johnny karate
... and your little dog too.
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Weird take, but okay.
Merged 2024 Election Thread
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Weird take, but okay.
johnny karate
... and your little dog too.
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Every president has unfulfilled campaign promises, for various reasons. Focusing solely on that doesn’t give us a complete picture. Comparing successes and failures side by side does.
Tero
Philosopher
We had a pandemic. He had a congress to work with for 2 years. He brought us out of the pandemic in ways that were well beyond expected.
It's not Biden's fault there was a MAGA that took over and is running things as slowly as possible so that "Trump can close the border." We've never had an ex-president run congress before.
The Great Zaganza
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I'm sorry?
Is Biden President by Divine Right?
If he made a promise, I get to hold him accountable for that - if not him, then who?
People still don't get that the more power someone has, the more it is everyone's obligation to permanently hold him to the highest possible standards, and give him constant **** for not doing better. That's the only signal strong enough to make it past the bubble that is intrinsic in any hierarchy top level.
That is, of course, unless enough people constantly make excuses and complain that others are not differential enough to The Leader.
Biden could and should do better, and the more we push him now to make visible changes, the better his chances of a second term. What he is doing about Gaza is effectively nothing, and what he is doing at the Border is just despicable
Staying quiet and not having anyone motivated come November is a recipe for certain defeat.
It's just so naive to think that people don't realize that they have been failed if you don't tell them.
Is Biden President by Divine Right?
If he made a promise, I get to hold him accountable for that - if not him, then who?
People still don't get that the more power someone has, the more it is everyone's obligation to permanently hold him to the highest possible standards, and give him constant **** for not doing better. That's the only signal strong enough to make it past the bubble that is intrinsic in any hierarchy top level.
That is, of course, unless enough people constantly make excuses and complain that others are not differential enough to The Leader.
Biden could and should do better, and the more we push him now to make visible changes, the better his chances of a second term. What he is doing about Gaza is effectively nothing, and what he is doing at the Border is just despicable
Staying quiet and not having anyone motivated come November is a recipe for certain defeat.
It's just so naive to think that people don't realize that they have been failed if you don't tell them.
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Delvo
Дэлво Δε&#
...especially given that I also just found out that his biggest donors are also big Trump donors!
Certainly his donors & top staff are convinced he'll take more votes from Biden than from Trump, or at least were when they made those decisions months ago. I'm not sure where they got that from, since the latest thing I saw pointed the other way. Maybe what's happening here is that the surveys have recently turned: they once showed that Kennedy would take more from Biden (because people see/hear his name and think "Democrat") but his support has shifted more from Democrats to Republicans as people have gotten to know him better and realize that he's more like a Republican. If so, then he might start to lose staff/funding from people who've been with him so far for Republican reasons.
Stacyhs
Penultimate Amazing
Calling Biden "senile" is not criticizing him; it's repeating false GOP rhetoric.
Stacyhs
Penultimate Amazing
Since when has ANY president fulfilled every one of his campaign promises even with a super majority in both Houses? If you're expecting that, then you've got a loooooooooong wait.
The Great Zaganza
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Hey, it's the Candidate who sets the expectations.
Should we really just accept that, like Trump, we have to elect someone because of their vibes instead of the Party Program they claim they want to enact?
We are in a race to the bottom when it comes to holding Politicians accountable, and it looks like everyone has just accepted that as inevitable.
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stanfr
Illuminator
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Can you be specific? Cause depending on who you ask he is either way too harsh or way too lenient with border policy. One thing is for sure, he would have quickly signed the comprehensive immigration bill were it not for Trump derailing it, so it would not harm his narrative of Biden letting in all the rapists and terrorists...
Stacyhs
Penultimate Amazing
Yep...and not a single one has EVER been able to meet all those expectations because...ya know...real life things come up like the opposition party blocking things, Supreme Courts, international and domestic crises, etc.
When you have unrealistic expectations, you're going to be disappointed.
Stacyhs
Penultimate Amazing
Oh, the sweet, sweet irony...
stanfr
Illuminator
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This just makes me wanna rant, so I gotta rant:
It *is* inevitable, when the vast majority of the voting public is incapable of critical thinking, of questioning and being willing to change their own worldview in the face of hard facts.
