The GOP is now The Party of Trump. Get used to it Arthur.
18
Brooks's snark is so predictable and tiresome that the Times should considering replacing him with something more creative like AlphaGo.
19
Arthur, the reality is that you and your A.E.I. clowns with the financing by the Kotch bro. et. al. are what gave us Trump. Or as my ex wife use to say "be careful what you wish for it may come true."
20
" this whole campaign has turned out to resemble. “Smackdown Tuesday”"...no Arthur only the republican campaign has turned this ugly.
Sanders' rallies draw as many people as T rump's do without the ugliness. It can be done, but it won't be done by the republicans.
It is nice to see someone from this paper at least acknowledge Sanders' relevance to these issues, so thanks, Gail.
Is it just me, or is having two Brookses on the same day just a little tiring?
Sanders' rallies draw as many people as T rump's do without the ugliness. It can be done, but it won't be done by the republicans.
It is nice to see someone from this paper at least acknowledge Sanders' relevance to these issues, so thanks, Gail.
Is it just me, or is having two Brookses on the same day just a little tiring?
25
Isn't there enough violence already in this election season? Do we really need to pile on more with the title of this column ("Smackdown Tuesday? Bring it on")?
7
Bernie reminds me of Ted Cruz in that he's an absolutist, wants everything to be so pure, and believes he's right about everything.
14
SMACKDOWN? I think it's more like a good old fashioned "patch in tukhis" (yiddish for a smack on the buttocks). The difficulty with reading tea leaves, coffee grounds and voter preferences notwithstanding, I'm far more concerned about the silence among the political power bunch about Trump's violence. I warn them that the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is that good people do nothing. Where are the voices calling for Trump's ejection from the GOP? The silence is deafening all across the political spectrum. As if speaking out clearly against evil is going to harm the chances of the other candidates and help Trump to win points? That way lies cowardice. Trump keeps on piling on proof of his inability to ascend to high office, leave alone to have any common decency daily. He tweeted that Paris is in Germany. Tell Trump something that he said in the past and he'll deny saying it. I split his denials 50/50 between he being a con artist and demented. So where is Sarah when we need her most? She's tending to her word salad bar, practicing to achieve her goal of completing a sentence. Either that of winning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest single sentence in the history of human beings. Where is the moral backbone of the GOP? The party's failure to deny the KKK and Trump's racist, ethnic biases places the party in a position to be shoved off into being meaningless. Purposeless. Morally bankrupt. Not the part of LINCOLN for sure!
20
Pointing to Trump and Sanders does not rebut the claim that wealthy people and corporations are running off with elections. That problem is most prevalent in House of Representatives elections and more local elections. Those contests are below the level of interest of the media, so the role of unfettered funds has a much larger and more pernicious effect.
18
Why does Collins think that Sanders's health care plan is more appealing than any other single-payer health care plan (or adding a public option to the existing health care system)?
What does it mean to be "behind" a presidential candidate's call to "retract" a Supreme Court decision?
Is Sanders calling attention to the exorbitant cost of higher education more than anyone else is? Because even the Republicans seem to be talking about it. And Sanders's plan to "make it free" (by which he actually means: offer modest federal matching grants to states that choose to increase spending on public universities in order to reduce tuition towards nothing, while also committing to a host of other costly changes) would do little to reduce tuition for the overwhelming majority of students, even if it did pass Congress (which it won't).
What does it mean to be "behind" a presidential candidate's call to "retract" a Supreme Court decision?
Is Sanders calling attention to the exorbitant cost of higher education more than anyone else is? Because even the Republicans seem to be talking about it. And Sanders's plan to "make it free" (by which he actually means: offer modest federal matching grants to states that choose to increase spending on public universities in order to reduce tuition towards nothing, while also committing to a host of other costly changes) would do little to reduce tuition for the overwhelming majority of students, even if it did pass Congress (which it won't).
7
GC: "Let me begin by acknowledging that his numbers don’t all add up. But then, neither do any of the Republican candidates’ tax plans."
Dear GC--you know I'm a fan. But this is a too cheap journalist shot for you;
"Don't add up" is like "Many disagreed"--many could be 3 or 4.
"Don't add up" could be off by a single digit or .00001%
And to put him in the same bad math ballpark as the GOP is--well--way out in right field. Like comparing physics and Evangelicals on the big bang.
Dear GC--you know I'm a fan. But this is a too cheap journalist shot for you;
"Don't add up" is like "Many disagreed"--many could be 3 or 4.
"Don't add up" could be off by a single digit or .00001%
And to put him in the same bad math ballpark as the GOP is--well--way out in right field. Like comparing physics and Evangelicals on the big bang.
9
I am stuck in a house in Florida for a week with 3 crazy Republicans who are "friends." No matter how bad any of the Republican candidates are, and they will admit to some bad actors, their retort is always some comment about how the Dem candidates are not only just as bad, but worse...much like Brooks bringing up 1968!?! Why does the other side always have to have more faults than your side? Can't people just admit when they're wrong?
21
Arthur Brooks asked, "isn’t the rebuttal [to the role of money in politics] just 'Trump and Sanders'?" Maybe so, if we look at the bizarre nature of 2016 as reflective of American politics for all time forward. But there is no such reflection. Like rainwater seeping along a ceiling beam, money will finds its way back to the full control of political life in due course.
Poor Jeb hit the campaign trail at the worst possible moment for his prospects. Who knew? How was he supposed to know? This is in no way a call for Jeb! in 2020, but any year would be better for him than this year. The same might be said for "now or never" Hillary.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
Poor Jeb hit the campaign trail at the worst possible moment for his prospects. Who knew? How was he supposed to know? This is in no way a call for Jeb! in 2020, but any year would be better for him than this year. The same might be said for "now or never" Hillary.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
1
First, thanks for bringing some delight, wit and wry humor to a dismal, often shameful, and occasionally frightening GOP campaign season, Ms. Collins and Mr. Brooks.
My view: on the Democratic side of the ledger, it's a contest between hope in Bernie's idealism and fervor, and confidence in Hillary's effectiveness and policy mastery.
On the GOP side, it's a choice between choosing the long shot effort to stop Donald Drumpf, or downplaying the Donald's calls to violence, nativism, bigotry, racism, and misogyny as just the tantrums of a political adolescent.
My prayers and support are with the Democrats, both worthy candidates.
My view: on the Democratic side of the ledger, it's a contest between hope in Bernie's idealism and fervor, and confidence in Hillary's effectiveness and policy mastery.
On the GOP side, it's a choice between choosing the long shot effort to stop Donald Drumpf, or downplaying the Donald's calls to violence, nativism, bigotry, racism, and misogyny as just the tantrums of a political adolescent.
My prayers and support are with the Democrats, both worthy candidates.
28
"I think we can do a lot better than spending a ton of money and then widening the gap in outcomes between poor kids and those from wealthier families — which some U.S. scholarship policies already do, by the way."
OMG--this presumes the impoverished will pay--taxes etc--the costs of rich kids education. AND that this is Sanders idea. Utter FRAUD.
The user pay model--which the monied classes always prefer--presumes their money is a natural or a god-given right; and the impoverished classes have a god-given duty to grin and bear it.
Besides--an educated population is a public good--everyone benefits. Well almost--those who benefit from a moronic drone--semi slave--class would not. Who might they be?
Rich kids can be dumb and ill motivated too--inherited wealth is hardly an indicator of intelligence genes.
And scholarships as robbing from the rich takes the cake for for sucking up to the rich.
Gail--how can you stand him?
OMG--this presumes the impoverished will pay--taxes etc--the costs of rich kids education. AND that this is Sanders idea. Utter FRAUD.
The user pay model--which the monied classes always prefer--presumes their money is a natural or a god-given right; and the impoverished classes have a god-given duty to grin and bear it.
Besides--an educated population is a public good--everyone benefits. Well almost--those who benefit from a moronic drone--semi slave--class would not. Who might they be?
Rich kids can be dumb and ill motivated too--inherited wealth is hardly an indicator of intelligence genes.
And scholarships as robbing from the rich takes the cake for for sucking up to the rich.
Gail--how can you stand him?
18
"And it’s not just coming from the Trump side — a lot of rhetoric over the past year and half on campuses and in communities has been pushing young progressives in the direction of violent confrontation, reminiscent of 1968."
This is something the right does that DRIVES ME CRAZY. Sure, some people on the left go off the rails sometimes - but that's not the same as having your ELECTED OFFICIALS go off the rails. False equivalency.
This is something the right does that DRIVES ME CRAZY. Sure, some people on the left go off the rails sometimes - but that's not the same as having your ELECTED OFFICIALS go off the rails. False equivalency.
66
Can anyone tell me of one Republican who repudiated Sarah Palin's "crosshairs" map, or her call, "Don't retreat, instead- RELOAD!"?
One of those crosshairs was on Gabby Gifford's district. She got shot, but that was just a coincidence, we are told.
But, lefties are not the only ones put at risk by Trump's incitements. If you were the Republican offered the nomination in a brokered convention, would you accept?
One of those crosshairs was on Gabby Gifford's district. She got shot, but that was just a coincidence, we are told.
But, lefties are not the only ones put at risk by Trump's incitements. If you were the Republican offered the nomination in a brokered convention, would you accept?
36
"Arthur: The violence is ghastly, to be sure. And it’s not just coming from the Trump side — a lot of rhetoric over the past year and half on campuses and in communities has been pushing young progressives in the direction of violent confrontation, reminiscent of 1968."
