Thoughts on this presidential campaign
I'm curious if others feel this way. To frame where I'm coming from...I have spent some time over the past few years dealing face-to-face with politicians in some of my work and in some of my personal time (fighting a law). I have confirmed the reports that they are shallow, narcissistic whack jobs for the most part.
So...I have come to the conclusion that political campaigns are just a form of entertainment. None of these candidates seem very special, very intelligent, for the most part. I do love Rand Paul's position on liberty and smaller government. But, he's not electable due to lack of connection with the average mouth-breather voter (my editorial, sorry). But...really...this is just entertainment. The President is just a puppet, for the most part. Seriously...do any of these candidates even remotely appear presidential to you? Rubio? Hillary? Christie? Trump? Bernie the socialist? It's surreal to me that they've all made it this far. This is the best we can do? LOL
I'll cut this self-indulgent rant off. But, I'd appreciate your thoughts. And, have a great Christmas, everybody. You are a great group of thinkers. Nice to visit with you all.
So...I have come to the conclusion that political campaigns are just a form of entertainment. None of these candidates seem very special, very intelligent, for the most part. I do love Rand Paul's position on liberty and smaller government. But, he's not electable due to lack of connection with the average mouth-breather voter (my editorial, sorry). But...really...this is just entertainment. The President is just a puppet, for the most part. Seriously...do any of these candidates even remotely appear presidential to you? Rubio? Hillary? Christie? Trump? Bernie the socialist? It's surreal to me that they've all made it this far. This is the best we can do? LOL
I'll cut this self-indulgent rant off. But, I'd appreciate your thoughts. And, have a great Christmas, everybody. You are a great group of thinkers. Nice to visit with you all.
Previous comments...
I agree on Rand Paul. He actually seems to have a view on government beyond his own popularity. Paul isn't winning, but a an Paul-like figure could win one day. I don't think voters are too stupid.
I listened to part of the last debate, and I was disgusted by the candidates falling over one another to declare how scared $&*!less everyone is of extremist criminals, aggrandizing people who cause almost no harm compared to everyday perils like accidents and disease.
In some ways, Trump is to Republicans as Sanders is would be to the Democrats if he were winning. All things being equal I lean Democrat, so I guess it's a good development that their party is closer to nominating a nutjob than mine. I would much rather have someone like Paul winning, though, someone willing to say he's not mad at people who like spending like the drug war, childhood nutrition programs, subsidized healthcare, a global military empire, but a) we cannot afford it without raising taxes and b) it's very questionable how far we have to interpret the Constitution to say all this is legal.
Supreme Court ruled Corporations have the rights of persons. Also Person have the rights of corporations.
Some Corporations including LLCs which have PACs try to buy your vote with a new and legal form of money called free speech.
Therefore a vote is now a commercial product.
So..figure up how much your vote is worth and accept bids. So far it's only advertising..another name for free speech.
Only the two federal positions are nationwide so the question becomes what are you offering for my commercial product?
Suppose they are a nonprofit PAC under an LLC and are asking for a donation of what is now clearly identified as your commercial product?
Ask if they are willing to provide a tax receipt which will result in a suitable tax deduction.
Meanwhile we have one member who can't figure this out and is changing his posting name to clueless. That is humor and not accurate there may be as many as three or five.
Hope you have a great Christmas as well. Good conversing with you too!
If it's worth defending enough will come forward. If enough to do not come forward it's not worth defending.
No More Cannon Fodder and while I'm at it no more baby factories - equal rights and responsibilities for women.
This creates interesting scenarios.
If they don't pay their student loans they are activated and then earn a GI Education Bill method of funding which is transferred to the previous debt.
The same of course applying to a women.
If, for example, a riot disrupts the education process on the campus the male students are activated and used, so to speak, to put out the fire.
I can think of all sorts of wonderful results. Ah yes. Non loan payment followed by activation of their previously volunteered status creates a pool of ready trained technical skills. Medical, Engineering, the sciences, linguists, come to mind. For those with no useful skills (social sciences, etc.) it provides for a way to fill the military's servant class components.
In the trade this is known as an 'elegant' solution meaning it solves more than one problem with only one solution.
not ideal, but at least he is not a socialist. I have
reservations about religiosity, but he wouldn't have
the power to do much about that. Also, he seems
to have courage, considering the way he filibustered on the Senate floor. And at least
he's not Trump. I just do not want Trump, and
would vote for him only if he got the nomination,
which I greatly hope he will not. He has come
out in favor of eminent domain; he has bragged
about being unprincipled; and if he did get in,
it could be a disaster.
Well Done. Great "Thoughts", Abaco!
Get past the media hype that Ben is not tough enough. He is! #bc2dc16
Hearing what is no doubt a somewhat practiced stump speech still provided a lot more from him than the debates and quickie media interviews. He quoted Thomas Jefferson, Alexis DeTocqueville, Theodore Roosevelt (the famous immigration quote) and others. He told the story of his mom and how she made the kids read at least two books a week and write a report and submit them to her for review. Years later he learned she couldn't read, but it was all to get the kids reading. Dr Carson was hooked and he told the story of how by 5th grade he was reading everything about geology he could get his hands on and had learned to identify every rock type there is. He then was the only one in his class that could identify obsidian and it dawned on him that he was smart too, and look where it took him. If he could get the nomination, which is looking tough right now, I'd vote for him in an instant.
But I think he is a good and moral man, and support him. I'd rather see more like him, as citizen patriots in office, than the current professional politician class.
But after watching the debates, it occurred to me that if ANY of the Republicans made it to the WH, ALL the Rest of the candidates might, in their own way,comprise a Wonderful Cabinet for the Prez. Or Ambassador or whatever.
I can agree that Trump might/would be a Wild Card, but hopefully Checks and Balances would rein him in, and some of the individual skills of the other Cabinet Members would do us wonders.
Remember the Early Days when Christie was pushing back on the unions? That would be good maybe in the Labor Department...
And shit, Carly would be wonderful for what I always accused her of... her goal is Downsizing To Success... and damned near Every Government Bureau, Agency or Committee needs that more than anything else...
He's cool, calm, collected and as Bible-Toting as just about every other Conservative/Republican out there. Although I'd vote for a rock before I'd vote for Sanders... :)