Politics Thread

[Xville]

In my opinion this type of thing is the single biggest problem with Politics in America right now. If you removed all the money, the donations, and the quid pro quo bullshit we would have a much more effective system. I'd like to see strict guidelines that dramatically limit donations as well as a lifetime ban on politicians leaving office and becoming lobbyists or otherwise receiving money / jobs from corporations that they had the ability to benefit while in office.

Add term limits to that, I am completely with ya. Being a politician should not be a career.

[Lloyd Braun]

Odds at my book.

Odds to win Presidential Election:

Republican -115
Democrat -105

Trump -145
Biden +125

I find the odds to win Presidential election pretty interesting as it gives a +/- 30 for Trump/Biden to not be the candidate, which implicates a 20% chance of major scandal or death in the next 6 months. Actually that’s probably about right given the candidates....

[Blue Blooded-05]

“If in fact for example we solve problem in the United States of America and you don’t solve it in other parts of the world, do you know what’s gonna happen? We’re gonna have, yer gonna have travel bans. You’re gonna have... not be able to do, have... have economic intercourse around the world...”

- Joe Biden

Heads we fvcked. Tails we fvcked

[Mrs. Garrett]

“If in fact for example we solve problem in the United States of America and you don’t solve it in other parts of the world, do you know what’s gonna happen? We’re gonna have, yer gonna have travel bans. You’re gonna have... not be able to do, have... have economic intercourse around the world...”

- Joe Biden

Heads we fvcked. Tails we fvcked

Amen

[Juice]

Mayor Bill de Blasio
@NYCMayor
My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.

Some mild to medium level antisemitism coming from New York's mayor tonight.

[boozehound]

“If in fact for example we solve problem in the United States of America and you don’t solve it in other parts of the world, do you know what’s gonna happen? We’re gonna have, yer gonna have travel bans. You’re gonna have... not be able to do, have... have economic intercourse around the world...”

- Joe Biden

Heads we fvcked. Tails we fvcked

I sort of agree with the overall premise, but I think that stating it this way makes it sound like they are equally poor choices. I do not agree with that. Biden has definitely lost a step or two, but Trump is a lunatic with a complete lack of discipline or empathy.

For example: If you had the choice between getting hit in the face with a stick, or a baseball bat, you are screwed either way. I'd still much rather get hit with the stick.

Hell, we had Reagan with Alzheimers for several years and things were fine because he had built a functioning government.

[X Factor]

I sort of agree with the overall premise, but I think that stating it this way makes it sound like they are equally poor choices. I do not agree with that. Biden has definitely lost a step or two, but Trump is a lunatic with a complete lack of discipline or empathy.

For example: If you had the choice between getting hit in the face with a stick, or a baseball bat, you are screwed either way. I'd still much rather get hit with the stick.

Hell, we had Reagan with Alzheimers for several years and things were fine because he had built a functioning government.

To say Trump has a complete lack of discipline or empathy is utter bullsh**.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/trump-off...ero-bus-driver

Oh, and the bus driver was black. Trump is racist though.

https://www.accessonline.com/article...go-hotel-66176

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-flies-sick-boy/

Yep, just a complete lack of empathy.

[boozehound]

To say Trump has a complete lack of discipline or empathy is utter bullsh**.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/trump-off...ero-bus-driver

Oh, and the bus driver was black. Trump is racist though.

https://www.accessonline.com/article...go-hotel-66176

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-flies-sick-boy/

Yep, just a complete lack of empathy.

OMG, thank you for posting this. You found 3 articles. Let's deconstruct them:

The first article (from Foxnews) looks like a publicity stunt in which Trump is claiming he is going to give $10K to a bus driver who kept someone from committing suicide. Further research suggests that Trump has a rich history of claiming donations to various charitable causes that don't materialize. You also felt the need to mention that the truck driver was black as though Trump giving a black person $10K means he cannot be racist, which is probably kind of racist in and of itself.

The second article (from access Hollywood 12 years ago?) is about Trump allowing an American Idol winner to stay in his hotel for free. Something he definitely made sure the media got a hold of.

The 3rd article is a snopes fact check about Trump flying a sick kid somewhere, which is nice.

A few individual acts of empathy and kindness don't necessarily prove empathy either. Lots of psychopaths sometimes do nice things.

The fact that X Factor felt the need to post this hits on another frequent point of mine: It really concerns me the way people feel the need to graft positive behaviors onto this guy despite his very public lifetime of being a total heel. It's the exact thing that people do with dictators is places like Brazil, Russia, and Venezuela.

[AviatorX]

I 100% understand that Trump's presidency has been very good to a lot of people and won't question their support for him, but proving the man's empathy is not a hill I'd want to die on.

[Blue Blooded-05]

I sort of agree with the overall premise, but I think that stating it this way makes it sound like they are equally poor choices. I do not agree with that. Biden has definitely lost a step or two, but Trump is a lunatic with a complete lack of discipline or empathy.

For example: If you had the choice between getting hit in the face with a stick, or a baseball bat, you are screwed either way. I'd still much rather get hit with the stick.

Hell, we had Reagan with Alzheimers for several years and things were fine because he had built a functioning government.

So that settles it: More Economic Intercourse!

My 80 year old father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 2 years ago. He has good days and bad days. If you watch the interview with Biden where he says the quote, he really struggles to find the right word to finish his thought. This happens to my father all the time. I know he knows what word he’s trying to find but he just can’t find it in the moment. You can almost see him panic for a split second before he substitutes a new word he thinks is close and just hopes it’s coherent.

Biden’s verbal gaffes will get passed off as a flub. People will say “if I had cameras on me 24/7, I cannot imagine how much stupid shit I would say.” However, the people with loved ones struggling with various forms of dementia will see it for what it actually is. My father has to trust us with just about every decision he makes. Knowing where Biden is likely headed, I cannot imagine how this will get manipulated for political gain both domestically and internationally.

You’re correct Reagan probably should have stepped down toward the end. But consider the context - He was in the 2nd half of his 2nd term and the Republicans didn’t want his condition exposed as the Cold War was concluding while the Democrats didn’t want HW Bush to become acting President heading into the 1988 election. Their political motivations were thankfully aligned. No way that happens this time.

It sucks that a vote against dementia is a vote for incompetent arrogant buffoonery. But it is what it is.

Once again: Heads we fvcked. Tails we fvcked