GOP Primaries/Caucuses Discussions, Jokes and Predictions

[pErvinalia]

Rich people like Trump will never have their free speech restricted by a direct action protest at a campaign event. That's simply ridiculous.

If he (or anyone) is stopped from speaking at a particular event, then that is a restriction of free speech. You can't qualify the restriction by saying that it doesn't apply to "privileged white men" or the like because they have other opportunities.

As an overall measure of free speech, of course you can.

Free speech isn't quantitative. It's an individual right. If Trump were a black, trans, genderqueer, woman with a disability, would free speech have been violated by protesters disrupting the rally, planning to rush the stage, and shouting down the speaker at every turn?

I think here you have to take a leaf from Voltaire's book, and thoroughly detest Trump (and protest against him) while defending his right to speak...

That's simply naive and frankly a juvenile approach to the world. You'd give Hitler his free speech? Fuck that. Major progression has only ever happened with major disruption. That's the reality of the world, not some sophist approach to silly ideological liberal positions.

Yes, indeed. The juvenile approach is to shut down the hateful speech. To suggest that the rise of Hitler was a result of freedom of speech is really bizarre. To stop fascism from rising, we have to make sure people with fascist ideas can't say them out loud? LOL.

I can say LOL too.

And I didn't say Hitler was a product of free speech.

[pErvinalia]

For example, governments themselves have quite reasonably denied the right to speak of some extremists like that anti-semitic holocaust denier, whose name I have forgotten...

That was a sad day for free speech, actually, when a government prosecuted a historian for writing unapproved stuff. That's no different than would be prosecuting Salman Rushdie for the Satanic Verses because it was anti-Islam.

And if a lunatic group took to the streets demanding to rape women whenever they felt like it, it would be quite appropriate for Dykes on Bikes to sort them out with gusto...

If a lunatic group takes to the streets demanding to rape women whenever they felt like it, it would be a very good thing to have happen. The film could be studied and the pro-rape persons identified. They'd very likely be pretty good suspects to look into.

But, indeed, counter protests are free speech. I agree with Rev on that. What isn't free speech is commandeering private property (a microphone or stage), or pushing/shoving other people. And, if they engage in fighting words while protesting to antagonize a crowd, then it's not going to be surprising if fights break out.

But, yes, when the Nazis march down main street, the proper response is to counterprotest.

But, however you might detest a given politician, saying you have the right to stop a campaign speech sets a very dangerous precedent. Do we want to see a gang of NRA thugs breaking up a Bernie Sanders election speech...

Bernie Sanders actually has a good rep with the NRA and he is very pro-gun ownership.

But, in any case, that is the point -- if Trump groupies showed up to a Bernie rally and got into the seats and just started disrupting the place, antagonizing Bernie supporters, egging them on and picking fights, and then shouting over and over anytime Bernie tried to speak, that would be a big problem. That's not the exercise of free speech.

I haven't linked that activity to "free speech". Protest is about the real world, ideological worship of free speech is about a naive fantasy world.

[Tyrannical]

Rubio out, lost to Trump big time in Florida.
Kasich wins Ohio.
Trump wins everything else, but Cruz came close a few places.

Trump is coming close to get the nomination.....

[JimC]

The end times are coming...

[rainbow]

The end times are coming...

Trump is probably more intelligent and mentally stable than Ronald Regan and GW Bush were. He might even be slightly morally superior to Richard Nixon.

The US survived all of them.

[Animavore]

Jerry Springer says that he should be paid for the way the Republican debates mimic his shows.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop- ... z433oCfNLy
Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook

[rachelbean]

Nope... http://www.snopes.com/1998-trump-people-quote/

[Tero]

Trump is Ventura, but with billions

[Forty Two]

Rich people like Trump will never have their free speech restricted by a direct action protest at a campaign event. That's simply ridiculous.

If he (or anyone) is stopped from speaking at a particular event, then that is a restriction of free speech. You can't qualify the restriction by saying that it doesn't apply to "privileged white men" or the like because they have other opportunities.

As an overall measure of free speech, of course you can.

Free speech isn't quantitative. It's an individual right. If Trump were a black, trans, genderqueer, woman with a disability, would free speech have been violated by protesters disrupting the rally, planning to rush the stage, and shouting down the speaker at every turn?

I think here you have to take a leaf from Voltaire's book, and thoroughly detest Trump (and protest against him) while defending his right to speak...

