Vox Populi – 7-17-2015

Happy Friday! Vox Populi, our weekly live chat on the week’s events starts at 7:00pm PDT. Hope to see you then!

AdLib 8 hours ago

Don’t forget to say “Peace Prez” or “Hi!” when you arrive!

AdLib 4 hours ago

Hey glenn! Same here!

AdLib 4 hours ago

What’s up Harleigh?

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glenn – It’s really mindblowing to think of all of the huge accomplishments Obama has accomplished in his 8 years. Especially compared to the last President. Obama has cemented his place in history as one of our best Presidents.

AdLib 4 hours ago

Harleigh – AIPAC is out of luck. Is is me or have the Israelis been destroying their image and influence by being such nutters over this Iran deal?

AdLib 4 hours ago

glenn – It was a ridiculous attention getting stunt by the BS filled HP. A way to keep covering Trump’s every word while trying to act like they’re not the sniveling panderers they are…and also knowing that maybe Trump will attack them back and help promote them across the MSM. And he did insult them but only HP covered it as a story. How messed up is that and how scummy is HP?

AdLib 4 hours ago

Harleigh – I don’t believe Trump is not worth 10 billion, he lies about everything and exaggerates constantly. If he submits his financials, he’ll be proven a liar. But being that he’s leading the pack in the GOP, he may feel it’s worth it to take the hit (he’s often exposed as a liar and brushes it off) and keep the biggest platform for bragging about himself as long as he can.

AdLib 4 hours ago

Hey slm!

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Harleigh – Absolutely, this blind loyalty to Israel’s policies is moronic. They are an ally but when their leaders are such liars and war mongers, they should be treated as such. Of course, Repubs are looking into a mirror so they like what they see. But that weasel Chuck Schumer has already said he would vote against Obama on the Iran agreement. And he’s going to be the next leader for the Dems in the Senate. He is so corrupt, don’t expect a lot of good things from him.

AdLib 4 hours ago

Hey PPO!

AdLib 4 hours ago

Hi Sabreen!

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slm – That’s exactly what I’m thinking, Trump is nowhere near worth what he claims. But being #1 in the polls may make him willing to expose that…then lie about it and still claim he’s worth $10 billion.

AdLib 4 hours ago

PPO – Ross Perot wasn’t a flash in the pan. He got the biggest percentage of a Presidential vote an indie has in modern times. He did trip and fall in his campaign then have to come back but Trump can’t fall amongst the GOP idjits, his whole campaign is about saying the wrong things so he can’t falter as Perot did.

AdLib 4 hours ago

slm – We depend on products from many countries, including Saudi Arabia and other ME countries. The problem is that in general, pols don’t want to ever stand on principle against money or political advantage.

AdLib 3 hours ago

glenn – The only reason these pols are against the deal is for political reasons. Dems like Schumer are locked arm-in-arm with Israel and would never say a word or act against what they want. Repubs have been against every Obama accomplishment since he was inaugurated (except the TPP for obvious reasons) so they just spout all kinds of crap to justify their kneejerk opposition. The bottom line is, it’s either negotiate an agreement or try to bomb Iran into doing just what the Israelis want and that will never happen. It’s a false proposition and the war mongers in Israel and here know that, it would be an endless war. Iran has had their nuke program attacked militarily, economically and even cyberattacked but it continues. These warmongers know that.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Harleigh – Rubio wants to maintain a war against Cuba that didn’t work for decades. He’s got the mind of a child. A very thirsty child.

AdLib 3 hours ago

slm – Great to have your expertise and perspective on this. It is a slimy part of our nation’s structure, for political reasons. The Merchants of Death have slyly and strategically spread out their operations around the US so that any attempt to cut military spending can be used to outrage all Americans at the loss of jobs in their states. And this kind of thing happens with other countries like Israel too. In order to keep this leverage over our democracy, the military manufacturing corps bribe Congress to approve all kinds of wasteful spending so they can make a fortune and increase military jobs around the US. Income security for them, financial insecurity for the rest of the nation.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Rubio is such a sham as a candidate, he’s not very bright, has no vision, has adopted all the old classic Repub positions as “new” and can’t control his thirst when in public like a 4 year old, “Mommy, I’m thirsty!” He reminds me of a 2016 version of Dan Quayle.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Sabreen – Very sad to say but Schumer is taking Reid’s place and the Dems in the Senate will be pulled towards the right and protecting Wall Street when that happens. Not a good future for Progressives and most Dems.

