US Politics

[redandblack]

I thought a thread for discussion of the US scene might be useful.

Overnight Rick Perry had a total meltdown in the Republican candidates debate, not being able to remember which Government Departments he would abolish.

What was lost in the farce was that one of the departments he would abolish was Education!

What has happened to the Republican Party and why do they currently produce so many candidates who are so far off the planet? Perry, Bachmann, Palin, Trump, etc, etc.

I hope the Tea Party influence wanes and the GOP can become credible.

At this stage, Mitt Romney looks like walking it in because he seems one of the few who aren't mad.

With 50 million people below the poverty line, most of them think the way out is to tax the poor and middle-class more and give the rich massive tax cuts.

[Sojourner]

Perhaps Obama will simply win it R&B?

I thought Cain was the favourite? Seems that to be in the running you have to be a Governer, as Perry was of Texas. They wont let Arnold apply because he was not born in the US.

What I find interesting about the TEA party is that they are calling for lowering of Taxes for all people - T.E.A Taxed Enough Already. Living in South Australia - the highest taxing State in Australia I have to have some empathy for them! At what point does enough become enough, constant arrogance of Governments towards the working poor created this group IMO. Alot of similar frustrations seem to be being expressed by the OCCUPY group also!

[redandblack]

If Obama wins it will be by default to a large extent, Soj?

I think the Tea Party are also about making government smaller, but to the extent that it almost disappears, which sounds OK in theory, but is unworkable.

I obviously have sympathy for the Occupy movement, as I'm in favour of reward for effort, but also think we have an obligation to all, regardless of circumstances.

I've travelled extensively in the US and love it, but I find many of their social policies extreme, but that's America.

It's a different place.

[fish]

I have been watching the odds for which party - Republican or Democrat - would win the next presidency and it was neck and neck until today.

After Perry's gaffe the Democrats (ie Obama) have firmed but it's still pretty close:

DEMOCRATIC PARTY $1.83
REPUBLICAN PARTY $1.95

[redandblack]

There's a fair case to be made that the Republican Party has lost the plot.

Now Hermann Cain has had a total brain fade, not having a clue about the politics surrounding Liba. Add that to his alleged predeliction for groping women, you'd think he is now history.

The only reasonable candidates left seem to be Romney, Huntsman(?) and Paul, but the latter two are thought to be too far to the left, as they don't support cutting taxes for millionaires and raising taxes for everone else.

Surely in a country of nearly 300 million, they could find someone half reasonable?

[Psyber]

Unfortunately, I don't think anyone "half reasonable" would be acceptable to the majority of US voters.
In this case I'd like to see Obama stay mainly because the alternatives appear to be genuinely appalling.

The only two US Presidents I ever felt positive about were FDR and Jimmy Carter.
I did have some grudging respect for some of Bill Clinton's efforts, despite his personality deficits in other areas.

[Sky Pilot]

Rick Santorum is an outstanding candidate but lacks the financial grunt. Mit Romney is hamstrung by his fundamental christian BS but he has the budget to smooth out the peaks and valleys in his campaign. Newt Gingrinch is seriously qualified but as we will find out in the next 36 hours he has too much baggage. The left wing media is building a massive attack on him and he will flounder. Hermann Cain should stick to selling pizza and groping women. Ron Paul is about as loopy as Bob Brown is here - count him out. Michelle Bachmann doesn't fit the image American's want to see. Watching a chick descend the stairs of Airforce 1 is not redneck heaven for the great unwashed. Obama is charismatic but deeply out of touch. Clueless on economics, banking, manufacturing and labour relations.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Ron Paul is a very smart man. He concedes the war on drugs is lost, and it's time to look at other options like legalization.

[Bat Pad]

Ron Paul is a very smart man. He concedes the war on drugs is lost, and it's time to look at other options like legalization.

