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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Purgatory: U.S. Presidential Election 2016
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Leorning Cniht:
quote:
Originally posted by Doublethink.:
On general principles, I think it is a bad idea to permit anyone who reaches command rank in the military to run for political office - even if retired. Ideally, I'd like it written into law as a disqualifying condition - it is a truly terrible precedent / slippery slope for a democracy.
Why? What are these principles?
(Of course, we have fairly recent precedent for the highest office: Eisenhower made a fair president, and I don't see any slippery slopes in his successors.)
Would you also disqualify a retired civil servant from seeking elected office? A retired police officer?
To be honest I'd like a few retired military officers in the cabinet amongst the assorted of lawyers, business owners and political hacks we have at Westminster now. They are a varied bunch but I fear those who would be best for the country would be unacceptable to any political party.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
And recall that it is within living memory that a large number of men in the population fought (in WW2). It would be a pity if none of them could stand for office, and it would be a significant fraction of the population. Suppose we have another major conflagration again?
If you sever military service from governance, you get what you see now -- ignorant chicken hawks yelling for comic-book combat. Let's bomb the hell out of Iran, now! They will greet is with joy because we are liberating them! All they know of combat is from movies. And it is not they who will pay in blood and tears. Far rather would I be governed by someone who knows what war costs.
I actually saw this on TV. A talk show host was interviewing Laura Bush, (George W.'s wife). He asked her what was the worse thing about the war in Iraq. She said that it was how awful poor dear George felt about it. Really? This is worse than widows and orphans, than amputations and quadriplegia, than mental illness and years in the hospital? Worse than blood-soaked uniforms cut off with scissors in hospitals, and tombstones in Arlington Cemetery? Really? He felt so bad, he was giving up golf. Privileged bitch.
In that instant they lost me, for all time.
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
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Posted
I guess that most people who have fought in WWII would be rather old to take up office today.
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I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
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Augustine the Aleut
Shipmate
# 1472
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Prester John:
The military's officer corps is overwhelmingly white and has been so for some time. I remember reading an article in the WSJ that described the majority of the Army's officer corps during Clinton's administration as small-town Southern whites, just like the president. The combat arms, infantry, armor & artillery, and especially the elite forces are overwhelming white- both officers and the rank and file. As officers with combat experience are given preferment for advancement the conditions I described will not be changing anytime soon.
If I might descend into anecdotology (intellectual laziness, perhaps, as there is lots of demographic research out there about US forces), many of the young people, including officers, whom I have met while heading about the US on time-consuming, plane-changing, amtrak-waiting trips, are Hispanic or southern African American, or southern white, with a good sprinkling of Filipino, Thai & Vietnamese. Most of the whites I have spoken with are from poor backgrounds - I remember one Arkansavian naval lieutenant telling me that she was the first in her family to make it past tenth grade; like the others, they view the military as the best and only way up and out of their backgrounds. It provides them with training, education, and benefits (one friend calls it the only efficiently functioning socialism in the Americas), and an avenue for promotion if they apply themselves. I have been told by Black recruits that it's the only place where they can be certain they will be judged on their own merits. One of them did mention that, if I wanted to understand where they had started from, I had to realize that army food was a wonderful experience for them.
Posts: 6236 | From: Ottawa, Canada | Registered: Oct 2001
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Carex
Shipmate
# 9643
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Brenda Clough:
And recall that it is within living memory that a large number of men in the population fought (in WW2)...
And much more recent when one considers Viet Nam, including politicians such as John McCain and John Kerry.
But the perceptions and experiences of that generation of soldiers is very different from those who served in WW2. There were comparatively few folk heros (like Kennedy) or successful top brass (like Ike). Many veterans would rather not talk about their experiences, and they are more likely to suffer from disillusionment, depression and other psychiatric disorders, addiction, etc.
One statistic I saw was that the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars - a very conservative, pro-military group) has been relying on aging WW2 veterans, and the smaller group from the Korean War, to keep the posts running, as recruitment from Vietnam war veterans was very low. It has only been the returning veterans from the two Gulf Wars that have started to provide younger blood.
Posts: 1425 | Registered: Jun 2005
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
My daughter and her husband are Gulf War veterans; my son is in Army Reserve. My daughter was one of the top ROTC cadets of 2007, and she was sworn into the Armed Forces by George W. Bush. I have a PR photo of the event, a hundred of the ROTC best and brightest standing behind George W. at the podium. (If there is interest I can post a link to it here.) Analysis of the image is instructive. All the tall white boys are arrayed to either side. In the middle, directly in camera shot when you focus on the President, are the girls and the cadets of ethnicity. If you look at George, my daughter's beaming face is just over his left shoulder.
