Prelude to the Apocalypse

[EmperorIng]

Well Scott Walker's out.

As a Wisconsinite, all I can say is you motherfuckers dodged a bullet.

As a resident of a state run completely into the ground thanks to the chokehold of greedy unions, a corrupt, self-serving and domineering Democratic party, and disastrous financial legislation, I had admired an attempt at rooting out one of the many causes of economic stagnation, and political strong-arming. Of course this might apply more to a state as utterly bereft of decent politicians or honest union leaders like Illinois.

Voting Dem in Illinois is the equivalent of signing a continuing death warrant (policies that drain the last of our dwindling money and unions bullying house reps into not making any reforms that would cut their benefits), but people have been too brainwashed to do anything but listen to what the Illinois machine tells them to do. I had respected and supported Walker and Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner for making some attempt to roll back decades of Italian-level corruption, cronyism and machine politics. Again, I know the situation of Illinois more than across the border.

I think BryanM is right in pointing out that the difference with Trump is that he is a winner, or that he desires winning above all else. That's why he is so successful because he has spent his life "winning" in the business arena, which is not the same as what most pols do - trying to please the largest constituent base as possible. Very apt that those strategies have proven "loser" strategies. Looking forward to the first results from Iowa.

I don't expect Clinton to win it all, or Biden

Why even Biden? The man has done nothing for the last 8 years. I don't understand the appeal, outside of the [understandable] "It's not Hillary." That leaves on the dem side a liar, an idiot, and a well-intentioned idiot.

[Ed Oscuro]

So, how did Obamacare end up for you?

I mention Biden because he's poised to run, no other reason than that. I'd like to see him debate Trump, too.

[EmperorIng]

I assume the same as everywhere else: no one in their right mind wants it, if they can get something else. While I have some sympathy for people who need healthcare, the burden of higher taxes in a state (and county) that is already overtaxed to prop up other failed state/federal programs makes me leery. There has to be some other way.

I know Biden is poised to run, but I still have no clue what qualifies him to be anything other than a TV stooge. Don't take this as an endorsement, but at least Trump has made some money in his life, before.

[Mischief Maker]

I might give some respect to an honest attempt by Walker to curb unions that was introduced as its own bill and subject to discussion and debate. It's weird how many people think the issue was about teacher's healthcare, he revoked their first amendment right to collectively bargain (go fuck yourself, Obama) and he buried it deep in a budget bill that he attempted to pass in the dead of night.

And just look at how Wisconsin's economy is now flourishing because of it!

Forrest Gump is a perfect analogy for Walker's career. His start as Milwaukee County executive was punctuated by him introducing unrealistic budgets in the name of cutting taxes that got saved last-minute by freak weather, like when he budgeted way too little for snow removal and the following winter was ridiculously mild. His luck didn't last too long, though, and he had a long history of having the county board reigning in his financial stupidity, and now Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature are reigning in his state budgets. Proposing building a wall between America and Canada was not at all out of character for the moron. Unfortunately he's a total press hound and dipshits in red Wisconsin have the memory of a fly and such a tribal connection to the Republican party they'll happily follow him off the cliff.

And if you want the Mob out of politics, why in God's name would you support Trump?

[Ed Oscuro]

Walker [...] revoked their first amendment right to collectively bargain

This, this is just as far as I had to go. Why didn't people see that for what it is?

"Conservative" my blue ass.

[EmperorIng]

Another man who couldn't live up to the hype?

why in God's name

Don't take this as an endorsement

[BryanM]

Secular Talk made a pretty good observation on how incredibly bad Walker did. From leading the pack to 0.5% in 71 days.

It was also amusing he asked other losers to drop out to consolidate resistance against the Trumpinator. (Because self sacrifice is what they do best.) If it came to a head to head, almost anyone who isn't Bush III has a good shot of beating him in Iowa. But the powers that be will never coalesce so completely and clearly, and the the three to six way we're gonna end up with is going to be a beauty of a massacre.

[BulletMagnet]

Don't take this as an endorsement, but at least Trump has inherited some money in his life, before, and left others holding the bag when he screwed up.

Fixed.

