Six Questions

[cantbeserious]

Last edited Sat Nov 21, 2015, 07:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Unlike some that appear to vote based on

- polls, or
- personality, or
- party loyalty, or
- gender,

this voter expects a candidate to win a vote based on issues and position.

The six questions HRC needs to answer to win this vote - yes or no:

1) HRC, will you reduce US military spending by 10% each year of your first term?
2) HRC, will you reign in Wall Street power by reinstating Glass-Steagall?
3) HRC, will you break up too big to fail big-banks?
4) HRC, will you actively support repeal of Citizen's United?
5) HRC, will you denounce the TPP and work to repeal the legislation?
6) HRC, will you use the bully pulpit to support and lobby for single-payer health care?

If the answer to any of the above questions is no, then HRC has not won this vote.

[cantbeserious]

1. Crickets From Camp HRC

eom

[cantbeserious]

2. Silence Is Enlightening - Speaks Volumes About A Candidate And Campaign

eom

[cantbeserious]

3. Could It Be

Could It Be that HRC

1) Will not reduce military spending because HRC truly is a War Hawk.
2) Will not reign in Wall Street because HRC is lavished with money by that crowd.
3) Will not break up too big to fail banks because HRC likes her political cronies too much to be tough.
4) Will not actively support the repeal of Citizens United because it enables HRC campaign financing.
5) Will not denounce the TPP because corporate supporters are expecting a payback for supporting HRC.
6) Will not lobby for single-payer because the insurance companies expect HRC to maintain the status quo.

One can only ponder why any voter would support such a candidate.

[cantbeserious]

4. Still Crickets From Camp HRC - Must Be That All The Worst Suspicions About HRC - Are True

eom

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. *chirp*

K&R!

[Eric J in MN]

6. Answers

1) HRC, will you reduce US military spending by 10% each year of your first term?

I haven't heard any presidential candidate say that.

2) HRC, will you reign in Wall Street power by reinstating Glass-Steagall?

No.

3) HRC, will you break up too big to fail big-banks?

She wants regulators to have the option of breaking up a bank.

4) HRC, will you actively support repeal of Citizen's United?

She does, but it's a Supreme Court decision which can only be reversed with new Justices on the court or a Constitutional Amendment. She wants legislation requiring more disclosure of donations.

5) HRC, will you denounce the TPP and work to repeal the legislation?

She called the TPP "the gold standard" as Secretary of State. As a candidate, she said, "As of today, I am not in favor of what I have learned about it." I expect that if she becomes president, she'll pass trade deals similar to the TPP.

6) HRC, will you use the bully pulpit to support and lobby for single-payer health care?

No.

[cantbeserious]

7. As Suspected Then - She Does Not Have My Vote

eom

[NuclearDem]

18. Really? You seemed so unsure until this point.

[cantbeserious]

20. Still Waiting For An Official Reply From Camp HRC - The Questions Are Simple - Yes Or No

eom

[Ed Suspicious]

8. So your a singl... err... six issue voter. That's gotta be bad on you for some reason or another.

[cantbeserious]

9. The Counter Observation Would Be - That One Is Not

A

- polls, or
- personality, or
- party loyalty, or
- gender

based voter.

[Lil Missy]

10. I'm sure she'll do just fine without you. n/t

[cantbeserious]

12. Misdirection - No Answer To The Six Questions

eom

[PatrickforO]

11. Well, Bernie is the better candidate for me too.

He more than any of them would take us in the right direction.

[cantbeserious]

13. Yes - Agreed - Much Better For America - Much Better For The 99%

eom

[randys1]

19. Me too...And if Bernie doesnt make it, you will need a herd of thoroughbreds to stop me from

supporting Hillary as if my neighbors daughters life depended on it, because it will.

