U.S. Democratic Primary

[J.C.MacSwell]

2 minutes ago, iNow said:

That’s tortured syntax, but you’re asking if we feel she is being evasive on questions about tax increases. 

I say, no. I’ve seen her at enough appearances to know her answer. The issue is total cost to American families. Total cost and annual expenditures will go down for most Americans if her plans are implemented. 

Now, taxes will go up for some and not everyone will see a net reduction in total cost, but the moment she says that openly she gets hundreds of millions of dollars in attack ads against her, ads that quote her out of context. 

Words matter. She’s rightfully cautious when these types of gotcha questions get asked, but she’s also honest and authentic.

The issue is total cost, and those will go down under her plans for the vast majority of the middle class (since her funding model is to primarily tax 2 cents on only those individual dollars earned above $50 Million). 

owned net assets above 50 million. Good luck to her with that. Accounting nightmare...like trying to catch a greased pig...and her numbers assume an economy unhindered by the socialist policies she wants to bring in.

It's hardly "honest and authentic" to avoid admitting her policies will increase taxes...regardless of how justifiable it may seem.

Bernie admits he will raise taxes. He is honest and authentic. He just doesn't realize how badly it would work out.

[iNow]

Thanks for your opinion. I’ve read the analyses. Economics aren’t the blocker here. It’s politics. Her numbers work if we decide to support these programs / overcome the corruption and propaganda that is fiercely trying to prevent them.

Speaking of economics, though... Bernie’s numbers are insane when digging into his proposals. He’s somewhere in the vicinity of a hundred trillion dollars. 

[iNow]

Firing Line on PBS gave Andrew Yang a full 25 minutes this weekend. It was the most informative and clear I’ve ever seen him. 

Video at the link below (though I’m unsure how long it will remain available, you may need to search for a fresh link):

 

@J.C.MacSwell FYI on your boi. He did great here. 

[J.C.MacSwell]

1 hour ago, iNow said:

 

 

@J.C.MacSwell FYI on your boi. He did great here. 

Thanks for the link. He interviews well. Besides his "Freedom Dividend" ($1000/month UBI), he is all about what political discourse should look like, IMO.

I don't think it will be to long before he start's looking like more than a long shot. It will be between him and Warren IMO.

[iNow]

29 minutes ago, J.C.MacSwell said:

It will be between him and Warren IMO.

Warren just pulled ahead of Biden in Iowa 

[J.C.MacSwell]

7 hours ago, iNow said:

Warren just pulled ahead of Biden in Iowa 

She will almost certainly pass and pull away from Biden, especially if Bernie fades without her overly attacking him.

I just hope it happens slow enough that Yang has time to gain some more attention and momentum.

[J.C.MacSwell]

Tulsi has made the October debate (debates? 12 candidates now have made it, so 6 and 6?)

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/tulsi-gabbard-is-the-12th-candidate-to-make-octobers-democratic-debate/

 

Yang just hit 8% nationally (probably a bit of an anomaly right now, but just a matter of time and he will be in double digits...)

https://emersonpolling.reportablenews.com/pr/september-national-poll-warren-surges-biden-slips-and-sanders-holds-creating-three-way-dead-heat-for-the-nomination

[iNow]

Handy graphic about how candidates have been trending (and how Warren keeps climbing):

 

[MigL]

Looks like she is the only one trending up of the top five.
The other four are trending down, and the rest are holding steady in the basement.

Bu it's still early, can she keep climbing ( and take the lead ) until next February to June ?
Or will the rest turn on her like they did with J Biden ?

[iNow]

Everything could change in a heartbeat, but it seems to be a race btw her and uncle joe, whom she’s currently beating in Iowa (who helps set the national narrative given we’re first out of the gate)

[J.C.MacSwell]

8 hours ago, iNow said:

Everything could change in a heartbeat, but it seems to be a race btw her and uncle joe, whom she’s currently beating in Iowa (who helps set the national narrative given we’re first out of the gate)

I suspect there will be a point where Yangmania takes over...but really...I think it is all basic foundation that he has fully thought out...a step by step process.

The great thing is that he doesn't need to hide his agenda, because he is targeting helping everyone. Even the currently advantaged will appreciate his approach and candour, and understand the basic fairness he espouses.

I will admit that it will get interesting when his policies are put under more scrutiny...(but no doubt he'll overcome it)

A small concern...I think some of his ideas are untenable...but those are mostly all peripheral to a well thought out set of economic and social policies.

Ha ha...i just googled Yangmania and nothing came up...

[iNow]

Lol. Let’s get it trending  

[iNow]

Elizabeth Warren is currently the only candidate consistently climbing in the polls, and now appears to have pulled ahead of Biden nationally:

 

[Raider5678]

On 10/8/2019 at 4:52 PM, iNow said:

Elizabeth Warren is currently the only candidate consistently climbing in the polls, and now appears to have pulled ahead of Biden nationally:

 

I don't get it. How?

[CharonY]

Here is a good analysis of what has happened. Essentially she made inroads with a lot of groups she had problems before (conservatives/non-college educated/African Americans).

[swansont]

7 hours ago, Raider5678 said:

I don't get it. How?

She has plans to combat many problems facing people, and that gives (some) people the impression that she is sensitive to their issues. She has also described facing challenges that a lot of women have faced, so half the population potentially sees common ground that the other leading candidates lack.

[iNow]

19 hours ago, Raider5678 said:

I don't get it. How?

