USA Politics
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bearfan
Ancient Mariner
The pre-elections are party primaries for the most part. If you just look at the Presidential side, it is for each party to pick a nominee. They always start in Iowa with caucuses (which IMO really makes the results less realistic than an actual election) and New Hampshire with a primary election.
They are first, because they "always" have been and any time another state tries to move ahead of them both parties punish the state (by granting fewer delegates). I am not sure why this is the case, the whole nomination system is a bit goofy, even goofier on the Democratic side because of the super delegates.
The end result of all this is the party convention. Each state is worth a certain amount of delegates, whoever has the required number of delegates at the end goes on the general election ballot as the Republican and Democratic nominee.
Obama is the only serious dem candidate (in some states there are unknown people running against him) because no one decided to run against him. This is pretty much the norm (with exceptions of course) when an incumbent is running for re-election.
They are first, because they "always" have been and any time another state tries to move ahead of them both parties punish the state (by granting fewer delegates). I am not sure why this is the case, the whole nomination system is a bit goofy, even goofier on the Democratic side because of the super delegates.
The end result of all this is the party convention. Each state is worth a certain amount of delegates, whoever has the required number of delegates at the end goes on the general election ballot as the Republican and Democratic nominee.
Obama is the only serious dem candidate (in some states there are unknown people running against him) because no one decided to run against him. This is pretty much the norm (with exceptions of course) when an incumbent is running for re-election.
The system kinda came into being by accident. Originally, party bosses from each state would pick delegates to send to the convention. The leaders of the various factions would sit in a back room (the famous smoke-filled room) and choose the candidate. Obviously, that has changed somewhat.
The starting order is usually the same, and it consists of smaller states from most of the major regions:
Iowa (midwest)
New Hampshire (New England)
South Carolina (the South)
Nevada (the West)
The Republicans use a significantly smaller amount of superdelegates, though this year they will be handing out delegates proportionally, so it will be a very similar race to the 2008 Democratic primary.
The starting order is usually the same, and it consists of smaller states from most of the major regions:
Iowa (midwest)
New Hampshire (New England)
South Carolina (the South)
Nevada (the West)
The Republicans use a significantly smaller amount of superdelegates, though this year they will be handing out delegates proportionally, so it will be a very similar race to the 2008 Democratic primary.
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
the proportional thing is not quite the same as the Dems, some state are proportional (all the early ones have to be), some are not They have a bit of a hybrid system.
This page has a pretty detailed explanation of the proportional delegates.
I think the GOP Superdelegates are 5% of the total, the Dem proportion is much larger (the short version is they were put in to prevent Teddy Kennedy from winning the 1980 primary against Jimmy Carter)
This page has a pretty detailed explanation of the proportional delegates.
I think the GOP Superdelegates are 5% of the total, the Dem proportion is much larger (the short version is they were put in to prevent Teddy Kennedy from winning the 1980 primary against Jimmy Carter)
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Thanks guys. Romney won Iowa, with only 8(!) votes difference.
This could mean various things but one of them is that he might be the strongest dem candidate in years.
This could mean various things but one of them is that he might be the strongest dem candidate in years.
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
Romney is really benefiting that the candidates to the right of him all have some serious flaws ... Santorum has the benefit of being the last one that was looked at. Paul really benefits from a caucus style primary, but will get pummeled in a traditional primary.
Romney will win NH, the only question is by how much. Whoever wins South Carolina will probably be the alternative from the rest of the primary (besides Paul who will stick it out to the end). Perry said he is reevaluating he campaign, he is out and was a terrible disapointment.
I am not so sure it is because Obama is such a strong candidate (he obviously is, he is the President), but it is very rare to see someone run against the incumbant President .. Buchannon ran against the first Bush in 1992 and Kennedy ran against Carter in 80, those are the last 2 at least semi-serious occurances of this. Clinton, Bush II, and Reagan all ran unopposed in their re-election bids .. that is more of the norm.
Romney will win NH, the only question is by how much. Whoever wins South Carolina will probably be the alternative from the rest of the primary (besides Paul who will stick it out to the end). Perry said he is reevaluating he campaign, he is out and was a terrible disapointment.
I am not so sure it is because Obama is such a strong candidate (he obviously is, he is the President), but it is very rare to see someone run against the incumbant President .. Buchannon ran against the first Bush in 1992 and Kennedy ran against Carter in 80, those are the last 2 at least semi-serious occurances of this. Clinton, Bush II, and Reagan all ran unopposed in their re-election bids .. that is more of the norm.
Forostar, Obama is the incumbent president. Incumbents almost never see a primary. The last incumbent to be seriouly challenged in a primary was Kennedy vs. Carter. Pat Buchanan's candidacy was mostly hilarious.
Oh, bearfan already said this.
Most Democrats are, at the very least, satisifed with Obama and hope he'll get bigger balls in his 2nd term. They're not super excited but unless Hillary wanted to go for it. And she doesn't.
Oh, bearfan already said this.
Most Democrats are, at the very least, satisifed with Obama and hope he'll get bigger balls in his 2nd term. They're not super excited but unless Hillary wanted to go for it. And she doesn't.
Rick Perry's organization exposed as filled with rank amateurs: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70976.html
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
That is what is surprising with Perry, he ran such a great campaign against Hutchinson in the primary and White in the general election for governor. Hutchinson was an early favorite and he just destroyed her, White was a solid candidate and Perry trounced him. His Presidential campaign was just the complete opposite, it is very strange.
