![]() |
Quote:
44.9%, per Wiki. And had the others dropped out as early as in recent memory, it seems likely that his numbers would have been right in line with theirs. |
Quote:
And in that scenario, you end up with the exact same result. Adding marginal / fringe / lunatics to the mix changes nothing. You can't [i]combine[i] the fringe parties now and have a truly meaningful number of votes. They've not only been rejected, they've been soundly rejected across the board. It's not impossible for a third candidate to emerge in a meaningful fashion AND not be kicked to the curb on very legitimate merit. We've seen a few that were at least worthy of discussion in our lifetime for crying out loud, despite the supposed "inequities" of the basic setup. What part of "you're total fucking failures that the vast majority of the voters want no part of" is so hard to get through to people about the current fringe options? |
Quote:
But the point holds: I've seen multiple nitwits try to claim that "majority means the person who got the most votes!" |
Quote:
Just thinking back, I'm not sure I ever once heard the distinction between plurality and majority (never mind with regard to politics, I mean just in general) in all my years of school. Hell, does even a plurality of the population know the meaning of the word? Or that it even exists? I get your gripe on that broad point, I'm just saying that maybe we really can't reasonably expect the word to be used properly. As a nation, that's really not who we are, nor does it seem realistic to think we ever will be. |
Quote:
#IAmNotADictatorSometimes #IAmAnOligarchSometimes |
Quote:
The problem with having been a Senator (and to go back to Quik's point) is that there's always going to be something in your legislative record that can be spun as "bad". Obama avoided this mainly by being a Senator for such a short period. This problem isn't nearly as bad for Governors because of the difference in what they're called upon to do. The other problem with Senators is that the amount of time required for them to fundraise borders on being a full-time job at this point. This, plus the demands of a 24-hour news cycle, result in candidates who are indistinguishable from salespeople/fundraisers, because that's basically who they are. Thus you end up with a candidate like Marco Rubio, who's telegenic but also bland enough that he can be a cipher for voters to project what they want on him. That and money allows him to roll to electoral victory, at least at that level. It also means you get a guy who can't respond to complex questions on the fly. Quote:
Which is ironic, because identifying Merkel as a foreign leader you admire should more-or-less disqualify you from the Libertarian party, given the policies for which she stands (and implements). |
Quote:
Part of Johnson's problem is his lack of staff. He doesn't have any advisors, and it's showing. |
What are the libertarian-friendly world leaders? I can't think of any either. I guess that's how Johnson could have spun his answer if none came to mind. That his view of ideal government is a uniquely American one.
|
Quote:
I think the point that's being made is that with an instant runoff system you at least get a result that (theoretically) shows Johnson (as an example) got 20% on the first pass, even if that wasn't enough to make the runoff. Thus showing that there's 20% support for his ideas. Which, you know, fine, but I think trying to address 3rd-party viability via the Presidential Election is a bit of a non-starter. A better vector would be to get rid of House districts and allot those seats based on a nationwide proportional representation vote. GOP gets 40% of the votes, they get 40% of the seats. Democrats get 35% of the votes, they get 35% of the seats. Libertarians get 10% of the votes, they get 10% of the seats, and so on and so forth. At this point you get some 3rd party politicians to actually show up on the national stage, getting exposure that could actually translate into a meaningful Presidential run down the road (one could argue that Perot "purchased" this exposure in 1992 with his extensive infomercial buys). |
Quote:
Strong take, Marco. |
This is interesting:
Quote:
How does Trump's campaign manager go on national TV and clearly know nothing more about her candidate's background activities than what was in the national press? Going on TV to defuse a potential problem with a clear rebuttal is kind of campaign management 101, I would have thought. |
Quote:
And I will continue to support our nominee. |
Quote:
Weld isn't really liked by most rank and file Libertarians. He's considered way too big government for their tastes (he's basically a 'moderate Libertarian' - ie, Northeastern Republican). At least he could name a person. And just about every foreign leader is far more big government than the Libertarian Party (if Johnson said that, it would have been a good answer). |
I don't really like Rubio or his policies but he's looked/sounded a TON more presidential once he stopped running for president
|
Quote:
The question was who is your favorite current world leader. I'll be honest, that's a tough question if you're a libertarian. New Zealand's John Key? Quote:
Quote:
I hate how Johnson makes very minor gaffes, and they're more "I need to think it about it first" than pure gaffes, it's the end of the world. Clinton and Trump just don't make gaffes, they just outright lie, have horrible track records, and are all around slimy, but Clinton doesn't get called out the way Johnson and Trump (rightfully so) do. Such a weird election. I don't know why anyone smart, privately successful, and steady would want to run for the Presidency or office anymore. The standards of perfection are insanely high, and you're expected to know rehearsed answers to every question right off the bat (no thinking allowed!). I want a leader that is smart and listens, surrounds himself or herself with talented people, processes the information and comes to the best--and tough--decisions. Quote:
The question wasn't to name a single foreign leader, which is the spin I'm seeing by some today. |
Yes. Gary Johnson was on the front page of the St. Louis post-dispatch webpage today. Its quite clear what the agenda is of the media. He has not even been mentioned in most of their coverage. I won't go as far as defending not being able to name a favorite world leader or even saying he is the most qualified to be president of the nominees but the press does have an agenda and it doesn't involve anybody not named Hillary Clinton winning the election.