[cantbeserious]

21. Then The Six Questions Matter Not To One

eom

[brooklynite]

14. If you don't want to support Clinton, that's okay...there are plenty of other Democrats who will...

[cantbeserious]

15. Misdirection - No Answer To The Six Questions

eom

[Cosmic Kitten]

16. She can't answer because, class warfare

[cantbeserious]

17. Cosmic Kitten - That Is A Gold Star Answer

eom

[brooklynite]

22. Here are some additional threads you didn't cross-link to...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018814710

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018814752

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018814609

[cantbeserious]

23. Probably Because The Ignore List Has Grown To The Hundreds

Thank You For Doing The Leg Work - Much Appreciated.

[Cheese Sandwich]

24. no longer settling for the lesser of two corporate evils...

Somebody smart said that one time

[cantbeserious]

25. When We Stand Together - No Citizen Need Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go

eom

[jwirr]

26. K&R

[daleanime]

27. K&R.....

[DanTex]

28. Just make sure you vote for the Dem nominee in the general.

[cantbeserious]

29. All Votes By Voters Are A Private Matter - Bullying This Voter Will Not Lead To Conversion

eom

[DanTex]

30. Hmm. So for you to vote for the Dem in the general requires "conversion." Interesting...

[cantbeserious]

35. No - You Threatened - All Voters Must Vote As You See The World - Converted To Your Viewpoint

eom

[restorefreedom]

47. some friendly advice

as someone who recently decided to vote for hillary if she is the nom after months of saying i never would ever, suggesting, commanding, pleading, someone to "vote for the dem in the ge" is NOT going to work. people who are strategic voters already know how to vote strategically, and people who vote their conscience are unlikely to change their mind. i did because of a specific issue that means a lot to me, but i was very close to a write in and i still loathe her positions on war. and it had absolutely NOTHING to do with people telling me to vote for her. in fact, i found that a turn off.

whoever wins the nom, i think we all need to be respectful of people's decisions to vote the way they see fit. if that is the nom, so be it. if not, so be it.

votes are ostensibly still a free choice in this country. dems should be about that first and foremost.

[Gothmog]

31. One question-explain how Sanders can compete in general election contest?

Sanders is not going to be considered a serious candidate unless and until someone explains how he will be able to compete in a general election contest where the Kochs will be spending $887 million and the RNC candidate may be spending another billion dollars. Sanders is not going to be able to expand his narrow base of voters unless and until it is shown that he can win in a genearl election contest.

[cantbeserious]

32. Strawman Argument - All Polling Indicates - Sanders Defeats Republicans

eom

[Gothmog]

37. Sanders is bringing a knife to a gunfight

The Kochs are going to be spending $887 million and the GOP nominee will likely spend another billion dollars. Bernie Sanders is a good man but I doubt that he can compete against such financial resources. Some candidates are better able to raise the funds necessary to complete. President Obama blew everyone away in 2008 with his small donor fundraising efforts and that made it clear that he was electable. Jeb is trying to do the same on the GOP side with his $100 million super pac.

This article had a very interesting quote about the role of super pacs in the upcoming election http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/03/bernie-sanders-grassroots-movement-gains-clinton-machine

Harvard University professor Lawrence Lessig, who founded a Super Pac to end Super Pacs, said Sanders’ renouncing Super Pacs is tantamount to “bringing a knife to a gunfight”.

“I regret the fact the Bernie Sanders has embraced the idea that he’s going to live life like the Vermont snow, as pure as he possibly can, while he runs for president, because it weakens his chances – and he’s an enormously important progressive voice,” Lessig said.

