Hot takes on the Democratic frontrunners - Page 19

Urbane Guerrilla · 12-03-2019, 11:48 PM

Kamala Harris is winnowed out, and this Libertarian says "Damned good riddance."

Griff · 12-09-2019, 06:26 AM

I'm hoping Biden is winnowed out next. His shitty insistence that Hunter didn't do anything illegal completely ignores that his son gets a free ticket for being his son. Trump would crush him in a general election despite being profoundly more corrupt.

We also know that Putin handles oligarchs with ease. He plays Trump like a balalaika. I suspect Bloomberg would be a simple guy to control as well.

Clodfobble · 12-09-2019, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Trump would crush him in a general election despite being profoundly more corrupt.

Absolutely. If Biden is nominated, and Trump hasn't resigned and/or been removed, Trump will win a second term.

I'm still with Mayor Pete.

glatt · 12-09-2019, 02:08 PM

I've stopped predicting politics in the era of Trump. I have no fucking clue what other people are thinking.

But I would point out that Virginia swung blue this last election and it's a fairly decent predictor of the country.

Flint · 12-09-2019, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

I've stopped predicting politics in the era of Trump.

I keep thinking how hard/impossible it will be for a lot of Republican politicians to dissociate themselves from Trump, if he should become political poison. Because of the way he demands loyalty, they're irrevocably attached to him.

And now, he's under scrutiny for something that we all know he's guilty of. Republicans will either stick by his side-- knowing that he's guilty, or go against him-- which means a complete, career-ending ostracization. But the Republicans are too invested to go against him, now. So that means, either he faces consequences--and they face consequences for being associated with him, or he doesn't, and... [this part I can't figure out]. What happens when you can do anything and nothing happens? It's, like a political singularity.

tw · 12-09-2019, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

I keep thinking how hard/impossible it will be for a lot of Republican politicians to dissociate themselves from Trump,

A direct quote from a top Congressional Republican (forgot which one):

Quote:

Trump IS the Republican Party.

sexobon · 12-09-2019, 05:04 PM

Depends on what your definition of IS, is.

tw · 12-09-2019, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sexobon

Depends on what your definition of IS, is.

Among factors cited (by others) is a large exodus of moderates from reelection and the Republican party.

Luce · 12-11-2019, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

I'm hoping Biden is winnowed out next. His shitty insistence that Hunter didn't do anything illegal completely ignores that his son gets a free ticket for being his son. Trump would crush him in a general election despite being profoundly more corrupt.

We also know that Putin handles oligarchs with ease. He plays Trump like a balalaika. I suspect Bloomberg would be a simple guy to control as well.

Biden exists right now to take the heat.

In that, he is doing just fine.

Luce · 12-11-2019, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

I keep thinking how hard/impossible it will be for a lot of Republican politicians to dissociate themselves from Trump, if he should become political poison. Because of the way he demands loyalty, they're irrevocably attached to him.

Exactly this. This is what they signed up for.

Undertoad · 12-13-2019, 09:29 AM

This Washington Examiner piece notes that Biden was an enormous hypocrite in the 80s - as were all politicians in the 80s, and also, the 90s, 00s, 10s, and will be next decade.

But in the 80s, Biden was a huge drug warrior, actually helped write some of the harshest drug war legislation; including the legislation to appoint a drug csar, increase mandatory minimum sentences, and to treat crack more harshly than powder cocaine... legislation which, in the long run, wound up actually starting the modern idea of justice reform!

But, in 1988, the first year Biden ran for President, Hunter Biden was arrested for drugs and, through a program, had his record expunged.

Flint · 12-13-2019, 01:08 PM

Biden was obsessed with very harsh "drug war" policies-- this came back into our minds recently when he said that pot might be a gateway drug, it just needs to be "studied" more. Guess why we haven't studied it?

I think it was a piece on The Young Turks where they examined how much he was an "architect" of the drug war, and poured his energy into pushing for it. That's a lot of incarceration.

Griff · 12-13-2019, 01:28 PM

He simply hasn't kept up. Most people really do stop learning much in their dotage, present company excepted.

glatt · 12-13-2019, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

present company excepted.

Same here.

tw · 12-13-2019, 04:58 PM

Large numbers of prosecutors have gone through this same mindset changes. In the 80s, most in power associated marijuana with heroine. Since then, large numbers of prosecutors (and lawmakers) have reassessed their attitude.

One noteworthy exception was Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Other prosecutors noted him as a fair and reasonable prosecutor. But also note he just could not accept the reassessment that so many others had switched to.

This Biden example is simply consistent with attitude changes by most in law enforcement.

12-03-2019, 11:48 PM	#271
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Kamala Harris is winnowed out, and this Libertarian says "Damned good riddance." __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

12-09-2019, 06:26 AM	#272
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I'm hoping Biden is winnowed out next. His shitty insistence that Hunter didn't do anything illegal completely ignores that his son gets a free ticket for being his son. Trump would crush him in a general election despite being profoundly more corrupt. We also know that Putin handles oligarchs with ease. He plays Trump like a balalaika. I suspect Bloomberg would be a simple guy to control as well. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-13-2019, 01:08 PM	#282
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Biden was obsessed with very harsh "drug war" policies-- this came back into our minds recently when he said that pot might be a gateway drug, it just needs to be "studied" more. Guess why we haven't studied it? I think it was a piece on The Young Turks where they examined how much he was an "architect" of the drug war, and poured his energy into pushing for it. That's a lot of incarceration. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

12-13-2019, 01:28 PM	#283
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	He simply hasn't kept up. Most people really do stop learning much in their dotage, present company excepted. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-09-2019, 02:08 PM	#274
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I've stopped predicting politics in the era of Trump. I have no fucking clue what other people are thinking. But I would point out that Virginia swung blue this last election and it's a fairly decent predictor of the country.

12-09-2019, 05:04 PM	#277
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	Depends on what your definition of IS, is.

12-13-2019, 09:29 AM	#281
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	This Washington Examiner piece notes that Biden was an enormous hypocrite in the 80s - as were all politicians in the 80s, and also, the 90s, 00s, 10s, and will be next decade. But in the 80s, Biden was a huge drug warrior, actually helped write some of the harshest drug war legislation; including the legislation to appoint a drug csar, increase mandatory minimum sentences, and to treat crack more harshly than powder cocaine... legislation which, in the long run, wound up actually starting the modern idea of justice reform! But, in 1988, the first year Biden ran for President, Hunter Biden was arrested for drugs and, through a program, had his record expunged.

12-13-2019, 04:58 PM	#285
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	Large numbers of prosecutors have gone through this same mindset changes. In the 80s, most in power associated marijuana with heroine. Since then, large numbers of prosecutors (and lawmakers) have reassessed their attitude. One noteworthy exception was Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Other prosecutors noted him as a fair and reasonable prosecutor. But also note he just could not accept the reassessment that so many others had switched to. This Biden example is simply consistent with attitude changes by most in law enforcement.

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