American politics

Written By: - Date published: 3:15 pm, December 9th, 2011 - 32 comments
Categories: us politics - Tags:

Sometimes when I get depressed about NZ politics, I take a few deep breaths and reassure myself that at least it’s not American politics. Then I think about that a bit and I get even more depressed…

32 comments on “American politics ”

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  1. lprent 1
    9 December 2011 at 3:33 pm

    Ummm You’ll have to live with the awful sizing for a while (typical supersizing from texas perhaps). I’m heading home.

  2. queenstfarmer 2
    9 December 2011 at 3:51 pm

    Even putting aside the homophobic nature/general stupidity of this message, it is strategically dumb for any candidate to raise this issue, when the number one focus (for voters) is the economy. It’s like Brash talking about legalising marijuana instead of the economy.

    On the bright side, it does ensure a supply of good quality Colbert Report & Daily Show laughs.

    • lprent 2.1
      9 December 2011 at 4:03 pm

      Yep. I haven’t had a look at those for a while. Maybe add that on to the weekend.

    • ianmac 2.2
      9 December 2011 at 4:32 pm

      But you can bet that focus groups will show that well over 50% of Americans will applaud his position. And probably those supporters are on the Right and/or on the very Far Right. Are there not a huge proportion of Americans who do not support Evolution?

      • queenstfarmer 2.2.1
        9 December 2011 at 5:14 pm

        Sadly, that’s probably true. But it is a divisive issue – rather like drug reform – and (looking only at the strategy, not the substance) it is madness to be pushing that instead of hammering away on the unifying issue of the economy.

      • Tigger 2.2.2
        9 December 2011 at 5:27 pm

        Gays and abortion are all they have left as demons.

  3. Pete 3
    9 December 2011 at 3:54 pm

    Rick Perry’s campaign team must be a bunch of amateurs – they disabled comments, but failed to disable likes/dislikes and at present there are 7,189 likes and 318,564 dislikes for the video on YouTube.

  4. joe90 4
    9 December 2011 at 3:58 pm

    Frank Schaeffer, son of Francis Schaeffer, writes: The Great Evangelical Disaster of 2012

    Speaking as a former evangelical anti-abortion leader, I note that if it boils down to a choice between the Mormon or the adulterer for the Republicans in 2012, the Evangelicals who drive the Religious Right will climb the walls. Do they vote for a heretic or a lying philanderer?

    And just for giggles here’s 10 new irrefutable proofs that Barack Obama is not a christian.

    • happynz 5.1
      9 December 2011 at 5:25 pm

      Check out Ron Paul

      …his thing is for 0% corporate tax along with no corporate regulations or oversight. Imagine what would be stocked on the shelves of your local supermarket. How much do you trust companies to do the ‘right thing’?

      Amazing to me, Ron Paul and his libertarian bullshit still has cachet amongst some ‘cos they’re thinking, ‘he’ll bring the boys home and we can smoke weed and shit and fuckin’ do whatever we want, maaaaaaan…’ He also is popular with those who have immense faith in the magic invisible hand of the market. He apparently has little concern with air pollution.

      From Ron Paul’s website…

      As President, Ron Paul will lead the fight to:

      * Remove restrictions on drilling, so companies can tap into the vast amount of oil we have here at home.

      * Repeal the federal tax on gasoline. Eliminating the federal gas tax would result in an 18 cents savings per gallon for American consumers.

      * Lift government roadblocks to the use of coal and nuclear power.

      * Eliminate the ineffective EPA. Polluters should answer directly to property owners in court for the damages they create – not to Washington.
      [url]http://www.ronpaul2012.com/the-issues/energy/[/url]

      Yeah, right. ‘Hey there. I got every right to burn those millions of tyres next to your kids’ primary school. You got a fuckin’ problem with that? Go take it up with the judge.’ Vote for Ron Paul and suck up that lovely air boys.

      Another one of his crackpot ideas is 0% income tax.

