Midterm Election
Muddy
USA
I just saw Ron DeSantis at a rally on Long Island this past weekend. It’s one of those things when you see this guys bravado especially in person, he’s gonna be the next president you could see it a million miles away. I’ve had a few politicians that made me want to move away from them but he’s the only politician that made me want to literally get the fuck up and move to his state.
Anyway at least around me, I’ve already voted. Conservative down the line and really not something I had to think about hard at all. It’s not that I’m down with everything the Republican party is about but I’ve just seen enough liberal insanity to last a lifetime and I’ll probably just vote against whatever that bullshit for the duration of my lifespan. And the issue you can’t get past is crime, I’m not alone it and I’ve never seen so many in the suburbs on the same page when it comes to that very issue. It’s enough where I can see this Zeldin/Hochul for NY Governor race possibly be an upset there. Not sure but it’s gonna be real tight but I would like to see an upset there see this state go in another direction (or I’m fucking outta here)
How about y’all out there. Whatever you beliefs, what are you thinking, what are the people saying on ground and did you vote already and if so who?
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I actually didn't like him in 2018. He seemed like he was just copying Trump in a true MAGA state. He won the 2018 election by less than 1/2 percent of the vote. We had another fucking recount (required by law for such slim margins). Four years later, he has proven to be his own politician. It's smart of him to campaign for and with candidates in other states, and a sure sign that he is running for president in 2024. He needs to start building a national brand to be able to compete with the Senators and former Trump admin who are certain to also campaign in 2024.
Seriously, a candidate actually said that. Imagine if the roles were reversed
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-cana…
What I'm seeing come out some of the blue states right now makes me think that the Dem party has collectively lost its mind. Seriously.
The problem with Trump is that his Crazy Town antics encourage the other side to react with equal craziness. It becomes a viscious swing cycle. DeSantis brings the best of all worlds IMHO - all of Trump's better policy views without the never-ending nonsense that the press can showcase as evidence of emotionally instability. When DeSantis speaks, he is matter of fact and has solid data at hand to back up his views. He also handles adversarial questions from the press in a calm and competent manner. IMHO he would be an excellent candidate for President.
It should be a lesson to the liberals that they have moved too far left. It should also be viewed as a message to the White House that the American public is not happy with their performance over the past few years.
The U.S. and the whole world is not ready for eliminating Fossil fuels. The radical left has set us back horribly and we need a change from them. I voted accordingly.
There’s still a heck of a lot of blue out there. I live in a conservative state but in an extremely liberal county so I may be seeing a different view than most of you on a daily basis. The one thing I’ve read that I agree with is most Dem candidates put EVERYTHING into abortion issues and most analysts say it’ll bite them in the ass since many candidates are ignoring all other issues.
I’m in Pittsburgh a lot (a usually blue city) but surprisingly (at least to me) the Pittsburgh Post Gazette just endorsed Dr Oz.
Therefore, the repubs will win plenty of seats in the House.
Senate is harder to protect than the House, and dems stole both run-offs in GA in 2020. Difficult to tell if the dem cheating will allow them to steal enough Senate races to maintain control, and continue their deliberate destruction of the United States.
I really wish Rob Portman would have run for reelection because neither of these two clowns are fit to replace him, but I completely understand why he was too fed up with the extreme partisan bickering from both sides and wants nothing to do with it anymore.
As is characteristic of wave elections, I'm seeing late polls all break in the same direction. I expect any Senate race where the GOP is up or within 2 points to break Republican.
What should concern Democrats is that they actually have a friendly Senate map this year. 2024 they're defending seats in Trump states. On top of that, if shit doesn't improve and Dems don't do serious soul searching after their loss., voters are going to blame the Dem president rather than the GOP Congress--GOP is going to say "hey, we need our own man in the Oval Office in order to pass our agenda" which will add to their 2024 momentum. Strong 2022 + strong 2024 could equal a filibuster-proof majority. THEN the GOP agenda will be tried and judged.
Dems felt their wild oats after 2020. Went hard left, when the only reason they won the Senate was because Trump encouraged Georgia voters to protest the runoff and stay home.
