Democratic Party Presidential Candidates for 2020

[Kara Spengler]

I find this point of view, and how well-received it is, troubling on many levels.

If you honestly believe that the United States is losing this "undeclared war", I shudder to think of what it will take for you to feel we are winning it. It's a freakin' election. For God's sake, get a grip on reality. The United States once had the power to put a man on the moon. Now it's citizen's have been reduced to chicken-assed cowards who can't imagine they have the ability to cast a vote and have it counted. It's not Russia that's taking your mind away from you.

All you have to do is put your will on a piece of paper and have it tallied by honest neighbors in your community. Then you gather the tallies and count 1-2-3. It's time- consuming, but it's not complicated. Unless Russia is dropping bombs on your polling place, your anxiety is coming from sources in this country that do not want you to have a voice, are making it as complicated as possible for you to think clearly, making you believe that there are spooks around every corner, and are going to unbelievable lengths to steal your Constitutional Rights and freedom out from under your nose.

Please, can we at least consider that the solution to our problems may be as simple as a good house cleaning and a pen and paper before we spin the roulette wheel and set the world on fire? Maybe some of you have a bunker. I don't, and I'd prefer to not to have my ass fried because Hillary Clinton didn't win an election.

If Trump/Russia is such a threat, why would any sane US Congressperson vote to hand Putin more military money and power than he even asked for?

Our problems with Russia are ABSOLUTELY not beyond diplomacy, adulthood, and our own ability to use our knowledge and resources to build a prosperous and peaceful society with our own hands.

Were you paying attention to what happened in the last election? We. Were. Attacked. Not by bombs but by 21st century means of doing the same thing. Then our elected 'representatives' thought it was a good idea.

There is already a systemic problem with US elections that makes some votes count more than others. Now we have to contend with foreign attacks on our system, our own politicos supporting the same, and no trust at all that our systems tally the votes correctly? No wonder so many people do not take the time off (which is rarely compensated) to go vote!

 

[Eunoli]

Were you paying attention to what happened in the last election? We. Were. Attacked. Not by bombs but by 21st century means of doing the same thing. Then our elected 'representatives' thought it was a good idea.

We weren't just attacked. We are currently under attack. Our next election is in jeopardy from the Russians and others and the man who could protect it (Moscow Mitch) is refusing to do so. This isn't speculation. The National Security apparatus keeps trying to warn about it.

Its not just a transnational world, unless the idea here is to effectively make Putin our leader by proxy from here on. No. You don't do business with the other side during a war. This is a war- just not a conventional one and not one that we officially recognize - you can bet they do.

 

[Aeon Jiminy]

Were you paying attention to what happened in the last election? We. Were. Attacked. Not by bombs but by 21st century means of doing the same thing. Then our elected 'representatives' thought it was a good idea.

There is already a systemic problem with US elections that makes some votes count more than others. Now we have to contend with foreign attacks on our system, our own politicos supporting the same, and no trust at all that our systems tally the votes correctly? No wonder so many people do not take the time off (which is rarely compensated) to go vote!

Was I paying attention the last election? Yes. It looked like a mess to me. I'll even grant that the primary was "attacked" in many ways, but I just don't see concrete evidence that all of these "attacks" were originated by Russia. The DNC email dump points to an "internal leak". We'll never know on this one because the servers we not publicly presented for examination. I refuse to accept the evidence that was paid for by the DNC. Was the attack on democracy the act of breaking open the secrets or was the attack the malfeasance in the secrets revealed? I tend to lean towards the latter.

The Podesta emails. Hack. Russia? Okay. Information damning.

DW Schultz resignation, Donna Brazile cheating scandal, HRC financially controlling DNC. This was an attack to undermine democracy that had nothing to do with Russia, unless we want to believe these actors are Russian agents.

I completely agree with you about the "systemic problem with US elections that makes some votes count more than others". It's certainly delivered us two nightmares in recent history.

I just can't see how dumping all of this blame on Russia and imprisoning Julian Assange is going to protect us. They would have no power if the raw information they revealed wasn't that we were crooks and liars. We've gleefully built a glass house world of information and have imprisoned everyone in it for profit. It's beyond our control and it's making us insane trying to control it.

Us little people have already had to adapt to a way of life that includes having every monetary transaction scrutinized, every move videotaped. We have to screen every scam call by "foreign actors" and process whether we are really in legal trouble or being lied to on a daily basis. We have to stay in our lane and drive the speed limit or be subject to the penalty of technology. We are up for the task.

If our ruling class has to live under this pressure... boo hoo. It was called "protection and freedom" when it was inflicted on us. My advice to the ruling class is don't give us a reason to question your actions. Don't break the law. Don't lie. Don't cheat. Smile for the cameras and feel protected. These attacks won't hurt anyone who hasn't done anything wrong. It will all be just fine.

