The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Solus on April 13, 2016, 10:57:38 AM
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Strong oppinion on elections by Ann Barnhardt. I did not watch the video and this excerpt came from the test below it.
"Elections. For the love of God, if you don’t hear anything else I say for the rest of the evening, listen to this.
Elections are no longer free. They are staged theater, designed to maintain the illusion of representative governance and to enrich the political class. This is despotism. If after this mess that we just went through, if you do not understand this, you are beyond hope. My God. He threw that even worse than McCain threw it. I mean, Obama – how many different angles of attack could you have just rhetorically destroyed Obama on, and what did Romney do? NOTHING. Obama didn’t even prepare for that first debate. Romney didn’t say anything. Romney didn’t say anything about Benghazi. He didn’t say anything about any of it. I don’t understand how it is that anybody can not fully comprehend that that was all theater."
http://www.barnhardt.biz/2016/04/13/god-knows-i-tried/
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Interesting. And Kathleen Parker, whom I like when she was working for Orlando Sentinel, but has shifted a bit since working for the Washington Post, quoted Van Wishard today.
In one of his highly distilled observations, he <Wishard> wonders (but isn’t predicting) whether this may be our last election for a while. To Americans who already feel disenfranchised and voiceless, their votes virtually meaningless as political parties seek to override their votes, this idea won’t much surprise them. Rather, they likely have already begun to feel resigned to a country no longer their own and a world that’s out of control.
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So we are to believe that Trump was cast as the star of this political theater before the election cycle started? Or Bernie was going to overshadow Corrupt Hillary? BHO wasn't suppose to walk away with HillBilly's coronation 8 years ago, but he did.
Sorry, the Establishment had set up Jeb as the Nominee but VOTES cast by VOTERS in ELECTIONS in 4 states cast him aside. The same can be said for Bernie, he has given Nurse Ratched a run for her money AS AN OPEN SOCIALIST!
I think this Election "thing" is too big and unwieldy for any one person or group to control.
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I look at it this way: If they really controlled the "process", we would not have the deadlock we've had for the last 8 years. A little, yes. Just for good drama, but the big stuff would've passed easily and we would've had more of it.
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They "control it", in a way that Trump has exposed just how desperate they are to keep him out. We've never seen anything like this before. In the last 2 elections the establishment Republicans ran retreaded deadbeats no one wanted. (McCain & Romney). The Republican voters stayed home, while Obama won, and they, (establishment Republicans), kept control of their losing party that most everyone could no longer stand the stench of.
Now Trump has come in, kicking the tables over and firing everyone up. And in the process bringing in millions of new voters. He is the answer to the Republicans problems, yet they treat him as if he is the problem. People are asking themselves why? The answer is obviously apparent. He'll kick their asses out the door if and when he gets in. All these establishment old farts like McCain, Romney, McConnell, Graham, and the rest of these washed up do nothings, are all going to have to either retire from politics, and or get real jobs.
They hate that, so they're throwing tantrums and acting like assholes in the process. All of them. This pushes Trump even higher, because now the voters want to get even by ramming Donald J. Trump right up their asses. I hope to hell they succeed!
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Remember, this is the second time Trump has entered the Presidential Race.
The first time there was also a Clinton in the running. That was in 2008. He withdrew when it became evident that Hillary was not going to be able to surpass BO.
So, yes, he had a trial run before this one and his role for this one was prepared before hand..just not by the GOP establishment.
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Remember, this is the second time Trump has entered the Presidential Race.
The first time there was also a Clinton in the running. That was in 2008. He withdrew when it became evident that Hillary was not going to be able to surpass BO.
So, yes, he had a trial run before this one and his role for this one was prepared before hand..just not by the GOP establishment.
True. This time the MSM, along with the GOP establishment thought it would be much the same. They all thought he would be in and out, just like last time. You can bet your life that is what Megyn Kelly thought when she went after him in the first Presidential Debate last August. She figured he'd be gone in short order, so why not take a shot at him? Then the whole thing backfired on her, and she's regretting having ever said it. So much so last week she snuck into Trump Tower to see him, and make peace.
