Support NeoGAF

[User 463088]

Did anyone see that story where Cruz really does have health insurance?

I'm not sure if it was posted or not. I was so busy today

Spoiler

Ya, no, I watched Netflix all day with two blankets wrapped around me.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Hey guys any new campaign trail memes or trump sayi...

*looks around, slowly backs out of thread*

Trump joked about shooting people today and promised to make the U.S. a theocracy.

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Reducing someone to the fact that they're gay with a childish crack like "gay-splain" and then calling them too easily offended when they get upset.

With "allies" like these...

Also Obama won because of white guilt

 

[campfireweekend]

Those groups should vote for who would be most likely to make better appointments than Obama did for key positions like AG, Treasury Secretary, and to the Fed. Appointments like that are a huge deal given the state of the poor and minorities these days.

You're not gonna find a more liberal appointment than Janet Yellen that is actually a good economist.

And don't mention any MMT economists. That theory is heterodox trash.

That and Bernie's attempts to tag team audit the Fed with Rand Paul, a move which would compromise their independence, an aspect of the Fed which has shown to be integral in every country that has a central bank, are a few reasons why I will never entertain him as a serious candidate. A lot of what he believes is really just bad economics.

 

[Iolo]

Did anyone see that story where Cruz really does have health insurance?

I'm not sure if it was posted or not. I was so busy today

Spoiler

Ya, no, I watched Netflix all day with two blankets wrapped around me.

Man, this guy. Imagine what he could "misunderstand" when in charge of the world's most powerful army.

 

[HylianTom]

Poligaf is in rare form today.

It'll be over soon.

This'll feel like quaint ancient history by the time we're giving convention speeches the MST3k treatment.

 

[sc0la]

Trump joked about shooting people today and promised to make the U.S. a theocracy.

thats what I'm talking about

 

[User 406]

Also Obama won because of white guilt

Well, you know, the Democratic party needs to drop identity politics so they can attract more racist white voters, since class struggle uber alles and stuff

 

[ivysaur12]

I really do think that it would be helpful to change the way we elect representatives and have four major parties -- Working Families, Democrats, Republicans, Tea Party. That plus a German or New Zealand-style system feels like it would work best.

 

[East Lake]

So, I'm now literally an oligarch.

I've supported many a candidate who I know is going to lose. Quite a few, actually. A few months ago, I was talking about our local mayoral race I was involved in. Dude was always going to lose. I knew it. He knew it. Everyone who volunteered knew it. I still was engaged, though. And, ya, we didn't win.

Edit: And, this may be a failing on my part. I'm a realist when it comes to politics and nearly everything else.

I have no issue whatsoever with anyone who wants to get involved in politics. I think more people should. However, I also feel that it's important to be realistic about a candidate's chances. Pointing out flaws or issues is not being disdainful. It's just showing where that person is weak compared to the rest of the field.

You're not literally an oligarch, are you sure know how politics works? If a far left candidate is appealing to people you as a savvy political person should know the sources of that. Unfortunately the first reaction seems to be to equate the "true left" to the tea party.

 

[User 463088]

You're not literally an oligarch, are you sure know how politics works? If a far left candidate is appealing to people you as a savvy political person should know the sources of that. Unfortunately the first reaction seems to be to equate the "true left" to the tea party.

No, no, no. I think there's a misunderstanding, and if it was in how I explained my position then I'm sorry.

I do not believe the far left equates the Tea Party. What I've said is that we on the left cannot fall victim to arguing over ideological purity. That's what I'm saying. Not that those to the left of me are stupid, uninformed or wrong. I'm saying the opposite. The Tea Party has crippled the Republican Party. We can't allow that to happen to the Democratic Party. At least, I don't think we should.

I know why Bernie Sanders appeals to some people.

 

[Coriolanus]

He should do it in 24

Yes.

Bernie Sanders should try a presidential bid when he's 82 years old.

Yes.

Gods yes.

 

[shinra-bansho]

So I'm just going to echo and reiterate what Kev said above.

Tone it down. Or take a holiday for the Iowa caucuses.