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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Crśsos
Shipmate
# 238
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Carex:
One statistic I saw was that the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars - a very conservative, pro-military group) has been relying on aging WW2 veterans, and the smaller group from the Korean War, to keep the posts running, as recruitment from Vietnam war veterans was very low.
That's a bit of an understatement. There was as fairly long stretch of time when most VFW posts would not accept Vietnam veterans as members. The official reason was that since the Vietnam War was never officially declared, it didn't count as a "real" foreign war. The much more likely explanation is that the U.S. lost the Vietnam War and this "very conservative, pro-military group" regarded the veterans from that war as losers (and likely drug addicts). At any rate, eventually most (all?) VFW posts reversed this policy, but a lot of bitterness still persists among Vietnam veterans over what they see as a cynical move to bolster sagging membership.
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Humani nil a me alienum puto
Posts: 10706 | From: Sardis, Lydia | Registered: May 2001
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LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
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Posted
Prediction: I know this is just an endorsement, she isn't chosen as VP or anything. But she wants a piece of his spotlight. And he doesn't intend to share. It's clear who's the biggest ego here, but one day they will clash.
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I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Eutychus:
Sarah Palin to endorse Donald Trump
![[Eek!]](eek.gif) ![[Ultra confused]](graemlins/confused2.gif) ![[Paranoid]](graemlins/paranoid.gif) ![[Disappointed]](graemlins/disappointed.gif)
I'd like to say "Failed VP nominee endorses Presidential hopeful" but I fear the failure may not rub off.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
Apparently he's hinted at a Cabinet post for her -- and she wants to be Secretary of Energy.
![[Help]](graemlins/help.gif)
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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cliffdweller
Shipmate
# 13338
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Apparently he's hinted at a Cabinet post for her -- and she wants to be Secretary of Energy.
An even more apt emoji might be
![[Votive]](graemlins/votive.gif)
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"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." -Frederick Buechner
Posts: 11242 | From: a small canyon overlooking the city | Registered: Jan 2008
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W Hyatt
Shipmate
# 14250
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by cliffdweller:
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Apparently he's hinted at a Cabinet post for her -- and she wants to be Secretary of Energy.
An even more apt emoji might be
Are you implying that she'll mismanage things so badly that we'll have to resort to using candlelight? Hmmm ... good point.
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A new church and a new earth, with Spiritual Insights for Everyday Life.
Posts: 1565 | From: U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 2008
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Leorning Cniht
Shipmate
# 17564
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Apparently he's hinted at a Cabinet post for her -- and she wants to be Secretary of Energy.
Let's see:
Steve Chu
Ernie Moniz
Sarah Palin
One of these is not like the others...
Posts: 5026 | From: USA | Registered: Feb 2013
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Palimpsest
Shipmate
# 16772
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Posted
and in other news Bernie Sander widens lead in NH to 27 points in an unexpected surge. Meanwhile he's busy in Iowa.
I don't know if he'll win either state, but it is looking like a race. Clinton has started the money raising assuming that the nomination is going to be a long slog. She's certainly started to criticize Sanders instead of ignoring him. Still it remains to be seen if he can get any traction in the Super Tuesday primaries.
I heard an interesting comment from a Massachusetts Democratic consultant on the New Hampshire race. He said the voters in the Republican primaries don't respect the establishment Republicans, and not having experience is a credential.
It may be that Sanders has the advantage of having worked with the Democrats for decades while being an independent. It's an odd situation.
I also think that the Democratic left isn't thrilled with the Clinton right of center New Democrat. She's definitely swinging left to cater to the primary extremists, but I don't know how many believe she won't swing back right after the primaries if she's nominated.
Posts: 2990 | From: Seattle WA. US | Registered: Nov 2011
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cliffdweller
Shipmate
# 13338
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
quote:
Originally posted by cliffdweller:
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Apparently he's hinted at a Cabinet post for her -- and she wants to be Secretary of Energy.
An even more apt emoji might be
Are you implying that she'll mismanage things so badly that we'll have to resort to using candlelight? Hmmm ... good point.
Or that a Trump candidacy with Palin in the cabinet would be so globally disastrous that all we can do is pray for the sweet release of death...