Don't get what? It's pretty obvious she's sincere and has been fighting her whole life, getting things done which help people, and taking on some of the most powerful forces in our politics... and winning. 

She followed her passion and was a teacher for special needs children. I dunno, but that sure seems to me like an ideal person to interact with Trump in a debate. She's got practice.

[Sicarii]

Whatever your politics, it must be refreshing to see a candidate for President speak (and write) above a fifth grade level.

[iNow]

Tim Ryan has dropped out of the Democratic primary race. If you’re saying, “wait, who?” then you’re not alone and that’s part of why he left (Ohio Congressman, btw)

[MigL]

I'd like to see the field whittled down to about 4-5 of their best candidates, so that they can all present their vision for America's future, without having to 'shout over' or 'out-do' the other 20-odd candidates. Never mind the in-fighting between candidates which helps only the current President.
I realize everyone wants a shot at knocking down D Trump, but I think it will be even better once ( quite ) a few more leave the field.

[iNow]

20 minutes ago, MigL said:

I’d like to see the field whittled down to about 4-5 of their best candidates

Pretty much everyone wants this, especially the folks who want to see Trump lose in the general election.
 

The problem is there’s no incentive to leave, even when polling below 1%, so long as they’re still collecting money. That’s the motivator. Why walk away when people keep writing you checks? May as well keep cashing them as long as you can...

Those who’ve dropped out are those that weren’t earning, though even that’s not always enough.
 

By example: There’s this random ass Mayor from Florida that nobody’s ever heard of named Wayne Messam. He only raised $5 last quarter (yes... five dollars... not 5K or 5M... just five), and yet he’s still in. Seriously. FFS... just go away, right?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/us/politics/wayne-messam-5-dollars.html

[MigL]

So who would you like to see left in, I Now ?
I would have thought all the bull leveled at J Biden by D Trump would have damaged his candidacy, but it doesn't seem to have affected his support numbers. And although he's approx. the same age as J Biden, with his recent heart issues, I hope B Sanders drops out.
K Harris' numbers also seem to be nosediving since the boost from the debates.

Edited October 25, 2019 by MigL

[iNow]

2 hours ago, MigL said:

So who would you like to see left in, I Now ?

I wasn’t totally convinced at first, but I like Warren a lot. I’ve been tracking her for years, especially after the financial crisis and steps she took to fight back against banks in support of families like mine. I also like that her dream job was teaching special needs kids, and that’s what she did until getting fired for being pregnant. I think she’s genuine in her desire to help, understands the system better than most and is smart as hell, capable of getting it done, and isn’t in it just for reasons of avarice.

Beyond that, I’m still waffling a bit about who my next choices are, and now that I live in Iowa I take it pretty seriously. Mayor Pete is impressive and smart, and I liked what I heard when I went to go meet him. He’s focused on the right things and surrounds himself with smart people, but I’m just not convinced he’s ready for the top slot (tho Trump has shown anyone can do it).

I also met Michael Bennett and quite liked him. Super down to earth and well rounded. He’s a former school administrator and just a smart decent guy. He’s got a great collaborative demeanor, tons of respect across the aisle, and everyone who’s worked with him loves and respects him quite a bit regardless of party, but he’s just not inspiring people and that’s critical. He’s a bit milquetoast, TBH, and that won’t fare well in a cage match with Teflon Don.

I was previously interested in Kamala and would love to watch her rhetorically punch Trump in the balls, but I get a sense of inauthenticity and heavy reliance on talking points from her that doesn’t sit well with me. She’s clearly a smart fighter, though, just still have no idea what she truly stands for / what her principles are.

I’m a firm no on Beto, Tulsi, de Blasio, and the bulk of the others (can anyone say Mariam Williamson???), but do like Booker... just don’t think he can win. Would prefer him to be selected for a cabinet position addressing racial disparities in criminal justice and gun policy, etc. I’m also watching Andy Yang a bit like I would watch a lab grown experiment in a Petri dish, but to me he’s more of an interesting oddity than a serious contender (sorry, JCM... different strokes for different folks, and all).

Anyway, we’re the first people on the planet here in Iowa who get to decide on this, so we can’t adjust our choice based on what other voters have chosen in other states... I can’t wait and see who’s popular or who gets traction, but instead need to be ready to make more of a raw and personal choice. I’ll need to stand in a room with my neighbors and with my kids on a cold winters night in February and choose my person for all to see. to defend my choice / try to convince others to join me and make the same choice when the caucuses occur. I’ll also be there to listen to others and will try to remain open to being convinced by them to move over to their candidate instead...

All that said, no matter who wins the primary, I’ll most definitely be voting for that person in the general, whether they were my 1st choice or my 17th. This needs to be an election more about principles than purity. Peace ✌️

Edited October 25, 2019 by iNow

[dimreepr]

40 minutes ago, iNow said:

I wasn’t totally convinced at first, but I like Warren a lot. I’ve been tracking her for years, especially after the financial crisis and steps she took to fight back against banks in support of families like mine. I also like that her dream job was teaching special needs kids, and that’s what she did until getting fired for being pregnant. I think she’s genuine in her desire to help, understands the system better than most and is smart as hell, capable of getting it done, and isn’t in it just for reasons of avarice.

She sounds wonderful, I wish she was here (not sarcasm).

[MigL]

E Warren is certainly impressing a lot of people.
And what of these accusations made by H Clinton about T Gabbard, that may now turn out to be a misunderstanding ?
Don't know much about T Gabbard other than she is very attractive and a veteran.