|
I'm so old I remember when the media was filling their time with emailgate, Benghazi, pneumoniagate, Clinton Foundation, DNCgate, blah blah blah.
|
Quote:
You can still watch Fox News and the other minor conservative cable news channel if you miss all that. The other outlets seem to focus much more on Trump IMO. |
Quote:
Maybe this morning, but not right now. It was pretty decent political news this morning, when both Trump and Clinton aren't really doing much. |
Quote:
Um, did you watch the video? I'd say you're the one spinning. Yes, it makes sense that a Libertarian would not like many foreign leaders. If he'd answered it like that, then this isn't a story. He looked completely lost and didn't know what to say, then admitted it was an "Aleppo" moment. |
Quote:
Yes Benghazi = Doesn't name favorite world leader. Listen I am all for Johnson getting called on it, I posted earlier today in the thread how I am growing tired of Johnson's "aw shucks" demeanor. "Above the fold" top story on St. Louis news site? A bit of a stretch. |
Quote:
Johnson is trying to spin it by going with saying that even after having time to think about it here still can't think of a leader he looks up to. |
Quote:
I watch the video (actually watched the townhall). Not sure how what he said and the question that was asked is any different than what I stated in my response to clarifying to what ISiddiqui stated. What leader would he look up? A honest question. Johnson is far from being the polished, coached and robotic political we seem to expect, which people either love or hate. I mean, Hillary Clinton told the Benghazi committee that was the boss of ambassadors in 270 countries. I don't see any outrage over that line. |
Quote:
I have to agree with Johnson on this one. |
Disclaimer: I'm not running for president but trying to think about what I would do.
I guess you have to go with a European leader or Canada right? Don't want to mispronounce any of the Asian leaders. Angela Merkel is the antitheses of him on foreign policy/economic policy as are most of the Western European leaders. The English lady (who I won't even google to act like I know her name) has been around like a month. His does seem like pure gaffe but really what is the correct answer? |
Quote:
That doesn't change the fact that the media is changing the question from "Name your favorite foreign leader" to "Name a single foreign leader". CNN just did a segment on this and their on-screen headline repeated the lie. |
Quote:
Yeah he really missed an opportunity though to say how with his trade policies and foreign policy he would have lots of favorites instead of being at war with 1/3 of the world. |
Quote:
What did their on-screen headline say? Because from Johnson's response (and calling it "another Aleppo moment") it definitely appeared he couldn't name a single foreign leader. |
Quote:
That's what you say then instead of looking like a deer in the headlights and then saying that Mexico guy, which Weld had to help him out ("Fox"). And also mentioning it was an Aleppo moment. The competent way to answer the question if there isn't anyone you like is to say that most foreign leaders are into big government and therefore I can't really name anyone offhand that would appeal to me as a 'favorite'. However, I wish that with my election to the Presidency, voters in Europe, Asia, and Africa would see that a lower government policy is achievable and the best way to go and elect individuals who I may be able to point as a 'favorite' at some point in the future. (Oh, and the British PM is Theresa May) |
Did you guys know that Hillary called some Trump supporters a "basket of deplorables"? It's too bad the media didn't cover that.
|
Quote:
That wasn't the question. |
Quote:
It's a necessary part of the question - you have to know a foreign leader before you can claim him or her as your favorite. |
Quote:
He wasn't trying to name just any random foreign leader. He was asked to named one he liked and he couldn't think of any. |
Quote:
He said he was "having an Aleppo moment". That indicates that it's not just he knew of foreign leaders and couldn't think of one he liked. |
Quote:
With the Libertarian party, I don't think there is one. Their foreign policy is basically isolationism. |
Quote:
I would call it non-interventionism, which is much better then pissing away trillions of dollars and thousands of lives in places like Iraq. |
Quote:
That's kind of a leap in logic IMO. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. |
I guess so. I just think it's spin to claim he knew loads foreign leaders, but just couldn't name a favorite. Nothing I've seen indicates Johnson knows anything about foreign policy.
|
Quote:
Watching him try to answer the question, you could tell he just couldn't think of any leader, not just one he liked. He tried Shimon Peres first, then he reached for the former Mexican president at the end., I'm pretty sure they are not a libertarian. |
Quote:
Like Quiksand and JPhillips said earlier he definitely needs some polishing and a team of handlers. A guy saying "World Leader question: Can't ever go wrong with Israel" "Can't answer a question... make a comment about Hillary or Trump while you think" Instead he acts like I would which isn't good when you want to be president. |
|
Now Trump is claiming the debate was rigged.
A debate that until today he was claiming he had won because of polls. |
Quote:
He continued to claim he won in the statement saying it was rigged, I think he was just patting himself on the back for being able to win when put up against that much adversity. |
Quote:
And Hillary knows and has experience in foreign policy, but nothing indicates that with her long body of work that she makes good and ethically-free decisions on it, and likes seems to like war. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
your misuse of the apostrophe just disqualified you from the ranks of the voting elite, peasant. |
Does that means smug liberals with multiple degrees and high IQs can run the country now? Asking for a friend.
|
Quote:
This made me LOL. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
No liberal arts degrees qualify, I'm afraid. Sorry. |
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:38 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin Version 3.6.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.