OT: The Off Topic Thread - Mod Warning Post #474

[Choralone]

Not aiming this at you, rather just using this video as an example:

i don't understand how people want him to be the president just because they think he's funny

what a horrible horrible way to choose your president

It seems with populists that people feel an unfiltered, blunt, or acerbic style is refreshing. These voters want their man (or woman) to go into office with guns blazing, and feel the vicarious satisfaction of the opposition getting smoked.

This style never gets anything done, however. It only alienates the people he's going to have to work with in order to get anything done.

 

[Ron*]

It seems with populists that people feel an unfiltered, blunt, or acerbic style is refreshing. These voters want their man (or woman) to go into office with guns blazing, and feel the vicarious satisfaction of the opposition getting smoked.

This style never gets anything done, however. It only alienates the people he's going to have to work with in order to get anything done.

Well said.

Trump wants a U.S. government political hierarchy system similar to what they have in North Korea. That way, he would be able to implement his draconian plans.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I don't want any of the current candidates to be the POTUS.

 

[tsanuri]

It seems with populists that people feel an unfiltered, blunt, or acerbic style is refreshing. These voters want their man (or woman) to go into office with guns blazing, and feel the vicarious satisfaction of the opposition getting smoked.

This style never gets anything done, however. It only alienates the people he's going to have to work with in order to get anything done.

Sadly that is where our society has gone. And it's no better than those that voted for our current president because of his skin color, or that want to vote for a former first lady because of her gender. And there are people that fall into those places as well.
But with 99.9% of politicians, and I might be being generous, you can know they are lying because their lips are moving. But with as bad as our system is I'll take it over the others.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

I think more people voted for Obama because he wasn't a long time career politician than because if his skin color.

 

[Ron*]

I think more people voted for Obama because he wasn't a long time career politician than because if his skin color.

I voted for Obama because Sarah Palin was on the opposite ticket, and sometimes John McCain's skin color is far too pasty for someone who should have a long life expectancy (at least four years).

 

[Choralone]

I don't want any of the current candidates to be the POTUS.

That's the joke. The kind of people who want to be president are the last people you'd actually want as presidents.

 

[Jeff18]

Sorry to anyone who's poli sci or actually in politics, but except for a select few (some presidents and candidates), no one who is exceedingly smart actually wants to go into politics; there's no money there, unless you want to be corrupt. The smart ones either become engineers, doctors, lawyers or go to wall street. The politicians who graduated law school were probably too dumb to pass the bar and only got in because dad did or they're in billionaire families. Or at least that's my theory as to why congress never gets anything done.

I think Sanders has a good chance but I don't know where all the money he is going to need to provide free college education and single payer health care is going to come from. The 1% has got to be smarter than to keep all their money here to be taxed. I highly doubt Trump will get elected, he doesn't have a filter, which probably isn't a good thing when trying to appeal to everyone.

 

[kingsfan]

Captain Mittens means business. He takes his job very seriously. It's the burden of a superhero, his cross to bear.

I would like to have a Stoic-off between Captain Mittens and Terry Murray.

People want Trump because he isn't a politician. Many people are sick of the congressmen in this country and believe having someone who wasn't once a senator or govenor will be more efficient. It's basically the same reason why Carson even has a chance.

This. I think the overall frustration and disgust with politicians is what is causing this. Is the political system wasn't so flawed an idiot like Trump would be flogged for even running, not leading the polls.

 

[tsanuri]

Sorry to anyone who's poli sci or actually in politics, but except for a select few (some presidents and candidates), no one who is exceedingly smart actually wants to go into politics; there's no money there, unless you want to be corrupt. The smart ones either become engineers, doctors, lawyers or go to wall street. The politicians who graduated law school were probably too dumb to pass the bar and only got in because dad did or they're in billionaire families. Or at least that's my theory as to why congress never gets anything done.

I think Sanders has a good chance but I don't know where all the money he is going to need to provide free college education and single payer health care is going to come from. The 1% has got to be smarter than to keep all their money here to be taxed. I highly doubt Trump will get elected, he doesn't have a filter, which probably isn't a good thing when trying to appeal to everyone.

You don't have to be corrupt to make a lot of money in politics. And one of the giant loopholes that many don't know about when you quit politics you can actually keep any monies you have raised to run.
And the comment about lawyers you realize that in the current congress 36% of house members and 54% of senators had law degrees. And many if not most people never work in the field their degree is in.

 

[Jeff18]

You don't have to be corrupt to make a lot of money in politics. And one of the giant loopholes that many don't know about when you quit politics you can actually keep any monies you have raised to run.
And the comment about lawyers you realize that in the current congress 36% of house members and 54% of senators had law degrees. And many if not most people never work in the field their degree is in.

I actually mentioned that. They get into school and get J.D.s but don't pass the bar. Maybe I should have also thrown in pass the bar but don't actually practice, but that was what I was implying.

The politicians who graduated law school...

Isn't taking advantage of a loophole corruption too? Like, I don't think a senator is going to buy a ski mask and rob a bank. They'll do something semi-legal.

 

[tsanuri]

I actually mentioned that. They get into school and get J.D.s but don't pass the bar. Maybe I should of also thrown in pass the bar but don't actually practice, but that was what I was implying.

Isn't taking advantage of a loophole corruption too? Like, I don't think a senator is going to buy a ski mask and rob a bank.