Trump has made all of them look like idiots, while at the same time sending Rubio and Jeb packing, along with their establishment millions that took them nowhere. Now they're saying, "he can't beat Hillary". Something else they'll be dead wrong about, and live to regret. They're all too stupid to just plain shut up. In the mean time you've got Cruz acting like he's the frontrunner. And that asshole Kasich trying to run interference, by splitting the Republican vote enough to keep Trump from hitting the magic number of delegates required. This is getting worse by the day for establishment Republicans, and better for Trump.
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True. This time the MSM, along with the GOP establishment thought it would be much the same. They all thought he would be in and out, just like last time. You can bet your life that is what Megyn Kelly thought when she went after him in the first Presidential Debate last August. She figured he'd be gone in short order, so why not take a shot at him? Then the whole thing backfired on her, and she's regretting having ever said it. So much so last week she snuck into Trump Tower to see him, and make peace.
Trump has made all of them look like idiots, while at the same time sending Rubio and Jeb packing, along with their establishment millions that took them nowhere. Now they're saying, "he can't beat Hillary". Something else they'll be dead wrong about, and live to regret. They're all too stupid to just plain shut up. In the mean time you've got Cruz acting like he's the frontrunner. And that asshole Kasich trying to run interference, by splitting the Republican vote enough to keep Trump from hitting the magic number of delegates required. This is getting worse by the day for establishment Republicans, and better for Trump.
My concern about Trump is not that he will get the GOP nomination and become president (if he is on the ticket, I will vote for him), but that his goal is run as an independent or find some other means of splitting the conservative vote and insuring Hillary's election, as I believe was his plan in 2008.
BTW, Barnhardt isn't the first person to cast doubt on the worth of elections.
“If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.”
― Mark Twain
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My concern about Trump is not that he will get the GOP nomination and become president (if he is on the ticket, I will vote for him), but that his goal is run as an independent or find some other means of splitting the conservative vote and insuring Hillary's election, as I believe was his plan in 2008.
I don't believe Trump wants Hillary any more than we do. He's in it for everything this time around. Last time he didn't get any traction. He then dropped out and supported Romney. Romney paid him back by stabbing him in the back this time. Trump isn't stupid. He knows that no candidate can win the Presidency on a third party ticket. (Ross Perot never got a single Electoral Vote). This time around he'll go to the convention leading everyone else. If they take it away from him, the Republicans will have far more serious problems than Trump running as an Independent. The party will totally collapse.
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I am convinced Ross Perot entered the campaign to split the conservative vote and insure a Clinton victory....twice...
And I am not convinced Trump did not do the same thing....twice.
I will be convinced he is not doing that when I see him on the ballot as the GOP candidate or not on the ballot at all.
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<snip> Now they're saying, "he can't beat Hillary". <snip>
They are saying that as a last gasp hope and also for a future justification to dump Trump.
And, I realize this, that the Republican Establishment would rather have Hillary in office than a Trump that would shake things up. I am 75% certain that we'll see shenanigans galore at the election which will enrage the general conservative population and cause Trump to run independent or not at all.
Tom is right, the primaries are where we make changes and the establishment needs to be voted out...Dem and Repub. In fact, putting a cap on the number of lawyers in the Congress and Senate at zero would likely save the republic.
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I am convinced Ross Perot entered the campaign to split the conservative vote and insure a Clinton victory....twice...
I'm not sure what Perot was trying to achieve. He went about the whole thing so stupidly. He was smart enough to know you can't possibly win 270 Electoral Votes, while trying to operate as a third party candidate within a 2 party system. The math just doesn't work. So instead they talk a big game, (much like that idiot Kasich), but only wind up running blocker for the frontrunner.
Until this country does away with both the Electoral College, AND the 2 party system, a third party candidate has as much chance of winning the Presidency, as Rosie O'Donnell does to win the Miss America pageant.
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I'm not sure what Perot was trying to achieve. He went about the whole thing so stupidly. He was smart enough to know you can't possibly win 270 Electoral Votes, while trying to operate as a third party candidate within a 2 party system. The math just doesn't work. So instead they talk a big game, (much like that idiot Kasich), but only wind up running blocker for the frontrunner.
Until this country does away with both the Electoral College, AND the 2 party system, a third party candidate has as much chance of winning the Presidency, as Rosie O'Donnell does to win the Miss America pageant.
Bill, Perot never intended to win the election. His whole purpose was to split the conservative vote allowing Clinton to be elected...and he did it twice...
