This made interesting reading. Any thoughts?
Long-doubted by Democrats, Kamala Harris faces her biggest political moment (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gqr48zld2o)
Harris is a competent candidate for the presidency. She has in the last few weeks emerged as a force to be reckoned with. She has the benefit of expert coaching and councelling for her campaign. She is an intelligent woman who displays a good measure of common sense as well as sufficient political savvy. Her background as a litigator is a plus factor. Finally she is NOT Trump.
Since she has begun to campaign, her poll figures have exceeded those of Trump. Trump had previously had the advantage in the polls. Harris has attracted groups that were improbable before Biden relinquished the intent to run for another term. Among the organized groups are.... Christians For Harris, Most of the nations labor unions, even some macho men have organized a large contingent they are calling; Dudes for Harris and many more.
Despite all the plus factors for Harris, we have an unfortunate method of electing our president. It is called the electoral college. The result of the electoral college system is that the candidate with the largest popular vote may very well lose the election. That system of selecting a president was a practical one in the 18o0sand parts of the 1900s. We did not have the ability to deliver the will of the majority in the times before voting numbers were easily and instantly transmitted. voters sent delegates to the capitol to cast their votes. Those delegates presumably represented the will of the people in which the delegates lived.
The race may be close because of the electoral college system. I am waiting to exhale
Bottom line: Harris could lose the election even though she will surely receive an overwhelming majority of the nations votes. We still have a significant number of ill informed, gullible, poorly educated people who will vote for the madman Trump even when it is not in their best interests.
aside note below
(please observe that in the above diatribe I have refrained from using pejoratives to describe the dumb fucks (oops I slipped) who will vote for the addled, narcisist, greedy, conniving, serial lying, insulting, miserable scum of the earth, Trump.)
Thank you for your considered insight. Much appreciated.
If it's true she has shark malaria she could give it to Lord Dampnut.
that electoral college makes no sense, but to get rid of it our small-population states would have to vote to give up power.
they wont do it.
Nor should they. While it does make some votes more potent than others in certain respects, that's the price of a "properly done" federation.
I suppose President being the head of the federal government, he could be elected by a simple majority in each individual state and then whoever won the highest number of states gets the office, but that would not address the above concern. Reforming into a unitary state would be way too much of an ask, but that would have the benefit of being able to do stuff like elect presidents by majority vote.
Hmm... Complicated. How would you solve it?
i would indeed change our system so that all voters have an equal say. currently a state like wyoming has as much votibg power in the senate as a state like california.
wyoming has some 600 000? people, while california has over 39 000 000.
the electoral college similarly disenfranchises large population areas in favour of ancient political boundaries.
change would not be possible. i do not see any reforms being made without another revolution. what we have is a constitution designed for a country that no longer exists.
I think that the most qualified person should win. Comparing the achievements of Trump and Harris, I don't think that Harris is qualified enough to become president.
what were donald trumps achievements?
Golf, and inciting an insurrection. Oh, don't forget, waving classified information around. Stunningly, amazingly UN-presidential toad. With apologies to toads, worldwide.
Experienced practitioner of the Gish gallop . . .
"Trump's 'Gish Gallop' Debate Tactic Comes from Creationists" |
Scientific American (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trumps-weird-debate-strategies-come-from-creationist-tactics/)
QuoteIn politics, the Gish gallop is precisely what Trump deployed in the June debate, putting Joe Biden at a significant disadvantage in attempting to refute even some of the falsehoods in the torrent of lies. Trump, as anyone even half paying attention to his speeches knows, is an expert at the Gish gallop. He projects the utmost confidence while bombastically repeating lie after lie until it overwhelms his audience into either accepting every word he says as the truth, or walking off in disgust because there is no way to get him to acknowledge any truth. At this point, everyone knows this so well that news reports scarcely cover it.
^ Tom, Harris has far more credentials than Trump, More experience in politics, and a reputation for playing fair. Trumps original popularity came from a Television show in which he was the Boss. The show was called The Apprentice. Potential apprentices were given a few hundred dollars with which to start and run a business or otherwise increase the net worth of the fledgling business. The apprentice would report back to the Boss in a week or two with a profit and loss statement. Trump the Boss became famous for shaking his finger at the apprentice and telling them in a gruff voice: You're Fired. That is his claim to fame.