I wouldn't say taking advantage of a loophole corruption. Because if that was the case most everyone I know would be guilty of corruption on their tax returns.
The problem is that it should be closed but the ones that would need to close it are the exact ones that a benefiting from it. And that is a textbook case of conflict of interest.
But many of those did practice if you look here.
http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/...-of-the-first-congress-vs-the-112th-congress/
Those were the numbers for the last congress and 200 total members were lawyers. And there were 277 with law degrees. So that kind of throws the theory of not passing the bar for the majority of them. Since you aren't a lawyer till you are sworn in after passing the bar. I was a little shocked at the number.

 

[Jeff18]

I wouldn't say taking advantage of a loophole corruption. Because if that was the case most everyone I know would be guilty of corruption on their tax returns.
The problem is that it should be closed but the ones that would need to close it are the exact ones that a benefiting from it. And that is a textbook case of conflict of interest.
But many of those did practice if you look here.
http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/...-of-the-first-congress-vs-the-112th-congress/
Those were the numbers for the last congress and 200 total members were lawyers. And there were 277 with law degrees. So that kind of throws the theory of not passing the bar for the majority of them. Since you aren't a lawyer till you are sworn in after passing the bar. I was a little shocked at the number.

Fair points, perhaps it's not their profession that makes them inept then.

 

[tsanuri]

Fair points, perhaps it's not their profession that makes them inept then.

It's how entrenched both sides are.
It's ok to have an agenda and it's ok to disagree with the other parties agenda. But to block everything within committee, and almost force super majorities is not the way our government was setup to be. For somethings sure but not everything.

 

[Ron*]

Fair points, perhaps it's not their profession that makes them inept then.

They aren't inept as individuals. They are inept as a governmental body. And they don't have the temerity to rise above it...that's what makes them flawed human beings. They can't work together to pass a budget timely, to approve a federal judge timely, to agree on the simplest of issues...timely.

That's what makes congress useless. They can't work together.

 

[kingsfan]

They aren't inept as individuals. They are inept as a governmental body. And they don't have the temerity to rise above it...that's what makes them flawed human beings. They can't work together to pass a budget timely, to approve a federal judge timely, to agree on the simplest of issues...timely.

That's what makes congress useless. They can't work together.

Actually, that's wrong. They do work together, just not the way their electorate wants them too. They work together within their own party and they work against the other party because right now, that's in their best interest. If the democrats have a majority for example, it doesn't make any sense for the republicans to support any bill put forth by the democrats (any that make sense anyway) because then the democrats get praised for getting something done and they will just keep getting elected. To work with the democrats effectively cockblocks the republicans, hence why they don't.

It could be argued that working against the opposite party is ensuring job security, not to mention any other perks that flow their way.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Actually, that's wrong. They do work together, just not the way their electorate wants them too. They work together within their own party and they work against the other party because right now, that's in their best interest. If the democrats have a majority for example, it doesn't make any sense for the republicans to support any bill put forth by the democrats (any that make sense anyway) because then the democrats get praised for getting something done and they will just keep getting elected. To work with the democrats effectively cockblocks the republicans, hence why they don't.

It could be argued that working against the opposite party is ensuring job security, not to mention any other perks that flow their way.

The government is run by special interests. That is why there are also votes on the other side of the party line.
Washington also runs on favors. Yeah, I'll vote for your bill, but you have to vote for my bill kinda stuff.

 

[kingsfan]

The government is run by special interests. That is why there are also votes on the other side of the party line.
Washington also runs on favors. Yeah, I'll vote for your bill, but you have to vote for my bill kinda stuff.

Which all plays into what I'm saying. Job security and perks. The way the system is set up there is no benefit to work with the opposite party.

I think the states would benefit from a three party system, just to give more competition to candidates and a chance for a different choice on the ballot.

 

[Herby]

I think Sanders has a good chance but I don't know where all the money he is going to need to provide free college education and single payer health care is going to come from. The 1% has got to be smarter than to keep all their money here to be taxed. I highly doubt Trump will get elected, he doesn't have a filter, which probably isn't a good thing when trying to appeal to everyone.

And don't worry, no way is it going to be Sanders vs. Trump. Even though it would be absolutely hilarious to see these two nutcases debating on national TV it won't happen.

Although I do find it funny how a certain party has always argued they weren't socialists, but now an unapologetic socialist is the hottest name in the party, interesting. And the Republicans, who I always vote for, have some bat ___ crazy people when it comes to social views and people like Ted Cruz (and Bernie on the left) would rip this country apart if they ever faced off in a general election. But sadly I think we are a few elections away from having a social conservative vs. socialist election, God help us.

 

[Ron*]

It will be Clinton and Bush, again.

Because we love our repeat performances.

 

[Herby]

It will be Clinton and Bush, again.

Because we love our repeat performances.

I don't think so. Bush just can't seem to get any traction, and while he has a lot of money he doesn't seem to be to enthusiastic about his campaign.

As for Clinton, we will know a lot more when Biden decides. I feel like Biden has plenty of connections in Washington and if he enters it means HC may have some serious issues in regards to the FBI investigation.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Time to get back to silly and lighten it up



Don't make me breakout Captain Mittens

 

[Ron*]

Time to get back to silly and lighten it up



Don't make me breakout Captain Mittens

What you fail to mention is it was a 20-minute helicopter ride across town and that was his third round.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

What you fail to mention is it was a 20-minute helicopter ride across town and that was his third round.

Frank could really put them away

 

[Dawdler]