Can we have an official Ask Jake thread?

[PatriotGame]

Sorry you aren't winning California, Illinois, New York or Wisconsin. 

Denial - she ain't a river in Egypt...

[AllosaursRus]

Purging voter rolls of eligible voters and voter suppression.  Mostly done in the South to ethnic minorities.  There are republican machine areas in Lehigh and Northampton county and there has been shenanigans in the past.

Elections are only stolen when the margin of victory is less than 1%.  In that case it is a coin flip anyway on who won.

Barcoded paper ballots seem like a good way of preventing fraud in my opinion.

Perhaps in "local" elections. Not a frikkin' chance in state-wide or federal! You're tryin' to pass the buck instead of answering frank's question.

[debk]

Do you seeing Obama facing a challenge within the party in 2012? I have to say the Clinton's surprised me, I thought for sure by now Hillary would've jumped off a sinking ship. Do you see anything going on with the Clinton's involving 2012? Also, I kind of think it was a bad move for the Democrats to get rid of Howard Dean, did you think it was a bad move then? or do you think it's a bad move now?

Take your time answering, I don't want you to get overwhelmed having all these questions thrown at you.

I've seen different viewpoints on Fox and read stuff online, and many have said she is expected to leave soon after the first of the year. No one consensus on what she's going to do....some have said run for President, other's have mentioned becoming a Supreme Court Justice. Not sure how she could ever become a SCJ, with her "issues" in the past....but it would make sense that she would want it....lot of power, and for the rest of her life, if she chooses to stay that long.

As far as why people think she's doing a good job? Compared to Obama...she is. Not that she's really done anything remarkable...but neither has she ever done anything horrible. She's just been maintaining the status quo. Can't ruffle too many feathers that way, nor does it give any ammunition to use against her, and in the meantime, she's meeting any and every important and not so important leader in the world. Gathering knowledge every day....and knowledge always equates to power.

[Allentownjake]

You guys do realize, I don't really care that much.  I see the same thing happening regardless which group of corrupt thugs take power.

Even if the GOP picks up 12 seats they have to overcome a democratic fillibuster on everything and a Presidential veto.

Given the state of the banking system, bailout part II should be fun to watch.

[Ballygrl]

Turnout will be interesting. As for Nevada, what should have been a sure thing, Republican Mayors have turned on Angle

I try not to talk politics with a couple of family members because our views are different and I just don't want politics to come between us, but I have to find a way to bring this up with my cousin in Nevada, she's what we would call a moderate, her hubby is a progressive, I really want to know what their opinion is on the race in Neavda.

[dandi]

8 seat pick-up.

Sorry you aren't winning California, Illinois, New York or Wisconsin. 

Like I said...

 

[debk]

I try not to talk politics with a couple of family members because our views are different and I just don't want politics to come between us, but I have to find a way to bring this up with my cousin in Nevada, she's what we would call a moderate, her hubby is a progressive, I really want to know what their opinion is on the race in Neavda.

My half sister spends half of her time in northern Ohio, and the rest in Las Vegas where her husband is a casino host at the Bellagio.

No way in hell, are there political discussions. While I am not as extreme right as she thinks I am, nor is she Dummy material (too smart and makes tooooo much money with IBM as a computer engineer)....she's still very much a Democrat - though she is not as much of a Democrat as she thinks she is. 

[Ballygrl]

My half sister spends half of her time in northern Ohio, and the rest in Las Vegas where her husband is a casino host at the Bellagio.

No way in hell, are there political discussions. While I am not as extreme right as she thinks I am, nor is she Dummy material (too smart and makes tooooo much money with IBM as a computer engineer)....she's still very much a Democrat - though she is not as much of a Democrat as she thinks she is. 

How about I ask your sister about Nevada and you ask my cousins LOL.

[debk]

How about I ask your sister about Nevada and you ask my cousins LOL.

 


I've only known about her for 3 years, and met her a couple of months later. She's 3.5 months older than me - today's her birthday!

She "assumes" I have attitudes and agendas - politically - that I don't have and has chosen to opt for little communication, except through an occasional text. I guess in that way, she is a typical liberal in that it's easier to assume than to discuss differing viewpoints. 

We have a half brother who is 15 years younger than us...I was still living at home and in HS when he was born. He is somewhere in the middle of us politically, so he gets along fine with both of us. It helps that his wife is a modern day "hippie earth mother"....also very bright but somewhat "scattered".....  

[Ballygrl]

I've only known about her for 3 years, and met her a couple of months later. She's 3.5 months older than me - today's her birthday!

