# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=183 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 184 --- ## [Will ALL Cabinet Confirmations Be Contentious From Now On?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cabinet-confirmations-be-contentious-from-now-on/786139)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2017, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cabinet-confirmations-be-contentious-from-now-on/786139 "2017-05-10T01:11:55Z")
For most of US history, the Senate rubber stamped both Cabinet nominees and Supreme Court nominees. We all know that Supreme Court justices will never be rubber stamped again. The majority of Democrats will vote against… --- ## [Hillary: If the election had been held 12 days earlier, I'd be POTUS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-if-the-election-had-been-held-12-days-earlier-id-be-potus/785737)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 168\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-if-the-election-had-been-held-12-days-earlier-id-be-potus/785737 "2017-05-09T17:36:02Z")
Basically she blames the impact of Comey’s announcement of his investigation and the Russian hacking of campaign and Democratic party emails as the cause for changing voters views of her as a candidate. I’m not a big … --- ## [French Presidential Election, 2017](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-presidential-election-2017/781294)
**Author:** [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Replies:** 237\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-presidential-election-2017/781294 "2017-05-09T16:16:52Z")
It increasingly seems that the French took one good look at what happened around the world in 2016 and decided they could do… well, perhaps not worse but sillier. Where to begin ? Until recently, the French political s… --- ## [What popular vote margin would the democrats need in 2018 to regain the house](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-popular-vote-margin-would-the-democrats-need-in-2018-to-regain-the-house/785617)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-popular-vote-margin-would-the-democrats-need-in-2018-to-regain-the-house/785617 "2017-05-08T23:47:40Z")
The 2010 election was roughly 52% vs 45%. 45 million vs 39 million votes. 2006 was 52% vs 44%. 42 million vs 35 million votes. Both 2010 and 2006 saw power shift from the majority party to the minority party in the hou… --- ## [It's official: Hillary lost MI, PA, WI by less than the Jill Stein vote in those states](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-hillary-lost-mi-pa-wi-by-less-than-the-jill-stein-vote-in-those-states/774628)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 244\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-hillary-lost-mi-pa-wi-by-less-than-the-jill-stein-vote-in-those-states/774628 "2017-05-07T16:13:17Z")
I won’t go so far as to say that Jill Stein put Trump in the White House, because absent her and her party’s name on the ballot, who knows how many of her voters would have voted for Hillary, how many would have stayed h… --- ## [so america should turn in to the political version of a corporate whore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-america-should-turn-in-to-the-political-version-of-a-corporate-whore/785842)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-america-should-turn-in-to-the-political-version-of-a-corporate-whore/785842 "2017-05-07T04:18:29Z")
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/rex-tillerson-america-first-means-divorcing-our-policy-from-our-values/ar-BBAIdkN?li=AA5a8k&ocid=spartandhp All I get out of this "screw our morality since its getting in the way o… --- ## [Democrats Not Happy With the Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-not-happy-with-the-party/785099)
**Author:** [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-not-happy-with-the-party/785099 "2017-05-06T23:56:02Z")
Today, a poll reports that two-thirds of Americans think that the Democratic Party is out of touch with the concerns of most people. The startling fact is that 44% of Democrats themselves agree with this statement! I a… --- ## [Consitutional Convention--Through The States--Koch Ploy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consitutional-convention-through-the-states-koch-ploy/783035)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consitutional-convention-through-the-states-koch-ploy/783035 "2017-05-06T18:50:50Z")
Is this the real goal of all the Gerrymandering? Is Trump just a sideshow? What are the Koch’s really up to? --- ## [Why does it take fewer votes to abolish the filibuster forever than to override one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-fewer-votes-to-abolish-the-filibuster-forever-than-to-override-one/783672)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-fewer-votes-to-abolish-the-filibuster-forever-than-to-override-one/783672 "2017-05-06T18:33:36Z")
With the Dems fillibustering the nomination of Gorsuch, the GOP is threatening the nuclear option. With just 51 votes, they can end the possibility of filibustering a Supreme Court nominee forever. It would take 60 vote… --- ## [Why wasn't Trump hammered more about the Vietnam draft?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-trump-hammered-more-about-the-vietnam-draft/785049)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-trump-hammered-more-about-the-vietnam-draft/785049 "2017-05-06T03:06:09Z")
While Clinton could probably be hung with her husband’s draft record in the same way Trump hammered on his allegations of sexual harassment or assault after the infamous Access Hollywood tape, but why didn’t Trump’s prim… --- ## [US election survey!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-election-survey/785884)
