The "Hang on, we're already in April on the year of a US Election!" Thread!

[InCreator]

I think people give way too much credit to their 'president'. Nobody ever notices the army of advisers and councilors and officials who make absolutely sure that every tiny 'decision' the president 'makes' is the best course of action. Instead they fixate on who's preacher is making a fool of himself, or who's campaign adverts are going over the top to determine the next president. But it doesn't matter. Politicians are all the same.

That's what I meant with "game for rich, white, bald men". President is a fool who is put infront of the people and has to deliver those deals and decisions made behind closed doors to the public. Clinton with her head full of myriad of human rights, law schooling and girl power-attitude doesn't really sound like a woman capable of doing this.

Please tell me you mean something other than what that looks like.

I do. She's an American. Not much else.
I don't see her sitting down with - let's say, Iran leaders or president of the Russia and really understand other part.
One thing is to lead a country, another thing is to lead one of the most hated nations in the world. Whole Islamic part of the world (Africa, Middle East) and Slavic part of the world (Russia, many of the former Soviet countries) and of course, Asia (Koreans, Chinese, whoever) hate USA. Could this woman be diplomat enough to easen those tensions?

Does she understand differences between cultures?
I doubt it.

And how much respect does she get from - let's say, an islamic leader? How do muslims think about women?
This though could generate a whole new thread.

I think that best leader are historians. People with wide knowledge of history and foreign culture. Law? Hell no.

Then again, what do we know? Bush, looking so simple-minded, innocent, and manipulable -- led half of the world into a war. But maybe pacifists don't really have a place in White House?

[Becky]

How do muslims think about women?

Muslims are not just found in the Middle East.  They are more than capable of listening to and electing female leaders.  Please look up the following women, who were in positions of political power in Muslim dominated or heavily Muslim countries:

Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Indira Gandhi
Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Begum Khaleda Zia
Aung San Suu Kyi
Sonia Gandhi
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Benazir Bhutto
Megawati Sukarnoputri
Chandrika Kumaratunga

However you may personally feel about their politics - women cannot be excluded from politics because "mushlimz won't listen lol" when that is blatantly false.

[Questionable]

I was hoping for it to come down to a heated race between Ron Paul and Kucinich... Unfortunately neither of them are going to have the support neccesary to make even a write in election a remote possibility. Election day is not the time for me to vote for what we need, it' s time for me to throw an extra grain of rice into the bucket that will most likely serve the American people better than the other largest bucket.

The American political system, in fact the American goverment, is flawed. We are essentially forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. We need a president, or representatives, with enough gumption to change our two party system. Hell, while we're at it lets reform the presidency. One term, 6 years, that's the way F. Roosevelt wanted it after his presidency, that's the way J. Carter wanted it. Until our political system changes voting for any party other than the two main parties is essentially nothing other than supporting a cause, which sucks. I love America, but God Damn American politics... I wish I was Swedish... =P

[Huw Dawson]

You're not getting anything about Iraq at the moment? That's pretty shoddy - admittedly there hasn't been any real event for the last few weeks, but we at least get special reports and the "10 Days to War" series...

I'd just say vote for a little guy anyway. Screw the system - one vote won't matter for the big parties, but it will matter for small candidates like Neder and such.

- Huw

[Emerald]

Clinton is a Woman who is only there because of the arrangement made when Bill was caught with his pants down. Again, I'm not sexist, but alot of Older people are, and again the shit would hit the fan IMO.

That's bullshit. America is about the only western country in the world that's never had a female president. Our current and previous president are female (and named Mary).

And how much respect does she get from - let's say, an islamic leader? How do muslims think about women?

Again. That's bullshit. Even Pakistan has had a female president -- which has about 150 million muslims.

[Questionable]

You're not getting anything about Iraq at the moment? That's pretty shoddy - admittedly there hasn't been any real event for the last few weeks, but we at least get special reports and the "10 Days to War" series...

Everyday more people get put into body bags, stacked onto piles, etc... The "Iraq War" is more than just a waste of money, it's a disgusting atrocity that continues to pool negativity in an area of the world that wasalready steeped in such.

I'd just say vote for a little guy anyway. Screw the system - one vote won't matter for the big parties, but it will matter for small candidates like Neder and such.

The Clinton family is just as corrupt as the Bush family. I have no doubt that with her we would no longer be in a recession (at least to as heinous of a degree) but the economy was real good under Harding as well... anybody remember him? If not, look him up.

McCain used to be an individual but he's been wrung out and used against his will so many tims that now he just does what he's told. Either he's smarter than the rest of them and is hiding his true intentions or he's another puppet.

Obama is relatively clean and he's got some good plans but he's a lobbiest bitch just like the rest of them, so it's just a matter of what changes.

If Hil-Rod gets the nomination, I'm voting Ron Paul. If Obama get's the nomination, Instead of risking McCains league of justice be the same as the current one, I'll ante up to the popular pot. If 30% of the people that voted for any party OTHER than the main two  would have voted for Gore or Kerry (though Gore is a economic lightweight and Kerry would have been a bland puppet) we wouldn't have had to suffer through the worst dollar rate in years, the lowest poverty percentage in decades. We're in the worst economic slump since the great depression. I'm sorry, I just can't risk it. 364 days out of the year I will march, campaign and support reforming our electoral/political system. But until it changes, when this country as a whole DOES have something to lose, I can't see myself letting it go to chance. Maybe i'll have a change of heart and support the little guy, but I think the better solution than supporting the little guy is by trying to make him NOT so little. Until he can hang with the big boys, in this election I can't warrant a nything other than a major party.


