Welcome to Thunderdome

Malcolm wrote:

a) a government pushing rich lobbyist agendas plus 50% of the voting public's, or b) a government pushing rich lobbyist agendas plus 0% of the voting public's.

Have you seen the voting public lately? There's a 1% chance that maybe the lobbyist got rich because he's competent. The voters of this country have stuck with two major parties for quite some time because most of them can't count any higher or handle more than that many viewpoints on any given issue.

Two-party systems are the result of trying to apply intelligence to a winner-take-all race -- gaming the system by considering opportunity costs, voting against an enemy rather than for a friend, and in general worrying about electability instead of issues.

Voters as stupid as you imagine would simply vote their own minds (one viewpoint) and we'd have third and fourth parties galore, albeit not terribly successful ones.

Two-party systems are the result of trying to apply intelligence to a winner-take-all race -- gaming the system by considering opportunity costs, voting against an enemy rather than for a friend, and in general worrying about electability instead of issues.

They're gaming it like shit then. It seems to imply whatever is being applied is anything but intelligent.

Voters as stupid as you imagine would simply vote their own minds (one viewpoint)...

That have to have minds before they can vote them. They've given those up as well.

Any first-past-the-post winner-take-all voting system will inevitably over the course of time devolve into a two-party system with both parties being extremist parodies of what most voters for that party would actually want them to be. If you've ever heard that a third party vote is "a waste of your vote" that's because under such a system it is entirely true. If the GOP really does fold they'll eventually be replaced by a single part that will - over time - become just as extreme (although perhaps in slightly different ways).

Until we change our basic voting system this cycle will continue. See instant runoff voting and single transferable vote. The ideal system would use a transferable vote and have multi-member districts to maximize proportional representation for the electorate. Then votes really would matter and voting for your favorite third-, fourth- or even fifth-party candidate would never be a waste.

Note to self.

The problem is that her campaign to close the gap on income inequality takes a credibility hit when she pushes it in a $12,495 Giorgio Armani jacket. (The jacket has since gone on sale to $7,497.)

Wasn't there some thing about DiCaprio accepting an environmentalism award this month, only to burn how many gallons worth of fuel in a private jet round trip?

Note to self.

The problem is that her campaign to close the gap on income inequality takes a credibility hit when she pushes it in a $12,495 Giorgio Armani jacket. (The jacket has since gone on sale to $7,497.)

Wasn't there some thing about DiCaprio accepting an environmentalism award this month, only to burn how many gallons worth of fuel in a private jet round trip?

Yeah, it's a hypocrisy thing, and possibly a thing about being so elitist you can't even see the ground anymore from your throne above the clouds, which again swings back around to hypocrisy when you claim to speak for the little man.

She's horrible.

Bernie's hosed.

He was always hosed. He was just hanging on in hopes of furthering his own agenda.

His removal also means the Dems won't be getting the young vote.

I know Bernie supporters who hate Hillary as much as Trump. I hope the Dems aren't considering Bernie votes as automatically switching to Hillary.

His removal also means the Dems won't be getting the young vote.

I know Bernie supporters who hate Hillary as much as Trump. I hope the Dems aren't considering Bernie votes as automatically switching to Hillary.

I doubt it. Bernie will give his blessing to Mrs. Bill and his sheep-cattle hybrid base will, for the most part, go with her. If his followers had an independent brain to begin with, they wouldn't be his.

Leisher wrote: I know Bernie supporters who hate Hillary as much as Trump. I hope the Dems aren't considering Bernie votes as automatically switching to Hillary.

The vast majority of them will. Ideologically, Hillary and Bernie are not far off from each other. And when it comes down to Hillary or Trump, they'll pick Hillary.

Did you read the article where his staff talks about where Bernie's mind is at? He might throw a thumbs up to Hillary, he might not.

It won't matter though because his supporters, even though I agree they would vote Hillary before Trump, won't turn out to vote. Obama won by getting record numbers of certain demographics to the polls, like young voters (and dead ones! Zing!). Hillary is not going to energize folks to vote.

That's why I still think Trump has a legit chance at winning this election. His voters are energized. Dems aren't and half of them probably think, "I don't need to bother voting, nobody is going to seriously elect that asshole."

Ideologically, Hillary and Bernie are not far off from each other.

Hilarious.

As to where the Bernie supporters go I predict most of them do stay home, but that the Libertarians take a record number of otherwise Democrat votes this round. Social issues have been much bigger than economic ones over the past several years and on social issues the Libertarians and Democrats get along like gangbusters.

TPRJones wrote:

Ideologically, Hillary and Bernie are not far off from each other.

Hilarious.

Based on current platforms and plans.... maybe not personal ideologies.

As to where the Bernie supporters go I predict most of them do stay home, but that the Libertarians take a record number of otherwise Democrat votes this round.

Exactly.

Leisher wrote:

As to where the Bernie supporters go I predict most of them do stay home, but that the Libertarians take a record number of otherwise Democrat votes this round.

Exactly.

I suspect Hillary will lose fewer non-Hillary primary voters than Trump loses primary non-Trump voters. His on-line "voter outreach" really sucks.

"I have some concerns about his statements on single payer healthcare..."

"What are you some kind of goddamn CUCK? Jesus Christ just go ahead and campaign for Hillary you KIKE!"

Hah.

Malcolm wrote:Hah.

Seems legit.

WikiLeaks will publish more Clinton emails.

No, but seriously, how is she the Democratic nominee? How is she a better option than anyone else in the race?

I mean, I get bashing Trump, but if someone points to Hillary as a good alternative, I put them on the same level as Trump supporters.