AdLib 3 hours ago

As glenn mentioned above, how ridiculous has HP gotten that in order to justify its gobbling up every word that Trump says and putting it on their front page, they say, “We don’t think anything he says is serious so we’re tagging it as Entertainment.” And they run that as their top news story! HP finds new ways to jump more and more sharks.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Hey Murph!

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Harleigh, I think Webb is just trying to get a gig at Fox News after the election as their token Democrat who can be counted on to crap all over Dems.

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Murph – What would organizing have anything to do with Trump’s candidacy?

AdLib 3 hours ago

Murph – As expected, who else would be going crazy over a racist candidate but Tea Partiers?

AdLib 3 hours ago

slm – That’s why I think all Dems should be pleased about Bernie being in the race. He is activating the grass roots that no other Dem candidate is and if Hillary wins as she probably will, they will add to the Dem’s numbers at the polls.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Murph – Yep, the silver spoon millionaire (I don’t know that he really is a billionaire) is “the real deal”. Simple minds need simple thoughts to process.

AdLib 3 hours ago

What would be the top 5 things President Trump would do on his first day as President?

AdLib 3 hours ago

My top 5 things President Trump would do on his first day: 1. Change the name of The White House to “The Trump Castle”. 2. Offer the position of First Lady to the winner of Ms. Universe. 3. Change the design of paper money so it says, “In Trump We Trust”. 4. Fire Congress and hire low paid Chinese to take their places. 5. Make it a federal offense punishable by life imprisonment to make fun of his hair.

AdLib 3 hours ago

I think Trump might want to pick someone like Joe Arpaio as his VP so they can go hunting Mexicans on their vacation.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Murph – Still think Kasich is going to be a front runner? He’s not going to qualify to even be in the first Fox debate. I think he’s in big trouble of getting knocked out quickly.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Hey KT!

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Murph – How long do you think any candidate can last in a race when they can’t make the cut to appear in debates? Who’s going to keep financing someone who can’t get national exposure?

AdLib 3 hours ago

Murph – That may be too late for those who don’t make the debate, they will already be tagged as the 2nd/Lower Tier candidates. And actually, I think Fox is loving having this power over who the GOP nominates. This was an original goal for Murdoch and Ailes when Fox News started up.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Computer issue, will be out and back in a jiffy!

AdLib 3 hours ago

slm – Yes but money likes winners and if they see a bunch of Repubs can’t even get into debates, they will jump ship.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Murph – I think the GOP is over, hence the importance of extreme gerrymandering and Voter ID laws. The only way they can hold onto power is by cheating which actually means, they no longer can win fairly as a major party.

AdLib 3 hours ago

slm – Yes but consider this. If the candidate that ulttimately wins has been the opponent of the weak candidate they supported, what influence will they have over that candidate? These guys have no loyalty, once they see it is a losing battle, they’ll buy up stock in the winner because they want leverage.

AdLib 3 hours ago

KT – Not unless they win the WH. That’s why a Dem winning the WH, for the SCOTUS picks, is so important.

AdLib 3 hours ago

Night glenn, have a great weekend!

AdLib 3 hours ago

If the Dems get a strong turnout, and with the Latino vote energized against the GOP and the youth vote stirred up by Bernie, I think the Dems have the advantage in regaining control of the Senate. If so and a Dem President gets to replace SCOTUS judges, that will be an ideal situation.

AdLib 2 hours ago

There’s supposed to be the first Dem debate in Aug/Sept but couldn’t find details.

AdLib 2 hours ago

KT – That won’t affect the Senate races, those are statewide elections so gerrymandering doesn’t affect them.

AdLib 2 hours ago

I can absolutely imagine a Dem sweep in 2016 that brings in a Dem Senate, since Repubs have so many more seats up for election than Dems.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Murph, yep, just as I found, few details on the Dem debates. They’re being a bit casual about it, don’t you think?

AdLib 2 hours ago

KT – Well, we can at least hope many of them realize their dream of going to White Heaven over the next year and a half.

AdLib 2 hours ago

slm – The Hillary campaign is actually admitting they’re worried about Bernie. Much safer feeling to be the surging outsider who was never expected to do well than the establishment candidate who has to fight off the sense of entitlement to the nom.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Only Hillary can be embarassed by the results in IA and NH, Bernie will either be energized or scrappier.

AdLib 2 hours ago

PPO – How about, first Repub candidate to score in the triple digits on their IQ test wins the nom?

