Politics - USA

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**kronk**

Asterios wrote:
because she will have to drop out eventually.

I don't believe that for one minute.

**jasper76**

CNN is airing a town hall with the Presidential and VP candidates from the Libertarian Party tomorrow (Wed) night.

The subject of libertarianism as a concept and the current Libertarian Party's platforms was discussed earlier, so perhaps this program will be of interest to some.

**Easy E**

I am actually really surprised by this!

**feeder**

jasper76 wrote:
CNN is airing a town hall with the Presidential and VP candidates from the Libertarian Party tomorrow (Wed) night.

The subject of libertarianism as a concept and the current Libertarian Party's platforms was discussed earlier, so perhaps this program will be of interest to some.

Should be good for a few laughs.

I have friend of a friend who is the local candidate for the Libertarian Party of Canada. His grasp on reality is best described as tenuous.

**Rainbow Dash**

I still have faith in Trump, I mean the campaign hasn't really even started yet.
Too early to say that the words "President Trump" may never be said...

**Compel**

As an outsider, if I were, say, nationalised as an American citizen tomorrow... I think, considering all the various history, I would have to vote democrat and continue to vote democrat for the forseeable future.

However, my personal politics are probably a lot closer to your typical Republican viewpoints. However, the problem continues to be for me, for pretty much every Republican candidate I've been aware of, even the ones I could say, "yeah, I agree with you on all those things" all have some gigantic, massive red flipping line that says, "no, because of this, I could never vote for you."

I heard a joke once that was along the lines of, "read the wikipedia pages for Republican candidates and give them points based on how far down the page you reached before you felt the urge to vomit." Hyperbole too far, but yeah, that's the impression that's generally seen from the fowk I know.

Bleh, I'm getting to the point to start thinking the whole world is screwed.

**whembly**

Wo.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he agrees that delegates to the Republican national convention should be free to vote their conscience, even if that means not supporting presumptive nominee Donald Trump

WATERTOWN, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday he agrees that delegates to the Republican national convention should be free to vote their conscience, even if that means not supporting presumptive nominee Donald Trump.

Walker is a former presidential candidate and a delegate to the convention next month. He told reporters following a groundbreaking at a sausage factory that he will follow Wisconsin Republican Party rules and cast his ballot for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the first round because Cruz won the state primary.

But he also left open the possibility that the rules could change between now and the convention next month, and gave credence to House Speaker Paul Ryan's comments from last week that delegates should vote their conscience.

"I think his comments are legitimate," Walker said. "I think historically, not just this year, delegates are and should be able to vote the way they see fit. ... We'll see how things go between now and the convention as to what the next steps are. I'm not going to speculate now only because you all know the situation may change by this afternoon, let alone between now and the convention."

Under Wisconsin rules, at-large delegates like Walker are bound to vote for whichever candidate won statewide. Cruz beat Trump by 13 points on April 5, the billionaire's last defeat before becoming the presumptive nominee. Delegates can switch their votes to another candidate only if they are released or the candidate fails to get 30 percent of the vote in any round at the convention.

Walker backed Cruz in the primary, then endorsed Trump when he became the presumptive nominee. But he wavered in his backing since Trump questioned the ability of a judge to be fair in a lawsuit involving Trump University because of the judge's Mexican heritage. Walker said he wanted Trump to rescind those comments and "I still haven't heard those clarified."

Even as Walker wavers, the top Republican in the Wisconsin state Senate repeated his call Tuesday for the GOP to get behind Trump. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said attempts to abandon Trump for some other alternative "is just not going to work." Doing that would hurt other Republicans on the ballot, including U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.

<rubs hands together>

GAME ON YOU GUYS!*

*contested convention looking likely here!

**A Town Called Malus**

kronk wrote:
Asterios wrote:
because she will have to drop out eventually.

I don't believe that for one minute.

The Deadly Assassin plotline of Tom Baker Doctor Who comes to mind, whereby the Doctor evades execution by running for the newly vacated spot of Time Lord president

**whembly**

dogma wrote:
whembly wrote:
That should tell the RNC convention delegates to drop Trump...

Why? Who will they select otherwise? Cruz? Rubio? Kasich? Breaking all the RNC's rules?

Anybody but Trump would absolutely be better.

And even under a fair reading of the current rules, they’re entitled to defy the voters in their home states and choose whatever nominee they like.

**Peregrine**

whembly wrote:
And even under a fair reading of the current rules, they’re entitled to defy the voters in their home states and choose whatever nominee they like.

