*** VD 13 Commentary Thread ***

[frae]

The whole Obama charisma thimg is actually a huge turn off for me. I foumd him trememdously disappointing

In which sense? They got some big legislation passed before they lost the legislative branches. I was young during the Bush years and very jaded that he was our leader and I thought Obama was such a positive change that while I wish they had passed more policies I still thought he was overall a good President.

[The Feral Slasher]

In detail? Certainly not lacking more than Sanders'.

Maybe so. Plenty of time to evaluate.

[The Feral Slasher]

In which sense? They got some big legislation passed before they lost the legislative branches. I was young during the Bush years and very jaded that he was our leader and I thought Obama was such a positive change that while I wish they had passed more policies I still thought he was overall a good President.

I am on my phone. Too much to try and post, maybe when i am on my computer.

[DMT]

In detail? Certainly not lacking more than Sanders'.

Compared to her positions on most other issues.

[frae]

I am on my phone. Too much to try and post, maybe when i am on my computer.

No problem, I didn't mean to drag us all into a political debate here. We have so much time before we get a clearer picture of who these candidates are, but I just hope we vet them out and find someone who is a strong candidate who will defeat Trump in 2020.

[Bene Futuis]

Compared to her positions on most other issues.

Yeah, that's probably true. A high bar to clear, though.

[DMT]

Yeah, that's probably true. A high bar to clear, though.

It's likely due mostly to healthcare being such a complicated issue (rather than her being beholden to the healthcare lobby [barf]), but considering how well-thought out most of her positions are, that is why it is surprising.

[The Feral Slasher]

No problem, I didn't mean to drag us all into a political debate here. We have so much time before we get a clearer picture of who these candidates are, but I just hope we vet them out and find someone who is a strong candidate who will defeat Trump in 2020.

Much more civilized in here. Even if this isnt really a political forum

[Bene Futuis]

It's likely due mostly to healthcare being such a complicated issue (rather than her being beholden to the healthcare lobby [barf]), but considering how well-thought out most of her positions are, that is why it is surprising.

She is also rolling out policy positions in detail, one by one. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/10/u...-platform.html

But you're definitely right about her stance on healthcare, to date. She has consistently employed market approaches to most problems. Generally speaking, Warren focuses on "post-distribution" solutions, such as consumer protections and fair market mechanisms while Bernie focuses on "pre-distribution" solutions, like government takeover of industry. To dramatically oversimplify, Bernie seems to favor bypassing private enterprise while Warren focuses on improving it. I think Bernie's approach is probably the right one when it comes to public goods, like health care or prisons or maybe even energy. But it's Warren's amazing knowledge and expertise about domestic economic affairs that wins the day for me. She authored the book I read in my bankruptcy law class, for god's sake! I love how Bernie has shifted the conversation on issues like healthcare, though. Either one would be a win for me.

[DMT]

She is also rolling out policy positions in detail, one by one. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/10/u...-platform.html

But you're definitely right about her stance on healthcare, to date. She has consistently employed market approaches to most problems. Generally speaking, Warren focuses on "post-distribution" solutions, such as consumer protections and fair market mechanisms while Bernie focuses on "pre-distribution" solutions, like government takeover of industry. To dramatically oversimplify, Bernie seems to favor bypassing private enterprise while Warren focuses on improving it. I think Bernie's approach is probably the right one when it comes to public goods, like health care or prisons or maybe even energy. But it's Warren's amazing knowledge and expertise about domestic economic affairs that wins the day for me. She authored the book I read in my bankruptcy law class, for god's sake! I love how Bernie has shifted the conversation on issues like healthcare, though. Either one would be a win for me.

Yep, I too really hope one of them is the nominee.

[frae]

As long as that shitbag from KY controls the Senate, nothing substantially progressive will get passed.

You are right and it is crazy early but we know how the math works for the Senate. AL, CO, AZ are the true toss-up states. Then we get to the states where if the presidential election numbers could carry us one war or the oher. NC, GA, ME, IA and for the R's MI, MN, NM, NH. So 3 true swings and then maybe 9 states that have the ability to move if the right amount of momentum comes from the top.

"Democrats are underdogs to win the Senate but *conditional on winning the presidency* they're probably slight favorites to win the Senate. So the modal outcome in a D presidency is probably like a 50-50 Senate nominally controlled by D's with Joe Manchin often voting with R's. "

https://twitter.com/NateSilver538/status/1139187619479412736

So I will say if the Democrats think they can win the Pres there is at least a real chance Mitch isn't in charge anymore.

[Bene Futuis]

So apparently senior US officials are withholding information about the country's cyber security plans, in particular regarding Russia, for fear that the President will leak details to foreign leaders, Putin in particular. Hahaha! This is all so normal. Everyone is lying except Trump again. Ugh.

[Kevin Seitzer]

needless to say amy of them are preferable to trump by a huge margin

[heyelander]

There is something really wrong with Lenny Dykstra

Lenny Dykstra spent Father's Day weekend dumpster-diving for his $80K dentures

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/lenny-dysktra-spent-fathers-day-weekend-dumpster-diving-for-his-dollar80k-dentures/ar-AAD4FIo?ocid=se

.... The former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder chronicled his exploits on Twitter searching through a dumpster for a set of specially made dentures he mistakenly left in a napkin at a Jersey Mike's sub shop near his Linden, New Jersey, home.

After finishing his sub and leaving the restaurant, he went back to find the staff had thrown the napkins and Dykstra's dentures – which he told NJ.com were valued at $80,000 – in the trash.

With the help of his friend, a tag-team wrestler who goes by the name Sprinkles the Clown, Dykstra informed his Twitter followers Sunday afternoon that his dentures were finally recovered – after nine hours of searching.

"Nails never fails!" he exclaimed, referencing the nickname he had as a major leaguer.
....

[Bene Futuis]

And behold a pale horse and upon it a rider and his name was Cheedar and super smart stuff followed with him.

Edit: That was a little mean, even by my admittedly low standards.