# Adaher endorsements! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 12, 2016, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314 "2016-10-12T06:42:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/41 "2016-10-13T13:13:11Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That’s Democratic talking points. They now defend pork barrel spending, corporate welfare, loose lipped allies support lying to the public(and so does Clinton in front of private audiences), and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Congress or administration run headlong into the Supreme court so much, at least not since FDR. Heck, even Obama, who can’t resist being candid from time to time, encouraged Democrats running for Congress to “say what they have to say” about him, but of course we all know they are really his allies. > > we’ve had these debates before, so no need to make another thread out of it, but Smapti needs to know why I will continue to support good Republicans. Sure, taken as a whole the Democrats are the better party right now. The Republicans have become completely dysfunctional and there are some parts of the coalition that are pretty damn dark these days. But the answer to that isn’t to encourage the Democrats own bad behavior by electing them unconditionally. I think you’re allowing wishful thinking and your own bias to turn generic politics into “Democrats are evil” once again. I think you’ll agree that it would be pretty easy to find a Republican saying or doing everything you’re accusing Democrats of doing here. As for electing them “unconditionally”, there’s no way to conditionally elect someone. Maybe you mean support them unconditionally, but liberals and Democrats criticize their leaders all the time, including on the Dope. Right now, the parties really are different. One is a functional party living in the real world of policy and facts. The other is not, and probably hasn’t really been for 8 years or more (though it’s far worse today). Romney embraced Trump, birtherism and all, in 2012. The party tolerated conspiracy theories for years, never sanctioning crank Congressmen like Steve King or Gohmert for spreading them. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/42 "2016-10-13T13:24:09Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I don’t follow. The Party Of Trump cannot lay any claim to being reformist, unless you count complete destruction as a step in rebuilding. In 1995 they made a lot of changes, and even more in 2011. They party is starting to turn against corporate welfare at the same time that Democrats are embracing it. They also restored the proper processes to Congressional procedure so that the minority party could have a voice. > [@](#): > > What part of the Constitution do they ignore? Parts of ACA violated the commerce clause and the 10th amendment. The Obama administration’s interpretation of religious freedom has been struck down by the Supreme Court several times but they keep at it. They passed a Bill of Attainder to tax AIG bonuses at 90%. > [@](#): > > What recently passed laws don’t matter? Mainly immigration laws. Deportation of anyone caught here illegally is the law and is supported by vast majority of both parties. Both Obama and Clinton don’t want to deport anyone except felons, yet no Democrat in Congress would ever lift a finger to actually make that the law. > [@](#): > > When specifically did truth not matter? The health care law, the Iran deal, and both the Obama and Clinton campaigns position on trade deals. I’ll also add Obama’s opposition to an individual mandate and gay marriage. Let’s also throw in Senate Democratic candidates talking about how much they support guns and coal, but vote with the national party when called upon to do so. Lying to voters has been mainstreamed to an extent we’ve never seen before. And it’s so shameless now that they crow about it after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/43 "2016-10-13T13:26:54Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Right now, the parties really are different. One is a functional party living in the real world of policy and facts. The other is not, and probably hasn’t really been for 8 years or more (though it’s far worse today). Romney embraced Trump, birtherism and all, in 2012. The party tolerated conspiracy theories for years, never sanctioning crank Congressmen like Steve King or Gohmert for spreading them. True. But not all Republicans and I don’t intend to make this nation a one-party state. At least not until the Democrats embrace the earmark ban, support getting rid of alll corporate welfare, especially the Ex-im Bank, support faithful execution of the laws of our country, and stop lying about their opposition to free trade every Presidential election. It would also be nice if Blue Dogs were allowed to keep their promises to their constituents and stop Democratic legislation their constituents oppose rather than “taking one for the team”. But given how the Blue Dogs almost went extinct in the last two midterms I suspect that won’t be much of a problem anymore. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/44 "2016-10-13T13:36:00Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Parts of ACA violated the commerce clause and the 10th amendment. The Obama administration’s interpretation of religious freedom has been struck down by the Supreme Court several times but they keep at it. They passed a Bill of Attainder to tax AIG bonuses at 90%. Republicans have had things struck down too. This doesn’t tell us anything but that the parties often disagree on what is Constitutional and what is not. > [@](#): > > Mainly immigration laws. Deportation of anyone caught here illegally is the law and is supported by vast majority of both parties. Both Obama and Clinton don’t want to deport anyone except felons, yet no Democrat in Congress would ever lift a finger to actually make that the law. If they aren’t acting within the law, then Congress has the power to sanction them. Both Obama and Clinton claim that their actions are within their power and the law. If they’re illegal then that will work its way through the courts. > [@](#): > > The health care law, the Iran deal, and both the Obama and Clinton campaigns position on trade deals. I’ll also add Obama’s opposition to an individual mandate and gay marriage. Let’s also throw in Senate Democratic candidates talking about how much they support guns and coal, but vote with the national party when called upon to do so. Lying to voters has been mainstreamed to an extent we’ve never seen before. And it’s so shameless now that they crow about it after the fact. This is the biggest pile of bullshit in the field. We’ve shown again and again how Republicans are less honest (or at least less factual, which is indeed related considering the clarity of many of these facts), in general, than Clinton and Obama (and other Democrats). Lying (or, really, politicking) is no more “mainstream” now than in the past, and is certainly not unique to any president or party. The worst you can say is that voters have gotten savvier and don’t expect as much honesty from their politicians – but the politicians certainly aren’t any less honest. