2016 GOP Convention - Cleveland, Ohio - July 18-21

[kail]

The RNC program described Melania as "earning her degree in design and architecture from the University of Slovenia". She was there for less than a year.... which made me think of George Costanza and his claims of studying architecture.

Is she an importer or an exporter?

[Hooked]

They should have a drew carey show marathon. The best thing Cleveland ever produced.

[muto]

What an embarrassment, I mean was this a WWE event or a political convention?

I thought Trump's entrance answered that.

[Deleted]

Here's a TYT summary of day 1 for all you Cenk haters:

[mvaliz]

Here's a TYT summary of day 1 for all you Cenk haters:

That video nailed my largest problem with the GOP convention so far - not a SINGLE proposed solution to any of America's problems was discussed there. It was all fearmongering rhetoric about muslums, immigrants, democrats, hillary, benghazi, blah blah blah...

What are you doing about fixing the school system in America? How is building a wall going to fix the medical issues? How is having a mom crying about her son dying in benghazi going to help students with crippling debt? how is Ivanka ripping off Michelle Obama's speeches going to repair the middle class??

[Ghostpanther]

That video nailed my largest problem with the GOP convention so far - not a SINGLE proposed solution to any of America's problems was discussed there. It was all fearmongering rhetoric about muslums, immigrants, democrats, hillary, benghazi, blah blah blah...

What are you doing about fixing the school system in America? How is building a wall going to fix the medical issues? How is having a mom crying about her son dying in benghazi going to help students with crippling debt? how is Ivanka ripping off Michelle Obama's speeches going to repair the middle class??

Here is what I got from it. Damn good. But too long and they should have ended it after Melania's speech, which would have been a great way to end it. But still a good day one convention overall with some much needed speeches.

See how that works? How good it was depends on if you are going to vote for Trump. .

And hats off to the security team up there.

[alexw]

Here is what I got from it. Damn good. But too long and they should have ended it after Melania's speech, which would have been a great way to end it. But still a good day one convention overall with some much needed speeches.

See how that works? How good it was depends on if you are going to vote for Trump. .

And hats off to the security team up there.

Yeah but you are already a Trumpist who loves that fear mongering empty of real content crap and that doesn't help Trump in the slightest. Its not you Trump needs to win over. Its the never Trumpers, its the middle of the road people, the people who lean slightly republican, and of those I know they are repulsed.

[Ghostpanther]

Yeah but you are already a Trumpist who loves that fear mongering empty of real content crap and that doesn't help Trump in the slightest. Its not you Trump needs to win over. Its the never Trumpers, its the middle of the road people, the people who lean slightly republican, and of those I know they are repulsed.

A Trumpist to the extent I think he is a better choice then Hillary is? You are right. Do you think you will see anything coming out of the convention which will change your mind and vote for Trump?

[Deleted]

I am not that deep into US politics, but is normal to have daily schedule headlines like that? I mean, they seem to have figured it all out and ready to start a golden age. Also make America one again, what does that even mean?

[Ghostpanther]

I am not that deep into US politics, but is normal to have daily schedule headlines like that? I mean, they seem to have figured it all out and ready to start a golden age. Also make America one again, what does that even mean?

Yes. It is political grandstanding supreme. hehe. How golden the future will be for the US will depend greatly on what happens this election in Nov.

[Deleted]

Yes. It is political grandstanding supreme. hehe. How golden the future will be for the US will depend greatly on what happens this election in Nov.

But that is presidential?

[Ghostpanther]

But that is presidential?

Yes. The general election for the US president is a long drawn out affair with a lot of dramatic flair over political differences. It is too long in my opinion.

[alexw]

A Trumpist to the extent I think he is a better choice then Hillary is? You are right. Do you think will see anything coming out of the convention which will change your mind and vote for Trump?

Since he is doing everything to confirm my prior held beliefs on him, no. I mean they spent what, an hour demonizing illegal immigrants? Then another hour demonizing Muslims? And a couple hours demonizing Clinton? Where oh where were the policy prescriptions on not on how x,y,z is evil and will kill us all, but how they planned to make the nation a better place. Where were the policy prescriptions on health care? Where were the policies on college affordability? On furthering the transition away from oil dependence (which would do more than anything else to reduce terrorism as it would utterly deprive them of funds)? On global warming? On the automation wave that is destroying well paid jobs? On making sure everyone benefits from rising productivity instead of all the rewards going to the top 5% of the population? and on and on. This is what I want to hear about. The real challenges the country faces not made up ones about Benghazi. Spreading paranoia and fear is never going to make the nation better no matter if it gets your juices flowing. It will without a doubt make it worse.

[Deleted]

Yes. The general election for the US president is a long drawn out affair with a lot of dramatic flair over political differences. It is too long in my opinion.

I am still at a loss of what the presidents power actually is, and whenever I ask the answer tends to be that they don't have any real power over what they propose. US politics confuse me sometimes

[Ghostpanther]

Since he is doing everything to confirm my prior held beliefs on him, no. I mean they spent what, an hour demonizing illegal immigrants? Then another hour demonizing Muslims? And a couple hours demonizing Clinton? Where oh where were the policy prescriptions on not on how x,y,z is evil and will kill us all, but how they planned to make the nation a better place. Where were the policy prescriptions on health care? Where were the policies on college affordability? On furthering the transition away from oil dependence (which would do more than anything else to reduce terrorism as it would utterly deprive them of funds)? On global warming? On the automation wave that is destroying well paid jobs? On making sure everyone benefits from rising productivity instead of all the rewards going to the top 5% of the population? and on and on. This is what I want to hear about. The real challenges the country faces not made up ones about Benghazi. Spreading paranoia and fear is never going to make the nation better no matter if it gets your juices flowing. It will without a doubt make it worse.