Emerald,
Unfortunately the majority of Americans are sexist and racist. For some reason most of us think that a woman nor a non-caucasian can perform as well as as a white male. To be honest it's retarded. America needs to grow up , eh?

[Ultra Magnus]

Meh.
Democracy is nothing more than a popularity contest these days.

It's not about who's best for the job, it's about whose name is accompanied by the best campaign slogan, photo opportunities and use of carefully chosen and over-repeated buzzwords and stock phrases.

"Hey, Obama goes bowling! That must mean he's the most capable of running the country!"

"And what makes you sufficient at negotiating with the IRA?"
"Well, leading up to the election, I made a series of short videos showing my family hanging around the house acting normal for the cameras, and I put them up on the web."

Whoop-de-bastarding-doo.

I mean, sure there are some people who do the research and vote for the candidate that supports their views, but they're swamped by the masses of plebians that vote for someone purely because they like his smile.

If I were registered to vote, I'd send these clowns a message by staying home on election day and dressing up like a clown.

[Nacho]

It's funny that you mention Indira Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto as an example of female leaders respected by their population ^_^.

[Becky]

Actually, they were just examples of female leaders in countries with substantial Muslim populations.  Whether you agree with what they did once they were in power or not, many of them successfully engaged with populist politics to get elected, so the idea that Hilary Clinton is a bad candidate for the US elections by virtue of her being a woman and therefore Muslims will not listen is a bit...hamfisted...and just covers up the posters own sexism.

[ildu]

Whether you agree with what they did once they were in power or not, many of them successfully engaged with populist politics to get elected, so the idea that Hilary Clinton is a bad candidate for the US elections by virtue of her being a woman and therefore Muslims will not listen is a bit...hamfisted...

Being from a country that is largely run by women and has a female president (on her second term), I completely agree with Becky. It's quite ignorant to assume things through narrow stereotypes. Though, personally I'm rooting for Obama .

and just covers up the posters own sexism.

No doubt.

[Andail]

In my heart I root for Obama, but I'm not sure that would help much. There is such a financial mess in USA now that it would be good if the Republicans could remain in the white house just to clean up their own mess.

In Sweden it's quite traditional that the right-wings take power once per two decades; they lift a lot of taxes and drain the finances to become popular for a few years. When there is no more money, the "left"-wings take back power and have to spend several years to restore the economy.

I dunno...I for one wouldn't want to take over the presidency of the States at this point.

[ildu]

There is such a financial mess in USA now that it would be good if the Republicans could remain in the white house just to clean up their own mess.

The problem though is that the two cabinets are different kinds of Republicans. Bush's cabinet and allegiance belongs to the neo-cons, whereas McCain represents the traditional part of the party. There's been speculation that McCain would take Condoleezza Rice as his running mate, but like many have said, that would make no sense at all since they come from two different ideologies. The basis for that argument was the chance of getting a black female to balance out Obamania.

In Sweden it's quite traditional that the right-wings take power once per two decades; they lift a lot of taxes and drain the finances to become popular for a few years. When there is no more money, the "left"-wings take back power and have to spend several years to restore the economy.

Democrats are the ones attributed to high taxes in the US. It may not be true, but it's the Republicans that are largely seen as the less-elitist, more grounded and closer to the people. This is where the two Republican ideologies vastly differ. Neo-cons are against high taxes, they favor the rich, widen the income and class gap, support large government and are conservative in one definition of the word. Traditional Republicans are the people of Reagan. They support free trade, small government, state autonomy, traditional values and are conservative in another definition.

Think of them like this: traditional republicans are your grandparents who are always a little weary of the changes going on in the world and would prefer to go back to the old days, whereas neo-cons are your evil uncle who likes to molest you when no one's looking.

One line of progress here can be seen with Gitmo for example. It's widely estimated that whoever of the three candidates wins, Guantanamo Bay will be closed down within the next 2-3 years. All three candidates have come heavily against the jail and torture in general. If Romney had won the nomination, the future would be a lot darker and riskier.

[Radiant]

Does it strike anyone as ironic that before the elections, the major parties spend almost a full year campaigning, putting up their best face for the populace, and making a complete media circus out of everything?

This means, apparently, that 20% to 25% of the time, this takes precedence to actually running the country.

[Emerald]

"And what makes you sufficient at negotiating with the IRA?"
"Well, leading up to the election, I made a series of short videos showing my family hanging around the house acting normal for the cameras, and I put them up on the web."

What does a disbanded Irish paramilitary organisation have to do with American politics?

Unless you're talking about negotiating with the International Reading Association...

[Ultra Magnus]

What does a disbanded Irish paramilitary organisation have to do with American politics?

Unless you're talking about negotiating with the International Reading Association...

A) About as much as David Cameron. 'Twas merely an example.
B) I was under the impression that there were several IRAs, and that most of the sub-factions were still around.
C) Ira Gershwin, actually. 8)