 

[B-Dubs]

So I was walking back from getting more yuengling™ and randomly saw chuck schumer being interviewed

I made a gif

Copyright poligaf

I'll keep a look out when I watch the news tonight. I met him a few times and he's a pretty good dude. The jokes about him being a bit of a media whore are kinda true, but at least he uses his power for good.

 

[Ogrekiller]

Yes.

Bernie Sanders should try a presidential bid when he's 82 years old.

Yes.

Gods yes.

Nope. What you get instead is the battle for the future of the Democratic Party at precisely the moment when Republican are set to all but throw their support behind Trump AND control almost all branches of government.

 

[Abinash117]

I really do think that it would be helpful to change the way we elect representatives and have four major parties -- Working Families, Democrats, Republicans, Tea Party. That plus a German or New Zealand-style system feels like it would work best.

Either very little to nothing gets done because of purity or just not willing to govern, or it'll end up will coalitions.

Imo, if we need to have more than two parties it should in the local or state level.

 

[Coriolanus]

Nope. What you get instead is the battle for the future of the Democratic Party at precisely the moment when Republican are set to all but throw their support behind Trump AND control almost all branches of government.

Indeed, and as was already explained to you several times, if bernie were an egotistical asshat, he'd completely disregard what republicans are close to doing and run as an independent. He isn't, thus he hasn't.

 

[B-Dubs]

Either very little to nothing gets done because of purity or just not willing to govern, or it'll end up will coalitions.

Imo, if we need to have more than two parties it should in the local or state level.

We do often have more than two parties at the local level. In New York we've got a few: the Dems, the GOP, and the Working Families party. Working Families doesn't often run their own candidate, they often just endorse the Dem, but they're still a pretty strong force in the state. They're responsible for pushing Cuomo to the left on a lot of issues. Hell, I voted for a Working Families candidate for State Assembly last election. She even almost won, think she came in second behind the Dem.

The smart money is figuring that they'll be able to capture a few seats in Albany or the City Council in the next few years.

 

[User 463088]

Indeed, and as was already explained to you several times, if bernie were an egotistical asshat, he'd completely disregard what republicans are close to doing and run as an independent. He isn't, thus he hasn't.

The interesting thing, to me at least, is not that he decided to run as a Democrat. I agree, he's not stupid and he doesn't want the GOP to win. What I find interesting is that he's trying to run as a Democrat and as an Independent at the same time. He's as much running to lead the party as he's trying to run away from it.

I think that's why we see the backpedaling on the HRC/PP "establishment" things. He realized those types of critiques may work if you're an Independent. However, running as an Independent Democrat means you have to be at least cordial to the "establishment," whatever that happens to be.

 

[disastermouse]

So, I'm now literally an oligarch.

I've supported many a candidate who I know is going to lose. Quite a few, actually. A few months ago, I was talking about our local mayoral race I was involved in. Dude was always going to lose. I knew it. He knew it. Everyone who volunteered knew it. I still was engaged, though. And, ya, we didn't win.

Edit: And, this may be a failing on my part. I'm a realist when it comes to politics and nearly everything else.

I have no issue whatsoever with anyone who wants to get involved in politics. I think more people should. However, I also feel that it's important to be realistic about a candidate's chances. Pointing out flaws or issues is not being disdainful. It's just showing where that person is weak compared to the rest of the field.

No. I get it. If we lose, you lose more because, frankly, as a young gay person, you have more to lose. Truly, I understand that (and I'm not reducing you to your homosexuality when I say that, just acknowledging a very real truth).

I don't know where you are in your career or your aspirations, but I believe you're probably younger and less-established than I am. I dunno, maybe not. I'm mentally ill and got a late start in anything resembling a career. I'm finally in a relationship that has lasted longer than a year, at the youthful age of 41. Then again, I hear that next year I'll have the answer to life, the universe, and everything. So there is that.

My dream was to go to art school. I ran out of money after one quarter (that was in '93 - I'm sure it's even harder now). I lived with a dyslexic, neo-Nazi (yes, really), suicidal, alcoholic father who ironically died of a heart attack when I was 24. I inherited the gun he always threatened he would kill himself with (A Dan Wesson .357 Magnum). It would have been more appropriate if it had gone to my brother, but he's a 2x ex-convict and so he can't own it. I don't keep it because, well, I'm mentally ill. I went to massage therapy school and I was and am a damned good massage therapist, but I have no role-models for running my own business and you make peanuts if you work for others.

