The New American Politics thread

[CliffFletcher]

Yep, this is George Wallace redux.

[Senator Clay Davis]

If this election cycle doesn't want Americans demanding shorter elections, nothing ever will. Still six and a half months more of this to go is gross.

[troutman]

Saying again he wants water boarding, after promising last week not to issue illegal orders to the military.

[JohnnyB]

Trump is turning his rally into a poetry jam. You really never can predict what this guy is gonna do.

[Senator Clay Davis]

That's why you go to a rally right? To see the circus.

[troutman]

Police using pepper spray outside event.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Vintage Trump.

“I told the police there might be problems. ... They said, why aren’t you cancelling. I said no, I’m not cancelling.”

Police Chief Darryl Forté tweeted during the speech that he was aware of no discussions of canceling the event.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/polit...e65674922.html

[Parallex]

One bright side here... all those people saying that Sanders people would vote for Trump against Clinton should now realize what an absurd proposition that was.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Parallex

One bright side here... all those people saying that Sanders people would vote for Trump against Clinton should now realize what an absurd proposition that was.

They'll probably just stay home. It's going to be record lows for voter turnout on both sides.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by troutman

Saying again he wants water boarding, after promising last week not to issue illegal orders to the military.

In his defense, he's repeatedly stated at these rallies he won't break laws, but the laws would need to be changed.

These rallies are getting too high energy! I used to be a fan of Bernie and his movement, but it (i.e. supporters) has basically been high-jacked by Black Lives Matter, and loud students. It went from grassroots movement to annoying teenage pseudo-cause. I can't believe I'm rooting for Hillary on the dem side.

[Ducay]

Why didn't Huckabee show this kind of character when he ran? Solid joke

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

The conspiracy-theorist in me thinks that the GOP establishment will get a patsy into a rally to assassinate Trump, who will then get shot by another, a la JFK-Oswald.

My initial tin-foil hat reaction was that the protest, violence and "Bernie" chants seemed like a possible set up to make the anti-establishment movement generally look bad. As if both Sanders and Trump supporters are likely to bring violence and chaos to the country so voters should be scared and stick with their safe, establishment candidates.

The last GOP debate also certainly seemed like there had been a behind-the-scenes agreement to get along more peacefully. Trump, Cruz and Rubio had all backed way off on the name calling and attacks. Seemed like a deal had been made in the interest of saving the whole party's face.

[CliffFletcher]

is

Originally Posted by Ducay

These rallies are getting too high energy! I used to be a fan of Bernie and his movement, but it (i.e. supporters) has basically been high-jacked by Black Lives Matter, and loud students. It went from grassroots movement to annoying teenage pseudo-cause. I can't believe I'm rooting for Hillary on the dem side.

Again, the parallels to 1968 are impossible to miss. The liberal anti-war movement at the time was taken over by showboating Yippies, who preached anarchy and were genuinely trying to completely overturn American society. Thanks to their narcissistic radicalism, the U.S. ended up with Richard Nixon as president.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think the whole circus on both sides is actually just how politics are evolving for the era. The young new voters who will be voting for the first time in this election grew up in a media world of viral videos, internet bullies and reality TV.

That is the demographic they are trying to appeal to, so they are using the mediums that will best reach them.

I just read a comment from Rubio where I think he was alluding to it as well.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cruz-tr...race-1.3488553

"This is what happens when political candidates talk as if they're people on Twitter. And the result is now bleeding over into the broader culture," Rubio said.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

They'll probably just stay home. It's going to be record lows for voter turnout on both sides.

I would bet on record highs

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

No, you blame the source of the violent hateful rhetoric. They were not all Bernie supporters. They are Muslims against Trump, blacks against Trump etc.

His rhetoric is surely racist and hateful, but that doesn't mean that you can condone violence against him or his supporters. That's a terrifying proposition because it's a slippery slope.

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I'm watching the Kansas City Trump rally right now and these events have become such a gong show. What a joke. I won't be surprised if someone gets killed soon and I'll be even less surprised if someone manages to smuggle in a gun and takes a shot at Trump.

I wonder how well he can dodge shoes?

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

The conspiracy-theorist in me thinks that the GOP establishment will get a patsy into a rally to assassinate Trump, who will then get shot by another, a la JFK-Oswald.

I really hope that nothing like that comes close to happening. I don't think that there is a single thing that I could agree with in Trumps "platform", but (a) I wouldn't wish for someone to be assassinated and (b) I would think that would be a powder keg kind of event.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Slava

His rhetoric is surely racist and hateful, but that doesn't mean that you can condone violence against him or his supporters. That's a terrifying proposition because it's a slippery slope.





I really hope that nothing like that comes close to happening. I don't think that there is a single thing that I could agree with in Trumps "platform", but (a) I wouldn't wish for someone to be assassinated and (b) I would think that would be a powder keg kind of event.

One party's culpability has no bearing on another's

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I would bet on record highs

Both presumptive nominees are basically hated by 50% of their own party. I'm curious to hear how you think that that will translate into a record high voter turnout.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

One party's culpability has no bearing on another's

What do you mean by that?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Slava

What do you mean by that?

The fact that we can blame Trump doesn't mean it isn't abhorrent of Sanders supporters to threaten anyone's safety. It isn't one or the other