False equivalence much Mr. Brooks? "Pushing... in the direction of violent confrontation?" One wonders if this is just a Republican talking point to make you all sound less extreme even as your "leaders" condemn then in the next breath pledge their November vote to Mr. Trump, or, more disturbing, if you really believe that young progressives (AKA Sanders supporters) are as violent as Trump supporters. One thing is for sure, Sen. Sanders would instantly denounce any violence perpetrated by his supporters or supposedly in the name of his campaign.
False equivalence much Mr. Brooks? "Pushing... in the direction of violent confrontation?" One wonders if this is just a Republican talking point to make you all sound less extreme even as your "leaders" condemn then in the next breath pledge their November vote to Mr. Trump, or, more disturbing, if you really believe that young progressives (AKA Sanders supporters) are as violent as Trump supporters. One thing is for sure, Sen. Sanders would instantly denounce any violence perpetrated by his supporters or supposedly in the name of his campaign.
58
One of the unnoticed rules of the Republican Party convention is that, to be nominated for President, a candidate must first demonstrate support from a majority of the delegates in 8 state conventions. Cruz has won a majority in about 9 states, Trump in about 20. Kasich could win Ohio, but that's just one. Rubio won DC and Puerto Rico, but they are not states, and the rules clearly say "States", not "delegations". So even if FL goes to Rubio and OH goes to Kasich, it is highly unlikely that either Kasich or Rubio will pick up seven more states. That means that only Trump and Cruz can be nominated.
Another unnoticed rule: they can change any rule they want at the convention, however they want. Which is how the establishment Repos will block Trump's nomination, regardless of how many delegates he comes in with. And then the fun REALLY starts!
A short while into Mr. Brooks’ comments I found it increasingly difficult to distinguish his remarks from those in previous piece I had just read profiling Donald Trumps sycophantic old butler. Ah yes, “Jeeves Brooks” head butler of the political think tank equivalent of Mar a Lago. Thanks so much to the Times for bringing us his insights in these cute little back and forths.
3
Brooks's comment to the effect that Republican leaders have refrained from attacking Trump directly because they want to persuade him to change his tactics, reflects an astonishing naivete. If Ryan et al think they can persuade Trump to do anything, they fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the man.
His entire approach to this campaign reflects a refusal to play by anybody's rules, except his own. He disdains a discussion of policy details; reacts to criticism of the accuracy of his claims by calling the critics incompetent or worse; obsesses over his wealth and poll numbers; and treats even those who endorse him (Christie) with contempt. Does this sound like a candidate who will play nice because party leaders ask him to?
Trump's philosophy (if you can so dignify his worldview) reflects a nihilistic rejection of any values outside those that appeal to his ego. Only defeat can humble him.
His entire approach to this campaign reflects a refusal to play by anybody's rules, except his own. He disdains a discussion of policy details; reacts to criticism of the accuracy of his claims by calling the critics incompetent or worse; obsesses over his wealth and poll numbers; and treats even those who endorse him (Christie) with contempt. Does this sound like a candidate who will play nice because party leaders ask him to?
Trump's philosophy (if you can so dignify his worldview) reflects a nihilistic rejection of any values outside those that appeal to his ego. Only defeat can humble him.
8
Presidential election politics would be less costly and more informative if Republicans and Democrats agreed to limit campaign spending, stop polling and require candidates to disclose their tax returns. Congress can't do that because the Supreme Court has ruled that political spending is protected by the First Amendment. The polls seem to motivate rather than count voters. Someone is paying for those polls, and the political parties should stop publicizing them. Whoever wins the presidency, 2016 will likely be remembered by history as the year that American democracy was effectively destroyed by all of the candidates' nonstop subsidized pandering.
6
a lot of rhetoric over the past year and half on campuses and in communities has been pushing young progressives in the direction of violent confrontation, reminiscent of 1968.
citation?
citation?
26
Agreed. Propaganda, plain and simple.
10
"Smackdown Tuesday" sells professional wrestlers short. Jesse Ventura was a much better governor of Minnesota than 3/6 candidates would be as presidents!
5
"In a perfect world"? Mr. Brooks does not get out much. We all know that Scandinavia and Europe are not perfect but virtual every country therein does health care for EVERYONE for about 10-12% of GDP as opposed to our larcenous . Why is it that we are so blind to these obvious and germane health care experiments? Let me see, Big Pharma, Big Insurance, Big Medical Equipment Manufacturers, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association; now there is a voting block to keep you blind.
36
Hilarious! Thank you. We needed this.
1
Ignoring the anger Republican and Democrat elitists have generated over the last several political seasons will not go away just because the sycophants want to direct it toward remaining in power. Orchestrating protest, violence, mindless destruction and provocation and then blaming it on the target has, I grant you, worked in the past... One can only hope it and it's slimy, shady backers are exposed for the venal Clintons, Obamas, Pelosis and Reids they support.
This lame attempt at, whatever it was a lame attempt at, is as inconsequential and transparent as all the other groveling you do far elitism instead of freedom.
This lame attempt at, whatever it was a lame attempt at, is as inconsequential and transparent as all the other groveling you do far elitism instead of freedom.
1
Last I heard, protest is a legitimate activity, punching people in the face, not so legitimate. Compare a Republican vs Democratic debate and tell me who is slimy & shady.
You mention freedom. Conservatives think freedom is their right to deprive others of freedom - anti civil rights, anti choice, anti same sex marriage, pro voter suppression etc, etc, etc.
You mention freedom. Conservatives think freedom is their right to deprive others of freedom - anti civil rights, anti choice, anti same sex marriage, pro voter suppression etc, etc, etc.
23
Dude, I apologize in advance if it's me but, I can't make any sense of what you said here.
7
"Brooks: In Scotland, where the government tried abolishing tuition fees, the results amounted to a transfer of benefits from the poor to the middle class."
Why does this rejoinder ring false? Why does it emerge now? Is this the only transfer Brooks can cite? Does Brooks oppose the far-greater and far more expensive and far more extensive transfers from everyone else to the rich? Or is he just an "anti-transfer" when the beneficiaries are anybody else?
Why does this rejoinder ring false? Why does it emerge now? Is this the only transfer Brooks can cite? Does Brooks oppose the far-greater and far more expensive and far more extensive transfers from everyone else to the rich? Or is he just an "anti-transfer" when the beneficiaries are anybody else?
21
Odd, then, that YOU didn't offer a better example. One in which it worked. Is it that there aren't any, or is this just laziness?
2
The better examples are all over Europe- Germany, Holland, Croatia...most of the EU offers reciprocal free (or nearly free) education.
9
Put these two into a ring with gloves and post the pictures.
2
"But while we’re at it, let’s give Hillary Clinton a hand for her whopping victory at the Northern Mariana Islands convention. Who says that her campaign isn’t a steamroller?"
Must be sarcasm, Gail.
I see your rather reluctantly feeling the Bern, aren't you?
Today will surprise, and scare the heck out of the establishment.
Hoisted so high on their own petard, the rarefied air up there addled their brains, and the fuse they lit will ignite that oh so well constructed petard, blowing their plans to smithereens.
So invigorating to watch people coming together, making Democracy work, in spite of the formidable forces arrayed against them.
Must be sarcasm, Gail.
I see your rather reluctantly feeling the Bern, aren't you?
Today will surprise, and scare the heck out of the establishment.
Hoisted so high on their own petard, the rarefied air up there addled their brains, and the fuse they lit will ignite that oh so well constructed petard, blowing their plans to smithereens.
So invigorating to watch people coming together, making Democracy work, in spite of the formidable forces arrayed against them.
2
I don't like either Brooks but I have to admit Arthur is funnier than David.
Gail sounds like she's warming up to Bernie. Change of heart? Or accepting the inevitable? Bern, baby Bern!
Gail sounds like she's warming up to Bernie. Change of heart? Or accepting the inevitable? Bern, baby Bern!
3
I am really baffled by those republicans that don't want Trump as president and will stay home, vote for a third party candidate or write one in if he is the nominee. why don't they vote for Clinton? she is the closest they are going to get to a moderate republican. might I add, there is nothing wrong with that.
7
"Except to note that there weren’t any presidential candidates urging that punches be thrown then."
George Wallace.
George Wallace.
4
AEI "scholars"? Since when is highly motivated reasoning in service of the rich and powerful worthy of the label "scholarly"?
9
Some good points, Gail. In fact I enjoyed the column. What I don't enjoy is the Republican Ticket to come, whatever it might be. Arthur, what exactly to you stand for that you can find the answer in the Republican Party?
1
Gail,
What is Arthur's "dangerously populist". Why is it dangerous? What does Arthur want to do? Restrict the vote to property owners and white men?
What is Arthur's "dangerously populist". Why is it dangerous? What does Arthur want to do? Restrict the vote to property owners and white men?
9
Spoiler alert ! The GOP will back Trump as their nominee. HIs "tax", "health care" and "immigration" plans are merely supersized versions of republican orthodoxy; they know they created him....they might as well embrace him. In return Trump will tone down his racist barking to the usual GOP dog whistle levels.
2
George Wallace was urging people to throw punches in 1968. And Mayor Daley, although not a presidential candidate, helped foment violence.
1
You know Gail, you have always been my favorite columnist, but your casual and unfunny comments about Hillary have really turned me off...
2
Does the Times actually pay Arthur Brooks for this drivel? You can sense the stress in Gail's effort to get a reasonable response from this AEI talking head. After three exchanges I quit.
13
For the third consecutive election I have found campaign materials INSIDE the polling place, on top of the counter in the lobby of Peninsula Baptist Church in Mooresville, NC.
This year also featured a bunch of flyers sitting on the desk in the actual booth. The officials said they were "too busy" to keep up, yet they had no problem spending time checking voter IDs.
The real "voter fraud" is something other than what Governor McCrory says it is?