I graduated from community college for Nursing when I was 29. I did well at that first job but I was fired from the next two (again, mentally ill).

I now work at a job I hate with the exploding (and eventually imploding) passion of a super-nova yet also live in terror that I will be fired at any moment, that I will be a burden to my loved ones, and that I will ultimately end up homeless.

My point is simply this: I may or may not be closer to absolute ruin than you are at any given time. I'm in pretty successful recovery from my mental illness (a personality disorder for which no one, not even mental health professionals, is/are especially sympathetic about).

I'm not trying to fuck you over by not voting for Hillary Clinton. I am not especially okay if the Republicans win the presidency. Yes, I am white and I am male, and I am straight. But I am also vulnerable to the depravity of an unsympathetic mob. I do not blend in well. I am not Christian. I am a socialist. And I can not keep my mouth shut when someone is getting bullied by the cruel and mindless mob.

 

[User 463088]

No. I get it. If we lose, you lose more because, frankly, as a young gay person, you have more to lose. Truly, I understand that (and I'm not reducing you to your homosexuality when I say that, just acknowledging a very real truth).

I don't know where you are in your career or your aspirations, but I believe you're probably younger and less-established than I am. I dunno, maybe not. I'm mentally ill and got a late start in anything resembling a career. I'm finally in a relationship that has lasted longer than a year, at the youthful age of 41. Then again, I hear that next year I'll have the answer to life, the universe, and everything. So there is that.

My dream was to go to art school. I ran out of money after one quarter (that was in '93 - I'm sure it's even harder now). I lived with a dyslexic, neo-Nazi (yes, really), suicidal, alcoholic father who ironically died of a heart attack when I was 24. I inherited the gun he always threatened he would kill himself with (A Dan Wesson .357 Magnum). It would have been more appropriate if it had gone to my brother, but he's a 2x ex-convict and so he can't own it. I don't keep it because, well, I'm mentally ill. I went to massage therapy school and I was and am a damned good massage therapist, but I have no role-models for running my own business and you make peanuts if you work for others.

I graduated from community college for Nursing when I was 29. I did well at that first job but I was fired from the next two (again, mentally ill).

I now work at a job I hate with the exploding (and eventually imploding) passion of a super-nova yet also live in terror that I will be fired at any moment, that I will be a burden to my loved ones, and that I will ultimately end up homeless.

My point is simply this: I may or may not be closer to absolute ruin than you are at any given time. I'm in pretty successful recovery from my mental illness (a personality disorder for which no one, not even mental health professionals, is/are especially sympathetic about).

I'm not trying to fuck you over by not voting for Hillary Clinton. I am not especially okay if the Republicans win the presidency. Yes, I am white and I am male, and I am straight. But I am also vulnerable to the depravity of an unsympathetic mob. I do not blend in well. I am not Christian. I am a socialist. And I can not keep my mouth shut when someone is getting bullied by the cruel and mindless mob.

We actually have a lot more in common than you might think. I wanted to go to art school too. I earned a scholarship for my ceramics. Unfortunately, I lost my vision and that wasn't going to happen. I settled for something else that makes me (mostly) happy. All's well that ends well, one supposes.

And you're also right. I can't understand how mental illness impacts your daily life. I have mine mostly under control. (I have OCD. Not the cute "Awww, he has OCD" but the "It's 2 am and I'm counting the spoons because if I don't someone will break in and murder me and my entire family." type of way.) However, the types of fears you experience are not entirely dissimilar from the ones I have. Not to be cliche, but we have the same struggles, but a different difference. (If you're not familiar with the Syracuse Cultural Workers look them up. I bet they have a ton of stuff you'd like.)

All I can do is support the candidates who I think offer the best outcomes for people. If the rest of the voters don't see it my way, then I have to go with the next best option. I just don't feel that anyone should be willing to let the good become the enemy of the perfect. Like I said, though, that's more my personality than anything else. It's not a pronouncement from the left or an order from an oligarch. It's just how I feel.

