[US Election 2016] Democratic Primary Megathread II

[Trumpostan]

Clinton has revived the public option.

Good on her.

Maybe this is what Sanders hoped to accomplish at the very least.

Cool. It needs to be on the table. This makes me less lukewarm about Hillary. A very decent thing to do that even Jesus would approve of

Sorry GOP fans.

[The United Territories of Providence]

President Obama is Closing Guantanamo Bay

2016, the year of fulfilling election promises. Now if only I could keep my doctor...

[Mike the Progressive]

*looks at poll results on the "Your feelings on race" thread*
*looks at this poll*

Ah, so much has been explained.

[Talvezout]

President Obama is Closing Guantanamo Bay

2016, the year of fulfilling election promises. Now if only I could keep my doctor...

So he's actually doing it?

Good.

[Conserative Morality]

*looks at poll results on the "Your feelings on race" thread*
*looks at this poll*

Ah, so much has been explained.

International forum with high percentage of Europeans has 10% more white people than US, shocker. You're really stretching, but I guess that's nothing new.

[Mike the Progressive]

*looks at poll results on the "Your feelings on race" thread*
*looks at this poll*

Ah, so much has been explained.

International forum with high percentage of Europeans has 10% more white people than US, shocker. You're really stretching, but I guess that's nothing new.

Heh. The truth Berns.

[Gauthier]

President Obama is Closing Guantanamo Bay

2016, the year of fulfilling election promises. Now if only I could keep my doctor...

So he's actually doing it?

Good.

The only reason he couldn't do it before is the Republicans in Congress cockblocking the funds to proceed with the closing, and whining Not In My Back Yard about transferring the remaining prisoners.

[Geilinor]

So he's actually doing it?

Good.

The only reason he couldn't do it before is the Republicans in Congress cockblocking the funds to proceed with the closing, and whining Not In My Back Yard about transferring the remaining prisoners.

Can't this time either. According to the article McConnell is having another fit over Obama trying too hard to fulfill his promises.

[Khadgar]

The only reason he couldn't do it before is the Republicans in Congress cockblocking the funds to proceed with the closing, and whining Not In My Back Yard about transferring the remaining prisoners.

Can't this time either. According to the article McConnell is having another fit over Obama trying too hard to fulfill his promises.

Politics, every now and then Obama has to remind people that yes the Republicans are doing everything they can to obstruct everything.

[Eol Sha]

Eh, is there a debate tonight I'm unaware of?

theres one on Thursday.
oops that's for republicans.

There's a forum/town hall tonight on CNN at eight.

[Nordenkaltian Union]

I hope Bernie Sanders wins the nomination, that means if Hillary is running I would probably vote for a third party instead. I'm not sure whether he'll get the nomination but I can say that it looks like he'll win New England by a landslide and if he at least comes close in all the other states it's possible. To do that he should adopt the same strategy Obama did by focusing on the caucus states. Anything is possible now that he's gaining ground almost everywhere, the question is whether it's enough and whether it's too late.

[Khadgar]

I hope Bernie Sanders wins the nomination, that means if Hillary is running I would probably vote for a third party instead. I'm not sure whether he'll get the nomination but I can say that it looks like he'll win New England by a landslide and if he at least comes close in all the other states it's possible. To do that he should adopt the same strategy Obama did by focusing on the caucus states. Anything is possible now that he's gaining ground almost everywhere, the question is whether it's enough and whether it's too late.

Hillary is following Obama's 08 path, if anything Bernie is following Hillary 08. Similar appeal to demographics and so far the polling looks similar in the states he's doing well in. Unless his fortunes change dramatically he's toast. The next dozen or so states that vote are all going Hillary at this point. That will build a Momentum narrative in the media, and everyone wants to be behind the winner.

Bernie's big problem is he's polling great with a demographic that can't be bothered to actually vote.

[Saiwania]

Can't this time either. According to the article McConnell is having another fit over Obama trying too hard to fulfill his promises.

Guantanamo must be kept open. I'm all in favor of the Republicans doing all they can to ensure that Obama isn't able to close the facility before he leaves office. With Donald Trump as president, I can see Guantanamo experiencing a true revival back to its glorious heyday. It is better that the ISIS members are kept there than to be allowed to run wild.

How many Al Qaeda and Taliban inmates have been let go only to get back onto the battlefield? Too many in my view.

[Geilinor]

Can't this time either. According to the article McConnell is having another fit over Obama trying too hard to fulfill his promises.

Guantanamo must be kept open. I'm all in favor of the Republicans doing all they can to ensure that Obama isn't able to close the facility before he leaves office. With Donald Trump as president, I can see Guantanamo experiencing a true revival back to its glorious heyday. It is better that the ISIS members are kept there than to be allowed to run wild.

How many Al Qaeda and Taliban inmates have been let go only to get back onto the battlefield? Too many in my view.

Keeping prisoners there forever is not a solution and I don't think any ISIS members are there. And you didn't say anything when Bush released people.

[Khadgar]

Can't this time either. According to the article McConnell is having another fit over Obama trying too hard to fulfill his promises.

Guantanamo must be kept open. I'm all in favor of the Republicans doing all they can to ensure that Obama isn't able to close the facility before he leaves office. With Donald Trump as president, I can see Guantanamo experiencing a true revival back to its glorious heyday. It is better that the ISIS members are kept there than to be allowed to run wild.

How many Al Qaeda and Taliban inmates have been let go only to get back onto the battlefield? Too many in my view.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe anyone in Gitmo has ever been convicted of any crime.

