NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING Political Discussion Thread

[Hink]

On a side note, why is it that there is a geographic difference in the way people vote. Urban populations tend to vote more liberal while rural populations vote more conservative. Why do you think that happens?

Cities are diverse. There are more people. When you are around more people, you are more tolerant of the world. Generally, rural America is not. They are segregated from many populations in the country and vote like it. Democrats have pushed for policies to help the poor. They believe in LOTS of social programs that help inner cities. That's my guess.

*As a note, when policy positions of a party are clearly opposed to groups (i.e. voter suppression, Muslim bans, against gay rights, etc.) you get less diversity in your electorate. Cities are an amalgam. That means you need a big tent.


With all that said, Democrats have done a terrible job explaining what they are doing for the inner cities. HUD maybe? But social programs aren't a clear connection anymore. Welfare, etc. is used by many in rural America and they don't see it as a benefit provided by one party or the other.

 

[The One]

Good grief!

Well, it is a damn good thing we are not a democracy isn't it. Once again we are a constitutional republic but people seem to forget that important point.

I have posted this before and I will again, I still think that we need to do away with the winner take all aspect of the electoral college and break it up based on the winner of each congressional district. I do think that the congressional districts themselves need to be redrawn to prevent gerrymandering and should match municipal, county, or state boundaries as much as possible. For larger cities, it should try to align with the boundaries of neighborhoods as much as possible.
Then the two extra votes per state should be based on who wins the popular vote for that particular state.

If we went to a pure popular vote, the blue areas could vote for one person and control the election:

Finally, I think they should do away with straight ticket voting everywhere, any candidates that are on the ballot in all 50 states should be in the debate, primaries should all occur on the same day, and no results should be released until all of the polls close.


On a side note, why is it that there is a geographic difference in the way people vote. Urban populations tend to vote more liberal while rural populations vote more conservative. Why do you think that happens?

I can see MSkis isn't a "map" guy. I wouldn't wipe my ass with that map. There are deep red counties shown as blue. Also, anyone trying could make a really cool map with shaded blue to red counties in the rural areas in a heat map type of layout that would show a much better view of the US. This map is some garbage posted by some fake news site. Is that El Paso County Colorado shown as deep blue.....Fing stupid. {The map maker not Mskis....Mskis is a wonderful human being with a great deal of respect for fact}

 

[Suburb Repairman]

Well, it is a damn good thing we are not a democracy isn't it. Once again we are a constitutional republic but people seem to forget that important point.

I have posted this before and I will again, I still think that we need to do away with the winner take all aspect of the electoral college and break it up based on the winner of each congressional district. I do think that the congressional districts themselves need to be redrawn to prevent gerrymandering and should match municipal, county, or state boundaries as much as possible. For larger cities, it should try to align with the boundaries of neighborhoods as much as possible.
Then the two extra votes per state should be based on who wins the popular vote for that particular state.

If we went to a pure popular vote, the blue areas could vote for one person and control the election:

Finally, I think they should do away with straight ticket voting everywhere, any candidates that are on the ballot in all 50 states should be in the debate, primaries should all occur on the same day, and no results should be released until all of the polls close.


On a side note, why is it that there is a geographic difference in the way people vote. Urban populations tend to vote more liberal while rural populations vote more conservative. Why do you think that happens?

That map is a load of crap--one of the best examples of cartographic manipulation of data. It implies a winner-take-all approach to counties. Take my county, which is shown in grey on your map as though everyone had a giant Trump billboard in their yard. The reality is that Trump pulled 46.88% and Clinton pulled 46.03%. You don't get much more purple than that.

Breaking up by Congressional district doesn't work due to gerrymandering. Rather than fight that fight (turning it into a "constitutional law attorneys full employment act of 2017"), simply award proportionally based on statewide popular vote. For example, you can take my home state of Texas (38 electoral votes):

52.6% Trump 20 electoral votes
43.4% Clinton 17 electoral votes
3.2% Johnson 1 electoral votes
0.8% Stein 0 electoral votes

Let's take a more liberal state though... how about Illinois (20 electoral votes)...

