The world is laughing.

[KLaban]

So, the best the great US of A could come up with was a fat a$$ shreiking and cackling witch or a racist, misogynistic and narcissistic a$$?

Sounds rather like the UK.

;-) 

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

...Are you saying you don't like Trump? You have previously gave the impression you were a big fan of him.

Don't know about Alan K, though I presume he does belong to the same group, but NOBODY likes Trump, not even his supporters. What people support is not the man, but his policy directions.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

So, the best the great US of A could come up with was a fat a$$ shreiking and cackling witch or a racist, misogynistic and narcissistic a$$?

Facts vs. opinion (aka fake news):

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Except that's a small percentage of the population...

Irrelevant argument. How is that different from previous elections or from other democracies? In all those cases, the percentage of those voting is usually way smaller than the percentage of eligible voters.

[Alan Klein]

No I'm not kidding.  Americans had a choice.  I wasn't going to vote for the corrupt Clintons.  My choice in the Republican nomination side was not for Trump but for Bush for his experience and demeanor and name, or Rubio for his youth and ability to debate well, or Kasich for his down-to-earth common sense, or Cruz for his conservativeness but there was an icky factor with him, Christie for his toughness similar to Trumps.  I couldn't listen to Trump, still can't.

Are you saying you don't like Trump? You have previously gave the impression you were a big fan of him.

No I kind of like him now.  Sort of like a scar you get.  At first, the cut bled and hurt.  Then you get a scar that you can show off.    Does that make sense?

Actually I'm impressed with Trump's toughness, how he can move the process along pretty quickly,  how he can take a punch and give back two, his resiliency, his ability to simplify the issue and act decisively, his patriotism and willingness to fight for America, and keeping to his campaign promises.  I love it when he tweaks the nose of the old-line republican establishment, their holier-than-thou conceitful thinking that their sh!t doesn't stink.   The Democrats are a lost cause.  In the old days they were liberal but at least stood by America.  Now they're willing to destroy it to gain power.  They're a disgrace. 

I don;t like his pettiness and sensitivity but that goes along with his punching back hard.  He's not a good speaker and often scrambles his words unlike polished politicians.  Of course, that helps him with average guys on the street.  I don;t like when he demeans people, calling them names, etc. 

[James Clark]

Irrelevant argument. How is that different from previous elections or from other democracies? In all those cases, the percentage of those voting is usually way smaller than the percentage of eligible voters.

We're actually pretty bad at it, compared to most places.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/21/u-s-voter-turnout-trails-most-developed-countries/
 

[Alan Klein]

Irrelevant argument. How is that different from previous elections or from other democracies? In all those cases, the percentage of those voting is usually way smaller than the percentage of eligible voters.

Which makes our electoral system with popular majorities by state far better than systems that rely only on the popular vote across a country.  There's a definitive winner.  Trump won 304 electoral votes to Hillary's 227. 
or Trump 57%, Hillary 43%.  A substantial and impressive margin especially when you consider the pundits had predicted the opposite to happen.   They predicted Hillary to get 322 votes.  http://time.com/4561625/electoral-college-predictions/
Makes the argument about Russian collusion even more sillier.  The electoral system forces majorities in most circumstances rather than pluralities.   In parliamentary systems, the prime minister often wins with only a small plurality of votes.  In America, you get a clear cut choice.  And a clear cut winner. 

[James Clark]

Don't know about Alan K, though I presume he does belong to the same group, but NOBODY likes Trump, not even his supporters. What people support is not the man, but his policy directions.

I do wish more people *actually* knew what those positions were, what they mean, and how they impact their own (and there fest of their fellow citizens') future.   I can see (I can even MAKE) an argument for many of the policies that are being advanced (deregulation, reductions in corporate taxation, etc.) but my complaint is that the decisions and particularly the implementation are seemingly being done with insufficient forethought, planning or analysis of outcomes, but are instead geared toward soundbites and headlines that register with a base that cares more about angering liberals than policy.

That's a bad thing.

Then there's Trump himself - policy positions aside, I can't fathom that anyone actually thinks he's the guy you want in the big chair when a true crisis comes along.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

I do wish more people *actually* knew what those positions were, what they mean...

[James Clark]

But that's really, really BAD.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

But that's really, really BAD.

