Vox Populi – 2-19-2016

Vox Populi, our weekly live chat about the week’s events begins tonight at 7:00pm PST. Hope to see you then!

AdLib 7 days ago

Hey PPO!

AdLib 7 days ago

Agreed! GOP election tomorrow and Nevada Caucus coming!

AdLib 7 days ago

They already are!

AdLib 7 days ago

I remember your article very well! I don’t really know publishers, sorry, wish I could be mnore help.

AdLib 7 days ago

See you then!

AdLib 7 days ago

Hey Murph!

AdLib 7 days ago

Glad you got on easily! Tomorrow’s a big day!

AdLib 7 days ago

Who do you pick to win each primary/caucus?

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – That is a real hassle, wish I could do something to help but like we discussed, it’s an unusual issue on your system. Should be a way to fix it somehow though!

AdLib 7 days ago

I don’t mind the caucuses because though they aren’t great democracy, they throow a curve to establishment candidates. They need to be challenged if at a minimum to hone their skills.

AdLib 7 days ago

Nope, haven’t heard from anyone else that they’ve experienced issues like that. I think this plugin uses Adobe Flash but it may be Java. Have you updated both of those?

AdLib 7 days ago

That’s why I kind of like them now but I’d be okay if they were replaced with primaries.

AdLib 7 days ago

PPO – Heh! He’s tough but he’s the coolest Pope I’ve ever seen.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – Here in CA, we’ve passed automatic registration which greatly improves the primary system. Now we’ve got to see that spread across the country and under a new Dem SCOTUS, get rid of gerrymandering and repair the Voting Rights Act.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – Do you think it was intentional or sloppy journalism?

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – You’d think that voter suppression would be an outrage to all Americans including Repubs who claim to be patriots but it’s all about winning. Hence, Trump.

AdLib 7 days ago

PPO – I’ve seen a mix of SC voters that range from the very sharp to the very clueless, just like NH and probably the US as a whole. To thoose oof us who follow things and understand the game, it’s harder to understand those who are so easily manipulated by obvious attempts.

AdLib 7 days ago

Hey glenn!

AdLib 7 days ago

Hi monica!

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – I’d lean the same way on it, much more profit to be made in shaping that story into a Trump attack.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – It’s no coincidence Repubs want too get rid of the Dept of Education and cut funding for education as a first choice. Look how TX has so dumbed down and propagandized their textbooks, kids down there have a mark against them if they try to apply for any out of state jobs in the future but are programmed well to be Repub Bots.

AdLib 7 days ago

Trump is falling in the SC polls, he’s only showing a lead of 3%-5% oover Cruz! So of course he’s dialed it back, he could get beaten tomorrow!

AdLib 7 days ago

Monica – Thanks for the pic and article! Excellent! Meanwhile, how about all the trash talking from the CBC and black state legislators about how Bernie is such a fraud on protesting foor civil rights?

AdLib 7 days ago

glenn – Once you know it, it doesn’t seem as complicated but your friend is absolutely right, coming in as an outsider…it is confusing!

AdLib 7 days ago

PPO – Bernie isn’t a practicing Jew and he doesn’t really fall in line with Netanyahu so I don’t think he’d get the RW Jewish vote but many Jews are very liberal.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – I see that happening in too many Southern states that are already struggling with education. It’s that concept of teaching a perspective instead of truth.

AdLib 7 days ago

glenn – But…they’re from the UK and grew up under socialized medicine…and apparently lived to tell about it. Why does that frighten them?

AdLib 7 days ago

Hey KT!

AdLib 7 days ago

monica – I have to say, all of the Dem establishment figures who are dishonestly and in a hostile way, trashing Bernie are only validating the opinion of Bernie supporters and indies that the establishment is corrupt and fights to keep control whatever it takes. Some like Jim Clyburn are fine, he is estab and of course supports Hillary but he has been fair for the most part in his required criticisms of Bernie.

AdLib 7 days ago

KT – I think The Pope would crush Trump in a boxing match, Trump has baby hands.

AdLib 7 days ago

glenn – They pay a lot of taxes in the UK but they get free health care and other services so it’s not equivilent to compare to taxes in the US. So, anti-tax and a Trump supporter…kind of answers a few questions.

AdLib 7 days ago

KT – I think many of the Trump supporters, who are clearly rubes for thinking that Trump tells it like it is when he’s lying rampantly, really like him for two main reasons. He’s presents himself as a strongman who can do anything with just the power oof his will and he holds up minorities and “enemies” for them to hate with his permissioon and blame for their lives not turning out as they wanted them to.

