[DEBATE] Presidential Election - 2016 (closing Nov 22)

I am fine with Bernie he seems like a lively person. I said O god the first picture. To think of how many people with liberal views to people with conservative views.

This is the poll I often refer to when I say most Americans support liberal policies.

Out of our 100 Senators, 25 are 75 or older, and one third of those are 80 or older with no signs of quitting any time soon. Strom Thurmond left the Senate in 2003 when he was 100 years old and Robert Byrd died while still in office at 92...

I could not find a list for your current parliament, but according to this your oldest lived member of parliament was 102 and you've had 14 since 1945 that ranged in ages upon leaving from 78 to 92.

As many young people have said here on EMC, age is not always indicative of maturity. Similarly, age is also not always indicative of health. If you ask me, Sanders seems just as healthy if not healthier than Trump or Clinton once you mentally remove the hairspray and makeup. I do agree that he is unlikely to run again. I also think we are likely to see more people with similar ideas and policies running in the future especially if the big two parties continue to ignore some of our issues.

http://theweek.com/speedreads/66224...ats-muslim-immigrant-registry-selfdeportation

Growing up in an area that was driven into mass poverty and all but destroyed by the right wing mostly because we liked Socialism/Communism makes it justified for me to view them as evil, no? The same type of people (Conservatives, and also the Liberals at times) who did this also tried their best to expand the British Empire and supported committing multiple atrocities to keep that whole thing stable, whereas it was the type of people (Socialists) my area supported who ended the Empire and didn't want to commit said atrocities.

Neither side is perfect, but I know which one is/was more humane.

Pab has covered most of it. Average death is just that -- an average. That means 50% of people died older and 50% of people died younger. I am hoping that Bernie remains in the top 50%.
Bernie has said time and time again, he would not be running if he didn't feel like he would be healthy enough. I expect him to carry on that ideal for the next presidential race where he would most definitely destroy any opponents. I am also happy that Hillary's presidential hopes are demolished.

I believe that Bernie is actually much healthier than Hillary. You see him standing up all the time and looking healthy where Hillary has some known medical problems and will hopefully not be healthy enough to run 2020. Didn't she pass out once?

I am hoping that Bernie has inspired many progressives to take up positions and possibly run for president if they are experienced enough.

But you've also got to remember that the Soviet Union existed, and especially under Stalin, there were some terrible atrocities committed. And that China continues to ignore human rights. Also of note though is that as China leans further to the right, they are committing less of these crimes.

The way you lean in politics does not determine how bad and/or authoritarian you are. The extreme ends of both side attract similar kinds of people, with different political ideals, but similar authoritarian ones. Historically, the right wing, nationalistic side has attracted more authoritarian figures, but that can be attributed to the fact that right-wing nationalist regimes have been more widely represented in history. Groups like FARC in Columbia are prime examples of historically extremely violent left-wing groups.

Authoritarianism really has no relation to political lean, just that the further you get from the centre in either direction, the more authoritarian policies and ideals become.

Still doesn't apologise for the fact they ran this area of the country into the ground just because of the majority's political beliefs - oh, and to help their rich Southern friends - and to this day still haven't fixed anything (the 2008 recession was worse than it should have been in the UK because of this). Plus, the North supported Democratic Socialism - which the UK had multiple times through the 1900s - not anything on the level of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, or China, who weren't even true Socialists or Communists.

Basically; screw Thatcherism and Thatcher herself. The North, for one, is glad her and Ronald Reagan are six feet underground (people literally had parties on her funeral because she died lol)

Only problem is we have both a new Margaret Thatcher and a new Ronald Reagan. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I probably responded that way because of your conservative views and support of Trump that you have communicated on this thread. Silly me.

I think we are saying the same thing.

I have avoided comparing Trump to Hitler and even disagreed with others when they have done that. But as I watch Trump's appointments I can't help but make comparisons to Hitler's henchmen. Racists, white supremacists, the religious intolerant. It is quite amazing how he can justify what he is doing. Bannon, Sessions, Flynn, etc.., it is freaky. But then again he can do whatever he wants. I have been around a long time watching politics in this country but this is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen. BY FAR. The question is, are Americans racist, hateful and intolerant and I was just fooled all these years? Could we erode into a totalitarian state? Don't forget that Germany had a constitution prior to Hitler. This probably sounds absurd to most of you as it probably would have sounded absurd to most German citizens prior to 1933. When Trump was asked on 60 minutes about all the racist/religious intolerant acts that had been happening after his election he acted like he had no idea. Really? It's constantly on the news. And instead of condemning being racist all he said was stop and I was not feeling his sincerity. We know humans have not evolved past where we were 80 years ago. I'm a very pragmatic person but this is really starting to be scary to me.