That's simply naive and frankly a juvenile approach to the world. You'd give Hitler his free speech? Fuck that. Major progression has only ever happened with major disruption. That's the reality of the world, not some sophist approach to silly ideological liberal positions.

Yes, indeed. The juvenile approach is to shut down the hateful speech. To suggest that the rise of Hitler was a result of freedom of speech is really bizarre. To stop fascism from rising, we have to make sure people with fascist ideas can't say them out loud? LOL.

I can say LOL too.

And I didn't say Hitler was a product of free speech.

You did ask "you'd give Hitler his free speech?" -- the answer is, of course, a resounding yes. That's the point. You don't defeat or stop a Hitler by trying to take away his right to speak his political opinions.

[Forty Two]

For example, governments themselves have quite reasonably denied the right to speak of some extremists like that anti-semitic holocaust denier, whose name I have forgotten...

That was a sad day for free speech, actually, when a government prosecuted a historian for writing unapproved stuff. That's no different than would be prosecuting Salman Rushdie for the Satanic Verses because it was anti-Islam.

And if a lunatic group took to the streets demanding to rape women whenever they felt like it, it would be quite appropriate for Dykes on Bikes to sort them out with gusto...

If a lunatic group takes to the streets demanding to rape women whenever they felt like it, it would be a very good thing to have happen. The film could be studied and the pro-rape persons identified. They'd very likely be pretty good suspects to look into.

But, indeed, counter protests are free speech. I agree with Rev on that. What isn't free speech is commandeering private property (a microphone or stage), or pushing/shoving other people. And, if they engage in fighting words while protesting to antagonize a crowd, then it's not going to be surprising if fights break out.

But, yes, when the Nazis march down main street, the proper response is to counterprotest.

But, however you might detest a given politician, saying you have the right to stop a campaign speech sets a very dangerous precedent. Do we want to see a gang of NRA thugs breaking up a Bernie Sanders election speech...

Bernie Sanders actually has a good rep with the NRA and he is very pro-gun ownership.

But, in any case, that is the point -- if Trump groupies showed up to a Bernie rally and got into the seats and just started disrupting the place, antagonizing Bernie supporters, egging them on and picking fights, and then shouting over and over anytime Bernie tried to speak, that would be a big problem. That's not the exercise of free speech.

I haven't linked that activity to "free speech". Protest is about the real world, ideological worship of free speech is about a naive fantasy world.

Protest is an exercise of that very free speech. What are you even talking about?

Are you suggesting not everyone has an equal right to free speech? If not, what are you saying?

Are you saying that disrupting a Bernie Sanders rally or a Trump rally is free speech?

Clarify.

[Forty Two]

"If we don't have a nominee who can win on the first ballot, I'm for none of the above," Boehner said at the Futures Industry Association conference here. "They all had a chance to win. None of them won. So I'm for none of the above. I'm for Paul Ryan to be our nominee."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/b ... z434pyjGef
Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook

Yes, yes. Paul Ryan, he'll solve all the problems.

[Forty Two]

fivethirtyeight.com has Trump with 646 delegates, with 1237 needed to clinch. He needs to win about 53% of the remaining delegates to clinch, or thereabouts. I haven't seen a firm figure on that, and the 646 may not be a final number, given how close it was in Missouri.

Looks like Trump had a banner night, winning every State, save Ohio, and the guy who won Ohio is the very popular sitting Governor of Ohio (who never lost an election in Ohio, ever). So, Kasich's win may not be a harbinger of popularity outside of Ohio. Kasich didn't do well in fellow rust belt state, Michigan, and it is highly unlikely, I think, that Kasich will be too strong in Pennsylvania. He may be popular in the west, out by Pittsburgh, but not in the Philadelphia area, where Trump's brand is as popular asNext it is in New Jersey.

Next up is Arizona - 58 delegates - winner take all - Trump leads well there, due to the immigration issue, and a win there takes him to 704 delegates. And, Utah -- Utah has 40 delegates. I haven't seen good polling in Utah, but they do a presidential preference caucus in Utah. And, this year, incidentally, Utah is allowing online voting. This will allow missionaries, shut-ins, and anyone else who has a hard time getting to the polls, to vote their preference.

Utah is interesting for that reason, and because it's a closed primary in a very, very VERY republican state. Some have said it's basically a tie in Utah, others seem to say Cruz is ahead.

So, that's March 22. Stay tuned.

The world is watching. LOL.