39.4% Trump 8 electoral votes
55.4% Clinton 11 electoral votes
3.8% Johnson 1 electoral votes
1.4% Stein 0 electoral votes

This approach avoids creating an urban or rural bias or a gerrymandered bias within the state, eliminates the swing state phenomenon, and, perhaps most importantly, results in the awarding of electoral votes to 3rd party candidates (which, over time, creates healthy alternatives to the two current parties). I will note, however, that this does get complicated if you get into a plurality situation in which no one actually receives a majority of the electoral votes (since we are not a parliamentary democracy in which coalition governments get formed). In local elections, that would result in a runoff. Maybe a second election runoff nationwide would cure this? There's plenty of time between November & January to accommodate a fairly robust runoff election. It would be interesting, because this would eventually likely result in a 3rd party vs. an establishment party in a runoff.

 

[DVD]

I love maps that show the concentration of our population, but it doesn't take into account that your saying Wichita, KS and Portland, OR are going to vote the same person because they're urbanized areas. Having been there, sadly, Wichita is the most rural big city I've been in. Hell, there's various farm implements on display at the airport.

 

[michaelskis]

That map is a load of crap--one of the best examples of cartographic manipulation of data. It implies a winner-take-all approach to counties. Take my county, which is shown in grey on your map as though everyone had a giant Trump billboard in their yard. The reality is that Trump pulled 46.88% and Clinton pulled 46.03%. You don't get much more purple than that.

Breaking up by Congressional district doesn't work due to gerrymandering. Rather than fight that fight (turning it into a "constitutional law attorneys full employment act of 2017"), simply award proportionally based on statewide popular vote. For example, you can take my home state of Texas (38 electoral votes):

52.6% Trump 20 electoral votes
43.4% Clinton 17 electoral votes
3.2% Johnson 1 electoral votes
0.8% Stein 0 electoral votes

Let's take a more liberal state though... how about Illinois (20 electoral votes)...

39.4% Trump 8 electoral votes
55.4% Clinton 11 electoral votes
3.8% Johnson 1 electoral votes
1.4% Stein 0 electoral votes

This approach avoids creating an urban or rural bias or a gerrymandered bias within the state, eliminates the swing state phenomenon, and, perhaps most importantly, results in the awarding of electoral votes to 3rd party candidates (which, over time, creates healthy alternatives to the two current parties). I will note, however, that this does get complicated if you get into a plurality situation in which no one actually receives a majority of the electoral votes (since we are not a parliamentary democracy in which coalition governments get formed). In local elections, that would result in a runoff. Maybe a second election runoff nationwide would cure this? There's plenty of time between November & January to accommodate a fairly robust runoff election. It would be interesting, because this would eventually likely result in a 3rd party vs. an establishment party in a runoff.

1) That map is population concentration. Half the US population resides in those areas.
2) You didn't read all of my post. I agree with your assessment of gerrymandering. The districts need to be redrawn to be fair and should be based on actual boundaries (Neighborhood, Municipal, County, State) and not running along weird corridor areas.
3) It makes liberal votes in Dallas or conservative votes in update New York actually matter.

 

[PennPlanner]

Oh, it's a lot more complex that that.

Greater diversity doesn't necessarily equal greater tolerance, if the history of American cities are anything to go by. Until recently big city politicians were very, very adept at exploiting racial and sectarian divides to build winning mandates and get elected to office. Irish Catholics in Boston? Italians versus Jews versus blacks versus Puerto Ricans in NYC? And just about every American city experienced varying degrees of racial based politics and racial flights. We all know this as planners....

A NYC friend of mine who comes from a long established "ethnic" family in the region pointed out to me that Trump's campaigning style was very similar to the brutal, divisive, manipulative, racist campaigning styles of big city politicians that was the standard in NYC up through the 1990s. People clutching their pearls too easily and conveniently forget this.

