And They're Off! The Democratic Candidates for 2020

[Todd]

Bloomberg on his Democratic rivals: 'Trump will eat 'em up'

[71 dB]

Bloomberg on his Democratic rivals: 'Trump will eat 'em up'

Bloomberg is totally out of touch in his elite bubble and provides zero evidence for his claims. Elizabeth Warren might struggle with Trump, but not Bernie Sanders, who is really strong in the important rust belt. Bloomberg himself has nothing to offer. The man who bans sodas? Yeah right. 

[Scion7]

I'd vote for Cylon Number Six if she ran.

rowRRRRRrrrrr!

[dissily Mordentroge]

I want to watch Joe do pushups.

Whatever turns you on.

[Madiel]

Look, American politics has merged with "reality" television a fair bit already. If you want to select a candidate by creating a special edition of American Ninja Warrior or some such, it wouldn't be that different.

Although I think the typical contestant in that show might be below your minimum age for a President.

[Todd]

Look, American politics has merged with "reality" television a fair bit already. If you want to select a candidate by creating a special edition of American Ninja Warrior or some such, it wouldn't be that different.

Although I think the typical contestant in that show might be below your minimum age for a President.

I know, isn't it awesome?!  Hopefully, a couple more cycles like this and total federal paralysis can be achieved

[dissily Mordentroge]

Look, American politics has merged with "reality" television a fair bit already. If you want to select a candidate by creating a special edition of American Ninja Warrior or some such, it wouldn't be that different.

Although I think the typical contestant in that show might be below your minimum age for a President.

And what do we think is the mental age of the present occupant of the Whitehouse?

[Madiel]

I know, isn't it awesome?!  Hopefully, a couple more cycles like this and total federal paralysis can be achieved

Yes, yes, your desire to break what little federalism the "United" States actually has is well known.

[Madiel]

And what do we think is the mental age of the present occupant of the Whitehouse?

There is no constitutional nor legislative requirement in that regard, so what we think isn't terribly relevant.

But the kind of jokes he makes about women or the disabled roughly suggest early adolescence.

[Todd]

Yes, yes, your desire to break what little federalism the "United" States actually has is well known.

A potent retort from a bona fide Big Brain.  (So big.)

[Madiel]

It wasn't a retort.

Your shtick is getting really predictable.

THAT, just to help you out because clearly your brain is a little lacking in capacity, IS a retort.

[Todd]

It wasn't a retort.

Your shtick is getting really predictable.

THAT, just to help you out because clearly your brain is a little lacking in capacity, IS a retort.

Thanks for that.  I can always rely on an actual intellectual to sort out the tough stuff!  Your expert, lawyerly use of capitalization is really helpful, too. 

[Madiel]

It is one of the great mysteries of GMG why an otherwise meaningful contributor comes to threads like this basically to be a troll.

The only variation is either to:

1) Talk about how powerful America is; or

2) In contradiction, take delight in the paralysis and destruction of the government that would actually wield that power.

But mostly it's just generic trolling of anyone foreign.

Of course, there's no sign that the moderators give a fuck about this arsehole behaviour.

[Herman]

The equiv would be trolling all those "Look How Many Beethoven Cycles I Have" topics by rebutting that that's all very artsy / intellectual, but Elton John is a much better pianist.

[71 dB]

It is one of the great mysteries of GMG why an otherwise meaningful contributor comes to threads like this basically to be a troll.

The only variation is either to:

1) Talk about how powerful America is; or

2) In contradiction, take delight in the paralysis and destruction of the government that would actually wield that power.

But mostly it's just generic trolling of anyone foreign.

Of course, there's no sign that the moderators give a fuck about this arsehole behaviour.

My problem is my low self-esteem which makes me see other people, especially those who speak with a confident voice, knowledgeable. When these people disagree with me (as happens quite often) I get angry because my low self-esteem doesn't protect me from "being attacked". When it comes to talking about classical music, people on this forum seem to know A LOT, but the last three years have demonstrated me only maybe 20 % of members here understand well things like politics and society. Some members here struggle a lot with the concept of humanism It took me a few years to realize this (as an Asperger I am a slow learner), but the last few months have made this really clear to me.

Now that I have understood (accepted really) all of this, I am more relaxed and I don't get so angry. Posts of some members here make me annoyed and sad. It's sad to see some people with intellectual interest to explore classical music are not intellectuals on other issues such as politics, society and humanism. Not even on economics! It's amazing how people so easily believe in right-wing propaganda on economic issues such as trickle-down economics (which has never been proven to actually work) while laughing at left-wing ideas such as trickle-up economics which has plenty of success in Nordic countries for example.

One needs to balance the self-confidence to the level that is justified and that's the hard part. I have compensated my lack of self-esteem with overtly arrogant style of posting. I have to assume this applies to other members too. Maybe their arrogance is not to point out my ignorance but to hide their own insecurity? When I trust myself I can post better more politely, just explaining patiently what I know and understand without calling others morons, ignoramuses or idiots. I don't know everything and I have more to learn, but that doesn't mean I don't already understand and know a lot.

I have all the reason to feel good about believing in Bernie Sanders. He is doing fine! He has been surging and taking the lead position in many places. He has a steady cash flow of tons of individual donors who won't max out donating him $20 monthly. He has the movement, Bernie signs wall to wall. The corporate media tries to hide these facts but they can't. At this point it takes a lot to stop Bernie Sanders becoming the next president. I can see this. Can you?

[Todd]

You are so goddamn annoying.

Tough stuff from Stumptown.  You live in Montavilla, or something?

It is one of the great mysteries of GMG why an otherwise meaningful contributor comes to threads like this basically to be a troll.

The only variation is either to:

1) Talk about how powerful America is; or

2) In contradiction, take delight in the paralysis and destruction of the government that would actually wield that power.