I never liked or felt a thrill up my leg about Obama, but he was a generational political talent who managed to align people within a progressive-ish vision. However, he wasn't a particularly effective law-passer--he played the game on "easy mode" (with 60 Dem senators) and still only got one major legislative achievement (the ACA), and Republicans ripped the guts out of it over the years.
Fact is, America just isn't a progressive country. Dems are hostage to the most progressive fifth of their party that contributes most of their dollars and energy. And allergic to self-reflection.
Personally, my first priority is taking power out of the hands of Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer.
I'll vote for whomever stops the extravagant spending, prosecutes criminals, stops the flow of illegals and fentanyl over the border, supports freedom of speech, and stands against the chemical and surgical castration of psychologically-hurting children.
So do you want 2-6 more years of the she disastrous policies, inflation, shortages, tyranny, and hateful rhetoric? Vote democrat.
If you want a change to stop Biden's rampant failures, stem the financial crisis, and strip power from megalomaniacs like Pelosi and Schumer, then vote Republican.
@icee, if you think there's going to be a blue wave, I'll bet you $25,000 that the Dems lose House seats. Sure bet, right?
Democrats want to close titty bars because they exploit the women who are too dumb to realize they are being exploited.
Libertarians say go look at titties if that's your thing.
Republicans aren't offering any message other than gutting safety nets and lowering regulations to allow more private sector exploitation
Not spoken like someone with confidence on the matter.
Of course you're just saying inflammatory shit to get attention, so--you're welcome.
Saying "people will 'bote' Democrat" isn't inflammatory, it's fucking stupid.
I used to play a lot of blackjack, then just stopped. I prefer investing.
Oh yeah... that fuckin' prick Sweeney is such a piece of shit. I was happy to see him booted out by a blue collar regular guy who never ran for office before. He probably pissed his fucking pants.
I belong to a NJ 2nd Amendment group - like 10 years ago we went down to the State House in Trenton to attend a public hearing on gun control. That jerkoff looked at us out the window and tried to order the State Police to disperse the crowd. (Okay, there were like 150 of us). End result, we all got in and took our time to address the committee one by one. It took hours.
That fucking asshole, if I never see him again it will be too soon. Fuck him.
As a saying goes:
"A second-rate firefighter is better than a first-rate arsonist"
"New Poll Predicts Disaster For Democrats A Week Before Midterms"
I thought the image attached to the article was kinda funny/clever (depending on how one is voting I would guess):
https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-poll-…
"Florida GOP Registers 9 New Voters For Every New Democrat"
https://www.dailywire.com/news/wow-flori…
https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/…
He seems to have generally sidestepped the election denial farce. Which is smart since not only Dems but many Repubs have strong feelings about the threat Trump poses to democracy. If the next President will be Republican I'll be glad to have this guy over Trump... so far. I wonder if/how Trump will be able to concede the spotlight... it will be interesting.
https://youtu.be/d-ABIIZV3vA
In reading the article that Papi linked to, I also find it very heartening that so many people are registering Republican after moving to the state. This indicates that either committed Republicans are leaving the democrat strongholds up north, or former swing voters have moved to Florida to get away from the democrat failures and are committed to keeping Florida strong, free, and Republican.
@wld4tatas, you'll refer to DeSantis as Hitler too, same way the left has called every Republican in my lifetime a Nazi. Thanks but no thanks.
“"Glad to see the support for DeSantis over Trump."
@wld4tatas, you'll refer to DeSantis as Hitler too, same way the left has called every Republican in my lifetime a Nazi. Thanks but no thanks.”
So, when someone finds the slightest bit of common ground with you, your response is to tell him that he is lying because in the future he’ll say something you won’t like? You’re essentially saying that anyone who doesn’t share all of your views can’t ever say something you agree with? So it’s a waste of time trying to discuss or debate anything with you because your eyes and ears are closed. Got it.
So yes, he can fuck off back to shilling for Biden. When he gets there, he can fuck off from there, too. Then fuck off some more. Keep fucking off until he is back here. The fuck off again.
I don't think DeSantis resonates on a national level. He's basically a Trump clone with establishment ties.