This year also featured a bunch of flyers sitting on the desk in the actual booth. The officials said they were "too busy" to keep up, yet they had no problem spending time checking voter IDs.
The real "voter fraud" is something other than what Governor McCrory says it is?
10
'Now, much to Ohio liberals’ shock, the governor is universally regarded as the most moderate and civilized Republican presidential candidate imaginable.'
Well, yeah. Old trick. The beautiful bride is the one surrounded by ugly bridesmaids. (Hence all those awful dresses, a staple of sitcoms and rom-coms.) In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, and in the land of Cruz and Trump, Kasich looks moderate.
With regard to Sanders' not being in the grip of big money: It's no great virtue to be a virgin if no one's ever propositioned you. Sanders is an independent from a small state. Where's the value for money, the ROI? And it doesn't matter to Sanders supporters that his proposals don't add up. It's the adrenaline rush, and the thrill of feeling you're riding a great historic tide, that attracts them. This is why Sanders attracts the young (and the perpetually immature) - opposing 'the establishment' is usually just a brand extension of 'rebellion against your parents'. Ironically, yesterday's paper had a long article about how Sanders worked within the system, bargaining and compromising with Republicans, to achieve small victories. One wonders if this will tarnish his image ....
Well, yeah. Old trick. The beautiful bride is the one surrounded by ugly bridesmaids. (Hence all those awful dresses, a staple of sitcoms and rom-coms.) In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, and in the land of Cruz and Trump, Kasich looks moderate.
With regard to Sanders' not being in the grip of big money: It's no great virtue to be a virgin if no one's ever propositioned you. Sanders is an independent from a small state. Where's the value for money, the ROI? And it doesn't matter to Sanders supporters that his proposals don't add up. It's the adrenaline rush, and the thrill of feeling you're riding a great historic tide, that attracts them. This is why Sanders attracts the young (and the perpetually immature) - opposing 'the establishment' is usually just a brand extension of 'rebellion against your parents'. Ironically, yesterday's paper had a long article about how Sanders worked within the system, bargaining and compromising with Republicans, to achieve small victories. One wonders if this will tarnish his image ....
4
No mention of Ohio (like Michigan) being an open primary and Florida closed (as I understand it)? I think that affects the polling accuracy greatly. It also ticks me off that primaries are open--the whole reason I belong to a party is so that I can vote for who will be candidates, and independents are just passing the buck. As for Republicans being able to vote in the Democratic primary or vice versa, bah!
11
Sorry to be a sourpuss, but this little regular tete-a-tete, which attempts to provide humor is not succeeding because there is nothing funny going on, and the two must instead substitute sarcasm, which is just another form of nastiness. It's not funny; it's tragic. Of the six candidates standing, there is not one who really should please anyone. Trump and Cruz are clearly dangerous; Rubio is an empty suit; Kasich is an extreme conservative theocrat who has been portrayed wrongly as a moderate; Sanders is an old left of center ideologue, and Clinton is a right of center Democrat who wants to be President only because she believes that she is entitled to be President. I've had to hold my nose and vote many times during the last nearly fifty years, but this year nothing will keep the stench out. The system has truly failed us.
26
Thank you, M.I. Estner. I wish you were running for president and I will print out your comment and hang it on the wall until this whole thing blows over. I'm not sure its fair to hold Bernie's age against him, but in all other respects you're correct.
2
Interesting question: Why provide free college to those who could afford it?
Answer: Because without their support the idea of free college is going nowhere.
That's why public school in NYC is free. That's why public libraries in NYC are free.
Answer: Because without their support the idea of free college is going nowhere.
That's why public school in NYC is free. That's why public libraries in NYC are free.
3
I prefer my Brooks with more Mel, and way-fewer false equivalencies. The only thing Friday's ugly spectacle has in common with 1968 is geography.
19
These conversations are beginning to show the familiar pattern of Thanksgiving Dinner conversation at my politically divided household. A tepid poke followed by "pass the gravy, please." The exchanges are not enlightening but even worse, they are not entertaining. I love everything Gail Collins writes so in my opinion it's Arthur Brooks's fault. We definitely need more cow bell.
9
Yes, and the Northern Marianas' governor endorsed Trump, while Guam's governor endorsed Ted Cruz. 'Not quite as far from the Republican mainstream as your thinly-veiled ridicule would imply. A billion dollars, indeed.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but it feels like the Trump wave has caused the Sanders surge somehow. Like we want to get in on the "angry and upset" thing too. Depressing.
4
We need a Times expose on 'who are the poll participants.' Land lines? I'd be fascinated to know who opinion is representing mine.
2
Please don't talk like this - it demeans the process. This our democracy, not professional wrestling.
Arthur's humor is self conscious, mean, uncompromising and grim. He sneaks in lines (Dangerously populist, 1968 rhetoric, etc.) in an effort to sound breezy but they are simply deceitful.
5
It's why conservatives aren't comedians, at least, not consciously.
7
Arthur asks, "What are his policies you find kind of appealing?"
Gail actually answers him. Arthur reply consists of vague sniping, but he never offers anything in return. This is typical of today's conservatives. Always, "you can't do that", never, "here's what our side thinks should be done." And they never, ever look at the data.
For example, universal government run health does "work out" in all of the rest of the developed (real, not perfect) world where they get better results at less than half of the cost per person.
Gail actually answers him. Arthur reply consists of vague sniping, but he never offers anything in return. This is typical of today's conservatives. Always, "you can't do that", never, "here's what our side thinks should be done." And they never, ever look at the data.
For example, universal government run health does "work out" in all of the rest of the developed (real, not perfect) world where they get better results at less than half of the cost per person.
10
Never once have the Democrats mentioned penis size in their debates, and for that I am grateful. It helps me maintain the delusion that there is a modicum of dignity remaining among those aspiring to leadership of the free world. Certainly television producers have decided that coverage of the baboon leading the Republican race is of primary (get it?) importance. Let's review: He's orange, he's loud, and when he's not playing with himself, he's throwing his excrement at people.
8
This duet is beginning to have legs. Gail's sass and irony is deeper than the Mariana Trench and the new Mr. Brooks is keeping up. Certainly better than the previous (sappy) Brooks. This topic, "Trumpeter", sport wise, is fair game to everyone. Mr. Author Brooks is cut from dry timber leaning far from the middle and similarily cannot fathom a Trump Presidency. One must really begin to look over your shoulder wondering what flavor of human might like Trump. Are they safe to live nearby and what weapons might they have at the ready. Good work you two and I'm liking the serious (diatribe) discourse.
I lost interest when the only consequence to money in campaigns is election outcomes. For the umpteenth time, the real consequences is the policies enacted following the election. The media discredits i itself every time journalists fail to recognize what every voter sees in their lives every day.
5
So Gail, does Trump's "anti-Muslin" position mean his anti-trade policies are morphing into a Ghandian home-spun economic campaign?
1
Ms Collins, I get your point of view but it is sort of besides the point, In all his years what skills has he shown that he can do the top job?
Had Sanders run as an Independent I would be more supportive of his place in the conversation. He doesn't say radical things, he just has no idea how to implement them and in any job interview for top slot you have to have that figured out. I also take offense at his joining the Democratic Party and then dragging our last two Democratic Presidents through the mud as well as regularly insulting Hillary Clinton as a liar etc. .
In this case, the "method" of the campaign is very much the "message" of the campaign and it is extremely negative and decisive to the party he joined to exploit. So much for Mr Pure Intentions. I just cannot get past the idea that if he should succeed to the nomination he is going to count on the very same Democrats he has contempt for to help him. And because we are all adults who want the best for our country, we will.
Had Sanders run as an Independent I would be more supportive of his place in the conversation. He doesn't say radical things, he just has no idea how to implement them and in any job interview for top slot you have to have that figured out. I also take offense at his joining the Democratic Party and then dragging our last two Democratic Presidents through the mud as well as regularly insulting Hillary Clinton as a liar etc. .
In this case, the "method" of the campaign is very much the "message" of the campaign and it is extremely negative and decisive to the party he joined to exploit. So much for Mr Pure Intentions. I just cannot get past the idea that if he should succeed to the nomination he is going to count on the very same Democrats he has contempt for to help him. And because we are all adults who want the best for our country, we will.
30
Ms. Collins and Mr. Brooks, why so skeptical of Bernie Sanders' vision? Even the Wall Street capitalist Asher Edelman says that Bernie's strategy will help the economy. And there's absolutely no proof that bolstering the middle class will come at the expense of less-well-off people. We have to build a better future for all people. That takes vision and commitment.
16
Arthur: "The violence is ghastly, to be sure. And it’s not just coming from the Trump side"
REVEALED/WILL QUIT
The MoveOn toxic dump
Cracked the armor of Trump.
"Why do I need this?" he cried.
OMG! Jeb! is inside!
1
Gail, over the years, I've sent in countless comments - generally complimentary of your droll wit - making comparisons to the wrestling industry.
Up to and including sham brawls - wielding the folding chairs that always seem so conveniently on hand.
They never seem to make the cut.
Now, here comes...Ahhrrrthur...and it's - like - his opening line.
I used to be solidly in your camp, Gail. Now - I'm completely undecided.
Only thing is...
...while we may smirk and make comparisons between some of our more spirited candidates and our favorite wrestlers (would have been interesting to see McMahon get Liebermann into a quadruple-holy-cross-hold at the XL, or some such thing)...
...we can't make such cute comparisons to some of the other folks out there...
...I only wish ISIS and Boko Haram were zany wrestling characters, with contrived evil narratives...unfortunately...
http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm
...in fact, your own paper had this story front/center for what seemed like more than 24 hours...
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/world/middleeast/to-maintain-supply-of...
