2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHillary is in fact very competent, but I don't like her politics. At all.
Hillary fans can go on and on about how competent she is, that she's "the most prepared candidate ever!" They can go on and on about how smart she is, explaining at length the "depth of her knowledge" on issue after issue. They can go on and on talking about the network of connections she's made, both domestically and internationally, and that she's the one that "can get things done."
But all of this talk leaves me cold.
In the end, what matters to me is what Hillary stands for, and what she plans on doing with her presidency. What is it she's going to get done? Is she going to get us universal health care, or just tweak Obamacare? Is she even going to try to lower health care costs for ordinary people - which Obamacare has failed to do??? Is she going to get us out of the Middle East, or get us entangled even more? Is she going to rein in Wall Street for real, or merely tell them to "cut it out" in public, while she privately laughs it up with the CEOs of the big banks and corporations, who bankrolled her whole candidacy? And should we even talk about what she would do about campaign finance reform?? LOL!
Yes, I think we all know the answers to these questions. Even if you like her, you know Hillary only promises incremental change, at best. And with respect to foreign policy, even her fans try to sidestep her close ties to the neocons. Maybe people are excited by the prospect of having a woman be president. That'd be nice, I guess, but I'd rather have someone truly fighting for us. Too bad there's nobody else other than Hillary running this year. ;P
Squinch
(51,075 posts)than she does.
And it's nice of you to let us know your innermost thoughts, but right now the grown- ups need to work on defeating Trump.
EndElectoral
(4,213 posts)orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)Squinch
(51,075 posts)Baobab
(4,667 posts)Gives more money to those who already have it
https://www.youtube.com/v/CTX5LfKef8M
since they are better at making money. See Ronald Coase, Pareto, etc.
They prioritize making more and more money and so they give more money to the already rich.
Vote for Hillary if you want to funnel more money from the poor to the already rich.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)Baobab
(4,667 posts)So you have to understand. *wink*
"Sensitive subject"
in protectionist America.
*wink*
She has to pretend to want wages to rise!
LOL.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)Squinch
(51,075 posts)pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)Condescending and smug
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Congress. Fracking everywhere, poverty everywhere, more jobs to China, wars, wars, more wars.
And you "grown-ups" that bow before the queen think you want to defeat Trump. Well, as Goldman-Sachs for help. Ooops they've already said that they don't care if it's Clinton of a Republicon.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)all you want but we will get the Big Money out of our government that you worship.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)people, and asked you for a list of what Bernie has done.
Your refrigerator magnets didn't seem to be able to handle that.
So you want a discussion? Answer the question: what has Bernie done to help the poor in his decades in Congress?
Awaiting an answer which does not address the question, but that includes the words "Goldman-sachs" "big money" and some phrase that says those who disagree with you are the devil. Because you never disappoint.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)But will you care when the poverty rates climb with corporate profits? Rhetorical.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)Have a nice fact-free day!
EndElectoral
(4,213 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)angrychair
(8,750 posts)That question has been answered, dozens of times, right here on DU but people like you don't want to hear it. Not going to spend 30 minutes or so compiling a list just to get some bullshit retort about all the things a single member of Congress didn't do. You need not go further than a search on DU to get your answers.
Very short answer is:
Co-founded the Congressional Progressive Caucus, dedicated to Democratic progressive ideals
Sanders is known as the Amendment King. He has had more amendments passed than any sitting member of Congress in history.
By no means a comprehensive list but hits the highlights:
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-gets-it-done-sanders-record-pushing-through-major-reforms-will-surprise-you
And another:
https://pplswar.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/what-bernie-sanders-got-done-in-washington-a-legislative-inventory/
I suspect if you were really interested you would have looked yourself but you asked just to criticize without the slightest inclination to look at your own candidate with the same critical eye.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)to hear it.
For example the "amendment king" nonsense. Look into those amendments. The vast majority of them simply say that people shouldn't do things that are already illegal. That's why he was able to get them attached. No one cared because they meant nothing.
