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The story should read "In great surprise to everyone, a State Senator turned out to be narrow-minded and bad at politics".

In other news, whatever. There's what, between 30 and 40 people in the senate of each state? And anywhere from 50 to 100 in the House of Representatives in each state? For the smaller states in the union, that's a pretty big drain on the political talent available, so it's no surprise that you end up with plenty of politicians that simply aren't up to the job. I mean, any Democrat with any political nouse at all would realise that any outreach to the Log Cabin Republicans was vital, a chance to drive a divide inside the opposition party.

But instead you get people like that idiot senator.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
Vote independent.

Actually scratch that, Vote for the Empy.

Vote for Pedro;



Honestly. Things wouldn't change that much

 sebster wrote:
The story should read "In great surprise to everyone, a State Senator turned out to be narrow-minded and bad at politics".

In other news, whatever. There's what, between 30 and 40 people in the senate of each state? And anywhere from 50 to 100 in the House of Representatives in each state? For the smaller states in the union, that's a pretty big drain on the political talent available, so it's no surprise that you end up with plenty of politicians that simply aren't up to the job. I mean, any Democrat with any political nouse at all would realise that any outreach to the Log Cabin Republicans was vital, a chance to drive a divide inside the opposition party.

But instead you get people like that idiot senator.

I'm seriously starting to wonder if there was a "Sell By Date" on being a Statesman... Seems like more and more each day, we're getting inundated with idiocy like this from nearly all levels of government.


How's New Zealand's politics?? I think I may hide out there

Maybe we need to start setting term limits

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:
I'm seriously starting to wonder if there was a "Sell By Date" on being a Statesman... Seems like more and more each day, we're getting inundated with idiocy like this from nearly all levels of government.

I think it's always been like that, especially at the state level. There's just not that big a pool of people with the ability and connections to get in to politics, and so plenty of idiots manage to sneak in.

Maybe we just report more on it now, as the internet seems to have opened a whole new field of journalism, with this little anecdotes about some random person getting screwed in a way the rest of us find interesting.

How's New Zealand's politics?? I think I may hide out there

I have no clue, sorry

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
Maybe we need to start setting term limits

We already have term limits... it's called the ballot box. The problem is that most people seem to think their guy is great and everyone else's politician needs to go.

If Christie and Hillary end up on the presidential ballot, I'm going to be sorely tempted to write in Cthulu.

BairdEC wrote:

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
Maybe we need to start setting term limits

We already have term limits... it's called the ballot box. The problem is that most people seem to think their guy is great and everyone else's politician needs to go.

If Christie and Hillary end up on the presidential ballot, I'm going to be sorely tempted to write in Cthulu.

If Hillary is on the ballot, I don't see any other candidate that can take her down. *

*well Cthulu just might!

White stars = Australia

Red stars = New Zealand

 motyak wrote:
White stars = Australia

Red stars = New Zealand

I'd always get those mixed up too...

Unless... you're yanking my chain?

Nope, the flags are suuper similar, just the colours of the stars, and that we have one extra in the bottom left

 sebster wrote:
I think it's always been like that, especially at the state level. There's just not that big a pool of people with the ability and connections to get in to politics, and so plenty of idiots manage to sneak in.

And, possibly more importantly, there's the perfect combination of low (informed) turnout and small districts* that allows candidates that would get laughed out of the first primary in a national race to become representatives for life in their hometown. And of course if you're popular with the right ideological group (such as the ultra-conservative republicans that keep making the news with their idiotic comments) you can rely on them being the only high-turnout group year after year and guarantee yourself a seat as long as they like you. So between the incompetents nobody cares enough about to replace and the representative-for-life extremists you've got an endless supply of stupid things to quote.


*For example, here in NC we have 170 people in the state legislature, but we only send 15 to the national level.

 Peregrine wrote:
And, possibly more importantly, there's the perfect combination of low (informed) turnout and small districts* that allows candidates that would get laughed out of the first primary in a national race to become representatives for life in their hometown. And of course if you're popular with the right ideological group (such as the ultra-conservative republicans that keep making the news with their idiotic comments) you can rely on them being the only high-turnout group year after year and guarantee yourself a seat as long as they like you. So between the incompetents nobody cares enough about to replace and the representative-for-life extremists you've got an endless supply of stupid things to quote.

Yeah, good point. Factional loyalty leads to democracy often failing to put a basic check of 'is this person capable of performing in the role?'

Small town popularity often leads to well liked but grossly incompetent people getting elected as well.

 motyak wrote:
White stars = Australia

Red stars = New Zealand

Yes, I knew that all ready... but as Australia is anti-gun, I cant move there... hence why I was wondering to an Aussie about the state of NZ's politics... which may not have been the best idea, because I'd imagine many of you may be a bit chafed over the ABs this year

 whembly wrote:
If Hillary is on the ballot, I don't see any other candidate that can take her down.

I read an article you may like to read that opines Mrs. Clinton is unlikely to run.

