[US Election 2016] Republican Primary Megathread

[Trumpostan]

211,000 new jobs.
Unemployment is steady at 5%
Participation rate is up .1%
Wages are up 2.3% over last year.
October's jobs numbers were revised up to 298,000.


Nothing for them to bitch about. Going to be tougher for them to claim the economy is really terrible and only a Republican knows how to run things.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... n-november

Ah. I think the most effective argument is also the simplest.

"President Obama has presided over agonizingly slow growth. Republicans prioritize growth and prosperity over nebulous ideas of fairness."

The most effective counter argument to that would be:

"Under the last republican president, W, the economy crashed because republicans prioritize handouts to the rich and deregulation of Wall Street over helping the public at large".

which can be turned into the soundbyte:
"Want a repeat of the 2008 economic crash? Vote republican!"

[Khadgar]

Its quite amazing how so many republicans think the economy is in a terrible state, even though almost every indicator is significantly better than when W left the White House. It is as if the W years never happened, according to these right wingers. I think that the systematic false reporting from Fox 'News' contributes to this. Not that other channels never do false reporting, but Fox seems to do it systematically.

When talking to friends or colleagues that are right wingers, sometimes I have the idea that they live in some kind of alternate reality where facts can be replaced with wishful thinking.

Benghazi? Send Hillary to jail!
13 embassy attacks during the W/Cheney years? Not worth mentioning.

Hillary's e-mails/private server? Send Hillary to jail.
Rice using private e-mail servers and Rove/RNC deleting millions of e-mails late 2006/early 2007? Not worth mentioning.

5% unemployment under Obama? Worst economy ever?
8% unemployment under W? Not his fault!

Spying/mass surveillance under W? Patriotic!
Spying/mass surveillance under Obama? Treason!

Not that there weren't some on the left who had BDS (Bush derangement syndrome) when W was in the White House, but since Obama is in the White House the republican party has collectively decided to leave reality behind. With the Dems under W it was a handful of extremists who opposed all what W did, with the GOP under Obama they oppose nearly everything, vitriolically.

A house divided against it self cannot stand... said one man a long time ago. How long will the US house last this time around? Who will keep it together this time?

And many, many, maaaaany people gave up searching for a job.

68 months in a row of private-sector job growth, what the fuck are they waiting on?

[Eol Sha]

And many, many, maaaaany people gave up searching for a job.

68 months in a row of private-sector job growth, what the fuck are they waiting on?

Not all economic growth is equal. Some of the results of that growth include jobs moving out of certain places and to others. A lot of the growth has been comprised of low-wage jobs, as well. Still other jobs require knowledge, skills, and a degree that aren't easily accessible. Especially for those who lost their factory jobs.

[Geilinor]

And many, many, maaaaany people gave up searching for a job.

http://www.factcheck.org/2015/03/declining-labor-participation-rates/
Nope. Labor-force participation is down because Baby Boomers are retiring and there aren't enough people replacing them.

[Northern Davincia]

Ah. I think the most effective argument is also the simplest.

"President Obama has presided over agonizingly slow growth. Republicans prioritize growth and prosperity over nebulous ideas of fairness."

The most effective counter argument to that would be:

"Under the last republican president, W, the economy crashed because republicans prioritize handouts to the rich and deregulation of Wall Street over helping the public at large".

which can be turned into the soundbyte:
"Want a repeat of the 2008 economic crash? Vote republican!"

You insist that Dubya caused the 2008 recession, even though time and time again, it is known that irresponsibility of the banks played the biggest role towards inflating the housing bubble, not to mention faulty consumer practices. The notion of 'handouts for the rich' are absurd at best, and a total conspiracy at worst.

[Geilinor]

The most effective counter argument to that would be:

"Under the last republican president, W, the economy crashed because republicans prioritize handouts to the rich and deregulation of Wall Street over helping the public at large".

which can be turned into the soundbyte:
"Want a repeat of the 2008 economic crash? Vote republican!"

You insist that Dubya caused the 2008 recession, even though time and time again, it is known that irresponsibility of the banks played the biggest role towards inflating the housing bubble, not to mention faulty consumer practices. The notion of 'handouts for the rich' are absurd at best, and a total conspiracy at worst.

In other words, he helped cause it. Bush could have regulated and he could have funded the roads and schools we needed. That way we wouldn't have been in such a mess. The "handouts to the rich", just so you know, are the Bush Tax Cuts and subsidies to oil companies. When you're in charge, "We didn't do it" is no excuse.

[Khadgar]

You insist that Dubya caused the 2008 recession, even though time and time again, it is known that irresponsibility of the banks played the biggest role towards inflating the housing bubble, not to mention faulty consumer practices. The notion of 'handouts for the rich' are absurd at best, and a total conspiracy at worst.

In other words, he helped cause it. Bush could have regulated and he could have funded the roads and schools we needed. That way we wouldn't have been in such a mess. The "handouts to the rich", just so you know, are the Bush Tax Cuts and subsidies to oil companies. When you're in charge, "We didn't do it" is no excuse.