 

[Ogrekiller]

Indeed, and as was already explained to you several times, if bernie were an egotistical asshat, he'd completely disregard what republicans are close to doing and run as an independent. He isn't, thus he hasn't.

No, instead he chose to disregard the Republicans and run as a Democrat, thus splitting the base either way.

How is that any better?

 

[NYCmetsfan]

I'll keep a look out when I watch the news tonight. I met him a few times and he's a pretty good dude. The jokes about him being a bit of a media whore are kinda true, but at least he uses his power for good.

It's on CBS 2s YouTube. I just randomly walked by. I was like is that Chuck schumer lol. He said didnt have any entourage or anything it was just him.

 

[ugaboga232]

Just to chime in on mental health, I wish both of you the best of luck, mental illness can be really difficult (both personality disorders and OCD, I know the actual disorder has been diluted horribly as OCD is super debilitating as you know very well). But there are large large groups of people working on neuroscience and better treatments (of which I am taking the first steps on that path). I think we can all agree better mental healthcare and more research is necessary even if we believe in different paths. Lets hope whoever the next president is, they allocate more money to healthcare and research regardless of the name of the program or anything like that.

 

[Iolo]

Amen to that.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

So, I'm a climate change lobbyist. Should I be trying to focus on converting the right to caring about climate change or riling up the left to care about this even more if Hillary could possibly do cap and trade through executive action?

 

[disastermouse]

Marxist? you said democrat earlier:



Seems you are sure of a non-vote from earlier:

I guess I've not been clear. I finally identified as a Marxist last year after a year or so of studying. Before that, I was a life-long Democrat.

 

[B-Dubs]

It's on CBS 2s YouTube. I just randomly walked by. I was like is that Chuck schumer lol. He said didnt have any entourage or anything it was just him.

:lol

I remember the first time I met him it was at a press conference he was doing outside a Halal Supermarket near my folks place, the man loves his press conferences.

 

[disastermouse]

We actually have a lot more in common than you might think. I wanted to go to art school too. I earned a scholarship for my ceramics. Unfortunately, I lost my vision and that wasn't going to happen. I settled for something else that makes me (mostly) happy. All's well that ends well, one supposes.

And you're also right. I can't understand how mental illness impacts your daily life. I have mine mostly under control. (I have OCD. Not the cute "Awww, he has OCD" but the "It's 2 am and I'm counting the spoons because if I don't someone will break in and murder me and my entire family." type of way.) However, the types of fears you experience are not entirely dissimilar from the ones I have. Not to be cliche, but we have the same struggles, but a different difference. (If you're not familiar with the Syracuse Cultural Workers look them up. I bet they have a ton of stuff you'd like.)

All I can do is support the candidates who I think offer the best outcomes for people. If the rest of the voters don't see it my way, then I have to go with the next best option. I just don't feel that anyone should be willing to let the good become the enemy of the perfect. Like I said, though, that's more my personality than anything else. It's not a pronouncement from the left or an order from an oligarch. It's just how I feel.

I have Borderline Personality Disorder. ADHD too, but sometimes that's actually a positive.

The worst part about mental illness, in my opinion, is that you can't ever fully trust your own mind (or in my case, my emotions). OCD sounds terrible in much the same way. Medication has never much helped. Meditation, Jungian therapy, and just getting older and taking responsibility for my disorder have helped. To be honest, I probably don't quality for the diagnosis anymore. I haven't been suicidal in years, it's been even longer since I've cut myself. My last real 'attack' was two years ago and it was over with quickly. I still struggle with issues of identity and emptiness. I still am unable to claim any of my successes as 'mine'.

As for mental health in the American health care system, it's still mostly for Bipolars and Schizophrenics and people with depression because those illnesses often respond well to medication. Ain't no one or no system got time to deal with personality disorders or people with illnesses that don't respond to medication. It doesn't help that people with PDs usually can't be convinced that they're the ones with the problem.