Which is what he achieved making Germany into a dictatorship through. From what I can tell the US has no way that Trump would be able to do something like that.

That's true but the German constitution as well as our constitution is able to be amended as well as circumvented. Hitler was able to do it using enabling acts as well as declaring emergency measures. My point being, that if the public elected Trump they could also approve of the people he is putting in charge of the government. That the racist intolerant feelings of Americans could be so widespread that anything could be possible. Including the measures that could allow a totalitarian state. If enough people want it the constitution wouldn't be able to stop it. I'm not saying this is going to happen but it seems every day now things happen that I never thought fathomable before.

and here's the thing, not everyone even has to be racist because Americans are extremely gullible. All you'd have to do is get Fox News to blast out whatever message Trump wants and you'd get over half the country believing it in no time. It wouldn't even matter if MSNBC and CNN both were blasting out that Trump was doing it and that it was bad because we've seen that they can't make a dent in Fox's message.

What's funny to me is how Trump kept saying that the media can't be trusted and yet people on the right still trust Fox News and people on the left still trust MSNBC. Gullibility is a powerful thing.

So Jeff Sessions will be our new AG? First one from Alabama!

[wayneKramer, post: 1259524"]and here's the thing, not everyone even has to be racist because Americans are extremely gullible. All you'd have to do is get Fox News to blast out whatever message Trump wants and you'd get over half the country believing it in no time. It wouldn't even matter if MSNBC and CNN both were blasting out that Trump was doing it and that it was bad because we've seen that they can't make a dent in Fox's message.

What's funny to me is how Trump kept saying that the media can't be trusted and yet people on the right still trust Fox News and people on the left still trust MSNBC. Gullibility is a powerful thing.[/quote]

sorry all. yes, i trusted a news source and was wrong. But you have to get you information from somewhere.

Ultimately if you did not see it with your own eyes then you cant be sure anything happend. How do you know CNN is telling you the truth that FOX NEWS is lying. Or could it be the other way around? Maybe they are both saying two different things and BBC is saying a third, which one are you going to believe?

Why call Americans Gullible? Who got the better end of the deal in Seawards Folly? Why did the Russians sell it, why didn't the britts buy it, why did the Americans buy it? Opportunity, and despite all the negativity centered on the purchase... it payed off BIG TIME SUCKAS !!!!!

There is no need to list examples though, it just seems rude to call us gullible. More appropriately would be to address the media and their standards. Why is Fox News and CNN becoming no better than the National Inquirer. Why do the news establishments show "preference". They are not impartial and just reporting the news, they are starting to influence and magnify situations to achieve a better story. I believe The media is behind the big resurgence of the controversial issues that are causing much of the unrest.

I have looked back into our government and see that I was right in saying that America is a Republic. At least that is what I was taught in school and being that I am an american, I dont know where you nonAmericans live, I don' blame you for not understanding our constitution. here is a small part of something, but I include the web site so you can dispute my gullibility and we can go over it together.

http://www.thisnation.com/question/011.html

In the strictest sense of the word, the system of government established by the Constitution was never intended to be a "democracy." This is evident not only in the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance but in the Constitution itself which declares that "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government" (Article IV, Section 4). Moreover, the scheme of representation and the various mechanisms for selecting representatives established by the Constitution were clearly intended to produce a republic, not a democracy.

I m tired of watching my president be ridiculed on T.V., in the streets and on this forum. Speaking poorly of Trump before he has even taken control as president and blaming him for things that have not even happend is as bad as saying it is only a matter of time if your a muslim until you are going to blow something up. Right Gawadrolt? It is not a joke that citizens of America are breaking the law and destroying personal and public property and sometimes people are getting hurt or dying.

This is

Article 4, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution is commonly called the Guarantee Clause. It reads, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.” This clause guarantees that the federal government will assure and provide these three protections to all State governments:

1. Republican Form of Government;

2. Protection Against Invasion; and

3. Protection of Legislatures and Executive from domestic Violence.

The first assurance is more complicated because the term “Republican Form of Government” is not defined in the Constitution and was not widely written on during the Ratification Debates. However, they did establish seven basic principles necessary to constitute a Republican form of government:
1. There is a strict separation of powers, horizontally and vertically.
2. The government is run by officers governing for a term and only during good behavior.
3. Offices are selected by our election, and not by the appointment of the government itself.
4. The government recognizes that power resides originally in the People (immediately from God).
5. There is a deliberativeness in action and that it is, by the checks and balances, not subject to the whimsical fancy of a few.
6. The government acknowledges the final right of the People to alter or abolish it whenever it usurps the rights for which it was instituted by the People to administer God’s Law.
7. The government does not grant entitlements.