Andrew Rosenthal might as well have had a subliminal "VOTE FOR TRUMP" text message subliminally underlying the lead photo.
...this is why Trump wins in November...
...it's already been decided.
Up to and including sham brawls - wielding the folding chairs that always seem so conveniently on hand.
They never seem to make the cut.
Now, here comes...Ahhrrrthur...and it's - like - his opening line.
I used to be solidly in your camp, Gail. Now - I'm completely undecided.
Only thing is...
...while we may smirk and make comparisons between some of our more spirited candidates and our favorite wrestlers (would have been interesting to see McMahon get Liebermann into a quadruple-holy-cross-hold at the XL, or some such thing)...
...we can't make such cute comparisons to some of the other folks out there...
...I only wish ISIS and Boko Haram were zany wrestling characters, with contrived evil narratives...unfortunately...
http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm
...in fact, your own paper had this story front/center for what seemed like more than 24 hours...
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/world/middleeast/to-maintain-supply-of...
Andrew Rosenthal might as well have had a subliminal "VOTE FOR TRUMP" text message subliminally underlying the lead photo.
...this is why Trump wins in November...
...it's already been decided.
2
President Sanders would: reinstate the Glass Steagall Act in order to prevent the excesses of Wall Street greed and avarice by separating commercial and investment banking; rebuild the infrastructure of the United States(roads, bridges, airports); alter our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels; exercise diplomacy as a means to settle world disputes (especially the Mideast); introduce national health care legislation to cover virtually all citizens at half the present cost; negotiate international trade agreements that require “a level playing field” for American workers; put an end to the mass incarceration of minorities; assure more progressive personal taxation and end corporate evasion of taxation; and provide the opportunity of affordable, quality advanced education to every citizen in order to compete competently in the work marketplace.
4
I have always had an inner suspicion of reality TV. Wasn't it FDR who said something like: " In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens you can bet it was planned that way." If one wants to suggest that the consequences of Trumps remarks were unintended, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you! If one hadn't noticed, Trump is the champion of "Politically incorrect behavior." The current atmospherics reminds me of 1968 when Humphrey stole the nomination from McCarthy which led to the ever popular Nixon's election. The big difference between then and now is that we have no assassinations now. If I remember correctly, Humphrey didn't run in any primaries, but still got nominated after RFK was killed. If Trump doesn't get the required numbers going in to the convention, I look for a Romney to get the nod. He would then become the only man to have lost to the first African-American President, and the First woman President which will secure him a spot in our history books!
1
How can the snakiness written into many, many news pieces not also be reflective of the times we live in? When you two get together it's always the same hip-snarky style I'm complaining about. Sophisticated writing like what once The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage meant to be as the norm now seems to be a thing of the past. Too bad.
Ms. Collins is a political satirist, not an op ed writer. I find her so-call "snarkiness" refreshing.
I voted early for my old white Jewish Brooklyn career politician brother Bernard Sanders. And I am old, but not as old as Bernie, and all black African Methodist Episcopal South Side Chicago White Sox fan.
I never cared much for the corrupt immoral amoral greedy cowardly allegedly "first black" President William Jefferson Clinton nor his spouse Hillary Diane Rodham nor their daughter Chelsea. Enough of Scheme Clinton and their Golden Calf. Hillary is carrying the albatross of Chicago mayor Rahm "Gollum" Emanuel.
While Barry Obama has not delivered as much hope and change as I hoped for, I still marvel that a Kenyan Luo Arab Muslim socialist usurper managed to occupy the White House for eight years with his lovely wise strong Bantu wife and their two beautiful European Bantu Nilotic daughters
Kasich only seems reasonable by contrast with the school of sardines that he has chosen to swim with. Rubio is an incompetent inexperienced immature idiot. Cruz is a smart shrewd amoral half- Cuban natural born citizen of Canada. Trump is an immoral degenerate serial adulterer cowardly draft dodging plutocrat oligarch welfare queen married to a super model foreign bimbo.
"Yet I often marvel at this curious thing, that God would make a poet black and yet bid him to sing." Countee Cullen
I never cared much for the corrupt immoral amoral greedy cowardly allegedly "first black" President William Jefferson Clinton nor his spouse Hillary Diane Rodham nor their daughter Chelsea. Enough of Scheme Clinton and their Golden Calf. Hillary is carrying the albatross of Chicago mayor Rahm "Gollum" Emanuel.
While Barry Obama has not delivered as much hope and change as I hoped for, I still marvel that a Kenyan Luo Arab Muslim socialist usurper managed to occupy the White House for eight years with his lovely wise strong Bantu wife and their two beautiful European Bantu Nilotic daughters
Kasich only seems reasonable by contrast with the school of sardines that he has chosen to swim with. Rubio is an incompetent inexperienced immature idiot. Cruz is a smart shrewd amoral half- Cuban natural born citizen of Canada. Trump is an immoral degenerate serial adulterer cowardly draft dodging plutocrat oligarch welfare queen married to a super model foreign bimbo.
"Yet I often marvel at this curious thing, that God would make a poet black and yet bid him to sing." Countee Cullen
9
Ms. Collins: Please don't use the word "theory" when you mean "speculation." To those of us in the science arena, they are two completely different things.
I'm afraid this campaign isn't going to be long enough for media outlets to make any money.
1
Gail, I think you meant to criticize Trump's "anti-Muslim" rhetoric, not his "anti-Muslin" rhetoric.
Trump is a bigoted, racist, misogynist jerk who publicly ridicules the disabled and questions the heroism of our prisoners of war.
But as far as I know, he is not actually "anti-Muslin" and hasn't yet come out against this plain-woven, sheer-to-course cotton fabric.
Trump is a bigoted, racist, misogynist jerk who publicly ridicules the disabled and questions the heroism of our prisoners of war.
But as far as I know, he is not actually "anti-Muslin" and hasn't yet come out against this plain-woven, sheer-to-course cotton fabric.
4
This dialogue format, with this pair, really needs a third voice. Socrates asking questions, for instance. And a kind of hovering, authorial "voice" behind the whole, pushing it in some direction, like an "invisible hand". I'm sure I have heard that, somewhere, before. But I am not thinking Smith, I am thinking Plato. Pretty big gauntlet to throw down, even bigger to pick up, eh. So, you can keep this up, but y'all are only at the base of the mountain, so far. Y'all are camped out on the plains. ...Not even in the foothills, yet. Y'all cannot even see any plateau, just lots of slope. I am afraid I must agree with some commenters below: give it up, this is not working.
2
Perhaps money in politics didn't achieve its intended consequences -- the Koch's won't have their golden boy at the top of the ticket. But is there any question that money hasn't corrupted the race? Voters reacted with disgust, finally, and ran into the arms of a fool. Now let's imagine what this election might have looked like if we had publicly funded elections
10
I know one thing for sure Hillary would have been on a more even keel without all the dark money putting out attacks daily by the second.
3
"Arthur: The tricky part of almost every socialist’s policies is that “perfect world” stipulation. It never quite works out"..... as the President of the American Enterprise Institute For Advanced Greed summarily dismisses 50 years of demonstrated single-payer success (10 - 12% of GDP) in Canada, England & France in deference to America's failing 17% of GDP corporate racketeering extortion healthcare racket.
Mr. Brooks heard of Ohio in 1969 when the Cuyahoga River caught on fire after a century of Robber Baron industrial pollution.
That Cuyahoga River fire helped spur an avalanche of water pollution control activities, resulting in the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and the creation of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Mr. Brooks and his Greed Oil Pollution party don't care too much for regulation because it hurts 'free enterprise'...otherwise known as the commercial right to pollute the water, the earth and the air for free, complemented by the right to pollute the airwaves with the right to pollute America's national IQ with half-truths, clarion calls for 'free-dumb', trickle-down economic violence, 0.1% welfare and religious bigotry 'freedom'.
What we need and the New York Times needs is to bring on an Iranian-type hostage rescue of Gail Collins from this weekly right-wing marionette torture session she has been sentenced to endure.
Free Gail Collins from this Fake Conversation !
Mr. Brooks heard of Ohio in 1969 when the Cuyahoga River caught on fire after a century of Robber Baron industrial pollution.
That Cuyahoga River fire helped spur an avalanche of water pollution control activities, resulting in the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and the creation of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Mr. Brooks and his Greed Oil Pollution party don't care too much for regulation because it hurts 'free enterprise'...otherwise known as the commercial right to pollute the water, the earth and the air for free, complemented by the right to pollute the airwaves with the right to pollute America's national IQ with half-truths, clarion calls for 'free-dumb', trickle-down economic violence, 0.1% welfare and religious bigotry 'freedom'.
What we need and the New York Times needs is to bring on an Iranian-type hostage rescue of Gail Collins from this weekly right-wing marionette torture session she has been sentenced to endure.
Free Gail Collins from this Fake Conversation !
295
Free Gail! ....dang that EPA! .....who needs education? .....and, cmon now, everybody knows that we'd be a lot better off as 50 separate Kingdoms, each with it's own Republican King, rather than as a United nation!
Bring on conservatism, it's the only path to dystopia!
Bring on conservatism, it's the only path to dystopia!
4
I do so love reading your comments; always on the money.
2
Ms Collins seems to be enjoying it. If you don't, you might consider retreating back into your echo chamber. In fact, she was the one who introduced the 'perfect world' caveat, and pointed out that without 'addressing the overall problem of soaring costs', free tuition won't work. (Where it does work, it's been combined with rigorous academic standards. Many of the young people lured by the siren call of 'free tuition' wouldn't qualify under such standards. Therefore they are omitted from his discussion.) With regard to single-payer, which I support - but which you'll never get, because now you're stuck with Obamacare - again, it can't afford to pay for everything. Some distinctions will have to be made between basic care and optional care which must be borne by the patient or privately insured. Most insurance achieves this, ironically, by excluding two categories actually vital to continued long-term overall health and employability - dental and optical.)