For the rest of us, it's the good old Libertarian 'up by your own bootstraps' regimen. If it wasn't for daily zazen meditation in my 20s, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be alive right now. Came awful close a few times even still.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Clinton's account of McCain's position rings true. The Arizona senator was an enthusiastic supporter of President Bush's surge and opposes a timetable for troop withdrawal. He was somewhat glib about the issue during a Jan. 3, 2008, town hall meeting in Derry, N.H. When a voter asking a question made the point that President Bush raised the possibility American troops would be in Iraq for 50 years, McCain interrupted by saying, "maybe 100."

McCain went on to note the United States has maintained a military presence for decades in such places as Japan and South Korea. He said he supported such a commitment in a global hot spot like Iraq where al-Qaida continues to wield influence and recruit followers — as long as there aren't American casualties.

McCain expanded on those thoughts three days later during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, asserting that most Americans share his views. "We have a base in Turkey. We have a base in Japan, Germany. We've had bases there. It's not American presence that bothers the American people, it's American casualties," McCain said. "And if Americans are safe wherever they are in the world, Americans — the American people don't mind that. So what I believe we can achieve is a reduction in casualties to the point where the Iraqis are doing the fighting and dying, we're supporting them, and, over time, then it'll be the relation between the two countries."

McCain skirted questions about what kind of troop levels are acceptable in coming decades.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-m...n/16/hillary-clinton/thats-no-typo-100-years/

Hmmmmmmmm, yeah, John McCain wasn't a very good candidate for a party reeling from the Iraq War.

 

[Daniel B·]

Hillary got closer in 1994 to setting up single-payer than Bernie ever could.

But you're right, can't ruffle any feathers!

Daniel B are you seriously wondering why Bernie wouldn't be able to get his legislation through Congress like FDR did? I'll give you a hint look at the current composition of Congress. Even against Trump it's extremely unlikely that Democrats will regain the House. Hell not even the Senate is a certainty! So he unites all elected Democrats behind his agenda. Cool. Now tell that to Paul Ryan who has at least 218 No votes backing him up.

I'm so sick of this fantasy bullshit.

You obviously haven't been paying close enough attention to recent posts, as I was addressing the suggestion that if Bernie's undeniable popularity, translated into a commanding majority in the Senate (entirely possible), and just maby, the House too (remember, FDR converted a tied House into a 72% majority, where just 60% is needed to thwart fillibusters), that, like FDR, he too should have no trouble passing his legislation, e.g. his tax proposals are hardly that excessive (where's the 90%, Trump?), and it is so time, to tax capital gains and dividends at standard rates (one of Martin's favorite policies too).

I will agree that it is becoming tiresome to keep have this back and forth, over just how big a win Bernie could actually achieve, and I am happy to wait until Iowa to see whether our FDR scale dream for America, has legs.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

You obviously haven't been paying close enough attention to recent posts, as I was addressing the suggestion that if Bernie's undeniable popularity, translated into a commanding majority in the Senate (entirely possible), and just maby, the House too (remember, FDR converted a tied House into a 72% majority, where just 60% is needed to thwart fillibusters), that, like FDR, he too should have no trouble passing his legislation, e.g. his tax proposals are hardly that excessive (where's the 90%, Trump?), and it is so time, to tax capital gains and dividends at standard rates (one of Martin's favorite policies too).

I will agree that it is becoming tiresome to keep have this back and forth, over just how big a win Bernie could actually achieve, and I am happy to wait until Iowa to see whether our FDR scale dream for America, has legs.

???????????????????????????????

 

[User 463088]

I have Borderline Personality Disorder. ADHD too, but sometimes that's actually a positive.

The worst part about mental illness, in my opinion, is that you can't ever fully trust your own mind (or in my case, my emotions). OCD sounds terrible in much the same way. Medication has never much helped. Meditation, Jungian therapy, and just getting older and taking responsibility for my disorder have helped. To be honest, I probably don't quality for the diagnosis anymore. I haven't been suicidal in years, it's been even longer since I've cut myself. My last real 'attack' was two years ago and it was over with quickly. I still struggle with issues of identity and emptiness. I still am unable to claim any of my successes as 'mine'.