Trump claims to be a successful business man. He has a whole series of failures, bankruptcies, and ill conceived business decisions. He is the scoundrel who famously stiffs the contractors who do work for him. He has faced hundreds of court cases for not paying his contractors. Take the Scotland golf course as evidence. He has lost his hat and his ass with that venture. Trump is responsible for instigating a tax reform that rewarded only top tier billionaires to the tune of 1.2 trillion dollars. The middle class got nothing. He also has four children by his three different wives. He cannot even choose a lasting relationship.
There is a whole boat load of dumb ass mistakes that he made as president as well as in his business ventures. He is not very bright either. During the Covid crisis, he suggested that chlorine bleach be injected into victims of the virus. If that failed he figured that injecting UV light into the patient would kill the virus.
Harris, has intellect and sound judgement that far exceeds Trumps, even in his wildest dream. Yet he still claims to be "a stable genius" His words repeated publicly on several occasions. Harris has been a prosecuting attorney, attorney General in our most populated state, California, served a term as U.S. Senator, and almost four years as vice president of the U.S. She has credentials that imply that she is a pretty savvy individual. No comparison between the two candidates as far as sound judgement is concerned.
Just have a look here (https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/trump-administration-accomplishments/) to see a huge list of Trump's accomplishments. Most of it I fully agree with; some of it I take with a grain of salt. Personally, I only care about his international successes like his major peace agreements in the Middle East (for which he should have received a Nobel price); urging other NATO member to pay their due and improving the relationship between the US and North Korea.
The way I see it, the only accomplishments of Biden/Harris administration are creating the border crisis; fucking up the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan; increasing racial tensions; protecting BLM/Antifa -rioters, -looters and -arsonists; pumping huge amounts of money and weapons in the Ukrainian/Russian war; and creating a huge inflation by government overspending. Clueless as she is about economical issues, Kamala Harris now wants to control prices, that even the mainstream media agrees, will cause huge economical problems. Most of her ideas are driven by ideology instead of common sense.
Quote from: Icarus on August 22, 2024, 06:41:34 AM^ Tom, Harris has far more credentials than Trump, More experience in politics, and a reputation for playing fair. Trumps original popularity came from a Television show in which he was the Boss. The show was called The Apprentice. Potential apprentices were given a few hundred dollars with which to start and run a business or otherwise increase the net worth of the fledgling business. The apprentice would report back to the Boss in a week or two with a profit and loss statement. Trump the Boss became famous for shaking his finger at the apprentice and telling them in a gruff voice: You're Fired. That is his claim to fame.
Trump claims to be a successful business man. He has a whole series of failures, bankruptcies, and ill conceived business decisions. He is the scoundrel who famously stiffs the contractors who do work for him. He has faced hundreds of court cases for not paying his contractors. Take the Scotland golf course as evidence. He has lost his hat and his ass with that venture. Trump is responsible for instigating a tax reform that rewarded only top tier billionaires to the tune of 1.2 trillion dollars. The middle class got nothing. He also has four children by his three different wives. He cannot even choose a lasting relationship.
There is a whole boat load of dumb ass mistakes that he made as president as well as in his business ventures. He is not very bright either. During the Covid crisis, he suggested that chlorine bleach be injected into victims of the virus. If that failed he figured that injecting UV light into the patient would kill the virus.
Harris, has intellect and sound judgement that far exceeds Trumps, even in his wildest dream. Yet he still claims to be "a stable genius" His words repeated publicly on several occasions. Harris has been a prosecuting attorney, attorney General in our most populated state, California, served a term as U.S. Senator, and almost four years as vice president of the U.S. She has credentials that imply that she is a pretty savvy individual. No comparison between the two candidates as far as sound judgement is concerned.
Couldn't have said it better myself,
Icarus. :thumb:
As for self-promoting lists of accomplishments, the Biden-Harris administration has one (https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord/) too.
The Democrat nominating convention is in full bloom. The list of speakers has been spectacular. The organizer of this event sure as hell brought out the heavy artillery.
Rumor is that there is a warrant out for Michelle Obama. That's because she is accused of destroying a building....a metaphor of course. Her speech certainly did bring the house down. There were several others who delivered dynamite speeches.
All the major networks have covered this event with wall to wall coverage. Too bad that the Trump people will not have watched any of this tremendously emotional and motivating production. Had they done so, more than a few of them would surely have changed their candidate preference.