You guys always trot out that alternet article. Have you ever actually read it and looked into what it says? It doesn't amount to much, especially when you consider it's all he's done for 25 years in Congress.
Do read it now, and here's what you'll find:
A little money here and there to a worthy cause.
A nice one time bump to health care centers in Vermont (doesn't hold a candle to Hillary getting permanent health care for millions of kids and getting the National Guard insured.)
Most of the achievements in that list that boil down to Bernie pushing amendments to say people shouldn't do things that are already illegal.
Not much more.
He did sponsor three bills in 25 years that got passed. Three. Only three. Two of them were to name the same post office, though. But hey, that post office got NAMED!
Interestingly, Bernie's whole message is about how he is going to bring the corporate establishment to heel, but he has accomplished nothing that does anything to hinder the corporate establishment. Nothing. In 25 years. What is he waiting for?
The other article is pretty much a list of laws that Bernie co-sponsored. So what? They all would have gotten passed without him. Interestingly, when Hillary and Bernie were in the senate together, they co-sponsored almost all of the same bills. So you can't really say he has any leg up on her on that score.
angrychair
(8,750 posts)You didn't even read what I posted and automatically dismiss his accomplishments. You had no actual desire to learn, only to get what you wanted and move on. Just like your candidate. Good job living up to expectations.
I really hope you get all these unicorns you think Clinton can deliver if elected. As is true of people like you, you will constantly move the goalposts as she fails you over and over again.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)angrychair
(8,750 posts)That the AlterNet article was not comprehensive.
I am not going to spend the time to list everything out as you have already shown you don't give a shit.
As far as SChip, let's ask the actual writers of the Bill, Orrin Hatch and Ted Kennedy, and what they think:
Sen. Hatch stated:
"I do like her," Hatch said of Hillary Clinton. "We all care about children. But does she deserve credit for SCHIP? No - Teddy does, but she doesn't."
Sen. Ted Kennedy (FYI, despite all her quoting and tying herself to Kennedy, he endorsed Obama for president in 2008):
"Asked whether Clinton was exaggerating her role in creating SCHIP, Kennedy, stopped in the hallway as he was entering the chamber to vote, half-shrugged.
"Facts are stubborn things," he said, declining to criticize Clinton directly. "I think we ought to stay with the facts."
Or let's ask another noted Democrat, Henry Waxman, who's committee approved the Bill:
"It was a bipartisan bill. I don't remember the role of the White House," said Representative Henry Waxman, a California Democrat who has not endorsed a candidate in the presidential race and who was the chief Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which deals with health matters. "It did not originate at the White House."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/14/clinton_role_in_health_program_disputed/?page=full
While I grant you that some are willing to give her some credit, the Bills authors are not. The Bill's chief supporters are not. I didn't say it, they did. She didn't write the bill, fight for it in Congress and it took two attempts to get it to pass due to opposition from the WH.
It is in very poor taste and an insult to the memory of a great man like Ted Kennedy that she would attempt to steal the glory and accomplishments right from the man's grave.
This is one of many instances of her over-stating her contributions.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)enjoy
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)However, If you were a real grown up, you'd know that if HRC does happen to win the nomination that she can't beat Trump without the help of those you so enthusiastically insult now.
So bookmark this thread now, cause I'm gonna come back and ask you how you're enjoying the Trump Presidency.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)the thread have anything to do with you coming back. If you're going to come back, YOU will need to bookmark the thread, not me. Don't you guys ever make sense?
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)I simply requested that you do.
It's too bad that they stopped teaching critical thinking when you got to middle school.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)you are so sure that Trump will win.
Also, you might want to note that discussions about bookmarking threads have very little to do with critical thinking.
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)See this is where those critical thinking skills I mentioned come in.
However, in your haste to insult- you completely ignored it.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)That'll stop her.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)has tea with the Wealthy. This is a class war and Clinton sides with the Aristocracy as I guess you do. Do you think they will like you?
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)monicaangela
(1,508 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)My view of your thread is much cleaner now, thanks!
