Will President Bolsonaro invoke Article 142??!

[saxitoxin]

I'm officially kicking it off.

Once registered, votes cannot be changed.

[saxitoxin]

Good news - a court is blocking the Democrats' continuing gerrymandering efforts.

A state court in Maryland has struck down the Democratic-drawn congressional map as an illegal partisan gerrymander, ordering the state legislature to redraw the lines for the 2022 election.

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/2 ... r-00020518

Why don't Democrats want free and fair elections?

[saxitoxin]

Here's my Senate prediction map -

https://www.270towin.com/2022-senate-election/

[Maxleod]

@saxi:

I thoght Texas was a republican state, was I wrong or did something happen?

[Doc_Brown]

@saxi:

I thoght Texas was a republican state, was I wrong or did something happen?

In the US, senators serve 6 year terms, and only 1/3 of the senatorial seats are up for election each cycle (election cycles occur every two years). The Texas senators are not facing elections this year.

[PureStink]

This election is clearly rigged as there is no option to vote for our friends at the GREEN party.

[jusplay4fun]

The US has historically been a two (political) party nation. For the past 150+ years or so, those two parties are the Democrats and the Republicans. This is very unlike UK and many other democracies, such as Israel. Also, I have to confess that I do know how such things are done in Canada or Mexico.

There have been a few third party major political candidates (Green Party, Dixiecrats) for POTUS. Most have never really succeeded. TR did the Bull Moose Party in a third party bid for POTUS; the result was the election of Woodrow Wilson (in 1916, before WW1, as I recall.) H. R. Perot in 1992 did get a fair amount of votes. Ralph Nader ran 4 times, once or so as a Green candidate.

Nader was drafted as a candidate for President of the United States on the Green Party ticket during the 1996 presidential election. He was not formally nominated by the Green Party USA, which was, at the time, the largest national Green group; instead he was nominated independently by various state Green parties (in some states, he appeared on the ballot as an independent). However, many activists in the Green Party USA worked actively to campaign for Nader that year. Nader qualified for ballot status in 22 states,[40] garnering 685,297 votes or 0.71% of the popular vote (fourth place overall),[41]

from Wikipedia

Typically, the party not in the White House (POTUS) will make gains in the national elections 2 years later for Congress and state elections. Look at the result in 2018. That is only one such year this political phenomenon has occurred. So the predictions by saxi are not that insightful nor surprising to those who watch politics in the US.

[saxitoxin]

Also, I have to confess that I do know how such things are done in Canada or Mexico.

Mexico was a one-party state under the socialist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) from 1929 to 1997 when reforms with the electoral system that limited the possibility of ballot stuffing, as well as the privatization of the pro-PRI state media, combined with discontent over the devaluation of the peso and the emergence of the Zapatista Movement under Subcomandante Marcos and resulted in a historic PRI defeat in that year's congressional elections. Now there are like half a dozen parties.

Canada is run by Justin Trudeau and Canadians are free to vote for either Justin Trudeau or Jùstîn Trùdéaù. All other votes are considered void.

[PureStink]

Canada is run by Justin Trudeau and Canadians are free to vote for either Justin Trudeau or Jùstîn Trùdéaù. All other votes are considered void.

Justin Trudeau should team up with Canada's foremost political personality, Justin Bieber, and win the hearts of the Canadian public with a portfolio of Justin-oriented policies and a pledge to Make Justin Great Again (MJGA).

[bigtoughralf]

The US has historically been a two (political) party nation.

lol sure it has

[saxitoxin]

This is the Senate map in 2024.



This is how I see it:
D/I Hold: Washington, California, New Mexico, Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland
GOP Hold: Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota
Competitive: Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin
Highly Competitive: West Virginia, Montana, Ohio

All of the competitive and highly competitive seats in 2024 are currently D or I seats. Meaning, if the GOP wins 51 seats in 2022, it's guaranteed a majority in the Senate until at least 2026 but probably 2028. In other words, 24 months of Biden will potentially end up castrating the ability of the Democratic Party to pass a single piece of legislation or enact any policy for eight years. If Biden had accomplished a laundry list of major achievements during his 24 months one might be able to sorta make the case it's a worthwhile trade-off to be powerless for eight years. But he hasn't passed a single significant piece of legislation and isn't likely to do so before time runs out in a few months.*


* Except the Infrastructure Bill but spending on that doesn't start until 2023 and then is spread out over several years. So if the Democrats don't hold the White House in 2024, the GOP will just be able to swoop in for the photo opps at every ribbon cutting and ground breaking. No one will remember this was Biden legislation, they'll only remember which party is actually handing out the money at the time it's distributed.

