The Political Junkie™ Thread - USA Edition

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**reds8n**

http://theminorityreportblog.com/2015/12/03/bombshell-marco-rubios-alleged-mistress-comes-forward/

although from what I've seen there's something of a lack of actual details/story.

yet.

would that finish him here then ?

**A Town Called Malus**

CptJake wrote:

dogma wrote:
whembly wrote:

From what I understood... it stopped all Iranian immigration for a bit.

Is this a thing now? Confusing entry and immigration?

It stopped visas for non-immigrants as well, including students as has already been pointed out. It also sent home existing Iranians here on visas.

Except it is written there, right in the text you quoted at the beginning, that it does not block visas for entry to the US on humanitarian grounds:

...except for compelling and proven humanitarian reasons

I'm pretty sure running from a crazy cult who want you to submit to them or die is a compelling humanitarian reason, not to mention that it is proven that ISIS will kill those who do not subjugate themselves to its will.

**CptJake**

This guy, in my opinion, explains it well:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/12/09/glenn-reynolds-liberals-have-chosen-donald-their-destructor/76996298/

In part:

Enter Donald Trump. People who are unhappy with the things Trump is saying need to understand that he’s only getting so much traction because he’s filling a void. If the responsible people would talk about these issues, and take action, Trump wouldn’t take up so much space.

And there’s a lesson for our ruling class there: Calling Trump a fascist is a bit much but movements like fascism and communism get their start because the mechanisms of liberal democracy seem weak and ineffectual and dishonest. If you don’t want Trump — or, perhaps, some post-Trump figure who really is a fascist — to dominate things, you need to stop being weak and ineffectual and dishonest.

Right now, after years of Obama hope-and-change, a majority of Americans (56%) think Islam is incompatible with American values. That’s true even for 43% of Democrats.

In that sort of environment, where people feel unsafe and where the powers-that-be seem to be, well, weak and ineffectual and dishonest, the appeal of someone who doesn’t seem weak and ineffectual grows stronger.

Likewise, it’s a bit hard to take people seriously about Trump’s threat to civil liberties when President Obama was just endorsing an unconstitutional gun ban, when his attorney general was threatening to prosecute people for anti-Muslim speech (a threat later walked back, thankfully) and when universities and political leaders around the country are making clear their belief that free speech is obsolete.

He concludes:

If you wish to hold fascism, or even just Trumpism, at bay, then we need elites who are trustworthy, who can be counted on to protect the country, and who respect the Constitution even when it gets in the way of doing something they want to do. By failing to live up to these standards, they have chosen their "Destructor." Let’s hope that they haven’t chosen ours, as well.

**Frazzled**

Thats choice.

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

A lot of Americans on this thread are understandably annoyed at Trump for making their nation look like a bunch of idiots in the eyes of the world,

But you guys should be proud of the fact that you have a democratic system, and a constitution, that allows idiots like Trump to spout gibberish on an industrial scale.

**Co'tor Shas**

reds8n wrote:
http://theminorityreportblog.com/2015/12/03/bombshell-marco-rubios-alleged-mistress-comes-forward/

although from what I've seen there's something of a lack of actual details/story.

yet.

would that finish him here then ?

Assuming true, it'll definitely hurt him in the primaries but, as long as he doesn't run on a socially conservative platform, I don't think it would do too much damage in the general.

**LordofHats**

CptJake wrote:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/12/09/glenn-reynolds-liberals-have-chosen-donald-their-destructor/76996298/

That title should immediately scream "my opinion is completely disengenuous and everything that follows will be hogwash complaining about 'dirty liberals' and how it's all their fault that Donald Trump exists and is making my side of partisan politics look ridiculous, but I'll make sure to complain about Obama because he's bad too."

Read the article. Totally called it

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Co'tor Shas wrote:
[Assuming true, it'll definitely hurt him in the primaries but, as long as he doesn't run on a socially conservative platform, I don't think it would do too much damage in the general.

I tend to find that affairs don't actually result in much political damage period. There's the initial outrage and then everyone forgets about it.

**Frazzled**

You youngins. Let me help with you education.

The man named Hart.

The man named Edwards.

**agnosto**

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
A lot of Americans on this thread are understandably annoyed at Trump for making their nation look like a bunch of idiots in the eyes of the world,

But you guys should be proud of the fact that you have a democratic system, and a constitution, that allows idiots like Trump to spout gibberish on an industrial scale.

Naw, Trump is the political equivalent of the media only talking to the dumbest, most redneck person at the scene of an event.

"I done seen him jump off of that there bridge! He was like, "weeee" and he done jumped off and...and I can't look no more before he hit that there pavement."

