The American elections seem to have been going on forever. Whats going on? Is the black guy doing better than the woman who got cheated on? Did one of them win yet? Then when do they square off against the rich old white racist guy? Is there a date set for when all of this ends?
does it all go on for a real long time for a real reason, or just because some americans think politics is interesting?
oh! I read the second word in the title wrong.
Anyway, since I’m here, and Tom Hill is cool, I’ll answer:
This has been one of the best primary seasons (playoffs, really) I’ve ever seen. Each of the three main candidates (Sorry, Huck) would be a great president. Yeah yeah, bring it on 
…
The Black guy is marginally ahead of the Ice Queen, but she is an evil robot, so never underestimate her powers (I direct you to the South Park episode entitled, “The Snuke” for a more erudite exploration of her abilities). They pick the candidate after 50+ rounds of skirmishes, so it will be a while. Then they go to the big party and fight over “super delegates”, who are beholden to no one other than the political machine that granted them their heroic abilities. It’s neither fair nor democratic, but that’s how the Democrats roll. There are something like 800 of these folks, so there will be at least 1200 different opinions.
I’ve never heard the old white guy referred to as a racist, which might be why he’s not as popular as he could be within his own party. Most TV pundits think whitey will have a harder time winning against the black guy than the pantsuit.
Hold on until mid-summer, then it will get really fun.
[quote=“merge”]oh! I read the second word in the title wrong.
Anyway, since I’m here, and Tom Hill is cool, I’ll answer:
This has been one of the best primary seasons (playoffs, really) I’ve ever seen. Each of the three main candidates (Sorry, Huck) would be a great president. Yeah yeah, bring it on …
The Black guy is marginally ahead of the Ice Queen, but she is an evil robot, so never underestimate her powers (I direct you to the South Park episode entitled, “The Snuke” for a more erudite exploration of her abilities). They pick the candidate after 50+ rounds of skirmishes, so it will be a while. Then they go to the big party and fight over “super delegates”, who are beholden to no one other than the political machine that granted them their heroic abilities. It’s neither fair nor democratic, but that’s how the Democrats roll. There are something like 800 of these folks, so there will be at least 1200 different opinions.
I’ve never heard the old white guy referred to as a racist, which might be why he’s not as popular as he could be within his own party. Most TV pundits think whitey will have a harder time winning against the black guy than the pantsuit.
Hold on until mid-summer, then it will get really fun.[/quote]
So the black guy isnt out of the woods yet? Snuke could still win? Do super delegates have super powers, or just access to the best hotel rooms?
Calling the old white guy a racist was my own little spin on things. He looks racist. Its all that mottled skin. And he banged some young woman, didn’t he? He sounds like that Gary Hart guy. Has anyone checked to make sure he isnt that Gary Hart guy? He found beef in the bottom of a boat.
So I have to wait until the summer to find all this out? Dude, there will have been a further two rambo films released by then. Didn’t the last guy just cheat and say ‘I won,’ so many times they just let him have the job? Maybe Obama bin could just do that. That would speed up the whole process by months.
I’m guessing that you know this, but, for the benefit of others who may be interested, here is George Will’s explanation regarding the issue of “fairness” in the goings-on at this stage:
[quote=“George Will”][url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/the_unfairness_of_the_democrat.html]Caucuses are, indeed, less purely “democratic” than primaries. That is their virtue. They are inconvenient, requiring commitments of time and energy that are more apt to be made by especially interested voters. Thus caucuses filter out, disproportionately, the lightly committed and least informed, which is not cause for dismay.
Popular sovereignty is simple in theory – government by consent of the governed – but should not be simple-minded in practice. It need not mean government by adding machine, the mere adding up of numbers. A wise polity also has mechanisms for measuring, accommodating and even rewarding intensity. The Senate does this with the filibuster, which enables an intense minority to slow or stymie a majority, at least for a while.
Caucuses are apt to have (in the jargon of liberal jurisprudence) a “disparate impact”: Some kinds or classes of people will be more inclined than others to want to, or be able to, participate.
[/url][/quote]
UH OHHHhhh!..Not allowed to say things like this! This could cause a pile of trouble you’ll never get out of!
Since the date of the election is set in stone, that encourages interested parties to prepare for many years in advance. That also encourages the media to take note of who appears to be preparing for a presidential bid.
This year’s primary season is more exciting than usual, but has probably only delayed the de facto selection of a Democratic candidate by about a month (From Super Tuesday to March 4).
UH OHHHhhh!..Not allowed to say things like this! This could cause a pile of trouble you’ll never get out of!
[/quote]
No no, he is black. I chose my word carefully!
time.com/time/nation/article … 36,00.html
Well…he’s 1/2 black…sorta like Tiger Woods without the golf thing
Or maybe hes Mescan…
Yes, and they are called “commercials”. Or was that football?
In past elections the international community hasn’t even woken up until the national conventions in late summer. But this year, we got a back man and a chick. It makes for more interesting TV. I’ve even talked to non-Americans who were surprised to hear there were more choices than just these two.