[ConfederateSS]

@saxi:

I thoght Texas was a republican state, was I wrong or did something happen?

---------In Theory Yes....
------Reagan won Texas by 25 pts...Bush 41...by. 22pts , Then 20pts, lost re-election...Bush 43 by 15pts...Trump...by 8pts...

----------------But The Democratic Party has been destroying America's Borders...Let everyone in the world in....Free stuff,free,free , STUFF...In Their latest attempt to hold on to ultimate Rule/Power....We have your vote...see you in 2 to 4 years....While destroying America in the process....Not just Texas....They ship their future voters...To other Strong Republican States across the country....For forever One Party Rule...The Democratic Commie Pinko Marxist Party......

-----------But they forgot The #1 thing about their plan.... Americans are seeing it effect their everyday lives...They let Biden be their Trojan Horse....Instead of little by little....He has tried everything at once...Screwed America up...Has Awakened the sleeping , not paying attention Every day Americans up....By hurting children and messing with Parents....The wrong part of society to mess with.... ... ConfederateSS.out!(The Blue and Silver Rebellion)...

[saxitoxin]

A court has ruled that the Democrats illegally gerrymandered congressional district maps in New York and must redraw them within 12 days.

https://thehill.com/news/campaign/32557 ... tive-maps/

Why do Democrats hate voting rights?

[saxitoxin]

The Rats are jumping ship ...

President Joe Biden’s press secretary Jen Psaki is planning to depart the White House to take an on-air role at MSNBC, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/01/white-h ... msnbc.html

Handwriting's on the wall ...

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as
president?
Approve: 38%

The second two years will not be as fun as the first two ...

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee who is poised to control the panel if the GOP takeover next year, said Republicans must consider impeaching President Biden.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/20 ... impeachin/

[jusplay4fun]

Looking to 2024, I have heard that Hillary wants to be the "Savior" of the Democrat Party and run again for President, POTUS. There is growing concern that Biden will not run again (for many reasons), and she sees herself able to help. Kamala is viewed as too weak.

Then 2024 is a rematch of 2016: Hillary vs. Trump.

Back to 2022, the Trends lately is that the Party OUT of Power in the White House will pick up major gains in elections for the US House of Representatives, the US Senate, and other key elections, such as for state legislatures and state Governors, too.

And, I agree:

[It is assumed by some that]

all in the Forum are kind, caring, intelligent, thoughtful, and altruistic, too. But most of us know that NONE of that applies to saxi...

Thanks, saxi, for that endorsement of my thoughts, AGAIN.

[bigtoughralf]

Imagine the person who lost to Trump thinking they're the person to save the party. Presumably she thinks the US electorate is desperate for the biggest corporate shill that the swamp has to offer.

[DoomYoshi]

Canada is run by Justin Trudeau and Canadians are free to vote for either Justin Trudeau or Jùstîn Trùdéaù. All other votes are considered void.

Don't be daft. Walt Disney controls Canada.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/colby- ... -of-budget

[mookiemcgee]

Walt Disney controls Canada.

From the grave?

[saxitoxin]

Sabato is predicting the House goes to the GOP in a 240-195 landslide. GOP takes back the Senate and holds it until 2030.

https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalba ... -election/

In today's Quinnipiac poll, Creepy Joe has a 24% approval rating among 18- 24 year olds but gets up to 48% among the 65+ crowd. Among Hispanics he's at 26% approval but gets his highest numbers with Blacks at 65%.

Minorities are abandoning the Rats because Black grievances aren't leaving any oxygen for the other grievances. The Rats are pursuing an electoral strategy in a two party system based around securing the votes of 13% of the population (and the 13% with the lowest voting turnout). This is what happens when you put an 80 year old man and an 85 year old woman in charge of your party. It's just falling apart faster than I thought.

[saxitoxin]

Sabato is predicting the House goes to the GOP in a 240-195 landslide. GOP takes back the Senate and holds it until 2030.

https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalba ... -election/

In today's Quinnipiac poll, Creepy Joe has a 24% approval rating among 18- 24 year olds but gets up to 48% among the 65+ crowd. Among Hispanics he's at 26% approval but gets his highest numbers with Blacks at 65%.