"I told beezus over yonder to hold my beer and I had to run over and take a picture.".

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

That may be, Agnosto, but I wish we had a written constitution in the UK. If I want to find out my rights, I've got to wade through the history books

**Frazzled**

agnosto wrote:
Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
A lot of Americans on this thread are understandably annoyed at Trump for making their nation look like a bunch of idiots in the eyes of the world,

But you guys should be proud of the fact that you have a democratic system, and a constitution, that allows idiots like Trump to spout gibberish on an industrial scale.

Naw, Trump is the political equivalent of the media only talking to the dumbest, most redneck person at the scene of an event.

"I done seen him jump off of that there bridge! He was like, "weeee" and he done jumped off and...and I can't look no more before he hit that there pavement."

"I told beezus over yonder to hold my beer and I had to run over and take a picture.".

Exactly. He is the ratings gift that keeps on giving. Any pretense that news is about news has gone out the window with Trump.

**LordofHats**

What's the alternative? A bunch of fairly mundane politicians, some of whom are almost as crazy as Trump (looking at you Carson), or who are completely uninspiring and could almost be written off as realistic contenders from the beginning.

Trump gets attention sure because he's a loon, but there are loons everywhere for everything. This particular loon gets so much attention precisely because there's little else to pay attention too.

**agnosto**

LordofHats wrote:
What's the alternative? A bunch of fairly mundane politicians, some of whom are almost as crazy as Trump (looking at you Carson), or who are completely uninspiring and could almost be written off as realistic contenders from the beginning.

Trump gets attention sure because he's a loon, but there are loons everywhere for everything. This particular loon gets so much attention precisely because there's little else to pay attention too.

I honestly think that Bush would be in the spotlight now were it not for Trump and his antics. I'm not a giant fan of yet another Bush as President but he's been the least objectionable candidate in my mind and he's less full of the crazy. He's a slimy politician but at least he's your garden variety slimy politician not an outright nutso.

**Frazzled**

Mmmm...no.
-Four to ten governors initially running.
-Two Fortune 500 business types.
-Two Senators.

Any other time they would have been awesome.

But this has been good. Its clearing the bench to bring forth a very strong candidate.

I'd rather the parties have internal cage matches and each come out with strong candidates than a coronation parade.

**CptJake**

agnosto wrote:
LordofHats wrote:
What's the alternative? A bunch of fairly mundane politicians, some of whom are almost as crazy as Trump (looking at you Carson), or who are completely uninspiring and could almost be written off as realistic contenders from the beginning.

Trump gets attention sure because he's a loon, but there are loons everywhere for everything. This particular loon gets so much attention precisely because there's little else to pay attention too.

I honestly think that Bush would be in the spotlight now were it not for Trump and his antics. I'm not a giant fan of yet another Bush as President but he's been the least objectionable candidate in my mind and he's less full of the crazy. He's a slimy politician but at least he's your garden variety slimy politician not an outright nutso.

Folks are sick of 'slimy politicians'. And rightfully so. Bush was doomed from the get go.

**jasper76**

To this day, I still think Bush will win the nomination. When ballets get punched, I think many of the people who live in fear of terrorism and currently say they support Trump will cling to the perceived strength of the Bush's when the rubber hits the road.

I could be wrong, of course, but Republicans almost always nominate the establishment candidate. I once thought Rubio could compete but almost every conservative I know say they like him, but he's just too young.

**dogma**

CptJake wrote:

Folks are sick of 'slimy politicians'. And rightfully so. Bush was doomed from the get go.

Funny you say that, because I'm getting sick of "folks"; the pretenders to simplicity who wrap themselves in the concept as though it were armor.

**Breotan**

I don't know, jasper76. I'm vibing a lot more support for Cruz or Rubio at the moment. I think a lot of people are tired of Bush/Clinton.

**Ensis Ferrae**

Breotan wrote:
I don't know, jasper76. I'm vibing a lot more support for Cruz or Rubio at the moment. I think a lot of people are tired of Bush/Clinton.

And honestly, Cruz scares me nearly as much as Trump does. That guy should NEVER get anywhere near the Oval Office, except as a photo op.

**jasper76**

Breotan wrote:
I don't know, jasper76. I'm vibing a lot more support for Cruz or Rubio at the moment. I think a lot of people are tired of Bush/Clinton.

My take: many people have not felt prosperous since Bill Clinton, and many people have not felt safe since George Bush, and there's a good chance these will weigh out in how people vote. Prosperity and safety will likely trump the desire to have someone "uncorrupted" by politics, and in I suspext a lack of government experiance as displayed by Trump and especially Carson will be a detriment in the long run rather than the advantage it is holding, which is really only with a minority of Republican voters.

