The New American Politics thread

[2Stonedbirds]

That's quite the wide brush you paint with Duffman.

Carry on. Can't wait for the next round of smarmy anecdotal evidence that proves without question that all right leaning people are extremists.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

That's quite the wide brush you paint with Duffman.

Carry on. Can't wait for the next round of smarmy anecdotal evidence that proves without question that all right leaning people are extremists.

It's hard not to think so when all of the Republican candidates believe a combination of atleast 3 of those listed items.

[peter12]

People of both ideological stripes are probably within a few percentage points of intelligence. The truth is, most people don't have the capacity to grasp abstract political ideal beyond the appeal of the tribal or self-serving.

[2Stonedbirds]

Well then deride them, not their constituency they supposedly represent.

Dragging useless crap off of facebook from your supposed friends page to post on here to mock an entire voting block is beyond juvenile.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Well then deride them, not their constituency they supposedly represent.

Dragging useless crap off of facebook from your supposed friends page to post on here to mock an entire voting block is beyond juvenile.

It's what partisans like to do. In terms of politics, it is entirely understandable that you would want to deride your opponent's views. It increases a feeling of group solidarity, reinforces the superiority of your own views, and excuses you from engaging with the actual substance of your opponent's ideas.

We all do it.

[Looch City]

Seriously though...how could any sane American vote for any of those insanely backwards Republican candidates?

[Street Pharmacist]

70% if Republicans don't believe climate change is man made.

56% of Republicans believe Obama is a Muslim

64% of Republicans think more school officials should carry guns

51% if Republicans believe the US found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq

34% of Republicans still don't believe Obama is American



Edit: And lol. 49% do not believe in evolution

That's not stereotyping.

[Thor]

68% think invading Iraq was the right thing to do.

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by peter12

It's what partisans like to do. In terms of politics, it is entirely understandable that you would want to deride your opponent's views. It increases a feeling of group solidarity, reinforces the superiority of your own views, and excuses you from engaging with the actual substance of your opponent's ideas.

We all do it.

Yes, I'm guilty of it as well. I find it offensive though to label an entire voting block as extremists. If that becomes popular opinion, we open up a whole can of worms of witch hunting that is extremely dangerous.

In terms of the Republican candidates, they couldn't have possibly fielded a more offensive group. After Obama's two terms, this should be the Republicans election. Instead the people are being force fed a steady stream of the Donald and yet another Bush. And on the other side, we have Hilary. Yay for political dynasties.

Personally I think Biden ends up being the Dems guy.

Wish that Rand Paul would gain more traction for the Republicans. He seems to be the only one grounded in reality, and represents change, much like Sanders.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Yes, I'm guilty of it as well. I find it offensive though to label an entire voting block as extremists. If that becomes popular opinion, we open up a whole can of worms of witch hunting that is extremely dangerous.

In terms of the Republican candidates, they couldn't have possibly fielded a more offensive group. After Obama's two terms, this should be the Republicans election. Instead the people are being force fed a steady stream of the Donald and yet another Bush. And on the other side, we have Hilary. Yay for political dynasties.

Personally I think Biden ends up being the Dems guy.

Wish that Rand Paul would gain more traction for the Republicans. He seems to be the only one grounded in reality, and represents change, much like Sanders.

Rubio, Cruz, and Fiorina all seem like very smart people well-suited to governing.

Sanders says things that make us feel happy, but if you look at his statements on trade, he is just as loopy as the other side.

The problem now is that the American electorate is growing sick of being ruled by a well-defined set of technocrats. That is why you are getting outliers like Trump and Sanders.

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by peter12

Rubio, Cruz, and Fiorina all seem like very smart people well-suited to governing.

Sanders says things that make us feel happy, but if you look at his statements on trade, he is just as loopy as the other side.

The problem now is that the American electorate is growing sick of being ruled by a well-defined set of technocrats. That is why you are getting outliers like Trump and Sanders.

Ahh yes Rubio. I like him as well, seems very smart and is a strong speaker, as opposed to say, Carson.

Sanders represents change, however I believe it's too much change. In fact, one could almost say that he is a... extremist?

