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 Kilkrazy wrote:
The Japanese actually have fairly large and well equipped army, navy and air force, but they are not called by that name.

The constitution of Japan prevents its armed forces from being used for offensive operations. Prime Minister Abe has led a movement to amend the constitution to allow wider use of them.

Yes but the size is not nearly enough to defend Japan alone. And trying to change THAT is extremely unpopular. Changing that isn't going to happen quickly.

tneva82 wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:
The Japanese actually have fairly large and well equipped army, navy and air force, but they are not called by that name.

The constitution of Japan prevents its armed forces from being used for offensive operations. Prime Minister Abe has led a movement to amend the constitution to allow wider use of them.

Yes but the size is not nearly enough to defend Japan alone. And trying to change THAT is extremely unpopular. Changing that isn't going to happen quickly.

It is going to be almost impossible for any nation in that area to have an armed force capable of defending their nation on its own when, for many of them, the country they think they might be defending it from is China, the country with the largest military in the world.

 sebster wrote:

 A Town Called Malus wrote:
So... if we get Whembly drunk enough on election day, he may vote for Clinton....

I think we may kill the man before that happens

I hear dead people traditionally vote Democrat, so either way...

I think there was a clear winner last night

Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most wretched debates I have ever had the misfortune of watching.

I'm mad at myself for sitting through that, so much so, I want to launch a one man invasion of the USA

I cannot believe that America has been hijacked by such a corrupt, two party system that gives us buffoons and imbeciles like Trump and Clinton.

Where were the plans, the vision, for education, energy policy, foreign affairs, the economy etc etc

Nowhere! Instead we got two people wrestling in the mud, banging on about emails, tax returns, stamina?

Stamina???

Holy horsegak America. I though British politicians were gak poor, but this was bad.

And there's more to come

Rant over!


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 A Town Called Malus wrote:

tneva82 wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:
The Japanese actually have fairly large and well equipped army, navy and air force, but they are not called by that name.

The constitution of Japan prevents its armed forces from being used for offensive operations. Prime Minister Abe has led a movement to amend the constitution to allow wider use of them.

Yes but the size is not nearly enough to defend Japan alone. And trying to change THAT is extremely unpopular. Changing that isn't going to happen quickly.

It is going to be almost impossible for any nation in that area to have an armed force capable of defending their nation on its own when, for many of them, the country they think they might be defending it from is China, the country with the largest military in the world.

Having a 5 million man army counts for nothing in this day and age when the destructive power of weapons is off the scale.

One button push, and those 5 million men are gone, as you know...


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 WrentheFaceless wrote:
So Trump's plan to solve our debt is to basically turn the US military into a mercenary organization?

The US military has already employed a disproportionate number of mercenaries in Iraq over the years.


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 Co'tor Shas wrote:
So apparently the countries we protect out of our own interest should be paying us.

I would argue that the debt between the USA and the UK, as an example, has long been paid.

A long time ago, when Britannia ruled the waves, the USA's economy benefited from Pax Britannia, because American ships were able to travel the seas unmolested, as the trading links between the USA and the UK was strong, and British investment in the USA from the 1820s onwards, was a driving force in expanding the USA.

Of course, the USA helped us in WW2.

So, yeah, I think we're even

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:


I'm mad at myself for sitting through that, so much so, I want to launch a one man invasion of the USA

We shall welcome you with open arms and cases of our finest root beer.

I cannot believe that America has been hijacked by such a corrupt, two party system that gives us buffoons and imbeciles like Trump and Clinton.

Where were the plans, the vision, for education, energy policy, foreign affairs, the economy etc etc

Nowhere! Instead we got two people wrestling in the mud, banging on about emails, tax returns, stamina?
.

Who cares about plans for the future of the nation? No matter how hard the Dems try, the GOP has invested far too much time and money into scaring people about who can marry who and who can use which bathroom.


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Something I just checked on and thought was pretty interesting. I went to CNN, NBC, BBC, and Fox news sites, and of the four, only Fox didn't have some sort of article about fact checking the debate. Well, if Fox did have it, I couldn't see it right away.

So for those who watched it live, were there any issues with Trump's microphone? As he was apparently complaining about it on Fox, while admitting nobody got the knockout blow and also moaning about being asked the "wrong" questions.