If Republicans want to control all three branches in 2025, they should hope for the Dems to win the midterms. Market economies are unpredictable. But the most likely thing, no matter who wins the Midterms, is that the Fed will have to jack up rates, and cause a recession that hurts the most vulnerable people. But with divided government, voters won't be sure who to blame, so Biden or whoever may hold the White House, like Obama did is 2012. But if Dems have both the Congress and the Presidency, then the Republicans will win (everything) in 2024. Unless the recession is extremely short (unlikely). And unless the Republicans are brain dead enough to nominate Trump again instead of DeSantis or somebody. Acutally Youngkin would probably do better than DeSantis nationally.
The Biden administration announced on Wednesday, six days before the upcoming midterm elections, that the federal government would help pay power bills for qualifying low- and moderate-income households.
The administration will provide $4.5 billion through the Department of Health and Human Services to “help lower heating costs for American families this winter,” according to a press release from the White House. The funds will cover unpaid utility payments and “help families make cost-effective home energy repairs to lower their heating and cooling bills.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-hou…
"Arizona Judge Issues Restraining Order Against Voter Org Monitoring Drop Boxes, A Week After Ruling In Their Favor"
Just days after allowing an activist group to monitor ballot drop boxes, a federal judge issued a restraining order restricting the group’s activities.
In an order handed down Tuesday evening, judge Michael T. Liburdi of the U.S. District Court of Arizona severely curtailed the activities that members of the election activist group Clean Elections USA can engage in while monitoring drop boxes in the state. The judge also mandated that the group’s founder, Melody Jennings, must correct public statements she made about ballot drop boxes, among other orders.
According to the order, while the group is monitoring drop boxes, they are not allowed to:
* intentionally be within 75 feet of a ballot drop box or a building a drop box is located in
* intentionally follow voters dropping off ballots at a drop box, when voters are within the prescribed area of the drop box
* speak to or yell at anyone dropping off ballots and within the prescribed area, unless they are spoken to or yelled at first
* openly carry firearms or wear body armor within 250 feet of a drop box
In addition, the judge ordered Clean Elections USA to post a statement to their social media accounts, and to Jennings’s personal Truth Social account. “It is not always illegal to deposit multiple ballots in a ballot drop box,” the statement reads. “It is legal to deposit the ballot of a family member, household member, or person for whom you are the caregiver. Here are the rules for ballot drop boxes by which I ask you to abide”: the posts must be accompanied by a copy of Arizona’s ballot drop box law, or a web link to the text of the law, along with a copy of or link to the restraining order itself.
The judge then ordered Jennings to post a separate message on her personal Truth Social account. “Any past statement that it is always illegal to deposit multiple ballots in a ballot drop box is incomplete; a family member, household member, or caregiver can legally do so.”
The restraining order will last for 14 days.
The order comes less than a week after Liburdi ruled in favor of Clean Elections USA, allowing them to keep monitoring ballot drop boxes after two liberal activists groups, the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino, sued to stop the group from monitoring the drop boxes, claiming that it was violating the Voting Rights Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act.
“Defendants have not made any statements threatening to commit acts of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals,” Liburdi wrote, citing public statements Jennings made urging volunteers to to follow the law and remain outside the mandatory 75-foot radius of the drop box, and not to interact with alleged “ballot mules” at the drop boxes. “Defendants’ conduct does not fall into any traditionally recognized category of voter intimidation,” Liburdi added.
“While there are serious questions implicated, the Court cannot provide preliminary injunctive relief without infringing core constitutional rights,” Liburdi wrote in his conclusion. However, he left the case open for future litigation, writing in his conclusion that Arizona Alliance could sue in future if they could prove that Clean Elections USA was engaging in actual voter intimidation.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/arizona-j…
^ looks like the judge got pressured from on-high - he's even going as far as telling these folks what they have to write on social-media; unbelievable (I doubt he'd treat Dems that way).
I don't even know how/why they are allowing these drop-boxes - AFAIK they are supposed to be "camera-monitored" but in 2020 many weren't or the recording-equipment "conveniently malfunctioned" - sure; not everyone that uses the drop-boxes is up to shenanigans; but they open the opportunity for those that are - it seems there is the possibility there won't be any oversight at many of these drop-boxes.
