So...I'm Thinking About Next U.S. Presidential Election

[I AM MOBIUS]

I was talking about America, what with replying to a Dinner post and all.

You're wrong about FPTP btw, its perfectly democratic, just not the system of democracy you apparently want.

Yes I know

See, now you're starting to sound like a Tory - wanting to keep a backwards and outmoded (and frankly undemocratic) voting system in place...

I bet you think the House of Lords is a good idea... [emoji38]

[Imran Siddiqui]

Can I just say that I disagree?

I'm good with that

[Imran Siddiqui]

DP

[I AM MOBIUS]

I was talking about America, what with replying to a Dinner post and all.

You're wrong about FPTP btw, its perfectly democratic, just not the system of democracy you apparently want.

Another perversity of the FPTP system is that the SNP is on course for a landslide victory in Scotland with 57 of 59 seats with only 54% of the vote: http://www.itv.com/news/2015-04-27/s...cal-awakening/

Actually, that's even worse than the stat I was going to link to about getting 52 seats on 45% of the vote from the other day, as my point was going to be they'd get a vast majority of seats with the majority of Scots still against them!

Still, way to be happy with the SNP winning Scotland and on course to hold the balance of power in the UK - maybe you're not a tory after all...

[Donegeal]

Sounds like Sen B. Sanders (I) will be throwing his hat in as a Democrat. I don't think he will win, or even come close, I think he's running to try to pull Clinton further to the left. At this point, he's got my vote!

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6056a292933a44b7acf00ea5f3a1b0f6/ap-sources-vermont-sen-bernie-sanders-run-president

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will announce his plans to seek the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday, presenting a liberal challenge to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Sanders, an independent who describes himself as a "democratic socialist," will follow a formal statement with a major campaign kickoff in his home state in several weeks. Two people familiar with his announcement spoke to The Associated Press under condition of anonymity to describe internal planning.

Sanders will become the second major Democrat in the race, joining Clinton. He has urged the former secretary of state to speak out strongly about issues related to income inequality and climate change. The former first lady and New York senator is viewed as a heavy favorite in the Democratic primary and formally entered the race earlier this month.

Sanders plans were first reported Tuesday by Vermont Public Radio.

The white-haired senator and former mayor of Burlington, Vermont, has been a liberal firebrand, blasting the concentration of wealth in America and assailing a "billionaire class" that he says has taken over politics.

In recent weeks, Sanders has been a forceful critic of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which would eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers for the U.S., Canada and Asian countries conducting commerce with each other.

"One of the key reasons why the middle class in America continues to decline and the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider is because of disastrous trade agreements which have sent millions of decent-paying jobs to China and other low-wage countries," Sanders said.

He has called for universal health care, a massive infrastructure jobs and building program and a more progressive tax structure.

[regexcellent]

Uh he's a self-described socialist.

[Berzerker]

we have a one party system funded by corporations

[Imran Siddiqui]

Uh he's a self-described socialist.

Are you asking how can he run under the Democratic Party primary if he is not technically a Democrat?

[Lorizael]

No, like all kucibros, he sincerely believes socialists are literally evil.

[spambot]

Socialists are unelectable because Americans don't like socialism. In fact, a majority of Democrats don't like socialism.

[jsorense]

IMHO the Cold War propaganda diliberately blurred the definitions of socialism and communism making the fundamental differences between them seem trivial. Democracy and socialism are not mutually exclusive where Marxist-Leninism is hostile to representative democracy.

[Jon Miller]

In 2009 I talked with a coffee guy about why he disliked Obama so much.

He told me very sincerely it was because Obama was a communist.

JM

[-Jrabbit]

A Muslim Communist from Kenya!

[regexcellent]

Are you asking how can he run under the Democratic Party primary if he is not technically a Democrat?

I'm just confused how someone who would be willing to vote for the Republican ticket so long as Scott Walker isn't at the top of it (but it's okay if he's at the bottom of it!) is also willing to vote for Bernie Sanders.

[Sava]

I'm just confused how someone would be willing to vote for the Republican ticket.

Same.