**Author:** [@anonymous404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anonymous404)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-election-survey/785884 "2017-05-05T00:41:01Z")
Hi, this is a brief political survey (13 questions long) about the recent US presidential election, for those interested. I want to learn a little more about those who voted Link redacted. This survey is strictly volun… --- ## [ONE Thing Liberals and Conservatives Always Agree On](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-thing-liberals-and-conservatives-always-agree-on/785431)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-thing-liberals-and-conservatives-always-agree-on/785431 "2017-05-04T23:34:26Z")
“Our problem is, we’re just too nice. We’re too moderate, reasonable and rational, so we let the other side (which has no principles whatsoever) steamroller us. Our side always loses and those guys always screw us over b… --- ## [Trump bans CNN and NYT from press briefing.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-bans-cnn-and-nyt-from-press-briefing/780673)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 178\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-bans-cnn-and-nyt-from-press-briefing/780673 "2017-05-04T01:49:37Z")
https://www.google.com/amp/www.refinery29.com/amp/2017/02/142579/trump-ban-media-outlets-new-york-times-cnn-press-gaggle Trump keeps outdoing himself with his actions. I don’t see this whole “the press is an enemy of th… --- ## [Has Trump Made Himself Impervious to Impeachment Now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Replies:** 135\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397 "2017-05-03T22:12:48Z")
I don’t know. I try not to think about politics these days. But I can’t help wondering. Has Trump through speech or twitter or action or even inaction made himself so over the top outrageous that we the public have lo… --- ## [Maddow's Trump Tax Return announcement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maddows-trump-tax-return-announcement/782204)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 309\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maddows-trump-tax-return-announcement/782204 "2017-05-01T17:10:58Z")
So, this is interesting: I don’t know quite what to think. My Facebook feed is, pardon the expression, all atwitter. Figure there might be some discussion of this over the next hour or two :). --- ## [Donald Trump and the Fear of Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-fear-of-death/785445)
**Author:** [@BobbyJeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobbyJeff)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-fear-of-death/785445 "2017-04-28T16:10:38Z")
by Robert Levin To varying degrees, everybody lives with a fear of death and, in one manner or another, attempts to deny death’s finality. …\[deleted by Bone\] --- ## [The Clinton campaign was brutally awful](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clinton-campaign-was-brutally-awful/784902)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 169\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2017, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clinton-campaign-was-brutally-awful/784902 "2017-04-28T12:32:47Z")
Another thread has referenced the new book Shattered, but Matt Taibbi does a great job of explaining the good parts: I think this lack of self awareness was the reason her campaign was essentially a repeat of the 200… --- ## [How bad a candidate must be to win only 13 electoral votes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-candidate-must-be-to-win-only-13-electoral-votes/785029)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2017, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-a-candidate-must-be-to-win-only-13-electoral-votes/785029 "2017-04-27T14:48:12Z")
Today’s electorate is a lot more polarized than 1984’s, and even Donald Trump could probably have run a much worse campaign last year and still had around 150-200 electoral votes sealed into his win column just by belong… --- ## [Could someone as unqualified as Trump get elected in any other modern, wealthy developed nation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-as-unqualified-as-trump-get-elected-in-any-other-modern-wealthy-developed-nation/774567)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-as-unqualified-as-trump-get-elected-in-any-other-modern-wealthy-developed-nation/774567 "2017-04-27T14:22:47Z")
I don’t think Berlusconi was as bad as Trump, but that is who people compare him to. Granted, I do not know a lot about Berlusconi, but wasn’t he an actual self made billionaire (implying he had some business sense)? He … --- ## [Did the Republicans screw themselves with their primary system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-republicans-screw-themselves-with-their-primary-system/785071)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-republicans-screw-themselves-with-their-primary-system/785071 "2017-04-26T20:33:15Z")
If the Republicans had used either runoffs or ranked voting or some other mechanism intended to prevent the “spoiler effect”, Trump probably would not have gotten the Republican nomination, right. The spoiler effect scr… --- ## [Re the 2016 POTUS election 5 months later are there any "lessons" for the Dems going forward?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-2016-potus-election-5-months-later-are-there-any-lessons-for-the-dems-going-forward/784510)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 137\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-2016-potus-election-5-months-later-are-there-any-lessons-for-the-dems-going-forward/784510 "2017-04-25T18:59:49Z")