There is only one way to break the Democrat and Demlite 2 party system and that is to muster enough voters in support of a 3rd party. It will not happen as long and everyone continues doing what has not been working for decades.
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There is only one way to break the Democrat and Demlite 2 party system and that is to muster enough voters in support of a 3rd party.
That won't matter because the voters do not elect the President. The Electoral College does. And there are not enough Electoral Votes to split 3 ways and have anyone come up with the 270 required to win. The system has to be changed first.
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Y'all are aware that only about half the states require the Electors to actually follow the will of the people when they cast their votes for President and VP?
There are some penalties for NOT doing as asked but no Constitutional requirement to do so...
I don't believe that it has ever changed the outcome of an election but there is always a first time for everything.
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The electoral collage exists for a VERY good reason as any one knows who has read te works of the founders who set it up. It is thereto prevent the President from being consistently picked by the large population states like NY
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The electoral collage exists for a VERY good reason as any one knows who has read te works of the founders who set it up. It is thereto prevent the President from being consistently picked by the large population states like NY
True. And a 2 party system, coupled to the Electoral College, prevents having 100 guys on the ballot, and someone winning the election with 2% of the vote. This is what happens in a lot of these Banana Republic nations that hold "free elections". Then 3 months after the guy wins, someone blows his brains out, because 98% of the voters hate his guts. Overall our system is not perfect. But it's one of the best ever devised. It could be damaged far more than it could be improved.
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True. And a 2 party system, coupled to the Electoral College, prevents having 100 guys on the ballot, and someone winning the election with 2% of the vote. This is what happens in a lot of these Banana Republic nations that hold "free elections". Then 3 months after the guy wins, someone blows his brains out, because 98% of the voters hate his guts. Overall our system is not perfect. But it's one of the best ever devised. It could be damaged far more than it could be improved.
Oh yeah...why every year we are able to avoid 100 guys on the ballot by the skin of our teeth.
I don't see how having another choice other than the two wings of the Democratic Party will damage anything.
Ballot access in 50 states is not an easy accomplishment, but any party that manages it should able to have it's candidate appear in the presidential debates.
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Apparently you've missed the fact that both the primaries and the debates are put on by the PARTIES. If a third party want's to have a debate all they have to do is come up wit more than one candidate,(other wise it's not a debate, it's a monologue) pay for a venue, and get the media to cover it.
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I'm not talking about the debates we have seen...I am talking about the debates between the the nominees of the two major parties.
The Libertarian National Convention will be held from May 27th to May 30th.
It is expected the party will have 50 state presidential ballot access and their candidate should not be barred from debating the other candidates.
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I don't see how having another choice other than the two wings of the Democratic Party will damage anything.
"Damage" anything? Probably not. But what it will do is allow a President to be elected with far less than 50% of the vote. Which means more people don't want him than do. How is that beneficial? That is what happened when Ross Perot F*#cked up the election in 92, and again in 96, when Bill Clinton was elected both times with less than 50% of the vote. The more parties, the fewer percentage of votes it takes to get elected. My comparison to the Banana Republic countries is just an example of how screwed up it can get when you allow a large number candidates in one election.
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The electoral collage exists for a VERY good reason as any one knows who has read te works of the founders who set it up. It is thereto prevent the President from being consistently picked by the large population states like NY
Agree 100% with the fact, however in recent history, the election is controlled by about a third of the overall states involved! Urban centers are electing our presidents...
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Agree 100% with the fact, however in recent history, the election is controlled by about a third of the overall states involved! Urban centers are electing our presidents...
Tat isn't because of the electoral college, it's because of allowing the drones and parasites to vote, now Va. as restored voting "rights" to 200,000 felons.
No taxation without representation needs to work the oter way around as well, no representation without taxation.
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Tat isn't because of the electoral college, it's because of allowing the drones and parasites to vote, now Va. as restored voting "rights" to 200,000 felons.
That is precisely the reason Obama is letting them out of jail for major drug offenses. All the while calling it, "non violent crime".
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Having reread my last post I HAVE to ask, "How the F#CK do you get sticky keys on a touch screen " ?
Proof reading is out because my keyboard covers most of the text box.
But on the other hand the tablet DOES fit in my pocket soo ......
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I never post with my phone because my big fat fingers cannot hit those tiny keys without making it look like a drunk typed it!