AdLib 7 days ago

monica – Yes, no surprise that Clyborn supported Hillary but I think it will be a rude awakening too all the Hillary endorsers that endorsements tooday are meaningless. BTW, have you heard Clyborn’s big complaint about Bernie? He strongly opposes Bernie’s plan for free public college because he’s vested in chanelling more money under Hillary to black and religious colleges. It’s unfortunately a bit corrupt, he would rather students were buried in debt than have some of his contributors at those colleges lose paying students.

AdLib 7 days ago

glenn – yes, it’s always a double standard with Repubs. They used the insult of “Messiah” to denigrate Dems supporting Obama but their mindless lockstep behind Trump no matter how awful the things are that he says proves it was just projection from them. They crave authoritarian figures, dictators (like Putin who they compliment) who would undemocratically enforce their beliefs on the country. They call themselves “patriots” but you just have to remember that whenever Repubs use a term for something, it means just the opposite.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – not saying that there aren’t meaningful contributions by black and religious colleges, I know that in the past they were so necessary and even today, with Affirmative Action challenged, they matter but that should not be the reason one opposes burdening those students and all other students with insurmoountable debt. What good is it preparing to live in the middle class when your school debt prevents you from ever realizing it?

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – Agree about Scalia which is why the comment I posted first after hearing it was being pleased by the news. He has profoundly harmed this natioon and its democracy through Bush v. Gore, Citizens United and so much more.

AdLib 7 days ago

No crocodile tears from me oover that reptile named Scalia.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – And if public schools in the South were free?

AdLib 7 days ago

monica, though I think it is a legit argument to say Cruz isn’t a Natural Born Citizen, I think the SCOTUS would rule decidedly in his favor, under the principle that it is better to err on the side of inclusiveness than an unspecified exclusivity.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – We have free public schools through grade 12. Free college doesn’t mean unpaid, Bernie’s plan is to tax Wall Street transactions to have them pay for it to be free to the public, as property taxes are levied to make public school “free” up to 12th grade.

AdLib 7 days ago

glenn – It is what happens in competitions, sports, politics, etc., whoever is the opponent, even if they have been on goood terms previously, become tribal and a certain percentage become overly hostile. Hillary supporters can point at many examples of hostility towards them by Bernie supporters and vice-versa. As you say, it is not productive to ever get personal over politics.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – But Dem SCOTUS judges don’t all believe it is about original intent, some believe in the Constitution as a living document that needs to be applied under modern day perspectives.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – I think that’s where you and a number of folks misunderstand the thrust of Bernie’s candidacy. He is about a long term movement to change government and press his proposals over a period of time. Neither Bernie nor Hillary will get anything meaningful passed through the House so it’s a bit insincere for the Hillary campaign to attack Bernie as “pie in the sky” when all of their proposals are just as “pie in the sky” with a Hillary-hating Repub House in place.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – It’s easy to knock down any proposal by saying it will be knocked down. We could have said the same about universal health care and never attempted that either.

AdLib 7 days ago

Hey Harleigh!

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – Agree with you that barring a miracle with an imploding Trump campaign that somehow tips the House, it will more likely take redistricting in 2020…or a Dem SCOTUS that strikes down gerrymandered districts…to allow for Dems to retake The House.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – The problem is, Hillary doesn’t convince me that she can build coalitions…without triangulating and giving important wins to the GOP.

AdLib 7 days ago

Harleigh – And just in time, we may have the SCOTUS we need to derail gerrymandering.

AdLib 7 days ago

My proposition is that Hillary could be riskier in being a one-termer if she wins this year. If she does indeed make compromises with the GOP as she keeps saying she will, on issue after issue, will Dems be as motivated to re-elect her as Repubs will be to replace her in 2020?

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – I understand the position that Bernie isn’t a deal maker. What deals did Hillary make as Senator?

AdLib 7 days ago

KT – Maybe so but maybe not. Bill was all about triangulating and Hillary was in step with that. Hillary started her campaign by attacking Obama, now she is glued to his side. I have to confess, I can’t say for certain where she will end up after winning the Presidency, let alone in the GE. Don’t you think she’ll move away from the far Left and to the middle if she gets the nom and is in the GE?

AdLib 7 days ago

Yes PPO , we’ll be here tomorrow but on an election thread.

