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The American Political Thread

947K views 22K replies 68 participants last post by  Vader101 
#1 ·
Something I've noted several times is that, while most of us agree it's important to be informed about Canadian politics and to be an engaged citizen, the fact is that Canadian politics are generally pretty boring (this can be a good thing, IMO). The Americans, on the other hand, have turned the dysfunction of their political system into an entertainment industry (although it appears Harper, et al., are determined to reduce the Canadian system to the same level).

So I thought I'd start a thread for discussion of the Reality TV show they call American Politics.

I'll start with this posting I saw on another forum, with respect to the Republican's policies on women's health care, especially with regard to contraception and abortion:
After years and years and years of specifically targeting homophobes, racists, bigots, religious zealots, anti-intellectuals and sociopaths why should we be at all shocked that the GOP picked up a ****load of misogynists along the way?
 
#101 ·
I don't think the reasons you've supplied are a slam dunk for the Prez.
Not a slam dunk by any means - but I still think Obama is in for a second term.

The biggest reason is the dearth of electable candidates in the GOP. They need to appeal to the "median voter" not the Tea Party.

I expect Romney will eventually take the nomination, but everything he said to appeal to the Tea Party base can and will be used against him in November...
 
#102 ·
Not a slam dunk by any means - but I still think Obama is in for a second term.

The biggest reason is the dearth of electable candidates in the GOP. They need to appeal to the "median voter" not the Tea Party.

I expect Romney will eventually take the nomination, but everything he said to appeal to the Tea Party base can and will be used against him in November...
Valid points, PB. Of course, as Romney's chief advisor said today, once he gets the nomination, he will be like an etch a sketch -- just shake it and it will change the picture. Thus, he shall try to appeal to the moderates and independents. We shall see.
 
#104 ·
I predict that if Romney seeks "the median voter" he will lose big time.
While I am hoping for a Romney loss and an Obama victory, unless Romney gets this "median voter" (i.e., moderate Republicans and independents) he will not win. We shall see.
 
#106 ·
Valid points, PB. Of course, as Romney's chief advisor said today, once he gets the nomination, he will be like an etch a sketch -- just shake it and it will change the picture. Thus, he shall try to appeal to the moderates and independents. We shall see.
That was a huge mistake on the Romney team's part. Romney's victory speech was on the verge of encouraging conservative voters to end their skepticism of his credentials.
 
#107 ·
I think our government right now is finding out just how far to the center they have to go to stay in power.
Does that make sense at all? How are the Conservatives attempting to cater to "the centre" and do you honestly think that concerns over re-election are motivating them right now?
 
#109 ·
I think it's common knowledge macfury that Harper has had to move towards the center even conservatives here have acknowledged this.

And certainly already firing off election style attack ads on Rae shows they are concerned.

But hey, whatever floats your boat.
Uh, "not whatever floats my boat." If that's all you got, then I wonder why you ventured forth with the comment at all.
 
#110 ·
I think it's common knowledge macfury that Harper has had to move towards the center even conservatives here have acknowledged this.

And certainly already firing off election style attack ads on Rae shows they are concerned.

But hey, whatever floats your boat.
Uh, isn't this the American political thread?
 
#111 ·
Uh, "not whatever floats my boat." If that's all you got, then I wonder why you ventured forth with the comment at all.
You conveniently skipped over the preceding part if my post.

However I can see why you would.

And sinc yes. But macfury asked about the conservatives moving toward the center and I pointed the incredibly obvious happening right here in Canada
 
#112 ·
That was a huge mistake on the Romney team's part. Romney's victory speech was on the verge of encouraging conservative voters to end their skepticism of his credentials.
True. Now, should he get the nomination, he has to decide whether to alienate the far right by going to the center to capture moderates and independents, or stay on the far right to keep his core and lose those in the middle. We shall see.
 
#114 ·
True. Now, should he get the nomination, he has to decide whether to alienate the far right by going to the center to capture moderates and independents, or stay on the far right to keep his core and lose those in the middle. We shall see.
Going after the "moderates" is a losing strategy. If Romney (if it is Romney) tacks right he will beat Obama handily. If he veers to the centre he will lose by a small margin.
 
#116 ·
Depends on whether that's social conservatism or fiscal conservatism.

If he panders to the religious right, he's going to lose the moderates.
Fiscal conservatism for the win. All he needs to do is keep mum about the social conservatism and he's a shoe-in.

My hope is that Paul Ryan gets drafted to flatten Romney at the convention.
 
#117 ·
Fiscal conservatism for the win. All he needs to do is keep mum about the social conservatism and he's a shoe-in.

My hope is that Paul Ryan gets drafted to flatten Romney at the convention.
It's going to be tricky to keep mum about social conservatism... he's going to be grilled on it everywhere he goes.

Ultimately, it may all be a distraction, but it's a loud distraction with at least the strong appearance of having an effect.
 
#118 ·
It's going to be tricky to keep mum about social conservatism... he's going to be grilled on it everywhere he goes.

Ultimately, it may all be a distraction, but it's a loud distraction with at least the strong appearance of having an effect.
This election will be all about keeping the base motivated. McCain could have won the last election, but he disappointed conservatives, both social and fiscal, and there was no major voter drive on election day. Obama's victory was very slim.

Obama's own base has shrunk considerably and even motivating them after this four-year period of disappointment is going to be difficult at best.
 
#119 ·
Going after the "moderates" is a losing strategy. If Romney (if it is Romney) tacks right he will beat Obama handily. If he veers to the centre he will lose by a small margin.
Even Ronald Reagan would tell you that this would not be the case. If Romney is to win, he will need to get the moderate Republicans, independents and Regan Democrats. We shall see comes Nov.

With Jeb Bush's endorsement, I foresee a Romney-Bush ticket. It would make sense since the Republicans would need Florida and Texas as part of their winning strategy re electoral colleges votes. Again, we shall see.
 
#120 ·
It's going to be tricky to keep mum about social conservatism... he's going to be grilled on it everywhere he goes.

Ultimately, it may all be a distraction, but it's a loud distraction with at least the strong appearance of having an effect.
This election will be all about keeping the base motivated. McCain could have won the last election, but he disappointed conservatives, both social and fiscal, and there was no major voter drive on election day. Obama's victory was very slim.

Obama's own base has shrunk considerably and even motivating them after this four-year period of disappointment is going to be difficult at best.
If Romney swings to the right to solidify the Tea Party and social conservatives, it will motivate them but turn off the needed centerist views of voters. The same would hold true for Pres. Obama if he suddenly shifted to the left of where he is currently.

In the US, there is about 1/4 of the voters that are core Republicans or core Democrats. There is about 1/4 of the electorate that would be considered moderates or independents and about 1/4 who don't care and shall not vote. The key to victory is the center. Give that up, and your party loses. Every US election since 1964 has seen this happen.
 
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