*** The Official MAGAposting thread ***

[Mr.Banana]

The core of the movement to fight against an entrenched, corrupt political class is awesome.
I like it. I love it. I want to see more of it.
I just don't think Trump was the right guy for the job.

What do you think should have been done instead? And who should have done it?

Let's say they asked you, a monkey, to disrupt an entrenched, corrupt political class. What's your plan?

[CoccoBill]

Let's say they asked you, a monkey, to disrupt an entrenched, corrupt political class. What's your plan?

Not mojo but can act like a monkey, so I'll butt in:

- enforce maximum terms (maybe 2-3) on senate and house seats
- make it illegal for lobbyists to make campaign donations
- complete transparency for campaign donations
- stop gerrymandering
- get rid of the electoral college
- stricter regulations against conflicts of interest
- etc

Not:
- vote in a wannabe mafioso dictator

[Poopadoop]

Not a banana but I'll take a stab at acting like one.

Not mojo but can act like a monkey, so I'll butt in:

- enforce maximum terms (maybe 2-3) on senate and house seats
- make it illegal for lobbyists to make campaign donations
- complete transparency for campaign donations
- stop gerrymandering
- get rid of the electoral college
- stricter regulations against conflicts of interest
- etc

That's communism!

Not:
- vote in a wannabe mafioso dictator

But what if it's a wannabe mafioso dictator that will troll the libs?

[Poopadoop]

To be fair, the choice offered to Americans was to either:

a) maintain (2016) or return (2020) to the status quo

b) vote in a reality TV star wannabe mafioso dictator (who is also an idiot)


So in that context I have to agree the status quo must be pretty bad if a large minority of people thought b) was the better option the second time around as well.

[Mr.Banana]

Not mojo but can act like a monkey, so I'll butt in:

Ok, let's see how you do at being a monkey.

- enforce maximum terms (maybe 2-3) on senate and house seats

Term limits? This is just a wishlist item for corporate lobbyists. The donors for entrenched swamp monsters prevail over other interests. Those other interests want to see more turnover so they can have a turn to buy the politicians. Besides, 3 senate terms is 18 years. That's practically a whole generation. More than two presidential terms. I get that it supports the goal of "draining the swamp". But I just don't see what it will actually accomplish.

- make it illegal for lobbyists to make campaign donations

Then what would a lobbyist do? Are you simply arguing for the abolition of lobbyists?

- complete transparency for campaign donations

What does this mean? It's really not a secret where the money comes from.

- stop gerrymandering

Ok. How? And how will this disrupt an "entrenched political class"

- get rid of the electoral college

Why?

- stricter regulations against conflicts of interest

Like what?

- etc

Is that a suggestion?

Not:
- vote in a wannabe mafioso dictator

I guess it's just really cool to use superlative terms to describe Trump. It must make people feel good or something because it's just not supported by any fact at all.

What exactly has he done that you feel is "mafioso dictator-ish"?

[Poopadoop]

What exactly has he done that you feel is "mafioso dictator-ish"?

Witholding aid to Ukraine to try to get them to provide dirt on his political opponent springs to mind.

Telling G. Stephanopolous he wouldn't call the feds if a foreign country offered him a bribe is the second one I can think of off the top of my head.

Demanding "loyalty" from the head of the FBI, then firing him when he refused.

Saying Pence had betrayed him by not somehow stopping the confirmation of the election.

Giving his family members jobs in the administration, despite them having absolutely zero experience or qualifications.

Trying to bully, intimidate and/or discredit anyone who opposes any of his idiotic and/or criminal plans.

And I've probably forgotten more examples than I've listed here.

[Mr.Banana]

Witholding aid to Ukraine to try to get them to provide dirt on his political opponent springs to mind.

He had a perfectly good reason.

Telling G. Stephanopolous he wouldn't call the feds if a foreign country offered him a bribe is the second one I can think of off the top of my head.

Why would he do that? What does that even mean "call the feds"? If you're POTUS, you ARE the feds!

Demanding "loyalty" from the head of the FBI, then firing him when he refused.

This story is grossly exaggerated. Comey deserved to get fired. The idea that he was doing a great job, but for failing to pledge loyalty, is pretty laughable.

Saying Pence had betrayed him by not somehow stopping the confirmation of the election.