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/45 "2016-10-13T14:53:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m as ignorant of the rest of the world as the next American, but I can at least tell you that Putin’s in Russia and Kim Jong Un is in North Korea. Do we seriously have someone who claims to be in politics who can’t even name those two? The question that he had trouble with was “which foreign leader do you admire the most?” Which of your two suggestions should he have gone with? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/46 "2016-10-13T15:00:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > The question that he had trouble with was “which foreign leader do you admire the most?” Which of your two suggestions should he have gone with? Then he was asked to name _any_ foreign leader…and he couldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/47 "2016-10-13T15:05:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Then he was asked to name _any_ foreign leader…and he couldn’t. Don’t think so. > [@](#): > > Johnson: I guess I’m having an Aleppo moment in the former president of Mexico. > > Matthews: But I’m giving you the whole world. > > Johnson: I know, I know, I know. > > Matthews: But I’m giving you the whole world. Anybody in the world you like. Anybody. Pick any leader. > > Johnson: The former president of Mexico. > > Matthews: Which one? > > Johnson: I’m having a brain … " He was still be asked for one he likes. [This NPR article](http://www.npr.org/2016/09/29/495896880/watch-unable-to-name-a-foreign-leader-gary-johnson-has-another-aleppo-moment) doesn’t mention your point. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/48 "2016-10-13T15:44:53Z")
I’m confident that nobody here would give a damn about who I would personally endorse for any office, ever. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/49 "2016-10-13T16:17:18Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m confident that nobody here would give a damn about who I would personally endorse for any office, ever. > > That is all. Who knows? We might be interested in your opinions on lesser-known, down-ballot races. I enjoy reading many of adaher’s posts on these, and on historical facts about party positions and such. I don’t agree with his essentially conservative political stance, and he apparently gets a few facts wrong at times (according to Dopers who know more than I do), but lately I’ve learned some things thanks to adaher. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/50 "2016-10-13T17:36:02Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I know you’ve been waiting with baited breath. These aren’t predictions, just who I would like to see win various races I’m interested in: > > President- Gary Johnson Knows nothing of economics: will :_“veto any bills containing expenditures in excess of revenues”, supports ending the federal personal and corporate income tax system and replacing it with the FairTax reform proposal, supported ending the Federal Reserve …_ _is in favor of lowering the legal drinking age to 18, or eliminating the drinking age outright_ Talks a good talk about ending government debt but "“Johnson inherited a debt of $1.8 billion and left a debt of $4.6 billion.” Supports Private prisons, likes fracking, Likes the TPP And knows absolutely nothing about world politics, and even admitted it. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/51 "2016-10-13T17:42:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > ." > > Supports Private prisons, likes fracking, Likes the TPP This may shock you but those aren’t necessarily deal breakers for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/52 "2016-10-13T18:01:53Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > This may shock you but those aren’t necessarily deal breakers for everyone. How could anyone support Private Prisons? ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/53 "2016-10-13T18:09:05Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > You’ll also notice that aside from Feingold, I’m supporting no progressive candidates. All are moderates or conservatives. Well, I guess Sanchez is liberal, but she’s less liberal than Kamala Harris and more honest(if a bit loopy). Sanchez decided her only shot was running well to the right of Harris, don’t think we can call her a liberal currently. Maybe sometime later if/when \*\*that \*\*becomes more expedient to her political aspirations. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/54 "2016-10-13T18:10:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > How could anyone support Private Prisons? The same reason people support privatization of other government activities. Supposedly it’ll save money because private industries look at the bottom line instead loving bloated bureaucracy. I don’t buy that much nor would it be the biggest concern I had anyway but that’s one of the main arguments. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/55 "2016-10-14T02:34:49Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > Sanchez decided her only shot was running well to the right of Harris, don’t think we can call her a liberal currently. Maybe sometime later if/when \*\*that \*\*becomes more expedient to her political aspirations. She is a liberal, she’s apparently just decided not to campaign as one. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/56 "2016-10-17T04:12:39Z")
Here is another example of what I was talking about, the CFPB being struck down. There is just no way that Democrats didn’t know it was unconstitutional to have a totally unaccountable federal agency involved in rulemaking: > **[Court: structure of consumer watchdog agency unconstitutional](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/appeals-court-finds-structure-of-cfpb-unconstitutional/)** > > Ruling represents a significant blow to the consumer finance watchdog, but does not stipulate the agency's closure ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/57 "2016-10-17T05:11:54Z")
Boy, that sure settles that, eh, **addy**? Pounded that wooden stake right into their hearts, didn’t they! > [@](#): > > …Giving the president the power to get rid of the CFPB’s director and to oversee the agency would fix the situation, the court said…The court ruled that the CFPB could continue functioning, but must restructure how it runs within the executive branch… ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/58 "2016-10-17T05:20:11Z")
That’s the problem, they didn’t want it to be accountable to either the President or Congress, or anybody. The director of the CFPB would have decided the agency’s funding. Democrats really do want to cede all the power of the elected branches to the administrative state. until they change their views on that, I’ll need alternatives. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/59 "2016-10-17T05:36:58Z")
Well, if we can’t change your mind on that, we’ll just have to live with the disappointment, and try to find the strength to go on. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314/60 "2016-10-17T06:49:32Z")
Well, some of you seem to have dreams of Democratic dominance. There are a few, er, pathologies that need to be addressed first before you drive a stake through the hearts of your opposition. As of today, Democrats have the Presidency, and well, nothing else except a few states. Some people wanted to know why I still support the GOP, well, that’s why, and I’m not alone. We’re not all just crazy yahoos. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adaher-endorsements/768314.md?page=4)