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The Next US President?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I'm sure you are all aware that the selection process for the next US President is underway. It's pretty safe to assume who the Democratic Candidate will be but the Republican race has already started.

With that in mind I figured that I should share one of the insights from a leading Republican candidate:

"Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas." -Rep. Michelle Bachmann, April, 2009

I'm sure that there will be plenty of chance yet to abuse all of the candidates but that's a doozy of a quote.
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm sure you are all aware that the selection process for the next US President is underway.

    Errr..why? We're in the UK. Very few of us pay attention to that sort of thing. We only usually get slightly interested when it comes to the actual election so we can find out who's arse David Cameron will be shoulders-deep in for the next 4 years.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Agreed. Slarti, I don't think many of us know when the next US election is, and as long as the next president isn't some rabid right wing pyscho, most aren't bothered. Obama was and still is a good choice, he is moderate and has intelligence.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I want Rick Perry to win; he organises mass prayer... for rain.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Whowhere wrote: »
    Agreed. Slarti, I don't think many of us know when the next US election is,

    I'm pretty sure that most regular contributors on 'P&D' probably do have an inkling about the upcoming US elections?
    Whowhere wrote: »
    and as long as the next president isn't some rabid right wing pyscho, most aren't bothered.

    I think the chances of that happening are very likely. Bachmann, Perry and (as far as I can tell) all the other Republican candidates are creationists, global-warming-deniers and war mongers.

    Considering the impact that the US has on the world from the economy through to political influence, it's crucial for us to worry as to who is in power, whether a Republican or not. Obama has been moderate but he hasn't really achieved much. The rhetoric of a presidential candidate is a far cry from the real day-to-day battles with the Republicans.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I want Rick Perry to win; he organises mass prayer... for rain.

    And is still doesn't rain. Isn't God wonderful how he listens to our prayers?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    J@ke wrote: »
    And is still doesn't rain. Isn't God wonderful how he listens to our prayers?

    I'm pretty sure God gets to do what he wants.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    J@ke wrote: »
    I'm pretty sure that most regular contributors on 'P&D' probably do have an inkling about the upcoming US elections?

    I really doubt that. We may pay a bit more attention when it comes to the actual election itself but whatever merry-go-ground antics Yankland goes through before that is of little interest to most I reckon.

    J@ke wrote: »
    Considering the impact that the US has on the world from the economy through to political influence, it's crucial for us to worry as to who is in power, whether a Republican or not.

    Little point in worrying. Whoever the yanks vote in, we can be assured our current and future PMs will continue to be shoulders-deep.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Depends on the nominations; Clinton versus Obama was given pretty much blanket coverage in the UK.

    Personally I think people should take an interest in it. One of these fucknuts is going to be president of the US 'cause I don't see old Barack getting a second term.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    One of these fucknuts is going to be president of the US 'cause I don't see old Barack getting a second term.

    You don't reckon Obama'll get in again? While his ratings aren't great, when push comes to shove I can't see the Americans putting in a Rick Perry or a Michele Bachmann - I reckon they're too kooky for run-of-the-mill Republicans.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You don't reckon Obama'll get in again? While his ratings aren't great, when push comes to shove I can't see the Americans putting in a Rick Perry or a Michele Bachmann - I reckon they're too kooky for run-of-the-mill Republicans.

    I think it all depends on the "fear" aspect, which seems to permeate US life. If the Republican Party can generate enough fear in their target vote then they'll win.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The tea party republican thing will split their vote in managing to put forward a serious republican candidate.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    G-Raffe wrote: »
    The tea party republican thing will split their vote in managing to put forward a serious republican candidate.

    Only if TP put someone up against the Republican candidate. If it's a straight race between two candidates - Dem vs. Rep - then my money is on Obama being a one term president.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Obama's been a pretty below average president, failing to deliver on a vision he sold and mired down in his inability to make effective deals with his political opponents (soemthing that Clinton and Bush, theoretically much more divisive figures, managed).

    He'll still probably win because the Republicans seem unable to get their act together; in all elections (not just the US) you very seldom win with the purist candidate who appeals to your party base but by putting up a candidate who can pull votes from the opposition. The candidates the Republicans are putting up are like the Tories putting up Normam Tebbit against Gordon Brown - sure it appeals to the grass roots, but even against a vastly unpopular candidate yours is even more so with the wider electorate.
    It says something that the Republican leadership are hoping for Mitt Romney aa the only realistic contender against Obama... ie the man who lost against the man who lost against Obama in 2008


    To be fair its not just the Republicans, the Democrats did it with Kerry (popular with grass roots activists, but slightly less popular than gum disease with the wider population), or even come to that with the US (look at the French socialists with Royale, the Tories in 2001 and 2005 and Labour with Foot) where parties gaze in on themselves and ignore the voters.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think it all depends on the "fear" aspect, which seems to permeate US life. If the Republican Party can generate enough fear in their target vote then they'll win.

