POTUS 2016 General Election Discussion Thread

[Jas_lov]

Trump said he would get the biggest stars and ended up with Baio. That's why they were making fun of him.

[korme]

There is no substance in this speech. Just way too many words and empty promises.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by korme

There is no substance in this speech. Just way too many words and empty promises.

So basically his entire campaign shrunk down into one speech?

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

Like the stability and sovereignty of our key trading partners, also known as markets for our goods & services?

I never said I didn't agree with this. However, they do need to pay for their own defense.

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Wait, are we really talking trash about NATO after the US invokes article 51 after 9/11 and every NATO country provided aid in the attack against Afghanistan? To now back away when others are at risk is really shitty. What, a we got ours so screw you attitude to our allies? That will really help us in making alliances in that future...

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I don't think this is what he will actually do. There are many member states that are not adequately funding their military, I think he is trying to scare them over it.

I do find it ironic that many that are complaining about the Russian threat are those who scoffed at Romney 4 years ago when he said Russia was the major threat to world peace.

[JPhillips]

Russia still isn't the biggest threat we face, but giving them carte blanche in the Baltic is still a terrible idea.

So much of Trump's appeal seems to rely on believing he doesn't actually mean what he says, but what if he's telling the truth? The worst case trump presidency probably won't happen, but it might. Are you willing to take that chance?

[digamma]

We're coming up on an hour and I have no idea what Trump would do other than wave a magic wand to make me safe and rich. Where do I sign up?

Oh and build a wall.

[digamma]

All we have to do is believe.

There's no place like home.

There's no place like home.

There's no place like home.

[cuervo72]

So...was my wife's observation that Trump thanked all of his family individually for their great speeches except for Tiffany correct?

[cuervo72]

Also, how do the other CNN commentators not collectively bum-rush Jeffrey Lord?

edit: actually, Ana Navarro just might...

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

The girl from Neighbors 2 that much better?

Um, yes. Is that a serious question?

Democrats have no problem with celebrities in politics. It's Republicans who always complain about that, but then trot out C-list celebrities whenever they can. Also, Baio was rightly taken to task for preaching traditional values, but then calling Hillary a "cunt".

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Um, yes. Is that a serious question?

Democrats have no problem with celebrities in politics. It's Republicans who always complain about that, but then trot out C-list celebrities whenever they can. Also, Baio was rightly taken to task for preaching traditional values, but then calling Hillary a "cunt".

So I don't get it. Are you guys saying yay actors or no please no actors? Put me in the second camp. I could not care less what some vain glory hound with good look genes says to us all about politics, no matter what side of the aisle he takes. And I struggle to understand why any other rational human being would.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

then calling Hillary a "cunt".

Yeah, that's really unfair ... to the word.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

So I don't get it. Are you guys saying yay actors or no please no actors? Put me in the second camp. I could not care less what so vain glory hound with good look genes says to us all about politics, no matter what side of the aisle he takes. And I struggle to understand why any other rational human being would.

A person's profession or attractiveness has literally zero percent to do with my reaction to their political thoughts.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Would totally vote for Ivanka.

I am torn. She is, or at least was, totally self absorbed to the point where it detracted from attractiveness.... But damn...

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

A person's profession or attractiveness has literally zero percent to do with my reaction to their political thoughts.

Good for you?

[EagleFan]

As for his speech. At least he stayed on script and didn't turn it I to a Springer show like most of his appearances. Still waiting for the plans he was going to detail.

Just an observation but did his wife looked bored out of her mind? She barely reacted whenever they cut to the family and at best gave him a golf clap a couple times.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

As for his speech. At least he stayed on script and didn't turn it I to a Springer show like most of his appearances. Still waiting for the plans he was going to detail.

Just an observation but did his wife looked bored out of her mind? She barely reacted whenever they cut to the family and at best gave him a golf clap a couple times.

She's got confused cuz she thought the Don was going to use Obama's 2008 nomination acceptance speech.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Good for you?

Huh? Simply explaining why I don't care if it's an actor.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Huh? Simply explaining why I don't care if it's an actor.

But you and others were discussing the "quality" of each party's actor choices to give speeches. So I have no idea now why that discussion even happened.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Um, yes. Is that a serious question?

Democrats have no problem with celebrities in politics. It's Republicans who always complain about that, but then trot out C-list celebrities whenever they can. Also, Baio was rightly taken to task for preaching traditional values, but then calling Hillary a "cunt".

People on the left mocked Baio for being a washed up actor and the RNC for letting him speak during their convention. That it was pathetic to have Scott Baio as a voice for your party.

Nothing wrong with that stance. Just think you look a bit hypocritical not saying the same when the DNC brings in Lena Dunham and others.

And I'm not talking about you specifically. I'm talking about most of the media and political commentators who made it into a joke.

[RainMaker]

I mean nothing screams party of the working class like mocking a guy for not being a wealthy and successful enough.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by korme

There is no substance in this speech. Just way too many words and empty promises.

Wait, you mean he's not going to end crime and violence???

Donald Trump at RNC full Speech. July 21, 2016. Republican National Convention. Cleveland, Ohio. - YouTube

(4:09)

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Would totally vote for Ivanka.

Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

[digamma]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

So...was my wife's observation that Trump thanked all of his family individually for their great speeches except for Tiffany correct?

I thought he just said Melania and totally hot Ivanka. I may have missed the reference to the young studs, but definitely no Tif.

[RainMaker]

Thinking through last night, it's interesting how far to the left things are moving for the Republican party on certain issues. Trump trashed NAFTA and other trade agreements that you usually only see far left politicians do. You had a gay man get on stage and tell the party to stop with the culture wars and it got cheers. Ivanka talked about equal pay for women.