She "assumes" I have attitudes and agendas - politically - that I don't have and has chosen to opt for little communication, except through an occasional text. I guess in that way, she is a typical liberal in that it's easier to assume than to discuss differing viewpoints. 

We have a half brother who is 15 years younger than us...I was still living at home and in HS when he was born. He is somewhere in the middle of us politically, so he gets along fine with both of us. It helps that his wife is a modern day "hippie earth mother"....also very bright but somewhat "scattered".....  

I don't understand that attitude at all, that's why they're not liberals, no matter what, liberals stood for differing opinions even if they disagreed with it, they had a mature view of politics, whereas progressives are so totally immature that they can't listen to another POV without getting mad.

[vesta111]

Jake you mentioned that you do not believe Bill Gates would be interested in running for president--why is that.?

He is better equipped to run the country then any other candidate I know of.

#1  He knows every leader in both the free world and the not so free.

#2 He has successfully at a young age navigated and fought off the crooks and slimeballs trying to take over his business.

#3 In order to become as wealthy as he has, he knows how to choose advisers that are loyal far seeing into the future.

#4 Security of his business is at the top of his agenda and I imagine that if he ran security for our country he would be top notch at it.

I like the idea of giving him a shot for even just 4 years as President.

[Allentownjake]

Jake you mentioned that you do not believe Bill Gates would be interested in running for president--why is that.?

He is better equipped to run the country then any other candidate I know of.

#1  He knows every leader in both the free world and the not so free.

#2 He has successfully at a young age navigated and fought off the crooks and slimeballs trying to take over his business.

#3 In order to become as wealthy as he has, he knows how to choose advisers that are loyal far seeing into the future.

#4 Security of his business is at the top of his agenda and I imagine that if he ran security for our country he would be top notch at it.

I like the idea of giving him a shot for even just 4 years as President.

It would take things to be very bad in my opinion for Mr. Gates to want to go into government.  Frankly he's one of the wealthiest men in the world and this would be a personal sacrifice to try to fix things on behalf of his nation.  He doesn't have anything to prove to anyone....which if you look back to the first Presidents, is how we selected our leaders.

[Chris_]

You guys do realize, I don't really care that much.  I see the same thing happening regardless which group of corrupt thugs take power.

Even if the GOP picks up 12 seats they have to overcome a democratic fillibuster on everything and a Presidential veto.

Given the state of the banking system, bailout part II should be fun to watch.

Jake, I primarily just lurk on these political boards these days, but I have to say how great it is to see someone engage in thoughtful, intelligent and polite discussions on a board dominated by people who disagree with you. How you survived on the DUmp is truly a mystery.

In the past, I served as a guest correspondent of PJ-Comix's DUmmie FUnnies, and I must say, if all the inhabitants were like you, PJ would be out of a job. A-and if all conservatives were like you, I would still be a regular on FR.

[miskie]

It would take things to be very bad in my opinion for Mr. Gates to want to go into government.  Frankly he's one of the wealthiest men in the world and this would be a personal sacrifice to try to fix things on behalf of his nation.  He doesn't have anything to prove to anyone....which if you look back to the first Presidents, is how we selected our leaders.

I don't think he would, ever. Not that its a matter of liking or disliking the US, just that politics aren't in his wheelhouse. Especially now. I would say that politics is now more than ever the art of compromise - which Gates isn't known for.

But, since we are playing this game, I would submit that Edward Whitacre Jr. would be the right billionare CEO for the job. He is tough, pulled himself through the ranks of the Bell System, Eventually became CEO of Southwestern Bell, Later remade into SBC, and was instrumental in the merger of SBC, AT&T, and BellSouth. After AT&T, he did a couple of other things, the most notable being cutting the fat at GM as CEO, which is soon to return its bailout money to the United States.

He knows business.
He knows money.
He has balls.

And most importantly, he has the ability to make hard decisions.

 

[Allentownjake]

I don't think he would, ever. Not that its a matter of liking or disliking the US, just that politics aren't in his wheelhouse. Especially now. I would say that politics is now more than ever the art of compromise - which Gates isn't known for.

But, since we are playing this game, I would submit that Edward Whitacre Jr. would be the right billionare CEO for the job. He is tough, pulled himself through the ranks of the Bell System, Eventually became CEO of Southwestern Bell, Later remade into SBC, and was instrumental in the merger of SBC, AT&T, and BellSouth. After AT&T, he did a couple of other things, the most notable being cutting the fat at GM as CEO, which is soon to return its bailout money to the United States.

He knows business.
He knows money.
He has balls.

And most importantly, he has the ability to make hard decisions.

 

We need a man or woman with nothing to prove to make hard decisions.

