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[IggyChooChoo]

I mean, would I rather have Biden/Gillibrand? Sure. But Oprah would be fine. She is a brilliant woman and would surround herself with good people.

I generally agree, she's obviously brilliant and capable, but I do wonder how could we know if she has decent judgment. It's hard when you're looking at someone who's spent so much time and effort crafting her public image. I don't reflexively dismiss her, but does she have anything we can call a record? Has she ever presented discernible views on domestic or foreign policy? Are there times she's done things risky to herself on behalf of a policy priority or cause that's important to her?

 

[Plinko]

I think the trend of majority public opinion heading towards 2020 will be "well, that businessman/reality star didn't turn out so great, maybe we do need a professional politician after all."

Personally I don't want any celebrities running in 2020. Except The Rock, to primary Trump and literally physically smash him during a debate.

Right, which is why I think Biden and Sanders have a distinct advantage heading into the primaries.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

I generally agree, she's obviously brilliant and capable, but I do wonder how could we know if she has decent judgment. It's hard when you're looking at someone who's spent so much time and effort crafting her public image. I don't reflexively dismiss her, but does she have anything we can call a record? Has she ever presented discernible views on domestic or foreign policy? Are there times she's done things risky to herself on behalf of a policy priority or cause that's important to her?

She's a black woman who rose up from poverty and abuse to become the most famous black person in the world, until Obama came into the picture, and the first black woman billionaire and the only black billionaire for awhile.

That's quite a different life story than "born into riches and stumbled over himself his entire life, accidentally making some money sometimes, but mostly losing it"

 

[Emerson]

Also, it often gets lost among Trump's many other horrible qualities, but his presidency has shown us how nearly impossible it is for a billionaire mogul of multiple industries to ethically run the government.

I have absolutely no doubt Oprah would do a much better job than Trump (who didn't even try) of extricating herself from her business, but I'm equally certain that with as many ties as she has she would still fall into some legal/ethical quagmires.

With the Democratic Party having just spent 4 years criticizing Trump over the same thing, it seems like a bad play.

 

[Ernest]

Just days earlier, Tillerson had openly disparaged the president, referring to him as a “moron,” after a July 20 meeting at the Pentagon with members of Trump’s national security team and Cabinet officials, according to three officials familiar with the incident.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/wh...ury-trump-required-intervention-pence-n806451

This was bound to happen.

Agree with Trump's guys or not, people like Tillerson, McMaster and Kelly are fairly smart, no nonsense dudes, and obviously they gotta think that Trump is a fucking idiot. And it must be killing them that he's president and that they have to work for such a shitheel.

The few smart guys he can get are gonna keep bouncing out of his administration, and he'll have no one left.

 

[Mark Andrew]

Count me in for a Biden/Gillibrand ticket. I think progressives like her, right?

 

[cartoon_soldier]

Count me in for a Biden/Gillibrand ticket. I think progressives like her, right?

There is a small but vocal wing that won't like anybody unless it is Bernie himself.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

This was bound to happen.

Agree with Trump's guys or not, people like Tillerson, McMaster and Kelly are fairly smart, no nonsense dudes, and obviously they gotta think that Trump is a fucking idiot. And it must be killing them that he's president and that they have to work for such a shitheel.

The few smart guys he can get are gonna keep bouncing out of his administration, and he'll have no one left.

Kelly is extremely not smart and Tillerson is way too lazy to be called no nonsense.

 

[Poodlestrike]

Count me in for a Biden/Gillibrand ticket. I think progressives like her, right?

Gillibrand is the ultimate political animal, everyone likes her. Frankly I think she'd do better at the top of the ticket.

 

[excelsiorlef]

Yeah, I'm not getting the Oprah hate here.

1. She's clearly in favor of democratic policies.
2. She gives millions to the poor and needy.
3. She has a colossal legion of fans spanning all cultures.
4. She is a black woman, and Trump losing to both a minority and a female would be amazing and a huge blow to his supporters.
5. She is incredibly likeable.

She is easily the best choice of any celebrity running.