 

[Eunoli]

So now this thread teaches us that in 2016, the Democrats were corrupt and broke laws - and the Republicans and Donald Trump were angels, and we should thank Wikileaks and Putin for helping us to choose correctly.

I'm out.

 

[Spirits Rising]

And I actually thought I'd seen the extent of Human stupidity and gulibility.... boy was I wrong...

 

[Aeon Jiminy]

So now this thread teaches us that in 2016, the Democrats were corrupt and broke laws - and the Republicans and Donald Trump were angels, and we should thank Wikileaks and Putin for helping us to choose correctly.

I'm out.

Are we now pretending that Tulsi Gabbard didn't resign as Vice Chair in protest of rigging, Debbie Wasserman Schultz didn't leave in disgrace of the undenied authenticity of the exposed emails, Donna Brazile wasn't fired from CNN for feeding HRC debate questions in advance, that Brazile didn't write a book explicitly outlining how HRC (a candidate) was funding the DNC, funneling money upward, and controlling operations of the institution that was supposed to be unbiased, and Elizabeth Warren specifically stating she believed that the 2016 Primary was rigged?

I didn't get the memo that we have successfully erased reality. I must inform The Washington Post and the BBC. We should also inform the UN that election rigging is no longer considered an attack on democracy. It's merely a freckle next to the big hairy moles of Facebook memes... the true killer of democracy. Yes, it's now embarrassingly clear how gullible I am.

 

[Cristalle]

So Deval Patrick is jumping into the race, too, reportedly. He's missed the deadline for Alabama and Arkansas, leaving off two states for Super Tuesday.

Yeah, this is going to go well. /sarcasm

 

[Arilynn]

This thread is, in places, a steaming pile of WTF. I don’t understand the attitude and motives behind some of the posts. Distraction/disruption? Personal point scoring through unending condescension?

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

I find this point of view, and how well-received it is, troubling on many levels.

If you honestly believe that the United States is losing this "undeclared war", I shudder to think of what it will take for you to feel we are winning it. It's a freakin' election. For God's sake, get a grip on reality. The United States once had the power to put a man on the moon. Now it's citizen's have been reduced to chicken-assed cowards who can't imagine they have the ability to cast a vote and have it counted. It's not Russia that's taking your mind away from you.

All you have to do is put your will on a piece of paper and have it tallied by honest neighbors in your community. Then you gather the tallies and count 1-2-3. It's time- consuming, but it's not complicated. Unless Russia is dropping bombs on your polling place, your anxiety is coming from sources in this country that do not want you to have a voice, are making it as complicated as possible for you to think clearly, making you believe that there are spooks around every corner, and are going to unbelievable lengths to steal your Constitutional Rights and freedom out from under your nose.

Please, can we at least consider that the solution to our problems may be as simple as a good house cleaning and a pen and paper before we spin the roulette wheel and set the world on fire? Maybe some of you have a bunker. I don't, and I'd prefer to not to have my ass fried because Hillary Clinton didn't win an election.

If Trump/Russia is such a threat, why would any sane US Congressperson vote to hand Putin more military money and power than he even asked for?

Our problems with Russia are ABSOLUTELY not beyond diplomacy, adulthood, and our own ability to use our knowledge and resources to build a prosperous and peaceful society with our own hands.

Oh, you dear, sweet summer child.

 

[Salome]

This thread is, in places, a steaming pile of WTF. I don’t understand the attitude and motives behind some of the posts. Distraction/disruption? Personal point scoring through unending condescension?

The thread makes a lot more sense when you realize that some people don’t give a fuck about trying to move America in the right direction or actually achieving social justice — they just want to bitch about how wrong the people doing all the work are.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

So in your book false accusations don't matter since other people are doing it?

You are combining two things together which I have never said so. The topic was that before law one fundamental rule is innocent until proven guilty, which has its reasons.

This has changed, today it is enough in many cases that somebody is just being accused and of course depending on job/position it has first some consequences. But there are well known cases where a falsely accused offender lost during false accusations quite much, even though it later became clear that the accusations where just a lie and constructed. That does not matter any longer, it is enough that he was accused and is not able to get a meaningful job/whatever any longer, his life has been destroyed.

And this is the exact opposite on "innocent until proven guilty", this hysteria. For example Harvard did account asking for a date the second time after the first enquiry has been denied already as "sexual assault." So sexual assault counts in that report went ballistic; this is just purely hysteric.

A business study "The #metoo backlash" by Harvard also revealed that at least 25% of the males do not feel comfortable any longer having a face to face conversation with one female alone due to this interesting atmosphere, so they avoid it. Of course when working alone in HR this might pose a problem. Females do suffer since then other backlashes in their job as well.

In short: it created the atmosphere which got you the major asshole Brett Kavanaugh as judge. Have fun with it.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Our problems with Russia are ABSOLUTELY not beyond diplomacy, adulthood, and our own ability to use our knowledge and resources to build a prosperous and peaceful society with our own hands.

