2016 Elections

[O Really]

Well, yeah, 15. But 13 of those was as San Antonio council member and mayor.

Large, diverse city in a border state counts for something. POTUS is more of an administrative job than a legislative one.

So, other than B Clinton,

??? Peccadillos matter more in DC than they do in Arkansas, as he found out.

how'd that "no federal experience" work out?

It got them elected. You're the one calling Castro a naif. How did that federal experience work out for Daddy Shrub? It is interesting that federal outsiders and insiders alike as far back as I can remember all pick a federal insider VP candidate.

All things considered, however, he probably is a decent candidate. General wisdom is that VP choices can do harm, but only rarely help. I doubt he'd do any harm. He's certainly not a Palin or Quayle.

That's my thinking. Given Trump's outrageous Latino-hating, I'm not even sure that a Latino VP will motivate that many Latino voters that aren't already going to vote, but it can't hurt. I suppose it could also be the selection of a future POTUS, for better or worse, and help move TX towards becoming blue.

Peccadillos or armadillos notwithstanding, B Clinton was a pretty decent President. As was Bush the Elder, for a Republican.

[Vrede too]

Peccadillos or armadillos notwithstanding, B Clinton was a pretty decent President.

As a progressive, feminist and healthcare provider, I never forgave him for throwing Jocelyn Elders under the bus.

As was Bush the Elder, for a Republican.

Only in hindsight, compared to both party and family.

[O Really]

As was Bush the Elder, for a Republican.

Only in hindsight, compared to both party and family.

[/quote]
I disagree. By those standards he was a superstar. But I think he was about as good as one could expect from a Republican. He certainly doesn't get points for putting Thomas on the Supreme Court, and he wasn't the strongest civil rights proponent, despite signing the ADA, but you couldn't expect progressive initiatives out of any Republican.

[Vrede too]

... By those standards he was a superstar...

Panama was ugly, he pardoned the Iran-Contra 6 and there was NAFTA, but I suppose you're right. Even Thomas was balanced by Souter.

[Vrede too]

I'm dubious about platforms, but not bad. Hope it has some meaning and isn't just fodder for GOP ads only to be forgotten in 2017.

Democrats Finalize Exceptionally Progressive Party Platform

... By a narrow vote of 81-80, the full committee voted Saturday in Orlando to include language encouraging the federal government to remove marijuana from its list as a Class 1 federally controlled substance and provide a "reasoned pathway for future legislation." ...

I'm glad that one delegate didn't space out the meeting.

[rstrong]

As was Bush the Elder, for a Republican.

Only in hindsight, compared to both party and family.

I disagree. By those standards he was a superstar. But I think he was about as good as one could expect from a Republican. He certainly doesn't get points for putting Thomas on the Supreme Court, and he wasn't the strongest civil rights proponent, despite signing the ADA, but you couldn't expect progressive initiatives out of any Republican.

He was elected on just two promises: a) He wouldn't join the ACLU, and b) "Read My Lips No New Taxes." He kept the first promise, but broke the second one once the Capital Gains Tax (which would have affected only the wealthy) was killed.

He's not just good compared to what came later. I'd rate him well above Reagan, Ford and Nixon too.

He gets high marks on the military side: For Gulf War I he gave the Pentagon their objectives, and then let the professionals handle it. Bush II/Cheney/Rove/Rumsfeld did no such thing. They planned Gulf War II themselves, micro-managed the Pentagon, refused expert advice, and broke the careers of those who didn't tell them what they wanted to hear. And yet Reagan's adventure in Lebanon STILL makes Bush II look like a military genius.

[Vrede too]

Depends on the yardstick. I might argue that for all his faults Nixon was better than Daddy Shrub on policy, not counting Vietnam. Agree with the rest.

[Vrede too]

Not that I've looked into it, but I'd guess that the NC Leg. will stay GOP. However,

Roy Cooper continues to out-raise Gov. Pat McCrory

... Cooper, the attorney general, raised $5.1 million in the second quarter, his campaign announced Tuesday. McCrory raised $3.2 million.
1 of 2
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper speaks during a forum in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, June 24, 2016. Chuck Burton AP

That brings Cooper’s total to $12.7 million, more than any gubernatorial candidate has raised at a similar point, according to the campaign. McCrory has raised about $8.7 million.