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/mothers-battle-autism/1
http://blog.labguru.com/blog-labguru/austism-vaccines-and-the-oprah-effect
http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-ways-oprah-winfrey-changed-world-for-worse/
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friend...pastor-john-gray-in-new-eight-episode-series/

That's why

Most disturbingly, Mnookin documents how the news and entertainment industry abetted McCarthy's dangerous campaign. One of the chief offenders is Oprah Winfrey, who exposed her huge television audience to McCarthy, treating her as an expert on autism because she had "mommy instinct.... She knows what she's talking about," Oprah advised her fans.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hil...antivaxxer-public-menace-20150127-column.html

Yup. Her views on pseudoscience are dumb but who the fuck cares in the end. She ticks all the boxes.

She has no political experience, but a ton of business experience. We would have the first major party candidate in history who is a self-made billionaire and philanthropist.

Because believing in pseudoscience is dangerous as fuck?

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Gillibrand is the ultimate political animal, everyone likes her. Frankly I think she'd do better at the top of the ticket.

.

Gillibrand is smart as hell and I think people are really underestimating her.

 

[Y2Kev]

Gillibrand might be great but she just ran so

 

[Crocodile]

Where can one contribute to the Northam campaign? I might as well do non-zero things to help even if I'm not in the state.

Gillibrand might be great but she just ran so

I feel like the State of New York would be more than willing and eager to swap a good New Yorker for a shitty New Yorker in the WH as a form of penance.

 

[Tamanon]

Crooked media is pivoting to "print" finally.

Brian Beutler is joining as editor-in-chief. Really enjoyed Lovett's first column though at https://crooked.com/article/the-death-loop/

 

[nature boy]

Did Cheeto promise to wipe the debt of PR?

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/915553517288509441

 

[PantherLotus]

Oprah is the answer to "can you name a mystical person of color with a lot of name recognition and generally identifiable liberal positions who is doing millions of dollars of good with charities but would be much less effective in government?"

See: Bill Gates and Warren Buffet for the non-POC division.

I know we're dreaming here but we should be talking about Michelle, who is both qualified and would win in a landslide. Not Oprah.

 

[Box of Kittens]

This of all communities should realize why electing a celebrity with no political experience to the presidency is a bad idea.

 

[IggyChooChoo]

She's a black woman who rose up from poverty and abuse to become the most famous black person in the world, until Obama came into the picture, and the first black woman billionaire and the only black billionaire for awhile.

That's quite a different life story than "born into riches and stumbled over himself his entire life, accidentally making some money sometimes, but mostly losing it"

I'm not comparing her to Trump; I'm comparing her to other democratic politicians with clear public positions and voting records. Not that they don't cultivate their images, but you can get a sense of their judgment and their personal priorities from the work they've done and the times they've put themselves out there. I felt like I had a sense of the judgment of Hillary, Obama, Biden, Bernie, Kerry, etc from their record and statements well before I voted for or against them. With Oprah I'm not sure what there is to go on. And as a principle, we've seen what happens with a billionaire norm-breaker as president. Trump's a dumb asshole, but part of the reason he doesn't respect the norms and institutions of the presidency is because he's a billionaire outsider who doesn't value the presidency as a goal the way a typical politician does. Oprah is already a billionaire at the height of success. She might not care for norms, either. Outsider billionaire candidates legitimately need to answer a lot of questions before the public should feel comfortable about them, IMO.

 

[benicillin]

This of all communities should realize why electing a celebrity with no political experience to the presidency is a bad idea.

Yeah but I really like George Clooney.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

Did Cheeto promise to wipe the debt of PR?

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/915553517288509441

Forgive their debt, as payment they become a state.

Texas-style

 

[sphagnum]

lol democrats

For Gods sake, we shouldn't be seriously considering Oprah or any other celebrities. If Oprah wants to get into politics she should run for a lower office first, not fucking president.

 

[Wilsongt]

lol democrats

For Gods sake, we shouldn't be seriously considering Oprah or any other celebrities. If Oprah wants to get into politics she should run for a lower office first, not fucking president.

You seem to forget about Donald Trump just sashaying his orange ass into the oval office.

The rules don't apply anymore.

To Republicans, anyway.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Trump should stop playing Bioshock Infinite.

It's a bad game.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

I don't anyone actually wants Oprah to run, I think we were just talking about if she were to run, how would she do, and what kind of president would she be.