Apparently there is evidence that Trump is watch the DNC. He's been reacting to what he has seen. Apparently some of his staff have been talking anonymously to the press. Donny is not a happy bunny. My heart bleeds for the despicable piece of orange crap.
:snicker1: He doesn't have any loyalty to those around him, so there's that reciprocity.
im personally pleased that the democrats have abandoned their failed " when rhey go low, we go high" strategy.
when a vicious dog tries to bite you, you dont stand on a pedestal and look noble.
you hit it with a stick.
Quote from: Icarus on August 22, 2024, 09:01:57 PMThe Democrat nominating convention is in full bloom. The list of speakers has been spectacular. The organizer of this event sure as hell brought out the heavy artillery.
Rumor is that there is a warrant out for Michelle Obama. That's because she is accused of destroying a building....a metaphor of course. Her speech certainly did bring the house down. There were several others who delivered dynamite speeches.
I heard exerts from these speeches on the radio, I wish them success but this stuff makes me feel like vomiting.
Ra ra ra we're the team, ra ra ra, inanity inanity, aren't we great? ye ye.
I'm so glad to see the Harris/Walz campaign taking back the concept of "freedom". Ever since I became politically aware in my teens twenty years ago I have always been baffled by the Republicans talking about freedom when they are so against freedom for women, LGBT people, etc. It is even worse, now. Keep pushing. The right has controlled the narrative on so many things and it has become downright Orwellian.
The Republicans bang on about Big Government yet want to control everything. WTH?
A bunch of two-faced SOBs is what they are.
I've decided to take a more neutral stance, because my social media feeds were overflooded with propaganda. I will form my own opinion when it becomes more clear what Kamala really stands for. I think that that many questions are still open that needs to be answered. People need to know who she is; what she wants to achieve as president; how she is going to tackle urgent problems, etc. etc. Since she hasn't given any interviews yet; she remains for me a big unknown.
:smilenod:
When in doubt, do what The Asmo doth. It works for Him, after all.
At this stage, I'm still split between the candidates over what's important to me specifically, and it must be viewed through the lens of "very abroad."
I want Russia to be handed its own ass on the battlefields of Ukrraine. Kamala Harris seems better towards that end.
I want Israel to be able to finish what they started in Gaza - perhaps even get help to do so, should they wish it. Donald Trump is the candidate for that.
Russo-Ukrainian war is far above the Israeli-Hamas one on my list of priorities, which would have given an edge to Harris, however, I suspect Trump would be better for my stocks portfolio. (As in, I would find it easier to make considerable gains in the weeks surrounding the transfer of power)
"All other things" being "equal in their relative irrelevance..." That's a stalemate. It is, however, for Americans and them alone to decide who they choose to lead and in what direction. I'll be just fine either way - as will the average American, I suspect.
Quote from: Tom62 on August 25, 2024, 02:29:34 PMI've decided to take a more neutral stance, because my social media feeds were overflooded with propaganda. I will form my own opinion when it becomes more clear what Kamala really stands for. I think that that many questions are still open that needs to be answered. People need to know who she is; what she wants to achieve as president; how she is going to tackle urgent problems, etc. etc. Since she hasn't given any interviews yet; she remains for me a big unknown.
im waiting too.
as far as i am concerned, trump and his brainless bluster is a non starter. but harris is a represenative of years of democrat cozing up to big money as well.
her support for the bestial apartheid regime in israel and its genocide in gaza is a big no, for me.
yet i recognize that trump would be worse, and it has to be one or the other.
so i write her campaign and try to influence its direction while theyre still listening.
I heard through the grapevine that Kamala will have an interview with CNN soon. It will be a taped event but that is still better than nothing.
Yes, an interview and later a debate with Trump if he does not change his mind. Interviews are not scripted but the person who will be interviewed will be given a list of possible subjects with which to prepare.
That is a bit like assigning homework to your kid. Not to say that the interview is worthless, but it is not a thorough test of the intellectual capacity of the interviewee.
Harris is practicing and also being coached for participation in the debate. She already had some experience in that regard when she was a prosecuting attorney. Trump has more or less blown off any serious preparation for the debate. Typical Trump, who is of course, a "Stable Genius".
