Kevin, it's that time again, my old sparring partner.

I'm curious as to your views on Trump, his possible electability, and whether you'd prefer Clinton?

Kevin is not here anymore.

He's not a Trump fan though, if that's what you were looking for.

So, I forwarded your post to Kevin. This was his response. I guess that makes me some kind of go between.

"Hello Andrew, hope all is well.

Not happy with any of the candidates. I am a libertarian conservative, social liberal, economic conservative.

Trump is poorly qualified, seems largely ignorant of things like world affairs and the Constitution.
He's also dangerously egoistic., almost in a way that makes him fragile.

Clinton is not only corrupt, but heads one of the most corrupt political machines we've seen in the modern political era.

Johnson is not even really libertarian. He's liberal Republican. Seems like a nice guy. But his plan to reduce the already gutted military by 45% is foolishly dangerous.

Stein should be limited to seminars in Bohemian coffee shops.

So my pick?

Honestly don't know. Tempted to sit it out. If not for the selection of judges, I would choose Clinton, despite her dishonesty and corruption. Her time as Secretary of State was a disaster. But presumably she learned much, Trump has learned nothing. I'll probably go with Trump and hope he somehow is not the disaster he seems likely to be.

I'll read your response, but I am no longer a member, so I won't reply back, or it would drive poor Pia crazy!

Oh, I guess I did not answer regarding electability. I can't see Trump winning, but there will be October surprises. If the stock market crashed(or some other financial crisis), Trump would win...that was how Obama won.  I suppose a really bad terrorist attack at home might change it.

If Trump really wants to win, he needs to swing part of the minority vote. That seems unlikely, but celebrity can be very powerful if used right. If I was Trump I would spend a weekend with a family in the projects in Chicago or Detroit and come out Monday morning saying he's learned alot and wants to help. It might swing just enough votes."

For me personally, you both write too fucking long responses!

Okay, now I'm thinking about voting for Kevin

Trump all the way!!!!

Peeps have been saying he has no chance for well over a year, and each time, he comes up the winner.

Don't be shocked when that happens again in November.

Regardless - he is a moron

I like Trump... I don't think he is a moron. He couldn't have made all that cash being a moron. I do think the media have a tendency to portray him as one. It's quite easy to edit somebody to make them look however you want. One thing I do like about Trump is his honesty and that he genuinely seems to want to end corruption.

Particularly the Clinton type of corruption. Bill and Hilary are an inconvenient lying pair of bastards.

Oh boy -- I do not see this thread ending well.

Pia, why are you feeding this??  I am traveling right now, so YOU are in charge of keeping an eye on things, missy!

No name calling.  No personal attacks.  You guys know the rules.  Get ugly and I might just slap a ban on you for a few days when I get home.  Fair warning.

Can't believe I am leaving this up...

Quoted from bert Oh boy -- I do not see this thread ending well. Can't believe I'm leaving this up...

  
Always reminds me of the homosexuality thread. That one didn't do well...
Speaking of which, Gay Marriage is going to a plebiscite (referendum please) Feb here in Oz. Campaigns will cost millions. They darn well should just put it through Parliament. NZ, Ireland! We look like hicks from a backwater here in Oz. No comments needed, carry on - or Bert will have conniptions.

I have no opinion on the US race other than Trump scares me with his bigotry etc. Building any kind of wall only leads to trouble if you ask me. Walls coming down literally and metaphorically is what we need.

So, better the devil you know.

Quoted from bert Pia, why are you feeding this??  I am traveling right now, so YOU are in charge of keeping an eye on things, missy!

You know I don't care for political or religious threads or other subjects that all they do is cause heated debates that never ends well, but in this case, a friend and occasional writing partner was called by name specifically. If not, I would've let this thread drop down the portal and disappear.

Don't worry. I'll handle it. If not, I'll give Don a tearful call in the middle of the night begging for help. So, you just enjoy your time in some exotic locale. Don't worry about me...  

