posted by Automatik

I'm just referring to the people that like slurp socialist programs of other countries. Then when people drop in Venezuela comments I chuckle. 

I thought I saw where Canada recently reduced some benefits because they found they couldn't really afford all their socialism and weren't able to raise taxes higher.

posted by Automatik

I'm just referring to the people that like slurp socialist programs of other countries. Then when people drop in Venezuela comments I chuckle. 

Well, even the nordic countries you referenced started to shift their way to larger scale socialism, until they realized it doesnt work. They then reverted back to embracing the free market.  

Now, they do have larger social programs, but that is at the expense of what gut just mentioned.  Not to mention, their defense is pretty much subsidized by the (overblaoted) defense of the US.  I get a chuckle when people bring up the nordic countries myself, considering they are homogeneous societies that mostly (outside of Sweden) wouldn't even make up 2% of our (diverse) population.

So here is a vid of Jimmy Dore (progressive) talking with Tulsi Gabbard on his podcast. In this talk they talk about the media's targeting of her, who is doing the smearing and why. They also talk about some of her ideas and policies. 

I know that a lot of people on here won't care to watch it. But let's face it, the powers that be have most likely already determined that she won't get airtime during the debates.It's also good to know what's out there.

posted by CenterBHSFan

So here is a vid of Jimmy Dore (progressive) talking with Tulsi Gabbard on his podcast. In this talk they talk about the media's targeting of her, who is doing the smearing and why. They also talk about some of her ideas and policies. 

I know that a lot of people on here won't care to watch it. But let's face it, the powers that be have most likely already determined that she won't get airtime during the debates.It's also good to know what's out there.

Unfortunately for Tulsi, she is probably the smartest person on the ballot. 

Even though I disagree with many/most of her domestic policies, her foreign policy is dead on. The problem is that this foreign policy didn’t work for Ron or Rand Paul and it won’t work for her. 

I agree with her 100% when it comes to regime change wars, but she has no chance for this reason and because she is actually a smart woman. 

Sounds like Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is going to throw his hat in the ring....for those of you who don't recognize him off-hand, he's the guy competing with Adam Schiff to see who can come across more smug while telling blatant lies.

He's basically this guy's dopple-ganger, in every sense (d-bag Greg from Animal House):

posted by gut

Sounds like Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is going to throw his hat in the ring....for those of you who don't recognize him off-hand, he's the guy competing with Adam Schiff to see who can come across more smug while telling blatant lies.

 

He's basically this guy's dopple-ganger, in every sense (d-bag Greg from Animal House):

 

This is the guy that used the "we have nukes" argument in a 2A debate.  What are the odds he will even make it to the main debate stage?

posted by like_that

This is the guy that used the "we have nukes" argument in a 2A debate.  What are the odds he will even make it to the main debate stage?

I would assume some of these candidates are actually running hoping to get picked for VP.  Although it's hard to imagine anyone giving Swalwel the nod, but maybe he's pursuing a high-profile Cabinet position.

Either that or he's a plant to bring the crazy attacking Trump so other candidates can hang back and appear more moderate.

posted by gut

I would assume some of these candidates are actually running hoping to get picked for VP.  Although it's hard to imagine anyone giving Swalwel the nod, but maybe he's pursuing a high-profile Cabinet position.

Either that or he's a plant to bring the crazy attacking Trump so other candidates can hang back and appear more moderate.

Yeah, I was going to follow up and say I understand some of these people are just posturing for a VP candidacy, but I think he would be a horrible choice.  Identity politics aside (he doesn't fit the mold for the new wave of progressivism), he is very hateable.

….and just like that it was swept away

SNL should really do a skit with Biden as TSA giving everyone pat downs

Caught a townhall on Fox with Schultz.

At the end, an audience that I presume was mostly Republican (although possibly stacked with people supporting/interested in Schultz) almost every hand went up when asked if they wanted him to run.

So, hang on, he may not necessarily take away more Dem votes then Repub.

posted by gut

Caught a townhall on Fox with Schultz.

At the end, an audience that I presume was mostly Republican (although possibly stacked with people supporting/interested in Schultz) almost every hand went up when asked if they wanted him to run.

So, hang on, he may not necessarily take away more Dem votes then Repub.

It would make sense. He's an independent who would strike a big chord with the large section of people who (a) don't want any part of the "HOW WOKE CAN WE BE" far-left people running and (b) look at Trump as a humongous jackass.

posted by Heretic

It would make sense. He's an independent who would strike a big chord with the large section of people who (a) don't want any part of the "HOW WOKE CAN WE BE" far-left people running and (b) look at Trump as a humongous jackass.

I didn't watch that closely, but I will definitely find more out about him.

Obviously, he's most likely a good speaker and relatively charismatic.  But he had some awkward moments, like someone who isn't polished as a campaigner and hasn't mastered working the stage and matching body language with his points.

I think you're right that people shouldn't count him out.  If the Dems put up some far-left clown....how does that work - potentially no one gets 270 electoral votes, so the House picks the POTUS?

posted by Heretic

It would make sense. He's an independent who would strike a big chord with the large section of people who (a) don't want any part of the "HOW WOKE CAN WE BE" far-left people running and (b) look at Trump as a humongous jackass.

Stay woke, those people raised their hands so he does run and TAKE AWAY votes from the far left candidate. 

posted by gut

I didn't watch that closely, but I will definitely find more out about him.

Obviously, he's most likely a good speaker and relatively charismatic.  But he had some awkward moments, like someone who isn't polished as a campaigner and hasn't mastered working the stage and matching body language with his points.