So you are not yet aware about the new missile gap on hypersonic speed? The new mid range missile development arms race?

Russia at the moment is strongly bonding together with China: China wants oil, Russia has it. Both are nuclear powers, and in combining their armed forces in training missions more and more. China is heavily investing into its army and marine to become the superior naval power in its region again, rivaling the US fleet. Russia still has very advanced nuclear submarines at its disposal which are hardly traceable, and also interesting weaponry like the supersonic speed shkval torpedo. China alone gives the US army already a major headache, China&Russia combined even more. And don't make the mistake to think that the Chinese are peaceful people; they are not, just ask their neighbors like Japan, South Korea, Mongolia or the people of Tibet. At the moment they are really aggressive trying to increase their influence in the sea surrounding China. And since China is in the UN security council and has veto right, the UNO never is able to address its disapproval on it.

Russia has little love left for the USA since the start of the sanctions; and vice versa. While an open confrontation is unlikely to happen due to the imbalance in power on the armies and geostrategical advantages of the USA, this does not mean that both countries are not using other means to have "some fun" with each other. Russian troll plants are quite well known, also their doings in the USA and which events they already initiated.

So by any means your conclusion is just purely delusional, your problems with Russia have left the state of being purely diplomatic a long time ago.

 

[Aeon Jiminy]

So you are not yet aware about the new missile gap on hypersonic speed? The new mid range missile development arms race?

Russia at the moment is strongly bonding together with China: China wants oil, Russia has it. Both are nuclear powers, and in combining their armed forces in training missions more and more. China is heavily investing into its army and marine to become the superior naval power in its region again, rivaling the US fleet. Russia still has very advanced nuclear submarines at its disposal which are hardly traceable, and also interesting weaponry like the supersonic speed shkval torpedo. China alone gives the US army already a major headache, China&Russia combined even more. And don't make the mistake to think that the Chinese are peaceful people; they are not, just ask their neighbors like Japan, South Korea, Mongolia or the people of Tibet. At the moment they are really aggressive trying to increase their influence in the sea surrounding China. And since China is in the UN security council and has veto right, the UNO never is able to address its disapproval on it.

Russia has little love left for the USA since the start of the sanctions; and vice versa. While an open confrontation is unlikely to happen due to the imbalance in power on the armies and geostrategical advantages of the USA, this does not mean that both countries are not using other means to have "some fun" with each other. Russian troll plants are quite well known, also their doings in the USA and which events they already initiated.

So by any means your conclusion is just purely delusional, your problems with Russia have left the state of being purely diplomatic a long time ago.

I know about the technology. I understand the positioning of Russia and China.

I disagree that anyone is having "some fun".

Most of all, I see how absurd I am wearing this "flower power" T-shirt in a room full of 1950's Republicans. I apologize. I'm in the wrong decade.

 

[Lady Darnk Juniorette]

Holy fuck, how can one person jump so many sharks?

Fonz, dat you?!

 

[Jolene Benoir]

The thread makes a lot more sense when you realize that some people don’t give a fuck about trying to move America in the right direction or actually achieving social justice — they just want to bitch about how wrong the people doing all the work are.

It was okay-ish early on when people were discussing the relative merits of each of the candidates. The usual posting of their locations on a graph, the questionnaires and listings of whom we favor. IIRC, mine were Castro, Harris, Warren, Gillebrand. There was some discussion about the chances of our favorites. There have been posts outlining assorted candidate positions. I can't remember the last time ANY posts discussing a candidate but Gabbard or Sanders wasn't completely dumped upon with questionable videos and links if anyone dare post something positive about them.

This thread became Gabbard, Sanders worship with all of the rest of the candidates being lying, cheating, just as bad as Republicans thread with interspersed hand-waving away of the greatest attack upon our democracy both by Russians and by Republicans, and toss in a whole lot of HRC hate and voila we have this shit salad.

The adults are exasperated and leaving the room.

 

[Salome]

In short: it created the atmosphere which got you the major asshole Brett Kavanaugh as judge. Have fun with it.

“When you wimminz complain too much about the constant harassment you endure in every phase of life and get too mouthy like you do, us menfolk have no choice but to put sexual predators into power just to keep you in your place.”

Makes as much sense as the rest of this thread.

 

[Salome]

The adults are exasperated and leaving the room.

On the plus side, it’s provided some insight towards who to ignore in future conversations.

 

[Free]

Most of all, I see how absurd I am wearing this "flower power" T-shirt in a room full of 1950's Republicans. I apologize. I'm in the wrong decade.

Gee, I thought we were ring in the nose liberals out to eat conservative underwear in this particular hive mind. Interesting how it changes based on the politics of the sting-ee.

 

[Free]

On the plus side, it’s provided some insight towards who to ignore in future conversations.

Is that a fat joke?

 

[Salome]

Is that a fat joke?

Look, I make my own trouble — I don’t need your charity.