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"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." -Frederick Buechner
Posts: 11242 | From: a small canyon overlooking the city | Registered: Jan 2008
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Belle Ringer
Shipmate
# 13379
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Crśsos:
quote:
Originally posted by Carex:
One statistic I saw was that the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars - a very conservative, pro-military group) has been relying on aging WW2 veterans, and the smaller group from the Korean War, to keep the posts running, as recruitment from Vietnam war veterans was very low.
That's a bit of an understatement. There was as fairly long stretch of time when most VFW posts would not accept Vietnam veterans as members.
What I heard at the time was WW2 bunch rejected the VN bunch on the basis that Viet vets didn't really fight a war since they got to come home after one year instead of staying for the duration.
It was more than VFW; the WW2 Red Cross Women's organization (I've forgotten it's name) took a parallel attitude of disdaining as "lightweights" (because of the one year tour) the Red Cross women coming home from 'Nam.
I suppose it was hard on people who had fought a total commitment war to view those in a limited war as having an "equal" experience. But to come home and be scorned by both the society that sent you and and the older veterans who could been there to help and relate, that was brutal and very unlike the WW2 experience of coming home. The resentment against VFW is a part of a broader feeling of abusive rejection.
Posts: 5830 | From: Texas | Registered: Jan 2008
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
quote:
Originally posted by cliffdweller:
An even more apt emoji might be
Are you implying that she'll mismanage things so badly that we'll have to resort to using candlelight? Hmmm ... good point.
But she'll still be able to see Russia from her house.
Or, if she's trying to be vice-president , she might see it from Blair House. (Often the residence of the VP.) Or at least see the Russian embassy.
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Og, King of Bashan
Ship's giant Amorite
# 9562
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Posted
Belle Ringer: quote:
What I heard at the time was WW2 bunch rejected the VN bunch on the basis that Viet vets didn't really fight a war since they got to come home after one year instead of staying for the duration.
This was, AIUI, my father's experience. He went over to Vietnam at the very end, and only stayed in country for nine months, which somehow precluded him from the VFW.
It is also interesting to see how the Vietnam experience has been treated differently from the WWII experience in elections. The two guys who avoided the draft got elected, the two guys who went over didn't, and one of the two guys who did go over got his start in politics by speaking out against the war.
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"I like to eat crawfish and drink beer. That's despair?" ― Walker Percy
Posts: 3259 | From: Denver, Colorado, USA | Registered: May 2005
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LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
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Posted
I believe that the sentiment behind this spoof (especially as expressed in the last sentence) is accurate.
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I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
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Crśsos
Shipmate
# 238
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Belle Ringer:
What I heard at the time was WW2 bunch rejected the VN bunch on the basis that Viet vets didn't really fight a war since they got to come home after one year instead of staying for the duration.
Which would be convincing if the VFW applied the same policy to Korean War Veterans, but they didn't.
quote:
A tour of duty in Korea depended upon proximity to the fighting. Rear-echelon forces (67% of Army personnel) served 18 months. Combat troops (33% of the Army) fought for nine to 12 months.
Given that the VFW didn't apply the "you didn't stay for the duration" argument (to my knowledge) to Korean War veterans it sounds more like post facto thrashing for a pretext to justify a decision made on other grounds.
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Humani nil a me alienum puto
Posts: 10706 | From: Sardis, Lydia | Registered: May 2001
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Twilight
Puddleglum's sister
# 2832
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Posted
Sarah Palin's son Trapp was arrested on charges of domestic violence, yesterday. Sarah says it's Obama's fault for not providing more care for soldiers returning from Iraq.
Posts: 6817 | Registered: May 2002
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Twilight:
Sarah Palin's son Trapp was arrested on charges of domestic violence, yesterday. Sarah says it's Obama's fault for not providing more care for soldiers returning from Iraq.
Sarah Palin reckons Obamacare doesn't go far enough???
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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cliffdweller
Shipmate
# 13338
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
quote:
Originally posted by Twilight:
Sarah Palin's son Trapp was arrested on charges of domestic violence, yesterday. Sarah says it's Obama's fault for not providing more care for soldiers returning from Iraq.
Sarah Palin reckons Obamacare doesn't go far enough???
Further, the GOP has spent the last 7 years vetoing every bill seeking to provide better care for vets, including in particular, bills to provide mental health services-- the VA is desperately understaffed/ underfunded here. But no, to Palin et al, it's all Obama's fault.
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"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." -Frederick Buechner
Posts: 11242 | From: a small canyon overlooking the city | Registered: Jan 2008
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Twilight
Puddleglum's sister
# 2832
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Posted
Sarah probably thinks Obama got Bristol pregnant.