The real divide between rural areas and urban areas is much more a result of having very different societal frameworks. A dense population area by necessity requires a greater and more complex government structure and network of government programs in order to keep the place ticking along. Think about it, it's not just social programs but overseeing the transportation systems. You need a larger bureaucracy to oversee the place, manage the tax collections and distribution of funds and so on, and because of this taxes are higher, and when taxes go up, people expect more from taxes, and so forth. Thus the tolerance and acceptance of "big government" not just its existence but as a force for good is much higher in the urban areas.

Rural areas, by contrast, require far smaller governments. They're not going to have a subway! Rarely will they have museums or symphony orchestras. Their need for extensive network of schools is much smaller. The role of the government, local and national, in every day lives is much smaller and much more remote. They have learned through their histories that it's their family, friends and local communities that come to their help, not a distant government. The ideology takes different roots. As the government is less important, it's more likely seen as an evil to be controlled and minimized. People in rural areas, because they sort of can, prioritise independence much more so and let that become part of their mythology that they take great pride in (it goes back to the notions of a self-sufficient American farmer). They develop attitudes towards things and rituals that do not involve the government, or if governments are involved, it's perceived as a restriction (see access to natural resources, hunting, zoning, and so forth).

That's why when Democrats tout social progams and welfare for rural America or small town America, they entirely miss the point. Rural America resents having to use those programs, even if they depend on it. They don't care about raising the minimum wage if the only jobs are flipping burgers at McDonalds.

Cities are diverse. There are more people. When you are around more people, you are more tolerant of the world. Generally, rural America is not. They are segregated from many populations in the country and vote like it. Democrats have pushed for policies to help the poor. They believe in LOTS of social programs that help inner cities. That's my guess.

*As a note, when policy positions of a party are clearly opposed to groups (i.e. voter suppression, Muslim bans, against gay rights, etc.) you get less diversity in your electorate. Cities are an amalgam. That means you need a big tent.


With all that said, Democrats have done a terrible job explaining what they are doing for the inner cities. HUD maybe? But social programs aren't a clear connection anymore. Welfare, etc. is used by many in rural America and they don't see it as a benefit provided by one party or the other.

 

[DVD]

The Trump team seems to be targeting Kansas officials for cabinet positions. I'm sure other states are feeling the same thing or getting the same "this guy is being considered" news over everything. They took Pompeo for CIA and are considering another guy for AG and floated a name for AJ, not that it's a serious name, but stop taking all our people. Oh...wait...please take all our losers. Something needs to go right for this state.

 

[Bubba]

The Trump team seems to be targeting Kansas officials for cabinet positions. I'm sure other states are feeling the same thing or getting the same "this guy is being considered" news over everything. They took Pompeo for CIA and are considering another guy for AG and floated a name for AJ, not that it's a serious name, but stop taking all our people. Oh...wait...please take all our losers. Something needs to go right for this state.

Jeff Sessions (junior Senator from Alabama) has been offered AG.

 

[The One]

Oh my goodness.....

Jeff Sessions (junior Senator from Alabama) has been offered AG.

LET THE LIBERAL STATE TARGETING BEGIN!
The Mary Jane arrests will start soon in Colorado and Washington....the morals police will be out in force.

 

[MacheteJames]

I always wondered what it'd be like to have a jackboot pressing against my neck. It's like he's rounding up the most vile, Suicide Squad-esque band of villains possible to appoint to cabinet positions.

 

[DVD]

I always wondered what it'd be like to have a jackboot pressing against my neck. It's like he's rounding up the most vile, Suicide Squad-esque band of villains possible to appoint to cabinet positions.

I believe that's all that's left in the world of politics. The rest of us have enough sense to hold real jobs.

 

[michaelskis]

Part of me hopes that Trump never moves into the White House and makes no changes to it. For some reason envision him as Biff from Back to the Future 2 (when they are in the revamped 1985) and I fear that it will look more like vegas and less like the White House.