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)Maybe I should go do a little "cleaning" too.
It seems some people come here not to discuss things but just to be annoying.
Gotta filter them out. .thanks for the reminder.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Maybe others doesn't like getting minimum wage increase. I like the policy of improving ACA and getting everyone insured. I like assisting with college tuition. I like women's wages being increased. I would like to see action taken to stop gun violence and want to have a president who knows this is a big problem and is not for giving immunity for one industry, the gun industry. I like leaving the Dodd Frank which breaks up failing banks. There are many more and a realistic path to accomplish.
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)Of course the problem comes about IMPLEMENTING them and sticking with those promises. Not to mention those details. She won't go to $15. She thinks $12 is enough for "those people". Of course everyone knows that $12 is NOT a living wage. But I guess for her, what does that matter, it's just a number.
Same nonsense from her on every issue.
monicaangela
(1,508 posts)watch her lie in videos on stage during debates in office, whichever one she is promoted to before they start to believe that maybe what she is saying is BS. I simply can't understand how people can tune out the plethora of proof that this woman will say anything and do anything to gain power. It appears they somehow have tuned out the truth.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)and that's enough. They'd support Cheney if he was a Democrat.
monicaangela
(1,508 posts)and make excuses for him as well no doubt, even when he shoots a fellow hunter in the face, not to mention his part in getting this country to waste a trillion or more on the Iraq war to enrich his buddies. Unbelievable the things people will just overlook.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)minimum wage increases, tried to get a bill passed to connect minimum wage increases tied to Congressional wage increases. BTW, she was in on the last minimum wage increase. She also works from a reality of getting $12 is easier to get passed than the $15. As a person who is very near minimum wage making $12 an hour is a helluva better than $7.25 which is where it stands now. Dreaming of making $15 has not put one dime in my pocket.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)She only fought for that fifteen years ago because she knew Bernie would talk about it this year. Big old copy-catter.
EndElectoral
(4,213 posts)1. You do know Sanders is asking for a minimum wage increase higher of 15 compared to Clinton's 12. This is closer to what it would be adjusted for real inflation, and is less than what Elizabeth Warren advocated. A wage that helps the poor grow out of poverty. Why do you choose Clinton over Sanders on this?
2. Medicare has been around since the mid-60's and you'd have a hard time finding a senior who'd give it up to go on the ACA. it's already in place and would become more solvent with younger healthy wage earners solidufing its base. Why go with an unfavorable program that Republicans have promised to dismantle at any chance? They wouldn't dare try on Medicare.
3. If you like Clinton, you like assisting community college tuition, not universities. Refinancing your loan is a small reach, nothing like real assistance for college kids. This is an issue that has no impact on me personally, but it's simply wrong for kids to get entangled in huge debt or forego colege because they can't afford it, OR are forced to pursue a secure profession over chasing their dreams.
4. I think Sanders has also spoke about increasing women's wages. Is it because a woman also says that you feel more comfortable with the message?
5. I want to hear from both candidate and legal experts how you really get around the second amendment in stopping gun violence. At this point I've heard band aids and talking points from both sides, not anything that is going to really deter crime. It seems a litmus test for a Supreme Court judge on the interpretation of the second amendment. Until it is interpreted in a much more narrow way, all the rhetoric is window dressing the problem.
6. Prefer Glass Steagall. It worked all the way into the 90's. Just prefer FDR's approach to Dodd Frank. Dodd Frank sets up punishments but doesn't stop things before happening.
We disagree on a lot ,but thanks for an intelligent post. Tired of so many smug ones.
Personally, it is in the foreign policy area on which Clinton and I have our biggest division, and which make it impossible for me to vote for her. I do not like her over friendly relationship with Wall Street, but I could look beyond that if Trump was the candidate, but her Kissinger foreign policy approach I simply cannot accept. it's the showstopper for me.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)rationalize that it's someone else's fault. When the poverty levels go up along with the Wealthy's profits, they will rationalize that it's someone else's fault.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)I have just posted that as a very near minimum wage worker, dreaming of $15 an hour minimum wage has not put one dime in my pocket.
