Thread: US Presidential Election - Peanut Gallery

Originally Posted by Crocodile

I respectfully disagree with that. The National Socialist German Workers Party was legitimately elected in free elections. In Germany that had changed, I think, just enough to qualify for 'anything'.

I agree with your Crocodile...voting isn't a useless exercise to me. It does make a difference.

Originally Posted by kgcole

I don't think it necessarily means vote for an independent, but just someone who has a moderate approach to foreign relations.

Sooooo, independent ?

I hope Romney wins.

Originally Posted by Doomer

Sooooo, independent ?

Not necessarily. Obama is tough on security, and a democrat, but still has a relatively moderate approach to his foreign relations. It's not inconceivable for someone to have extreme views on domestic issues, but still be moderate on other areas.

Originally Posted by Hanna

... even though the most powerful president on earth is being elected.

I'm sure that Chinese president will reach the top again...

Originally Posted by sperk

If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
Emma Goldman

I do agree, in one way. With time, they all horribly resemble each other.

"It is a common error to assume that the politician's role is to create jobs,encourage economic activity, enhance the welfare and well-being of hissubjects, preserve the territorial integrity of his country, and fulfill a hostof other functions.

In truth, the politician has a single and exclusive role: to get re-elected. His primary responsibility is to his party and its members. He owes thempatronage: jobs, sinecures, guaranteed income or cash flow, access to thepublic purse, and the intoxicating wielding of power. His relationship is withhis real constituency - the party's rank and file - and he is accountable tothem the same way a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) answers to the corporation'smajor shareholders.

To make sure that they get re-elected, politicians are sometimes required toimplement reforms and policy measures that contribute to the general welfare ofthe populace and promote it. At other times, they have to refrain from actionto preserve their electoral assets and extend their political life expectancy."

S.Vakin

Originally Posted by Ina

To make sure that they get re-elected, politicians are sometimes required toimplement reforms and policy measures that contribute to the general welfare ofthe populace and promote it. At other times, they have to refrain from actionto preserve their electoral assets and extend their political life expectancy."

S.Vakin

Could be that sums it up....lol

Why bro? Cool guy, that Vakin.
(He wrote about narcissism, narcissistic leaders, Russia (Putin's Russia), capitalism... who's interested - here)

Originally Posted by Doomer

Are you suggesting to vote for independent candidate? Because both parties see Russia as an enemy and I didn't hear much opposing arguments(actually none) on the US news about that either. And hating the US is not only Russian thing it becomes international fashion novadays.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.... sure, they do.

And what time is everyone's fav. CNN program on? I wanna watch, too... Let's watch the reality shows afterwards, okay? Together!

Matt Romney's Russia Trip, a Preview of Romney Family Crony Capitalism? | The Nation

Mitt Romney's Son Matt Travels To Russia, Says Dad Wants Good Relations, Despite Campaign Jabs

Matt Romney Goes To Russia, Secretly Sends Message To Putin To Ignore Dad's Campaign Rhetoric | ThinkProgress

How come there's so many who have their heads in the sand on this site?

Originally Posted by Ina

I'm sure that Chinese president will reach the top again...



I do agree, in one way. With time, they all horribly resemble each other.

"It is a common error to assume that the politician's role is to create jobs,encourage economic activity, enhance the welfare and well-being of hissubjects, preserve the territorial integrity of his country, and fulfill a hostof other functions.

In truth, the politician has a single and exclusive role: to get re-elected. His primary responsibility is to his party and its members. He owes thempatronage: jobs, sinecures, guaranteed income or cash flow, access to thepublic purse, and the intoxicating wielding of power. His relationship is withhis real constituency - the party's rank and file - and he is accountable tothem the same way a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) answers to the corporation'smajor shareholders.

To make sure that they get re-elected, politicians are sometimes required toimplement reforms and policy measures that contribute to the general welfare ofthe populace and promote it. At other times, they have to refrain from actionto preserve their electoral assets and extend their political life expectancy."

S.Vakin

Does he talk about maximizing profits and cash flow? What about selling out and having a nice bank account so if you **** up the country (economy and all), that you have enough to live on some Island someplace? If not, it's just another author with some 'critical' views aimed to sell books.

But, yeah, it's about getting re-elected and being content with being puppets.

Originally Posted by 14Russian

Does he talk about maximizing profits and cash flow? What about selling out and having a nice bank account so if you **** up the country (economy and all), that you have enough to live on some Island someplace? If not, it's just another author with some 'critical' views aimed to sell books.

But, yeah, it's about getting re-elected and being content with being puppets.

No honey, he scrutinizes some loudmouths, public figures and Mr. I-am-all-important-s and such types through the frames of social psychiatry, psychiatric epidemiology and sophisticated sense of humor. So, it means he took the right approach.

