote from: Baruch on February 05, 2017, 11:50:10 AM
Trump was the Tea Party candidate ... I suspect the British were involved ;-) He is the enemy the D and R party, of everything that is right and good (about putrid American politics).
This, too, shall pass.
Quote from: Cavebear on February 05, 2017, 12:25:02 PM
This, too, shall pass.
The cess pool of politics is never full. Always more citizens to toss into the policy compost pile with the kitchen scraps.
Quote from: Baruch on February 05, 2017, 12:27:03 PM
The cess pool of politics is never full. Always more citizens to toss into the policy compost pile with the kitchen scraps.
Politicians aren't compostable. Well, it takes a special permit for "hazardous materiel". Attracts rats...
Quote from: chill98 on February 05, 2017, 12:17:40 PMKeep telling yourself Hillary would NEVER do that because democrats are oh so pure and innocent....
Cavebear, this is a pretty good example of people you won't reach. They'll back Trump at every turn, deflect from the issue by attacking Obama or Clinton, and defend the indefensible. These people are stuck in their own little "alternative facts" world and there's no changing that.
Fortunately, winning elections doesn't require a unanimous vote. Talk with people who don't suckle at the Breitbart teet. People who weren't sold on Clinton but hold positions that overlap at least a little with liberal positions. People who are still open to reason. Those are the people who'll flip the script on election day.
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 05, 2017, 12:33:03 PM
Cavebear, this is a pretty good example of people you won't reach. They'll back Trump at every turn, deflect from the issue by attacking Obama or Clinton, and defend the indefensible. These people are stuck in their own little "alternative facts" world and there's no changing that.
Fortunately, winning elections doesn't require a unanimous vote. Talk with people who don't suckle at the Breitbart teet. People who weren't sold on Clinton but hold positions that overlap at least a little with liberal positions. People who are still open to reason. Those are the people who'll flip the script on election day.
Real D people (who are they perchance?) are reasonable? Who knew? Yes ... policy compromise is the worst of all possible worlds, and that is the best ... if you are self destructive. Like having only a little bit of shariah, instead of all of it.
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 05, 2017, 12:33:03 PM
Cavebear, this is a pretty good example of people you won't reach. They'll back Trump at every turn, deflect from the issue by attacking Obama or Clinton, and defend the indefensible. These people are stuck in their own little "alternative facts" world and there's no changing that.
Fortunately, winning elections doesn't require a unanimous vote. Talk with people who don't suckle at the Breitbart teet. People who weren't sold on Clinton but hold positions that overlap at least a little with liberal positions. People who are still open to reason. Those are the people who'll flip the script on election day.
I know, and that's the hard part. The majority of voters (yeah less than a majority of the populace) chose Clinton and Gore. We are beginning to feel really p***ed off about it.
I majored in History and Political Science. Some Psychology and Sociology in there too. I know where the people itch. I just never thought the Merchantile Dictatorship would start in MY lifetime.
Stuff happens, it's coming, and I'm glad I'm oldish and a lot protected. I have no wish to be the age of my grandneices and nephews. The fewmets are going to hit the windmill soon...
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 05, 2017, 12:33:03 PM
Cavebear, this is a pretty good example of people you won't reach. They'll back Trump at every turn, deflect from the issue by attacking Obama or Clinton, and defend the indefensible. These people are stuck in their own little "alternative facts" world and there's no changing that.
Fortunately, winning elections doesn't require a unanimous vote. Talk with people who don't suckle at the Breitbart teet. People who weren't sold on Clinton but hold positions that overlap at least a little with liberal positions. People who are still open to reason. Those are the people who'll flip the script on election day.
Maybe you should take your own advice. Starting with Draining the DC swamp is different than establishing/repealing a corporate law. REMINDER Trump campaigned on REDUCING Regulations. Different aspect than addressing the DC swamp. Get it yet? Understand they are different aspects of governing? Alternative Facts indeed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxBkpHVJ1OA
Quote from: chill98 on February 05, 2017, 12:44:16 PM
Maybe you should take your own advice. Starting with Draining the DC swamp is different than establishing/repealing a corporate law. REMINDER Trump campaigned on REDUCING Regulations. Different aspect than addressing the DC swamp. Get it yet? Understand they are different aspects of governing? Alternative Facts indeed.
Trump claimed to despise Goldman-Sachs yet gave them the financial keys. And his suporters said "don't worry, he won't do those things he said he would do". Don't take him literally.
He did and will do more.
Every dictator starts by saying what he will do and everyone is SHOCKED afterwards.
And remember what "dictator" means. I speak, you shut up and listen.
Quote from: Cavebear on February 05, 2017, 01:01:58 PM
Trump claimed to despise Goldman-Sachs yet gave them the financial keys.