Still, being "first woman president" has a lot of cachet, that might be irresistable - especially if there is another weak Republican field.

 Ouze wrote:

 whembly wrote:
If Hillary is on the ballot, I don't see any other candidate that can take her down.

I read an article you may like to read that opines Mrs. Clinton is unlikely to run.

Still, being "first woman president" has a lot of cachet, that might be irresistable - especially if there is another weak Republican field.

Unlikely to run? She's been running for a year...

To me the fact that she resigned from her post is a good indication that she'll run. She wants to get some distance between herself and any potential harmful associations with the current Administration.

She will run.

 Ouze wrote:

 whembly wrote:
If Hillary is on the ballot, I don't see any other candidate that can take her down.

I read an article you may like to read that opines Mrs. Clinton is unlikely to run.

Still, being "first woman president" has a lot of cachet, that might be irresistable - especially if there is another weak Republican field.

Yeah... I don't buy that.

The Clintons are the ultimate Democratic team player.

I can see her run for only one election, win and forego the 2nd term. Becoming the 1st Female President is the ultimate ego boosting achievement.

 kronk wrote:
She will run.

It's funny... because folks saying things like this, especially on here sounds to me like Han Solo convincing Leia that the Millenium Falcon will work

 whembly wrote:

 Ouze wrote:

 whembly wrote:
If Hillary is on the ballot, I don't see any other candidate that can take her down.

I read an article you may like to read that opines Mrs. Clinton is unlikely to run.

Still, being "first woman president" has a lot of cachet, that might be irresistable - especially if there is another weak Republican field.

Yeah... I don't buy that.

The Clintons are the ultimate Democratic team player.

I can see her run for only one election, win and forego the 2nd term. Becoming the 1st Female President is the ultimate ego boosting achievement.

Watch it happen, and we'll be in for another election where speaking out against her you'll be a sexist, just like you were a racist in the last ones...

That is one of the many reasons why I would love to see her up against a Condelezza Rice/Colin Powell ticket

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
That is one of the many reasons why I would love to see her up against a Condelezza Rice/Colin Powell ticket

I'd probably vote for that ticket. Either one would have been a much better candidate than the sitting POTUS, even though I don't agree with some of their past positions.

Don't you think it's kind of weird that in one thread we're decrying the flawed intelligence that the Iraq war was based on, and in this thread we're endorsing the architects and public face, respectively, of that flawed intelligence for president and vice president?




"You can believe me, guys!"

Weird isn't the word I would have used.

 Ouze wrote:
Don't you think it's kind of weird that in one thread we're decrying the flawed intelligence that the Iraq war was based on, and in this thread we're endorsing the architects and public face, respectively, of that flawed intelligence for president and vice president?

Spoiler:

"You can believe me, guys!"

Yeah, well, I'm one of those meanie types that think the war was a good thing. It's just too bad the Powell et al made such a poor case for it when the only excuse we needed was "Saddam has not yet (after 12 years) complied with the cease fire terms and is obstructing verification."

The only complaint I would have is that both Powell and Rice seem to be in favor of more big government, which I am opposed to. Even so, either one would have been a better president than the current sitting president.

The OP is a good example of why bi-partisan politics is a bad idea, too much us vs them mentality.

I cannot believe anyone would vote for Colin Powell, I think the pronunciation of his first name is a perfect descriptor of the person in question. During the last term I had a great many laughs at things said like " I will now leave you in the hands of my college Colon" ect. Thank you Republicans for many many laughs during a political term. (maybe that should just read thank you dubbeya)

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
That is one of the many reasons why I would love to see her up against a Condelezza Rice/Colin Powell ticket

Wow.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Yes, I knew that all ready... but as Australia is anti-gun, I cant move there... hence why I was wondering to an Aussie about the state of NZ's politics... which may not have been the best idea, because I'd imagine many of you may be a bit chafed over the ABs this year

On gun laws I understand New Zealand presently has a pretty decent system - gun owners must be registered and vetted, but once that's done they are free to purchase and sell guns to other authorised gun owners as they please.

But they talk funny.

I am too poor to be Republican. I am Jewish, so the Democrats like me. I am also Indian (feather not dot), so the Democrats and Republicans distrust me. I am a Union Ironworker, so all my neighbors fear me. I ride my Harley when I can, so the police hate me. I play 40k, so my friends don't understand me. I drive a Jeep, so Greenpeace despises me. I eat meat, so PETA denounces me.

I am just not sure who I should vote for anymore. Too many people in all levels of government hove too many personal agendas for my tastes. I find it incredible that this fellow got run off for having Rep. buddies. Years ago they would do the same thing if someone was seen being buddy buddy with someone who was gay ... but they would come up with some other crap reason to run them. I am so disappointed with my country right now.

I think in order to complete your personal hate circle voting for some Muslim fundamentalist party might just be the thing you are looking for

I did ... I voted for Obama