All purpose news and politics thread part VI: This Is Not The Time For Posing

[Scott Taylor]

A further problem with Trump is that the bench is pretty weak of the people who would be willing to serve in his administration in a second term.

It's interesting that this isn't enough for some on the left. I'm curious what the problem there is. Is it just that she had the temerity against Bernie Sanders?

Generally, justices are going to decide based on their interpretation of the law and the constitution. That's where the main arguments come in.

I do think there is much to be said about term limits. If justices were limited to 18 years, Presidents would be more willing to nominate older legal minds, rather than the current focus on people who can be in the court for decades.

Term limits are a concept that protects against tyranny. We should have them across the board, not just for presidents. The reason we don't is largely due to concerns based in fear.

[Tendrin]

https://twitter.com/theangiestanton/...864751106?s=21

oh WBE-eeeeeeee...

Be sure to check out the story of her conviction for conspiracy and later commutation by Trump.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests positive for COVID-19

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday before he was supposed to greet President Donald Trump.

He makes the second governor to test positive after Kevin Stitt from Oklahoma, both Republicans by the way.

[GindyPosts]

Term limits are a concept that protects against tyranny. We should have them across the board, not just for presidents. The reason we don't is largely due to concerns based in fear.

Presidential term limits was a good idea Republicans came up with, ironically due to a Democratic president. Before FDR, everyone did two terms because George Washington had two terms and it was symbolic, but nothing stopped FDR for going further than that. It sucks if a good president has to leave, but it is a safe guard against weak or ineffective presidents. Though I do find it odd that the presidency is confined to two terms max while people in lower levels of office can, in effect, be in office as long as they feel like, since people staying in office for extended periods of time can be hazardous to those communities. Eventually you need fresh faces with new ideas or opinions, or at least the chance to get rid of candidates that have been damaging. Besides, it's not like the philosophies of those in office aren't mutually exclusive to one individual.

[Joker]

But boy, sure thinking about that third Obama term these days.

[Scott Taylor]

Presidential term limits was a good idea Republicans came up with, ironically due to a Democratic president. Before FDR, everyone did two terms because George Washington had two terms and it was symbolic, but nothing stopped FDR for going further than that. It sucks if a good president has to leave, but it is a safe guard against weak or ineffective presidents. Though I do find it odd that the presidency is confined to two terms max while people in lower levels of office can, in effect, be in office as long as they feel like, since people staying in office for extended periods of time can be hazardous to those communities. Eventually you need fresh faces with new ideas or opinions, or at least the chance to get rid of candidates that have been damaging. Besides, it's not like the philosophies of those in office aren't mutually exclusive to one individual.

Yah I agree that the inconsistency is an oddity. It really does stem back to George Washington setting the gold standard, and most presidents following his lead. Until FDR, who was a wartime president, so there is a good excuse for that one. Grant tried for a third term, as did Teddy Roosevelt.

Seems like not having term limits mainly benefits the politician, rather than his or her constituents, though. The longer someone holds a particular office, the more powerful they become in the associated organization. Simply because they know it better than others who are less experienced. Theoretically that helps organizations like Congress run more efficiently.

[Spidey5640]

Keep talkin' Joe....

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-d...voters-1523340

Can't wait for the debates...if Joe even shows

[Joker]

I mean, the monstrosity your party put into office can barely form coherent sentences himself, but keep talkin' Spidey5640.

[Kirby101]

The ONLY way term limits would work would be with total public funding of election campaigns. Otherwise corporations would just buy all the seats they need.

[JackDaw]

I mean, the monstrosity your party put into office can barely form coherent sentences himself, but keep talkin' Spidey5640.

On the maxim that if you’re miles in front best to avoid debates if you can, hasn’t it go to point where Joe B’s team may be exploring ways of declining to debate against the Donald?

[PaulBullion]

On the maxim that if you’re miles in front best to avoid debates if you can, hasn’t it go to point where Joe B’s team may be exploring ways of declining to debate against the Donald?

What?

.............

[Mister Mets]

Term limits are a concept that protects against tyranny. We should have them across the board, not just for presidents. The reason we don't is largely due to concerns based in fear.

I don't think we need it for legislatures. For one thing, there isn't one person who has the power the way it would be in the leader of an executive branch. And unlike with the federal courts, the voters do have a say in whether an official should keep their job.

Terms limits for legislators creates a system where lobbyists and political staffers have the institutional knowledge, and would be more able to take advantage of political newcomers. And you know they'll figure out ways to circumvent it, potentially with musical chairs as legislators stay in power by changing positions (a term-limited congressman runs for state attorney general, a term limited state senator runs for city council, etc.)

However, there shouldn't be any automatic advantages to seniority (IE- leadership posts in committees.) The person who has been in office for decades should earn the posts by demonstrating how their greater experience makes them an ideal leader, rather than it being their turn.

[kidfresh512]

On the maxim that if you’re miles in front best to avoid debates if you can, hasn’t it go to point where Joe B’s team may be exploring ways of declining to debate against the Donald?

I don't see the value to be honest. All trump will do is lie, make wildly inaccurate claims and be non sensical. If I were on Biden's advisory team I would say drop all pretense of dealing with trump with "civility" or the normal political debate teachings.

Call him a liar to his face. Say hes a racist to his face. Talk about how divisive and toxic he is. But, don't try to treat him as an equal and debate him on policy. Biden shouldn't have to go on defense at all. Attack trumps terrible record on dealing with the coronavirus. The deaths, the cost to the economy that could have been avoided if we had a grownup leading.

You cannot deal with trump like he is rational. The same way all non Fox News and Oann reporters should treat him like the Swan did for Axios. Don't demure, don't let him babble and be stupid. Clearly say hes lying, clearly tell him hes wrong.

[Mister Mets]

But boy, sure thinking about that third Obama term these days.

Tom Cotton's 43. If he gets in during a bad election, he may stay in office for a long time.

The ONLY way term limits would work would be with total public funding of election campaigns. Otherwise corporations would just buy all the seats they need.

I'm sure I've written about it before, but my favorite alternative to total public funding is what New York does, where small dollar donations are matched 6:1. It gives ordinary people more reason to be involved, and politicians incentives to reach out to them.

https://www.nyccfb.info/program/how-it-works

An ordinary person who gives $100 to politicians has worked harder for that than a rich guy giving $700, so it makes sense to make small donations work more. This also helps evade grifters abusing public funds to make a living, as it requires candidates to demonstrate some level of support.

[worstblogever]

On the maxim that if you’re miles in front best to avoid debates if you can, hasn’t it go to point where Joe B’s team may be exploring ways of declining to debate against the Donald?

Quite the opposite. Biden wants him a piece of Trump, and wants to explore how to debate him while honoring social distancing guidelines of both of them, and their campaigns.