They're entitled to do so. They'd be committing suicide as a party if they did. Like it or not Trump is your candidate.

**whembly**

Peregrine wrote:
whembly wrote:
And even under a fair reading of the current rules, they’re entitled to defy the voters in their home states and choose whatever nominee they like.

They're entitled to do so. They'd be committing suicide as a party if they did. Like it or not Trump is your candidate.

Nah... damn near 50% of GOP voters want RNC to dump Trump.

Also, there's no "defy voters" here... The RNC (DNC, other political parties) can simply nominate anyone. The "rules" (yes, air-quotes) are not laws, and SOCTUS has ruled that the National Party rules supercedes State Party rules.

**Peregrine**

And today in "why spray-tan Hitler is a horrible person" news, Trump is accused of raping a 13 year old girl: http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/donald-trump-accused-rape-federal-court-lawsuit

Remind me again why I'm supposed to be impressed by the "at least he's not Hillary" argument?

**whembly**

Peregrine wrote:
And today in "why spray-tan Hitler is a horrible person" news, Trump is accused of raping a 13 year old girl: http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/donald-trump-accused-rape-federal-court-lawsuit

Remind me again why I'm supposed to be impressed by the "at least he's not Hillary" argument?

Vote for the not-Republican/not-Democratic nominee!

Gary Johnson for the win!

FYI: CNN is doing a townhall with Gary J. Wednesday evening.

**Peregrine**

whembly wrote:
Nah... damn near 50% of GOP voters want RNC to dump Trump.

So, like I said, committing suicide as a party. If 50% want to dump Trump then 50% don't want to, and if the republican party loses even half of those voters then they are guaranteed to lose in november.

Also, there's no "defy voters" here... The RNC (DNC, other political parties) can simply nominate anyone. The "rules" (yes, air-quotes) are not laws, and SOCTUS has ruled that the National Party rules supercedes State Party rules.

Yes, of course the party can legally pick whatever candidate they want. Nobody is going to be spending time in prison for violating election laws if they decide to ignore the primary results and pick someone other than Trump. But you can absolutely guarantee that the democrats are going to take advantage of that decision. We would hear, over and over again, how Cruz (or whoever else they nominate) was willing to ignore the will of the people and be appointed to his position by the party elite, and therefore clearly can't be trusted to obey the will of the people once he's in office. The replacement candidate would be absolutely dead to unaffiliated voters, and you can't win an election with just the hardcore "anyone but Hillary" conservatives.

And this is assuming that Trump and his former voters fall in line with the party's decision instead of making trouble. If Trump runs as a third-party candidate or his supporters stay home on election day the democrats win in a landslide. And they probably manage to take decisive majorities in both houses of congress and the various state legislatures as well.

**dogma**

whembly wrote:

Anybody but Trump would absolutely be better.

Hillary?

whembly wrote:

And even under a fair reading of the current rules, they’re entitled to defy the voters in their home states and choose whatever nominee they like.

Fair and balanced, I'm sure.

**Ouze**

Peregrine wrote:
And today in "why spray-tan Hitler is a horrible person" news, Trump is accused of raping a 13 year old girl: http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/donald-trump-accused-rape-federal-court-lawsuit

Remind me again why I'm supposed to be impressed by the "at least he's not Hillary" argument?

I'm not saying I believe or disbelieve her, but if she was 13 at the time, why a civil suit and not going to the police... statute of limitations, I guess?

edit: yeah, NY has a short window.

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

I would just like to say that I hope my fellow dakka members from across the Pond, enjoy their last day on Earth. Big vote in Britain tomorrow, and if it's a leave vote, Western Civilization will collapse or something

Enjoy your last 24 hours

**reds8n**

whembly wrote:
Peregrine wrote:
whembly wrote:
And even under a fair reading of the current rules, they’re entitled to defy the voters in their home states and choose whatever nominee they like.

They're entitled to do so. They'd be committing suicide as a party if they did. Like it or not Trump is your candidate.

Nah... damn near 50% of GOP voters want RNC to dump Trump.

Also, there's no "defy voters" here... The RNC (DNC, other political parties) can simply nominate anyone. The "rules" (yes, air-quotes) are not laws, and SOCTUS has ruled that the National Party rules supercedes State Party rules.

Shame more of those attending aren't literate, if they were you could have a write in vote campaign !

It's going to be a very odd event given how divisive Trump is.

His somewhat belligerent claim about his fundraising

http://www.syracuse.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/06/trump_threatens_to_stop_fundraising_for_gop_if_party_doesnt_unify_behind_him.html

I think might backfire somewhat -- with the party establishment anyway.