Weeell, the above is a broad generalization without much substance. Without taking much time to research exactly what is going on, so far, there is some nominations with a strong GoldmanSachs tie. Mnuchin - with 17 years of working for them, sounds like daddy got him the job. But he did part ways with them back in 2002.
Gary D. Cohn - 25+ years at GS. Surprisingly, he is a democrat. Reading his wiki entry, I don't like this guy.
Erin Walsh seems good but there is very little info easily found on her- https://theantiquitiescoalition.org/about-us/erin-walsh/
Bannon worked for GS back in the mid 80s to 1990. 5-7 years? something like that, the wiki is not exact, however, I did not know Bannon was assigned to the Pentagon when enlisted. Far removed from GS now and with that little amount of time... sounds like the job just wasn't for him.
Anyways, hate to say it, but your mcNugget sized packets of an incomplete picture reveal your own internal bias. I have no doubt I will dislike some of the things Trump does. Hasn't been an admin yet that I have agreed with 100%.
Quote from: Cavebear on February 05, 2017, 12:42:40 PM
I know, and that's the hard part. The majority of voters (yeah less than a majority of the populace) chose Clinton and Gore. We are beginning to feel really p***ed off about it.
I majored in History and Political Science. Some Psychology and Sociology in there too. I know where the people itch. I just never thought the Merchantile Dictatorship would start in MY lifetime.
Stuff happens, it's coming, and I'm glad I'm oldish and a lot protected. I have no wish to be the age of my grandneices and nephews. The fewmets are going to hit the windmill soon...
No merchantilism? What have we been doing with China? Alexander Hamilton worked originally for the British West Indies Company ... as a teen age sea going smuggler. That is our founder of Wall Street. They don't compare our financiers to pirates for nothing.
Well ... at least one cabinet nominee has been stopped. The Democrats are all tucked out now. They only won this one because they hid the key to the Congressional bathroom, and all the Republicans were off on a wild goose chase looking for it ;-)
Quote from: Baruch on February 03, 2017, 06:13:15 PM
You might be ready to read Machiavelli. Time to graduate from the Komsomol.
I assume you're referring to
The Prince? Been there, done that.
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 05, 2017, 11:33:01 AM
Exactly. They thought he'd be the anti-corruption candidate. He's not by a long shot. Let 'em know about Trump's appointees. Let 'em know about Trump's conflicts of interest. Let 'em know that a Republican-backed bill designed to promote corruption is headed to Trump's desk (https://www.thestreet.com/story/13977811/1/anti-corruption-rule-killer-for-energy-companies-heads-to-trump-s-desk.html). Is he going to do the right thing and veto it or is he going to be a tool of special interests and pass it? If he chooses poorly, let his supporters and politically moderate people know what kind of President they got. Make it practically impossible to not know about his stance on corruption.
Can't be done as long as Chump's supporters are all in their own little bubble, never to see a reliable bit of info.
I live in northwest Indiana, and it hasn't escaped my notice that the gay mayor of South Bend, is running for DNC chair. I'm wondering how that will play, if he gets the seat. He's a great guy, and I have a lot of respect for him. Very level headed, and a true consensus-builder. If we have a gay president, in my lifetime, It will be Pete Buttigieg.
There are a couple things working against Asshole and his lackeys in Congress.
First is that except under unusual circumstances, midterm elections almost always go against the party occupying the White House. The main exceptions have been 1998, when Gingrich foolishly made the midterms a referendum on Bill Clinton, and the public sided with Clinton; and in 2002 in the immediate wake of 9/11 and the Afghanistan invasion, siding with Dubya.
Second is that Asshole is both scaring away the fringes of his support (the core is hopeless), and activating the opposition, and comes into office with historic disapproval ratings for an incoming guy. There's already a plurality (not yet a majority) that supports impeaching him. Already.
And third is that he's also starting to scare major corporate groups, especially the tech sector. The banks and energy companies don't give a shit and are on board with him, but there's an awful lot of power and money behind Apple and Google. Even the Koch boys aren't sure about him, and a Repub who can't rely on them is in deep trouble.
On the flip side, first, it's hard to say we're not already under historical circumstances, so the occupying party's disadvantage in the midterms is hard to predict.
Second, the Repubs have gerrymandered themselves a difficult-to-overcome position in the House; the Senate is more vulnerable, but more Dems are up in '18.
And third, there's a shit-ton of money on his side.
So I am loathe to handicap this upcoming race. It's going to be interesting to watch... but probably not fun.
Quote from: Solomon Zorn on February 09, 2017, 10:07:36 AM
I live in northwest Indiana, and it hasn't escaped my notice that the gay mayor of South Bend, is running for DNC chair. I'm wondering how that will play, if he gets the seat. He's a great guy, and I have a lot of respect for him. Very level headed, and a true consensus-builder. If we have a gay president, in my lifetime, It will be Pete Buttigieg.