As for mental health in the American health care system, it's still mostly for Bipolars and Schizophrenics and people with depression because those illnesses often respond well to medication. Ain't no one or no system got time to deal with personality disorders or people with illnesses that don't respond to medication. It doesn't help that people with PDs usually can't be convinced that they're the ones with the problem.

For the rest of us, it's the good old Libertarian 'up by your own bootstraps' regimen. If it wasn't for daily zazen meditation in my 20s, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be alive right now. Came awful close a few times even still.

I don't want to completely derail the thread, but I wanted to make sure you knew I saw and read your post.

I hope you're able to find a solution that helps you deal with the issues you face. I was blessed in that my parents refused to accept "it's a phase" from doctors when I was younger. (FYI, waking up at 3:00am and scrubbing your hands with bleach is not a phase, especially when you're sure that Mad Cow Disease is growing on your finger nails...) I know how lucky I am that my OCD is mostly well controlled. I still have the obsessive thoughts, but I'm usually able to deal with them. I can at least rationalize them now.

To get back on topic, I saw a Tweet where the Nevada Teacher's Union is supposedly going to endorse Hillary. Castro was there stumping for her, apparently.

If Trump is the nominee, I do think Castro is our Veep. Not for any other reason other than it helps to give him some experience and position him for 2024. The GOP cannot attack him for lack of experience if Trump is the nominee.

 

[User 463088]

You obviously haven't been paying close enough attention to recent posts, as I was addressing the suggestion that if Bernie's undeniable popularity, translated into a commanding majority in the Senate (entirely possible), and just maby, the House too (remember, FDR converted a tied House into a 72% majority, where just 60% is needed to thwart fillibusters), that, like FDR, he too should have no trouble passing his legislation, e.g. his tax proposals are hardly that excessive (where's the 90%, Trump?), and it is so time, to tax capital gains and dividends at standard rates (one of Martin's favorite policies too).

I will agree that it is becoming tiresome to keep have this back and forth, over just how big a win Bernie could actually achieve, and I am happy to wait until Iowa to see whether our FDR scale dream for America, has legs.

House can't filibuster, brah.

 

[NeoXChaos]

I don't want to completely derail the thread, but I wanted to make sure you knew I saw and read your post.

I hope you're able to find a solution that helps you deal with the issues you face. I was blessed in that my parents refused to accept "it's a phase" from doctors when I was younger. (FYI, waking up at 3:00am and scrubbing your hands with bleach is not a phase, especially when you're sure that Mad Cow Disease is growing on your finger nails...) I know how lucky I am that my OCD is mostly well controlled. I still have the obsessive thoughts, but I'm usually able to deal with them. I can at least rationalize them now.

To get back on topic, I saw a Tweet where the Nevada Teacher's Union is supposedly going to endorse Hillary. Castro was there stumping for her, apparently.

If Trump is the nominee, I do think Castro is our Veep. Not for any other reason other than it helps to give him some experience and position him for 2024. The GOP cannot attack him for lack of experience if Trump is the nominee.

That's my future President and Vice President.

 

[disastermouse]

You obviously haven't been paying close enough attention to recent posts, as I was addressing the suggestion that if Bernie's undeniable popularity, translated into a commanding majority in the Senate (entirely possible), and just maby, the House too (remember, FDR converted a tied House into a 72% majority, where just 60% is needed to thwart fillibusters), that, like FDR, he too should have no trouble passing his legislation, e.g. his tax proposals are hardly that excessive (where's the 90%, Trump?), and it is so time, to tax capital gains and dividends at standard rates (one of Martin's favorite policies too).

I will agree that it is becoming tiresome to keep have this back and forth, over just how big a win Bernie could actually achieve, and I am happy to wait until Iowa to see whether our FDR scale dream for America, has legs.

The big thing is that Bernie would keep pushing at every opportunity too.

Someone needs to learn how to frame the liberal argument better than it has been. It's difficult because it's not a fear-based stance and the human mind is biased toward threats and negative stimuli much more so than toward opportunity. Most times, a person will respond to a small threat much more decisively than to a big but unfamiliar opportunity.

As a matter of fact, I think that describes 'pro-Hillary-ism' about as well as anything else.

 

[Kangi]

Does this mean we're not getting Demi Lovato as our vice president?

