Between Barack and a Hard Place: Ultimate US Elections 2012 Thread

**Tages** · 09-14-2011, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Iangould

I know a lot can happen in a year but I'm beginning to think that the latest economic mess may mean Obama is not going to win re-election.

Which means that America is comprehensively fucked.

Bush inherited a balanced budget, an economy that was fundamentally sound despite a relatively mild recession and a largely peaceful world where America's popularity and prestige was probably as had as they'd been at any point since the immediate post-WWII era.

He destroyed all that.

Any of the current Republican candidates, starting from a far worse position, will pretty much wreck America as a world leader and as a developed country.

Normally I would share your pessimism, but while the 70s recession wasn't as severe as what we're facing now, you could argue that Ronald Reagan also inherited a mess and did things massively harmful to the economy and America's world reputation.

**Monty_Cristo** · 09-14-2011, 02:07 PM

i kind of hope that Obama doesn't win reelection. he's certainly who i would vote for. but i'm just really tired of the critics. if a republican were in office, they'd all shut up. and i could engage in some therapeutic president-bashing. either way, the economy will still be ****ed.

**RolandJP** · 09-14-2011, 02:28 PM

History repeats. Jimmy Carter had to deal with a lot of economic woes to which Reagan rode the back of his (jimmy)hard choices--in which he used the recovery to hand out Christmas presents to people who voted for him.

The GOP wish to do this again. But Rick Perry is not Reagan. Nor is Mitt Romney.
That being said--imagine the hostility if Obama wins a second term--after the far rate--labels this as the presidency to end all presidencies. The winner will decide the fate for ALL mankind.

That being said--I'm tired of politicians from Texas.

Also check out the Gipper dooming mankind to be ruled by Caesar

**Paul McEnery** · 09-14-2011, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by RolandJP

Also check out the Gipper dooming mankind to be ruled by Caesar

And we all thought Reagan didn't get along with the Bushes.

**the4thpip** · 09-14-2011, 02:40 PM

I actually have that silly optimism that some of the hostility will actually die down once he's re-elected. I think much of the teabagging movement is propped up with tons of money by the Koch brothers with the specific goal to make him a one-termer. Same thing might be true for the obstructionism the GOP is doing in Congress: Hurt the country to make Obama a one-termer. If they fail at that, they don't really have anything to gain by, say, blocking disaster relief like they did a few days ago - it will only be their own jobs on the line then.

**Monty_Cristo** · 09-14-2011, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by the4thpip

I actually have that silly optimism that some of the hostility will actually die down once he's re-elected.

never underestimate humanity's need to hate something.

**the4thpip** · 09-14-2011, 02:55 PM

Disappointed Democrats who consider sitting the next election out should consider three points:

1. the Supreme Court
2. the Supreme Court
3. the Supreme Court

Scalia and Kenned are both 75 years old. At the end of the next presidential term, they will be 80.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is three years older still. Would you really like to see her replaced with a GOP pick?

**Tages** · 09-14-2011, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Paul McEnery

And we all thought Reagan didn't get along with the Bushes.

I've seen that pic before in a chain e-mail, complete with the same joke except replace "the Bushes" with "Obama."

I winced.

**Paul McEnery** · 09-14-2011, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Lancerman

These attacks are usually based on an unwritten predisposition that democrat policies are always correct and republicans always false..

Nonsense.

They're based on the entirely documented assertion that the Republican party as it currently stands is driven by a fanatical stupidity that is massively damaging not only to most Americans but to America as a nation state.

**the4thpip** · 09-14-2011, 03:07 PM

So in light of the revelation about Sarah Palin and Glen Rice, I asked out gay NBA veteran John Amaechi if Michele Bachmann had ever hit on him, and this was his reply:
http://twitter.com/#!/JohnAmaechi/st...50843245948928

**Kid Kamikaze10** · 09-14-2011, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by the4thpip

So in light of the revelation about Sarah Palin and Glen Rice, I asked out gay NBA veteran John Amaechi if Michele Bachmann had ever hit on him, and this was his reply:
http://twitter.com/#!/JohnAmaechi/st...50843245948928

LOL! Nice!

**Iangould** · 09-14-2011, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Darrell D.

I can have a beer with a guy, nice but no mental giant, and have a good time and relax, but I sure as hell don't want him in any kind of position of political power. That's fucking stupid.

Supposedly, Will Rogers said words to this effect about Dwight Eisenhower in 1952: "I do like Ike. I like Micky Mouse, too. I'm not voting for him either."

**Lancerman** · 09-14-2011, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Paul McEnery

Nonsense.

They're based on the entirely documented assertion that the Republican party as it currently stands is driven by a fanatical stupidity that is massively damaging not only to most Americans but to America as a nation state.

Entirely documented is a bit of an understatement. Considering that the Republican politician with the most power is John Boehner who is far from the realm of "fanatical stupidity". I assume by that phrase you mean the Tea Party. Which wasn't around at the time the country got into it's current predicament. Do some politicians have to play to them. Sure. Do they have a the party in a chokehold? Hell no.

The country got into this situation because of slot of poor policy decisions made over the last 25 years. Hint: not all of them were Republican moves. And I would't say the current president us proving to be any better.

**Lancerman** · 09-14-2011, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Paul McEnery

Nonsense.

They're based on the entirely documented assertion that the Republican party as it currently stands is driven by a fanatical stupidity that is massively damaging not only to most Americans but to America as a nation state.

Entirely documented is a bit of an understatement. Considering that the Republican politician with the most power is John Boehner who is far from the realm of "fanatical stupidity". I assume by that phrase you mean the Tea Party. Which wasn't around at the time the country got into it's current predicament. Do some politicians have to play to them. Sure. Do they have a the party in a chokehold? Hell no.

The country got into this situation because of slot of poor policy decisions made over the last 25 years. Hint: not all of them were Republican moves. And I would't say the current president us proving to be any better.