2016 Elections

[Boatrocker]

. . . Hilarious.....these morons never cease to amaze me. What's worse is all the nutjobs that believe every bullshit word they say.

If they had brains and common sense, could grasp and use logic, and had any capability to reason, they wouldn't be wingnutjobs to begin with.

[Vrede too]

Satire, but I wasn't sure at first:

Mike Pence Opposes Word ‘Vice’ On Religious Grounds, Doesn’t Want To Be Called Vice Presidential Candidate

Mike Pence, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump’s running mate, told the news media at a press conference Thursday that he no longer wants to be called a vice presidential candidate.

The Indiana governor, an evangelical Christian, explained that he opposes the word “vice” on religious grounds. Pence said that the Bible has strict prohibitions against vice. He said the word “vice” means, among other things, “immoral” or “wicked behavior.”

“That’s not who I am, and that’s not who I want people to think I am,” he said. “I can’t in good faith willingly condone a word I find deplorable without violating my Christian principles.”

Pence’s statement came a few days after he refused to use the word “deplorable” to characterize David Duke, former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, who has endorsed the Trump-Pence ticket.

Pence’s comment about Duke came in response to a question after Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for president, referred to Trump supporters, including Duke, as a “ basket of deplorables.”

Pence was asked during his press conference if he condemned the word “vice” on Christian principles, why then didn’t he condemn the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist organization, that openly participates in immoral and wicked behavior?

“I would,” he answered. “But if we start criticizing deplorables, we run the risk of losing half our voters.”

Pence, who regularly touts his Christian faith, often describes himself as “a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.”

Pence’s critics, however, say he uses the Bible to justify his intolerance for gays but ignores scripture when it comes to feeding the hungry, comforting the persecuted, and helping the needy.

A reporter reminded the Indiana governor that he cut tens of thousands of Hoosiers off food stamps in 2014, saying it would be “ennobling” for poor people.

“The Bible says that the Lord helps those who help themselves,” Pence responded.

“But governor,” the reporter responded, “that phrase is not in the Bible.”

“Never mind,” Pence responded, “it’s in the Republican Bible.”

Another reporter asked Pence about his executive order late last year that ordered an end to the resettlement in Indiana of Syrian refugees - most of whom are women and children — who were fleeing their war-torn country.

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis, among other religious organizations, defied the governor and accepted the refugees. A federal judge overruled Pence’s order by saying it “clearly discriminates” against Syrian refugees. Pence challenged the judge’s order.

The reporter then referred to Biblical scripture in a follow-up question: “Didn’t Jesus say, ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me‘?”

Pence was then asked if he considered it hypocritical to claim he was a Christian but refuse to allow desperate refugees to seek sanctuary in his state.

“Absolutely not,” Pence said. “If the Syrian refugees were Christian, we would help them.”

[Vrede too]

... On Thursday night’s “Daily Show,” (Bill) Clinton skewered The Donald by pointing out the difference between his supporters and Hillary’s.

“Most of her strongest supporters have either worked for her or done business with him,” he quipped....

[Vrede too]

Could be wishful thinking, but an interesting theory:

How Hillary’s Very Bad September Could Be Very Good for Her in November
The greatest threat to her was soft turnout. Now Trump’s proximity in the polls could light a fire under wavering Clinton supporters.

[O Really]

I don't think it's wishful thinking. Hillary's downturn was likely short-lived unless something else happens (which it always could, considering the number and determination of her enemies), but Trump will always be Trump, less a few days at a time of pretending to be human. Trump in the White House is indeed frightening to any rational person. There ought to be at least more rational people willing to vote than there are bat-shit crazy loons. Or maybe that's the wishful thinking part.

[Vrede too]

The wishful thinking, not that I'm saying one way or the other, would be that Trump's recent polling success is sufficient to motivate ambivalent voters that are frustrated with both choices but do think that Trump is marginally worse. O Really's certainty that Hillary will win, regardless, doesn't help.

Otoh:

If Trump Wins, Blame Clinton

[O Really]

I wouldn't call it a "certainty," and I don't go around telling crowds of people it's in the bag. I do tend to ignore the yammer and stick to the electoral fundamentals. It's not a matter of whether Trump is tied/ahead in Ohio or Florida or Iowa. For him to win he's pretty much got to run the table of some close states. I don't think he can do it, if for no other reason than he's got no ground organization in any of these places. So sure, Trump could theoretically win, but odds are he won't. These people also agree with me...
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/0b14a853-7 ... oward.html

[Vrede too]

" "

Agreed, but for the sake of Hillary, the nation and the world you could pare it down to: "Trump could ... win."

[rstrong]

You could say with much higher probability that the race could be decided - late - by Florida.

For now I'm sticking to my March 2nd prediction:

If Hillary and Donald go head to head in the election, it could be another very close race. Which brings us to a possible outcome of this election:

There could be a repeat of the 2000 presidential election results - Bush v. Gore decided by weeks of recounts and court battles.

That was already a circus, but imagine the circus with Hillary v. Trump.

Especially when the Supreme Court battle happens in the current environment, with Judge Scalia's death and the fight to replace him. And a Tea Party that didn't exist in 2000.

Spoiler:

The Aristocrats!

[Vrede too]

When was it that you stopped predicting that Hillary was a stalking horse meant to attract fire and was never really going to be the nominee?

[rstrong]

When was it that you stopped predicting that Hillary was a stalking horse meant to attract fire and was never really going to be the nominee?

A couple months before. Once it was clear that it was only going to be her, Bernie and obscure trivia.

[rstrong]

When was it that you stopped predicting that Hillary was a stalking horse meant to attract fire and was never really going to be the nominee?

A couple months before. Once it was clear that it was only going to be her, Bernie and obscure trivia.

Also, now that the King of the Birthers accepts that Obama was born in America, I have to accept that Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin were born in America.

[Vrede too]

Clinton and Trump Tied in North Carolina Poll, With Sharp Educational Divides

Lots of interesting details there, including about our down ballot races, too many for me to quote. It is just one poll, collections of polls can be found at:

North Carolina: Trump vs. Clinton
North Carolina: Trump vs. Clinton vs. Johnson
North Carolina Senate - Burr vs. Ross
North Carolina Governor - McCrory vs. Cooper

[Vrede too]

I only had the patience to watch a few snippets of the debate, but what I saw Hillary clearly dominated. However, even if we account for our policy bias we may have different barometers from the average American. If he's still lurking and he watched, I'd be interested in reading who Wneglia thought won.

[billy.pilgrim]

When was it that you stopped predicting that Hillary was a stalking horse meant to attract fire and was never really going to be the nominee?

A couple months before. Once it was clear that it was only going to be her, Bernie and obscure trivia.

Also, now that the King of the Birthers accepts that Obama was born in America, I have to accept that Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin were born in America.

But do you accept that they are human?

[rstrong]

But do you accept that they are human?

Sure. The aliens are settling in Florida, not Texas and Alaska.

[Vrede too]

Katy Perry Votes Naked

[Seth Milner]

The polling place: Prerequisite for a shopping trip to Walmart. (Remember, it's legal)

[Seth Milner]

[JTA]

Seth Milner lite, you got this off of Facebook didn't you?