Posts: 6817 | Registered: May 2002
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Barnabas62
Shipmate
# 9110
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Posted
Perhaps Trump will repudiate her endorsement of him on the grounds that he doesn't see much point in being endorsed by a flake?
Nope. That wouldn't work. Trump is even flakier than she is.
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Who is it that you seek? How then shall we live? How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
Posts: 21397 | From: Norfolk UK | Registered: Feb 2005
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Niteowl
Hopeless Insomniac
# 15841
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Twilight:
Sarah Palin's son Trapp was arrested on charges of domestic violence, yesterday. Sarah says it's Obama's fault for not providing more care for soldiers returning from Iraq.
Sarah also intimated that soldiers coming back from Iraq & Afghanistan are prone to violence. What a slap in the face to all military who come back and don't assault their spouses. Of course she's endorsing the guy who called McCain a loser, a slap in the face to all who sacrificed as POWs. These two deserve each other. Fortunately, according to interviews I saw, a lot of Trump supporters don't like Palin.
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"love all, trust few, do wrong to no one"
Wm. Shakespeare
Posts: 2437 | From: U.S. | Registered: Aug 2010
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TurquoiseTastic
Fish of a different color
# 8978
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Posted
Interestingly Bob Dole has said that he'd rather have Trump than Cruz.
Posts: 1092 | From: Hants., UK | Registered: Jan 2005
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by TurquoiseTastic:
Interestingly Bob Dole has said that he'd rather have Trump than Cruz.
He probably reckons that Trump is all bluster and would be spectacularly ineffective. Cruz might actually do some damage.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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TurquoiseTastic
Fish of a different color
# 8978
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Posted
What he said was that Trump was a deal-maker who would work with Congress if push came to shove, whereas Cruz was an "extremist" whom "nobody likes".
One of many links here
This sounds as good as an endorsement from someone at the heart of the GOP establishment.
Posts: 1092 | From: Hants., UK | Registered: Jan 2005
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Twilight
Puddleglum's sister
# 2832
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Posted
Has there ever been a group of politicians who sound as much like high school bullies? "Nobody likes him!" Seriously?
Posts: 6817 | Registered: May 2002
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cliffdweller
Shipmate
# 13338
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by TurquoiseTastic:
What he said was that Trump was a deal-maker who would work with Congress if push came to shove, whereas Cruz was an "extremist" whom "nobody likes".
Sounds a bit like the old "would you rather..." game. As in, "would you rather staple your tongue or cut off your little toe?"
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"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." -Frederick Buechner
Posts: 11242 | From: a small canyon overlooking the city | Registered: Jan 2008
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Prester John
Shipmate
# 5502
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Posted
Bob Dole prefers candidates with unusual speech patterns.
Posts: 884 | From: SF Bay Area | Registered: Feb 2004
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cliffdweller
Shipmate
# 13338
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Prester John:
Bob Dole prefers candidates with unusual speech patterns.
so... staple your tongue, then?
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"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." -Frederick Buechner
Posts: 11242 | From: a small canyon overlooking the city | Registered: Jan 2008
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Niteowl
Hopeless Insomniac
# 15841
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Posted
Palin got some blowback today for her blaming Obama and the war for her son's domestic violence from other veterans. They feel he's responsible for his own actions and it's wrong to blame anyone else for them. Glad to see it.
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"love all, trust few, do wrong to no one"
Wm. Shakespeare
Posts: 2437 | From: U.S. | Registered: Aug 2010
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cliffdweller
Shipmate
# 13338
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Niteowl:
Palin got some blowback today for her blaming Obama and the war for her son's domestic violence from other veterans. They feel he's responsible for his own actions and it's wrong to blame anyone else for them. Glad to see it.
The blame-Obama meme is so popular among American conservatives they've been able to fly almost anything-- from the common cold to WW1. But Palin's claim here was particularly thin, given that a. Obama inherited the war; and; b. the Republicans (despite their rah-rah pro-military rhetoric) have blocked every bill attempting to increase funding for the VA and provide better mental health services for our vets.
But again, neither Trump nor Palin are particularly known for their brilliant logic.
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"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." -Frederick Buechner
Posts: 11242 | From: a small canyon overlooking the city | Registered: Jan 2008
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lilBuddha
Shipmate
# 14333
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by cliffdweller:
But again, neither Trump nor Palin are particularly known for their brilliant logic.
They do not need to be. It would be to their deficit to use either logic or reason. Fear mongering and scapegoating are much more effective.