Medicare has been here since the sixties, I am a Medicare participant, if not for purchasing a Medigap policy I would not be able to afford my health care. Medicare is not what it is cracked up to be. Spend some time to research the co pays, deductibles, and it is not free, there is a premium to pay monthly of $104 for most people. Also, Medicare does not allow children up to the age of 26 to be insured. Sanders is not on Medicare, he may not know what Medicare pays and does not pay. Improving ACA is the right direction. Improve it, Medicare has been improved over the years.
On college tuition, there seems to be a resistance for asking those who received a college education to give back to the community, WTH. It has to be a two way street, they receive and need to return to the community the gifts of their education. Refinancing of student loans may not help some but I can see where it would assist many.
Hillary has been a long time advocate of women's issues, they did not start recently, she has brought up the issue of women not making the same level of wages as men, she grew up in the era of some changes, there has not been a total evolution of this issue. She also advocated against violence against women, not a new issue to her and she has taken this issue to the world.
On gun violence, she would never vote five times against the Brady Bill, vote to give immunity to one industry which is the gun industry. She has spoken about the "Charleston" loop hole where a person obtained a weapon because the background check is limited. I am not advocating for total gun ban, we need sensible gun control to help prevent those incapable of possessing gun from having them. I doubt when the second amendment writers envisioned 90 people on average dying from gun violence. More American lives have been lost to gun violence than in military action in the past few years, why is this happening.
Dodd Frank provides the breaking up of failing banks, it is the law on the books, Glass Stegall would not have prevented the financial crisis. One of the things which contributed to the financial crises was the passing of CFMA of which Sanders voted.
On foreign policy, I have yet to hear about Sanders foreign policy, he has a void on this issue. As president of the USA we are in a global world and knowledge of world leaders and other nation history is needed, he has not indicated he is strong on this subject. This is one of the reasons I will be voting for Hillary, this knowledge is needed.
EndElectoral
(4,213 posts)You can dream on a 12 minimum wage, and you'll settle for 9. If you dream on a 15 minimum wage, you'll settle for 12. Ever buy a car?
Yes, my wife is on Medicare and loves it. My parents were on Medicare and loved it. Have you been on the ACA? I have and been able to compare my wife's Medicare plan and believe me I'd never go back to ACA after Medicare. Are there things i'd like to improve on Medicare? You bet, but the ACA is a private insurance plan with no real cost containment and "significantly" variable premiums from year to year. You can have it. Prefer Medicare for all. The first time Repubs get a President ACA is gone whereas Medicare has stood the test of time.
The Clinton's felt differently toward poor welfare women in the 90's cutting the program drastically. As to equal pay for women Bill did nothing in eight years of the presidency for equal pay for women, and Hillary is doing just fine as far as equal pay for women in her Wall Street speaking fees.
The gun violence issue is important. Again, the only way to change this is twofold. Revise the second amendment OR choose a supreme court that sees the 2nd amendment in a more narrow way. Something neither candidate discusses and Hillary has no problems taking money from gun lobbyists.
http://downtrend.com/71superb/anti-gun-hillary-clinton-is-taking-money-from-nra-lobbyists
Amazing how well Glass-Steagall held up Wall Street until it was eliminated. Dodd Frank still allows this combo investment banking and other banks in combo which has been stated time and again helped lead to problems in the crash.
Yes, I understand why you do not defend Hillary's foreign policy. It is easier to attack your opponent's lack of foreign policy experience than defend something indefensible. Hillary has experience in the same way her friend Kissinger had experience. Sanders has some question marks but he will be hesitant to initiate foreign wars. This doesn't mean he'll abandon actions he deems just such as Kosovo or Somalia or even continue to support the troops for protection via funding in Iraq after a huge mistake was made to initiate such an action. Obama had no foreign policy experience as well. Experience doesn't equate to good judgment, and on that front HRC's biggest failings are in this area.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)wages would not be possible unless I shared living arrangement. Was already on Medicare before ACA, as I say without Medigap I would not be able to afford my health care, Medicare does not pay but 80% of the health care, when my health care is over $100,000, paying $20,000 plus $104 a month is out of the question for me. I know about Medicare, I know it is not free, I know there are copays and deductibles. Without private insurance in the form of Medicare I would not survive.