AdLib 7 days ago

Monica – I think a Dem win this year is very likely but I think 2020 really poses a more likely win for a Repub…if they find a good candidate to run. Neither Bernie nor Hillary will get much done if they win, wouldn’t be unlikely for there to be economic problems or world issues that go bad on their watch. Repubs will try the same stonewalling tactic…2020 will be a tough year for Dems so we need a Dem Senate and Pres this year to change the balance on the SCOTUS…that’s the biggest thing I think either could accomplish in the next 4 years.

AdLib 7 days ago

I think we may see a Carson…and very possibly, a Bush exit after tomorrow! WHo would have ever guessed Jeb would be out so soon? Maybe he stays in till the SEC primaries but he’s definitely done after them!

AdLib 7 days ago

monica – I am coompletely open to that possibility, my proposition was based on what I think is very possible but not an absoolute. Despite the gerrymadering, I think that it is even possible that The House could change hands if Trump or Cruz is the nom and self-destructs before Nov. Then, watch out!

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – Even if the GOP had a mild candidate, 2020 could be solely a referendum on the Dem President and not on the strength of the Repub candidate so Repubs could win in such an environment. Then again, if the Dem President can get a couple of real things done, that window could be closed.

AdLib 7 days ago

glenn – It is a possibility, not a big one but a legit one. If Dem and indie turnout swarms Repub turnout, if Repubs become discouraged by a failing Repub campaign for President, if it looks over before the election, maybe Repubs could be overwhelmed enough to lose enough House seats. A long shoot but not impossible.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – So Hillary or Bernie would only try for one term? Or there would be a contested primary?

AdLib 7 days ago

KT – And that is a possibility if the Repubs run Trump or Cruz, both have very limited appeal, even within their own party! If they self-destructed in October and angered and scared Dems, such a sweeping turnout from Dems could happen!

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – Do you think Bloomberg will run?

AdLib 7 days ago

I doubt Warren would agree to run as Bernie’s or Hillary’s VP. As I’ve mentioned before, I like Julian Castro as VP possibility. Need a big Latino turnout and he’s a sharp guy.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – I think the best thing that can happen for Dems is for Bernie to win in Nevada tomorrow. Then Hillary wins in SC and the battle will go on for many weeks, past the deadlines in some states for Bloomberg to get on the balloot. He would need a quick knockout to feel he had a chance…and he would never win anyway but to keep him out for certain, we need a longer contested primary.

AdLib 7 days ago

monica – That is very cool, well done!

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – That would be a great thing! The GOP establishment has very limited power over the race but they can narrow it more in SC. But Trump supporters will bounce back in Nevada and the SEC primaries! Trump will be very hard to stop, he may not succeed in getting a majority of delegates and get screwed in a brokered convention…then the Repub base might revolt and not vote, opening the door for Dems to win back The Senate AND The House!

AdLib 7 days ago

Harleigh, we’ll have an election thread tomorrow, Vox is every Friday night!

AdLib 7 days ago

So Murph, what does that say when Repub backers see Hillary as the best alternative after Rubio and Bush? Might they know that she will be more sympathetic to them as President?

AdLib 7 days ago

KT – I agree, I don’t like the nastier toone in the Dem primary but there’s no stopping it now. We all remember how nasty it got in 2008. I’m not trying to put this all on Hillary but the worst attacks are coming from her and Bernie is hitting back hard too. She is trying to make the primary about his ineligibility now, not being a Dem, not telling the truth about being involved in civil rights, not being honest about his proposals, etc. Her camp now expresses the same meme, “Hillary has been vetted for decades, no more vetting of her is needed. It’s Bernie who needs to be vetted.” This sets up a more hostile dynamic.

AdLib 7 days ago

Murph – That’s not to say Bernie hasn’t been harsh about Hillary, Bill and Obama. Even if it is a counter-punch, it’s still a punch and while I agree with him on Bill, I don’t go along with all oof his criticisms of Obama.

AdLib 7 days ago

monica – Same here, I don’t like seeing Hillary using the same classic estab politics against Bernie and it angers me but she is just doing what has been done for decades.

AdLib 7 days ago

We all came together after the 2008 war between Hillary and Obama, I don’t think this year will be as bad, we’ll come together after it all.

AdLib 7 days ago

monica – Agreed, which is why it’s kind of deja vu for Hillary to lose her massive lead.

AdLib 7 days ago

Always a pleasure, monica!

AdLib 7 days ago