 

[JNA]

Trump demands apology from ‘Hamilton’ after cast’s message to Pence
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...y-from-hamilton-after-casts-message-to-pence/

'Hamilton' To Pence: 'We Are The Diverse America Who Are Alarmed'
http://www.npr.org/2016/11/19/502687591/hamilton-to-pence-we-are-the-diverse-america-who-are-alarmed


Apologize for voicing an opinion ?
Does this falls into the category of "you can give it but you can't take it" ?

 

[Planit]

Trump demands apology from ‘Hamilton’ after cast’s message to Pence
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...y-from-hamilton-after-casts-message-to-pence/

'Hamilton' To Pence: 'We Are The Diverse America Who Are Alarmed'
http://www.npr.org/2016/11/19/502687591/hamilton-to-pence-we-are-the-diverse-america-who-are-alarmed


Apologize for voicing an opinion ?
Does this falls into the category of "you can give it but you can't take it" ?

Pence has already said no biggie



So it's okay for one group of supporters to be "passionate" about their views, but another group must apologize for their opinion. Got it!

 

[Hink]

Trump demands apology from 'Hamilton' after cast's message to Pence
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...y-from-hamilton-after-casts-message-to-pence/

'Hamilton' To Pence: 'We Are The Diverse America Who Are Alarmed'
http://www.npr.org/2016/11/19/502687591/hamilton-to-pence-we-are-the-diverse-america-who-are-alarmed


Apologize for voicing an opinion ?
Does this falls into the category of "you can give it but you can't take it" ?

They asked that he be inclusive and aware. Was it really necessary? No probably not. But it certainly wasn't something that needs to be apologized for. Trump should be the last person asking for apologies after the things he has said. For better or for worse, things like this will keep happening, because we have started "making points" in any way that we can. Trump is an active participant in this kind of decorum. He can't complain about it now.

 

[michaelskis]

Pence has already said no biggie



So it's okay for one group of supporters to be "passionate" about their views, but another group must apologize for their opinion. Got it!

Apparently Abe Lincoln called Pence to tell him it could be worse.

Personally, I think that Trump and the GOP's reaction to this is a load of crap.

 

[DVD]

Trump's gonna hate the next four years of SNL. The show seems to have a history of ripping on the presidents no matter who it is or which way they lean. I'm guessing by his tweets that he's never watched the show before now.

 

[JNA]

My fair city's newspaper reported the list of write ins for president -

In Indiana, a write-in candidate must file official paperwork with election officials to have write-in ballots count.

Abraham Lincoln
Alien Overlord
Axl Rose
Batman
Captain America
Darth Vader
Dave Ramsey
Giant Meteor
God
In God We Trust
Inu The Dog
Jesus Christ
Jimmy Fallon
Jon Stewart
Kermit the Frog
Kiefer Sutherland
Lloyd Winnecke
Mickey Mouse
Mr. Snuffleupagus
No Confidence
None of Them
None of the Above
Pope Francis
Ross Perot
Scooby Doo
She Shouts Freedom
Stephen Colbert
The Ghost of Paul Wellstone
The Rock
Theo Epstein
Vladmir Putin

 

[michaelskis]

I am so sick and tired of people on FB and other places commenting about how Hillary Clinton should be the president because we are a democracy and she got more votes.

We are not a democracy. We are a constitutional republic.

Moreso with over half the population living in such a small area, I think it is a good idea to have some balance that allows for the voice of the farmer in rural Kansas to be as loud as the voice in midtown manhattan, and the voice of the person in downtown Dallas to be as loud as the voice of the rancher in the rural areas of Texas.

 

[Planit]

Now this just pisses me off.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/...to_steal_the_north_carolina_governorship.html

The NC Legislature essentially stampeded a bunch of new regs when they took control a few years back. Then the passed HB2 in private sessions. Now this crap!

 

[DVD]

I am so sick and tired of people on FB and other places commenting about how Hillary Clinton should be the president because we are a democracy and she got more votes.

We are not a democracy. We are a constitutional republic.