On gun lobbyists, NRA is a lobbyists for the gun industry. When Sanders was elected to Congress, NRA donated $18,000 to defeat his opponent, then he voted five times against the Brady Bill. What gun control bill do you know in which Hillary voted?
We may never agree but his votes on gun control is a loser for me, sure he brags about a D rating from NRA, a F is preferred. Too many lives lost to gun violence.
Say what you want about Glass Stegall, it would not have prevented the financial crisis.
lmbradford
(517 posts)Those were all Bernies policies before she started parroting. Go look at his early speeches and hers. Why settle for the imitation?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)I do see where Sanders changed on FICA from taxing all levels of income to starting at $250,000 as Hillary said, would this be parroting?
Hiraeth
(4,805 posts)pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)just like the corporations, media and banksters.
I am sure some will take offense, but it is who they've shown themselves to be by their own actions.
polly7
(20,582 posts)Last edited Sat Mar 19, 2016, 10:54 AM - Edit history (1)
and brutal military actions.
Hundreds of thousands/millions of children's lives ruined - children dead, mutilated by bombs from above, cluster bombs, homeless, drowning at sea and washing up on beaches, living in squalid refugee camps, starving in their own country being bombed with weapons gotten in exchange for donating to her Foundation, being treated like vermin in countries they've fled to with their families, PTSD in countries with NO resources to help them ...... and on and on and on.
They don't care, and neither does she.
monicaangela
(1,508 posts)reformist2
(9,841 posts)And that's about the extent of their thought process.
As far as listening to our questions about the issues, they are putting their fingers in their ears.
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)Squinch
(51,075 posts)reformist2
(9,841 posts)pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)monicaangela
(1,508 posts)For whom? That is the question. For the Oligarchs maybe, but for the people of this nation she has been a disaster.
reformist2
(9,841 posts)Broward
(1,976 posts)It's nice to know that there are still some fellow Dems that don't support policies and politicians to the right of Nixon.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Sachs, does this count?
monicaangela
(1,508 posts)If I were you I would go over to Open Secrets and get an education about fundraisers and see who is zooming who.
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00000019&type=C
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)monicaangela
(1,508 posts)All candidates fundraise, it's a part of belonging to or caucusing with a party. However; all candidates don't have Super Pac's...that's where the water gets really dirty.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Does nit mean they don't exist. The nurses union has a super pac which is supporting Sanders, Karl Rove's American Crossroads is running ads against Hillary.
monicaangela
(1,508 posts)Come on, you can do better than that. Compared to the vulture capitalist, wall street and so many other big time crooks, that's nothing. And I am sure if Karl Rove is involved it isn't to see Bernie beat Hillary, it's because he hates Hillary. Most republicans do.
Skwmom
(12,685 posts)lunamagica
(9,967 posts)She must have done some very good work for that to happen
immoderate
(20,885 posts)--imm
lunamagica
(9,967 posts)popular and won a second term with a wider margin than she won the first term as evidence that New Yonkers were happy with the work she did for them?
Vinca
(50,323 posts)years with the "Children's Defense Fund." The only person who isn't quite as thrilled about Hillary and Bill and their association with the organization is its founder. She says Bill's welfare "reform" bill did more to undermine the goals of the fund than anything else and that Hillary supported her husband in this.
reformist2
(9,841 posts)Throd
(7,208 posts)BreakfastClub
(765 posts)FlatBaroque
(3,160 posts)redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)However, in the past I have voted for people I didn't like much, but were much easier to handle than the Republican alternative. If you choose not to vote, don't come back here and complain when President Trump is elected. Staying home is a vote for the Republican party.