***Official Political Discussion Thread***

[MVP]

 

[blco02]

About 1,000 Democrats in Mahoning County so far have switched their party affiliation to Republican with election officials saying several did it to vote for Donald Trump, the GOP presidential front-runner.

“We are seeing something this election cycle I’ve never seen before to this degree,” said board Chairman Mark Munroe, who’s also the county Republican chairman. “Every day I take phone calls or get voice messages from people saying they’ve been Democrats all their life and they’ve had it. They want to vote for Donald Trump. I’m surprised at the volume of inquiries we’re getting. It’s remarkable.”

- See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2016/mar/03/mahoning-co-sees-k-voters-defect-to-gop/#sthash.mtNI5YkU.dpuf

 

[MVP]

How did you register as a conservative and not a Republican since you claim to have no affiliation?

 

[jpzx]

.

 

[duba169]

It's definitely a phenomenon but i think for just as many new votes as trumo gets the establishment types will vote for hillary. Trump threatens the status quo more than she does


Also... as predicted he is already moving towards the left and i'm sure he will continue to for the general if he makes it. It sounds like when he doesn't have the magic number there will be a brokered convention

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/03/0...-critics.html?referer=https://www.google.com/

 

[MVP]

Some blue collar dems for some reason have bought his jobs creator stuff hook, line, and sinker, but the people in his own party that will either vote against him outright or not at all will offset whatever turns he's made.

 

[Nike Jordan]

Mike Goonberg will not run for President.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Bernie tried to clarify his ghetto comment, and he gaffe again in the explanation a lil.

I got love for dude, and I think some folk are overacting, but damn need get it together on the messaging.

 

[flyerthandelta]

Might as well quit if you can't even win your own home state

 

[Rootin4EverybodyBlack]

Bern goofed with that comment. I know what he meant, but it came out wrong.

Throwing "inner city" before "ghetto", would've easily clarified it.

Media is definitely out to play a game of "Gotcha" tho.

 

[rexanglorum]

I feel like Ta-Nehisi is giving Bernie answers to the test, in his more recent columns, and Bernie is ignoring them. Coates is not endorsing Sanders and he would never become a member of his campaign team in any formal capacity. However, Coates is a Sanders voter and his columns are full of deft answers for a candidate who needs to unite economic and racial justice concerns.

Sanders could simply paraphrase Coates and say that all racial groups have poverty but to be black and poor is even more difficult because they are over policed and the roads, parks and schools and under served relative to poor white communities. Furthermore, black people need to make more money than their white counter parts to move into better neighborhoods. In short, poverty is wide spread in this country but black poverty is like no other.

 

[duba169]

It doesn't really matter. He was a day late and a buck short. But it's been interesting to watch. And i guess in a way it shows the power black voters have.

 

[deleted]

I think Trump has really inspired racists to be more proud and open with their hate

 

[RustyShackleford]

If the black community turned out in force in every election, they have the power to sway most of the them

Not even gerrymandering and voter suppression can stop that.

That is probably why the GOP has taken such and interest in making it more difficult for black people to vote.

I honestly believe the GOP's biggest fear that day after Obama got elected that his presidency would cause black people to take an extreme interest in politics again, which would expedited the transformation the GOP needs to make.

 

[rico x hood]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/02/02/3745296/major-voter-id-study/

Is a valid form of ID so hard to come by for minorities?

 

[RustyShackleford]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/02/02/3745296/major-voter-id-study/

Is a valid form of ID so hard to come by for minorities?

There are closing and chaning the hours of DMV's that service minority communities to make it harder for them to attain one as well.

 

[rico x hood]

Hmm that's unfortunate.

 

[superblytrife]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/02/02/3745296/major-voter-id-study/

Is a valid form of ID so hard to come by for minorities?

There are closing and chaning the hours of DMV's that service minority communities to make it harder for them to attain one as well.

Yep.

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/voter_id_and_drivers_license_o.html

 

[rillo561]

There's been a couple that closed in my area too. Nearest one to me is about 13miles, not earth shattering far, but you have to question the motive here.

 

[blco02]

How does one function in society today without an ID? I must use mine at least 2-3 times a week.

 

[deleted]

Hmm that's unfortunate.

This is the most concern I've ever seen Rico express on this kind if issue

 

[Methodical Management]

I think Trump has really inspired racists to be more proud and open with their hate

 

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/whi...d-conference-on-trump-in-dc-saturday/65197838

 

[RustyShackleford]

How does one function in society today without an ID? I must use mine at least 2-3 times a week.

And unless I'm buying alcohol I rarely use mine.

That is not a good example to defend polices that result in blatant voter suppression though.

A civil rights era law had to be rolled back for this behavior from the GOP to be allowed. And surprise, surprise, the new laws disproportionately hurt minorities, especially black people

They could have move to system that make voting easier, or even made it extremely easy for people to get IDs.

Like opening more express DMVs, extending hours, etc. That would solve the "concern" about voter fraud while still making sure people can easily vote

The combination of the ID laws and the restricting access to the DMV is a dead giveaway the this is being done to suppress votes, especially demographics that vote democrat, specially minorities, more specially black people.