The Bernie cult doesn't grapple with any of this - too busy mouthing slogans.
The Bernie cult doesn't grapple with any of this - too busy mouthing slogans.
2
I hope today takes the losers out of the race so we can get down to two nominees, scrutinize their stand on issues and bring out their best to help the U.S. This country has major problems with a tremendous debt and lack of growth and if we want to be respected to the world with a global presence we had better address these issues.
6
Why, yes, ISIS will stop their terrorist ways if only the US brings down its debt!
1
I vote today in Florida, a state that is heavily Republican. One that has elected a known criminal to Gov twice. But, Obama carried the state. Democrats come out heavily for national elections but hide for mid-terms it seems.
Democrats have a choice now between Hillary and Bernie. Personally, I don't believe Bernie has the ability to run the country even with a Democratic Senate. He makes some good sound bites but I do not see the underlying realism or substance that will drive him once he has landed in the White House. The fear is that, if he is the candidate, he and the Democrats will be smeared with calls that he is a communist and Democrats will suffer from the association. Once the swift boaters turn on him we will learn that he is an old, doddering fool. Cruz or Trump will become saints compared to this radical Jew.
Hillary and Bill have been raked over the coals for 20+ years. What else can they drag up? They are creative so something will surface. I am voting for Hillary with my fingers crossed that the Democrats will turn out for her.
Democrats have a choice now between Hillary and Bernie. Personally, I don't believe Bernie has the ability to run the country even with a Democratic Senate. He makes some good sound bites but I do not see the underlying realism or substance that will drive him once he has landed in the White House. The fear is that, if he is the candidate, he and the Democrats will be smeared with calls that he is a communist and Democrats will suffer from the association. Once the swift boaters turn on him we will learn that he is an old, doddering fool. Cruz or Trump will become saints compared to this radical Jew.
Hillary and Bill have been raked over the coals for 20+ years. What else can they drag up? They are creative so something will surface. I am voting for Hillary with my fingers crossed that the Democrats will turn out for her.
68
So you don't assume I an anti Semitic: I married into a Jewish family so my family is Jewish.
Harold, why is it that no one ever brings up Rick Scott's nefarious past, the one that allowed him to amass the fortune that financed his gubernatorial campaign in the first place ($12 million of his own money in the last race). Every time he rails on Medicare abuse, I think, "Who would know better than the man whose company committed the largest Medicare fraud in history?" (The largest US government fraud in history. HCA paid a $1.7 billion fine!")
My guess as to how he eked out a re-election victory is that he purged the voting rolls, closed down as many South Florida, heavily-Democratic poll locations as he could and limited early voting (not his people). As the Geico people says, If you're Rick Scott, it's what you do.
From the Tampa Bay Times in 2012:
"Statewide voter turnout was about 50 percent, but in Miami-Dade, just 40 percent of voters showed up. In Broward, another heavily populated Democratic stronghold, 44 percent turned out.
"I'm mystified. We had a huge presence in both places. The numbers are just frustrating to me," said state Democratic chairwoman Allison Tant, who described Tuesday as a "shellacking."
Scott won the governor's race four years ago by about 1 percentage point — 61,000 votes — and he won re-election by about 1 percentage point — about 66,000 votes. Razor-thin races can be all the more painful to the losing campaigns because it leaves greater room for second-guessing."
My guess as to how he eked out a re-election victory is that he purged the voting rolls, closed down as many South Florida, heavily-Democratic poll locations as he could and limited early voting (not his people). As the Geico people says, If you're Rick Scott, it's what you do.
From the Tampa Bay Times in 2012:
"Statewide voter turnout was about 50 percent, but in Miami-Dade, just 40 percent of voters showed up. In Broward, another heavily populated Democratic stronghold, 44 percent turned out.
"I'm mystified. We had a huge presence in both places. The numbers are just frustrating to me," said state Democratic chairwoman Allison Tant, who described Tuesday as a "shellacking."
Scott won the governor's race four years ago by about 1 percentage point — 61,000 votes — and he won re-election by about 1 percentage point — about 66,000 votes. Razor-thin races can be all the more painful to the losing campaigns because it leaves greater room for second-guessing."
2
In the end, we're all conservatives to some degree. That's because we are all cautious about abandoning familiar, but failed approaches to progress.
The key is that the idea of making a 'religion' out of any ideology (be it liberal or conservative), will always produce absolutism, and over reach.
We can have control and certainty (as much there is of it) without insisting that it be 'my' version rather than 'our' version.
The key is that the idea of making a 'religion' out of any ideology (be it liberal or conservative), will always produce absolutism, and over reach.
We can have control and certainty (as much there is of it) without insisting that it be 'my' version rather than 'our' version.
2
Arthur Brooks imitates David Brooks in throwing out half-truths as sideline remarks to a main narrative to sneak in a political opinion as fact.
Let's focus on the big one here: Brooks says that the problem with socialist policies (a rather broad array of things that get associated willy nilly with everything from social security to Stalin's purges, by those who want to confuse the issue) is their "perfect world" stipulation.
If Brooks were honest he would also say that his free-market capitalist position also has a "perfect world" stipulation of a level playing field, perfect transparent information, and a government that has figured out how to carry out those necessary tasks not being carried out by individuals in their market place (defense, education, police, infrastructure, environmental regulation, etc. -- stipulated by Adam Smith and Milton Friedman, yet treated as if insignificant) and not have an unfair or distorting impact on the "perfect" free market.
There is an equivalence here in the imperfection of these broad theories. But that is what we have to live with. The question is, which is close enough to what should be, which is worth aiming for, and which we should then work to approximate?
Sanders points in one direction (lowering costs for college for the poorer among us, for instance) and each of the Republicans points in another (tough luck if you are born poor). Take your choice of imperfect worlds. I know which I want to aim for.
Let's focus on the big one here: Brooks says that the problem with socialist policies (a rather broad array of things that get associated willy nilly with everything from social security to Stalin's purges, by those who want to confuse the issue) is their "perfect world" stipulation.
If Brooks were honest he would also say that his free-market capitalist position also has a "perfect world" stipulation of a level playing field, perfect transparent information, and a government that has figured out how to carry out those necessary tasks not being carried out by individuals in their market place (defense, education, police, infrastructure, environmental regulation, etc. -- stipulated by Adam Smith and Milton Friedman, yet treated as if insignificant) and not have an unfair or distorting impact on the "perfect" free market.
There is an equivalence here in the imperfection of these broad theories. But that is what we have to live with. The question is, which is close enough to what should be, which is worth aiming for, and which we should then work to approximate?
Sanders points in one direction (lowering costs for college for the poorer among us, for instance) and each of the Republicans points in another (tough luck if you are born poor). Take your choice of imperfect worlds. I know which I want to aim for.
221
Thank you for this important reality point!
Yet one can still strive towards such things: America was created to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
Between socialism and free-market capitalism, I see common interest vs self interest, and I know which I want to aim for better to achieve America's goal for all its People.
Between socialism and free-market capitalism, I see common interest vs self interest, and I know which I want to aim for better to achieve America's goal for all its People.
Also, the free-market capitalist position crashes when you run out of sheep to shear. Not to mention that at least as shown by the evidence of its most ardent proponent, the US of A, you need massive corporate welfare, to which end you need to rig the Supreme Court, buy the media, gerrymander the elections, emasculate the regulators, gut public education, and legislate corruption as lawful activity.
1
Gail, Art is dragging you down to mediocrity. Please return to your strength before he blunts your edge.
97
Gail is brilliant. Arthur isn't. Please stop this feature.
195
Agree. Would love to see Trump take over Brooks' place. Gail could eat him alive with her sharp wit.
Why is everyone so sure that the only election we have in which money matters is the Presidency? The money on the GOP side has been split across a half dozen candidates for months; it will matter when there are only two people in the race. The failure of a well funded but unappealing candidate is hardly a demonstration that too much money is a good thing.
The toxic effect of unlimited donations and spending also happens in the races for the House, the Senate and at the state level. And that money will make it harder to change the overall make-up of the government. When Americans for Prosperity is funding school board elections, we are in trouble.
Money corrupts. It isn't a new idea.
The toxic effect of unlimited donations and spending also happens in the races for the House, the Senate and at the state level. And that money will make it harder to change the overall make-up of the government. When Americans for Prosperity is funding school board elections, we are in trouble.
Money corrupts. It isn't a new idea.
134
The GOP has a hard time denouncing Donald because he is just saying and doing what they all think. As for Sanders, I like a lot of what he says however his chance of getting any of it into law is 0. Hillary has my vote because I believe she could get something done, she will not start a war, she is not a bigot and she will no make us a laughing stock in the world's eyes. Does she carry some baggage, yes but I really do not care..
103
HRC has zero chance of getting anything done. Who does the right hate more the president or HRC? I'll say it's a jump ball. Bernie says he can't tell us the Repubs he works with because they would be torched by the right. HRC will reach across the aisle and bring back a bloody stump.
"she will not start a war"
if only we could be sure about that. Her track record is of being an interventionist.
She is certainly much more of a hawk than Sanders, whose #1 goal is to work on fixing our internal problems, and, like Obama, getting other countries to sort themselves out – unless of course the US is directly threatened, in which case he would have the support of the population.
if only we could be sure about that. Her track record is of being an interventionist.
She is certainly much more of a hawk than Sanders, whose #1 goal is to work on fixing our internal problems, and, like Obama, getting other countries to sort themselves out – unless of course the US is directly threatened, in which case he would have the support of the population.
