2018 Midterm Election Thread

[B-Fly]

I agree with Horns, good post....but, do you think there is any reasonable hypothetical where the dreaded "I" word would not be a loser with Dems? Trump has so many pots boiling now, I could think of a few that, if they boil over, impeachment would be appropriate. But is the point that even if he should be, he shouldn't be for political reasons?

Yes, if there is strong evidence of collusion that pulls in a significant number of high-profile Republicans to join a united Democratic caucus in support of impeachment, including enough supporters for a Senate conviction, then perhaps it could be worth pursuing. But absent material bi-partisan support for impeachment and conviction, including counting the votes needed to successfully impeach and convict, then yes, I think it should be avoided for political reasons even if there's a strong argument that Trump "should be" impeached. Keep in mind that means 67 Senators prepared to vote to convict Trump. Which is why my general feeling is that it's way to early and counter-productive to even be talking about it, let alone basing any strategy around it.

[revo]

"Fresh off his victory in the Florida Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday night, Rep. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday morning that voters would "monkey this up" if they elected his African-American opponent, Andrew Gillum to be governor because of his "socialist agenda."

Calling him "an articulate spokesman" for the far left, DeSantis said during an interview on Fox News when asked about his opponent Gillum, "The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state."

Gillum, who is African American, would become the state's first black governor if he were to win in November. Democrats in Florida were quick to respond to the comments made by DeSantis.

"It's disgusting that Ron DeSantis is launching his general election campaign with racist dog whistles," Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Terrie Rizzo said in a statement. The Gillum campaign pointed to this statement when asked for response."

[onejayhawk]

It's awfully early for Gillum to be playing the black race card. Usually they trot out the rainbow card first.

J

[Teenwolf]

It's awfully early for Gillum to be playing the black race card. Usually they trot out the rainbow card first.

J

You are such a boooooooring troll...

Where did CBB go?

[onejayhawk]

You are such a boooooooring troll... Where did CBB go?

It's sad you consider such an obvious comment a troll.

In news, it looks like former Senator Jon Kyl will replace John McCain for the next two years.

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-mccain-senate-replacement-20180904-story.html#

J

[Teenwolf]

It's sad you consider such an obvious comment a troll.

In news, it looks like former Senator Jon Kyl will replace John McCain for the next two years.

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-mccain-senate-replacement-20180904-story.html#

J

I've reconsidered. You're not a troll, just highly ignorant.

You can debate the merits of the race-baiting strategy, and that's fair game... but pretending (or apparently) actually buying the nonsense about "monkey things up" being accidental requires an intense level of willful ignorance. My apologies for implying that you understand the issue in any tangible way.

[B-Fly]

Not to mention that even if you view the response to DeSantis's "monkey things up" comment as "playing the race card," the card was "played" by old media and social media, not really by Gillum.

[Sour Masher]

I've reconsidered. You're not a troll, just highly ignorant.

You can debate the merits of the race-baiting strategy, and that's fair game... but pretending (or apparently) actually buying the nonsense about "monkey things up" being accidental requires an intense level of willful ignorance. My apologies for implying that you understand the issue in any tangible way.

I haven't been able to pin down onejayhawk--sometimes I think he is trolling, but even then, I think he has real beliefs behind his statements. Either way, I have not found engaging him fruitful, primarily because his rhetorical strategy is to often be purposefully vague about his positions, not often stating them outright (on that front, I was glad he was at least clear on his position on the DeSantis issue), and he refuses to ever respond to counter-claims with actual evidence to support his positions.

He is one of the few open and active Trump supporters on this board, so he'd be a valuable voice to engage here for me, if only he'd stop making claims as if they are common knowledge truths, and actually back them up with the evidence, if any exists, that makes him believe things he believes. But he doesn't do that, so I've stopped trying to engage.

[DMT]

Pretty sure 1J has claimed not to be a Trump supporter, just adding to the confusion.

[Teenwolf]

Pretty sure 1J has claimed not to be a Trump supporter, just adding to the confusion.

I believe he's a Ted Cruz guy first and foremost. So it makes sense that Trump has 1J cucked.

I do seriously appreciate any poster from either aisle willing to debate honestly. It's the disingenuous posts I hate, but I will allow 1J seems to believe his own words more so than some others on the right who prefer obfuscation and false outrage to further their agenda.

Sorry again, 1J. I believe that you believe!

[revo]

I think Onejay attempts to make some smart alecky comments, but since his thinking is almost the dead opposite of the rest of us here, it usually falls flat. Almost every instance. In fact, I’m left scratching my head in 80% of his political posts.

[Sour Masher]

I think Onejay attempts to make some smart alecky comments, but since his thinking is almost the dead opposite of the rest of us here, it usually falls flat. Almost every instance. In fact, I’m left scratching my head in 80% of his political posts.

Yeah, head scratching is a good way to put it. And I think that is often on purpose, which I find a very unappealing trait in a writer, especially one who has made it clear in his non-political posts is capable of clearer, more straightforward communication.

Your last distinction about political posts is an important one, and I've come around to the forum split you implemented. I now know which places I can read Onejay's comments, and know I very well may get something out of them, like his good book list in your thread (great thread, btw), or comments in the baseball forum, and when I know I'm gonna scratch my head till it bleeds and I give up, like most of his Hot Topic comments. I didn't think the split would end up doing much good for the Sports Bar, but there is no denying that, for whatever reason, there have been a greater diversity of interesting threads in there since the split.

[onejayhawk]

Not to mention that even if you view the response to DeSantis's "monkey things up" comment as "playing the race card," the card was "played" by old media and social media, not really by Gillum.

OK. I can go with that. If I was his campaign, I would be seriously pissed.

Pretty sure 1J has claimed not to be a Trump supporter, just adding to the confusion.

True. I was anti-Clinton. In the primaries, I thought Trump would fold leaving the field to the next in line, who happened to be Cruz.

I believe he's a Ted Cruz guy first and foremost. So it makes sense that Trump has 1J cucked.

I do seriously appreciate any poster from either aisle willing to debate honestly. It's the disingenuous posts I hate, but I will allow 1J seems to believe his own words more so than some others on the right who prefer obfuscation and false outrage to further their agenda. Sorry again, 1J. I believe that you believe!

Not a Cruz fan. I do believe he is likely the Republican nominee once Trump is done. If that is 2020, he will likely be the next President. That does not mean I like him.

Trump has been a much better President than advertised. Sometimes you get lucky. I expect you would disagree, but I think defunding ACA and the tax cuts are bouth big wins for the country. North Korea certainly is. Who thought he would be better at foreign policy than anyone in 40 years?

J

[fuhrdog]

Who thought he would be better at foreign policy than anyone in 40 years?

J

Putin maybe but then he probably is the one who helped draft it.

[B-Fly]

Who thought he would be better at foreign policy than anyone in 40 years?

So in other words, you're putting him over Reagan, but not Nixon? Interesting, lol.