Agreed on the reasoning behind Trump and Sanders. I know if I was an American and looking at my choices of another Bush, or another Clinton, I'd be pretty dismayed. People DO want change. I guess they didn't get it with Obama?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by peter12

Rubio, Cruz, and Fiorina all seem like very smart people well-suited to governing.

Sanders says things that make us feel happy, but if you look at his statements on trade, he is just as loopy as the other side.

The problem now is that the American electorate is growing sick of being ruled by a well-defined set of technocrats. That is why you are getting outliers like Trump and Sanders.

Ted Cruz???????

[peter12]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Ahh yes Rubio. I like him as well, seems very smart and is a strong speaker, as opposed to say, Carson.

Sanders represents change, however I believe it's too much change. In fact, one could almost say that he is a... extremist?

Agreed on the reasoning behind Trump and Sanders. I know if I was an American and looking at my choices of another Bush, or another Clinton, I'd be pretty dismayed. People DO want change. I guess they didn't get it with Obama?

The old hope and change thing has become a mantra for liberals over the last decade (wonder why?). No one has lived up to the hype.

Here is a great article on Sanders by my absolute favourite American political commentator at my absolute favourite American political blog (Peter Lawler at NR's Postmodern Conservative).

http://www.nationalreview.com/postmo...gustine-lawler

[2Stonedbirds]

Trudeau conferenced with members of Obamas campaign team to help them build the idea of change with their party as well. "If it worked for the Democrats ...."

The funny thing was some people in the Canadian federal elections thread were just "sure" that Harper was being influenced by Republicans and or the Tea Party. Outside influence is evil. Harper is a extremist. Meanwhile the Liberals had help from the Dems building their campaign but that's just like, so cool and progressive.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Trudeau conferenced with members of Obamas campaign team to help them build the idea of change with their party as well. "If it worked for the Democrats ...."

The funny thing was some people in the Canadian federal elections thread were just "sure" that Harper was being influenced by Republicans and or the Tea Party. Outside influence is evil. Harper is a extremist. Meanwhile the Liberals had help from the Dems building their campaign but that's just like, so cool and progressive.

Except the US Democrats are mostly made up of sane people, or so it seems.

The Republican and Tea Party? Not so much...

US Democrats are more closely related to Canadian Cons, policy-wise. The Republican's, and the Tea Party especially, would definitely be viewed as "extreme" by Canadian standards.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Trudeau conferenced with members of Obamas campaign team to help them build the idea of change with their party as well. "If it worked for the Democrats ...."

The funny thing was some people in the Canadian federal elections thread were just "sure" that Harper was being influenced by Republicans and or the Tea Party. Outside influence is evil. Harper is a extremist. Meanwhile the Liberals had help from the Dems building their campaign but that's just like, so cool and progressive.

Being influenced by Democrats or Republicans...hmm I wonder which one is infinitely worse.

[2Stonedbirds]

Or we could figure our own issues out without ANY outside influence.

Strange concept I know.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Or we could figure our own issues out without ANY outside influence.

Strange concept I know.

Seems more like Trudeau was seeking advice on how to campaign, not how to run the country.

I agree, you don't want outside influence on policy. But that's almost impossible to prevent or determine. So Trudeau and Obama meet at a world leader summit and discuss everything from family to policy, is that outside influence? Are these people not allowed to talk to each other just in case what one says is absorbed by the other. People are influenced to vote by the multinational company they work for in the form of being employed by them (and possibly other pressures we've heard about), does that count?

Outside influence from multinational corporations and/or labor unions in form of financial pressure/lobbying is definitely not OK, and is why that law mentioned by Oliver even exists. Advice from one politician to another? Come on. It's going to happen.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Harper is a extremist. .

Harper is a extremist? Wow, what does that make Cruz, Hucklebee, Carson, Trump, Bachmann, Santorum, Palin, actually most of the GOP candidates past and present?
Harper is hardly an extremist, next to them.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

Harper is a extremist? Wow, what does that make Cruz, Hucklebee, Carson, Trump, Bachmann, Santorum, Palin, actually most of the GOP candidates past and present?
Harper is hardly an extremist, next to them.

Compared to the looney bin of American Republicans of course he isn't. But compared to every other Canadian prime minister in recent memory, he is