AdLib 2 hours ago

PPO – It is clearly a David and Goliath race. Hillary has so much on her side and even though Bernie is doing well, she remains so far ahead of him. I think that many of those supporting Bernie are supporting him for the issues he represents but I think many are ready to accept that he would have to beat enormous odds to win. The only problem is what Kes mentioned on my post, if the Hillary supporters push things as the PUMAs in 2008 did, and get nasty towards the Bernie supporters, they may discourage many potential Hillary voters in the GE.

AdLib 2 hours ago

PPO – You’re right! Reverse that, the one with the lowest IQ wins the GOP nom!

AdLib 2 hours ago

slm – This is the challenge for Hillary. If she is only pretending to support Progressive positions but in the GE, goes back to her DLC positions, she will lose many of those young voters.

AdLib 2 hours ago

PPO – That’s what Hillary’s strategy has been but many Progressives, especially younger ones, don’t buy her conversion, seeing it as convenient and temporary. Personally, I see it just as a strategic move, I don’t have confidence that she will retain those positions in a GE or when President. So, best to hold her feet to the fire as long and hard as possible so it’s harder for her to slip out from under them and Bernie’s candidacy is doing that.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Murph – Hillary didn’t come out of Bill’s Presidency looking good. And take away the surplus from the Clinton record, which was because of the dot com boon, not his policies, and his Presidency was pretty bad for most Americans.

AdLib 2 hours ago

“Dot com boom” that is.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Night Harleigh!

AdLib 2 hours ago

Murph – Killing Glass–Steagall, NAFTA, Welfare reform, DOMA, on and on. His triangulation made the Clinton Presidency a virtual Republican Presidency.

AdLib 2 hours ago

I think if you put the accomplishments of Obama beside those of Bill Clinton, again, not crediting him for something he wasn’t responsible for, the booming economy because of the once-in-a-lifetime commercialization of the internet, Obama far exceeds Clinton on Progressive issues.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Murph – I don’t know, white conservatives may have voted for Clinton but I don’t think they voted for Obama.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Murph – And with the killing of Glass–Steagall leading to the crash of 2008, I think Clinton’s Presidency is capped with a very dark result.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Murph – That’s a very good point, I agree with that, by being Repub-Lite, Clinton and the DLC did change the image of the Dems to being much closer to Repubs and more palatable. But I would propose that the election of Obama had nothing to do with that, I think the disasters of Bush pushed the nation to look elsewhere. Voting for Obama is just the opposite of what Clinton did, he tried to make the Dem party look more similar to the GOP. But voting for a black man named Barack Hussein Obama? That is about as far away from Republican as you can get…and without Bush driving voters away from the GOP for anyone but a Republican, I don’t know that he would have won.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Murph – And I’d even suggest that great damage was done to the country by Clinton’s pulling the Dem party over so far right to win over white conservatives. In 2000, enough Dem and indie voters complained that there didn’t seem to be much of a difference between the two parties so they felt okay to vote for that moderate Repub Bush or Nader. Had the Dems stayed defined as very different from Repubs, Nader may not have gotten the votes he did and Al Gore might have faught off the coup that pushed Bush into the WH.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Seeya PPO!

AdLib 2 hours ago

slm – I’m sure there are some people who voted for Bill Clinton but today are haters of Obama.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Murph – The thing is, the “center” as defined by politics and money is disconnected from the center that the American People are at.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Night Murph!

AdLib 2 hours ago

slm – The problem is that most Americans are not very activist. They have to be in very desperate situations before they will step up.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Look how far the wealthy have been able to push the 99% as it is and the 99% is more depressed and stressed than angry enough at them to protest.

AdLib 2 hours ago

But look at Greece and Europe in general, activism is a part of their society. They go out in the streets when they’re upset.

AdLib 2 hours ago

slm – Nope, it will take time and as you say, growing up knowing that life won’t be as good for them as it was for their parents is a hell of a motivator.

AdLib 2 hours ago

slm – Time is on our side. More old RWs with petrified minds die out, more Progressive young people become adults. There will be a breaking point, when this oligarchy is confronted by the majority, not in the streets but with ballots. It won’t be this election but it will come.

AdLib 2 hours ago

slm – Pot is being legalized in state after state, gay marriage is the law of the land, we have virtually universal healthcare and the Confederate flag is being taken down in the South. The nation is moving forward despite the corruption of our system. We need to go a lot further but I think we will.

AdLib 2 hours ago

slm – I don’t blame the people, I blame the politicians who have collaborated with the wealthy to override the will of the people. But it is the people who have to come together to overpower them and set things right.

AdLib 2 hours ago

I will now, what’s the score?

AdLib 2 hours ago

Is it at Angel Stadium?