 

[TheLaughingStock]

You're not gonna find a more liberal appointment than Janet Yellen that is actually a good economist.

And don't mention any MMT economists. That theory is heterodox trash.

That and Bernie's attempts to tag team audit the Fed with Rand Paul, a move which would compromise their independence, an aspect of the Fed which has shown to be integral in every country that has a central bank, are a few reasons why I will never entertain him as a serious candidate. A lot of what he believes is really just bad economics.

The Fed and their banks are subject to multiple audits. What you're probably referring to deals with exemptions...

As far as Yellen, she's great economist and she's a woman. But how long has Janet Yellen been in her current position? What's her stance on full employment vs. inflation? Last, I checked she supports how Bernanke prioritized and carried out monetary policy which in my view partially explains how different stakeholders have fared. Correct me if I'm wrong about her support of someone who was originally appointed by a Repub?

And what makes Yellen more liberal than Donald Kohn or the most liberal person you can find? Quite a few people disagree with the argument for a modest rate hike which is her first highlight decision. You can put out papers or whatever you feel like challenging MMT economists if you want to. What does that have to do with presidential appointments to the Fed particularly when Obama didn't fill seats?

In any event to clarify, my point was the poor and minorities should vote and put pressure on better appointments because Obama fucked them in that regard. There's no way various individuals on his council of economic advisors and his administration should have sniffed public office. People have to work to keep many of these guys and gals out of the president's ear particularly the fuck-ups from past administrations that have a track record of incompetence.

 

[User 463088]

That's my future President and Vice President.

Ya, but in a weird twist of fate, Castro jumps in at the last minute. He wins 900% of all the delegates, and names Hillary as his Veep.

Gov Sexy McAbs is still at 2% in this scenario FYI.

 

[disastermouse]

We do often have more than two parties at the local level. In New York we've got a few: the Dems, the GOP, and the Working Families party. Working Families doesn't often run their own candidate, they often just endorse the Dem, but they're still a pretty strong force in the state. They're responsible for pushing Cuomo to the left on a lot of issues. Hell, I voted for a Working Families candidate for State Assembly last election. She even almost won, think she came in second behind the Dem.

The smart money is figuring that they'll be able to capture a few seats in Albany or the City Council in the next few years.

Socialist Alternative has made advances in Seattle as well. They've been competitive in Wisconsin and Minnesota too.

 

[Daniel B·]

House can't filibuster, brah.

I was just going on "was the first time either party held a filibuster-proof 60% super majority in both the Senate and House chambers" in the 95th United States Congres Wiki page...

If your saying, in the House, just a simple majority is required (i.e. one vote), well, that sounds eminently easier for Bernie to potentially achieve .

 

[kess]

You obviously haven't been paying close enough attention to recent posts, as I was addressing the suggestion that if Bernie's undeniable popularity, translated into a commanding majority in the Senate (entirely possible), and just maby, the House too (remember, FDR converted a tied House into a 72% majority, where just 60% is needed to thwart fillibusters), that, like FDR, he too should have no trouble passing his legislation, e.g. his tax proposals are hardly that excessive (where's the 90%, Trump?), and it is so time, to tax capital gains and dividends at standard rates (one of Martin's favorite policies too).

Is Donald Trump better or worse than a Postmaster General who insists on wearing his top hat in an enclosed limousine

 

[campfireweekend]

So, I'm a climate change lobbyist. Should I be trying to focus on converting the right to caring about climate change or riling up the left to care about this even more if Hillary could possibly do cap and trade through executive action?

Why are liberal so stuck on cap and trade, when it is so much more economically efficient and directly impactful to impose a tax on carbon, thus pricing CO2's negate externalities?

 

[Officerrob]

I've never even heard of the Socialist Alternative before today

Also there is no need to recite fairy tales about Sanders winning the presidency and getting a commanding Democratic majority in the Senate and House. Have your argument about Bernie, but don't think he's turning water into wine

 

[disastermouse]

I was just going on "was the first time either party held a filibuster-proof 60% super majority in both the Senate and House chambers" in the 95th United States Congres Wiki page...