See, now I question your intellectual bona fides.  The two broad ideas do not contradict each other.  One is descriptive, one prescriptive.

But mostly it's just generic trolling of anyone foreign.

Demonstrably incorrect.  Mush-brained lefties of all nationalities deserve ridicule and therefore are ridiculed.  It is true that ignorant non-Americans blabber on about America rather a lot, and that deserves and receives attention.

Also, use of the word "troll" and its derivatives simply denotes intellectual laziness.  It amuses me whenever I see it, especially coming from Big Brains.

Of course, there's no sign that the moderators give a fuck about this arsehole behaviour.

I love the self-unawareness contained in such posts.

The equiv would be trolling all those "Look How Many Beethoven Cycles I Have" topics by rebutting that that's all very artsy / intellectual, but Elton John is a much better pianist.

Your writing skill is in decline there, Herman. 

My problem is my low self-esteem which makes me see other people, especially those who speak with a confident voice, knowledgeable. When these people disagree with me (as happens quite often) I get angry because my low self-esteem doesn't protect me from "being attacked". When it comes to talking about classical music, people on this forum seem to know A LOT, but the last three years have demonstrated me only maybe 20 % of members here understand well things like politics and society. Some members here struggle a lot with the concept of humanism It took me a few years to realize this (as an Asperger I am a slow learner), but the last few months have made this really clear to me.

Now that I have understood (accepted really) all of this, I am more relaxed and I don't get so angry. Posts of some members here make me annoyed and sad. It's sad to see some people with intellectual interest to explore classical music are not intellectuals on other issues such as politics, society and humanism. Not even on economics! It's amazing how people so easily believe in right-wing propaganda on economic issues such as trickle-down economics (which has never been proven to actually work) while laughing at left-wing ideas such as trickle-up economics which has plenty of success in Nordic countries for example.

One needs to balance the self-confidence to the level that is justified and that's the hard part. I have compensated my lack of self-esteem with overtly arrogant style of posting. I have to assume this applies to other members too. Maybe their arrogance is not to point out my ignorance but to hide their own insecurity? When I trust myself I can post better more politely, just explaining patiently what I know and understand without calling others morons, ignoramuses or idiots. I don't know everything and I have more to learn, but that doesn't mean I don't already understand and know a lot.

I have all the reason to feel good about believing in Bernie Sanders. He is doing fine! He has been surging and taking the lead position in many places. He has a steady cash flow of tons of individual donors who won't max out donating him $20 monthly. He has the movement, Bernie signs wall to wall. The corporate media tries to hide these facts but they can't. At this point it takes a lot to stop Bernie Sanders becoming the next president. I can see this. Can you?

How much lint is in that navel?

[JBS]

My problem is my low self-esteem which makes me see other people, especially those who speak with a confident voice, knowledgeable. When these people disagree with me (as happens quite often) I get angry because my low self-esteem doesn't protect me from "being attacked". When it comes to talking about classical music, people on this forum seem to know A LOT, but the last three years have demonstrated me only maybe 20 % of members here understand well things like politics and society. Some members here struggle a lot with the concept of humanism It took me a few years to realize this (as an Asperger I am a slow learner), but the last few months have made this really clear to me.

Now that I have understood (accepted really) all of this, I am more relaxed and I don't get so angry. Posts of some members here make me annoyed and sad. It's sad to see some people with intellectual interest to explore classical music are not intellectuals on other issues such as politics, society and humanism. Not even on economics! It's amazing how people so easily believe in right-wing propaganda on economic issues such as trickle-down economics (which has never been proven to actually work) while laughing at left-wing ideas such as trickle-up economics which has plenty of success in Nordic countries for example.

One needs to balance the self-confidence to the level that is justified and that's the hard part. I have compensated my lack of self-esteem with overtly arrogant style of posting. I have to assume this applies to other members too. Maybe their arrogance is not to point out my ignorance but to hide their own insecurity? When I trust myself I can post better more politely, just explaining patiently what I know and understand without calling others morons, ignoramuses or idiots. I don't know everything and I have more to learn, but that doesn't mean I don't already understand and know a lot.

I have all the reason to feel good about believing in Bernie Sanders. He is doing fine! He has been surging and taking the lead position in many places. He has a steady cash flow of tons of individual donors who won't max out donating him $20 monthly. He has the movement, Bernie signs wall to wall. The corporate media tries to hide these facts but they can't. At this point it takes a lot to stop Bernie Sanders becoming the next president. I can see this. Can you?

Yes,  Trump will beat him soundly because he's so obviously far to the Left that every Republican will feel motivated to vote for Trump.  Same for Warren and every candidate whose policies you like.

That's a simple truth about American politics.   The better you like a candidate's policies, the less chance that candidate has of beating Trump.

[Karl Henning]

I have all the reason to feel good about believing in Bernie Sanders. He is doing fine! He has been surging and taking the lead position in many places. He has a steady cash flow of tons of individual donors who won't max out donating him $20 monthly. He has the movement, Bernie signs wall to wall. The corporate media tries to hide these facts but they can't. At this point it takes a lot to stop Bernie Sanders becoming the next president. I can see this. Can you?

There's nothing wrong with believing in Bernie; there's s lot to like about him.  We've tried to explain to you why your sources of information and opinion-reinforcement are not the pure well-water you imagine them to be. And why, even if Bernie should become the nominee (which I personally doubt, though of course there remains the possibility) he will lose to Trump, in a huuuuge landslide.

[schnittkease]

And why, even if Bernie should become the nominee (which I personally doubt, though of course there remains the possibility) he will lose to Trump, in a huuuuge landslide.

You have no proof of that.

[Florestan]

You have no proof of that.

Not yet.