With one week left before the election, a New York appeals court declined Republican groups’ challenges to New York’s absentee voting laws established during the pandemic.
The New York Appellate Division, Third Department ruled in two cases: Amedure v. New York and Cavalier v. Warren County Board of Elections. The court upheld laws allowing absentee ballots for fear of contracting COVID or other illnesses, requiring ballot processing before Election Day, and preventing legal challenges to processed ballots. The court stated that the Republican petitioners procrastinated too long to file their legal challenge in Amedure, and that granting relief would result in prejudice against certain voters. The court dismissed the Cavalier argument of unconstitutionality.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-…
^ the measure were supposed to be *temporary* in 2020 b/c of Covid - now the Dems want to make them permanent changing long-standing NY voting-law.
The one or two jokers here who think they know me are hilarious. They only demonstrate their own weak grasp on reality. I do a lot of research, something I enjoy, and perhaps it might come across like I am some operative or shill... lol. But my posts and opinions are my own, I do not play any game, except if you want to call exposing right wing bullshit a game.
Someone once made the argument that you can identify incompetence, because the subject is unable to recognize his (or her) own shortcomings and failures. Hillary and Barry are great examples of this- they were each complete and utter disasters in their respective roles, yet each believes they did so well that they should be rewarded with greater responsibility. Biden also fits this mold, but he at least used to have the self-awareness to describe himself as a gaffe machine. Long before his current demented state.
Everything wld4assholes posts is false, not even a half-truth. Now he wants to be given credibility because he states he credible. No, not at all, buddy. You are as plain and transparent as a dancer's desire for my bankroll. The "right-wing jokers" you fear on this site do know you, liberal shills like you are a dime a dozen. You want to be labelled an "operative", LOL. You are a child, with a child's mind and a child's opinions playing a child's game.
Similarly, in traditionally blue South Florida, it looks like Miami will have a Republican majority based on a surge of Republican registrations.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls…
Similarly, Republican prospects for controlling the Senate with at least 52 seats are very good.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls…
Then, in 2024, there are far more Democrat Senate seats up for re-election than Republican. Republicans should increase their Senate majority in 2024.
"We have $21 trillion in debt. When this [tax cut] really kicks in we’ll start paying off that debt like water." – President Trump, July 26, 2018
"We are totally confident this is a revenue-neutral bill and probably a revenue producer.” – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Dec. 3, 2017
“Our analysis has always been higher than CBO. As I’ve said previously, we believe that the tax cuts will pay for themselves over a 10-year period of time, it’s how we score them,” - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, February 12, 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-t…
A Conservative voter that doesn't think... that's not at all surprising.
Dems seem under motivated, so Republicans should have a decent night, but I expect Hershel and Doctor Oz to lose and ruin the Republican chance of taking the Senate. So we are looking at two years of gridlock which the stock market normally likes.
Unfortunately that is pretty-much the only way to go given the state of things - the two parties are very divided and seem to have very different views of what American should be - it's rare any one politician votes against his party (or at least in any significant #) - if one votes Dem then it's pretty-much voting for the current Biden administration agenda - that's just the reality w/ few exceptions.
I'd wish the GOP had more of a concrete agenda, a Contract With America type agenda, but for any congressperson it's a binary choice. You're for the Biden agenda or against it. Vote accordingly.
Heard on the evening news: "During the press briefing next Wednesday, after the Red Tsunami, will Fox News' Peter Doocy ask KJP. 'Does this mean democracy is dead in America?'" LOL. I hope he does.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/snl-20…
If by "good" you mean "reassuring to Democrats," then sure.
Out in the real world, Trump hasn't been president for two years, and still hasn't been reinstated at his favorite platform. He's off fucking around with his social media wet dreams that are going nowhere.
Out in the real world, January 6 is just another day, not this Pearl Harbor or 9/11 equivalent that Dem muckety-mucks seem to think it is.