They haven’t even chosen vice-presidents yet. go back to sleep already. 
To say there’s a “dragging it out” effect with regards to American elections is quite the understatement. The whole thing needs an editor, big time.
I see by your flag you’re not American. Look, let me explain. A black man and a white woman make for good TV, so the se candidates are getting more attention than would be normal in any other year. If the candidates were all white guys, I doubt the election would be getting even half the international coverage as it is. I’m just glad to know Bush will be gone, not matter what. Anyway, November is a looooong way away, especially in political terms. Anything could happen. We haven’t even had the conventions yet. They haven’t even chosen vice presidents yet. It’s ridiculously early to start rallying behind anyone in particular. Any of the candidates could drop out. We don’t even know who’s really running yet.It’s silly to get so excited so soon. Take a break from it, read some news coverage of something else, or you’ll burn yourself out.
I see by your flag you’re not American. Look, let me explain. A black man and a white woman make for good TV, so the se candidates are getting more attention than would be normal in any other year. If the candidates were all white guys, I doubt the election would be getting even half the international coverage as it is. I’m just glad to know Bush will be gone, not matter what. Anyway, November is a looooong way away, especially in political terms. Anything could happen. We haven’t even had the conventions yet. They haven’t even chosen vice presidents yet. It’s ridiculously early to start rallying behind anyone in particular. Any of the candidates could drop out. We don’t even know who’s really running yet.It’s silly to get so excited so soon. Take a break from it, read some news coverage of something else, or you’ll burn yourself out.[/quote]
I was not looking for an explanation. 
I was merely commenting that yes, indeed, American elections and the process leading up to them drag on and on and on and on. This time around is no different because of who is involved, their gender, or skin color. It’s always the same old nauseating overdone process. I’m well aware of what it is all about. And I most certainly do not find it “exciting”.
I see by your flag you’re not American. Look, let me explain. A black man and a white woman make for good TV, so the se candidates are getting more attention than would be normal in any other year. If the candidates were all white guys, I doubt the election would be getting even half the international coverage as it is. I’m just glad to know Bush will be gone, not matter what. Anyway, November is a looooong way away, especially in political terms. Anything could happen. We haven’t even had the conventions yet. They haven’t even chosen vice presidents yet. It’s ridiculously early to start rallying behind anyone in particular. Any of the candidates could drop out. We don’t even know who’s really running yet.It’s silly to get so excited so soon. Take a break from it, read some news coverage of something else, or you’ll burn yourself out.[/quote]
November? Aww fucking hell, you mean I have to avoid t.v., newspapers and Americans for the next 8 months? Weak.
Treb - I don’t think Mer is excited whatsoever over the American election circus.
Is Obama the giant douche or the turd sandwich?
I see by your flag you’re not American. Look, let me explain. A black man and a white woman make for good TV, so the se candidates are getting more attention than would be normal in any other year. If the candidates were all white guys, I doubt the election would be getting even half the international coverage as it is. I’m just glad to know Bush will be gone, not matter what. Anyway, November is a looooong way away, especially in political terms. Anything could happen. We haven’t even had the conventions yet. They haven’t even chosen vice presidents yet. It’s ridiculously early to start rallying behind anyone in particular. Any of the candidates could drop out. We don’t even know who’s really running yet.It’s silly to get so excited so soon. Take a break from it, read some news coverage of something else, or you’ll burn yourself out.[/quote]
November? Aww fucking hell, you mean I have to avoid t.v., newspapers and Americans for the next 8 months? Weak.
Treb - I don’t think Mer is excited whatsoever over the American election circus.
Is Obama the giant douche or the turd sandwich?[/quote]
I don’t have enough of a sense of mer to really know what he or she is like. I’m just going on the large number of non-Americans who have chosen to start a convo with me by saying “So who are you voting for, Hillary or Obama?” or something similar, and then I’ve had to give them that explanation of, “look man, it’s really really early” and change the topic to something else.
I doubt any Americans even care yet, honestly, unless they really hate women, in which case every other word out of their mouth will be about Hillary.
I see by your flag you’re not American. Look, let me explain. A black man and a white woman make for good TV, so the se candidates are getting more attention than would be normal in any other year. If the candidates were all white guys, I doubt the election would be getting even half the international coverage as it is. I’m just glad to know Bush will be gone, not matter what. Anyway, November is a looooong way away, especially in political terms. Anything could happen. We haven’t even had the conventions yet. They haven’t even chosen vice presidents yet. It’s ridiculously early to start rallying behind anyone in particular. Any of the candidates could drop out. We don’t even know who’s really running yet.It’s silly to get so excited so soon. Take a break from it, read some news coverage of something else, or you’ll burn yourself out.[/quote]
November? Aww fucking hell, you mean I have to avoid t.v., newspapers and Americans for the next 8 months? Weak.
Treb - I don’t think Mer is excited whatsoever over the American election circus.