We’re now about 5 months past the election which is enough time to get past the initial shock of Trump winning and take some stock. I always thought HRC was a poor choice for a POTUS candidate. An entitled, baggage lade… --- ## [Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or Jeremy Corbyn....which nomination was the worst decision?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-or-jeremy-corbyn-which-nomination-was-the-worst-decision/785163)
**Author:** [@golffan1963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/golffan1963)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-or-jeremy-corbyn-which-nomination-was-the-worst-decision/785163 "2017-04-25T18:20:21Z")
I know Trump won, but the wisdom of his nomination is still in question. Hillary Clinton’s nomination also remains curious, since she couldn’t beat Trump. Then we have Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Leader in the UK, whom no … --- ## [The Hypocrisy of Bernie Sanders and the question of what's important to him and his movement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hypocrisy-of-bernie-sanders-and-the-question-of-whats-important-to-him-and-his-movement/784882)
**Author:** [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hypocrisy-of-bernie-sanders-and-the-question-of-whats-important-to-him-and-his-movement/784882 "2017-04-25T00:38:42Z")
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/main/2017/4/19/the-strangeness-of-progressivism After attacking, correctly IMHO the Democratic leadership for not doing more to support James Thompson in the special election for Congress i… --- ## [Which elections were winnable with a different candidate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-elections-were-winnable-with-a-different-candidate/784827)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-elections-were-winnable-with-a-different-candidate/784827 "2017-04-24T06:04:03Z")
Most elections are decided on the fundamentals. If the economy is good, an incumbent will almost always win. If the public is in a change mood, the challenging party almost always wins. But sometimes elections are prett… --- ## [If the Nov Presidential election was repeated today...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-nov-presidential-election-was-repeated-today/785097)
**Author:** [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-nov-presidential-election-was-repeated-today/785097 "2017-04-24T04:17:37Z")
Trump apparently would win with bigger margin: (the poll was conducted Apr 17-20) The new survey finds 46 percent saying they voted for Clinton and 43 percent for Trump, similar to her two-point national vote margin.… --- ## [Why did Obama push Hillary to concede on election night?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-obama-push-hillary-to-concede-on-election-night/784692)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-obama-push-hillary-to-concede-on-election-night/784692 "2017-04-22T03:33:27Z")
I was reading an story in the WP concerning the new book on the Clinton campaign, Shattered by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes. It talks about the phone calls from the White House urging Hillary to concede the first of w… --- ## [Moral of recent presidential elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moral-of-recent-presidential-elections/784799)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moral-of-recent-presidential-elections/784799 "2017-04-21T17:42:27Z")
\*\*1976: \*\*Watergate dragged down the GOP. \*\*1980: \*\*America wants a president that will make it feel good again. \*\*1984: \*\*America likes a president that made it feel good again. \*\*1988: \*\*Attacking your opponent … --- ## [Trump: Peace Candidate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-peace-candidate/748611)
**Author:** [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Replies:** 231\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-peace-candidate/748611 "2017-04-20T21:19:57Z")
Most people are realizing that the likely nominees from the major parties this election are going to be Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Bernie Sanders has big problems from a peace-voter’s perspective, but he was prob… --- ## [Historian: Historians have been wrong about the American right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historian-historians-have-been-wrong-about-the-american-right/784287)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historian-historians-have-been-wrong-about-the-american-right/784287 "2017-04-20T18:53:11Z")
In this lengthy essay, Rick Perlstein talks about how modern historians have systematically missed the big picture when it comes to analyzing the American right. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/magazine/i-thought-i-u… --- ## [How many Democratic Socialists are currently in office in USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-democratic-socialists-are-currently-in-office-in-usa/773166)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-democratic-socialists-are-currently-in-office-in-usa/773166 "2017-04-20T01:32:46Z")
I recently went to a rally lead by Mike Sylvester. He is a Democratic Socialist who was just elected as a State Representative in Maine. Most people at the rally had supported Bernie Sanders and some point. Are there … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=182) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=184)