The 2020 Presidential Election Primary Thread

[SeattleUte]

Given the times, this wish is probably a vain one, but I hope our next President doesn't Tweet. I confess I find Trump's incessant tweets (often a dozen a day) entertaining, although not the way he intends. I'd like a smarter, more thoughtful President from either party who has better things to do with his/her time than to throw out a never-ending stream of tweets that reflect the author's superficial and banal thought process.

You want a thoughtful more intelligent president like Harris, Sanders or Warren. I want to make myself clear. I’m not pro Trump. I am anti- these opportunistic hypocritical ignorant of history or economics candidates on the left. Warren is worth about $20 million. When is she going to start giving it away? I’m okay with the tweets, though. They’re the least of our worries. I actually think it’s cool we live in a country where our chief executive can get mercilessly trolled.

[Jeff Lebowski]

You want a thoughtful more intelligent president like Harris, Sanders or Warren. I want to make myself clear. I’m not pro Trump. I am anti- these opportunistic hypocritical ignorant of history or economics candidates on the left. Warren is worth about $20 million. When is she going to start giving it away? I’m okay with the tweets, though. They’re the least of our worries. I actually think it’s cool we live in a country where our chief executive can get mercilessly trolled.

By our very own MBN!

[Northwestcoug]

Denmark’s top end 60% tax rate applies to people making over about 55k.

That's better. We can debate high tax rates affecting the middle class in other countries. But that's a lot different than the bluster of everyone getting taxed at >50% rate.

[frank ryan]

I don’t care what Canada and Denmark do. I want you and BS and the others to stop trying to turn us into Denmark or Canada. We’re not the same, and we’re a lot more successful. Where do you think most of the health care innovation comes from?

Mighty arrogant of you to tell me what I’m trying to do. Btw, I’m not going to dispute the US can and should be the most dynamic economy around (which is being interferred with not by raging socialists but by an authoritarian) but I’m sure the EU has had its share of innovation.

Don’t mind me, keep being an expert on everything and the elitist gatekeeper concerning who is allowed to have opinions about what. But don’t think you don’t come across as any less rude than your average condescending Seattle hipster talking about a living wage.

[myboynoah]

You want a thoughtful more intelligent president like Harris, Sanders or Warren. I want to make myself clear. I’m not pro Trump. I am anti- these opportunistic hypocritical ignorant of history or economics candidates on the left. Warren is worth about $20 million. When is she going to start giving it away? I’m okay with the tweets, though. They’re the least of our worries. I actually think it’s cool we live in a country where our chief executive can get mercilessly trolled.

Amy Klobuchar may be best equipped to send the president packing

[PaloAltoCougar]

[responding to BlueK] His campaign's actions around Russia are not in dispute? Do you only read CNN and the Huffington Post?

BlueK was referring to "numerous lies from him and those around him about his and his campaign's actions", not simply to "his campaign's actions." Are there any reputable news sources claiming he and his staff have never lied? There have, in fact, been many such lies (call them, at least, "misstatements"). Consider, for example, Don Jr.'s lies about the purpose of the Trump Tower meeting with known agents of the Russian government ("It was about adoption!"), and how Trump himself, aboard Air Force One, helped draft the initial press release that claimed that's all the meeting was about ("not a campaign issue!"). Here's a brief summary for those who care anymore...

BTW, issuing a bogus press release probably isn't a high crime or misdemeanor, so there may not be anything impeachable here. But it would be easier to make a case for BYU's basketball team right to an NCAA invite than to argue for the honesty and forthrightness of our current President.

You want a thoughtful more intelligent president like Harris, Sanders or Warren. I want to make myself clear. I’m not pro Trump. I am anti- these opportunistic hypocritical ignorant of history or economics candidates on the left. Warren is worth about $20 million. When is she going to start giving it away? I’m okay with the tweets, though. They’re the least of our worries. I actually think it’s cool we live in a country where our chief executive can get mercilessly trolled.

I remain hopeful those three aren't our only alternatives, and certainly non-Tweeting wouldn't be a key factor in deciding which voting lever to pull. That post was more of a random observation; I have a much longer, more substantive list of reasons why I think Trump is an utter disaster as head of our nation, not to mention being a lousy, low-character human being. And while I share your pleasure at being able to troll a president (the First Amendment is great, isn't it?), I'm apparently less pleased than you that the leader of the free world devotes any, much less a huge chunk, of his time to such activity.