Off to the side, if you really consider the quivering, hollowed-out shell that remains of this country's labor unions to be a major contributor to the woes of pretty much any spot in the nation, you're just as delusional as anyone who blames cross-border illegal immigration for them even as the flow of undocumented workers has been rapidly slowing for years.

[EmperorIng]

They're no Sam Gompers, for sure. But Chicago unions are not free of the blame for the state's poor situation. Trade unions demand higher and higher wages, which has the consequence of pricing themselves out of the market (no one wants to hire a $40/hr tradesman). Usually the market would correct this but opting out of a union carries with it a type of blacklist penalty that many Chicago/IL workers don't want to risk (with my dad being a tradesman I am somewhat privy to these notions). In a sense they control the right to work in the city, which is not exactly "free market." Add to that typical Chicago corruption and you may understand why I am less than sympathetic towards public unions and labor unions. Collective bargaining is good, but institutionalized cronyism is bad. Not to mention the absurd amount of pension payments - with no ability to talk them down. Where does $600mill/yr come from? Who knows? Certainly not the state's budget.

[Ed Oscuro]

Trade unions demand higher and higher wages, which has the consequence of pricing themselves out of the market (no one wants to hire a $40/hr tradesman).

Literally 90% of the time I read about unions in the paper or online, they're announcing a compromise agreement with the employer.

Most of the blame that gets shoveled on unions really belongs with cost of production and standard of living cost increases. The union is just trying to make sure that their standard of living doesn't decrease despite doing the same amount of work. If the industry is failing, why should the workers take the hard edge of that fall? They are, after all, doing the hardest part of the work.

[Mischief Maker]

If the industry is failing, why should the workers take the hard edge of that fall?

You ever hear the phrase "shit slides downhill?"

[BryanM]

Remember the start of the compaction cycles before we started to dip into pure fascism? I feel like puking.

Trump aligning himself into a position to justify running third party. Sworn off FOX News, and Walker attacking him certainly gives him more than enough justification to go 3rd party.

You may be saying to yourself, "surely, surely this is as bad as it can get. Candidates advocating racial purges and World War 3. Polling well. It can't get any worse than this."

And I would say to you, you're a darling. A cute puppy. There is always more. And it is always worse.

[brokenhalo]

If the industry is failing, why should the workers take the hard edge of that fall?

You ever hear the phrase "shit slides downhill?"

The problem being that it never seems to start at the top of the hill.

[BulletMagnet]

The problem being that it never seems to start at the top of the hill.

Who do you think is the one taking the dump?

[Mischief Maker]

Welp, look's like Kanye West is throwing his hat in.

I tell ya, electing a senile B-movie actor as president just started this great nation down a slippery slope.

[BryanM]

We were truly completely fucked decades before he ever showed up.

[Drum]

Well Scott Walker's out.

As a Wisconsinite, all I can say is you motherfuckers dodged a bullet.

As a resident of a state run completely into the ground thanks to the chokehold of greedy unions, a corrupt, self-serving and domineering Democratic party, and disastrous financial legislation, I had admired an attempt at rooting out one of the many causes of economic stagnation, and political strong-arming. Of course this might apply more to a state as utterly bereft of decent politicians or honest union leaders like Illinois.

Voting Dem in Illinois is the equivalent of signing a continuing death warrant (policies that drain the last of our dwindling money and unions bullying house reps into not making any reforms that would cut their benefits), but people have been too brainwashed to do anything but listen to what the Illinois machine tells them to do. I had respected and supported Walker and Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner for making some attempt to roll back decades of Italian-level corruption, cronyism and machine politics. Again, I know the situation of Illinois more than across the border.

I think BryanM is right in pointing out that the difference with Trump is that he is a winner, or that he desires winning above all else. That's why he is so successful because he has spent his life "winning" in the business arena, which is not the same as what most pols do - trying to please the largest constituent base as possible. Very apt that those strategies have proven "loser" strategies. Looking forward to the first results from Iowa.

I don't expect Clinton to win it all, or Biden

Why even Biden? The man has done nothing for the last 8 years. I don't understand the appeal, outside of the [understandable] "It's not Hillary." That leaves on the dem side a liar, an idiot, and a well-intentioned idiot.