 

[Blader]

Right, which is why I think Biden and Sanders have a distinct advantage heading into the primaries.

That would be quite the coup, convincing voters he is the consummate professional politician four years after telling voters he is the ultimate anti-establishment outsider.

 

[IggyChooChoo]

lol democrats

For Gods sake, we shouldn't be seriously considering Oprah or any other celebrities. If Oprah wants to get into politics she should run for a lower office first, not fucking president.

Very true. I am fairly risk-averse, so handing the nomination to someone who's in their first run for office feels like a really unnecessary risk to take.

Crooked media is pivoting to "print" finally.

Brian Beutler is joining as editor-in-chief. Really enjoyed Lovett's first column though at https://crooked.com/article/the-death-loop/

Brian Beutler is great! I was wondering why he hadn't don't any podcasts for TNR lately.

 

[CCS]

US politics may be great, but your conference speeches have nothing on ours

Our Prime Minister just accepted our version of a pink slip and then had the sign she was standing in front of fall to pieces.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

The Young Turks thing didn't get its own thread?

Or did I miss it?

 

[Nazgul_Hunter]

We're getting some juciy bits today:

Hill investigators to tell public what they've learned about Russia's interference and what happens next

Senate intelligence committee leaders on Wednesday plan to detail the conclusions they've already drawn in their months-long investigation into Russia's meddling into the 2016 US election -- and what they plan to do about it.

The committee teased that news was coming in its advisory about the news conference, but Burr was cagey about what he planned to say.
"Good things come to those who wait, so I'll let you wait until 12:15 to get an update on the progress of the investigation," Burr told reporters.

 

[A Serious Man]

Brian Beutler is great! I was wondering why he hadn't don't any podcasts for TNR lately.

I guess I can stop being annoyed that there hasn't been a new episode of Primary Concerns in forever. Great get for the Crooked Media guys.

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

lol democrats

For Gods sake, we shouldn't be seriously considering Oprah or any other celebrities. If Oprah wants to get into politics she should run for a lower office first, not fucking president.

.

Running a celebrity in 2020 seems like the party having impeccably bad timing two elections in a row.

 

[KirbYuuYuu]

The thing about the SC, is that the liberal and conservative justices are nice to each other, and outside of court, they seem to actually be friends. Ginsburg may have seriously disagreed with Scalia on basically everything, but outside of the court, they were on friendly terms. They considered each other to be "best friends"

Gorsuch doesn't seem to realize this, and it's going to hurt his influence on the court. Nobody wants to work with an ass. He also has a lot to prove, considering he's the junior on the court and the way he got his seat was pretty dubious, if not insulting to the court. He's pretty much acting how a modern Republican acts. Condescending, thinks they know the best, hostile to other people who don't agree with them. That doesn't really work that well on the court.

He never learned about James McReynolds

 

[Nelo Ice]

Crooked media is pivoting to "print" finally.

Brian Beutler is joining as editor-in-chief. Really enjoyed Lovett's first column though at https://crooked.com/article/the-death-loop/

Here's the announcement and we are getting another podcast.
https://crooked.com/article/crooked...nd-network-of-very-fine-people-on-both-sides/

 

[Mark Andrew]

Here's the announcement and are getting another podcast.
https://crooked.com/article/crooked...nd-network-of-very-fine-people-on-both-sides/

Man I love the crooked media guys but I barely have time for the main pod and Lovett or Leave it.

 

[Blader]

We're getting some juciy bits today:

Hill investigators to tell public what they've learned about Russia's interference and what happens next

They're already issuing their report?

 

[BoogieWoogie]

Burr today: "TRUMP INNOCENT! TOTALLY!"

They're already issuing their report?

First report. The House is doing fuck all apparently at this point.

 

[Aaron Strife]

The thing about the SC, is that the liberal and conservative justices are nice to each other, and outside of court, they seem to actually be friends. Ginsburg may have seriously disagreed with Scalia on basically everything, but outside of the court, they were on friendly terms. They considered each other to be "best friends"

Gorsuch doesn't seem to realize this, and it's going to hurt his influence on the court. Nobody wants to work with an ass. He also has a lot to prove, considering he's the junior on the court and the way he got his seat was pretty dubious, if not insulting to the court. He's pretty much acting how a modern Republican acts. Condescending, thinks they know the best, hostile to other people who don't agree with them. That doesn't really work that well on the court.