The quote I used is from a marketeer, but it is not far from the truth when it comes to politics. And I personally believe that it is more about gut feelings, rather than beliefs, though those exist as well. Most people do not have the time or desire for deep analysis of complex issues. They rely on headlines, common sense and gut feeling. And stereotypes (which exist for a reason). Now, with fake news all over, whether as fake fake news or really fake news (and precisely because they can't distinguish them anymore), most people haver resorted to common sense and gut feelings. And stereotypes.

Now, most reasonable people would agree that common sense does not always makes sense, or that stereotypes are not applicable in all cases, or that gut feelings might get it wrong. And yet, most people prefer shortcuts to deep analysis. Then again, even deep analysis does not always produce an actionable result, but mostly ends in a "on one hand, and on the other hand..." type of paralysis.

Sometimes, the Gordian knot parable is the solution. Or the Hercules' stables fable.

[Alan Goldhammer]

Well the choice was Trump or looking and listening to that fat a$$ shreiking and cackling witch for four maybe eight years.

Oh irony of ironies.  Change 'witch' to 'man' and you have the perfect description of our President.

[Alan Goldhammer]

Irrelevant argument. How is that different from previous elections or from other democracies? In all those cases, the percentage of those voting is usually way smaller than the percentage of eligible voters.

It's a mixed bag as this Pew Research study shows.  Some countries have a very high relative turnout.  The most puzzling number to me is Switzerland where under 40% of the voting population actually voted.  Maybe the Swiss are so content that they don't need to vote.

[Alan Klein]

The quote I used is from a marketeer, but it is not far from the truth when it comes to politics. And I personally believe that it is more about gut feelings, rather than beliefs, though those exist as well. Most people do not have the time or desire for deep analysis of complex issues. They rely on headlines, common sense and gut feeling. And stereotypes (which exist for a reason). Now, with fake news all over, whether as fake fake news or really fake news (and precisely because they can't distinguish them anymore), most people haver resorted to common sense and gut feelings. And stereotypes.

Now, most reasonable people would agree that common sense does not always makes sense, or that stereotypes are not applicable in all cases, or that gut feelings might get it wrong. And yet, most people prefer shortcuts to deep analysis. Then again, even deep analysis does not always produce an actionable result, but mostly ends in a "on one hand, and on the other hand..." type of paralysis.

Sometimes, the Gordian knot parable is the solution. Or the Hercules' stables fable.

He may not be Alexander, but Trump is a Gordian knot kind of guy. 

[Alan Klein]

It's a mixed bag as this Pew Research study shows.  Some countries have a very high relative turnout.  The most puzzling number to me is Switzerland where under 40% of the voting population actually voted.  Maybe the Swiss are so content that they don't need to vote.

I think it may be because of the electoral system in America and winner takes all by state.  Why would a Republican bother to vote in democrat majority California?  Or a Democrat voting in republican majority Wyoming?  It's a waste of time. 

[Jeremy Roussak]

Well the choice was Trump or looking and listening to that fat a$$ shreiking and cackling witch for four maybe eight years.

That is not acceptable language, Alan. Public warning.

Oh irony of ironies.  Change 'witch' to 'man' and you have the perfect description of our President.

Nor is that, even if it is merely an echo.

Jeremy

[Peter McLennan]

That is not acceptable language, Alan. Public warning.

Nor is that, even if it is merely an echo.

Jeremy

Thank you.

[Alan Klein]

That is not acceptable language, Alan. Public warning.

Nor is that, even if it is merely an echo.

Jeremy

Sorry Jeremy.

[enduser]

Why would you vote if yours is for a minority in your electorate?  Because your  vote is your only input - people have died around the world to fight for the right to vote.  We have a national clean-up day where I live and even small children take part picking up what little rubbish they can carry.  Their individual effort is worthless and wouldn't be missed but they do it to do what a democracy makes possible- to take part.
Not to take part is an insult to all those who fought for democratic rights.

[Alan Klein]

Why would you vote if yours is for a minority in your electorate?  Because your  vote is your only input - people have died around the world to fight for the right to vote.  We have a national clean-up day where I live and even small children take part picking up what little rubbish they can carry.  Their individual effort is worthless and wouldn't be missed but they do it to do what a democracy makes possible- to take part.
Not to take part is an insult to all those who fought for democratic rights.

I do vote.  In every election going back decades.  I don't think any of my candidates have ever won. I've lived in very liberal democrat states and areas like NYC and New Jersey.