[Ashmoria]

Guantanamo must be kept open. I'm all in favor of the Republicans doing all they can to ensure that Obama isn't able to close the facility before he leaves office. With Donald Trump as president, I can see Guantanamo experiencing a true revival back to its glorious heyday. It is better that the ISIS members are kept there than to be allowed to run wild.

How many Al Qaeda and Taliban inmates have been let go only to get back onto the battlefield? Too many in my view.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe anyone in Gitmo has ever been convicted of any crime.

the president said that they haven't. which is so freaking wrong.

[USS Monitor]

President Obama is Closing Guantanamo Bay

2016, the year of fulfilling election promises. Now if only I could keep my doctor...

He should have done that a long time ago.

[Khadgar]

President Obama is Closing Guantanamo Bay

2016, the year of fulfilling election promises. Now if only I could keep my doctor...

He should have done that a long time ago.

He tried years ago. Didn't take.

[Tmutarakhan]

Can't this time either. According to the article McConnell is having another fit over Obama trying too hard to fulfill his promises.

Guantanamo must be kept open. I'm all in favor of the Republicans doing all they can to ensure that Obama isn't able to close the facility before he leaves office. With Donald Trump as president, I can see Guantanamo experiencing a true revival back to its glorious heyday. It is better that the ISIS members are kept there than to be allowed to run wild.

How many Al Qaeda and Taliban inmates have been let go only to get back onto the battlefield? Too many in my view.

Guantanamo represents an unconditional surrender in the war on terror. They hate our freedoms and rule of law? Fine, we'll give those up without a fight.

[Saiwania]

the president said that they haven't. which is so freaking wrong.

It is so right in my view. Why do we want to give anyone captured on the battlefield a trial anyways? In my grandfather's day, there would have been no quarter, which is how it should be for guerrillas and not formal militaries.

[Ngelmish]

A darned traitor. To heck with the Republicans who won't come out to vote because of this, that, or another reason about the nominee. The establishment types had their big chance in the 2012 election with Mitt Romney, and they blew it. If they won't do what it takes to try to get the GOP to win as much as possible, even with a candidate that isn't what they pinned their hopes on- they may as well be out of the party. The Democrats can afford to have people not turn out to vote but the Republicans can't right now. We need every Republican out there to be in lock step if it is going to stand any chance. If Democratic turnout is still at 2008 levels or more, there is no use trying.

I think Democrats and Republicans both need to get it through their heads that you aren't entitled to anyone's vote if you run a candidate that people don't like. Nobody is morally obligated to support you for the good of the party. Maybe some people will, but that's a personal choice. You have no right to demand it.

If old-timey Republicans don't like Trump, they don't have to vote for him. If Bernie fans don't like Hillary, we don't have to vote for her. Nobody is entitled to votes just because of which party's ticket they are on. They have to earn votes. If someone wants to stay home or vote for a different party or whatever, that's their right, and it's part of the democratic process.

Yes and no.

Everybody exercises their own choice when it comes to election and everybody is free to choose not to vote. No particular candidate or party is intrinsically "owed" votes.

But if you're a person, or a ship as may be, who cares about politics and policy, it is understandably hard to countenance walking away from the table because the best available substitute to what you want is, at best, still only a substitute. Particularly since the parties have hardened so much into diametric opposites on so many issues.

I had an uncle who refused to support Barry Goldwater even though he was a dedicated Repbulican. I know a lot of people who preferred voting for Nader instead of Gore. I backed Obama in 2008 and thankfully wasn't forced to contemplate voting for a distant second choice. In 2004 I didn't have a strong favorite for the nomination. This year I've flirted with the idea of not voting for Bernie were he to be the nominee, but I don't believe for a minute that I'd actually stick to that.

So you're right. No party or person is entitled to a vote. But when we know pretty much what we'd get from whoever wins, I'm not sure how we're supposed to be comfortable stepping away from the better available choice.

[Galloism]

the president said that they haven't. which is so freaking wrong.

It is so right in my view. Why do we want to give anyone captured on the battlefield a trial anyways? In my grandfather's day, there would have been no quarter, which is how it should be for guerrillas and not formal militaries.

Really? In your grandfather's day, what was done with prisoners of war?

[Vespalia]

the president said that they haven't. which is so freaking wrong.

It is so right in my view. Why do we want to give anyone captured on the battlefield a trial anyways? In my grandfather's day, there would have been no quarter, which is how it should be for guerrillas and not formal militaries.

It's a political move to prove we're not the barbarians we draft the boys on the street to fight against.
If humans weren't so good at pointing out hypocrisies that didn't do them any benefit there would be no need, but then again that's probably at the root of this forum existing at all.

[Genivaria]

the president said that they haven't. which is so freaking wrong.

It is so right in my view. Why do we want to give anyone captured on the battlefield a trial anyways? In my grandfather's day, there would have been no quarter, which is how it should be for guerrillas and not formal militaries.

To legitimize our actions perhaps?
And this bullshit rhetoric that we'll be exposing our soldiers to unnecessary danger by taking prisoners and giving them trials is complete horseshit.
We're already capturing prisoners with our soldiers taking all the routine precautions, the only difference is that we're sending them to be tortured and stripped of basic human rights.

Giving them public trials will delegitimize their own cause, and legitimize our own cause with no risk to ourselves.

[Khadgar]

It is so right in my view. Why do we want to give anyone captured on the battlefield a trial anyways? In my grandfather's day, there would have been no quarter, which is how it should be for guerrillas and not formal militaries.

Really? In your grandfather's day, what was done with prisoners of war?

His grandfather must have lived to be many hundreds of years old. Possibly over a thousand. No quarter hasn't been the standard in a very very long time. Good reason for that, forcing your enemies to fight to the last man is a casualty heavy proposition. Only a fucking moron does that intentionally.