    You mean as so unlike here... :chin: Were you around for any general election between 1974 and 2010? (I'd go earlier, but then you could answer you weren't born).

    Demon eyes, Tory privatisation of the NHS, Vote Blair Get Brown etc, etc

    UK elections are full of the 'fear factor' by all sides (as are every other countries' elections that I know enough about to comment on)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You mean as so unlike here... :chin: Were you around for any general election between 1974 and 2010? (I'd go earlier, but then you could answer you weren't born).

    Demon eyes, Tory privatisation of the NHS, Vote Blair Get Brown etc, etc

    UK elections are full of the 'fear factor' by all sides (as are every other countries' elections that I know enough about to comment on)

    '79 is the earliest I remember ;)

    It often works here too, which is probably partly why Brown did so bad at the last election. It's not like Cameron was offering much of an alternative...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    '79 is the earliest I remember ;)

    It often works here too, which is probably partly why Brown did so bad at the last election. It's not like Cameron was offering much of an alternative...

    Or it doesn't work, here or in the US - as both Brown and McCain tried a similar tactic of claiming now was not the time for a novice to try to scare the voters into voting for them; both failed...

    Though if you look at scare tactics they tend to be used more by the underdogs, (look at 1997 with the demon eyes) as scare tactics are a source of weakness not strength (and politicians know this)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru

    With that in mind I figured that I should share one of the insights from a leading Republican candidate:

    "Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas." -Rep. Michelle Bachmann, April, 2009

    I'm sure that there will be plenty of chance yet to abuse all of the candidates but that's a doozy of a quote.

    This really annoys me when people just don't understand the basics of the carbon cycle and how both carbon dioxide and oxygen go hand in hand in the survival of both plants and animals. The gas causing the problems is carbon MONOXIDE!!!!

    So what she's saying is correct

    The End
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    This really annoys me when people just don't understand the basics of the carbon cycle and how both carbon dioxide and oxygen go hand in hand in the survival of both plants and animals. The gas causing the problems is carbon MONOXIDE!!!!

    So what she's saying is correct

    The End

    A general and metaphorical statement followed by a bald assertion leading to a implausible conclusion that the same person who claimed the recent hurricanes in the US were a manifestation of the Christian deity's anger at government spending is correct in contradiction of scientific consensus.

    I for one welcome our new Chinese overlords :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    A general and metaphorical statement followed by a bald assertion leading to a implausible conclusion that the same person who claimed the recent hurricanes in the US were a manifestation of the Christian deity's anger at government spending is correct in contradiction of scientific consensus.

    I for one welcome our new Chinese overlords :)

    I was only pointing out that the particular statement was in fact true, i was not in any way saying i know of this person or care for any of her politics, THAT is my husbands department for discussion
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    This really annoys me when people just don't understand the basics of the carbon cycle and how both carbon dioxide and oxygen go hand in hand in the survival of both plants and animals. The gas causing the problems is carbon MONOXIDE!!!!

    So what she's saying is correct

    The End

    If we ignore the fact that CO2 levels in the atmosphere are increasing, it's a climate change thing.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Personally, I'm going to be voting for Herman Cain. I was pretty keen about Ron Paul until I learned of his foreign policy and then he took a nose-dive in my eyes. Gary Johnson is a big one in my eyes, but he's been continually ignored and I'm not sure if he holds the same policy on Iran as Paul. I was digging Rick Perry until I learned about his views on immigration reform. Bachmann and Gingrich are hit or miss for me, but they've been able to go tit-for-tat quite well on the economy and policy.

    Then there's Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, whom I never liked and I'm debating if I'd even vote for Obama over them. The concept of that makes me nauseous.

    In regards to Bachmann's comments about carbon dioxide, if you watch the full monologue, she's referring to carbon dioxide on a global level. She's talking about the effects of carbon dioxide on the environment; not on individuals. It's a tad different and makes the issue more open-ended, given that CO2 is actually necessary to our survival.

    On an organic level though, she's still not necessarily wrong. Hypercapnia is serious, but so is hypocapnia.

