2020 Political Chatter

[zachateseverything]

Josh, as of today, I honestly don't know. I live in Massachusetts - so realistically and (unfortunately) it doesn't matter.

Trump has said plenty to lose my vote, Biden has never done anything over the years to earn my vote.

So where I'm at- Cliff notes edition:

Voting Trump is supporting my Party (yeah, and by default, the Donald), voting Biden - and I'm voting for Pelosi, Schumer, Hillary and Warren, all who make me want to vomit.

If Trump wins, we get 4 more years of the Government not working together, the media (and this place) wasting more time slamming him at every breath.
If Biden wins, I see my taxes going up. His health worries me, Harris has not impressed me either. By not condemning the riots and violence and destruction of recent, you lose me...

Whoever I vote for, I'll be holding my nose tightly over my mask.

Maybe time to look at Jo Jorgenson...

Biden condemned the riots.
Harris too. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKBN25N344

[theflashunc]

A vote for Biden, is a vote for a National Time Out.
In 4 years the Reformed Republican Party can run someone who understands republican government.

It's also a vote for a break from having to hear more insane bullshit from the administration every, single, day. I'd just like to go a week without hearing about yet another instance of someone woefully incapable of doing the job, breaking yet another norm, openly flouting the law, or just being a general shitbag to anyone.

And honestly, any Republican who doesn't like Trump but says they're voting for the GOP, I ask what they are voting for? The party currently has no platform. None was passed at the recent convention. Their platform literally is whatever the President decides he wants to do.

That's not a political party. That's a personality cult.

[HorsCat]

Trump has said plenty to lose my vote, Biden has never done anything over the years to earn my vote.

Biden is a stand-in for your country. Has your country earned your vote? It's really as simple as that.

[BBB]

The pussy grabber also has 204,000 dead people on his watch. That should be enough to get anyone voted out.

[Mark Walberg]

It's also a vote for a break from having to hear more insane bullshit from the administration every, single, day. I'd just like to go a week without hearing about yet another instance of someone woefully incapable of doing the job, breaking yet another norm, openly flouting the law, or just being a general shitbag to anyone. ...........

Yeah, I never listen to him talk any more.
I've seen enough cartoons.
Plus, I know that the press will later tell me about the funny parts.

I treat every word he says as a self serving lie.

[ides1056]

I want to address the complaint that "Biden will raise my taxes."

"Three years into his presidency, Trump's signature legislative achievement remains a Republican tax bill that made sweeping changes to the tax code — the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

As Business Insider's Joseph Zeballos-Roig recently reported:

The law was the biggest overhaul to the nation's tax code in three decades, and the president pitched it as "rocket fuel" for the American economy.
It permanently slashed the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35% while also providing temporary benefits for individuals and their families.
Critics argued it was a windfall for massive corporations at the expense of the middle class. Meanwhile, supporters of the tax cuts contended it would unleash an economic bonanza. Businesses would invest in their operations, they said, resulting in improved worker productivity and higher wages.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, among others, said the law would juice the nation's gross domestic product to 3% (or more, as Trump said 6%) and soon pay for itself and spread prosperity.
But the law has achieved none of the ambitious goals that Republicans put forward — and there are scant signs they ever will."

Typical.


Then a question for the legal minds here: I've read a bit about Judge Barret's qualifications. Stellar intellect, by all accounts. Why then go with Kavanaugh when you had her as an option back then?

[jclay]

Trump has said plenty to lose my vote, Biden has never done anything over the years to earn my vote.

Does the The Violence Against Women Act qualify? Got any women in your orbit?

Political races are often about picking the least bad candidate. That doesn’t strike me as a reason to shirk the responsibility to make a well considered choice, preferably with a long term outlook based on what you want your country to be.

So, we’ve got the guy who’s lies, treason, malfeasance, incompetence, dereliction of duty, dangerously divisive invective, self dealing and “pussy grabbing” are on one side and a historically socially conservative democrat, who’s flirting with some progressive ideas on the other.

He’s far from what I want but there’s no comparison between Biden and Trump; and our electorate is too stupid to elect bona fide progressives in adequate numbers; sitting here, with the rest of you, enjoying the benefits of thousands of years of progressive thought and action by humans who paid steep prices for the doing, I find that astonishing.

Third party protest votes are a childish abrogation.

Cheers, and Benghazi!

[Clean39T]

A vote for Biden, is a vote for a National Time Out.
In 4 years the Reformed Republican Party can run someone who understands republican government.

Literally any functioning adult who supported science, reason, and decency would have my vote at this point.

It is time to get our Government functioning again. It is on life support, and the grifters, con-men, and clowns in every "acting" unconfirmed role need to go.

Look, I'd prefer Bernie or Jill or Ralph or AOC - but at this point I'd take four years of centrism to stabilize the system.

Without intending the pun, we're a nation recovering from a flu - it's not time to go out for a six-hour ride - it's time to walk around the block, maybe pedal to the coffee shop - get our strength back up - and see what happens from there.

The Democratic party is too inept to pull off the democratic socialist reforms I'd like to see - oddly enough, that should give conservatives some relief that really the only thing that's going to change over the next four years with a Biden presidency is that we'll start to function as a country again, we'll get some respect back globally, and we'll be positioned to move forward as a nation from there. Of course, we'll also stand a better chance at recovering from Covid (because, science) and will regain some moral standing in how we treat minorities and care for our citizens and maybe we'll even have cleaner air and water... and national parks that can be visited.....and a functioning postal service that delivers medicine on time.. I could go on.

I try to believe that there is a faction of the conservative/Republican part of this country that does actually believe in democracy, fair elections, taking care of people, and providing for its citizens. I hope some day they can get in control of things on that side of the aisle and send the alt-right, q-anon, anti-masker folks back into their bunkers.