Moreso with over half the population living in such a small area, I think it is a good idea to have some balance that allows for the voice of the farmer in rural Kansas to be as loud as the voice in midtown manhattan, and the voice of the person in downtown Dallas to be as loud as the voice of the rancher in the rural areas of Texas.

I'm just conflicted on the whole thing. On the one hand, more than half the US population is in urban areas, but on the other hand more than half the country would go unrepresented without the electoral college. I would be afraid of getting a president with no concern over rural voices. Then again, who really cares. It's just the president. We have this whole checks and balances thing that makes sure middle America gets a strong voice in the Senate and potentially the House. In the end, Hillary lost. Stop whining, get your head out, and find me a good candidate in the next 4 years.

I'd rather see a change to the primary system than the electoral college. Remember complaining about how screwed up the primary thing was or are we forgetting that already in favor of this new shiny electoral problem?

 

[AG74683]

Now this just pisses me off.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/...to_steal_the_north_carolina_governorship.html

The NC Legislature essentially stampeded a bunch of new regs when they took control a few years back. Then the passed HB2 in private sessions. Now this crap!

Man, if you think the anti-Trump riots were something...if McCrory manages to make this happen they'll have to call in the National Guard to places like Chapel Hill, Durham, Charlotte, Boone, Asheville....the student population will shit a collective brick.

 

[michaelskis]

I'm just conflicted on the whole thing. On the one hand, more than half the US population is in urban areas, but on the other hand more than half the country would go unrepresented without the electoral college. I would be afraid of getting a president with no concern over rural voices. Then again, who really cares. It's just the president. We have this whole checks and balances thing that makes sure middle America gets a strong voice in the Senate and potentially the House. In the end, Hillary lost. Stop whining, get your head out, and find me a good candidate in the next 4 years.

I'd rather see a change to the primary system than the electoral college. Remember complaining about how screwed up the primary thing was or are we forgetting that already in favor of this new shiny electoral problem?

I agree and I don't like the electoral college as it stands right now. There is no 'easy' fix because neither of the two parties will actually do anything to fix the system if it hurts what controls they have.

Man, if you think the anti-Trump riots were something...if McCrory manages to make this happen they'll have to call in the National Guard to places like Chapel Hill, Durham, Charlotte, Boone, Asheville....the student population will shit a collective brick.

This whole thing is a mess. McCrory needs to just concede the election already and move on.

 

[michaelskis]

Ben Carson for HUD? 8-!



I like Ben Carson for a medical related position.... but not HUD. Yes, Carson grew up poor in a rough part of Detroit, but so did my mom. It does not qualify them to run HUD.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Hink]

Ben Carson for HUD? 8-!



I like Ben Carson for a medical related position.... but not HUD. Yes, Carson grew up poor in a rough part of Detroit, but so did my mom. It does not qualify them to run HUD.

What are your thoughts?

Ben Carson would be bad for any position except as a medical doctor. He is not qualified, nor is his personality such that he should lead any department.

He picks Haley, who has no foreign policy knowledge for UN Ambassador? I thought Trump was going to pick the best and the brightest? He is picking lots of different people, many whom outright hated him during the primary, so that is nice. But he certainly hasn't picked the best people yet. I am just waiting to see where Guiliani fits in. Trump is just picking random people, so my hope is he goes with the Pope for head of the Church, and maybe Bozo the Clown as Interior Secretary.

 

[gtpeach]

Ben Carson would be bad for any position except as a medical doctor. He is not qualified, nor is his personality such that he should lead any department.

He picks Haley, who has no foreign policy knowledge for UN Ambassador? I thought Trump was going to pick the best and the brightest? He is picking lots of different people, many whom outright hated him during the primary, so that is nice. But he certainly hasn't picked the best people yet. I am just waiting to see where Guiliani fits in. Trump is just picking random people, so my hope is he goes with the Pope for head of the Church, and maybe Bozo the Clown as Interior Secretary.