    In regards to Obama being a 'moderate' and 'intelligent', I'd most sincerely disagree. Barack Obama has been, by far, the most radical progressive president in U.S. history since Woodrow Wilson. I suppose Europe is a good deal more leftist than the U.S., so your perception of 'moderate' may be different, so that's whatever. But intelligent? I suppose you also think Bush was intelligent? They have damn-near identical policies, except Obama did everything Bush did on steroids. Spending more than any president in history doesn't fall under the category of 'intelligent' in my eyes.

    I don't really know what being a creationist has to do with anything, though I've heard nothing from any of the candidates besides Perry and Bachmann on that front. "War monger" is subjective and even in the most progressive lens imaginable, Paul and Johnson can't be stuffed into that category. As for questioning global warming, all the more reason for my support.

    Gotta love all the baseless America hate in this thread though. I'd be flabbergasted to see limeys discuss anything related to the U.S. without acting like supercilious ankle-biters.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Gotta love all the baseless America hate in this thread though. I'd be flabbergasted to see limeys discuss anything related to the U.S. without acting like supercilious ankle-biters.

    I'm not sure I've seen any hate. However, there's certainly some consternation at the Republican presidential candidates - when potential leaders of the world's only superpower have magical underwear and lead mass rain dances I think it's reasonable to be alarmed. Supercilious? Maybe. Baseless? Not at all.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Paranoia comes as standard to many americans when people from other countries aren't on their knees paying homage...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm not sure I've seen any hate. However, there's certainly some consternation at the Republican presidential candidates - when potential leaders of the world's only superpower have magical underwear and lead mass rain dances I think it's reasonable to be alarmed. Supercilious? Maybe. Baseless? Not at all.
    Anti-American - and proud of it.

    Try swapping that with any other nationality/race and see how long before you're banned...

    However, even ignoring that it most of the posters take a 'We're the Greeks and they're the Roman's view' based on a very skewed understanding of American politics and making it seem like the extreme is the ordinary (it would be a bit like discussing UK politics and using Gerry Adams as a typical MP). To be honest the parading of ignorance by Brit posters on this and other threads is often a tad embarrassing...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Gov'ment came and took mah baybee
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Try swapping that with any other nationality/race and see how long before you're banned...

    Hang on a sec. While the first quote you cite is from me - and I stand by it - the second certainly isn't. And I'm not sure where I generalised a nationality or race in order for you to play the "swap in black people" card. I've cited actions or stances taken by two of the at-one-time Republican frontrunners. I suspect you've read it wrong. Or are responding to a position which exists in only your mind.
    However, even ignoring that it most of the posters take a 'We're the Greeks and they're the Roman's view' based on a very skewed understanding of American politics and making it seem like the extreme is the ordinary (it would be a bit like discussing UK politics and using Gerry Adams as a typical MP). To be honest the parading of ignorance by Brit posters on this and other threads is often a tad embarrassing...

    I'm not sure where I've elevated our country or politicians to a standard way above that of the U.S.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hang on a sec. While the first quote you cite is from me - and I stand by it - the second certainly isn't. And I'm not sure where I generalised a nationality or race in order for you to play the "swap in black people" card. I've cited actions or stances taken by two of the at-one-time Republican frontrunners. I suspect you've read it wrong. Or are responding to a position which exists in only your mind.

    I'm not sure where I've elevated our country or politicians to a standard way above that of the U.S.

    Sorry I wasn't meaning to imply it was your quote - I was however replying to your comment about not seeing any hate to point out there is. On a personal view, if you don't know, my wife is American and I can sadly tell you there is an awful lot of anti-American racism in this country; just because someone middle class and reads the Guardian doesn't give them a right to tell my Harvard and Cambridge educated wife that she's a redneck Yank bitch simply because she asked him to give a seat to someone who was pregnant.

    My other comment was less to do you with what you've said on politicians but the general comment about how people take a supercilliouis view (that they're a bunch of dummies whereas us Brits are as smart as a Guardsman's button), which displays their ignorance rather than that of Americans
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Americans who think their country is better than every other in the world and wont take any criticism at all, are a little foolish. Those who give this minority (I assess) of Americans grief, and these grief givers happen to be british, need to learn that Britain is far from perfect as well.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Sorry I wasn't meaning to imply it was your quote - I was however replying to your comment about not seeing any hate to point out there is.

    So who's that second quote from. I can't find it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    So who's that second quote from. I can't find it.

    It's in a sig, so pretty easy to identify
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