Swedish Police Under Investigation for Sexual Assault Cover Up

[JayJayH 546]

I don't think it will. I think we will swing further until we either end up in a civil war or in an extremely oppressive police state to keep the bubbles threatening to boil out under control (my money goes to the latter). This election is going to be even more divisive than the last, which was more divisive than the one before. It appears to me without confirming via data that the US is becoming more divisive overall and politics are more about I'm right you're wrong than ever before. It's the same mentality peons use when watching sports but unfortunately they vote as well. The fact that the GOP's lead right now is by Trump and the number two democrat is an avowed socialist tell me we're in for a world of hurt.

Nothing you need to confirm by data. It's well established that the U.S. is more polarized than it has been in a long, long time. Hence why Congress is gridlocked.

Even more, the Republican Party is incredibly divided internally between Wall Street Republicans, the evangelical right and more traditional blue collar Republicans.

The Atlantic had an extremely well written article about the internal battle of the Republican party these days: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-great-republican-revolt/419118/ It's worth a read whether you're a Democrat or Republican. But the fact that Donald Trump is the front-runner really isn't that surprising. What's surprising to me is that the GOP establishment is expressing shock.

i see nothing wrong with the democratic socialist (two words) but i sure agree that trump embodies the 'peon sporting event' portion of america..

I really wouldn't mind Bernie if he can run on a platform of including blue-collar Republican voters. That means pulling the Democratic party farther to the right and actually pandering to more conservative voters as well.

The gridlock in Congress is a result of lack of trust between liberals and conservatives. The lack of trust is a result of years of political overreach. Political overreach is a result of wanting to satisfy an increasingly polarized base. The increasingly polarized base is a result of name-calling and, in my theory, the types of comments you see in social media like Facebook.

There is consensus among a majority of Americans on a wide range of big issues. What's lacking is trust in the other side to not overstep their bounds.

Ultimately, the only thing that would steer the left further to the center, and the right further to the center is a functioning Congress that makes legislation without overstepping their bounds or calling the opposition "un-American", "bigots", "racists", "crazy", "fascist" etc.

Edited January 16, 2016 by JayJayH

[JayJayH 546]

Essentially, what's needed is either a middle-of-the-ground blue-collar Democrat who can put liberals in their place.

Or a middle-of-the-ground blue-collar Republican who can put the far right in their place.

Since the primaries are all about pandering to the base, and not the general electorate, I don't see that happening any time soon.

[TBoneTX 46,379]

I welcome gridlock in Congress.

Let them achieve nothing.

Whatever they "achieve" either erodes our liberties or costs us money.

[JayJayH 546]

I welcome gridlock in Congress.

Let them achieve nothing.

Whatever they "achieve" either erodes our liberties or costs us money.

Touche.

I've only ever lived in blue states here. Where "congressional gridlock" has a negative connotation.

Edited January 16, 2016 by JayJayH

[ExPatty 502]

Essentially, what's needed is either a middle-of-the-ground blue-collar Democrat who can put liberals in their place.

Or a middle-of-the-ground blue-collar Republican who can put the far right in their place.

Since the primaries are all about pandering to the base, and not the general electorate, I don't see that happening any time soon.

I think Christie would be a left leaning republican who could fit that bill quite well, but he won't make the votes.

I'll check out that atlantic article.

[ExPatty 502]

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-great-republican-revolt/419118/ was good and seems reasonable. I saw a thread on a right leaning forum this week quite uniformly saying "good" and/or mocking the egg that is on the faces of the republican elite with trump's popularity.

The article was refreshing. More repubilcans of the middle class are coming to grips with the fact the party doesn't give a damn about them. Now I'm just waiting for democrats to do the same, because if you have a family on a household income of $40k I'm sorry to tell you Hillary clinton couldn't give less of a damn about you.