My State Department friend is fully convinced it will be Giuliani for Secretary of State. I would imagine that appointment will be one of the last announced. But there's no way Giuliani stood by Trump that whole time and doesn't walk away with some prime appointment.

Jerry Falwell, Jr. has also indicated that he's interested in Secretary of Education. Now, he actually does run a university, so at least he does have related experience. But I doubt the man has ever set foot in a public school. He made a comment about how public education is about outrageous pay and decisions made by people in ivory towers. I realize administration might get paid well, but the majority of people working in education are teachers, who I would not say are paid outrageously...

 

[AG74683]

He picks Haley, who has no foreign policy knowledge for UN Ambassador? I thought Trump was going to pick the best and the brightest? He is picking lots of different people, many whom outright hated him during the primary, so that is nice. But he certainly hasn't picked the best people yet. I am just waiting to see where Guiliani fits in. Trump is just picking random people, so my hope is he goes with the Pope for head of the Church, and maybe Bozo the Clown as Interior Secretary.

I think this nomination is just an olive branch to the GOP. Haley is a bright star in their stables, one they want to push towards the presidency. Getting her into the diplomatic field early will help flesh out that resume when she runs for President eventually. I know her experience is lacking, but to be honest, there are much worse GOP folks out there.

 

[Bubba]

I think this nomination is just an olive branch to the GOP. Haley is a bright star in their stables, one they want to push towards the presidency. Getting her into the diplomatic field early will help flesh out that resume when she runs for President eventually. I know her experience is lacking, but to be honest, there are much worse GOP folks out there.

I tend to agree with this - it's a good place for her to start getting experience on the international level, and it's an easy post to replace someone in if necessary.

 

[terraplnr]

I think this nomination is just an olive branch to the GOP. Haley is a bright star in their stables, one they want to push towards the presidency. Getting her into the diplomatic field early will help flesh out that resume when she runs for President eventually. I know her experience is lacking, but to be honest, there are much worse GOP folks out there.

I tend to agree with this - it's a good place for her to start getting experience on the international level, and it's an easy post to replace someone in if necessary.

My first thought was that it was a move to stifle her political career since she's spoken against him in the past...seems like a future Republican presidential nominee wouldn't want to be TOO closely associated with the UN and their "socialist" leanings. (but that's my cynic, first thing in the morning, before coffee thought).

 

[Seabishop]

My first thought was that it was a move to stifle her political career since she's spoken against him in the past...seems like a future Republican presidential nominee wouldn't want to be TOO closely associated with the UN and their "socialist" leanings. (but that's my cynic, first thing in the morning, before coffee thought).

OPEN YOUR EYES SHEEPLE!!! NIKKI HALEY AND THE LAMESTREAM MEDIA ARE FORCING AGENDA 21 ON YOU!!!!!!!!! (Sorry about that, I've been reading the Comment Sections a little too much lately.)

 

[Hink]

OPEN YOUR EYES SHEEPLE!!! NIKKI HALEY AND THE LAMESTREAM MEDIA ARE FORCING AGENDA 21 ON YOU!!!!!!!!! (Sorry about that, I've been reading the Comment Sections a little too much lately.)

If I never have to hear the words "Sheeple" and "Lamestream Media" again I will be a happy man. I swear, the level of intellect that it takes to argue these days..... :-c

 

[michaelskis]

If I never have to hear the words "Sheeple" and "Lamestream Media" again I will be a happy man. I swear, the level of intellect that it takes to argue these days..... :-c

I will not mention it...

I have to admit, I don't like any of his appointments yet. I have met Betsy Devos a couple of times and while I think she is qualified, I do have concerns. It will be interesting if she pushes for national vouchers and how the public school systems respond. I personally think that public education should be a roll of the state vs the federal government.

 

[Veloise]

Ben Carson would be bad for any position except as a medical doctor. He is not qualified, nor is his personality such that he should lead any department.