But most of all, out in the real world, Dems have had the trifecta for two years while the American people are hurting from inflation, illegal immigration, and crime. Kathy Hochul made her strategic blunder by asking her GOP opponent why it's so important to lock up criminals. In the face of that, good luck getting the American people to chase an abstract "democracy's in danger." It's telling how the Dems are complaining that the American people are too stupid to share their priorities of abortion and "threats to democracy." All the GOP needs to repeat is Reagan's line of "are you better off than you are (two) years ago?"
When the final tallies are in, I can't wait for Doocy, or one of the other non-lackey journalists, to ask if the US is still a "democracy." Psaki was at least a skilled liar. KJP is outmatched.
That being said, the election denier types need to be voted down at every chance. Red or Blue, we need at least some semblance of democracy which if they get their way we won't have. They will lead the US down a very, very dark path. If my choice is between the pronoun police or traitors doing the work of an adversary with a red, white, and blue flag of its own... then I guess I'm going straight ticket pronoun. I'd toss DeSantis a vote, potentially, but that's not my state.
A better path for all of us would be to outlaw parties altogether, implement rank choice voting and make each politician stand on their own merits and their position on local issues, but it's basically a glorified football game now where the fans are too stupid to even understand the rules, much less the nuance of the game.
2)Outlaw political parties? That's crazy talk. They go back to the founding of the Union. While it can be frustrating that each party has rigid positions and punishes officials for voting and acting contrary to those guidelines, it does help to understand at least a basic outline of a candidate's beliefs. I actually voted this year that school boards be made a partisan election so I know who will fight against teaching hate and CRT in schools. What we should do is vote to change the leadership of the parties, similar to Reagan's GOP, to allow more diersity in thought but similar priorities. And ranked choice would just be a fucking disaster, not only no, but hell no.
3) Liberals keep crying "Trump! Trump! Trump!". Just like 2016 they give him all the free press and all the attention. Some people still support him just to antagonize the liberals. I think most others would be willing to thank him for his service to the country, but are ready to move on to less controversial candidates.
https://youtu.be/yY3HUDhe7jk
I was talking about CRIST. Chain gang Charlie. Former Republican Governor. Now if you consider Jeb Bush to be a liberal, I imagine you feel the majority of Republican candidates over the last 20 or so years to also be RINOs. Think Dole, W, Romney, McCain. That was the thinking of the Tea Party faction of the party. My question was: While Crist is certainly to the left of Rand Paul, he historically would not fit in the party of Bernie and AOC. What the hell happened that he is now the Dem nominee and almost universally hated by Republicans in the State?
The ides the pos group known as democrats care about democracy is hysterical since letting poverty stricken, illiterate illegals stream in to collect welfare and then vote Democrats, already ended democracy here. They also are in favor of mail in voting a.k.a cheating. registering people to vote if they just show up, also known as cheating. Ballot drop boxes, the epitome of cheating and buying votes at polling places, cheating.
Every crisis in this country the left enhances and makes worse as they continue the quest to destroy America and replace it with their ideal form of Government and society as illustrated in 1984.
Only in James Clyburn's little head. In no major poll does "democracy" outweigh inflation and the economy.
Speaking of Trump loyalists, how's that Dem effort to fund Kari Lake's primary campaign thinking she'd be easy prey in the general? LOL. If they really believed Trump and MAGA Republicans were a threat to democracy, they wouldn't be funding them.
Everyone sees through this.
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/11/…
I never thought I’d say this, but I’m looking forward to the non-political commercials!!
I swear if she somehow wins, I'll never set foot in New York again, not because of the crime rate, but for fear of being around people who voted for that fucking mess.
Images
A Chicago resident has been arrested and charged after he allegedly threatened Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, promising to skin him alive and then feed his family to him.
Scott Lennox, 21, made the threats on Friday after an ad for Bailey ran on a television in a bar where he was having a drink with some friends, prosecutors said according to the Chicago Sun Times. Lennox reportedly became angry after the ad played, sparking an altercation with his friends — after which he called Bailey’s office in Springfield, IL, to complain further.
Prosecutors revealed some of what Lennox allegedly said in the voicemail:
“I’m going to skin Darren Bailey alive, making sure he is still alive, and I’m going to feed his f***ing family to him as he is alive and screaming in f***ing pain … He is a piece of white a** racist s***, and honestly if he doesn’t kill himself, I will.