Where's that Guinness?  

I think we can keep it civil and if you don't agree go fu-- (kidding).

Donald's billions don't make him any more smart than having a script sold and produced makes someone a good writer. Crappy scripts are sold. What it does is make him is successful. Not smart.

Hillary is smart and knowledgeable  (IMO) but I would never argue that she is trustworthy and she may be the worst campaigner in history.

I agree that Donald's appeal does have it's roots in his no b.s. speaking style and American's are hungry for frankness and tired of political speak. So, yeah I trust what he says I just hate what he says.

Long winded way of saying that there is not an outstanding choice here. I've made mine (Hillary) but will hold my nose when I pull the lever.

I, for one, am eagerly awaiting the shitstorm (both in the election and this thread.)

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Ghost -

I love that post!  Did you personally sit down and "draw" it?  Beautifully done - and not being sarcastic at all there. )

Okay, since we're leaving this thread up as long as civility reigns...

While Kev and I don't agree politically on a lot of things, I think he's got a *pretty* good assessment of none of the candidates being a great choice.

Clinton: Horribly corrupt, and not at all dedicated to a true progressive platform.  Her only real concern is cementing her "legacy" as the first woman President, and getting votes.  Don't forget - she supported DOMA.  No rational person who cares about people (which is kind of a prerequisite for governing), would have done so.  And the email server issue - a serious breach.  (Ben Ghazi - OTOH - was a witch hunt, IMO.) If Clinton's elected, things will just drag on as they have been.  Economic structural woes that won't be addressed. But her donors will be happy.

Trump: An absolute disaster.  Clearly, a narcissist sociopath - who very well may have Alzheimers (his father died of that inheritable disease.)  A man who's being currently sued for underaged rape (and there's a witness), who has a track record for not paying the contractors he works with, is monstrously misogynist, thin-skinned, has no political knowledge or capacity for diplomacy. Who is on record of having been prescribed a version of Speed in the past, and probably is still on it.  And who is a very, very lousy businessman.  Speaking as someone who worked in Finance for over a decade with HNW (that's High Net Worth) clientele - i.e.: $5M, $50M and up), I can tell you - there's something very, very incompetent about a person who inherits over a million dollars, and his job from Daddy - files four bankruptcies - and doesn't even do better than investing passively in the S&P500.  The man's completely incompetent.  And that's even *if* he's worth what he claims.  And he's likely to start a nuclear war as President.  If he wins, I'm heading to Canada full speed.

Johnson - A nice guy.  But Kev's right, only limited Libertarian.  Plus, Libertarianism in general would be a disaster in fixing what's wrong with the US today.  And that's coming from someone who used to be staunchly Libertarian.  An unregulated free market, with a Night Watchman state would be a disaster, and just make the growing oligarchy worse.

Stein - Okay, she's certainly doesn't have the political experience.  But at least she's honest (Trump and HRC aren't at all); and at least she has a clue re: desperately needed changes in the US.  No, I don't agree with her 100% - but given the other choices, she's about the best we've got.  Will she win?  Of course not - but voting third party is better than throwing one's vote away on the lesser of two utter evils.

Problem is - speaking as someone in the "trenches" right now, there are purely 50/50 odds that this could go Trump or HRC.  There are enough people disgusted with HRC's corruption that they're swinging toward voting for a ballistic madman instead.  Many of whom would've voted for Bernie, if given that opportunity.  Sanders polled far better against Trump than Hill did. (Not on an ideological level - Sanders and Trump have nothing in common. But Sanders took away Trump's "sick of the establishment and politicians in general" vote.)  

The prospect that Trump could win now is horrifying.  I now know how Hitler gained power - pandering to desperate people who wanted a "strong man" who promised to fix everything... while pointing to minority scapegoats.

Sigh.  The US could be on its last legs.  I'm not kidding.

Done.  My 15 cents.  

I'll keep it simple...

Trump will make America great again.