Clearly the time for Dachshundskrieg draws nigh. I will have to announce my nomination for Ghost TBone for President as soon as someone can make up a campaign poster for me (I am still learning how this newfangled "wheel" thing works).

Ghost TBone, He'll save every one of us, every man, every woman, every child, he's the mighty TBone.

I have a hangover (despite not drinking) did Trump really say he's a winner because he got Obama to release his birth certificate and Hillary is a loser because she didn't???


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 Mozzyfuzzy wrote:
So for those who watched it live, were there any issues with Trump's microphone? As he was apparently complaining about it on Fox, while admitting nobody got the knockout blow and also moaning about being asked the "wrong" questions.

Yes there was. The guy behind it.

That's cold Frazzie XD

 Mozzyfuzzy wrote:
So for those who watched it live, were there any issues with Trump's microphone? As he was apparently complaining about it on Fox, while admitting nobody got the knockout blow and also moaning about being asked the "wrong" questions.

No. You could hear him loud and clear.

That was the problem.

 Tannhauser42 wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:


I'm mad at myself for sitting through that, so much so, I want to launch a one man invasion of the USA

We shall welcome you with open arms and cases of our finest root beer.

I cannot believe that America has been hijacked by such a corrupt, two party system that gives us buffoons and imbeciles like Trump and Clinton.

Where were the plans, the vision, for education, energy policy, foreign affairs, the economy etc etc

Nowhere! Instead we got two people wrestling in the mud, banging on about emails, tax returns, stamina?
.

Who cares about plans for the future of the nation? No matter how hard the Dems try, the GOP has invested far too much time and money into scaring people about who can marry who and who can use which bathroom.


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Something I just checked on and thought was pretty interesting. I went to CNN, NBC, BBC, and Fox news sites, and of the four, only Fox didn't have some sort of article about fact checking the debate. Well, if Fox did have it, I couldn't see it right away.

As I've said many a time before, and doubtless will say many a time again, I absolutely refuse to believe that this is the best that America can produce.

Contrast that with some of the debates the Green party were having. The difference was like night and day.

Even old Presidential debates from yesteryear had some discussion about the other person's views on the economy or foreign affairs, rather than mud slinging about tax returns or somebody taking the 5th over some emails.

Apologies for sounding harsh, and no offence to American dakka members (the UK is equally as bad)

but we have absolutely got the democracies we deserve and we can't complain, because we allowed these misfits, who should be exiled to an igloo in Alaska, to hijack our respective nations.

I admit to being in a state of delerium for much of the debate, but I seem to recall Trump also claiming that he got NATO to undertake counter-terrorism operations? Or did I mishear?

 Nostromodamus wrote:
I admit to being in a state of delerium for much of the debate, but I seem to recall Trump also claiming that he got NATO to undertake counter-terrorism operations? Or did I mishear?

That was his claim.

Something like "They weren't doing anything about terrorism until I called them out on it. NOW, they finally have people looking into terrorism."

He's looking out for all of us, just like when he made Obama show his Birth Certificate.

Rest easy.

NO I thought he said something like that. I was still back on him wanting to get NATO back on a paying basis.

Hillary should have said this isn't about money, but about lives and our security. How much is a soldier's life worth Mr. Trump?

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

Apologies for sounding harsh, and no offence to American dakka members (the UK is equally as bad)

but we have absolutely got the democracies we deserve and we can't complain, because we allowed these misfits, who should be exiled to an igloo in Alaska, to hijack our respective nations.

You're not wrong. As George Carlin so eloquently put it:


Unfortunately, there are far too many selfish/ignorant voters to allow the intelligent/conscionable voters to make much of a difference. For every person who researches the issues and where the candidates stand on them before voting, there are ten other people who just blindly vote a straight party ticket because that's what they've been told to do by the magic talking box.

 Mozzyfuzzy wrote:
So for those who watched it live, were there any issues with Trump's microphone? As he was apparently complaining about it on Fox, while admitting nobody got the knockout blow and also moaning about being asked the "wrong" questions.

He might be referring to the audio picking up his constant sniffing. It was a trending thing for awhile during the debates.

Hey once he wiped the white powder off he was good to go. Maybe he just doesn't have the stamina to be president?