And this is not conjecture on my part, some people have even admitted it

 

[cl-1b]

 I think the biggest issues when it comes to racism and why it's so hard for some people to understand how it exists today is that it isn't overt anymore. Maybe racism isn't the right word to explain it to those that don't experience it because of its historical context. For the sake of further clarification let's call it extreme racial bias. Whether you believe laws and policies and even societal views as a whole were purposefully put into place to target blacks as a whole. But regardless of intention, blacks and other POC are not affected by laws and polices in the same ways that their white counter parts are. And that's a statistical fact. Especially within the criminal justice system. That's what we're calling racism here or extreme racial bias.

"A black man is three times more likely to be searched at a traffic stop, and six times more likely to go jail than a white person. Blacks make up nearly 40 percent of arrests for violent crimes. Blacks aren’t pulled over (and subsequently jailed) more frequently because they’re more prone to criminal behavior. They’re pulled over much more frequently because there is an “implicit racial association of black Americans with dangerous or aggressive behavior,” the Sentencing Project found.

The numbers get ridiculous in certain parts of the country, the project found. On the New Jersey Turnpike, for instance, blacks make up 15 percent of drivers, more than 40 percent of stops and 73 percent of arrests – even though they break traffic laws at the same rate as whites. In New York City, blacks and Hispanics were three and four times as likely to be stopped and frisked as whites.

But the disparities become appalling in court.

If a black person kills a white person, they are twice as likely to receive the death sentence as a white person who kills a black person. Local prosecutors are much more likely to upgrade a case to felony murder if you’re black than if you’re white."
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/at-the-edge/2015/05/06/institutional-racism-is-our-way-of-life
 I agree that dependency is a problem, it sure as hell isn't a solution. But even if you take those programs away does that change the fact that these poor often minority filled areas have a lack of quality education with undermotivated and underpaid teachers. Severe lack of opportunity when it comes to jobs and careers, and crippling poverty that is in many cases passed down generationally? Social welfare programs was never a solution to those things. But so many people both in society and in power think that it's a culture problem and a community problem that the people have to figure out for themselves. I agree dependency is a problem and the notion that the "left" pushes for it is also an issue but the conservative "boot strap" philosophy assumes at base everyone has equal footing. When that clearly isn't true. Creating more jobs doesn't mean anything if poor kids aren't getting the same quality of education as kids in suburbs, more jobs don't change the fact that racial bias is rapant in job recruitment and hiring. Yes dependency is a problem. But extreme racial prejudice that exists in all levels of society does much more damage and transcends class when it comes to minorities.

I feel like fundamentally conservatives believe that anyone can overcome their situation and make it out of poverty or whatever cards they were dealt but that simply isn't true. And when conservatives default to the bootstraps philosophy it allows them to skip over the fact that 70% of people born into poverty stay in poverty and actually figure out why that is the case.

Is it plausible to say that other issues besides race have an involvement in these instances or is it blamed directly on racism? I'm sure not every cop is a white man.. Police forces are pretty diverse unless its alabama somewhere. Lawyers and how much they cost are a huge factor of conviction rates. Im not saying black folk can't afford an attorney.. but its just big picture speculation. 

The bootstrap ideology works because it is proven that it works. Every person might not have the same will and drive, i understand this. But opportunity in this country is available to everyone.. not just white people. There have been tons of people that have made it in america this way form all walks of life.

We all know there are issues related to race in this country.. but like i said before bringing job opportunity to these low income people will help the suppression. We can't keep making it o.k. to have such an acceptable view on things like welfare because it isn't doing anything but keeping people down and out. 

Im sticking with my opinion on laws in this country tho.. We all are governed by the same laws with absolutely no regard to race. Wrong is wrong and right is right.. If something isn't adding up in that type of scenario we need to do better to bring awareness and give equal job opportunity to our society so our low income citizens don't turn to crime. Its not about loosening up crack or i.d. laws. Its about how do we adapt to these instances so we can continue to live free and grow. We all have to live this way, its not just the black community.

I understand people on here might have a different view then myself on this issue and that is fine.. I've spoken with people from all walks of life that have been successful and came from nothing. This is the only country that you can do that in.. no where else. But i don't see some of the reasoning sometimes. It sounds more like people are claiming victim and adding to the issues rather then putting the energy into something positive and influential that will help with the matters at hand in our communities. 

 

How about we look at polls of foreign people in foreign countries, to get a better idea of Obama's opinion overseas

Surprise, surprise, he is popular in most countries, much better than bush, especially in countries in Europe.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/06/24/7-charts-on-how-the-world-views-president-obama/

http://www.theatlantic.com/internat...d-really-losing-faith-in-barack-obama/371884/

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121991/world-citizens-views-leadership-pre-post-obama.aspx

-Btw famb, still waiting for you to explain to me how I can register to vote under my political ideology, instead or a political party. Thanks

I can personally vouch for this. Obama might as well be considered holy here. There were celebrations all over the country when Obama became president. My school scrapped an entire afternoon of classes to celebrate Obama's presidency. When he was running I saw more Obama propaganda on the streets than during an actual Belgian election 

He isn't going out that epic after this debt ridden disaster presidency tho. 

 

[cl-1b]

Everyone, please read this re: Hillary Clinton-

Sept. 29, 2014

Link: http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/9/hillary-clinton-honduraslatinamericaforeignpolicy.html

She's engulfed in straight textbook political corruption.. It would be a huge mistake to bring her to the white house.