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I put on my rockin' shoes in the morning
Hallellou, hallellou
Posts: 17627 | From: the round earth's imagined corners | Registered: Dec 2008
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by lilBuddha:
quote:
Originally posted by cliffdweller:
But again, neither Trump nor Palin are particularly known for their brilliant logic.
They do not need to be. It would be to their deficit to use either logic or reason. Fear mongering and scapegoating are much more effective.
To quote H.L.Mencken accurately (and I know because I've looked it up somewhere other than Wikipedia) he said:
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
Trump is using this principle, although he is probably pushing it to the very limit. He's going, squarely, for the Dumb and Dumber vote. This worries me because there are a lot of them and they aren't going to let him down.
[ 22. January 2016, 17:06: Message edited by: Sioni Sais ]
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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Doublethink.
Ship's Foolwise Unperson
# 1984
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Niteowl:
quote:
Originally posted by Twilight:
Sarah Palin's son Trapp was arrested on charges of domestic violence, yesterday. Sarah says it's Obama's fault for not providing more care for soldiers returning from Iraq.
Sarah also intimated that soldiers coming back from Iraq & Afghanistan are prone to violence. What a slap in the face to all military who come back and don't assault their spouses. Of course she's endorsing the guy who called McCain a loser, a slap in the face to all who sacrificed as POWs. These two deserve each other. Fortunately, according to interviews I saw, a lot of Trump supporters don't like Palin.
There is, however, some evidence that domestic violence rates are higher amongst veterans: http://www.ptsdupdate.com/violence-veterans-fact-fiction/ though risk factors vary.
War damages people, it is one of the reasons its such a bad idea.
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All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. George Orwell
Posts: 19219 | From: Erehwon | Registered: Aug 2005
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TurquoiseTastic
Fish of a different color
# 8978
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Posted
I continue to find it interesting that some of Trump's rivals - particularly Cruz - criticise him for being "insufficiently conservative". And you might expect these barbs to find their mark - in many ways he is not so ideologically conservative as some of them. But it doesn't seem to work - he remains way out in front.
I think it shows that a sizeable chunk of conservative voters are less hard-line than you'd think - if you're a good showman you can get away with things that would sink a "normal" politician.
It also shows how effective a feel for showbusiness can be when campaigning. I guess this is one of the things that made Reagan so popular. I'm beginning to think President Trump is a serious possibility.
Posts: 1092 | From: Hants., UK | Registered: Jan 2005
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Lyda*Rose
Ship's broken porthole
# 4544
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Posted
TAKE THAT BACK!!!! ![[brick wall]](graemlins/brick_wall.gif)
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"Dear God, whose name I do not know - thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG... thank you. Thank you for my life." ~from Joe Vs the Volcano
Posts: 21377 | From: CA | Registered: May 2003
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
What Lyda said.
{Starts digging a fallout shelter, just in case...}
ETA: I happened across a couple of astrologers on the radio, who said that this is a year when *anything* can happen...
[ 23. January 2016, 01:34: Message edited by: Golden Key ]
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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simontoad
Ship's Amphibian
# 18096
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Brenda Clough:
My daughter and her husband are Gulf War veterans; my son is in Army Reserve. My daughter was one of the top ROTC cadets of 2007, and she was sworn into the Armed Forces by George W. Bush. I have a PR photo of the event, a hundred of the ROTC best and brightest standing behind George W. at the podium. (If there is interest I can post a link to it here.) Analysis of the image is instructive. All the tall white boys are arrayed to either side. In the middle, directly in camera shot when you focus on the President, are the girls and the cadets of ethnicity. If you look at George, my daughter's beaming face is just over his left shoulder.
I'd be interested ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Not much interested in Palin.
Dole is right. Trump will say anything, and ignore anything he's previously said while denying inconsistency. He will do what it takes to achieve his objective: the accumulation of personal wealth. This means you can deal with him, as long as you can massage his ego. You can't deal with an ideologue.
[ 23. January 2016, 04:29: Message edited by: simontoad ]
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Human
Posts: 1571 | From: Romsey, Vic, AU | Registered: May 2014
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
This just in: Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City, has instructed advisers to draw up plans for an independent campaign in this year’s presidential race.
Link fixed.
-Gwai
[ 23. January 2016, 18:02: Message edited by: Gwai ]
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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romanlion
editorial comment
# 10325
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Posted
Wrong link.
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"You can't get rich in politics unless you're a crook" - Harry S. Truman
Posts: 1486 | From: White Rose City | Registered: Sep 2005
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
Suspect this is the one intended
Thank you -- I shouldn't post before coffee. Would it be possible to delete the wrong one? Thanks!
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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