[tooblue]

What do you think the tax rate is for everyone in Canada and Denmark? How do you think all of this free stuff (you don’t even need to fill out forms or prove it’s medically necessary) gets paid for? That’s what taxes are like in those countries always held up as examples of successful socialism.

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-age...ous-years.html

Federal tax rates for 2018

• 15% on the first $46,605 of taxable income, +
• 20.5% on the next $46,603 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income over 46,605 up to $93,208), +
• 26% on the next $51,281 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income over $93,208 up to $144,489), +
• 29% on the next $61,353 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income over 144,489 up to $205,842), +
• 33%of taxable income over $205,842.

[tooblue]

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-age...ous-years.html

In case you are wondering I pay 26% ... if I lived in the states I would pay 24% ... I know because I also file a US tax return.

[Jeff Lebowski]

In case you are wondering I pay 26% ... if I lived in the states I would pay 24% ... I know because I also file a US tax return.

That adds up to 50%!

[BlueK]

BlueK was referring to "numerous lies from him and those around him about his and his campaign's actions", not simply to "his campaign's actions." Are there any reputable news sources claiming he and his staff have never lied? There have, in fact, been many such lies (call them, at least, "misstatements"). Consider, for example, Don Jr.'s lies about the purpose of the Trump Tower meeting with known agents of the Russian government ("It was about adoption!"), and how Trump himself, aboard Air Force One, helped draft the initial press release that claimed that's all the meeting was about ("not a campaign issue!"). Here's a brief summary for those who care anymore...

BTW, issuing a bogus press release probably isn't a high crime or misdemeanor, so there may not be anything impeachable here. But it would be easier to make a case for BYU's basketball team right to an NCAA invite than to argue for the honesty and forthrightness of our current President.

Exactly. He's avoiding what I really said: LIES from and about him and his campaign related to Russia. Too many to count.

Trump FOR MONTHS said he had zero to do with Russia in any way. Barely heard of the country. This is easy because of Trump's over the top way of denying things. but now his own spokesperson is on TV a couple of weeks ago talking about how the Trump Tower deal absolutely no one denies any more was in negotiations all the way to election time. That's a little different admittedly than having absolutely no business in Russia. He's a businessman, Why lie about it? But he did, and that is not in dispute.

[myboynoah]

Exactly. He's avoiding what I really said: LIES from and about him and his campaign related to Russia. Too many to count.

Trump FOR MONTHS said he had zero to do with Russia in any way. Barely heard of the country. This is easy because of Trump's over the top way of denying things. but now his own spokesperson is on TV a couple of weeks ago talking about how the Trump Tower deal absolutely no one denies any more was in negotiations all the way to election time. That's a little different admittedly than having absolutely no business in Russia. He's a businessman, Why lie about it? But he did, and that is not in dispute.

Yeah, c'mon you Dumpsters. This is a no brainer. The Dump lied and lied and lied and lied about his activities in Russia. And then all his people lied and lied and lied and lied about their Russian contacts.

They are just a bunch of liars, and not at all good at it. Bunch of dopes.

[BlueK]

The Mueller Report will be a big disappointment. This is playing out predictably. Investigation drags on for a long time, a few Trumpians get twisted up and charged with perjury and/or obstruction. They find some tax violations and maybe some obscure campaign finance issues. But a smoking gun on Trump himself? Nope. Nothingburger.

His campaign's actions around Russia are not in dispute? Do you only read CNN and the Huffington Post?

PAC answered. I said many, many lies are not in dispute.

And there's this:

"Roger Stone is known for hyperbole, but his latest graphic warning should worry Donald Trump.

The political trickster said Tuesday, a day he pleaded not guilty to seven charges laid by special counsel Robert Mueller, that Trump's presidency is in mortal peril because the Russia investigation amounts to a "speeding bullet heading for his head."

That sounds pretty serious coming from the guy whose indictment talks about having been directed by sr. campaign officials to try to coordinate the release of the stolen emails.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/30/polit...ion/index.html

[Moliere]

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-age...ous-years.html

Are those in Canadian dollars?

[chrisrenrut]

Are those in Canadian dollars?

Yep. And they use metric percentages as well.

[myboynoah]

Yep. And they use metric percentages as well.

Yeah, so 26% in Canadian metric (communist) percentages is around 80%.

No way for the USA!!!