Can't happen until he changes his last name to something more pronounceable and less scatological.
Quote from: trdsf on February 09, 2017, 12:51:03 PM
There are a couple things working against Asshole and his lackeys in Congress.
First is that except under unusual circumstances, midterm elections almost always go against the party occupying the White House. The main exceptions have been 1998, when Gingrich foolishly made the midterms a referendum on Bill Clinton, and the public sided with Clinton; and in 2002 in the immediate wake of 9/11 and the Afghanistan invasion, siding with Dubya.
Second is that Asshole is both scaring away the fringes of his support (the core is hopeless), and activating the opposition, and comes into office with historic disapproval ratings for an incoming guy. There's already a plurality (not yet a majority) that supports impeaching him. Already.
Yeah, but as the last election taught us, it's not enough for the other guy to be unlikable.
We need something to rally behind as much as we need something to rally against. The Dems really need to stand up for their core principles (like healthcare and education) and strenuously present a better gameplan than the Republicans and not just rely on anti-Trump sentiment to hand them the election.
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 09, 2017, 01:05:24 PM
Yeah, but as the last election taught us, it's not enough for the other guy to be unlikable.
We need something to rally behind as much as we need something to rally against. The Dems really need to stand up for their core principles (like healthcare and education) and strenuously present a better gameplan than the Republicans and not just rely on anti-Trump sentiment to hand them the election.
The 2018 elections (not to mention voting restrictions) are stacked against the Democrats. And they (Republicans) will last til 2020 when the census figures are used (and abused) by whoever is in power. That person and party is likely to be Pence and the Republicans as I suspect Trump will just be worn out and unpopular by then.
After that, it will be a decade of gerrymandering and further voter restrictions.
As long as the Democrat strategy is ... colored people and women have no choice ... then they lose. Not all colored people, not all women, are going to vote for their flavor of shit. On the other hand, the Republican strategy is ... make sure the Democrats look good ... this all says to me, Kabuki theater. It was all decided years ago at Langley.
Quote from: Baruch on February 11, 2017, 09:16:11 AM
As long as the Democrat strategy is ... colored people and women have no choice ... then they lose. Not all colored people, not all women, are going to vote for their flavor of shit. On the other hand, the Republican strategy is ... make sure the Democrats look good ... this all says to me, Kabuki theater. It was all decided years ago at Langley.
"Colored people"? Really? What decade do you live in? Never mind, we can tell.
Quote from: Cavebear on February 11, 2017, 09:24:30 AM
"Colored people"? Really? What decade do you live in? Never mind, we can tell.
This OP is about political correctness ... I am never politically correct, it makes my stomach churn. But you would rather I use the bad words? Go hide in your dorm, under your bed, you Z generation ;-) (sarc).
Quote from: Baruch on February 11, 2017, 09:26:15 AM
This OP is about political correctness ... I am never politically correct, it makes my stomach churn. But you would rather I use the bad words? Go hide in your dorm, under your bed, you Z generation ;-) (sarc).
I'm 66... ;)
Quote from: Cavebear on February 11, 2017, 09:28:15 AM
I'm 66... ;)
Since they closed your highway down, you can probably amble across without being hit ;-)) (Route 66).
I work with lots of African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans. Good people that. And I don't choose to offend anyone, except on this web site (because people here deserve it and are made of sterner stuff). Identity politics (See Theodore Roosevelt's complaints about hyphenated-Americans) sucks, divide and conquer, the Democrat way (the party of slavery).
Quote from: Baruch on February 11, 2017, 09:32:23 AM
Since they closed your highway down, you can probably amble across without being hit ;-)) (Route 66).
I work with lots of African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans. Good people that. And I don't choose to offend anyone, except on this web site (because people here deserve it and are made of sterner stuff). Identity politics (See Theodore Roosevelt's complaints about hyphenated-Americans) sucks, divide and conquer, the Democrat way (the party of slavery).
So you are a Democrat then?
Quote from: Cavebear on February 15, 2017, 07:38:26 AM
So you are a Democrat then?
The Democrats return to original form ... rebels 1861, rebels 2017.
Yes, I was a true Red Democrat (irony in that nomenclatura) ... social progressive, fiscal/foreign policy conservative, from 1974. Wife (more liberal than I) and I got invited with others to the governor's mansion, for all we did for The Party (see Democrat Manifesto by Groucho Marx) back in 1988. Went all the way to the State Convention. Politics on the ground is dog work, particularly since we were just about the only Democrats in our precinct.