He picks Haley, who has no foreign policy knowledge for UN Ambassador? I thought Trump was going to pick the best and the brightest? He is picking lots of different people, many whom outright hated him during the primary, so that is nice. But he certainly hasn't picked the best people yet. I am just waiting to see where Guiliani fits in. Trump is just picking random people, so my hope is he goes with the Pope for head of the Church, and maybe Bozo the Clown as Interior Secretary.

My guess is someone's googling terms like "GOP official" and "education" and "schools" to dredge up someone with no experience in education, no background in teaching, or administration of anything related to public schools.

Can't wait to see the monster truck demo derby champ he finds for USDOT.

 

[michaelskis]

My guess is someone's googling terms like "GOP official" and "education" and "schools" to dredge up someone with no experience in education, no background in teaching, or administration of anything related to public schools.

Can't wait to see the monster truck demo derby champ he finds for USDOT.

Which appointment are you talking about? If it is Devon, then no she wasn't a teacher but she has been involved in craploads of different education associations. I don't think that she is a good choice but I do think she is qualified.

However, of all the Trump appointmentshould, she may be the only one.

 

[DVD]

RECOUNT, yes, yes, a recount!

 

[michaelskis]

RECOUNT, yes, yes, a recount!

At this point, why not.

I do think that this will raise a lot of very interesting questions about accuracy, absentee ballots, provisional ballots and the like. From what I hear, in some states they are not counted unless it is a close election and there are enough that the absentee or provisional ballots would actually make a difference.

 

[MD Planner]

I've tried to have an open mind about the new administration but WTF! Stop tweeting stupd shit and work on getting the right people in place to help lead this nation.

 

[Bubba]

RECOUNT, yes, yes, a recount!

From the local ragsheet's pay-side, so no link:

The Clinton campaign announced Saturday that it would participate in the Wisconsin recount sought by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, and may join Stein-backed efforts in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

While Clinton officials said they have seen no evidence of vote tampering, and do not expect the results in any state to change, they believe their campaign must be represented during any recount.

Seems like a good use of state government money to me.

 

[Planit]

Pat McCrory and the NC GOPers are still crying. Their appeals have been rejected several times by republican controled county election boards, but they keeping filing and filing appeal after appeal.

 

[The Terminator]

Recount shmeecount. Trump won and now we need to organize and fight back.

Jeff Sessions is not an ally of my community - anyone who believes in Legalize it and that love is love.

I had dream he appointed me Hud secretary and I turned it down haha.

 

[michaelskis]

Recount shmeecount. Trump won and now we need to organize and fight back.

Jeff Sessions is not an ally of my community - anyone who believes in Legalize it and that love is love.

I had dream he appointed me Hud secretary and I turned it down haha.

Organize and fight back? How exactly are you thinking about going about that?


I personally contacted my Senate and Congressional reps and encouraged them to continue to protect the environment and use a reasonable approach based on sound constitutional principles instead of Trump's bull in a china shop approach.



There is no question that a Trump president will be rocky, but we need to all make sure what we lead our families, neighborhoods, and communities in a respectable manner. We need to recognize that Washington DC is not going to help us but instead we need to strive to make our country the best place on the planet starting with our own households. It is not a republican or democrat concept, but an American one. Little things like spend less than you make, don't buy what you don't need, help your neighbor, buy locally instead of big box big corporations, communicate with others that are not like you and learn from them, and most importantly, teach your children right from wrong and to always try to help those who are not able to help themselves. The only way this country will become great again is when we as a society become great again. Trump can't do that for us, and he can't prevent us from doing that for ourselves. That is how I think we should fight.

 

[Bubba]

Looks like Dr. Tom Price (my congressman) will be Trump's HHS Secretary...

 

[DVD]

Organize and fight back? How exactly are you thinking about going about that?


I personally contacted my Senate and Congressional reps and encouraged them to continue to protect the environment and use a reasonable approach based on sound constitutional principles instead of Trump's bull in a china shop approach.