Then there is this proposal. If adopted, Trump will have no time let after about 15 minutes of debate.
https://imgur.com/gallery/debate-rules-8BbUTID (https://imgur.com/gallery/debate-rules-8BbUTID)
Apparently Trump has refused to debate if he's fact checked live.
i dont think they fact check anybody these days, until its over and the audience switches away. certainly the last CNN debate allowed trump to lie without comments from biden or the moderators.
perhaps this is part of the microphone debate? trump would certainly prefer that harris not be able to contradict him while hes talking. if she has to wait until its her turn to talk then her time gets used up in just correcting him. he would love that.
I agree.
We have the milquetoast VP to the incumbent Democrat president who got passed good infrastructure-building legislation and other progressive initiatives on one hand. And we have the fascist Putin-ass-kissing misogynist racist xenophobe twit on the other. Not much of a debate to me. Go Kamala. And who in the hell can hate Walz?
Exactly. Harris may not be perfect but there is absolutely no comparison with the orange shit stain known as DonOLD Trump.
im still writing both her campaign and the office of the vice president.
i want to see something more on israel except "thank you for the money . . ."
Yes. What Israel needs to do is transfer all Iron Dome Tech to the USA immediately. Hardly any US SAM missiles cost much less than $1m per round and if you look at some of the Navy SAMs we're talking $1.5m+ And these are being used to shoot down $20k Iranian drones in the Red Sea. Raytheon must be laughing all the way to the bank! The Iron Dome missile cost $90k 'ish. The USA military funding paid for the development of Iron Dome so technically Israel owe the US the system.
I watched Kamala's CNN "interview". I think that she performed rather badly. She looked very tired; didn't came across as a "leader"; didn't go into any details; generated a couple of word salads (as if her mouth worked faster than her brain) and didn't convince me that she was in any way authentic. What didn't help either was the place where the interview was taken. It was dark and rather gloomy. What also surprised me was that Tim Walz was at her side, as if she was not capable to handle the interview herself alone. I think that the interview was a strategic mistake and that she have to improve a lot on sincerity, trustworthiness and public appearances.
I haven't seen it. I'll look it up.
Part 1 and page includes links to rest (https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/30/politics/video/kamala-harris-tim-walz-full-interview-part-1-digvid)
Thank you :)
I agree with Tom, though the interview overall did not have any significant impact on which side of the two candidates I fall. I'm still firmly planted with one butt cheek on either side of the fence.
I would also like something more on Israel, much like Billy, though I suspect that I would welcome "the opposite" message, that being "let/help them finish what they've started."
Trump's proposal to impose 10% across-the-board tariff on all products imported into the U.S. from overseas is a good argument for not voting for him.
His proposal would likely backfire, effectively acting as a tax on U.S. consumers. If the tariffs are enacted — with Trump also proposing a levy of 60% or more on Chinese imports — a typical middle-class household in the U.S. would face an estimated $1,700 a year in additional costs, according to the non-partisan Peterson Institute for International Economics. Imposing unfair tariffs could as well result in a trade war between the U.S.A. and the rest of the world.
Plenty of Trump voters think that tariffs are paid by the country upon whose products the tariff is imposed. They may believe that because Trump tells them so (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fact-check-trump-says-china-paying-his-tariffs-he-s-n1038751).
True! Most people in the US haven't got a clue how the economy works. Tariffs are not a good thing nor are price controls m.
Back in 2017 after the chump gained the WH and imposed tariffs, one of my chump-supporting friends was waxing positive about those tariffs. I asked him if he knew who was actually paying those tariffs. He finally got it. He didn't vote for the chump last election, because of his massive mishandling of the COVID epidemic. His primary complaint was the classified documents Hilary was alleged to have had on some servers. We see how that turned out with the chump.
Trade tariffs can protect local industry by increasing its domestic competitiveness, but on a other hand, that doesn't work with export industry, which may find itself subject to counter-tariffs.
I'm generally in favour of free trade agreements. I can buy some arguments for protecting the "core" industries, such as food and energy production, but cars and cell phones..? Let the market forces decide. The competitive edge in the more "luxury" goods may not be price - innovation, product features and quality may be equally, if not more important.
Me being an outsider, it doesn't much matter to me if Trump imposes trade tariffs. Had I lived in the States, however, I too would find the idea worrying.