While I and many others once thought the internet, real time world communication and social media would set us all free from cults and tribal thinking, in fact it has clearly created and enforced a more divided society and the proliferation of absurd beliefs and ridiculous worldviews.
There is no way to reason or convince large segments of the population who have literally been brainwashed by the virtual outlets of their choosing. It's not progress that an entire half of our outdated two-party system, which has long been controlled by both power and wealth, has now been hijacked by medieval philosophy not much better than the Qanon cult.
I just was watching a 1980 interview with Trump, posted by some far right group, in which he denied any interest in running for office, and said that leaders never got there due to their smarts, but due to their smile. The ultimate irony, given how incredibly stupid he has proven to be, and the fact that his only path to leadership was due to his charisma and celebrity status.
It all makes me think that, since the American Experiment is dead, perhaps we should use our latest evil technology, AI (of course) to pick our leaders. Throw out the stupid and pointless 'democratic' election process, which is still dominated by power and wealth, and replace it with a simple AI pick. Put all the models together into one super model (trump would love that), let it ingest the information from every citizen, and then based on its algorithm of determining overall intelligence, leadership ability, empathic potential, real world accomplishments, diverse knowledge, ability to arbitrate and make tough decisions, stamina etc etc...maybe even throw in how big their smile is if it helps...and then pick the one overall candidate who is most qualified for the job, assuming they want it. Then there can be no complaining or whining--just let our AI overlord decide! We have the friggin technology, let's use it
End of rant...
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Sherkeu
Illuminator
Normal independent voters can see what we see.
We hear what we hear.
Perhaps senile is too specific and not a responsible or ethical claim.
I wouldn't make any exaggerated diagnosis (as I am not his doctor) other than I think most rational people can see the marked decline. It has progressed significantly since he ran in 2020...and gets worse...and worse. ...and now much worse.
It is not rare for this mental decline- for even the most healthy of men or women.. (eta) at a certain age - usually not seen until over 70 but much more common over 80
GIVE ME SOMEONE UNDER 65 PLEASE.
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The Great Zaganza
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I'll let an immigration lawyer explain it:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...uanced-explainer/id1147092464?i=1000658137311
I think the border stuff starts at 13:30
But let it just sink in that Biden, who used the carrot of a tougher border deal to get Republicans on board to aid Ukraine, and then didn't have to when Republicans messed up and had to pass the aid regardless ...
... then decided that he wanted the tougher border rules anyway, with no quid-pro-quo ... why?
There was no need for this at all.
It is just Biden wanting tougher treatment of migrants.
Sherkeu
Illuminator
This just makes me wanna rant, so I gotta rant:
It *is* inevitable, when the vast majority of the voting public is incapable of critical thinking, of questioning and being willing to change their own worldview in the face of hard facts.
While I and many others once thought the internet, real time world communication and social media would set us all free from cults and tribal thinking, in fact it has clearly created and enforced a more divided society and the proliferation of absurd beliefs and ridiculous worldviews.
There is no way to reason or convince large segments of the population who have literally been brainwashed by the virtual outlets of their choosing. It's not progress that an entire half of our outdated two-party system, which has long been controlled by both power and wealth, has now been hijacked by medieval philosophy not much better than the Qanon cult.
I just was watching a 1980 interview with Trump, posted by some far right group, in which he denied any interest in running for office, and said that leaders never got there due to their smarts, but due to their smile. The ultimate irony, given how incredibly stupid he has proven to be, and the fact that his only path to leadership was due to his charisma and celebrity status.
It all makes me think that, since the American Experiment is dead, perhaps we should use our latest evil technology, AI (of course) to pick our leaders. Throw out the stupid and pointless 'democratic' election process, which is still dominated by power and wealth, and replace it with a simple AI pick. Put all the models together into one super model (trump would love that), let it ingest the information from every citizen, and then based on its algorithm of determining overall intelligence, leadership ability, empathic potential, real world accomplishments, diverse knowledge, ability to arbitrate and make tough decisions, stamina etc etc...maybe even throw in how big their smile is if it helps...and then pick the one overall candidate who is most qualified for the job, assuming they want it. Then there can be no complaining or whining--just let our AI overlord decide! We have the friggin technology, let's use it
End of rant...
It is odd that you have determined that right wing conspiracy nutters are ruining things.