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We can always claim TAB as a spelling coach. ;D
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Tat isn't because of the electoral college, it's because of allowing the drones and parasites to vote, now Va. as restored voting "rights" to 200,000 felons.
Total agreement on that statement!
Remember though that you and I, as non land owners, are out if they go back to the fundamental voting requirements!
A simple test to determine ones knowledge of our system would suffice for voting IMO!
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Total agreement on that statement!
Remember though that you and I, as non land owners, are out if they go back to the fundamental voting requirements!
A simple test to determine ones knowledge of our system would suffice for voting IMO!
I HAD thought of that. so many people living in apartments makes "property" an impractical gage. That's why I've settled on "tax payer". It would still eliminate me since I'm on disability, but we're talking about what's best for the country regardless of who's ox gets gored.
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What you guys have to understand, is it's the goal of the Democratic Party to include as many government dependent idiots in the voting ranks as they can. Hence open borders, minority handouts, letting convicted felons out of jail, etc. They don't care HOW they get the power, just as long as they get it.
It's been working quite well. From ACORN on down. There is no shortage of idiots, or liberal Democratic groups to sign them up. And we're making more of them through our communist public indoctrination system of schools every year. No one rises up against it, because they will right away brand you a racist and or bigot. Stupid people have "rights" protected to them under the Constitution, just as wealthy land owners. Wealth is being taught as evil unless the governments hands it to you. No need to work and provide for yourself because the government "owes" it to you from cradle to grave. All you need to be taught is how to cash a check, or swipe a card. Wealth should not have to be earned. It should come in the mail, or better by direct deposit.
We let this become this bad, now we're seeing the result. It's always easier to breed maggots, than it is pure bred race horses, or anything else of value. Doctors and engineers simply aren't worth the effort, when you can have a much larger supply of morons and idiots who will vote for you for life if you give them a handout or a cell phone. This isn't a "slippery slope". That has long passed. We've fallen off a cliff. And we're about to hit bottom. Load your guns.
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I HAD thought of that. so many people living in apartments makes "property" an impractical gage. That's why I've settled on "tax payer". It would still eliminate me since I'm on disability, but we're talking about what's best for the country regardless of who's ox gets gored.
You're paying taxes on everything you consume, Tom!
My wife and I pay taxes on 80% of her SSI due to my income as well... And owning a house doesn't mean you're an informed anything.
BillT...
I understand the lefts agenda as well as anyone... Your statement isn't lost on me... We've reached a milestone... It's not going to be pretty!
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https://20committee.com/2015/03/02/yugoslavias-warning-to-america/
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You're paying taxes on everything you consume, Tom!
My wife and I pay taxes on 80% of her SSI due to my income as well... And owning a house doesn't mean you're an informed anything.
BillT...
I understand the lefts agenda as well as anyone... Your statement isn't lost on me... We've reached a milestone... It's not going to be pretty!
First off, Yes, 80% of my SSI is taxable, but after deductions I don't owe anything, so while I am filing, I'm not actually paying anything, in fact, with the EIC I should have got back $500+.
Second, the "property requirement" was specifically about home ownership, but physical "stuff", a farm, a ship, etc. The point was that the owners of these items were the investors, business owners, etc who were actually paying for the govt there fore they had a vested interest in doing what was right for the country to protect their investment in it.
Third, what the liberals are doing is ALL connected. Desecrating the flag, letting pervs in the bathroom with your wives and daughters, common core, and taxing you till your eyes bulge and all the other liberal goals are nothing more than the modern version of the French revolution , raping nuns, desalinating churches, and guillotining the nobility. It is aimed at the destruction of everything implied by the phrase "Western civilization". The enemy of the leftists is not "Fox News, republicans, or gun owners, their foe is everything that has derived from the days of the Athenians.
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Back to the idea about the elections being rigged, and the dangers of the 2 party system:
Both the Rep, and the Dem parties are PRIVATE entities. For most of their histories they did NOT hold primaries. They simply picked the candidate and put them on the ballot. To the best of my knowledge the delegate system doesn't really do much better. (Especially on the democrat side considering the shear number of super delegates)
Obviously no system is perfect, and I truly believe one of our biggest mistakes was the 17th Amendment as it essentially gutted the Tenth, but people need to wake up and realize that the 2 parties really are not beholden to the voters to choose their candidates.