AdLib 2 hours ago

Apathy sucks but we do have a system that doesn’t make voting as important as it should. Everyone should be pre-registered when they’re 18, why not? Voting should be on the weekend, over a week or there should be a holiday, as many democracies do it. Instead, we have a campaign to make registering and voting difficult and as you say, the whispers of the wealthy to the many that their votes don’t matter.

AdLib 2 hours ago

Watching the game now!

AdLib 2 hours ago

Into the 9th inning!

AdLib 2 hours ago

That will be hard for Bernie to overcome, aside from everything else. Many women, especially older women, have dreamed of living to see the first woman President. It will be difficult to convice that strong segment of the Dem Party to vote for another man instead, regardless of the policy differences. And with Hillary adopting most of Bernie’s positions, it’s even harder.

AdLib an hour ago

I don’t think there’s a plan to such an extent, Bernie didn’t know he would catch fire. I agree though, his presence in the race has been and will be important past this election. He keeps that Progressive segment going and growing and hopefully there for Warren if she runs.

AdLib an hour ago

It seems like an obvious game, everyone in the MSM knows what Hillary’s doing. Her Wall Street friends keep donating to her so they’re not taking her threats seriously. She wouldn’t be as bad as a Repub but she wouldn’t be as good as a moderate like Obama, let alone as good as a Progressive like Bernie or Warren.

AdLib an hour ago

I want to wait to make my final decision, as I did when eventually choosing Obama in 2008, but voting for Bernie would be much more in line with my positions than voting for Hillary…which I can pretty much say I’m not going to do in a primary.

AdLib an hour ago

If Biden gets in, I’d be interested to see a debate that he and Bernie were in,

AdLib an hour ago

Yep, even if people don’t know the details, they know that the money is going to the wealthy and not them or others like them. But activating that frustration is the key.

AdLib an hour ago

So are you set on voting for Bernie in the primaries?

AdLib an hour ago

If Hillary wins and the least that she does to really push Progressive policies is change the balance on the SCOTUS to 5-4 moderates, that could be good enough until a comitted Progressive is President.

AdLib an hour ago

Game!

AdLib an hour ago

That’s the way to end a scoreless game!

AdLib an hour ago

Right, it is a long path and decisions that recognize that pay off.

AdLib an hour ago

Still, that was a close game!

AdLib an hour ago

I like Bernie’s being the candidate of Progressives, I think it’s unlikely that he can beat Hillary in the end but he can infuse Progressivism in her by fighting her aloing the way so in a way, Bernie will still win for his supporters even if he doesn’t win the nom.

AdLib an hour ago

Indeed!

AdLib an hour ago

I’m not saying he can’t beat her, just think it will be very hard for him to do so. But I want him in there fighting the fight the best he can.

AdLib an hour ago

slm – I recognize the difference in them compared to the older Dems but they don’t outnumber the older Dems yet so it is an uphill battle this time around. But by the next presidential election, not as much.

AdLib an hour ago

I agree. This is the future of the Dem Party, where it’s headed. Like all the other movements, it may not happen yet but it will eventually happen as long as people keep caring.

AdLib an hour ago

Hey Funk! Well, better late than never!

AdLib an hour ago

Yes, that seems to be the way real change takes place. In fits and starts but in the end, it takes a long time then things can change suddenly.

AdLib an hour ago

Funk – Yep, there seems to be a phenomenon developing where Dems supporting Hillary are getting really unpleasant about Bernie even running against her.

AdLib an hour ago

As Kes mentioned, it’s reminiscent of the PUMA situation.

AdLib an hour ago

In 2008.

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It reeks a little of entitlement, that Hillary is owed the Presidency and Bernie is a horrible person for trying to deny it to her.

AdLib an hour ago

I know many women want to see the first woman President and many feel that Hillary was screwed in 2008 by Obama winning instead and that she is owed the nom. But that’s not Progressive thinking.

AdLib an hour ago

Funk – I don’t know, it sure feels like that when you hear the same kinds of strident attacks by them against Bernie and anyone who supports him.

AdLib an hour ago

Funk – But if they are so confident that Hillary is the best candidate, why are they so upset about her proving that? At least, that’s some simple logic. And Democrats are Liberals…and moderates and conservatives. But all people are vulnerable to being intolerant when they’re not getting what they want.

AdLib an hour ago

slm – During the 2008 election, while I was still at HP, the majority there were together on supporting Obama. After he was elected, many of us moved to another site after HP became more of a corporate, restrictive site. And you wouldn’t believe how horrible these recent allies became once the common enemies of Bush and McCain/Palin were gone. People are people and just being liberal or Dem doesn’t change how uncivil and small minded someone can be.