In other words, I think the majority of Americans in both parties realize that an administration with little to no governing experience has little chance of improving the economy or national security. People like Bush and perhaps Rubio will become more attractive the closer people get to actually voting

Right now, the best thing for the GOP brand would be for a bunch of candidates to drop out so the voters can coalesce behind an establishment candidate. Otherwise, were still going to remain impressed by the 25-30% Trump is getting when compared to his rivals, which are sharing the majority 75% amongst them.

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Al Jazeera English is reporting that millions of Chinese citizens have taken to the streets in support of Trump

**Co'tor Shas**

I'm sure China would love to have trump as the US president..

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Co'tor Shas wrote:
I'm sure China would love to have trump as the US president..

On a more serious note, on reflection, they probably would. I've said before that the USA faces huge challenges this century, and that they need a modern day FDR or Lincoln to lead the way. Sadly, they'll probably elect a modern day James Buchanan.

**jasper76**

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
Co'tor Shas wrote:
I'm sure China would love to have trump as the US president..

On a more serious note, on reflection, they probably would. I've said before that the USA faces huge challenges this century, and that they need a modern day FDR or Lincoln to lead the way. Sadly, they'll probably elect a modern day James Buchanan.

It's possible that leaders are defined by their times. I can't imagine Lincoln would be as celebrated a character if there were no Civil War, nor do I think FDR would have been incredibly noteworthy if it weren't for the Great Depression and World War II.

Right now, people are mostly afraid of poverty, global warming, terrorism, and nuclear prolifeeration, so I imagine history will judge administrations by their success or failure in dealing with these particular challenges.

**WrentheFaceless**

Unfortunately, it seems time and time again that the people willing to run for office, are the ones that shouldn't be running for office.

**d-usa**

WrentheFaceless wrote:
Unfortunately, it seems time and time again that the people willing to run for office, are the ones that shouldn't be running for office.

I always think that it is an interesting paradox that we often complain that people running for president are narcissistic, but it seems that you have to be narcissistic to think "you know who would do a great job running this country? I would".

**the Signless**

Co'tor Shas wrote:
I'm sure China would love to have trump as the US president..

On one hand, we lose a valuable market to export our products and some businesses will see a plunge.

On the other hand, the total collapse of the US economy after Trump tries to play hard and confront us about our supposed currency manipulation will allow our expansion into the South Pacific to go largely unchecked (we're looking at you Taiwan).

**Spetulhu**

jasper76 wrote:
In other words, I think the majority of Americans in both parties realize that an administration with little to no governing experience has little chance of improving the economy or national security. People like Bush and perhaps Rubio will become more attractive the closer people get to actually voting

Experience? But wasn't that one of the things it became clear Jeb Bush lacks? Florida did well despite Bush, not thanks to him. Though it does say one good thing about him - he doesn't go messing about with stuff that doesn't need to be messed with. ;-)

**Ouze**

reds8n wrote:
http://theminorityreportblog.com/2015/12/03/bombshell-marco-rubios-alleged-mistress-comes-forward/

although from what I've seen there's something of a lack of actual details/story.

yet.

would that finish him here then ?

I doubt it. Unless the mistress is a dude or a prostitute, extramarital affairs usually aren't a death sentence in American politics. And sometimes, not even if it was a dude, or a prostitute.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

LordofHats wrote:
CptJake wrote:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/12/09/glenn-reynolds-liberals-have-chosen-donald-their-destructor/76996298/

That title should immediately scream "my opinion is completely disengenuous and everything that follows will be hogwash complaining about 'dirty liberals' and how it's all their fault that Donald Trump exists and is making my side of partisan politics look ridiculous, but I'll make sure to complain about Obama because he's bad too."

Read the article. Totally called it.

The best part about it is that this is an article that somehow blames liberals for poor choices in the GOP primary because of weakness, somehow (because liberals are always weak) and yet can't seem to make the connect about what it says about a party that somehow has it's electoral choices decided by a minority percentage of the opposing party. Hilarious, in a way - whatever lets you sleep at night i guess. The party of personal responsibility, everyone! Point and laugh.

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

This is comedy gold: Donald Trump has declared war on Scotland!

As a result of Trump's comments against Muslims, the Scottish government has dropped Trump as a trade ambassador (he built a golf course in Scotland) and Scotland's universities have withdrawn the honorary degrees they awarded him.

Trump is not a happy bunny.

Still, if America wants to make a big deal out of this, we're ready to repel invaders! Bring it on!