 

I think you're right that people shouldn't count him out.  If the Dems put up some far-left clown....how does that work - potentially no one gets 270 electoral votes, so the House picks the POTUS?

I doubt we see this in our lifetime, but I am very confident if it does it wouldn't be Schultz. He does not have that type of "star power" to make this happen.  The dude is very much still a leftist.  He wouldn't be able to hide it. 

Buttigieg's imaginary "feud" with Pence is pretty amusing. 

posted by fish82

Buttigieg's imaginary "feud" with Pence is pretty amusing. 

So is Bernie releasing his taxes (supposedly), admitting he's a millionaire, and then saying "well if you write a best-selling book you can be a millionaire too".  The hypocrisy is outstanding.

Also humorous that Pocahontas can't even carry her own state in polls. It's all socialist Bernie or creepy Biden leading the way.

posted by iclfan2

So is Bernie releasing his taxes (supposedly), admitting he's a millionaire, and then saying "well if you write a best-selling book you can be a millionaire too".  The hypocrisy is outstanding.

Yeah, talk about being tone deaf.  He's been a Senator for 12 years, making an average of almost $173k per year....seems like you should be able to amass a net worth of almost $1M in 12 years with that salary, even if you started at $0.

I'm kind of surprised he only got a million for a book.  I would expect it to sell as well as Obama or Hillary, who got 8-figure deals.  But I guess you have to get to the top of the mountain before you're made into royalty by the rich liberals.

posted by gut

Yeah, talk about being tone deaf.  He's been a Senator for 12 years, making an average of almost $173k per year....seems like you should be able to amass a net worth of almost $1M in 12 years with that salary, even if you started at $0.

I'm kind of surprised he only got a million for a book.  I would expect it to sell as well as Obama or Hillary, who got 8-figure deals.  But I guess you have to get to the top of the mountain before you're made into royalty by the rich liberals.

$173k probably to nets to around $105k after taxes.  With total living expenses of say, $75k, he might be left with $30k (which I doubt).  But if so, that is less than $400k in 12 years, not counting investment earnings.  His millions are coming from elsewhere, just like all the other career politicians and money-launderers in DC.

posted by iclfan2

So is Bernie releasing his taxes (supposedly), admitting he's a millionaire, and then saying "well if you write a best-selling book you can be a millionaire too".  The hypocrisy is outstanding.

Also humorous that Pocahontas can't even carry her own state in polls. It's all socialist Bernie or creepy Biden leading the way.

Shaping up to be like Reagan’s landslide over Mondale.

posted by QuakerOats

$173k probably to nets to around $105k after taxes.  With total living expenses of say, $75k, he might be left with $30k (which I doubt).  But if so, that is less than $400k in 12 years, not counting investment earnings.  His millions are coming from elsewhere, just like all the other career politicians and money-launderers in DC.

$75k for living expenses is high (he's not paying for healthcare and many other benefits), especially for someone of Bernie's expected frugal spending practices.  And you're ignoring if his wife's income, and that he most likely wasn't starting with 0.

He's not supporting a family at that age, I don't think.  So he should have been banking easily $50k per year....which at an average 7.6% annual return, is just over $1M in 12 years.

posted by gut

$75k for living expenses is high (he's not paying for healthcare and many other benefits), especially for someone of Bernie's expected frugal spending practices.  And you're ignoring if his wife's income, and that he most likely wasn't starting with 0.

He's not supporting a family at that age, I don't think.  So he should have been banking easily $50k per year....which at an average 7.6% annual return, is just over $1M in 12 years.

LOL trying to justify Bernies millions from crooked DC kickbacks by saying he saved EVERY dime he makes. 

posted by Spock

LOL trying to justify Bernies millions from crooked DC kickbacks by saying he saved EVERY dime he makes. 

I'm not justifying anything.  I'm saying he COULD/SHOULD have been a millionaire earning that every year.  It was more of a criticism.  Despite it basically being legal for Senate/House members to conduct insider trading, the reality is they earn a good income and a career politician absolutely should become a millionaire on that salary.

You're laughing at saying he should bank $50k a year, which means he's spending $50-$60k - an amount that you don't gross in a year and somehow still manage to survive on much less.

Bernie's got three homes, now? I'm guessing that one of those is in DC. That might be a little hard to pay taxes/upkeep on those homes. But with a budget (lol), bookdeal and his wife's income, probably doable.

posted by CenterBHSFan

Bernie's got three homes, now? I'm guessing that one of those is in DC. That might be a little hard to pay taxes/upkeep on those homes. But with a budget (lol), bookdeal and his wife's income, probably doable.

The funny thing is, he's really talking about income because your tax return doesn't show net wealth.  I'm not sure you can even get a good guess just looking at reporting of investment gains/losses.

Do so few people do their taxes that they don't understand these issues?  Like I'm guessing Trump's tax returns don't tell you much about his sources of income, because his personal tax return probably just shows distributions from his business.  I would assume his LLC elects to file as a C-Corp, which means all the interesting stuff are on the corporate returns and not his personal ones.

posted by gut

$75k for living expenses is high (he's not paying for healthcare and many other benefits), especially for someone of Bernie's expected frugal spending practices.  And you're ignoring if his wife's income, and that he most likely wasn't starting with 0.

He's not supporting a family at that age, I don't think.  So he should have been banking easily $50k per year....which at an average 7.6% annual return, is just over $1M in 12 years.

You forgot about liberals being charitable and generous with the resources they have, so no doubt he gives most of it away because of love for others and sense of guilt from being a winner in life’s lottery.