These principles must be maintained so that the form of government does not “wander” into another type of government – like monarchy, dictatorship, oligarchy, democracy or worse, totalitarian. For a detailed analysis of what the Guarantee Clause means regarding Republican Form of Government, please read the article “What is a Republic Anyway?” by Scott Whiteman, Esq. which is included below.

Protection against invasion was a continuation of an established centralized foreign policy and defense under the Articles of Confederation aned Perpetual Union. The Framers understood that protection of the borders was essential to both the security of the people and the viability of the economy. The clause assures that a president cannot refuse to defend certain parts of the nation from foreign attack. Sadly today, this understanding has been lost on our national government officials who want to “sell out” the citizens by granting “amnesty” to those who illegally enter the States of the union.

http://www.theamericanview.com/q-what-does-article-iv-section-4-really-mean/

For those who mocked me before, lets read about our American Constitution. I just love how American law and old documents reference "God's Law" or "God" in some fashion.

Finding that the pledge of allegiance and the constitution both say that America is meant to be a Republic means to me that it was meant to be a republic and where it said not a democracy, ..... well.... But the main reason for not becoming a democracy was because of situations where a bully would take charge. Just because there are 100 people in the street breaking, windows burning cars and blocking traffic every night does that mean they get their way? It seems they do in today's world. While millions of people at home are sitting at home saying "what the ***** are they doing?" But their voice wont be heard.

Democracy is ruining the country. Democracy is the snake in the grass that steals money from your pocket. Democracy has taken your choices away and you must do what you are told. Democracy is the government controlling your life and being all encompassing on the civilian level while totally unprepared for hostilities from abroad.

My belief, Trump might be a good thing to drag this country out of the disgusting gutter it has fallen into. Religon, good christian beliefs need to be brought back to the schools and government places. Just like it operated for many, many years. Yes, illeagles are draining on this countries economy and should be removed from the country. Sanctuary cities should be cleaned out.

Its time for America to declare war on itself! We need to let the ARMY clean up gang violence. The Marines and Seals take out sanctuary cities and do drug cartels. Engineers Start on THE WALL and repairing the infrastructure of our country. Bridges, roads, water pipes, gas pipes, build needed housing.

Just think if we put millions of dollars a day into fixing America instead of fighting someone else battle?

No one thought Obama would achieve much and he didn't. Unless you count the big mess he made, that needs to be cleaned up. That will take years. We all waited patiently for that to end. So lets stop bad mouthing Trump, Americas President Elect, and let him write his own story of things to tell. We don't deen to bash him now, let get some time under his belt.

lol ^

yep lol ^

• The Russian Empire was financially weak and didn't want to lose Alaska to the United Kingdom without any form of benefit, should they have ended up at war with them again - which, back then, was a genuine fear due to them having just lost the Crimean War to the UK and France (and the Ottomans, but they were a non-threat because they were so weak).
• The British didn't buy it because it wasn't offered to them. Why on Earth would you sell it to avoid the British taking it and potentially weaken them, but sell it to the British?
• The Americans bought it because it was of strategic importance and thought it would facilitate the acquisition of British Columbia (which it didn't, lol).

As with the rest of your post, I fail to see your point.

Democracy is one of the best things to happen to the world. America just can't do it right, and never will.

What disgusting gutter? Trump will just drag you deeper into whatever 'disgusting gutter' you think you're in. Just look at the rise in hate crimes in America since he was named President-Elect. Oh, and also how he said Pence was harassed last night - which he was not.

Religion shouldn't be forced into schools. I was brought up in a Catholic Primary School (which, by the way, shouldn't happen in the UK unless you want your child to be ridiculed by everyone they meet in the future lmao, or want your kid to be around Protestant teachers who don't know anything about Catholicism), and go to an Anglican Secondary School/College and in my opinion, religion should be separated from school. It clashes with Science, History, pretty much everything, and stops kids from forming their own opinion. They don't mix.

Especially Christianity lol. Want your kid to become a hateful piece of shit? Just send them to a Christian school!

I have a friend - she's an Orthodox Christian, living in a Catholic country. Her parents were told multiple times they should convert to Catholicism, and they left her out religious activities in school. Screw putting religion into schools.

The wall is impossible to build. It'll cost trillions, it'll be useless, and it would likely not be finished in any of our lifetimes.

The shitty wall can piss off.

So, uh, anyone starting a countdown until Trump gets impeached?