Minorities are abandoning the Rats because Black grievances aren't leaving any oxygen for the other grievances. The Rats are pursuing an electoral strategy in a two party system based around securing the votes of 13% of the population (and the 13% with the lowest voting turnout). This is what happens when you put an 80 year old man and an 85 year old woman in charge of your party. It's just falling apart faster than I thought.

[aad0906]

The USA isn't really a democracy.

Winner takes all: My vote as New Jersian is worthless. NJ will always be blue. The same can be said for a Missourian, their state will always be red. Swing states are valuable and that is why so much money is spent on tiny states (voter count wise) like Iowa.
Gerrymandering Outlandish maps created by extremely zealous partisans will cause a state to go the the party with lesser votes.
The Electoral College system will often lead to an election where the candidate that doesn't win the popular vote, wins the presidency
Corporate Donations are basically pay for play and should be banned. Do you think a candidate will listen to John or Jane Doe or to Big Oil, Big Pharma etc. that fill the campaign coffers?
Executive Powers are basically dictator powers. Presidents just have too much power.
Political appointments of judges There should be separation between executive, judicial and legislative powers. By appointing judges, electing sheriffs etc. you erode the separation.
Pardoning Powers another dictator tool. Someone can do a political hit job for you and you then pardon them.
2 senators per state, meaning a senator representing 200,000 voters has as much power as a senator representing 2 million voters.

and as stated before: 2 party system. This means that you don't really have any choice. If your party fucks up you will still vote for them next time because you don't have a real alternative. 2 party system also guarantees that there is always one party that has the majority, and therefore doesn't have to compromise. It also means that one party can effectively frustrate government, often to the detriment of its citizens.

Not saying Europe is all that great but the generally don't have an "all powerful" president, multiple parties, popular vote, ban on corporate donations etc.

[bigtoughralf]

If you hate freedom so much why don't you go live in Bangladesh?

[saxitoxin]

After a speech before a very small crowd at North Carolina A&T University today, Joe Biden tried to shake hands with someone who wasn't there, then wandered around for a bit, apparently confused as to where he was at. Aides later said the Stars & Stripes Forever was louder than expected and had briefly disoriented him -- that's the line that's supposed to increase everyone's confidence.

[jusplay4fun]

If you hate freedom so much why don't you go live in Bangladesh?

or try Palestine

[jusplay4fun]

The USA isn't really a democracy.

Winner takes all: My vote as New Jersian is worthless. NJ will always be blue. The same can be said for a Missourian, their state will always be red. Swing states are valuable and that is why so much money is spent on tiny states (voter count wise) like Iowa.
Gerrymandering Outlandish maps created by extremely zealous partisans will cause a state to go the the party with lesser votes.
The Electoral College system will often lead to an election where the candidate that doesn't win the popular vote, wins the presidency
Corporate Donations are basically pay for play and should be banned. Do you think a candidate will listen to John or Jane Doe or to Big Oil, Big Pharma etc. that fill the campaign coffers?
Executive Powers are basically dictator powers. Presidents just have too much power.
Political appointments of judges There should be separation between executive, judicial and legislative powers. By appointing judges, electing sheriffs etc. you erode the separation.
Pardoning Powers another dictator tool. Someone can do a political hit job for you and you then pardon them.
2 senators per state, meaning a senator representing 200,000 voters has as much power as a senator representing 2 million voters.

and as stated before: 2 party system. This means that you don't really have any choice. If your party fucks up you will still vote for them next time because you don't have a real alternative. 2 party system also guarantees that there is always one party that has the majority, and therefore doesn't have to compromise. It also means that one party can effectively frustrate government, often to the detriment of its citizens.

Not saying Europe is all that great but the generally don't have an "all powerful" president, multiple parties, popular vote, ban on corporate donations etc.

Your last two lines do not make sense:
1) did you mean "THEY generally...."
2) did you mean they (some European countries) DO HAVE multiple parties?

The "American Experiment" had seen a need for a strong executive (i.e., the President) in times of crises. The assumed powers and over-reach of the President often go unchallenged. The use of powers in a crises are often not curbed when the crisis is over. I will reference the "Gulf of Tonkin" incident and the broad powers given to President G. W. Bush (the son) to "fight terrorism" post-9/11. THAT got the US military into Iraq and Afghanistan to start and then TOO LONG.

I am not convinced countries with multiple major parties are that much better off politically than the USA. It is very unfortunate that the two party system in the US has resulted currently in deep polarization and divide in the country.