Every time a Republican is president their economic woes are the fault of the most recent Democrat. Every time a Republican is president and the economy is doing well it's totally their doing. You know, hypothetically because that hasn't happened in most people's lifetimes.

[Northern Davincia]

You insist that Dubya caused the 2008 recession, even though time and time again, it is known that irresponsibility of the banks played the biggest role towards inflating the housing bubble, not to mention faulty consumer practices. The notion of 'handouts for the rich' are absurd at best, and a total conspiracy at worst.

In other words, he helped cause it. Bush could have regulated and he could have funded the roads and schools we needed. That way we wouldn't have been in such a mess. The "handouts to the rich", just so you know, are the Bush Tax Cuts and subsidies to oil companies.

Those tax cuts were applied to all Americans, not just "the rich". It's funny how that fact is conveniently forgotten. Although the roads and education should be handled by the states, Bush did support the No Child Left Behind Act and put more funding into schools; this was carried out by Democrats as much as Republicans.

[Geilinor]

In other words, he helped cause it. Bush could have regulated and he could have funded the roads and schools we needed. That way we wouldn't have been in such a mess. The "handouts to the rich", just so you know, are the Bush Tax Cuts and subsidies to oil companies.

Those tax cuts were applied to all Americans, not just "the rich". It's funny how that fact is conveniently forgotten. Although the roads and education should be handled by the states, Bush did support the No Child Left Behind Act and put more funding into schools; this was carried out by Democrats as much as Republicans.

No Child Left Behind was a trainwreck and almost everyone has abandoned it - the reason I mention this is because America was falling behind on more than one level.

[Khadgar]

In other words, he helped cause it. Bush could have regulated and he could have funded the roads and schools we needed. That way we wouldn't have been in such a mess. The "handouts to the rich", just so you know, are the Bush Tax Cuts and subsidies to oil companies.

Those tax cuts were applied to all Americans, not just "the rich". It's funny how that fact is conveniently forgotten. Although the roads and education should be handled by the states, Bush did support the No Child Left Behind Act and put more funding into schools; this was carried out by Democrats as much as Republicans.

The top 1% got 40x the benefit from Bush's tax cuts than middle income earners.

[Eol Sha]

Those tax cuts were applied to all Americans, not just "the rich". It's funny how that fact is conveniently forgotten. Although the roads and education should be handled by the states, Bush did support the No Child Left Behind Act and put more funding into schools; this was carried out by Democrats as much as Republicans.

No Child Left Behind was a trainwreck and almost everyone has abandoned it - the reason I mention this is because America was falling behind on more than one level.

The House recently passed a bill designed to replace NCNB. The White House is urging the Senate to do the same.

[Northern Davincia]

Those tax cuts were applied to all Americans, not just "the rich". It's funny how that fact is conveniently forgotten. Although the roads and education should be handled by the states, Bush did support the No Child Left Behind Act and put more funding into schools; this was carried out by Democrats as much as Republicans.

No Child Left Behind was a trainwreck and almost everyone has abandoned it - the reason I mention this is because America was falling behind on more than one level.

It was a trainwreck, but it was a bipartisan trainwreck. Besides, Hillary voted for it during her tenure as a senator from New York.

[Trumpostan]

No Child Left Behind was a trainwreck and almost everyone has abandoned it - the reason I mention this is because America was falling behind on more than one level.

It was a trainwreck, but it was a bipartisan trainwreck. Besides, Hillary voted for it during her tenure as a senator from New York.

That was also informally known as the Bush-Kennedy bill. "No child left behind" was supposed to "give children a head start" (thank you George Carlin for pointing that anomaly out at the time).

[Geilinor]

No Child Left Behind was a trainwreck and almost everyone has abandoned it - the reason I mention this is because America was falling behind on more than one level.

It was a trainwreck, but it was a bipartisan trainwreck. Besides, Hillary voted for it during her tenure as a senator from New York.

I know it was bipartisan, but most attempts, including yours, to defend the Bush presidency, fall flat.

[The Princes of the Universe]

It was a trainwreck, but it was a bipartisan trainwreck. Besides, Hillary voted for it during her tenure as a senator from New York.

I know it was bipartisan, but most attempts, including yours, to defend the Bush presidency, fall flat.

It just proves they both suck for far too many of the same reasons.

[Northern Davincia]

It was a trainwreck, but it was a bipartisan trainwreck. Besides, Hillary voted for it during her tenure as a senator from New York.

I know it was bipartisan, but most attempts, including yours, to defend the Bush presidency, fall flat.

I can hardly stomach defending the Shrub Jr. presidency. That being said, the 11th Commandment is not lost on me.
Tis important for me to defend the few aspects of his administration that were actually conservative.

[The Black Forrest]

Its quite amazing how so many republicans think the economy is in a terrible state, even though almost every indicator is significantly better than when W left the White House. It is as if the W years never happened, according to these right wingers. I think that the systematic false reporting from Fox 'News' contributes to this. Not that other channels never do false reporting, but Fox seems to do it systematically.

When talking to friends or colleagues that are right wingers, sometimes I have the idea that they live in some kind of alternate reality where facts can be replaced with wishful thinking.