You know what? I know where he lives. I know where he sleeps. I know where his kids sleep. And I know the f***ing school he works at … the candidate teaching all this mother f***ing misinformation is going to die. So honestly he should just kill himself before anything else happens.
...
https://www.dailywire.com/news/if-he-doe…
https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/12409…
The Dark Heart of the Republican Party
Embracing the politics of sadism, the GOP base hits a new low.
Voters: I don’t think so, Sparky!
SURE is the state-wide system to maintain accurate voting records that county election officials can rely on when managing and facilitating polling places in their counties.
Other than baldly just claiming victory, the only alternative that I know of that Republicans have offered was the "Cyber Ninjas" recount in Arizona. They ignored lots of criticism for lack of transparency, and lack of security for ballots and voting equipment. They're competency can be questioned, but not their basic honorability, since they did confirm Biden's victory.
Did you ever consider that maybe there are just more voters per vote counter in some places, so it takes longer? https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2022/05… In all these cases where it's claimed that it took "too long" to count votes, deadlines specified by state law were met.
So Trump appointed lots of "leftist" judges did he? You might grok this whole reality thing better if you cut back on the brain-cell-killing smotherings by well-endowned booties.
Good to see somebody finally getting arrested for making these cowardly anonymous death threats. Note that the arrest was made in a very Blue city in a Blue state. Time for the Red states to step up.
Yes, the WI supreme court did rule ballot drop boxes illegal, even though mail-in ballots are explicitly required to be available under state law. Drop boxes are video monitored, and the ballots are under video surveillance whenever handled from the time they're remove from the drop box. I don't see how any honest person could claim that's less secure than mailed in ballots. I mean, suppose a court said the government can read your e-mail, because the 4th Amendment only says you have to be secure in your "papers". Dangerous to be cool with stupid nitpicks by partisan judges, just because they work in your favor in one particular case.
The solution to reduce cheating is simple. Anyone who wants a mail in ballot must request it by including a photocopy of their Picture ID. That’s close to the way things worked pre-Covid.
“if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying! “
In addition, Congress must pass an annual spending authorization for anything government does. They could cut overall government spending, or defund entire departments. Republicans have already said they will stop sending money to Ukraine. Biden would have no alternative but to accept these cuts.
Once Republicans are in control, this is their lever to force Biden to carry out an actual inflation reduction initiative. This would do more to cut inflation than what the Fed is doing.
Early voting should be limited. Sunday-Saturday prior to the election Tuesday. If you cannot break free at least one of those seven days, then you are not trying.
All ballots must be received by the time pools close. Counting of early votes and mail-in ballots should begin as soon as the pools open. All ballots must be tallied on Election Tuesday. There is absolutely no reason that counting should take days.
No mail-in ballots without a compelling reason (e.g. away at college). Require a photocopy of a current and valid photo ID to be included with ballot.
Make ballot harvesting illegal.
Make Election Day a federal holiday. Not everyone would be given the day off by their employer, but there are a lot of people who would be freed up to vote on election day.
Why is the democrat party and liberals against this? Because it erodes their ability to commit election fraud and
Government shutdowns require both parties to fail to compromise. It is intellectually dishonest (you and other liberals' specialty) to blame only one side. Interesting how this only happen when a democrat party chief is in the White House, though.
As far as triggering a depression, it sounds like you are trying to revision history before it happens. A despression is likely, but that is only because your fellow demented old fools (Biden, Pelosi, Schumer) are unable to govern effectively and implement the policies necessary to promote broad fiscal stability like, say, DONALD TRUMP. Yeah, he was orange and very tough to tolerate, but he oversaw a rising tide of financial growth which benefitted all Americans, regardless of race, creed, color, or party. Your guys have thrown it all away in the name of pandering and equity. No, the democrat party will achieve a depression all on their own.
There’s no technically anything if we default the consequences are unpredictable.
A reduction in the size of government would not “ cause a depression”. Just the opposite. It would reduce inflation and energize the entrepreneurial spirit.
The Great Depression was a real event, just because you theorize about what should have been done or who did what wrong and when or why, the actual event was real and lasted longer than anyone expected at the time.
