The American Politics thread

[Spark]

Being contemptuous of the electorate is a surefire way to get **** candidates, tbh. Careful what you wish for.

[duffer]

They should've had Colbert moderate the Stewart-O'Reilly debate. Would've been hilarious.

[Burgey]

Why does O'Reilly hold up cards to the audience life that?

Was a very entertaining go all around.

I'm impressed by the detail the poitically connected people in the US are prepared to go into. The figures might be rubbery, or the contentions not always great, but they aren't afraid of talking in detail about issues. I think it's a good thing.

[Burgey]

To my dying day I will never understand America's aversion to universal health care. Does my head in.

[wellAlbidarned]

I don't think they understand it either, it's just been drummed into them for so long

[Top_Cat]

Healthcare is a privilege, gentlemen, not a right! That and if the gummint is dispensing your drugs, who knows what else they're putting in them. MKULTRA, NEED I SAY MORE!!!>?>!>1111

/wakeupsheeple

[Ikki]

I thought both Stewart and O'Reilly were poor. Maybe I am looking at it like I would an academic debate - and should instead be looking at it as entertainment. But some people actually listen to these guys as much as Romney and Obama.

Even the cogent points they brought - like O'Reilly talking about revenue, even with tax cuts - could have been explained far better, which could have really swayed people.

[Samuel_Vimes]

Originally Posted by Gleen Greenwald

I'd like to vote for the candidate similar to the one the Right absurdly claims Obama is.

Man is paranoid, but has a point.

[silentstriker]

Romney has gained 10% since last week in the 538 forecast (in terms of chance to win the election, not 10% gain in polls).

[Spark]

Considering it was at 87% before, only one way for it to go. Mind you, think it might tighten a bit further yet.

[silentstriker]

Still think Romney will end up winning.

[Burgey]

Is this political Gambhiring on your part SS?

[silentstriker]

I hope it turns out to be so. But I don't think so - the superpacs are starting to ratchet everything up. Economy isn't in great shape, the democratic base is nowhere near as fired up as it was four years ago, and that debate was watched by 70 million people. He better hope the next one isn't like that. Romney just literally became a conservative democrat in the span of one night (no tax cuts, pro regulation, pre-existing conditions without the mandate...how exactly does that work?)-- and people seem to have bought it. I mean you can find hundreds of his sound bytes about the five trillion dollar tax cuts (it was listed as an official position even on his website ffs!) and he just got away with saying 'Nah, wasn't me'. If people buy that, and they seem to be, there's no hope. Especially as Obama decided not to show up. That was the worst debate performance by a democratic Presidential candidate that I've ever seen.

[Fusion]

I really have to say that Obama’s performance in the debate is being blown wayyyy out of proportion. Romney was better, there is no doubt about it. However, Obama wasn’t the disaster that he’s being made out to be. It’s almost like people are comparing him to Rick “I can’t remember the agencies I’ll eliminate” Perry. Just my opinion of course, but Obama had an average performance, not a disastrous one.


Anyway, to the real scope from the debate: Big Bird: The Real Enemy

[silentstriker]

Losing 67-22 in terms of people saying who won the debate, is pretty disastrous. Romney seems to have had a bounce towards the high end of historical norms, that's pretty disastrous. And letting a guy get away with positions that directly contradict everything he and his party have been saying for the last four years is pretty disastrous.