Is that really a "dictator-ish" thing to do though? usually when subordinates of dictators disobey orders, they disappear. All Trump has done is whine.

Giving his family members jobs in the administration, despite them having absolutely zero experience or qualifications.

You're the head of the executive branch. It has a million employees virtually all of whom voted against you. Not only that, they have a derangement syndrome and hate your fucking guts. You don't think you'd install some allies (i.e. family) in some key areas?

I don't care what his qualifications are. I don't care if his IQ is 40. I want the person I trust the most to be my liason to China. the guy fucking my daughter is probably a good choice.

Trying to bully, intimidate and/or discredit anyone who opposes any of his idiotic and/or criminal plans.

lol. you're right, this guy is a just a fucking tyrant. Jeeeez

[Poopadoop]

He had a perfectly good reason.

Lost me right here (not that I'm surprised).

[Mr.Banana]

Lost me right here (not that I'm surprised).

Oh give me a break.

Biden threatened to withhold aid unless the prosecutor looking into his son's company was fired. This isn't speculation. Biden admitted it on tape. He said it...bragged about it. The way he tells the story, he told Ukraine "I said I'm getting on a plane in 6 hours, and if the prosecutor isn't fired, you're not getting the money"

If Trump used taxpayer dollars as leverage to bail Ivanka out of legal trouble, and bragged about it, you'd want to see him crucified. All Trump asked for was an investigation.

Please don't try to tell me that the ukraine impeachment was anything more than a political stunt

[CoccoBill]

Term limits? This is just a wishlist item for corporate lobbyists. The donors for entrenched swamp monsters prevail over other interests. Those other interests want to see more turnover so they can have a turn to buy the politicians. Besides, 3 senate terms is 18 years. That's practically a whole generation. More than two presidential terms. I get that it supports the goal of "draining the swamp". But I just don't see what it will actually accomplish.

I'm convinced it wouldn't solve a lot, and not even convinced it would solve anything, but I think worth a shot. It would get rid of career politicians just wanting to hold onto their seats, for one. That's potentially a big deal.

Then what would a lobbyist do? Are you simply arguing for the abolition of lobbyists?

Um they would lobby? You know, present their case, argue, justify, provide facts. They are an important part of democracy, but they should not be able to bribe.

What does this mean? It's really not a secret where the money comes from.

Trade association groups, non-profits, super PACs etc. donate hundreds of million each election cycle, and do not need to disclose pretty much anything. That's one issue, I'm sure there are more. It's mandatory to know who's indebted to what parties to identify conflicts of interest. Ideally money played no part in politics, but that's a pipe dream.

Ok. How? And how will this disrupt an "entrenched political class"

The main purpose of gerrymandering is to entrench the governing party's political support. How? You'll probably need someone more qualified than a monkey on an abandoned poker forum.

Why?

A direct popular vote would likely be far more democratic and have less issues.

Like what?

https://www.cmi.no/publications/file...hallenging.pdf

Is that a suggestion?

Yes. I don't have all the answers, those are just what I came up with on the spot. There's plenty that could and should be done.

I guess it's just really cool to use superlative terms to describe Trump. It must make people feel good or something because it's just not supported by any fact at all.

What exactly has he done that you feel is "mafioso dictator-ish"?

- using threats and extortion (eg. he was impeached once for that with Ukraine, demanding Georgia "find" him some votes, demanding Pence not certify the election results...)
- trying to overturn the election
- etc.

You know exactly what about his actions is wannabe mafioso dictator-ish.

[Mr.Banana]

Term limits, campaign finance changes, lobbying reforms....all the stuff Bill just suggested would only affect the legislative branch.

Frankly, the answer to the legislative branch is to expand it....dramatically. Congress should have 2000 members and there should be 500 senators.

The entrenched political class I'm worried about is in the executive branch. That branch has a million employees (3 mil if you count the military) and votes >90% democrat.

[CoccoBill]

Term limits, campaign finance changes, lobbying reforms....all the stuff Bill just suggested would only affect the legislative branch.

Frankly, the answer to the legislative branch is to expand it....dramatically. Congress should have 2000 members and there should be 500 senators.

The entrenched political class I'm worried about is in the executive branch. That branch has a million employees (3 mil if you count the military) and votes >90% democrat.

I'd like a source on that >90%, but even if that were true, it's the legislative that make the rules, the executive just act upon those rules, as the names suggest. One is IMO a far bigger priority.