Want a real life lesson from what happened, don’t start stupid events by thinking you know everything and the other guy knows nothing
The consequences are real not theoretical.
We spend $1 Trillion per year on the military. If we decided the military’s job was simply to protect the US and trade routes with our allies, we could do this for a fraction of that.
Beyond that, the massive Education Department accomplishes nothing. The added 80,000 IRS will simply add red tape for small business. The CIA and State Department bureaucracies are massive and are used to meddle in other countries affairs. The FDA spends more effort protecting big Pharma than protecting consumers. And on and on.
Shrinking the federal government is the best thing we can do.
Who gives a shit about Putin ? Why are you obsessed with him ?
I'm open to discussing the exact dollar amount of the defense budget, but a full pull back from international activity would inevitably lead to an expansion of totalitarian and communist regimes. Fortunately, support for defense spending and focused international involvement such as Ukraine is strong among both Dems and Repubs.
After women and travel, supporting Ukraine has been my #3 top category of discretionary spending this year.
Why should we subsidize the world ? America First.
My main concerns are
Inflation
Affordable housing scarcity
Womens reproductive rights
Homelessness
Corrupt judges
Corrupt police
And any candidate who opposes corporate welfare and handouts to businesses. As well as opposes bidens war and bloated defense budgets
The largest obstacle to withdrawal is that China is expanding. China's belt and road initiative is the worst kind of predatory lending. However, the US can only counter by spending granting and lending, as well. The most important question we need to ask our leaders is this: if one of the most successful tactics in the defeat of the Soviet Union was to outspend them, if it possible that China is doing the same to us?
We also need to maintain our overseas bases. Aircraft carriers are great, but they can only be part of a multi-faceted solution. We need the bases in Japan, Italy, Germany, RoK to complete our projection of power. It would be damned nice if that demented old fool hadn't given away Bagram.
We do need to spend only our treaty obligations to NATO and demand our allies meet their obligations, or else. We should withdraw from any failed or sham UN program. Frankly, we should kick all the fuckers out. We should also trim spending inside our borders (goodbye, PBS, NPR, Ad Council, NEA, DOEd, et al). Government employees go to the Obamacare exchanges. No federal pensions, you get a 401(k) like the rest of us.
As for America first, nothing gets exported until our domestic needs are met first. No foreign ownership of land, except for strictly regulated domestic partnerships. No birthright citizenship.
These steps are so self-evident, and some so easy to implement, that corruption and greed can be the only explanation for why they are not active. The first step to solve those will never happen. Term limits.
1) "14 Carrier Battle Groups>" Huh ? US hasn't had that many since Reagans 2nd term. Try 10. While we have 11 carriers in commission now, there are only 10 carrier air wings. At any given moment, 1 carrier is in overhaul of some sort.
2) "Energy Independent". Really ? I seem to recall President Biden some weeks ago BEGGING Opec to increase oil production. If the Republicans win Congress in a few days, IMO we'll move back towards energy independence. I,m optimistic we'll be energy independent again if Republicans regain the Presidency. Such energy independence is a strong plus for our national security, and in reducing inflation.
And unless a cop has a personal problem with someone, nobody is getting fraudulently framed for drug usage/selling or stealing.
To include corrupt judges and cops (who affect less than a few hundred people per year) in lists of things that affect millions of people, means you just have a personal problem with cops and judges. The people in high school who hated cops and judges the most were wannabe gangstas copying their favorite celebrity musician, or they were drug dealers. Some of these people literally got arrested for dealing or for stealing then complained about how cops are corrupt.
There’s so many thieves, so many drug dealers and users that cops just don’t need to frame people for those things.
China is in deep, deep shit.
They have a lot of ships but they all have a range of under 1,000 miles. They can’t protect the shipping lanes from the Middle East. All it would take to crush China economically is a single destroyer positioned between India and Saudi Arabia to stop oil imports.
Demographically, they have relatively few people of working age and a ballooning number of retirees. Average wages have skyrocketed. Many countries, including Mexico, have cheaper labor. Companies are fleeing China as fast as they can set up operations elsewhere.
