President Trump- The Implications

[Hoss]

Not voting is out of the question. I've voted in every POTUS election since 1984 and missed very few lesser elections.

I'm hoping a sane centrist will pop up out of the GOP or the Democrat Party.  I'm not sure there are any left though.  I know it's generally considered bad form for a party to put up opposing primary candidates against the WH incumbent but Trump is so unpopular, I could see there being some opposition.  I guess we should start hearing some noise about potential candidates later this year.

Which is unfortunate, because it's always been my belief that some sort of law should be on the books to keep Presidential candidates from declaring until the calendar year of the election.  When they can declare two or even three years out, which has been done,  I believe the public gets what I call 'candidate exhaustion', where you get sick of hearing all the spinning from both sides.  At least limit it to the 11 months before the actual election.  I'm sure my opinion isn't popular though.

[Conan71]

Which is unfortunate, because it's always been my belief that some sort of law should be on the books to keep Presidential candidates from declaring until the calendar year of the election.  When they can declare two or even three years out, which has been done,  I believe the public gets what I call 'candidate exhaustion', where you get sick of hearing all the spinning from both sides.  At least limit it to the 11 months before the actual election.  I'm sure my opinion isn't popular though.

Could not agree more.  The GOP also did itself no favors by not trying to discourage so many candidates last time who had ZERO chance of getting the nomination.  When you have that many extremists and party hard-liners, no wonder an assclown like Trump who portrayed himself as the ultimate outsider can rise to the top.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Not voting is out of the question. I've voted in every POTUS election since 1984 and missed very few lesser elections.

I'm hoping a sane centrist will pop up out of the GOP or the Democrat Party.  I'm not sure there are any left though.  I know it's generally considered bad form for a party to put up opposing primary candidates against the WH incumbent but Trump is so unpopular, I could see there being some opposition.  I guess we should start hearing some noise about potential candidates later this year.

I know... your waking up time frame mentioned would mean missing the election - I know you wouldn't do that!

I could live with Romney.  Or even Biden.   Never happen, but even Hillary is a sane alternative to the clown show going on now.

Too many extremists getting the attention of candidates.

[Ed W]

Much as I would not want to see the parties return to the proverbial smoke filled room when selecting a candidate, I have to wonder if it would be preferable to a primary system that gives disproportionate weight to the most extreme voters, voters who reliably show up, unlike more moderate ones. Perhaps the Trump administration and its excesses will be a wake up call for them. Perhaps.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Much as I would not want to see the parties return to the proverbial smoke filled room when selecting a candidate, I have to wonder if it would be preferable to a primary system that gives disproportionate weight to the most extreme voters, voters who reliably show up, unlike more moderate ones. Perhaps the Trump administration and its excesses will be a wake up call for them. Perhaps.

Coupled with the difficulties being put in the path of people trying to vote, it is little wonder that so many don't.  It is the most massive abdication of one's responsibilities as a citizen that you can do, next to not serving on jury duty.


In like manner that a natural born person is a citizen - like Obama and even John McCain - a citizen person should automatically be eligible to vote and registration occurs automatically through the records system when one reaches age 18.  Assuming no disqualifying events are in play, like unresolved felony convictions.

There is no excuse for a person NOT to be automatically registered just by the fact of their birth.

[TeeDub]

There is no excuse for a person NOT to be automatically registered just by the fact of their birth.

I think the only reason you need to register is so that:

1.  "They" know you are only registering once.
2.  "They" know which precinct to put you into so that you vote for the relevant items on the ballot.

It isn't hard to register and you can do it for free whenever you get a license/identification card.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I think the only reason you need to register is so that:

1.  "They" know you are only registering once.
2.  "They" know which precinct to put you into so that you vote for the relevant items on the ballot.

It isn't hard to register and you can do it for free whenever you get a license/identification card.

Birth certificate should be the controlling document.  if you were born a citizen, you vote.   Naturalized gotta go through the motions, since they don't have citizen birth certificate.  Everyone else should be automatically eligible and automatically registered from birth in the address of birth.  If ya move, then must submit change of address, just like with post office, and it happens - could be tied to new drivers license if going to new state, if wanted to make it work smoothly.  (But since ya can't make an unwieldy bureaucracy out of "smooth", it probably won't happen.)

The ONLY reason to make it any more complicated is to try to limit the right to vote.   Period.   And that is wrong.

[Hoss]

Birth certificate should be the controlling document.  if you were born a citizen, you vote.   Naturalized gotta go through the motions, since they don't have citizen birth certificate.  Everyone else should be automatically eligible and automatically registered from birth in the address of birth.  If ya move, then must submit change of address, just like with post office, and it happens - could be tied to new drivers license if going to new state, if wanted to make it work smoothly.  (But since ya can't make an unwieldy bureaucracy out of "smooth", it probably won't happen.)

The ONLY reason to make it any more complicated is to try to limit the right to vote.   Period.   And that is wrong.

There are some countries that require every citizen to vote that are legally allowed to vote,  Australia comes to mind.

[heironymouspasparagus]

There are some countries that require every citizen to vote that are legally allowed to vote,  Australia comes to mind.

Two fundamental rights of citizenship are also the two most important fundamental responsibilities.  Voting and jury duty.  Pretty much everything else is optional...do it or not as you see fit, but you are obligated to those two from your position as citizen.  If ya don't wanna do that, then renounce and move to another country.

[guido911]

Two fundamental rights of citizenship are also the two most important fundamental responsibilities.  Voting and jury duty.  Pretty much everything else is optional...do it or not as you see fit, but you are obligated to those two from your position as citizen.  If ya don't wanna do that, then renounce and move to another country.

Dumbest post of the month. My gosh you have no idea the underpinnings of the rights we have.

[Conan71]

Coupled with the difficulties being put in the path of people trying to vote, it is little wonder that so many don't.  It is the most massive abdication of one's responsibilities as a citizen that you can do, next to not serving on jury duty.


In like manner that a natural born person is a citizen - like Obama and even John McCain - a citizen person should automatically be eligible to vote and registration occurs automatically through the records system when one reaches age 18.  Assuming no disqualifying events are in play, like unresolved felony convictions.

There is no excuse for a person NOT to be automatically registered just by the fact of their birth.

I don't see there being any more of a hardship being able to register to vote than there is to obtain a driver's license, car tag, state ID, or one's legal responsibility to register for Selective Service.  If anything it is less of a hassle.  And yes, I do believe one needs to prove who they are when they arrive at the polls to vote.

[Hoss]

I don't see there being any more of a hardship being able to register to vote than there is to obtain a driver's license, car tag, state ID, or one's legal responsibility to register for Selective Service.  If anything it is less of a hassle.  And yes, I do believe one needs to prove who they are when they arrive at the polls to vote.

I've said this a hundred times if I've said it once...making someone pay for ID to prove who they are at the polls is the same as a poll tax.  Make voter registration have photos on them.  Make them free as an option.  Problem solved.

[Conan71]

I've said this a hundred times if I've said it once...making someone pay for ID to prove who they are at the polls is the same as a poll tax.  Make voter registration have photos on them.  Make them free as an option.  Problem solved.

Voter registration cards are free last time I checked.  Adding a photo would be a great idea if it could be used as a recognized form of state issued ID.

[swake]

Voter registration cards are free last time I checked.  Adding a photo would be a great idea if it could be used as a recognized form of state issued ID.

Might encourage people to register to vote.

[Hoss]

Voter registration cards are free last time I checked.  Adding a photo would be a great idea if it could be used as a recognized form of state issued ID.

That's exactly what I'm getting at.  Make it so you don't have to pay for a state DMV issued ID.