2016 elections - because it's never too early

[Zanza]

How can it be an untold story if there is a book about it?

[Jaron]

It has been untold...

until now. 

[Jaron]

If people are just going to talk trash on Twitter and call it politics...the Clinton campaign should hire the CdM

[Martinus]

If people are just going to talk trash on Twitter and call it politics...the Clinton campaign should hire the CdM

In befo da ban. 

[garbon]

In an interview with Time Magazine, Donald Trump declared that his refusal to focus on policy is what his supporters want from their candidate.

"My voters don't care and the public doesn't care," Trump said. "They know you're going to do a good job once you're there."

[Martinus]

[Martinus]

But, while brutally honest, he is right. It's not like Obama came to power because of any specific policy he advocated. In fact, from the elections 8 years ago I can only recall one specific policy promise he made - closing Gitmo.

[Valmy]

But, while brutally honest, he is right. It's not like Obama came to power because of any specific policy he advocated. In fact, from the elections 8 years ago I can only recall one specific policy promise he made - closing Gitmo.

Well that is just not true. He promised many things on top of Gitmo. I mean he didn't really do many of them but he did have many specific policy promises.

He just knows that anything he proposes can only alienate some of his current supporters and is unlikely to bring anybody new onboard. So probably the best strategy for him.

[celedhring]

But, while brutally honest, he is right. It's not like Obama came to power because of any specific policy he advocated. In fact, from the elections 8 years ago I can only recall one specific policy promise he made - closing Gitmo.

He ran pretty heavily on health care too. And whatever your opinion on ACA may be, it's undeniable that it was one of the cornerstones of his first term.

[Barrister]

No, sadly, Trump is right (and his success is proof).  Voters don't care about policies in the least.

Also true when talking about Obama.  I mean yes, if you go back he did have a formal platform (more so than Trump).  But really he campaigned on "hope" and "change", which is hardly any more a political platform than "make America great again".

[Martinus]

Yeah, I mean it's not like Trump doesn't have concrete policy promises he will not keep. Like building the wall or deporting all illegals.

[Valmy]

No, sadly, Trump is right (and his success is proof).  Voters don't care about policies in the least.

Also true when talking about Obama.  I mean yes, if you go back he did have a formal platform (more so than Trump).  But really he campaigned on "hope" and "change", which is hardly any more a political platform than "make America great again".

Yeah well Abraham Lincoln campaigned as 'Honest Old Abe' and published sheet music with songs to be played in saloons celebrating his plebeian origins. That has nothing to do with whether or not he had a political platform that people did care about. Obama said he was going to reign in the Constitutional excesses of the Bush administration and install universal health care. Those are pretty concrete policy points that did generate him support.

Any politician who has ever had slogans or an image has no political platform? Surely that is not what you are saying because that is total garbage.

[Valmy]

Like building the wall or deporting all illegals.

Both are basically 'ten-thousand unicorns for all!' type promises. Completely impossible.

[garbon]

No, sadly, Trump is right (and his success is proof).  Voters don't care about policies in the least.

Also true when talking about Obama.  I mean yes, if you go back he did have a formal platform (more so than Trump).  But really he campaigned on "hope" and "change", which is hardly any more a political platform than "make America great again".

Yeah well Abraham Lincoln campaigned as 'Honest Old Abe' and published sheet music with songs to be played in saloons celebrating his plebeian origins. That has nothing to do with whether or not he had a political platform that people did care about. Obama said he was going to reign in the Constitutional excesses of the Bush administration and install universal health care. Those are pretty concrete policy points that did generate him support.

Any politician who has ever had slogans or an image has no political platform? Surely that is not what you are saying because that is total garbage.

Right? Certainly voters don't care about detailed policies (witness Bernie's policies with no clear plan of how those would accomplish) but they are pretty clued into policies. That's one of the big drivers of Bernie fans.

[Barrister]

Any politician who has ever had slogans or an image has no political platform? Surely that is not what you are saying because that is total garbage.

I'm going to sound old, but back in the day politicians had slogans and platforms, but they very much ran on their platforms.  In Canada working with Reform our big campaign push was to put a multi-page copy of our campaign promises into every voters hands.  The Liberals did something similar with their "Red Book".  Ross Perot's entire campaign was built around buying half hour blocks of tv and lecturing people about deficits and free trade.