Answered to the previous and this without reading the rest of the thread, Poop gave good examples to many points already.

[Mr.Banana]

I'd like a source on that >90%,

Voter registration data for the city of washington dc shows that it's only 5% republican.
https://www.dcboe.org/CMSPages/GetFi...0-dff333ec863c

Also, you can easily google "DC election results" and see that Biden got 93%.

Why are you challenging things that are so trivially easy to prove?

it's the legislative that make the rules, the executive just act upon those rules, as the names suggest.

lol, that's what they teach in 4th grade, but it's wrong. The executive branch is where the corrupt concentration of power lies. That's why they hated Donald Trump so much.

One is IMO a far bigger priority.

Yeah, I know. It's not the legislative branch.

[CoccoBill]

Voter registration data for the city of washington dc shows that it's only 5% republican.
https://www.dcboe.org/CMSPages/GetFi...0-dff333ec863c

Also, you can easily google "DC election results" and see that Biden got 93%.

Why are you challenging things that are so trivially easy to prove?

According to your source 76.8% are dems, not >90%. Thanks for the link.

lol, that's what they teach in 4th grade, but it's wrong. The executive branch is where the corrupt concentration of power lies. That's why they hated Donald Trump so much.

Arguably the executive does have power sure, when they interpret the rules made by the legislative, and that can in some cases majorly affect the results. That doesn't change the fact that the legislative makes the rules, and it's on them if they leave room for interpretation.

[Mr.Banana]

I don't know how many members are in the two houses of British Parliament, but I know the number is up there. The US House of representatives has 435 members. I'm not sure of the order, but I do know that those three lawmaking bodies represent the top 3 largest in the western world.

Do you know what #4 is?

[Poopadoop]

I don't know how many members are in the two houses of British Parliament, but I know the number is up there. The US House of representatives has 435 members. I'm not sure of the order, but I do know that those three lawmaking bodies represent the top 3 largest in the western world.

Do you know what #4 is?

No idea.

Here's a q for you though: What is the point of having a senate? Isn't it basically just another congress on top of the one already there? So unless the POTUS, Congress, and Senate are all aligned, how does anything get done?

[Mr.Banana]

No idea.

It's the New Hampshire state legislature. For those of you in shithole countries, I'll explain. Every state in the US has it's own mini-congress. The State of New Hampshire's congress is the 4th largest legislative body in the west.

The state of NH is probably in the bottom five of US states ranked by population. Yet they have they have a top five sized congress in the world

[Poopadoop]

It's the New Hampshire state legislature.

That should make for a good gun battle on Jan. 20. Link to a live feed?

[OngBonga]

That should make for a good gun battle on Jan. 20. Link to a live feed?

Portland Andy on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eER3XAsvZs

He's currently going for a drive. Thrilling stuff. But tune in on the 20th and you'll have like six or so live streams on one screen.

[Mr.Banana]

The idea is that having so many members in congress, it's harder for lobbyists, donors, and special interests to affect policy. They would have to buy too many lawmakers to actually influence a vote.

Also, I really like Andrew Yang's idea of paying them shitloads of money, but denying them the ability to serve on corporate boards or as lobbyists after their term. If you want to get rich in washington, you can. Just do a good job representing your constituents and keep getting re-elected. Term limits kind of fucks this up.

[Mr.Banana]

, how does anything get done?

Here's the trick. The ideal state is that *nothing* gets done. Congress passing a law that 49% of the country hates is a really really bad idea. The only laws congress should get through are the ones with 70-80+ percent public support. The rest of the time, I prefer they just argue with each other and fail at just about everything.

[Poopadoop]

How do you stop gerrymandering? I don't know, but other countries have managed to recognize it's a problem and don't have it themselves, so that suggests there is a way. Possibly by not letting the people who have a vested interest draw the boundaries? That seems like a plan to me.

Why get rid of the EC? Because it's not proportional representation (duh). A better question is why a sheep farmer in Wyoming's vote should count x times as much as sheep farmer in Texas. Or why keep a system where an R voter in CA is basically wasting their time voting and a D voter in AL is too.

Stricter regulations against conflict of interest - how about not letting people hire their relatives into their administration? That would be a start. I'm sure there's other ways to do it too. Again though you might have to look outside your own borders to get ideas on that.