If your saying, in the House, just a simple majority is required (i.e. one vote), well, that sounds eminently easier for Bernie to potentially achieve .

Probably not till midterms and he'd have to be an amazing politician to win the rhetorical war to explain his failure to push anything the first two years. And Dems don't show up for midterms (yet). Maybe Bernie could get them there. We still have five more years before we can address the gerrymandering shit-show in states with no ballot measure options or hope for judicial intervention.

 

[disastermouse]

Why are liberal so stuck on cap and trade, when it is so much more economically efficient and directly impactful to impose a tax on carbon, thus pricing CO2's negate externalities?

Cap and trade sounds more like creating a new market (and money making scheme) than does your more sensible suggestion (icky taxes). In today's political environment, Dems probably feel like the first is a more reasonable possibility.

I'd give it 5 days until cap and trade derivatives became a thing.

 

[neurosisxeno]

That's my future President and Vice President.

I just kind of assumed he would get the VP nomination no matter who wins. Although, Bernie picking Hillary is not too outlandish (no more than him beating her I suppose).

 

[disastermouse]

I've never even heard of the Socialist Alternative before today

Also there is no need to recite fairy tales about Sanders winning the presidency and getting a commanding Democratic majority in the Senate and House. Have your argument about Bernie, but don't think he's turning water into wine

They're Marxist. You probably won't hear about them until you're up against the wall when the revolution comes.

Kidding

Spoiler

?

 

[campfireweekend]

The Fed and their banks are subject to multiple audits. What you're probably referring to deals with exemptions...

As far as Yellen, she's great economist and she's a woman. But how long has Janet Yellen been in her current position? What's her stance on full employment vs. inflation? Last, I checked she supports how Bernanke prioritized and carried out monetary policy which in my view partially explains how different stakeholders have fared. Correct me if I'm wrong about her support of someone who was originally appointed by a Repub?

And what makes Yellen more liberal than Donald Kohn or the most liberal person you can find? Quite a few people disagree with the argument for a modest rate hike which is her first highlight decision. You can put out papers or whatever you feel like challenging MMT economists if you want to. What does that have to do with presidential appointments to the Fed particularly when Obama didn't fill seats?

In any event to clarify, my point was the poor and minorities should vote and put pressure on better appointments because Obama fucked them in that regard. There's no way various individuals on his council of economic advisors and his administration should have sniffed public office. People have to work to keep many of these guys and gals out of the president's ear particularly the fuck-ups from past administrations that have a track record of incompetence.

They both placed equal importance on both full employment and inflation. It's part of the Fed's dual-mandate. That shit isn't a suggestion, it's part of the founding charter of the organization.

Bernanke and Yellen were the heroes of the recession, keeping rates low and executing QE. Those are good monetary economics, and they helped a lot of people, quantifiably. We really need to leave the paradigm of Republican or Democrat when speaking about monetary economics. There is consensus, and then there is heterodox, and as far as I'm sure, heterodox people are the ones that have to thoroughly make their case for why the consensus view is wrong. This includes MMT. This also includes inflation hawks. The former would ignore the inflation mandate, while the latter completely disregards the employment mandate.

Also, quite a few is disengenuous. A decent plurality can be seen supporting a small rate hike, and that percentage only goes up when weighted for confidence. http://www.igmchicago.org/igm-economic-experts-panel/poll-results?SurveyID=SV_0kXNVic9IQwmmjz

You can read each economists view as to why also if you want.

I also don't understand what point you're trying to make with the Donald Kohn mention, unless you're trying to say that literally ever person the GWB administration touched was shit. He left for the brookings institution after leaving the Fed, a center-left think tank!

 

[Daniel B·]

Probably not till midterms and he'd have to be an amazing politician to win the rhetorical war to explain his failure to push anything the first two years. And Dems don't show up for midterms (yet). Maybe Bernie could get them there. We still have five more years before we can address the gerrymandering shit-show in states with no ballot measure options or hope for judicial intervention.

As long as Bernie makes the very best of it, and I'm sure that would include not conceding an inch, to the Republicans, on our core principles, his popularity amongst core supporters should remain steadfast, including mine, and I would totally help to get the vote out, in the mid-terms.