1
Mike,
Why is this relevant? Did you vote against Obama because the right does not like him? I think your hypothesis that the right will prefer Bernie to Hillary is interesting, but not likely to be true if Bernie wins the primary. Some non Sanders supporters feel that the right is going easy on Sanders in the primary hoping that he is the winner. None of us can be sure, but it is a big worry. I think the future claim that he is frightening because he is a socialist is too stupid to be taken seriously. However, anyone who paid attention during the long cold war knows how scared our citizens are of socialists, communists, etc. I wish it weren't true.
Why is this relevant? Did you vote against Obama because the right does not like him? I think your hypothesis that the right will prefer Bernie to Hillary is interesting, but not likely to be true if Bernie wins the primary. Some non Sanders supporters feel that the right is going easy on Sanders in the primary hoping that he is the winner. None of us can be sure, but it is a big worry. I think the future claim that he is frightening because he is a socialist is too stupid to be taken seriously. However, anyone who paid attention during the long cold war knows how scared our citizens are of socialists, communists, etc. I wish it weren't true.
2
I find it interesting that Mr. Brooks can dismiss the influence of unlimited contributions to campaigns by citing the Jeb! Bush failure.
The collapse of Bush is not evidence that uncontrolled campaign spending is not effective. If campaign spending was not productive for Republicans they wouldn't do it. Republicans do not yet favor campaign spending reform because they believe they are winning. The old saw that Union spending was on a par with that of business no longer holds as Ms. Collins said.
If Democrats and Unions were winning and outspending Republicans, people like Mr. Brooks would be all over the issue with all manner of high minded pronouncements about the demise of our democracy.
The collapse of Bush is not evidence that uncontrolled campaign spending is not effective. If campaign spending was not productive for Republicans they wouldn't do it. Republicans do not yet favor campaign spending reform because they believe they are winning. The old saw that Union spending was on a par with that of business no longer holds as Ms. Collins said.
If Democrats and Unions were winning and outspending Republicans, people like Mr. Brooks would be all over the issue with all manner of high minded pronouncements about the demise of our democracy.
45
Trump would trump every where as the world needs relief from terror and insecurity it has imposed the world over.
2
This was an actual conversation! It was much better than previous outings where Brooks interviewed himself. There's hope for the paper yet, Bring on Mr. Bennet!
2
Who knew until Gail made us aware in this piece that The Donald was against a particular kind of fabric?
7
Kasich is not a moderate. He was a managing director at Lehman during the whole real estate securitization scam from 2000 through 2008. Three of the most depressed cities are all in Ohio. What does Kasich spend his time on as governor? Defunding planned parenthood and signing laws to make sure pregnant women give birth to babies with Down syndrome whether they want to or not and with no additional support.
Please don't vote for Kasich
Please don't vote for Kasich
208
This is an important message. Kasich may be the least worst, but the term 'worst' still applies. My impression is that he is less callow than Rubio, marginally less despicable than Cruz, less obvious a jackal than Trump but far inferior to Bernie or Hillary in every category.
10
Also his main policy is to balance the budget in spite of the fact that EVERY time we balanced the federal budget for more than 3 years (6 times), we immediately fell into a real gut-wrenching depression.
5
Open primary today. My plan was to vote for The Donald as retaliation for the governor's pandering defunding of Planned Parenthood. But out of respect for generations of my family who fought protecting my freedom, I just cannot do it. So I guess I look for my swimmer's nose plugs and pray for wisdom.
16
"Dangerously populist"?
Are you seriously asserting that strong grass-roots support makes Bernie, or any other candidate, for that matter, dangerous? Might I suggest you look up the meaning of "democracy," Mr. Brooks?
Are you seriously asserting that strong grass-roots support makes Bernie, or any other candidate, for that matter, dangerous? Might I suggest you look up the meaning of "democracy," Mr. Brooks?
108
first I heard of this:
Arthur: The violence is ghastly, to be sure. And it’s not just coming from the Trump side — a lot of rhetoric over the past year and half on campuses and in communities has been pushing young progressives in the direction of violent confrontation, reminiscent of 1968.
Anyone else read anything on this?
Arthur: The violence is ghastly, to be sure. And it’s not just coming from the Trump side — a lot of rhetoric over the past year and half on campuses and in communities has been pushing young progressives in the direction of violent confrontation, reminiscent of 1968.
Anyone else read anything on this?
41
Agree - he is out to lunch. He should not have space in a worthy newspaper.
4
No. But I don't watch Fox news or read the Drudge Report either.
4
Nada. Brooks is making it up out of whole cloth. Of course, false equivalence is coin of the realm of the current dismal incarnation of the fourth estate.
5
Arthur Brooks: "And [violence is] not just coming from the Trump side — a lot of rhetoric over the past year and half on campuses and in communities has been pushing young progressives in the direction of violent confrontation..."
Really Arthur? What is your evidence of "a lot of rhetoric over the past year and half on campuses and in communities" pushing progressives towards violent confrontation? I have heard nothing about this alleged violent progressive movement. Arthur, your broad claim strikes me as a gratuitous remark and a false equivalence for the violence in the Republican Trump Arena.
Really Arthur? What is your evidence of "a lot of rhetoric over the past year and half on campuses and in communities" pushing progressives towards violent confrontation? I have heard nothing about this alleged violent progressive movement. Arthur, your broad claim strikes me as a gratuitous remark and a false equivalence for the violence in the Republican Trump Arena.
187
This Brooks does not deserve his debate partner, Gail. He is such and ideologue, he's incapable of the truth, spouting false equivalencies. Stop this waste of space.
3
@JABarry: Evidence? We don't need no stinking "evidence!" This is the brave new world of neutral (rather than objective) reporting.
It's been all the rage for the past some years. Jake Tapper did the same thing to Sanders at the town hall a couple days ago, asking him if he is responsible for the violence at the Trump rally, just because Trump says Bernie is. It is a disservice to the country, and dangerous, as it will embolden Trump to blame others for his fomenting violence.
An interesting side note is that Trump seems to be ahead of the media again, pivoting to Sanders as his strongest rival rather than Clinton. And once again, Trump has the MSM doing his work for him. The man may be a racist, xenophobic fascist, but stupid he is not.
It's been all the rage for the past some years. Jake Tapper did the same thing to Sanders at the town hall a couple days ago, asking him if he is responsible for the violence at the Trump rally, just because Trump says Bernie is. It is a disservice to the country, and dangerous, as it will embolden Trump to blame others for his fomenting violence.
An interesting side note is that Trump seems to be ahead of the media again, pivoting to Sanders as his strongest rival rather than Clinton. And once again, Trump has the MSM doing his work for him. The man may be a racist, xenophobic fascist, but stupid he is not.
8
It is what conservatives accept as common wisdom when they talk among themselves. They are people of faith, not facts. (Faith is belief in something that cannot be proven)
1
Perhaps, in the off election years, the states could run primaries/caucuses on which "Polling Companies" perform the best, sort of like picking the smartest kid in the dumb row. Then we could have OTHER polling companies predicting WHICH polling companies would win in the polls on "Polling Companies Primary/Caucus Days" and have ONE day called "Super Polling Fragalistic Expialidocious Mega Tuesday Smakedown" just in case you guys run out of stuff to write about on non-presidential election years. This is all NOT to be confused with the "Festivus Pole" another subject entirely but, seemingly, somehow related in this strange election year...at least for pollsters.
As for the "meat" of your column/conversation, what happened in the "Southern Mariana Islands Convention"? Did they quietly revolt and become a separate "Confederacy"? Have they fired on Fort Sumter yet?
Details...the devil's in them and we, the readers, need to know this stuff!
By the way, slandering Mr. Trump as a "thug" merely gives him credence with another, self proclaimed "thug", Mr. Putin. They seem to have a "Thugmance" going on, sort of like a "Bromance" except with nuclear weapons. Perhaps if Mr. trump does become president (Groans and catcalls, please), the two could have a winner take all, fenced in, death match on pay per view with the proceeds going to, well, probably the Koch Brothers or their Russian equivalents.
It sure ain't politics as usual now, is it?
As for the "meat" of your column/conversation, what happened in the "Southern Mariana Islands Convention"? Did they quietly revolt and become a separate "Confederacy"? Have they fired on Fort Sumter yet?
Details...the devil's in them and we, the readers, need to know this stuff!
By the way, slandering Mr. Trump as a "thug" merely gives him credence with another, self proclaimed "thug", Mr. Putin. They seem to have a "Thugmance" going on, sort of like a "Bromance" except with nuclear weapons. Perhaps if Mr. trump does become president (Groans and catcalls, please), the two could have a winner take all, fenced in, death match on pay per view with the proceeds going to, well, probably the Koch Brothers or their Russian equivalents.
It sure ain't politics as usual now, is it?
5
The amount of campaign money is mind-boggling. There are plenty of specialists (pollsters, strategists, ''operatives'') who make plenty during campaign season and then there are the media companies.
As quoted in the Hollywood Reporter, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves on Donald Trump: ''It May Not Be Good for America, but It's Damn Good for CBS.''
Little of this has anything to do with public policy, but rather focus group shaped messages, manipulative advertising and ''positioning.'' There's gold in them thar hills.
For perspective, the $5 billion spent on the campaigns could pay for about half of universal pre-K for American kids, where we currently rank 28th of 38 OECD countries.
Pre-K programs have been shown, conservatively, to return $7 for each $1 spent.
I wonder what the benefit/cost ratio is on this year's election campaign.
As quoted in the Hollywood Reporter, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves on Donald Trump: ''It May Not Be Good for America, but It's Damn Good for CBS.''