Is Obama the giant douche or the turd sandwich?[/quote]
I don’t have enough of a sense of mer to really know what he or she is like. I’m just going on the large number of non-Americans who have chosen to start a convo with me by saying “So who are you voting for, Hillary or Obama?” or something similar[/quote]
Seeing as you admit you don’t know me, or what I’m like, let alone if I pee standing up or sitting down, and seeing as I didn’t ask you “so who are you voting for, Hillary or Obama?” in this thread, I really don’t know what you’re rabbling on about anymore, or what your point was in the first place.
I see by your flag you’re not American. Look, let me explain. A black man and a white woman make for good TV, so the se candidates are getting more attention than would be normal in any other year. If the candidates were all white guys, I doubt the election would be getting even half the international coverage as it is. I’m just glad to know Bush will be gone, not matter what. Anyway, November is a looooong way away, especially in political terms. Anything could happen. We haven’t even had the conventions yet. They haven’t even chosen vice presidents yet. It’s ridiculously early to start rallying behind anyone in particular. Any of the candidates could drop out. We don’t even know who’s really running yet.It’s silly to get so excited so soon. Take a break from it, read some news coverage of something else, or you’ll burn yourself out.[/quote]
November? Aww fucking hell, you mean I have to avoid t.v., newspapers and Americans for the next 8 months? Weak.
Treb - I don’t think Mer is excited whatsoever over the American election circus.
Is Obama the giant douche or the turd sandwich?[/quote]
I don’t have enough of a sense of mer to really know what he or she is like. I’m just going on the large number of non-Americans who have chosen to start a convo with me by saying “So who are you voting for, Hillary or Obama?” or something similar[/quote]
Seeing as you admit you don’t know me, or what I’m like, let alone if I pee standing up or sitting down, and seeing as I didn’t ask you “so who are you voting for, Hillary or Obama?” in this thread, I really don’t know what you’re rabbling on about anymore, or what your point was in the first place.[/quote]
Oh, well, let me explain. It’s like, a public forum. people just kinda like, type stuff, to strangers. and this is a thread about the American election. My bad.
I see by your flag you’re not American. Look, let me explain. A black man and a white woman make for good TV, so the se candidates are getting more attention than would be normal in any other year. If the candidates were all white guys, I doubt the election would be getting even half the international coverage as it is. I’m just glad to know Bush will be gone, not matter what. Anyway, November is a looooong way away, especially in political terms. Anything could happen. We haven’t even had the conventions yet. They haven’t even chosen vice presidents yet. It’s ridiculously early to start rallying behind anyone in particular. Any of the candidates could drop out. We don’t even know who’s really running yet.It’s silly to get so excited so soon. Take a break from it, read some news coverage of something else, or you’ll burn yourself out.[/quote]
November? Aww fucking hell, you mean I have to avoid t.v., newspapers and Americans for the next 8 months? Weak.
Treb - I don’t think Mer is excited whatsoever over the American election circus.
Is Obama the giant douche or the turd sandwich?[/quote]
I don’t have enough of a sense of mer to really know what he or she is like. I’m just going on the large number of non-Americans who have chosen to start a convo with me by saying “So who are you voting for, Hillary or Obama?” or something similar[/quote]
Seeing as you admit you don’t know me, or what I’m like, let alone if I pee standing up or sitting down, and seeing as I didn’t ask you “so who are you voting for, Hillary or Obama?” in this thread, I really don’t know what you’re rabbling on about anymore, or what your point was in the first place.[/quote]
Oh, well, let me explain. It’s like, a public forum. people just kinda like, type stuff, to strangers. and this is a thread about the American election. My bad.[/quote]
No offense trebuchet, I just don’t like you connecting me with your idea of someone naively asking you “are you voting for Hillary or Obama?” when I’ve not done so. If you want to know what I really think about something, ask me. Thanks. :s
I’m guessing that you know this, but, for the benefit of others who may be interested, here is George Will’s explanation regarding the issue of “fairness” in the goings-on at this stage:
[quote=“George Will”][url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/the_unfairness_of_the_democrat.html]Caucuses are, indeed, less purely “democratic” than primaries. That is their virtue. They are inconvenient, requiring commitments of time and energy that are more apt to be made by especially interested voters. Thus caucuses filter out, disproportionately, the lightly committed and least informed, which is not cause for dismay.
Popular sovereignty is simple in theory – government by consent of the governed – but should not be simple-minded in practice. It need not mean government by adding machine, the mere adding up of numbers. A wise polity also has mechanisms for measuring, accommodating and even rewarding intensity. The Senate does this with the filibuster, which enables an intense minority to slow or stymie a majority, at least for a while.
Caucuses are apt to have (in the jargon of liberal jurisprudence) a “disparate impact”: Some kinds or classes of people will be more inclined than others to want to, or be able to, participate.
[/url][/quote][/quote]
Yes, like single parents and shift workers who tend to be disparately poor/minorities, which I’m sure has never crossed George Will’s mind- it’s lnot like he’s always opposed any steps to make registration or voting more difficult, is it?
George’s attitude to voting is that it should be reserved for those who have the wealth and education to use it wisely, i.e. vote to keep up privilege for the wealthy and and educated, and made as hard as possible for the rabble to participate in.