AdLib an hour ago

slm – That’s why we started The Planet, to be a site you don’t need to expose your personal info on via Facebook or put up with hostile and intolerant people.

AdLib an hour ago

And they carry that gospel with them.

AdLib 44 minutes ago

On this site? The Planet?

AdLib 43 minutes ago

slm – When Bush and the Repubs ran this country, I was very aggressive about my opposition to them and what our country was doing. Israel is in the same situation, they are being run by warmongers and liars but I always make the point that it is the Israeli leadership that I am opposed to, not the people.

AdLib 40 minutes ago

Funk – Noticed what?

AdLib 38 minutes ago

You too Funk, thanks for stopping in!

AdLib 38 minutes ago

Funk – Right, and when our members who spend time there come here, they spout the same unpleasantries about Bernie and his supporters.

AdLib 37 minutes ago

Heh!

AdLib 36 minutes ago

I just don’t understand how people who complain about emos can become a different version of emos.

AdLib 35 minutes ago

Funk – Of course, because one group is intolerant of those who see things differently and the other…er…

AdLib 34 minutes ago

Funk – My concern is more that good people are being convinced into becoming emo-like against Bernie and Dems who don’t agree with them.

AdLib 33 minutes ago

And betraying the Dem Party by opposing something Obama supports.

AdLib 32 minutes ago

slm – Nope, even that won’t help Trump.

AdLib 31 minutes ago

Funk – A very sensible position. I’m leaning towards Bernie right now, barring an entry by Biden, I won’t vote for Hillary in the primary but absolutely would if she won the nom, no Repubs in the WH please!

AdLib 30 minutes ago

slm – I thought it was a hallmark of Progressive thinking to use critical thinking. To be honest in your view of the world around you, no matter the party involved. That’s Repub thinking to me, that your party can do no wrong and that anyone who doesn’t toe the party line is a heretic.

AdLib 27 minutes ago

Funk – I’m saying something very similar about Bernie, that his campaigning on Progressive policies is making them viewed more mainstream, especially because Hillary is being forced to adopt them to undercut him. That works for me.

AdLib 25 minutes ago

Funk – I know, from the start of The Planet, we had to hold the line against those who wanted trolls here so they could go back to throwing their feces around as they did at HP. It does attract more people to have a car accident but it’s easier on the drivers and passengers not to get into constant crashes.

AdLib 24 minutes ago

slm – Yes, please do email it to me and I’ll upload the video.

AdLib 23 minutes ago

Funk – When you arrived, we were just talking about how trying to change a society can be a long road but you need people passing the torch as the movement grows. If Bernie forces Hillary to commit to Progressive views then Warren or another true Progressive comes along to carry that torch in 2024, we’ll be closer to that goal.

AdLib 20 minutes ago

Funk – One last thing I mentioned earlier, if the only Progressive thing Hillary accomplishes is shifting the SCOTUS balance away from the RW, that will be huge.

AdLib 19 minutes ago

PPO – Heh! To win the Presidency, Trump would need at least 40% of the Latino vote. He’s got 13% and falling. Adios, Trumpos!

AdLib 17 minutes ago

Funk – They are just campaign promises though, worth the paper they’re not printed on. I fully expect Hillary to reverse herself on a number of them come the GE. But again, as long as it’s not a Repub in the WH, Progressives will gain.

AdLib 16 minutes ago

PPO – slm deserves the most props on stamina! Only 10:30pm for me, it’s 1:30am for slm!

AdLib 15 minutes ago

Funk – I wonder…I don’t think he expected to become the front runner and now that he is, I wonder if he will endure the embarassment of being proven a liar about being worth $10 billion just to keep that big stage for himself and the dream…that maybe he can become President.

AdLib 13 minutes ago

Night Funk! Have a great weekend!

AdLib 12 minutes ago

slm – Maybe. Either way, Trump doesn’t have any conscience about lying so it wouldn’t be as big of a deal to him.

AdLib 11 minutes ago

slm – My pleasure, same to you, thanks for the very enjoyable chat! And I know you were joking!

AdLib 10 minutes ago

Wow, that is a lot to have to deal with. You’re a great friend to be there for him right now. Good luck, hope you get a good night’s sleep and things work out the best they can for your friend.

AdLib 3 minutes ago

I agree.

AdLib 2 minutes ago

Night slm!

AdLib a minute ago