Little of this has anything to do with public policy, but rather focus group shaped messages, manipulative advertising and ''positioning.'' There's gold in them thar hills.
For perspective, the $5 billion spent on the campaigns could pay for about half of universal pre-K for American kids, where we currently rank 28th of 38 OECD countries.
Pre-K programs have been shown, conservatively, to return $7 for each $1 spent.
I wonder what the benefit/cost ratio is on this year's election campaign.
47
Yep, all those "Dump Drumph", and "Stop Hate" signs are the same kind of violence as punching a guy in the face.
87
Health care for everyone, tuition free state schools, only "in a perfect world..." Like in Europe, you mean?
176
Yes and they are very heavily taxed and happy to pay... somehow I doubt that Americans would accept that...
1
Having studied at a public university for a year in Europe, I can tell you, you wouldn't be impressed. My blue-collar high school was more challenging. Students would be up in arms in this country if they had the public education that students in France are subject to. It's only if you go to the elite 7 or 8 schools in Paris (Sorbonne, Sciences-Po, ENA among others) that you are getting a quality education, whereas the top 200 schools in the U.S. do a fine job. Also, Europe doesn't have residential life budgets since students still live at home. I'll be interesting when Sanders has to tell state school students that their fancy dorm rooms, lounges, and cafeterias are all being shut down because schools can't afford it, to say nothing of career services and other amenities that don't exist at European public schools.
Bernie sees real people having a real problem. He speaks about that problem thoughtfully and passionately and he proposes a solution. Paying for a college education and professional training is a real problem -- a real problem for all America because a global economy demands a large well educated, well trained workforce.
Bernie, and Hillary, Gail, and Arthur all grew up in an America where young people could afford an education. I grew up in that America too. To be sure, scholarships helped. But most of my peers could attend the premier public university in their state and meet the costs with earnings from working summer jobs and part time jobs during the school year.
That's not the case today. A full time, summer job that pays $15 per hour, if a young man or woman actually can find one, grosses about $7,800 for 13 weeks of employment. Take a moment and look at just the tuition at the public universities in your state. Talk to young people, find out how much they actually earn from summer and part time jobs. The problem is real.
Talk to the Newt Gingriches and Phil Gramms of the world about how they made it through graduate school, back in the day, with NSF grants. Then talk to young graduate students and medical students today.
Gail, you ought to talk to Bernie about those spiraling costs. He has plenty to say and he speaks credibly. The Republican and Republican-Lite administrations from 1980 to 2008 deserve a great deal of the blame for spiraling costs.
Bernie, and Hillary, Gail, and Arthur all grew up in an America where young people could afford an education. I grew up in that America too. To be sure, scholarships helped. But most of my peers could attend the premier public university in their state and meet the costs with earnings from working summer jobs and part time jobs during the school year.
That's not the case today. A full time, summer job that pays $15 per hour, if a young man or woman actually can find one, grosses about $7,800 for 13 weeks of employment. Take a moment and look at just the tuition at the public universities in your state. Talk to young people, find out how much they actually earn from summer and part time jobs. The problem is real.
Talk to the Newt Gingriches and Phil Gramms of the world about how they made it through graduate school, back in the day, with NSF grants. Then talk to young graduate students and medical students today.
Gail, you ought to talk to Bernie about those spiraling costs. He has plenty to say and he speaks credibly. The Republican and Republican-Lite administrations from 1980 to 2008 deserve a great deal of the blame for spiraling costs.
77
Maybe fewer flying garbage cans (aka F35s), fewer Abrams tanks, and closing some of the more than 700 bases around the world could pay for reduced or free tuition, universal health care and renewed infrastructure.
44
Gail, I am now distracted by the image of alien voters chasing down clip-boarded pollsters and stringing them up with land lines.
I've seen too many pictures of Trump rallies, I suppose.
I've seen too many pictures of Trump rallies, I suppose.
4
Sander's messages have been important, his tactics, not-so-great.... So easy to smear Hillary when the GOP has been paving that disingenuous path for years....
But I hope he is ready to work hard for the Democrats' progressive agenda under a Hillary presidency.
I think he will.
But I hope he is ready to work hard for the Democrats' progressive agenda under a Hillary presidency.
I think he will.
26
He will. The big question is, will SHE?
2
As a Smack down Tuesday resident, I am so, so glad to reach the end of the TV onslaught. The ads are really nasty (local elections as well as national races). Of course, I live in a state that no one seems to care about - we keep hearing that what matters today is Ohio and Florida. Then again, not being a soccer mom or a young and married or an undecided voter, I've never been part of a group that any talking head thought really mattered in the actual election - no one cares what I think really (sometimes I think the "undecided" stay that way because all the media types beat a path breathlessly to hear their thoughts). I will vote, nonetheless...
21
A major theme to this week’s conversation seemed to be an attempt on Arthur’s part to get at the practicality of Bernie’s agenda – in other words, what could he actually implement to counter all that he sees wrong with America, in the face of an opposed Congress? But what could Gail really say? Bernie would be a good “messenger”, presumably one who would talk about the need for single-payer health care and free college tuition but without the power or even the compelling arguments to make them real. In the end, we see on the left much of the same strong protest of establishment politics that we see on the right – even if Bernie has been around for many years, you wouldn’t know it by his name on bills that passed and became law.
But it does seem that the intensity of protest is weaker on the left and that Hillary, while she may be getting a late challenge, is not less certain a bet than she was weeks ago.
Inevitably, the rest of the conversation centered on Trump. Clearly, when you’re self-funding, you need to be clever enough to create the energy that compels news organizations to give you LOTS of free air time and ink. Just look at the real estate dedicated to Trump antics on the NY Times front page as well as its Politics section – you can’t buy this kind of exposure. Until Trump starts accepting large donations from the Republican moneyed, expect his manner to be truculent; but when he does start accepting donations, expect it to moderate tremendously.
But it does seem that the intensity of protest is weaker on the left and that Hillary, while she may be getting a late challenge, is not less certain a bet than she was weeks ago.
Inevitably, the rest of the conversation centered on Trump. Clearly, when you’re self-funding, you need to be clever enough to create the energy that compels news organizations to give you LOTS of free air time and ink. Just look at the real estate dedicated to Trump antics on the NY Times front page as well as its Politics section – you can’t buy this kind of exposure. Until Trump starts accepting large donations from the Republican moneyed, expect his manner to be truculent; but when he does start accepting donations, expect it to moderate tremendously.
5
Richard, do you think this argument is compelling? If you are in business, you might opt for efficiency.
All other industrialized countries have some form of universal government run health care, mostly single payor. They get better care as measured by all 16 of the bottom line public health statistics, and they do it at 40% of the cost per person. If our system were as efficient, we would save over $1.5 TRILLION each year.
www.pnhp.org & www.oecd.org, especially
http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/oecd-health-statistics-2014-frequ...
More data:
Cost for health care per person in PPP dollars in 2013:
US - 8713
OECD average - 3453
UK (socialized) - 3235
Canada (Medicare for ALL) - 4351
Australia (similar obesity, smoking, and drinking) - 3866
Switzerland (strongly regulated private insurance) - 6325
The Netherlands (partially like the Swiss) - 5131
France - 4124
Germany - 4819
Italy - 3077
Japan - 3713
Sweden - 4904
All other industrialized countries have some form of universal government run health care, mostly single payor. They get better care as measured by all 16 of the bottom line public health statistics, and they do it at 40% of the cost per person. If our system were as efficient, we would save over $1.5 TRILLION each year.
www.pnhp.org & www.oecd.org, especially
http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/oecd-health-statistics-2014-frequ...
More data:
Cost for health care per person in PPP dollars in 2013:
US - 8713
OECD average - 3453
UK (socialized) - 3235
Canada (Medicare for ALL) - 4351
Australia (similar obesity, smoking, and drinking) - 3866
Switzerland (strongly regulated private insurance) - 6325
The Netherlands (partially like the Swiss) - 5131
France - 4124
Germany - 4819
Italy - 3077
Japan - 3713
Sweden - 4904
9
These "conversations" typify the New York Times current view of covering the political scene. Let's take the views of "pundits" from opposite ends of the political spectrum and the we can claim "balanced coverage". I have a suggestion. How about finding some journalists who strive to report and analyze in a neutral fashion, highlighting the positives and negatives of positions and policies and let people decide for themselves. Of course, the views from committed people from each side of the political spectrum is healthy, it just isn't necessarily very informative. These conversation pieces are a waste of column inches!
12
This column is in the OPINIONS AND EDITORIAL section.
If you are offended reading opinions that contradict your own, stick with News, Sports, Lifestyle, etc.
If you are offended reading opinions that contradict your own, stick with News, Sports, Lifestyle, etc.
12
The Times should get out of the comedy business and stick to news and opinion. If the editors insist on comedy, they should avoid right wing pundits. They generally lack the empathy for the human condition that is at the heart of good comedy. Smugness and smarminess are poor substitutes for humor.
87
Gail puts her finger on the single thing only a candidacy of El Don could accomplish:
" Now, much to Ohio liberals’ shock, the governor is universally regarded as the most moderate and civilized Republican presidential candidate imaginable. "
Voters are forgetting Ann Richards' admonition that you can take a pig, put pearls and Chanel Nbr. 5 on it, dress it in Armani, and call it Monique - but when it struts down the red carpet, it's still a pig, no matter how much the media fawns over it, and no matter how much it stands out (relatively) from the wart-hogs, hyenas and jackals that coming before and after it :)
" Now, much to Ohio liberals’ shock, the governor is universally regarded as the most moderate and civilized Republican presidential candidate imaginable. "
Voters are forgetting Ann Richards' admonition that you can take a pig, put pearls and Chanel Nbr. 5 on it, dress it in Armani, and call it Monique - but when it struts down the red carpet, it's still a pig, no matter how much the media fawns over it, and no matter how much it stands out (relatively) from the wart-hogs, hyenas and jackals that coming before and after it :)
119
Further support for our stance comes from today's front-page piece on El Don, where the last paragraph describes El Don walking through Mar-a-lago and his butler announcing to club members and guests ' All Rise ' :
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/16/us/politics/donald-trump-butler-mar-a-...
and the assembled oblige.