Possibly be seen as a good thing for the man in the street etc, but not sure his pockets are deep enough.

**jasper76**

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
I would just like to say that I hope my fellow dakka members from across the Pond, enjoy their last day on Earth. Big vote in Britain tomorrow, and if it's a leave vote, Western Civilization will collapse or something

Enjoy your last 24 hours

If you all decide to Brexit, and things go south, maybe you can join the US. That would be pretty cool. You'd just have to abandon most of your sovereignty and all of your "royalty".

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

jasper76 wrote:
Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
I would just like to say that I hope my fellow dakka members from across the Pond, enjoy their last day on Earth. Big vote in Britain tomorrow, and if it's a leave vote, Western Civilization will collapse or something

Enjoy your last 24 hours

If you all decide to Brexit, and things go south, maybe you can join the US. That would be pretty cool. You'd just have to abandon most of your sovereignty and all of your "royalty".

There might not be a USA left to join if Trump gets elected

**Frazzled**

I have been having dreams of herds of millions of wiener dogs, ravaging entire nations. Could it be a sign?

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Frazzled wrote:
I have been having dreams of herds of millions of wiener dogs, ravaging entire nations. Could it be a sign?

Yes, a sign that the Texas water supply has been tampered with by Democrats/UN/Lizards/Illuminati or something

**Tannhauser42**

jasper76 wrote:
Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
I would just like to say that I hope my fellow dakka members from across the Pond, enjoy their last day on Earth. Big vote in Britain tomorrow, and if it's a leave vote, Western Civilization will collapse or something

Enjoy your last 24 hours

If you all decide to Brexit, and things go south, maybe you can join the US. That would be pretty cool. You'd just have to abandon most of your sovereignty and all of your "royalty".

No, gotta keep the royalty. They help sell the tabloids on the rare days when the Kardashians didn't do anything.

Anyway, I am somewhat curious as to how the candidates will address the results of the Brexit vote. If Britain does leave, that will have an impact on the US, and I'd like to see how Trump and Hillary deal with it.

**Do_I_Not_Like_That**

Tannhauser42 wrote:
jasper76 wrote:
Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
I would just like to say that I hope my fellow dakka members from across the Pond, enjoy their last day on Earth. Big vote in Britain tomorrow, and if it's a leave vote, Western Civilization will collapse or something

Enjoy your last 24 hours

If you all decide to Brexit, and things go south, maybe you can join the US. That would be pretty cool. You'd just have to abandon most of your sovereignty and all of your "royalty".

No, gotta keep the royalty. They help sell the tabloids on the rare days when the Kardashians didn't do anything.

Anyway, I am somewhat curious as to how the candidates will address the results of the Brexit vote. If Britain does leave, that will have an impact on the US, and I'd like to see how Trump and Hillary deal with it.

Totally agree with the impacts it will have on the US election if it's BREXIT. I'll bail out of this thread as I don't want to drag it OT, but if Britain votes to Leave the EU, American dakka members are more than welcome to contribute to the EU thread with how it affects the USA.

I think we'll see cross-over if the Mods allow it

**reds8n**

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/hacker-releases-another-set-dnc-documents-hillary-clinton

**jmurph**

reds8n wrote:

It's going to be a very odd event given how divisive Trump is.

His somewhat belligerent claim about his fundraising

http://www.syracuse.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/06/trump_threatens_to_stop_fundraising_for_gop_if_party_doesnt_unify_behind_him.html

I think might backfire somewhat -- with the party establishment anyway.

Possibly be seen as a good thing for the man in the street etc, but not sure his pockets are deep enough.

Not a petty tantrum at all.... Support me more as I flailingly hang on to this cliff's edge or I will let go!

**WrentheFaceless**

Definitely getting South Park "Giant Douche vs Turd Sandwich" vibes from this election.

**Breotan**

So, Trump gave his "big" speech today.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/transcript-trump-speech-on-the-stakes-of-the-election-224654

**jreilly89**

Breotan wrote:
So, Trump gave his "big" speech today.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/transcript-trump-speech-on-the-stakes-of-the-election-224654

The American Political system is rigged, but NOT by Donald Trump! /s

**jmurph**

Did anybody go check out the article on the dump of HRC docs?
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/hacker-releases-another-set-dnc-documents-hillary-clinton

One thing that stands out is that the hack of the DNC is suspected to have been done by the Russians. Now why would they hack the DNC and try to smear HRC? Are they actually trying to help Trump? If so, that is kind of terrifying.