Reminds me of what Al Franken wrote about Rand Paul in his latest book. Every newbie senator shadows a senator from each party for a little while who kind of shows them the ropes and gives them advice. Paul got Franken and Kay Bailey Hutchinson and evidently listened to neither of them and actively disrespected both of them. The contrast between Franken’s nervous jitters early on about being the “celebrity senator” and trying to shed that by being respectful and taking things seriously, to Paul’s “fuck you I’m better than you” is pretty amusing.

Knowing some of the conservative dweebs I went to high school with I’m sure this is exactly how some of them would act in a position of power. Hell, it’s how they still act right now. Like you said, condescending, know-it-all, anyone who disagrees is an idiot (as opposed to you know, someone who interprets data differently, or more often actually considers the data over preconceived ideology).

I think Ted Cruz is the pinnacle of this attitude moreso. At least Paul stands by his principles sometimes.

 

[excelsiorlef]

I don't anyone actually wants Oprah to run, I think we were just talking about if she were to run, how would she do, and what kind of president would she be.

A bad one.

 

[Box of Kittens]

As others have pointed out, there's good reason to suspect that being a celebrity with no political experience will be a liability after four years of Trump. But even if it isn't, the goal isn't just to win the election, but also to elect someone who will actually do the job well. It's very important to nominate someone who's actually qualified to hold the office.

 

[chadskin]

Tillerson is making a statement in 10 minutes from the Treaty Room. Topic unknown.

https://twitter.com/becket/status/915582435362000896

Couldn't even wait until Friday huh

Livestream: http://www.reuters.tv/l/aFy/2017/10/04/tillerson-makes-a-statement

 

[Ac30]

https://twitter.com/becket/status/915582435362000896

Couldn't even wait until Friday huh

I'll bet $50 he's just going to deny the moron report and blame the Fake News media for making him look bad.

 

[BoogieWoogie]

Either Tillerson's quitting or Trump yelled at him to go on National TV and say what a great guy he is.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

I'll bet $50 he's just going to deny the moron report and blame the Fake News media for making him look bad.

Yup. And shower praises on Trump.

 

[BlastProcessing]

Burr today: "TRUMP INNOCENT! TOTALLY!"



First report. The House is doing fuck all apparently at this point.

I think that's a misread of Burr.

Either Tillerson's quitting or Trump yelled at him to go on National TV and say what a great guy he is.

Agreed. We are about to either see a man stand up for his principles or debase himself and his office by sniveling lying. Going by the history of this Admin, I'm leaning towards the latter.

 

[Blader]

I'll bet $50 he's just going to deny the moron report and blame the Fake News media for making him look bad.

Yep.

 

[Ecotic]

Either Tillerson's quitting or Trump yelled at him to go on National TV and say what a great guy he is.

Yeah, I think it's either one of these two.

 

[BlastProcessing]

Yeah, I think it's either one of these two.

He is either gonna kick trump in the dick or suck it.

Spoiler

Or he could do both, i suppose

 

[IggyChooChoo]

Knowing some of the conservative dweebs I went to high school with I’m sure this is exactly how some of them would act in a position of power. Hell, it’s how they still act right now. Like you said, condescending, know-it-all, anyone who disagrees is an idiot (as opposed to you know, someone who interprets data differently, or more often actually considers the data over preconceived ideology).

I think Ted Cruz is the pinnacle of this attitude moreso. At least Paul stands by his principles sometimes.

I don't know if any of you were on the debate team in high school like me, or if you went to -- ahem -- debate camp. But yeah, Ted Cruz is like the platonic ideal of a specific sort of patronizing, insincere, deceitful asshole debater. It was no surprise to me whatsoever when I found out he was a college debater.

 

[Officerrob]

I'll bet $50 he's just going to deny the moron report and blame the Fake News media for making him look bad.

Guaranteed

 

[Ernest]

Kelly is extremely not smart and Tillerson is way too lazy to be called no nonsense.

Well, I meant in comparison to Trump. But then I guess we're all geniuses in that context.