Are you kidding me - what the ?
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/16/us/politics/donald-trump-butler-mar-a-...
and the assembled oblige.
Are you kidding me - what the ?
18
When even Mr. Brooks admits Republicans are giving Trump a free pass, you know we're in trouble. Only Kasich, Rubio, and Cruz have spoken out--mainly because they are grasping at last straws.
About the only thing I agree with in this somewhat content-free column is the potential for some serious danger in the coming weeks. Will the slugging, taunting, yelling and punching turn into gunfire? I can't believe that final answer-a gun, smuggled in someway somehow, will end up maybe ending the Trump campaign.
A candidate is responsible for the mood he sets at rallies. What we've seen so far leaves little to cheer about.
About the only thing I agree with in this somewhat content-free column is the potential for some serious danger in the coming weeks. Will the slugging, taunting, yelling and punching turn into gunfire? I can't believe that final answer-a gun, smuggled in someway somehow, will end up maybe ending the Trump campaign.
A candidate is responsible for the mood he sets at rallies. What we've seen so far leaves little to cheer about.
63
Christine I have had the same fears of gun play before it is over. Thank you for being the first person to mention it.
7
Arthur, big G.O.P. Money has sloshed "around", you're just not looking in the the right place. According to Jane Mayer in her soon to be iconic book "Dark Money", the Koch brothers and their fellow fossil fuel oligarchs have pumped over 1/2 billion dollars into the political process over the past few years. There most insidious practice was targeting state legislative races where money is absolutely dispositive. They conducted "how to" schools for local Republican candidates, covering all aspects of successful candidacy. The result, 31 state legislatures controlled by the Republicans,71% of state legislators are Republican, and the Republicans control a Gerrymandered House.
170
@Don Shipp
Yes! And don't forget all the money those corporations and wealthy folks put behind AEI and other think tanks and their publication and media arms. Direct political (negative) advertising is only the tip of the iceberg -- and if nothing else that advertising pollutes the atmosphere. But the effect of money on politics is "yuuuge."
Yes! And don't forget all the money those corporations and wealthy folks put behind AEI and other think tanks and their publication and media arms. Direct political (negative) advertising is only the tip of the iceberg -- and if nothing else that advertising pollutes the atmosphere. But the effect of money on politics is "yuuuge."
3
And in our Republican legislature controlled state, school districts are having emergency meetings and sending letters out warning that school may close early this year. Why? Because the legislature will not pass last year's budget. They have received about 45% of their funding.
Tellingly, the local newspaper here in NE PA. reported on a meeting of local legislators from both parties. When the Democratic representative blamed the Republican leadership, the local Republican reps did not disagree. One Reublican described the atmosphere as unhealthy and declared it is disgusting to be in the state Capitol some times.
That's what the Koch's have brought on us.
Tellingly, the local newspaper here in NE PA. reported on a meeting of local legislators from both parties. When the Democratic representative blamed the Republican leadership, the local Republican reps did not disagree. One Reublican described the atmosphere as unhealthy and declared it is disgusting to be in the state Capitol some times.
That's what the Koch's have brought on us.
3
Gerard: Arthur, your link to the article on Scotland is misleading since it offers no support for the conclusions you summarize about the transfer of funds from the poor to the middle class. All it has is a quote from a third publication saying that the abolition of the one time and only fee of about $7500 for a four year course had no significant effect on participation rates.
Scotland has a tradition of veneration for higher education, seeing it as a national imperative rather than an individual's burden of debt. It is the country's canny investment in its own future, and a source of great pride.
Scotland has a tradition of veneration for higher education, seeing it as a national imperative rather than an individual's burden of debt. It is the country's canny investment in its own future, and a source of great pride.
112
Bernie supporters need to understand that in order to compete with the Koch brothers the democrats need super PACS to win. We are talking about exorbitant amount of money needed to compete. In a capitalist country there will always be money in politics, the Bernie supporters in my opinion are very unrealistic and that's a problem.
23
Unrealistic, you say? Marching for crucial reform is not unrealistic. What you are saying is stick to the status quo, even though it doesn't bode well for the country, because? Because "everyone's" doing it. That's exactly the attitude these mighty donors gleefully love to hear. They've got ya under their thumb. Hillary and the Republicans are old hacks that find being in bed with Big Money great for them -- and screw the country. You must have revolution when financial inequality reaches such heights and corporate villains are untouched and enriched for their crimes, while the little guy with a couple of joints gets thrown in jail.
12
If Bernie wins the nomination, he will need the whole Democratic establishment -- with all its ill-gained, corrupt (maybe even Wall Street!) money -- to throw its weight and support behind him. There is no way that those $27 donations are going to beat the Republican machine. Along these same lines, he said yesterday in an interview that he decided to run on the Democratic ticket (which he has shunned his whole career) for the "media coverage." So there should be no complaining if the super-delegates in a party he never supported do not throw their votes his way. There is plenty of hypocrisy to go around in politics, but it is especially distasteful from the sanctimonious.
3
Here it is, 4:00 am in Ohio and I am getting ready for work at the local plastics factory. My station wagon has a Jim Webb bumper sticker on it. I have a Kasich bumper sticker in my desk drawer. I will vote today, for Trump. Make sense?
I want voters for whomever to be heard, and I fear that the Republican Party power structure is trying to assure a brokered convention in Cleveland where they will ignore those voters by nominating, Kasich, for example.
The NY Times recently ran a little article that identified that three of the ten most `distressed' cities in the entire nation were.... here in Ohio!!! What has my Governor done in his economic miracle here to help the people of Toledo, Cleveland and Cincinnati, by recently defunding Planned Parenthood, for example? What has the former Speaker of the House J. Boehner and the Republican Party platform done for Cincinnati by voting a hundred times to kill health care?
I also believe that many current Trump votes come from traditional Democratic voters, and those people are also being ignored. My vote for Trump today is a wake up call to both parties.
I do not see myself voting for Trump in a final Presidential election.
My favorite? Elizabeth Warren. Make sense?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePsNcoMNNXc
I want voters for whomever to be heard, and I fear that the Republican Party power structure is trying to assure a brokered convention in Cleveland where they will ignore those voters by nominating, Kasich, for example.
The NY Times recently ran a little article that identified that three of the ten most `distressed' cities in the entire nation were.... here in Ohio!!! What has my Governor done in his economic miracle here to help the people of Toledo, Cleveland and Cincinnati, by recently defunding Planned Parenthood, for example? What has the former Speaker of the House J. Boehner and the Republican Party platform done for Cincinnati by voting a hundred times to kill health care?
I also believe that many current Trump votes come from traditional Democratic voters, and those people are also being ignored. My vote for Trump today is a wake up call to both parties.
I do not see myself voting for Trump in a final Presidential election.
My favorite? Elizabeth Warren. Make sense?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePsNcoMNNXc
103
This exact same comment was posted after another article today, NYT staff.
3
Dear G. MacDowell:
It makes perfect sense. As a lifelong Dem who first supported JFK I feel your pain if not the Bern. I am supporting Hillary but I have not forgotten our history.
The Dems in many respects have become Republican lite. They have forgotten the gal whom they first brought to the dance, the New Deal FDR Democratic working man, now woman, voter. The party of my parents knew that a vote for the Democrat meant jobs, real jobs, good jobs, Union jobs, benefits, security, loyalty to employee beget loyalty to company. Those days are long gone and in many instances are not, cannot, come back. We can only move forward and hopefully in doing so the DNC will not forget its roots and the votes it won from those folks who through the Great Depression through WWII learned that they had a friend in the Democratic party. We Dems should not forget what made us the great party we once were.
Goof luck my friend ,
and May God Bless,
DD
Manhattan
It makes perfect sense. As a lifelong Dem who first supported JFK I feel your pain if not the Bern. I am supporting Hillary but I have not forgotten our history.
The Dems in many respects have become Republican lite. They have forgotten the gal whom they first brought to the dance, the New Deal FDR Democratic working man, now woman, voter. The party of my parents knew that a vote for the Democrat meant jobs, real jobs, good jobs, Union jobs, benefits, security, loyalty to employee beget loyalty to company. Those days are long gone and in many instances are not, cannot, come back. We can only move forward and hopefully in doing so the DNC will not forget its roots and the votes it won from those folks who through the Great Depression through WWII learned that they had a friend in the Democratic party. We Dems should not forget what made us the great party we once were.
Goof luck my friend ,
and May God Bless,
DD
Manhattan
19
Now Gordon, it makes no sense at all. If you look at the policies supported by Warren, you will see they are diametrically opposed to those of ANY of the Republican candidates, There are much, much closer to those of Bernie AND Hillary.
I will bet you have not even looked at the policies of Bernie and Hillary. Spend a half hour at each of their WEBsites, and you will see.
I will bet you have not even looked at the policies of Bernie and Hillary. Spend a half hour at each of their WEBsites, and you will see.
9
More to the point, who still has a land line?
14
I do.
3
And of those who do, how many don't have or don't use caller ID to ignore all those "unavailable" numbers?
11
One does shudder at "anti-Muslin" rhetoric.
Nice to see that even the Times falls prey to spellcheck.
Nice to see that even the Times falls prey to spellcheck.
43