Financially, their real estate and banking industry has collapsed. They have no capacity for manufacturing micro chips except for the very cheapest and least powerful. The embargo on selling chips to China means entire industries can no longer produce goods.
Depending on where you are. Elected judges can appoint hearing masters. While the positions are non partisan in name. They're heavily vested in special interests. For example an attorney who defended the real estate lobby being appointed a hearing master for eviction court. Then the role of the police union in backing certain judges.
Police corruption affects anyone with the potential to have contact with the police for whatever reason. And also affects the departments backing of and relation to politicians.
You're a sheltered little bitch running his mouth on here
In times of military conflict, this becomes a much bigger issue. Look at what’s happening to energy and food in Europe. They are chopping down ancient forests in Germany to get through the winter.
That’s what I mean by energy and food independence. Unlike most of the world, we don’t have to worry that our food and energy supplies can be threatened.
Oil companies post massive profits as consumers feel squeeze from high gas prices
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/oil-co…
People in red states are tge most hurt by inflation/greed. They have the lowest wages and least social safety nets. That's what makes the republican base so tragic. They vote against their economic self interests because Republicans cater to their bigoted backward identity politics
Percentage breakdown by party in this order: Democrat-Republican-independent:
Georgia: 49-42-9
Pennsylvania: 70-21-9
Wisconsin: 37-34-29
Arizona: 39-31-30
North Carolina: 39-31-30
New York: 58-24-18
Wash State: 58-30-12
New Mexico: 53-34-13
New Hampshire: 45-30-25
Michigan: 50-28-22
What does this likely men ? In 2020, Democrats had the overwhelming lead among mail in ballots while Republicans had an overwhelming lead among in person ballots. Plus, Independents leaned Democrat in 2020 but polling indicates that Independents ( I.e. Suburban Moms ) are leaning Republican in 2022.
Based on that, mail in tallies suggest Republicans will have a very good day tomorrow, though Pennsylvania is raising red flags.
Who's with me ?
Funny, but now that CoVid is behind us, few of these states have gone back to the long standing practice of only mailing ballots to people who request them.
I wonder why ?
https://amgreatness.com/2022/11/02/the-l…
The left cannot defend its last two years' failures, and is instead trying to deflect to "democracy is at stake!"
A vote for Democrats today is a vote to speed up on the path of the last two years.
I hate to bring up his name but do you guys recall randumbmember aka rumdumoron?
Seriously is wld4testes the reincarnation of that dipshit rumdumoron?
Same incessant koolaid drinking comments taken from the leftist playbook. I see his comments here and there on the board and it's always the same old same old. He's like an automated bot.
BTW in a democracy neither side ever gets what they wanted completely, if compromises aren't reached, conflict is never resolved.
Random used to say he posted his reviews under a different screen name, so it's actually quite possible but I have very little actual information about Random.
The Dem slogan for this election should be "who are you going to believe, us or your lying eyes?"
' so tatas isn’t a username change.'
Actually I'll go on record as saying that testes is 100% not rumdummoron, I never thought he was.
My comment was just an observation that when it comes to posting they both come off as leftist bots that keep repeating the same thing over and over.
I don't know this guy "TheeOSU" and he doesn't know me. But I can see he's another proud right wing member with a FUCK tagline, doesn't hesitate to insult others (including more amusing variations on my user name), and a quick check of his posting history shows that almost every second discussion he starts is about another poster. SMH
Back in Obama's first term I participated in some lively political discussions on another board in another part of the world I hobbied in frequently. The clubs there were some of the finest on the planet, with great selections of 8s and 9s available for take out... but those are stories for another day. The political debates on that board were sometimes intense, full of the usual talking points but often diving deeper into policy and analysis. In general, both sides were fairly civil for the most part. In contrast, I have to say that with a few notable exceptions, the right wing contingent on TUSCL is one of the nastiest and most disrespectful crowds I have ever encountered.
>Per @Mark94’s post – that huge difference in mail-in-ballots is concerning – I really don’t understand why there would be that significant a difference in “certain states” w.r.t. mail-in vs in-person ballots
Maybe this video from Democrat Commissioner and Board of Elections explains it. Don't think that should be legal.