The first few Presidential elections, expressing an interest in the job disqualified you for it.  It was viewed as a position of power you were drafted into.

[Carl]

We need a man or woman with nothing to prove to make hard decisions.

The first few Presidential elections, expressing an interest in the job disqualified you for it.  It was viewed as a position of power you were drafted into.

I am not sure that is exactly true regarding John Adams the second President nor Jefferson the third and so on.

[Allentownjake]

I am not sure that is exactly true regarding John Adams the second President nor Jefferson the third and so on.

You had to pretend you weren't interested.  You didn't campaign on your own.

Most early 18th century and 19th century political campaigns were done through surrogates.  Expressing interest in the office made you ambitious and a threat to liberty.

[Carl]

You had to pretend you weren't interested.  You didn't campaign on your own.

Most early 18th century and 19th century political campaigns were done through surrogates.  Expressing interest in the office made you ambitious and a threat to liberty.

Do not forget that the election system of the day was very different.
Have read that Adams lamented the office of VP (not a running mate but a runner up) was "My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived"
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams

There would seem some ambition there and the historical record of Hamilton,Burr and Jefferson also shows a level of ambition.
From what I have read Andrew Jackson and Presidents of that second era had no qualms of politicking.

[Allentownjake]

Do not forget that the election system of the day was very different.
Have read that Adams lamented the office of VP (not a running mate but a runner up) was "My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived"
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams

There would seem some ambition there and the historical record of Hamilton,Burr and Jefferson also shows a level of ambition.
From what I have read Andrew Jackson and Presidents of that second era had no qualms of politicking.

Next to Jefferson, I love me some Jackson.  The Federal Reserve Note baring his name is a slap in the face posthumously. 

[Carl]

Next to Jefferson, I love me some Jackson.  The Federal Reserve Note baring his name is a slap in the face posthumously.  

I will agree on that part and also will admit that I don`t understand all the issues regarding the federal bank of the day that he hated.

Still though that is a bit of a diversion from your point that early Presidents were somehow not political,history does not show that to be the case and you need to stick to and defend statements you make.
Not trying to push a fine point but please when folks here ask or challenge you on things that you perhaps don`t feel secure answering or maybe aren`t accurate about just say so and move on.
Vague diversions that seem to be an attempt to change the subject fall short.

Carry on and also wonder how you have related your basically polite and civil (I know there are exceptions) treatment and overall willingness to have honest discussions here to OET or other sites you may frequent.

[Allentownjake]

I will agree on that part and also will admit that I don`t understand all the issues regarding the federal bank of the day that he hated.

Still though that is a bit of a diversion from your point that early Presidents were somehow not political,history does not show that to be the case and you need to stick to and defend statements you make.
Not trying to push a fine point but please when folks here ask or challenge you on things that you perhaps don`t feel secure answering or maybe aren`t accurate about just say so and move on.
Vague diversions that seem to be an attempt to change the subject fall short.

Carry on and also wonder how you have related your basically polite and civil (I know there are exceptions) treatment and overall willingness to have honest discussions here to OET or other sites you may frequent.

Apologies, I love Andrew Jackson and got excited you mentioned him.

If you do this 10,000 will starve.  If I don't 50,000 will later.
 

[Carl]

Apologies, I love Andrew Jackson and got excited you mentioned him.

If you do this 10,000 will starve.  If I don't 50,000 will later.
 

The history of the Presidency is something of a hobby to me although won`t pretend to be a scholar on the subject or any one in particular.

[Allentownjake]

The history of the Presidency is something of a hobby to me although won`t pretend to be a scholar on the subject or any one in particular.

They are all a mixed bag.  You have to evaluate what they gave.

Even a conservative can admire Roosevelt's ability to pick just the right men to lead the war effort in WW2.

Even a liberal can admire Nixon's pragmatism in foreign policy.

The lessers both can criticize.

Even a conservative can not be happy with W's call for shopping after 9-11

Even a liberal can cry foul to Obama's ignorance on the causes of the depression that is turning into the 2nd Great one...quickly.

[AllosaursRus]

Even a conservative can not be happy with W's call for shopping after 9-11

WTF?????

Are you actually finding fault with W's speech about how we should go on with our lives rather than give in to terrorism in order to stave off an economic downturn?

No wonder your handle is AllenTownJerk!

[BEG]

WTF?????

Are you actually finding fault with W's speech about how we should go on with our lives rather than give in to terrorism in order to stave off an economic downturn?

No wonder your handle is AllenTownJerk!

I could find many things that I didn't like that Bush did, that wasn't one of them.  I would trade Presidents right now in a heart beat.