Don't have to be a very smart man to realise that (not to say that he isn't)

[Sky Pilot]

Ron Paul is a very smart man. He concedes the war on drugs is lost, and it's time to look at other options like legalization.

He's just old and decrepit. Shakes a lot and waves his arthritic fingers around like they are attached to his hand by bandaids. His ideas are simplistic and un-achievable hence my comparison to Brown's Green's out here

[redandblack]

Obama seems like Solomon compared to the rabble lining up to be POTUS on the Republican side (with only 1 or 2 exceptions).

It's not the 'left-wing media' that will destroy Newt Gingrich, it's Newt Gingrich's own actions.

We'll just have to see who Fox News endorses.

[Sky Pilot]

I'm not Gingrich fan - he's 68 and should just be out playing golf. Politics is a young man's (person's) domain

[The Sleeping Giant]

Ron Paul is a very smart man. He concedes the war on drugs is lost, and it's time to look at other options like legalization.

Don't have to be a very smart man to realise that (not to say that he isn't)

Haven't heard any other politician admit it though. Shall
I add courageous and honest?

[The Sleeping Giant]

Ron Paul is a very smart man. He concedes the war on drugs is lost, and it's time to look at other options like legalization.

He's just old and decrepit. Shakes a lot and waves his arthritic fingers around like they are attached to his hand by bandaids. His ideas are simplistic and un-achievable hence my comparison to Brown's Green's out here

Sorry. Didn't realise ideas and thoughts had to be complicated to be good ones.

[Bat Pad]

Ron Paul is a very smart man. He concedes the war on drugs is lost, and it's time to look at other options like legalization.

Don't have to be a very smart man to realise that (not to say that he isn't)

Haven't heard any other politician admit it though. Shall
I add courageous and honest?

Yeah

[Sky Pilot]

Ron Paul is a very smart man. He concedes the war on drugs is lost, and it's time to look at other options like legalization.

He's just old and decrepit. Shakes a lot and waves his arthritic fingers around like they are attached to his hand by bandaids. His ideas are simplistic and un-achievable hence my comparison to Brown's Green's out here

Sorry. Didn't realise ideas and thoughts had to be complicated to be good ones.

Oh okay...his ideas are impractical and un-achievable.
sound better?

[Leaping Lindner]

Rick Santorum is an outstanding candidate but lacks the financial grunt. Mit Romney is hamstrung by his fundamental christian BS but he has the budget to smooth out the peaks and valleys in his campaign. Newt Gingrinch is seriously qualified but as we will find out in the next 36 hours he has too much baggage. The left wing media is building a massive attack on him and he will flounder. Hermann Cain should stick to selling pizza and groping women. Ron Paul is about as loopy as Bob Brown is here - count him out. Michelle Bachmann doesn't fit the image American's want to see. Watching a chick descend the stairs of Airforce 1 is not redneck heaven for the great unwashed. Obama is charismatic but deeply out of touch. Clueless on economics, banking, manufacturing and labour relations.

The same Rick Santorum that compared gay sex with child molestation, incest, and bestiality ?
The same Rick Santorum that said " I believe the existence of homosexuals undermines the basic tenants of society and the family.” ?

In the words of US comedian Lewis Black "Rick Santorum should be “should be electro-shocked for his own good."

[The Sleeping Giant]

Ron Paul is a very smart man. He concedes the war on drugs is lost, and it's time to look at other options like legalization.

He's just old and decrepit. Shakes a lot and waves his arthritic fingers around like they are attached to his hand by bandaids. His ideas are simplistic and un-achievable hence my comparison to Brown's Green's out here

Sorry. Didn't realise ideas and thoughts had to be complicated to be good ones.

Oh okay...his ideas are impractical and un-achievable.
sound better?

Why would legalizing some drugs be impractical and un-achievable, when the war on drugs is costing a fortune, and totally un-winnable?

[redandblack]

Fair question.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Out of all the Republican candidates, Ron Paul is the only one that doesn't scare the bejesus out of me.