President Obama was against super pacs in 2012 but had to use one to keep the race close. I do not like super pacs but any Democratic candidate who wants to be viable has to use a super pac,

This is still the primary process and I am still not convinced that Sanders is viable in a general election fight. Negative ads work and the only way to fight such ads is with your own commercials which require financial resources

[cantbeserious]

38. So Say You - Others See The World Much Differently

eom

[Gothmog]

39. Yes but I live in the real world where money matters in political campaigns

Again, Sanders is not being taken seriously in the polls due to the fact that many people doubt that he is viable in a general election. African American voters in particular tend to be practical on this issue Sanders is not going to appeal to voters in key demographic blocks without some real evidence of viability. For example, African American voters are concerned about electability http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/09/bernie_sanders_presidential_campaign_what_would_it_take_for_the_vermont.html

. For as much as black Americans might like his policy positions—which fit their enthusiasm for a stronger safety net—they’re also strategic voters, not ideological stalwarts. Electability is key, and as a consequence, they tend to back the establishment choice: Al Gore over Bill Bradley; John Kerry over John Edwards. On occasion, blacks will back a factional candidate, like Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988. But Jackson had the reverse problem—he couldn’t win enough whites.

Again, Sanders would have a stronger campaign if someone could provide a good explanation as to viability

[cantbeserious]

40. Ah - One Sees - That One Is Buying Into All Corporate Rhetoric - Suggestion - Get Rid Of The TV

eom

[Gothmog]

41. Why Bernie Sanders isn’t going to be president, in five words

Sanders could not win a general election
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/12/why-bernie-sanders-isnt-going-to-be-president-in-5-words/

Meet the Press ✔ @meetthepress
CHUCK TODD: Are you a capitalist?

@BernieSanders: No. I'm a Democratic Socialist.
8:33 AM - 11 Oct 2015

And, in those five words, Sanders showed why — no matter how much energy there is for him on the liberal left — he isn't getting elected president.

Why? Because Democrat or Republican (or independent), capitalism remains a pretty popular concept — especially when compared to socialism. A 2011 Pew Research Center survey showed that 50 percent of people had a favorable view of capitalism, while 40 percent had an unfavorable one. Of socialism, just three in 10 had a positive opinion, while 61 percent saw it in a negative light.

Wrote Pew in a memo analyzing the results:

Of these terms, socialism is the more politically polarizing — the reaction is almost universally negative among conservatives, while generally positive among liberals. While there are substantial differences in how liberals and conservatives think of capitalism, the gaps are far narrower.

In addition, a recent Gallup poll showed that half of Americans said they would not vote for a socialist. It was, in fact, the least acceptable characteristic tested, behind Muslim and atheist.

[Could a socialist actually be elected president?]

An atheist has a better chance of winning a general election than a socialist

[cantbeserious]

42. So Say You - Others See The World Much Differently

eom

[Gothmog]

44. Yes but they are a very small percentage of the population according to the polls

There is a reason why Predictwise has Clinton at 91% to be the Democratic nominee http://www.predictwise.com/politics/2016DemNomination

[cantbeserious]

45. Ah - One Sees Now - One Is A Poll Based Voter

eom

[Gothmog]

50. Predictwise is not a polling service but a predictive market where investors bet on results

Predictwise is taking the place of the old Intrade market (which was shut down because of violations of US law) where overseas investors and bettors try to predict the outcome of a race. It is not based on polls per se but on what people are willing to put their money where their mouth is. Investors/bettors may use polls for their analysis but these markets are based on the free market system as to what the market thinks about these races. The old Intrade market was very very accuarte in the 2008, 2010 and 2012 contests on predicting the outcome of a large number of races (in other words, the free market system works). At the end, Intrade was having issues with people placing rigged opening and closing bids to affect the price of certain options that were being traded in the US. Predictwise is trying to avoid this by not letting US investors direrctly invest unless they have an overseas account.

If you really believe your belief that Sanders will win, then put your money where your mouth is and place a bet or make an investment. You will get really good odds on any such investment if Sanders somehow becomes the nominee.

BTW, most DUers are not supporting a candidate based on polling results but these polling results are nice to show that our candidate is being supported by other voters. For example, Sander is polling well only in two states that are 90+% white and Sanders is not polling well with non-white voters. To get the Democratic nomination, Sanders needs to get a large percentage of the non-white vote. That is why people like Nate Silver (a math geek who is good at predicting election results) thinks that even if Sanders wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sanders will not be the nominee because of his weakness with non-white voters. http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/bernie-sanders-could-win-iowa-and-new-hampshire-then-lose-everywhere-else/ Nate Silver is very accurate in his predictions.