There is no question that a Trump president will be rocky, but we need to all make sure what we lead our families, neighborhoods, and communities in a respectable manner. We need to recognize that Washington DC is not going to help us but instead we need to strive to make our country the best place on the planet starting with our own households. It is not a republican or democrat concept, but an American one. Little things like spend less than you make, don't buy what you don't need, help your neighbor, buy locally instead of big box big corporations, communicate with others that are not like you and learn from them, and most importantly, teach your children right from wrong and to always try to help those who are not able to help themselves. The only way this country will become great again is when we as a society become great again. Trump can't do that for us, and he can't prevent us from doing that for ourselves. That is how I think we should fight.

My reps are all avid Trump supporters. Did I say avid, I meant rabid. You send them something about saving the environment and all you get is a nice form letter back about how the environment is ruining the economy. I did get one back that basically said you're not one of my voters so I don't care.

And you mean, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."? Always a great concept of not relying on the government to solve our daily problems.

 

[michaelskis]

My reps are all avid Trump supporters. Did I say avid, I meant rabid. You send them something about saving the environment and all you get is a nice form letter back about how the environment is ruining the economy. I did get one back that basically said you're not one of my voters so I don't care.

And you mean, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."? Always a great concept of not relying on the government to solve our daily problems.

In your case DVD, you need to show up at local and state meetings to put regulations in place to protect the environment. Also you should get your neighbors and those who fund your reps campaigns to voice their opinion. It is super unfortunate, but Money still have a very loud voice in politics.

Second, I think it is different than that. It is not what you can do for your country, but what you can do for your community. In today's connected society we have lost concept of what local means and the impacts that can have on our communities. You just pointed out that your congressional reps are f-ing morons and don't care. I would venture to bet your City Council would be more responsive. Because of all of this, I intend to contact the town that I live in and see about getting on the Planning Commission when a position opens up. I figure at this point, that might be the place where I can do the most good. I am not going to sit and wait for my neighbors to do it, I am not going to sit and wait for the State or Federal government to do it, but I am going to work to make my community a better place to live.

At work I am going to be very mindful of the recommendations I make to the Planning Commission and City Council. I am not going to always make the most politically appropriate suggestions, but I will make the right ones. It has been said that Common Sense and Political Correctness cannot coexist in the same thought. I think that is very true.

 

[DVD]

I use Kennedy's quote in a broad sense. Stop asking the government to solve your problems, local, state, or federal. Just solve them yourself and that would contribute back to your community. Stop complaining about a problem and go do something about it like shop local or volunteer to clean up a park, whatever.


Sadly, there's not much I can do with my reps. The people around here are pretty avid against environmental things. You know, it hurts the vast coal mines, oil fields, and other resources of Kansas. It's still bizarre to me that farmers who rely on the ground, ground water, and soil don't give a damn about the environment.

 

[The One]

LOL

I've tried to have an open mind about the new administration but WTF! Stop tweeting stupd shit and work on getting the right people in place to help lead this nation.

They aren't even in office yet....ha ha ha....patients running the asylum time in late January. Gonna load up on popcorn.

 

[Planit]

Well at least here's a glimmer of hope in NC:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article117843388.html

Of course the NCGOP is going apeshit saying its politically motivated - yep just as your gerrymandered districts are politically motivated.

 

[michaelskis]

Well at least here's a glimmer of hope in NC:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article117843388.html

Of course the NCGOP is going apeshit saying its politically motivated - yep just as your gerrymandered districts are politically motivated.

I think that I should be appointed to redraw them. Each one would be as close to a square, hexagon, or octagon as physically possible and voting records would not be taken into consideration.

Now if we can get the governor's race finalized and let the new guy get geared up to take office, things would be better.

 

[DVD]

Well at least here's a glimmer of hope in NC:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article117843388.html

Of course the NCGOP is going apeshit saying its politically motivated - yep just as your gerrymandered districts are politically motivated.

You guys are making Kansas look good. Um...can we borrow some money. We had a budget shortfall for some reason.

 

[gtpeach]

You all know that Donald Trump tweet about how you should go to jail or have your citizenship stripped if you burn the flag? I have someone agreeing with him on that issue on my FB page right now...