By 1974 ... it seemed that our long national nightmare was over, Nixon was out, and I could forgive Ford but my dad couldn't. By 1986 it seemed that the Evangelical nuts had taken over the Republican party ... so fewer cross over votes for me. By 1996 it seemed that the Clinton cancer was terminal, and the DNC had buried FDR forever ... and still have. So I stopped voting for awhile, since I don't have a time machine to go vote in another century. Well after awhile, we were in a new century, I resumed voting and Hopey Changey took my hope and stomped on it, just like Clinton did in 1994 (NAFTA). Dropped dynamic duo permanently in 2016 ... will never vote for either party again (on national ticket). Otherwise I vote against all incumbents. Stomp what cockroaches I can.
Quote from: Baruch on February 15, 2017, 01:24:58 PM
The Democrats return to original form ... rebels 1861, rebels 2017.
Yes, I was a true Red Democrat (irony in that nomenclatura) ... social progressive, fiscal/foreign policy conservative, from 1974. Wife (more liberal than I) and I got invited with others to the governor's mansion, for all we did for The Party (see Democrat Manifesto by Groucho Marx) back in 1988. Went all the way to the State Convention. Politics on the ground is dog work, particularly since we were just about the only Democrats in our precinct.
By 1974 ... it seemed that our long national nightmare was over, Nixon was out, and I could forgive Ford but my dad couldn't. By 1986 it seemed that the Evangelical nuts had taken over the Republican party ... so fewer cross over votes for me. By 1996 it seemed that the Clinton cancer was terminal, and the DNC had buried FDR forever ... and still have. So I stopped voting for awhile, since I don't have a time machine to go vote in another century. Well after awhile, we were in a new century, I resumed voting and Hopey Changey took my hope and stomped on it, just like Clinton did in 1994 (NAFTA). Dropped dynamic duo permanently in 2016 ... will never vote for either party again (on national ticket). Otherwise I vote against all incumbents. Stomp what cockroaches I can.
Oh please... The Democrats are no more the rebels of 1860 than the Republicans are the abolitionists from then. In fact, they have switched sides. And you know that. Why do you babble on with such obvious nonsense? Can't you think of anything original?
If Bannon and Trump get their way there might not even be an opposition party to vote for. I suspect that a good number of republicans are in favor of eliminating opposition parties as well to create a one party system. Bannon has already labeled the press as the opposition and Trump is definitely not in favor of a free press. They're also not in favor of an open internet and would gladly use every opportunity to clamp down on free expression under the guise of eliminating "fake news" to where the only news you need to be concerned with is whatever they say you should be concerned with.
I suspect many of the fake news stories were put out there with this in mind. Get the public used to not believing any news and happily back the idea of censorship for the sole purpose of ridding us of the scourge of fake news only to be replaced with a new and improved sanitized version free of those pesky opinions and facts which we all know are lies anyway..
What I'm suggesting is that the "fake news" was and is a ruse to implement white house controlled censorship. Once someone has the ability to determine what is fake news on your behalf they also get the ability to censor ALL of the news. Imagine journalists reporting the news, but have inadvertently gotten part of the story wrong. Well, it's now fake news and punishable by law. It then becomes a real problem because the only news they're permitted to report at all is whatever those in power says is true. One line, one word in the wrong place at the wrong time and the journalist now stands accused of deceminating fake news. Welcome to the 'real world of Donald J'..
Thee are people who say "one election one time." And some of them are here.
Quote from: Cavebear on February 17, 2017, 07:56:32 AM
Oh please... The Democrats are no more the rebels of 1860 than the Republicans are the abolitionists from then. In fact, they have switched sides. And you know that. Why do you babble on with such obvious nonsense? Can't you think of anything original?
Why yes, I did. Thanks for noticing. I see your American History goes no further back than 1960. Still butt-hurt over Goldwater and Wallace? LBJ's great society, was slavery 2.0.
Quote from: Cavebear on February 17, 2017, 07:56:32 AM
Oh please... The Democrats are no more the rebels of 1860 than the Republicans are the abolitionists from then. In fact, they have switched sides. And you know that. Why do you babble on with such obvious nonsense? Can't you think of anything original?
I'm quickly coming to realize that Baruch is just another troll. But at least he's
our troll...
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 17, 2017, 04:27:32 PM
I'm quickly coming to realize that Baruch is just another troll. But at least he's our troll...
Ogre, not troll ... with layers like an onion, not a parfait. Is that you Donkey (Democrat)?
Quote from: Baruch on February 17, 2017, 06:31:32 PM
Ogre, not troll ... with layers like an onion, not a parfait. Is that you Donkey (Democrat)?
No serious forum needs a troll. Yes they exist. Yes there is Burach here as one. Yes one is not needed.
Quote from: Cavebear on February 19, 2017, 03:05:13 AM
No serious forum needs a troll. Yes they exist. Yes there is Burach here as one. Yes one is not needed.
Still sleepy? Burach ...