You make some good points. Trump has spoken on making college education more affordable. But not in the sense of government subsidies. But rather trying to make efforts to decrease the unwarranted increases of tuition and having much lower interest rates on College loans. And more effort put into trade schools rather than college. And homeland security happens to be a very top priority for this election.
That and the economy are actually the top 2 concerns. Only makes sense to focus on those. There will be millions of people who vote for Trump who will do it while holding their noses. I will be one of them. Certainly do not agree with all he has said.

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I am still at a loss of what the presidents power actually is, and whenever I ask the answer tends to be that they don't have any real power over what they propose. US politics confuse me sometimes

The President of the US does yield some power. He has veto rights over any bill which congress passes. And it takes 2/3 of the votes in Congress to override his veto. He can also use his Executive power to make some orders ( within the Constitution ) which can alter some things as a min in the US policies. But those are subjected to the US Supreme Court also, which may rule against his order. He/she also is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the US. And with War Powers Act in place, can do things like invade Iraq. :P

His/her main job however is to provide for the safety of the US citizens and be a inspirational leader. They can if they overdue their powers be overruled and maybe even impeached by Congress. So it is not like they are dictators with unlimited power.

[alexw]

You make some good points. Trump has spoken on making college education more affordable. But not in the sense of government subsidies. But rather trying to make efforts to decrease the unwarranted increases of tuition and having much lower interest rates on College loans. And more effort put into trade schools rather than college. And homeland security happens to be a very top priority for this election.
That and the economy are actually the top 2 concerns. Only makes sense to focus on those. There will be millions of people who vote for Trump who will do it while holding their noses. I will be one of them. Certainly do not agree with all he has said.

Which isn't solved by fear mongering. Hell you and I both know that illegal immigrants are less likely to kill someone than the native population. So tell me how does a succession of random people getting on stage saying I had my son/daughter/wife killed by an illegal immigrant make the nation safer. How does telling everyone watching you should be afraid of that brown person next door make anyone safer? If anything instilling fear and paranoia will make the nation a far worse place than it is. It is exactly the crap that Bush used to disastrous effect to get people to support his plans to invade Iraq and we all know how badly that has affected the nation. What they are doing here is the same and is repulsive.

[Deleted]

The President of the US does yield some power. He has veto rights over any bill which congress passes. And it takes 2/3 of the votes in Congress to override his veto. He can also use his Executive power to make some orders ( within the Constitution ) which can alter some things as a min in the US policies. But those are subjected to the US Supreme Court also, which may rule against his order. He/she also is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the US. And with War Powers Act in place, can do things like invade Iraq. :P

His/her main job however is to provide for the safety of the US citizens and be a inspirational leader. They can if they overdue their powers be overruled and maybe even impeached by Congress. So it is not like they are dictators with unlimited power.

And that is where I as an outsider am thoroughly confused with all the things that Trump and Hillary have promised they would do or uphold, because it doesn't seem to be within their powers if they become president. Bernie far more so.

[Ghostpanther]

Which isn't solved by fear mongering. Hell you and I both know that illegal immigrants are less likely to kill someone than the native population. So tell me how does a succession of random people getting on stage saying I had my son/daughter/wife killed by an illegal immigrant make the nation safer. How does telling everyone watching you should be afraid of that brown person next door make anyone safer? If anything instilling fear and paranoia will make the nation a far worse place than it is. It is exactly the crap that Bush used to disastrous effect to get people to support his plans to invade Iraq and we all know how badly that has affected the nation. What they are doing here is repulsive.

How much it is fear mongering depends on what one feels about the dangers in his life. Illegal immigration can effect some more than others. And the crime rate/murder rate is far too high in the black community than it should be. Which explains why many would not want to travel to come parts of some large cities. This is a problem which has many causes. Poverty playing a major role. Which has not got better under Obama. If it was my son who got killed and I felt it was not handled the right way, I would want to stand on the roof tops and shout it out for all to hear how it was unjustified.

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And that is where I as an outsider am thoroughly confused with all the things that Trump and Hillary have promised they would do or uphold, because it doesn't seem to be within their powers if they become president. Bernie far more so.

They rarely can fulfill what they say they will do during their campaign pledges. No matter who gets elected, they will be limited by how much congress will let them. But then there is this to consider, a President who also has a lot of support in congress can indeed accomplish a lot.

[Deleted]

They rarely can fulfill what they say they will do during their campaign pledges. No matter who gets elected, they will be limited by how much congress will let them. But then there is this to consider, a President who also has a lot of support in congress can indeed accomplish a lot.

Yeah, I just have to admit it makes it somewhat odd to see people say how either will bring upon the golden age or the crumbling of the US, when really it is reliant on far more factors than who sits in the oval office

[Ghostpanther]

Yeah, I just have to admit it makes it somewhat odd to see people say how either will bring upon the golden age or the crumbling of the US, when really it is reliant on far more factors than who sits in the oval office

True. But do not underestimate the influence a President can have on the direction the US can go in the future. It is a important factor.