Same people running it. From what I can tell, he took something that runs well in Texas (staying above the fray and slaughtering on TV) and tried to apply it to national politics. What's good in Texas ain't good everywhere, it seems.
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
I am not sure the strategy was bad, the execution (especially in the debates) were just horrible. He looked like a different person. He had just had back surgery before this, I really wonder if that had more of an effect on him that was thought. Though I guess this happens often, last time on the GOP side, it was Fred Thompson that was underwhelming, before that it was General Clark on the Dem side
Cornfed Hick
Ancient Mariner
I need to write a book and then run for President to pump up my book sales. I'm certainly more capable of running the country -- of running anything, really -- than Rick Santorum.
By the way, this is probably old news, but Googling the word "santorum" is fun. I'd never heard that word before in that context. If I do run for President, I'll change my name to Dirty Sanchez.
By the way, this is probably old news, but Googling the word "santorum" is fun. I'd never heard that word before in that context. If I do run for President, I'll change my name to Dirty Sanchez.
Cornfed Hick
Ancient Mariner
And yes, I have changed my avatar in a nonviolent protest to all the new martial avatars out there.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
America, choosing a new President is fine, but let's pay your freakin' taxes first, OK?
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57354324/govt-owed-$450b-in-unpaid-taxes/
(AP) WASHINGTON - People and businesses underpaid their taxes by an estimated 17 percent in the most recent year studied, failing to send the government a massive $450 billion that it was owed, according to an Internal Revenue Service report released Friday.
The study covered 2006, the most recent data the IRS said was available. The amount of underpaid taxes far exceeded the size of the entire federal budget deficit at the time.
After IRS audits and other enforcement efforts, non-compliance in 2006 shrank to 14 percent. That left the final amount of unpaid taxes at $385 billion, the agency said. ......
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57354324/govt-owed-$450b-in-unpaid-taxes/
(AP) WASHINGTON - People and businesses underpaid their taxes by an estimated 17 percent in the most recent year studied, failing to send the government a massive $450 billion that it was owed, according to an Internal Revenue Service report released Friday.
The study covered 2006, the most recent data the IRS said was available. The amount of underpaid taxes far exceeded the size of the entire federal budget deficit at the time.
After IRS audits and other enforcement efforts, non-compliance in 2006 shrank to 14 percent. That left the final amount of unpaid taxes at $385 billion, the agency said. ......
CFH...that is the best avatar tag line. Ever. You win 2 internets, sir.
Santorum is a complete, total fuckknob and douchenozzle. He has no business running a church, let alone a country.
Santorum is a complete, total fuckknob and douchenozzle. He has no business running a church, let alone a country.
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
America, choosing a new President is fine, but let's pay your freakin' taxes first, OK?
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57354324/govt-owed-$450b-in-unpaid-taxes/
(AP) WASHINGTON - People and businesses underpaid their taxes by an estimated 17 percent in the most recent year studied, failing to send the government a massive $450 billion that it was owed, according to an Internal Revenue Service report released Friday.
The study covered 2006, the most recent data the IRS said was available. The amount of underpaid taxes far exceeded the size of the entire federal budget deficit at the time.
After IRS audits and other enforcement efforts, non-compliance in 2006 shrank to 14 percent. That left the final amount of unpaid taxes at $385 billion, the agency said. ......
So, no need to raise taxes on anyone then, just collect what is owed
Hey, I agree there. If the US closed their tax loopholes, they'd find their collection rates skyrocketing! That's the *real* problem with the tax code - it's too easy for people to get out of paying their taxes.
General Electric paid $0 in taxes last year. They made $12 billion and didn't pay a cent in taxes. That's horseshit.
General Electric paid $0 in taxes last year. They made $12 billion and didn't pay a cent in taxes. That's horseshit.
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
No disagreement there, the tax rates for corporations are quite high in the US compared to the rest of the west, rather than lower the rates to something that makes sense, the government has spent the past several decades trying to pick winners and losers in the private sector with tax breaks, subsidies, and penalties. If they just made the tax rate a competitive rate, they would collect more than the do now and business would sink or swim on their own.
I do not blame GE a bit for not paying any taxes, government sets the rules, they are playing by them. To quote the pop culture phrase "Don't hate the player, hate the game" and the government is the game.
I do not blame GE a bit for not paying any taxes, government sets the rules, they are playing by them. To quote the pop culture phrase "Don't hate the player, hate the game" and the government is the game.
Oh, I agree that GE is just doing what they should do. It's the government that's at fault.
The US government is ending both subsidies for ethanol and tariffs on Brazilian ethanol, so that's good, anyway. I'm a big fan of getting rid of both of those things. If the US ended corporate and personal tax loopholes and had a year of proper collection, then they could look at adjusting overall rates as necessary. The rates are high, but it's what's collected that actually matters.
My thought: decreasing corporate tax rates should be met by increases to the personal and portfolio tax rates in the upper brackets.
The US government is ending both subsidies for ethanol and tariffs on Brazilian ethanol, so that's good, anyway. I'm a big fan of getting rid of both of those things. If the US ended corporate and personal tax loopholes and had a year of proper collection, then they could look at adjusting overall rates as necessary. The rates are high, but it's what's collected that actually matters.
My thought: decreasing corporate tax rates should be met by increases to the personal and portfolio tax rates in the upper brackets.