Why aren't more people laughing at this shitty post?

[EmperorIng]

Either because people know that Illinois is a Dem Party-run shithole, or that Trump has handled his campaign in a thusfar more successful manner than the other GOP candidates. Admittedly, both facts are laugh-worthy, but probably not in the way you were expecting.

[supergrafx77]

[Bernie Sanders] a well-intentioned idiot.

[Xyga]

Loved the latest South Park episode.

[BryanM]

[Bernie Sanders] a well-intentioned idiot.

There is always more. And it is always worse.

An average unremarkable 1950's republican is now considered a communist in the current environment.

It's so fucked up, John Boehner quit his job mid-term instead of facing another bi-annual government shut down. A man who passed out tobacco bribes on the floor, and cried tears of alcohol when he finally reached his life's goal of becoming Speaker of the House. If he can't stand it anymore, there is no hope for these people.

It's only going to get worse before it gets better.

[Ed Oscuro]

It's only going to get better

fixed

Now if we can only get them starting a war with the SC over Kim Davis, we'll be set.

[BryanM]

It's only going to get better

fixed

Now if we can only get them starting a war with the SC over Kim Davis, we'll be set.

I don't want an armed militia murdering the supreme court : (

Anytime I post a music video link about guillotines, I mean the metaphorical democratic kind.

[BulletMagnet]

I don't want an armed militia murdering the supreme court : (

Not even Scalia?

Though I kind of figure if anyone tried he'd morph into his true form and start breathing fire or something.

[BryanM]

Ivanka: the first pregnant person to run for VP.

Not even Scalia?

Though I kind of figure if anyone tried he'd morph into his true form and start breathing fire or something.

[BryanM]

If you're tired of blasé circus antics, you can always peep into the world of libertarian candidates. One of the ladies running in their party mentioned in some book that she thought child prostitution should be legal because the market would self correct or something like that. A magical place where Rand's idea that universal healthcare = slavery is actually rather liberal and rational.

Wonder why Ron Paul only ever got 11% of the crazy people to vote for him or why Rand is getting 1% and only 50 people showed up to his rally. Must be a conspiracy.

Please remember these people could be the "future" of the GOP. It's possible we'll look back at harvesting live baby brains with nostalgia at how rational and reasonable things were.

Repeat it like a mantra: "There is always more and it's always worse."

[EmperorIng]

Which is why it's our solemn duty to make America great again, Bryan.

[BulletMagnet]

One of the ladies running in their party mentioned in some book that she thought child prostitution should be legal because the market would self correct or something like that.

Didn't a fairly high-profile figure from that sector recently state that we never should have outlawed slavery because the market would have eventually taken care of that, too (seriously, you whiners, just be patient for another few generations and get back to work!)? That said, the statement itself didn't scare me nearly as much as the fact that, unless I missed it, nobody bothered to point out that "market forces" are precisely what created slavery - and, I would very strongly argue, are currently doing their damndest to push us as far back in that direction as they possibly can. And, once again, "greed is good" remains an infallible panacea for any and all objections, which nobody will ever question.

Which is why it's our solemn duty to make America great again, Bryan.

Whenever I hear that phrase I always want to ask the speaker precisely when they feel America was truly "great" - whatever their answer, it's almost certain that workers had more power and the rich paid higher taxes then than they do now. Before long the conversation inevitably progresses into how they could tell offensive jokes in public and pinch ladies' asses.

[BryanM]

Which is why it's our solemn duty to make America great again, Bryan.

By doing it!!! XD

And, once again, "greed is good" remains an infallible panacea for any and all objections, which nobody will ever question.

Well, there's one man who'll question it.

Whenever I hear that phrase I always want to ask the speaker precisely when they feel America was truly "great" - whatever their answer, it's almost certain that workers had more power and the rich paid higher taxes then than they do now. Before long the conversation inevitably progresses into how they could tell offensive jokes in public and pinch ladies' asses.

Some people enjoyed the tuition free college, others enjoyed patting ladies on the bum. People like lots of different things!

[Illyrian]

Whenever I think of Donald Trump I kinda think of this for some reason:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmWQd8zhEg4