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

Even old Presidential debates from yesteryear had some discussion about the other person's views on the economy or foreign affairs, rather than mud slinging about tax returns or somebody taking the 5th over some emails.

trying to make taking the 5th sound bad was another low point for trump. He should have borrowed the constitution from Khan and read it. How dare people exercise their rights!!!!! they must be guilty.

sirlynchmob wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

Even old Presidential debates from yesteryear had some discussion about the other person's views on the economy or foreign affairs, rather than mud slinging about tax returns or somebody taking the 5th over some emails.

trying to make taking the 5th sound bad was another low point for trump. He should have borrowed the constitution from Khan and read it. How dare people exercise their rights!!!!! they must be guilty.

If Trump becomes president, millions of people will witness him take an oath to defend the constitution, which obviously included the 5th amendment.

And now he's trying to make the 5th sound bad?

I'm not even going to bother with the appropriate Orkmoticon. My opinion of Trump and Clinton is so low, they'd have to work pretty hard to disappointment me.

I'm loathe to tell any American dakka member how to vote, but please boycott this sham of an election in November.

I suspect that many of you are planning to do so.

boycotting the election is actually the worst thing to do, instead vote for a 3rd party. once they start pulling in enough votes to win states the whole election process will have to change.

 Frazzled wrote:
NO I thought he said something like that. I was still back on him wanting to get NATO back on a paying basis.

Hillary should have said this isn't about money, but about lives and our security. How much is a soldier's life worth Mr. Trump?

$600 billion dollars a year on defence is an sum of money, but from this you get:

Millions of people employed, directly or indirectly.

New R and D that filters into the civilian markets. The microwave in my kitchen is a famous example

Peace and prosperity abroad that allows American companies to trade freely and safely.

Bottom line: America can't afford to cut back on it. From purely selfish reasons, so much of your economy depends on defence spending.

hey look I have an american flag now, weird, it used to be the canadian one

sirlynchmob wrote:
boycotting the election is actually the worst thing to do, instead vote for a 3rd party. once they start pulling in enough votes to win states the whole election process will have to change.

An even better idea

A general American political question for anybody to answer:

Do you have Short money, or something similar, like what we have in the UK?

Quick explanation: In the UK, every political party gets money for every vote they get at a General Election if they get at least 1 MP. I think it's 50 pence per vote or something. It's called Short money.

This helps smaller parties with funding debates, media advice, hiring researchers or campaign people, printing leaflets etc etc

It's meant to level the playing field a bit to help boost the smaller parties and thus help our democracy.

Is there something similar in the USA or am I being hopelessly naive?

sirlynchmob wrote:
hey look I have an american flag now, weird, it used to be the canadian one

Crap I told you guys not to change the flags until after we've taken their airfields...er..look over there!

So, we got two hours (more or less) of two narcissistic hacks who both looked unpresidential last night. Hillary was just as bad as Trump for smirking, chuckling, and similar. However, at least she could stay somewhat on topic and not side track herself constantly.

America, we were the clear looser last night. We have two essentially identical ego maniacs who are both fear and scare mongers (both say things to marginalize anyone who does not agree with them).

America, we will get EXACTLY what we deserve this election.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

sirlynchmob wrote:
boycotting the election is actually the worst thing to do, instead vote for a 3rd party. once they start pulling in enough votes to win states the whole election process will have to change.

An even better idea

Except our third party options are a joke. Gary Johnson is a total space cadet, and Jill Stein is straight out of an episode of Portlandia.

 Maniac_nmt wrote:

America, we were the clear looser last night. We have two essentially identical ego maniacs who are both fear and scare mongers (both say things to marginalize anyone who does not agree with them).

I don't know what universe you're in, but back in reality one of the two is Donald Trump, and the other one isn't.

 jasper76 wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

sirlynchmob wrote:
boycotting the election is actually the worst thing to do, instead vote for a 3rd party. once they start pulling in enough votes to win states the whole election process will have to change.

An even better idea

Except our third party options are a joke. Gary Johnson is a total space cadet, and Jill Stein is straight out of an episode of Portlandia.

Yeah Stein and Johnson are both pretty terrible

 jasper76 wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

sirlynchmob wrote:
boycotting the election is actually the worst thing to do, instead vote for a 3rd party. once they start pulling in enough votes to win states the whole election process will have to change.

An even better idea

Except our third party options are a joke. Gary Johnson is a total space cadet, and Jill Stein is straight out of an episode of Portlandia.

You could argue that it's a vicious circle. Small parties struggle to get exposure, so they find it hard to get a foot in the door, nobody takes them seriously, and it starts all over again.