Benghazi? Send Hillary to jail!
13 embassy attacks during the W/Cheney years? Not worth mentioning.

Hillary's e-mails/private server? Send Hillary to jail.
Rice using private e-mail servers and Rove/RNC deleting millions of e-mails late 2006/early 2007? Not worth mentioning.

5% unemployment under Obama? Worst economy ever?
8% unemployment under W? Not his fault!

Spying/mass surveillance under W? Patriotic!
Spying/mass surveillance under Obama? Treason!

Not that there weren't some on the left who had BDS (Bush derangement syndrome) when W was in the White House, but since Obama is in the White House the republican party has collectively decided to leave reality behind. With the Dems under W it was a handful of extremists who opposed all what W did, with the GOP under Obama they oppose nearly everything, vitriolically.

A house divided against it self cannot stand... said one man a long time ago. How long will the US house last this time around? Who will keep it together this time?

And many, many, maaaaany people gave up searching for a job.

Don't forget the underemployed.

The worst part of our "meritocracy" is that taking a substandard job will hurt you more then being out of work......

[Kelinfort]

Its quite amazing how so many republicans think the economy is in a terrible state, even though almost every indicator is significantly better than when W left the White House. It is as if the W years never happened, according to these right wingers. I think that the systematic false reporting from Fox 'News' contributes to this. Not that other channels never do false reporting, but Fox seems to do it systematically.

When talking to friends or colleagues that are right wingers, sometimes I have the idea that they live in some kind of alternate reality where facts can be replaced with wishful thinking.

Benghazi? Send Hillary to jail!
13 embassy attacks during the W/Cheney years? Not worth mentioning.

Hillary's e-mails/private server? Send Hillary to jail.
Rice using private e-mail servers and Rove/RNC deleting millions of e-mails late 2006/early 2007? Not worth mentioning.

5% unemployment under Obama? Worst economy ever?
8% unemployment under W? Not his fault!

Spying/mass surveillance under W? Patriotic!
Spying/mass surveillance under Obama? Treason!

Not that there weren't some on the left who had BDS (Bush derangement syndrome) when W was in the White House, but since Obama is in the White House the republican party has collectively decided to leave reality behind. With the Dems under W it was a handful of extremists who opposed all what W did, with the GOP under Obama they oppose nearly everything, vitriolically.

A house divided against it self cannot stand... said one man a long time ago. How long will the US house last this time around? Who will keep it together this time?

And many, many, maaaaany people gave up searching for a job.

Again, how do people just stop looking for work for over three years? Yeah, some go on SSI disability, but c'mon, it's not like 10 million workers just said, "Fuck it, I'm sitting at home from now on."

[Geilinor]

Again, how do people just stop looking for work for over three years? Yeah, some go on SSI disability, but c'mon, it's not like 10 million workers just said, "Fuck it, I'm sitting at home from now on."

They did. I posted a source that said many of them retired and oddly, female workforce participation is down. http://www.factcheck.org/2015/03/declining-labor-participation-rates/

[Kelinfort]

Again, how do people just stop looking for work for over three years? Yeah, some go on SSI disability, but c'mon, it's not like 10 million workers just said, "Fuck it, I'm sitting at home from now on."

They did. I posted a source that said many of them retired and oddly, female workforce participation is down. http://www.factcheck.org/2015/03/declining-labor-participation-rates/

Retirement, even early retirement /=/ "quitting." Neither does going into education.

Look, my point is we don't have a ton of lazy, discouraged people lying at home because there are no jobs.

[Geilinor]

They did. I posted a source that said many of them retired and oddly, female workforce participation is down. http://www.factcheck.org/2015/03/declining-labor-participation-rates/

Look, my point is we don't have a ton of lazy, discouraged people lying at home because there are no jobs.

I know, I was supplying the evidence to your point.

[Kelinfort]

Look, my point is we don't have a ton of lazy, discouraged people lying at home because there are no jobs.

I know, I was supplying the evidence to your point.

Oh, ok, sorry. Must've misunderstood you.

[Arlenton]

Carson doesn't know the difference between Hamas and hummus. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/ben-carson-hamas-gaffe-216399

Both of them cause widespread destruction and despair.

Underrated post.

[Shan Yue]

Those tax cuts were applied to all Americans, not just "the rich". It's funny how that fact is conveniently forgotten. Although the roads and education should be handled by the states, Bush did support the No Child Left Behind Act and put more funding into schools; this was carried out by Democrats as much as Republicans.

The top 1% got 40x the benefit from Bush's tax cuts than middle income earners.

They shoulder about half the income tax burden, so that makes sense.

[Hakons]

68 months in a row of private-sector job growth, what the fuck are they waiting on?

Not all economic growth is equal. Some of the results of that growth include jobs moving out of certain places and to others. A lot of the growth has been comprised of low-wage jobs, as well. Still other jobs require knowledge, skills, and a degree that aren't easily accessible. Especially for those who lost their factory jobs.

So rase the minimum wage for large companies and reduce the cost of a university education.