You are welcomed to back the candidate of your choice. Just do not be surprised when the actual results of the primary or caucus do not come out as you want. You six questions may be important to you but the polling shows that most Democratic voters disagree with your analysis and do not care about your six questions.

[cantbeserious]

51. So - Less Than A Poll - Gambling

eom

[Gothmog]

52. People are very serious about making money on these markets

Again, the old Intrade market correctly predicted almost all of the 2008, 2010 and 2012 races. You are free to ignore all the facts that you disagree with but do not be surprise when others vote very differently from you. Your six questions are not on the top of most voters minds and I predict that you will not be happy with the primary and caucus results

[cantbeserious]

56. Still - Gambling - Not Democracy

eom

[Gothmog]

57. I loved the way that Karl Rove and Romney ignore polling in 2012

Right now your six questions may be important to you but the vast bulk of the voters and members of the Democratic party do not care.

[Gothmog]

58. Predictwise is the successor to Intrade which had a great track record

The free market system works and people who invest their money in positions on election outcomes are very very careful and use a number of different tools. Intrade was very accurate in predicting election results https://www.quora.com/How-accurate-has-Intrade-been-at-predicting-the-result-of-U-S-elections

In the last election it was 90% for all elections (non presidential) the last Presidential election they were correct on all of them, except Missouri but that didn't get called until two weeks after the election, the earlier elections were in excess of 88% but were in the very early days of Intrade.

The interesting part about the Intrade data is that you can make accurate predictions a week in advance of the election,

Here is the actual results of the intrade prediction for the 2008 election vs the actual results http://electoralmap.net/2012/2008_election.php

2008 Electoral Map - Election Results
Shown immediately below is the electoral map depicting the results of the 2008 presidential election in which Barack Obama won with 365 electoral votes to John McCain's 173. Below, the Intrade results are shown. Further down you will find the 2008 pollster report card.


2008 Electoral Map - Intrade Forecast
Shown immediately below is the Nov 4, 2008 election day forecast from the Intrade prediction market. Intrade did not predict Nebraska splitting its votes, and it was the first time in state history that this happened. Missouri and Indiana were also reversed in the forecast, but both having eleven electoral votes resulted in a nearly dead-on electoral vote count.

Predictwise is the successor to Intrade with features built in to make it harder for US investors to place bets. I would not discount the accuracy of these systems

[MrMickeysMom]

43. Chuck Todd....

Please make me laugh some more!

I love it when politics turns to religion and Chuck Todd to make a point!

[DCBob]

33. Those questions cannot be answered definitively yes or no.

[cantbeserious]

34. They Are Only Unanswerable By Those That Would Prefer To Avoid Their Import

eom

[Eric J in MN]

36. While we can't predict what she'll do with complete accuracy

...her statements over the years imply that the only one of those issues which she agrees with the OP about is reversing Citizens United.

[brooklynite]

48. Am I to understand that if Sanders doesn't commit to annual 10% cuts in Military spending...

...you won't vote for him?

[Metric System]

53. Excellent question. I see the OP still hasn't responded.

[lovemydog]

49. I'd love these things. I have some questions.

1. I love it. Has any candidate pledged to do this? Needs Congress.

2. Like it. Needs Congress.

3. Like it. Needs Justice Department and / or Congress.

4. Love it. Needs Congress, or 2/3 of the States for a Constitutional Amendment or a better Supreme Court that's willing to overturn or weaken it. President Obama denounced it too.

5. Bully pulpit. Needs Congress to repeal.

6. Love it. Needs Congress to pass.

My main question is how would a President Clinton (or a President Sanders or a President O'Malley) accomplish these things? Apart from talking often and loudly about them.

[Nye Bevan]

54. Has Bernie pledged to reduce military spending by 40%? (nt)

[kristopher]

59. +1