      But there is a better way. Restraining federal spending by enforcing the Constitution’s strict limits on the federal government’s power would help result in a 0% income tax rate for Americans.
      [url]http://www.ronpaul2012.com/the-issues/taxes/[/url]

      Righty-O Ronnie. With little to no revenue coming in how the hell do you plan to fund the enforcement of this…

      If elected President, Ron Paul will work to implement the following common sense reforms:

      * Enforce Border Security – America should be guarding her own borders and enforcing her own laws instead of policing the world and implementing UN mandates.
      [url]http://www.ronpaul2012.com/the-issues/immigration/[/url]

      Ron, mate. Fences that stretch the length of the Messican border aren’t cheap to build or maintain. And you know those clever brown people are good at building ladders and digging tunnels. Sure, you can use the military or contract out the security, but how the fuck you going to pay ’em when you don’t have any damn revenue coming in? Just asking like.

      • Afewknowthetruth 5.1.1
        9 December 2011 at 6:56 pm

        hap.

        Some of the most amusing films are the ones that show Americans trying to climb the fence to get into Mexico.

        .

      • Reality Bytes 5.1.2
        9 December 2011 at 8:32 pm

        Interesting, one side effect would be that would effectively end the war on drugs, after-all if some corporate entity started selling Marlboro Greens or Cocaine Cola, they could simply argue that corporate regulation of narcotics is invalid.

    • joe90 5.2
      9 December 2011 at 5:26 pm

      Check out Ron Paul’s kick arse racism and if you’re not convinced here’s more from his kick arse newsletters.

  6. Rich 6
    9 December 2011 at 8:50 pm

    I don’t know why anyone follows US politics. They must be under the illusion that the US is a democracy. It’s like following Chinese politics.

    • joe90 6.1
      9 December 2011 at 9:21 pm

      You’re probably right Rich but the shenanigans make a great spectator sport.

      .http://www.propublica.org/article/hidden-hands-in-redistricting-corporations-special-interests

      Their names suggest selfless dedication to democracy. Fair Districts Mass. Protect Your Vote. The Center for a Better New Jersey. And their stated goals are unarguable: In the partisan fight to redraw congressional districts, states should stick to the principle of one person, one vote.

      But a ProPublica investigation has found that these groups and others are being quietly bankrolled by corporations, unions and other special interests. Their main interest in the once-a-decade political fight over redistricting is not to help voters in the communities they claim to represent but mainly to improve the prospects of their political allies or to harm their enemies.

      The number of these purportedly independent redistricting groups is rising, but their ties remain murky. Contributions to such groups are not limited by campaign finance laws, and most states allow them to take unlimited amounts of money without disclosing the source.

    • Ari 6.2
      9 December 2011 at 11:55 pm

      Because unlike China, the USA regularly exports its laws and political views to other countries through extreme-right parties (like our very own ACT) and religious organisations.

      • a different Matt 6.2.1
        19 December 2011 at 10:14 am

        That’s correct. China exports its political views in pretty little gift boxes mailed to places like Tibet.

  8. Bunnykinz 8
    9 December 2011 at 11:43 pm

    I am not the first person to notice this (it is all over the internet) so can’t take the credit, but have y’all noticed in this video Mr Perry is wearing the exact same jacket as that worn by Heath Ledger’s character in Brokeback Mountain.

    Rick Perry’s Gay Jacket

    I am not saying there is a connection. I am just saying.

  9. Ianupnorth 9
    10 December 2011 at 12:08 am

    On a side note where the hell is our regular RWNJ (and Republican Party fan) Nick C – must be at church.
     
    What gets me is their jaundiced view of faith.


    Whatever happened to ‘Love thy neighbour’?
    Whatever happened to being charitable?
     
    All these lot drone on about is how they are better than you because they have values – well Rick Perry I have values, one of which is tolerance.

    • mike 9.1
      11 December 2011 at 12:52 am

      “I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a Christian.”

      Why would he be ashamed of that?

      Rick Perry is just a painfully obvious psychopath. His ‘faith’ is a part of his persona that is useful to him as a bible belt politician, just like Bush. It’s no more a part of him than his suit.

  11. randal 11
    10 December 2011 at 12:22 pm

    the problem with american politics is that the republicans think having money is the same as being intelligent when they are two different things.
    also the wolrd is at a crossroads of a leontieff long wave and exhaustion of resources.
    this is something that they cant cope with.
    and yes the republicans are dwarves. they think power is to use standing over people instead of making the world a better place.