[jclay]

^^Dan - Spot effing on; every word, every thought.

[Corso]

"If Biden wins, I see my taxes going up."

I see.

Shall I forward any increase to you, so you can pay them, to satisfy what some call your "fair share"?

Keep the snark* to yourself. No one wants to pay more taxes. if they did, you can always overpay the Gov. But no one does.


*If I've misread your reply, please state exactly what you meant.

[Bob Ross]

The pussy grabber also has 204,000 dead people on his watch. That should be enough to get anyone voted out.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Shall I forward any increase to you, so you can pay them, to satisfy what some call your "fair share"?

Keep the snark* to yourself. No one wants to pay more taxes. if they did, you can always overpay the Gov. But no one does.

I appreciate the fact that you stick in here, but it would be nice if you could be honest with yourself and converse as an adult.

FWIW, you are not correct about how people feel about paying taxes. I probably talk to more taxpayers about paying taxes in my profession than you do. Generally speaking, no one wants to be the only one playing by the rules, but that's different than how they feel about the rules themselves.

[Corso]

There is obviously nothing more to say.

John, now that would be amazing, you not saying anything else on this topic!

Kidding aside, I was asked a question, and explained where I stand at the moment.

After years of reading the political postings on the Salon, I think it's very clear where the majority of you stand.

And no John, Roe v Wade has nothing to do with my decision making, (I'm pro-choice) other than it's another "the sky is falling" outcry. It won't be overturned, period, but it's another "let's fire up the protest machine!" when a conservative, and "oh my God"- a Catholic judge is nominated.

Just like "the Dems are going to take away your guns!"---BS from the right. I'm tired of all of it from all sides, just like many of you are.

[ides1056]

Shall I forward any increase to you, so you can pay them, to satisfy what some call your "fair share"?

Keep the snark* to yourself. No one wants to pay more taxes. if they did, you can always overpay the Gov. But no one does.


*If I've misread your reply, please state exactly what you meant.

I see you voted for a guy whose biggest legislative achievement was a tax cut but you don't want to have to pay for it. Clearly it's the money, not the principle.

We have something in common: neither of us appreciates being patronized.

[Corso]

I appreciate the fact that you stick in here, but it would be nice if you could be honest with yourself and converse as an adult.

Now that's hysterical. Hundreds of post here that make little sense other than to ridicule the President like 3rd graders, and I'm the one who needs to be "adult".

This is exactly why others who chose not to lean left have given up posting here.

So Colonel, you must know that folks CAN pay more in taxes. How many of the people you deal with in your profession do it?

[ColonelJLloyd]

So Colonel, you must know that folks CAN pay more in taxes. How many of the people you deal with in your profession do it?

It would seem you are missing the point, but I really don't believe that. I feel your postings indicate you are intelligent enough to know the the fatuity of this, but you've repeated it. If you don't or won't acknowledge it, so be it.

I did not mean to insinuate you are less articulate or thoughtful that many others posting in this thread. Apologies if that's how my previous post read to you.

[Corso]

It would seem you are missing the point, but I really don't believe that. I feel your postings indicate you are intelligent enough to know the the fatuity of this, but you've repeated it. If you don't or won't acknowledge it, so be it.

I did not mean to insinuate you are less articulate or thoughtful that many others posting in this thread. Apologies if that's how my previous post read to you.

I see your point, but I'll take your non-answer of a simple, straightforward question as a "no one" pays more taxes than required. A simple question, not a foolish one.

I say I don't want to pay higher taxes, and I'm the "bad guy" for saying it.

I've never been anything else but honest with what I post. Perhaps to a fault, in the eyes of the Salonista gallery.

[theflashunc]

No one wants to pay higher taxes. That's a straw man and a poor one at that.

What I want, however, is the social contract being fulfilled. If my success and a couple extra bucks every year means some kid doesn't have to go to bed hungry, that no one has to worry about a healthcare event causing their own financial ruin, that if you lose your job to a pandemic and no fault of your own you don't have to sweat making rent the next month, then I'm all for paying more. Not least of which, due to my own self-interest, I'm pretty sure I'll need those services at some point before I die. Like we all do, because life happens.

This is beside the basic shit like roads being paved and the mail being delivered on time, but it's a pretty simple notion that we all pay in collectively to ensure we live in a more hospitable society. But because the capital classes think that's too much to ask, instead we've had the fever dream bullshit sold to the populace that lower taxes encourage growth (they don't) and lead to higher government revenues (they don't).

So yeah, no one likes paying more in taxes. It sucks. But adults also realize that sometimes we do things we don't like to do because it leads to things we ultimately do want, like a healthier, more entrepreneurial, educated populace.

The GOP's entire tax policy is predicated on the capital classes ultimate ethos: Fuck you, I got mine.

[thollandpe]

The kerfluffle-du-jour about refusing to accept a peaceful transition pf power is doubling down to distract us from the fact that tRump got his teat caught in the ringer with the losers and suckers thing.

The man has absolutely zero respect for the military. But now that it’s font-and-center don’t meet that head on, don’t backpedal, don’t apologize. Light something else on fire. Shock and awe.

We need not take the bait and obsess on the things he might do, we just need to fully comprehend the things he’s already done. The botched coronavirus response and 200,000 dead should be enough. A disaster compounded multiple times. Continuing as we speak.

Do not underestimate him or write him off as an idiot. Division is his special talent. Few of us are equipped to do battle with a narcissist because they break all the rules.

United we stand, divided we fall. He sows division because he benefits from it. And gives zero fucks if we fall.

[beeatnik]

Meanwhile, in Mexico it's the Trumpers (well, conservative Mexicans) who blame the President for 75K deaths. To quote Morpheus, life is not without a sense of irony.

https://www.france24.com/en/20200924...resident-quits