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[Sowelu]

I'm looking forwards to the next round of elections, actually.  Newt Gingrich running for the Republican party, Sarah Palin running as an independent, and running for the Democrats.

I say I'm looking forwards to it because 1) There's no way that the Democrats won't win, and 2) They HAVE to replace Obama.  Right?  ...Right?

[Zangi]

Now, I can't perfectly confirm this, but the story I've heard repeated of what happened was:  One of the times they were going through Manning's cell looking for stuff to remove on grounds of being a possible suicide-tool, Manning joked that if he actually wanted to kill himself, he could tie his boxers around his neck.  While I respect the guy for trying to stick up for himself in any little spiteful way he can manage (and being a sarcastic prick is about the only power that can never be taken away), I can tell you straight up that joking with your jailer's never leads to anything good.

Hehe.  That's actually kindof understandable if a bit silly.  Fair enough, although you'd think they'd have some kind of policy on this (supply them with special, overstarched underwear?).

I'd expect its a lot easier to treat him like a non-human then it is to accommodate him. 

It also sends a message.  "We can get away with this."  Cause that is what they are obviously doing now...

[Euld]

I think I'll pencil in Cthulhu, just to make a point.

[RedKing]

I'm looking forwards to the next round of elections, actually.  Newt Gingrich running for the Republican party, Sarah Palin running as an independent, and running for the Democrats.

I say I'm looking forwards to it because 1) There's no way that the Democrats won't win, and 2) They HAVE to replace Obama.  Right?  ...Right?

1. No.
2. No.

It's rare in the 20th century for the sitting President to be actively opposed in his re-election bid by his own party. Don't get me wrong, it's happened -- in 1980, Ted Kennedy ran an insurgent primary campaign against Jimmy Carter, which some credit with helping Carter to lose to Reagan in 1980. And I'm sure that parallel won't be lost on Republican pundits, who were comparing Obama to Carter before the man even took office. (They'll also like the analogy because it implies whoever they wind up running is the Second Coming of The Reagan.) Plus, I can't think of anyone in the Democratic Party who's made a name for themselves in the last few years to have the name recognition to make a challenge from within.

I don't see Palin running as an independent. For all her "maverickness", she needs the big bucks of the GOP to run a serious campaign. I think we'll wind up with another GOP primary free-for-all, which should be entertaining as they all try to outdo each other in who can wrap themselves in the flag tighter. I wouldn't be surprised to see Palin parachute into a rally with a giant flag parachute, firing an assault rifle that shoots tiny statues of Jesus riding a bald eagle.

And probably one or two candidates who are either too weak to win the primary or just too damn crazy for even the diseased stump that has become the GOP "base" will proclaim the party to still be "closet socialists" and try to peel off support from Tea Partiers and the assorted right-wing fringe. I think Michelle Bachmann is a good pick for that slot.

So in the end, 2012 is likely to be more or less a repeat of 2008 -- Obama vs. whichever crazy white conservative wins, who then has to gauge whether to race back to the center or run even harder to the Right, and generally makes a stumbling mess of things. And as usual, the Democrats will shoot themselves in the foot a number of times, to keep the race closer than it should be. The difference is that the grassroots enthusiasm that was there in 2008 (which had as much to do with the impending departure of Dubya as anything) will not be there.


I could well be wrong though -- I've just gotten so damn cynical about American politics that I honestly can't expect anything good anymore.

[Cthulhu]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Palin parachute into a rally with a giant flag parachute, firing an assault rifle that shoots tiny statues of Jesus riding a bald eagle.

I'd vote for her if she did that.

[Zangi]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Palin parachute into a rally with a giant flag parachute, firing an assault rifle that shoots tiny statues of Jesus riding a bald eagle.

I'd vote for her if she did that.

May Cthulhuyour god(s) help us all.

I think I would too, if I cared enough to vote in the first place.

[breadbocks]

I must say. I was originally (I postted in the original MAnning thread about this.) more worried about what manning would represent than what is coming.

[sonerohi]

I'm going to be flabbergasted if we get a modern Independent elected. The system allows for as many parties as we want, but Democrat and Republican are entrenched as hell.

[Taricus]

I'm going to be flabbergasted if we get a modern Independent elected. The system allows for as many parties as we want, but Democrat and Republican are entrenched as hell.

Where's the damned artillery when you need it...

[Euld]

As I recall, the last time a third party was elected, one of the major parties ceased to exist to make room for it.

[sonerohi]

The British seem to manage/limp along with a good number of major parties, as do the Australians. I wish I had more knowledge about each to sort of be making comparisons between the two and the U.S., it'd be pretty interesting to study up on all the nuances.

[Taricus]

Mostly two parties down here, Greens gaining a bit of support though...

[Max White]

Well, US of A... At least you didn't vote for the crazy chick with the red hair.

[mainiac]

The British seem to manage/limp along with a good number of major parties, as do the Australians. I wish I had more knowledge about each to sort of be making comparisons between the two and the U.S., it'd be pretty interesting to study up on all the nuances.

Defacto unicameral parliamentary systems are much more favorable to third parties then the american antique of a constitution.  Even the UK system is difficult for third parties compared to true proportional systems like Germany's.

I don't like the idea of leaving America because it's becoming unamerican either, but I do like the idea of becoming Swedish or Finnish because Sweden and Finland are cool.

There are a lot of countries that I think it would be cool to live in, but I'm not willing to give up on the red white and blue before we either get this country back on track or it's an irradiated wasteland inhospitable to life.  Until one of those, I'm a liberal 'murican diehard to the end.

[Max White]

There are a lot of countries that I think it would be cool to live in, but I'm not willing to give up on the red white and blue before we either get this country back on track or it's an irradiated wasteland inhospitable to life.  Until one of those, I'm a liberal 'murican diehard to the end.

We would love to help you out, however... Australia doesn't have any nukes, so making the barren wasteland would take a lot more effort then required. Try Russia, or North Korea.