Originally Posted by rockzmom

For a GLBTG, they are very much two different candidates. One supports Marriage Equality and one does not.

I'm "GLBT," but I oppose "Marriage Equality" as Obama defines it. On the other hand, I support federally-recognized "Civil Unions" in all 50 states, and I've been consistently pissed off by the lack of "proactive" support for Civil Unions among most Republicans, including Romney.

Which reminds me that earlier I had occasion to look up the "standard" Russian translation for an immortal phrase from Romeo and Juliet: Чума пади на оба [их] дома! (In the original, it's actually "your houses," but it's commonly paraphrased as "their houses." For that matter, it's often misquoted as "pox", оспа, rather than "plague", чума.)

ЗЫ: And another immortal phrase: В этом нельзя винить меня, я проголосовал за Кодоса!!

0.7 mile bike ride to the polls. Easy parking next to the door.
2 minute wait in line. Checked in by my 1973-74 Cub Scout Den Mother.
Voted. More concerned with state Senate race Brown/Warren. (The former "Ted Kennedy Seat") The Senate controls more than the Prez.
Checked out at 2:35. I was # 1546 / 3592 in my precinct.
Rode home. Half hour total.

I wouldn't worry too much about Romney's gay/women issues. Remember, he was Governor of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Boston TV is reporting 1% reported results from New Hampshire. Polls close in 10 minutes in MA.

I'm going to watch a move.

No more ads on TV or those damn Robo-Calls.

Awesome MAD magazine image!

And of course, this classic:



And, especially for 14Russian:


rmoney 100 dollar bill sign by LibertyManiacs, on Flickr

(There are, like, ten dozen versions of the "Rmoney" parody without the "Obama O", for all the Yaller Dog Democrats out there -- so I appreciated this non-partisan, YOU ARE ALL PATHETIC SHEEPLE!!!! variant...)

I am watching "The Daily Show's" live election coverage! Because Jon Stewart and his team of comedian correspondents are always far more informative (and accurate!) than our "news media"!

270 electoral votes for Obama! OBAMA WINS!!!!!

Originally Posted by Deborski

I am watching "The Daily Show's" live election coverage! Because Jon Stewart and his team of comedian correspondents are always far more informative (and accurate!) than our "news media"!

heh heh....yeah, that Jon Stewart is a trip He's a cold slap in the face of media hypnosis...lol

Originally Posted by Deborski

270 electoral votes for Obama! OBAMA WINS!!!!!

I'm highly disappointed in how the ppl of the West Coast voted.

Originally Posted by Throbert McGee

I'm "GLBT," but I oppose "Marriage Equality" as Obama defines it.

Which is not to say I'm angry that "Same Sex Marriage" has now been approved by popular referendum in both Maryland and Maine.

(For those outside the US, "SSM" had previously lost every single time it was the subject of a voter referendum, in about 30 different states!)

Originally Posted by Throbert McGee

Which is not to say I'm angry that "Same Sex Marriage" has now been approved by popular referendum in both Maryland and Maine.

(For those outside the US, "SSM" had previously lost every single time it was the subject of a voter referendum, in about 30 different states!)

Don't forget Washington State, Throbert. We passed marriage equality by a large margin here! And also legalized cannabis for recreational use!

Originally Posted by Deborski

Don't forget Washington State, Throbert. We passed marriage equality by a large margin here!

Ah, I thought the votes were still being counted for that measure -- I'd only heard confirmations for MD and ME. But the margins in all three states were relatively close, I think... in the "52% for, 48% against" range. (Which, apparently, was about the same as the margin by which Washington's "Domestic Partnership" referendum had passed a few years ago.)

Incidentally, the situations were somewhat different in all three states:

• Washington already had (since 2009) very strong "domestic partnership" recognition for same-sex couples.
• Maine also had same-sex "domestic partnerships," but AFAIK, the Maine version was rather more limited than Washington's. For instance, the Maine DP law didn't provide "widow(er)" pensions to same-sex partners of state police officers killed in the line of duty, but the Washington DP law did.
• Maryland did not have any form of "domestic partnership" or "civil union" law, although it did recognize same-sex unions that had been performed in other states.

So, in practical terms, it's same-sex couples in MD who have gained the most, while the change in WA state is largely symbolic, and ME is in between.

And also legalized cannabis for recreational use!

Wow, I hadn't even heard about that one. Apparently Colorado did, too. But I would expect major resistance from the Federal gov't, which has historically been hostile even to "medically prescribed marijuana" laws passed by states. And the governor of Colorado reportedly commented, "Don't open the potato chips yet..."