Cooper enters the final months of the campaign with $9.4 million available, to McCrory’s $6.3 million....

Stein out-raising Newton in attorney general’s race

Democrat Josh Stein’s campaign for attorney general had more than $2.1 million on hand as of June 30, nearly 10 times that of his opponent in November, state Sen. Buck Newton, a Wilson Republican....

[neoplacebo]

I can hardly wait until next week to watch the GOP convention. It should be quite entertaining, especially since folks that are so inclined are able to open carry weapons in the area outside the event. Also I have been worst casing the whole election scenario.......if Trump wins in November I will probably just move to Canada and start an electric dog polishing business somewhere in the Northwest Territory, and since I don't like cold weather, it will truly be a worst case situation......the only good thing is that I won't need a cooler or refrigerator up there to keep my beer cold. Trump it.

[rstrong]

....if Trump wins in November I will probably just move to Canada and start an electric dog polishing business somewhere in the Northwest Territory, and since I don't like cold weather, it will truly be a worst case situation......the only good thing is that I won't need a cooler or refrigerator up there to keep my beer cold. Trump it.

Your beer and dog polishing supplies will be MUCH more expensive in the Northwest Territory. Transportation costs to remote areas do that. And its only the folks in the cities way down south who bother to get their dogs polished.

On the other hand you'll be getting decent beer. (Although the folks in Europe might disagree.)

[neoplacebo]

....if Trump wins in November I will probably just move to Canada and start an electric dog polishing business somewhere in the Northwest Territory, and since I don't like cold weather, it will truly be a worst case situation......the only good thing is that I won't need a cooler or refrigerator up there to keep my beer cold. Trump it.

Your beer and dog polishing supplies will be MUCH more expensive in the Northwest Territory. Transportation costs to remote areas do that. And its only the folks in the cities way down south who bother to get their dogs polished.

On the other hand you'll be getting decent beer. (Although the folks in Europe might disagree.)

No price is too high to pay if it affords one an opportunity to escape Trumpology and Trumpism. And if there are no good prospects to serve any of the owners of dull and unpolished dogs in the area, it's a relatively well known fact that electric dog polishers can be used in self abuse applications. I just didn't really think "worst case" would be so bad, though.

[O Really]

Consider joining Lady O Really and me in St. Croix. Currently we're looking at a better than 50/50 chance of moving there when we retire. Getting married there has worked very well - why not retire there?

[Vrede too]

I like polish dogs, but not for self abuse unless one counts the health implications.

[neoplacebo]

Consider joining Lady O Really and me in St. Croix. Currently we're looking at a better than 50/50 chance of moving there when we retire. Getting married there has worked very well - why not retire there?

Sounds good to me. Do you have to speak French there? About all I know is "suite" and "toot suite."

[Seth Milner]

. . . it's a relatively well known fact that electric dog polishers can be used in self abuse applications.

I saw this one on a porn site recently that is battery-operated, can't say anything about electric though other than it's shock value would be a bitch.
Considering the Northwest Territoriy though, battery powered would be the way to go, although the price of batteries would slow your compulsions somewhat.
(you knew I would comment on this, didn't you!?)

[Vrede too]

Chris Christie Is An Idiot's Idiot Idiot...And Boy Is He Pissed About It.



... But what would you call and idiot’s idiot idiot who, soon to be out on his fat ass as governor, bereft of a spot on the ticket but still in line for a cabinet post, who today had this to say about his Party’s V.P. Choice...

"We don't need another big mouth from Congress...What Donald needed was a partner who governed."

Nothing, no more need to call names you just say...

Buh-Bye, Chris, it hasn’t been good to know ya.

[O Really]

Brings up an interesting thought - Aren't those wanting a VP candidate "who can govern" and/or wanting actual governmental experience in the VP candidate the same ones who were so happy to get a "non-politician" Presidential candidate? Am I missing something here, or wouldn't it have been better just to get a Presidential candidate who knew his ass from his elbow?

[GoCubsGo]

Definition of irony


http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/19/politics/ ... d=26716700

[Vrede too]

If Bush is "the last Republican president" history will blame him, Trump will just be a footnote. You should be worried, Shrub.

[GoCubsGo]

If Bush is "the last Republican president" history will blame him, Trump will just be a footnote. You should be worried, Shrub.

I'm not so sure, the idiocy of 2016 really is historic, not soon to be forgotten.