I mean Trump didn't give a single plan for how he was going to do all the things he promised, but it was a much more populous message than we normally see from the GOP. Media will hate it but I think outside that bubble working class people will eat it up.

[Thomkal]

Donald Trump Threatens the Ghostwriter of “The Art of the Deal” - The New Yorker

[Thomkal]

Ex-KKK leader David Duke announces Senate run for La. seat

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

So I was very interested to hear that one of the speakers tonight is going to be Peter Thiel, openly gay co-founder of Pay Pal and a Republican. He's apparantly going to take the RNC to task for their anti-gay plank in the platform and stance over the years towards gays. Be interested to see how the crowd reacts, especially if he comes right after Jerry Falwell Jr.

What’s up with all the gay rights shout-outs at the Republican convention? - The Washington Post

well crowd reacted better than I thought they would, but that was warming them up for four minutes on Donald Trump:

Peter Thiel's entire Republican convention speech - YouTube

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Thinking through last night, it's interesting how far to the left things are moving for the Republican party on certain issues. Trump trashed NAFTA and other trade agreements that you usually only see far left politicians do. You had a gay man get on stage and tell the party to stop with the culture wars and it got cheers. Ivanka talked about equal pay for women.

I mean Trump didn't give a single plan for how he was going to do all the things he promised, but it was a much more populous message than we normally see from the GOP. Media will hate it but I think outside that bubble working class people will eat it up.

I think it's more of a sign that people don't give a shit about policy, they vote based on affinity. The same people that cheered Theil are fine with a platform that says the opposite. The same people that cheered protectionism cheered free trade four years ago. The same people that want America First wanted an interventionist policy four years ago.

[RainMaker]

The U.S. media has predictably ignored it (although it does seem to be getting international press), but Wikileaks put out the 20,000 e-mails from the DNC.

WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) | Twitter

Most of the interesting stuff is in regards to Bernie who the DNC was actively campaigning against. They wanted to paint him as an Atheist in evangelical states. Encouraged Super PAC to go after Sanders supporters online. Bunch of other stuff where they linked stuff to the press to make him look bad.

Also was fascinated reading through some of the stuff with the media. Politico was running stories by the DNC first. Washington Post agreed to not write some stuff about fundraising. And they really went hard after MSNBC to stop bashing Wasserman-Shultz for her bias in the primary.

Figured this would be a bigger story but I understand why media outlets don't cover it.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Figured this would be a bigger story but I understand why media outlets don't cover it.

Doesn't fit the story they want to tell.

[RainMaker]

Also this made me laugh.

WikiLeaks - Search the DNC email database

[NobodyHere]

Tim Kaine is the VP pick for Clinton.

[ISiddiqui]

Looks like Clinton has selected Senator Tim Kaine for VP. A conservative choice, to be sure, but a smart one, I think.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[panerd]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Tim Kaine is the VP pick for Clinton.

I'm guessing FOFC is going to go crazy over a Mizzou grad for VP!

[Izulde]

And Hillary says fuck you to the progressive wing.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Izulde

And Hillary says fuck you to the progressive wing.

She probably believes that she has their vote already so there's no need to pander to them with the vp pick.

[Izulde]

Oh, I see the sense in it. It's a safe pick that won't disrupt her message (pro-TPP and all that) and gets a white dude on the ticket.

But by the same token, in this election cycle, relying on lesser of two evils to bring in the furthest wings of the party is a dangerous gamble IMO.

[RainMaker]

It's fascinating to see the Democratic candidate supporting TPP and the Republican candidate against it.

As much as I dislike Trump and find him clueless on so many topics, I'd almost consider voting for him if he wasn't anti-net neutrality.

[stevew]

Jeez, a pro-lifer as VP pick.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by panerd

I'm guessing FOFC is going to go crazy over a Mizzou grad for VP!

Oh, he's not just any Mizzou grad. He's a turncoat. Between this and the Wikileaks, it appears the DNC may out-WWE the Republicans before all is said and done.

Tim Kaine, A Mizzou Grad, Roots For The Kansas Jayhawks

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Izulde

And Hillary says fuck you to the progressive wing.

And Donald Trump got one last fuck you in on Elizabeth Warren, tweeting about how "Pocohantas" didn't get the VP pick.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

And Donald Trump got one last fuck you in on Elizabeth Warren, tweeting about how "Pocohantas" didn't get the VP pick.

I'm imagine that Hillary will be giving her a nice cabinet spot for her continued campaign against Trump

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by stevew

Jeez, a pro-lifer as VP pick.

Personally pro-life, but supports a woman's right to choose. That describes a lot of people in the party, even on the progressive wing.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I'm imagine that Hillary will be giving her a nice cabinet spot for her continued campaign against Trump

yeah probably, but she might be more helpful/useful as a bulldog in the Senate.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I'm imagine that Hillary will be giving her a nice cabinet spot for her continued campaign against Trump

That would be very unwise for the party to do

[larrymcg421]

Aside from TPP, Kaine has a pretty solid progressive record. I imagine that's going to be highlighted in the coming weeks.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

That would be very unwise for the party to do

Should be okay as long as they lock Coakley in a closet until the qualifying deadline passes.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Oh, I see the sense in it. It's a safe pick that won't disrupt her message (pro-TPP and all that) and gets a white dude on the ticket.

But by the same token, in this election cycle, relying on lesser of two evils to bring in the furthest wings of the party is a dangerous gamble IMO.

I think it is also about keeping some on the moderate-right at bay.

My wife dislikes Clinton. But, she really dislikes Trump, too. I'm not sure if she's going to bother on election day or not. But Warren? For whatever reason, she really can't stand Warren. The double-shot of her and Clinton would probably move her to vote Trump (TWO opinionated women who won't keep their voices down?!?). Not that it much matters in MD, but if folks from swing states have similar thoughts, who knows.