I happen to think they are a small ineffectual group that gets news for clicks.
Q anon has not caused any of the issues here in California. Bad policy is the cause. Obviously. They are serious idiots with no ability to do rational forecasting.
I used to think the same of AI... about religion 20 years ago.
Now, I know the AI code can simply restrict it to 'trusted sources'.
It will take time to get a true AI
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stanfr
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OK, thanks, here is a key quote from the interview:
“I'm disappointed. This is what I expected, so I'm not as disappointed maybe as other people might be, but I understand it's an election year. I understand that this is the single biggest issue for Joe Biden right now.”
Basically acknowledging that on this issue, as with Gaza, it would be basically political suicide for Biden to do the 'right' thing (hence my rant on one of your other comments)
It's not necessarily Biden's fault, but no question whatsoever that illegal border crossings went sky high after he took office, and I mean wayyyyy up from Trumps. And of course his expulsions and deportations went up from Trumps too, especially during the continuation of title 42, and thats basically what this was about, asylum.
Note that they make it very clear that Trump's policy of course would be no better, probably far worse, so if Biden is despicable im not sure where that leaves Trump...
stanfr
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Conspiracy nuts aren't limited to the right. Just ask RFK Jr. But I would not call the Trump cult (which is what I was referring to) "ineffectual" given that their candidate has a real chance to become President.
California is not an Island, it is affected by national policy. And basic demographics and geographic that have nothing to do with policy. I know, I was born there and fled there in 2005 when I could not afford a house. I even voted for the Gubernator despite being a liberal
Not sure your point about AI. It is a tool, could be used for good is my point, but right now mostly used for evil, like spreading misinformation and manipulating opinion. It's also destroying many livelihoods, just ask any starving artist like myself.
The Great Zaganza
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But why is it that Democrats think the way to win elections is to tack to the Right?
If Trump (and before that Obama) has taught us anything, it's that that never works.
Even know, the right wing media machine is undoing whatever PR Biden thought making migration harder would bring.
It's stupid to meet your opponent halfway in an election year - but that's Biden's entire career.
If you want Biden to win, you have to force Biden to change and go hard Left.
Trumpers already believe he is an Agent of the Chinese Communist Party, and the rest of the Republican just don't want any Democrat to win anything ever, so there is nothing to lose.or gain herem
But there are so many young voters, and Union voters, and companies desperate for workers, and people who want affordable healthcare, and friends and realitives of migrants he could tap with the right words and EOs.
But Biden would rather lose as a centrist than win as a progressive.
If Trump (and before that Obama) has taught us anything, it's that that never works.
Even know, the right wing media machine is undoing whatever PR Biden thought making migration harder would bring.
It's stupid to meet your opponent halfway in an election year - but that's Biden's entire career.
If you want Biden to win, you have to force Biden to change and go hard Left.
Trumpers already believe he is an Agent of the Chinese Communist Party, and the rest of the Republican just don't want any Democrat to win anything ever, so there is nothing to lose.or gain herem
But there are so many young voters, and Union voters, and companies desperate for workers, and people who want affordable healthcare, and friends and realitives of migrants he could tap with the right words and EOs.
But Biden would rather lose as a centrist than win as a progressive.
The Great Zaganza
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It is just naive to think that not complaining loudly is the way to get someone elected.
If you don't complain, you know who will?
Lobbying groups, or fake interest groups or even faker manipulaters like Israel paying for fake Americans to phone bomb lawmakers.
Politicians will always be manipulated by whoever makes it into their bubble, because they are the only voices they hear.
But most voters never get near than bubble.
So the only way to get attention enough to be noticed is to get organized and get loud.
All to SAVE a candidate, not to bring them down.
If I didn't want Biden to win, I would just ignore him - he is certainly going to lose as things stand now.
If you don't complain, you know who will?
Lobbying groups, or fake interest groups or even faker manipulaters like Israel paying for fake Americans to phone bomb lawmakers.
Politicians will always be manipulated by whoever makes it into their bubble, because they are the only voices they hear.
But most voters never get near than bubble.
So the only way to get attention enough to be noticed is to get organized and get loud.
All to SAVE a candidate, not to bring them down.
If I didn't want Biden to win, I would just ignore him - he is certainly going to lose as things stand now.
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