And They're Off! The Democratic Candidates for 2020

Florestan · October 07, 2019, 10:05:16 AM

It's amusing how the hope of beating the 73yo Trump seem to lie with the 78yo Sanders or the 76yo Biden. They make Warren, at only 70, look like a breeze of fresh air.

I don't know if the US is an oligarchy but it seems obviously well on the way to becoming a gerontocracy.

Todd · October 07, 2019, 10:10:09 AM

Quote from: Florestan on October 07, 2019, 10:05:16 AMI don't know if the US is an oligarchy but it seems obviously well on the way to becoming a gerontocracy.

Indeed. Actually, if Bernie did win, at his age and with his heart condition, there is a good probability that he would die in office. That would be a true LMAO moment. (Bernie's toast, but don't tell 71 dB that.)

VP candidates are more important than normal for 2020.

drogulus · October 07, 2019, 10:10:52 AM

Quote from: 71 dB on October 07, 2019, 09:46:02 AM
Bernie is feeling well now. His medical issue was dealth with. The same operation was done to Bill Clinton when he was 58 and to my knowledge Bill Clinton is doing fine. Having a heart attack doesn't mean you are over.

Voters will decide what it means. I would probably not be swayed by a couple of stents. They work.

drogulus · October 07, 2019, 10:15:27 AM

A youngish Veep would be a good idea. I think Mayor Pete can wait. Dems should be thinking about a strong bench going forward.

Florestan · October 07, 2019, 10:28:39 AM

Quote from: drogulus on October 07, 2019, 10:10:52 AM
Voters will decide what it means.

True story: a few years ago in a Romanian village the incumbent mayor died a few days before the election day, yet a majority of inhabitants voted for him nevertheless.

Todd · October 07, 2019, 10:32:23 AM

Quote from: Florestan on October 07, 2019, 10:28:39 AM
True story: a few years ago in a Romanian village the incumbent mayor died a few days before the election day, yet a majority of inhabitants voted for him nevertheless.

That happens in the US from time to time. John Ashcroft lost his senatorial bid to a corpse in 2000.

One extremely entertaining scenario would be if Bernie won the election in November but died before the Electoral College convened. That would be awesome!

Karl Henning · October 07, 2019, 10:35:34 AM

Quote from: Madiel on October 06, 2019, 04:44:14 PM
I know you're being ironic, but we could spend pages unpacking what's wrong with both halves of that sentence!

Verily, verily.

Karl Henning · October 07, 2019, 10:40:33 AM

Quote from: drogulus on October 07, 2019, 10:10:52 AM
Voters will decide what it means. I would probably not be swayed by a couple of stents. They work.

I am grateful that mine works!

Karl Henning · October 07, 2019, 10:42:00 AM

Quote from: Florestan on October 07, 2019, 10:28:39 AM
True story: a few years ago in a Romanian village the incumbent mayor died a few days before the election day, yet a majority of inhabitants voted for him nevertheless.

Do I correctly recall that this was true of rather a recent U.S. Senator?

Florestan · October 07, 2019, 10:44:56 AM

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on October 07, 2019, 10:42:00 AM
Do I correctly recall that this was true of rather a recent U.S. Senator?

According to Todd, you do.

The villagers might have had a point, actually: a dead mayor is not likely to do any harm, while a living one can be hell on earth.

greg · October 07, 2019, 10:56:13 AM

What if Hillary said screw it and decided to deliberately copy all of Trumps ideas and political stances? Since what she did before didn't work. Would she win this time?

It would also be interesting to see what CNN would think about it. They might spontaneously combust from confusion.

drogulus · October 07, 2019, 11:30:42 AM

Quote from: greg on October 07, 2019, 10:56:13 AM
What if Hillary said screw it and decided to deliberately copy all of Trumps ideas and political stances? Since what she did before didn't work. Would she win this time?

Not only would she win, she'd attain the stature of a goddess, an evil one if that matters, but certainly at least semi-divine.

SimonNZ · October 07, 2019, 12:00:31 PM

Quote from: greg on October 07, 2019, 10:56:13 AM
What if Hillary said screw it and decided to deliberately copy all of Trumps ideas and political stances? Since what she did before didn't work. Would she win this time?

It would also be interesting to see what CNN would think about it. They might spontaneously combust from confusion.

Its the gameshow schtick that sells Trump to his supporters, not his " ideas and political stances", of which he has few beyond what plays well in a rally setting and what-did-Obama-do?-then-lets-do-the-opposite.

Anyone who thinks Hilary wants to get back in race or that she could win in 2020 needs to put down the crack pipe. it's as idiotic as idiotic Michael Moore saying Michelle Obama should run.

JBS · October 07, 2019, 12:07:27 PM

Quote from: SimonNZ on October 07, 2019, 12:00:31 PM
Its the gameshow schtick that sells Trump to his supporters, not his " ideas and political stances", of which he has few beyond what plays well in a rally setting and what-did-Obama-do?-then-lets-do-the-opposite.

Anyone who thinks Hilary wants to get back in race or that she could win in 2020 needs to put down the crack pipe. it's as idiotic as idiotic Michael Moore saying Michelle Obama should run.

It wouldn't surprise me if Hillary does want to get back in the race....based on how she's been acting lately and her general attitude. "Yoohoo, I'm over here, just in case you guys are ready to admit you were wrong about me the first time."

If she were the Democratic nominee, she probably has as a good chance as anyone running against Trump.

Madiel · October 07, 2019, 01:01:15 PM

Quote from: greg on October 07, 2019, 10:56:13 AM
What if Hillary said screw it and decided to deliberately copy all of Trumps ideas and political stances? Since what she did before didn't work. Would she win this time?

It would also be interesting to see what CNN would think about it. They might spontaneously combust from confusion.

What exactly would be the POINT of winning by that method?

The second most depressing thing about politics is that it has become the art of winning power rather than the art of governing.

The most depressing thing about politics is that voters are so willing to reward this behaviour.

71 dB · October 07, 2019, 02:31:03 PM

I great video about the corporate media bias against Bernie Sanders.
If you wonder why I am so pro-Bernie, this is why.

https://www.youtube.com/v/ApGHzpGgSN8

greg · October 07, 2019, 03:20:30 PM

Quote from: Madiel on October 07, 2019, 01:01:15 PM
What exactly would be the POINT of winning by that method?

For her, becoming president.

For us, showing how bleak and hopeless reality is.

drogulus · October 07, 2019, 04:12:45 PM

Quote from: greg on October 07, 2019, 03:20:30 PM
For her, becoming president.

For us, showing how bleak and hopeless reality is.

Or it would show how purple and dodecahedral reality is. The evidence points both ways.

Florestan · October 08, 2019, 12:10:15 AM

Quote from: Madiel on October 07, 2019, 01:01:15 PM
The second most depressing thing about politics is that it has become the art of winning power rather than the art of governing.

The most depressing thing about politics is that voters are so willing to reward this behaviour.

And the third most depressing thing about politics is that the proposed solutions are either utopian or worse than the problem itself.

I'd say that complete cynicism about politics and politicians is fully justified and so is complete indifference about them.

Madiel · October 08, 2019, 12:30:55 AM

Quote from: Florestan on October 08, 2019, 12:10:15 AM
I'd say that complete cynicism about politics and politicians is fully justified and so is complete indifference about them.

In a democratic system, the politicians are selected by you.

Except if you don't turn up to vote. Then they're picked by those who do turn up.

And that is why I don't find either of those responses particularly advisable.