[piscator]

The faking of a President: Our future under Donald Trump and his first 100 days in office


On Jan. 20, 2017, Donald Trump will take the oath of office for the presidency of the United States. What follows is an exclusive report on the first 100 days that followed his fabulous inauguration and after-party (attended by thousands of beautiful women with beautiful faces) as he set off on a short road to making America great again.

Day 1. Even as President Trump orders federal workers to bundle the inaugural ball’s gold foil confetti for smelting and reuse in White House restroom faucets, he begins making good on his campaign vow to seal the U.S.-Mexico border “on my first day.”

Refusing to let supporters hold hands along the border, Red Rover style, to prevent immigrants from crossing over, germophobe Trump orders the National Guard to douse the border in gasoline, set it afire and maintain the blaze.

He proclaims the conflagration, which is visible from space, to be “spectacular.”

Recognizing how costly buying petroleum to feed the flames will be over time, and needing money to fulfill his pledges to dramatically increase military spending, finance a multi-trillion dollar tax cut and offer “fantastic” universal health care, Trump starts construction of a 2,000-mile “beautiful” border wall, to be paid for entirely by the Mexican government.

He specifies that the wall be built with only “the finest materials” and topped with “gold-plated razor wire.” When Trump insists on a fringe of rich Corinthian leather, Treasury Secretary Martha Stewart apologetically informs the President that there is no such thing.

For Mexico’s “convenience,” Trump says he will accept $40 billion in a “terrifically” structured balloon mortgage.

Simultaneously, the President moves to debunk fears that he intends to brutally uproot and deport 11 million undocumented residents — and send them back to their home countries in cattle cars. Stretch limousines and well-dressed men with Tasers begin appearing in American cities.

“We have just begun the fastest, classiest mass deportation in world history,” Trump declares.

Day 2. When Secretary of State Arnold Schwarzenegger reports that Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto laughed in his face about paying for the $40 billion wall, Trump tears up the North American Free Trade Agreement on live television.

He also puts in a call to Chinese President Xi Jinping, telling Xi that he has really enjoyed negotiating office leases with Chinese businessmen because while they are smart, he is smarter.

“For us to have good international relations, it’s only gentlemanly for me to let you to know who you’re dealing with,” Trump says, before informing Xi that, as promised in the campaign, he is imposing massive new import duties on Chinese-made goods, illegal under World Trade Organization agreements.

China retaliates by doubling tariffs on soybeans and semiconductors, two of America’s top exports, and floods the market with cheap steel. Mexico hikes tariffs on its $200 billion in U.S. imports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets by 52%.

“Stocks are cheaper than they have ever been,” Trump declares. “I’ve given the American people the greatest opportunity to buy low that they have ever had in recorded history. Once, China and Mexico were so smart compared to how stupid we used to be. Now, they’re so stupid compared to how smart we are. Call your stockbrokers. You’ll win so big it will make your head spin.”

Staying awake into the early morning hours, Trump Twitter-flames Xi as “ugly and low-energy,” and Peña Nieto as “decent looking, but a loser.”

At dawn, Trump orders a fireworks display.

[piscator]

Day 7. Following the first full week of construction, 100 miles of border wall are complete, and only four workers have died in the flames. Trump orders a fireworks display.

Day 9. The President names the rest of his cabinet. He says it is the best looking cabinet in the history of the Republic. The group photo is truly stunning.

Day 13. Trump’s tax plan — which includes huge across-the-board rate reductions and elimination of the estate tax — hits resistance in Congress from Republicans concerned about increasing the federal deficit by $12 trillion over 10 years, and Democrats worried about dramatically slashing the rates of the wealthiest Americans.

The President makes a trip to Capitol Hill. In stirring remarks, he reminds Senate and House leaders that he once finished the construction of an ice skating rink and had a hit reality TV show in which he portrayed a man far wealthier and more successful than himself.

Congress tells Trump that at the moment, it’s pretty damn busy with crop-subsidy legislation, but would take up his plan as soon as they worked out a sugar beet formula.

Trump orders a fireworks display.




https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/fut ... -1.2384306

[piscator]

Day 70. Exercising the power of eminent domain, Trump seizes the land under the Obama Presidential Library in Chicago to build a combined Trump Casino-Trump University where, he pledges, professors will give the “greatest ever courses in playing roulette to low-income Americans.”

“I guarantee you, you will win,” the President says. Secretary of Commerce Dennis Rodman, standing by his side, whispers, “That is not a guarantee.”

By order of the President, the Obama Library is relocated to Nairobi, Kenya.