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US Elections 2016


JamboX2

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One thing struck me about the Presidential campaign and that is, especially from the Republican side, the candidates desire to woo the fundamentalist Christian vote and to be seen as one themselves.

 

It's quite unnerving to me and the relationship the US has with God is a strange one, in my eyes at least.

 

Could some US resident posters expand on this subject for me?  Is it widespread?  Does it have influence?  Is it laughed at by most Americans?  

 

It just seems a tad hypocritical that you have these candidates demonising fundamentalists of other religions, but at the same time courting and pretending to be fundamentalists themselves.

 

Scary.

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Fair enough. Why do you think that?

Because he does have a chance. It may be unlikely but to suggest that he has zero chance of winning at this stage is simply not true.

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Because he does have a chance. It may be unlikely but to suggest that he has zero chance of winning at this stage is simply not true.

Fair enough. Apologies to anyone who took my post literally. He's over 35 and a US citizen, so yes, he has a chance. Probably as likely as a snow-flake's chance in hell, mind.

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How do you think he will do?

 

I'd give him about a 20% shot at the nomination, and if he gets that, I'd give him a 30-45% shot at the Presidency (really depends on who the Republican is).  

 

One thing struck me about the Presidential campaign and that is, especially from the Republican side, the candidates desire to woo the fundamentalist Christian vote and to be seen as one themselves.

 

It's quite unnerving to me and the relationship the US has with God is a strange one, in my eyes at least.

 

Could some US resident posters expand on this subject for me?  Is it widespread?  Does it have influence?  Is it laughed at by most Americans?  

 

It just seems a tad hypocritical that you have these candidates demonising fundamentalists of other religions, but at the same time courting and pretending to be fundamentalists themselves.

 

Scary.

 

In the 1990s Pat Robertson founded the Christian Coalition, which built on previous outreach to evangelical Christians in the 70s and 80s to turn evangelical churches into institutions of the Republican Party.  It worked extremely well, to the point that all Republicans have to appear appropriately religious (and why Donald Trump is so eager to rush back into a church when he probably hasn't darkened the door of one in 25 years).  

 

The country, being a very large place, has very different opinions on this.  Americans are considerably more religious than most European countries, but religiosity is falling here too, just not as fast.  In the northeastern megalopolis and the west coast, religiosity is probably just a tad higher than UK levels, although the NE is far more Catholic and Jewish (largely secularized in both cases) than the rest of the country.  In general, rural areas are far more religious than urban ones.

 

For what it's worth, after 40 years of the right wing laying claim to religiosity, there's signs that left wing religious people are pissed off and pushing back, like this -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_Mondays .  (Full disclosure -- those are my people.) It's a long, long, long way behind the religious right, but it's a start.

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I disagree that Sanders is the American Corbyn.

 

He's a much more credible leader, especially against Trump.

 

He won't have the party against him anywhere near as much if he wins the nomination.

 

They are both similar in that they have sprung up from a left wing grass roots movement but Sanders would have a chance of winning an election. Corbyn wouldn't win in a million years

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I disagree that Sanders is the American Corbyn.

 

He's a much more credible leader, especially against Trump.

 

He won't have the party against him anywhere near as much if he wins the nomination.

 

They are both similar in that they have sprung up from a left wing grass roots movement but Sanders would have a chance of winning an election. Corbyn wouldn't win in a million years

Sanders is far more convincing on his stance against the TTP than Clinton, in fact Clinton is far from convincing and I would go as far as to say it would not take much to prove she is lying threw her teeth. I think that it could be something that could hurt her if Sanders decides to play hard ball.

 

Sanders on the TTP http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Sanders+and+the+TPP&view=detail&mid=0FC426EEF5975136C37C0FC426EEF5975136C37C&FORM=VIRE1

Edited by niblick1874
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J.T.F.Robertson

If Sanders even gets close he best look out.

I'm actually coming around to the idea he may well be a Socialist. I don't believe I have heard a US politician EVER be as frank on this verboten subject as he is doing. (watching PBS right now)

 

Go on Bernie, just really watch your back.

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I have watched U.S. elections for some time, I think this is the poorest selection for both parties I have seen. I usually have one candidate for each that I lean towards but not this time. I was in the States in 1980 during the Reagan Campaign,the general consensus seemed to be that he was too old and not too bright, he won, and is now acclaimed as one of the best Presidents ever. I am not consumed by him but Jeb Bush seems to be the steadiest with some leadership experience, Trump once in a while makes some sense, but the thought of him with a finger on the button is terrifying.

 

Sanders talks up a good story, but like Reagan gives the impression of being too old, Hilary, please, please no,  I admit my opinion of her is based on the fact I don't and can't force myself to like her. Sometimes when you see potential leaders and look at the world stage,Russia, North Korea, China, ISIS, etc. being really old is not so bad, at least I won't get called up for military service,unless of course they are seriously considering winning any major conflict.

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Saw Trump on TV last night saying that Kim Jong Un should be 'taken out' by the Chinese. When the interviewer said 'what? do you mean assissinated?', he just kinda shrugged and said that he was a puppet of the Chinese and they could easily deal with him.

 

What a feckin' fruitloop.

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AlphonseCapone

Saw Trump on TV last night saying that Kim Jong Un should be 'taken out' by the Chinese. When the interviewer said 'what? do you mean assissinated?', he just kinda shrugged and said that he was a puppet of the Chinese and they could easily deal with him.

 

What a feckin' fruitloop.

The only surprise is the frankness of it. There have been many a men "dealt" with.

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The reports of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia appear to be true.

 

This is about to make an incredibly wacky election season go absolutely bonkers.

Edited by Ugly American
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The reports of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia appear to be true.

 

This is about to make an incredibly wacky election season go absolutely bonkers.

 

This is going to be mental. From 5 Republican appointees and 4 Democrats to 4 of each during the last year of a Democratic president with a Republican controlled Senate.

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Fiery debate last night according to Sky News this morning. 

Trump showed his lack of class once more, even going as far as to imply that 9/11 was George Bush's fault as he's supposed to keep the American people safe and he didn't.

 

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2016/02/13/the-craziest-gop-debate-of-the-cycle-trump-loses-control-cruz-and-rubio-spar-audience-boos-n2119366

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The GOP are a complete shambles

All candidates coming over as totally unhinged conspiracy theorists and all-round nutters.

 

:jjyay:

Everyone should complete their bucket list, WWIII is on its way this Christmas.
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Kalamazoo Jambo

The reports of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia appear to be true.

 

This is about to make an incredibly wacky election season go absolutely bonkers.

 

 

This is going to be mental. From 5 Republican appointees and 4 Democrats to 4 of each during the last year of a Democratic president with a Republican controlled Senate.

 

Just when we thought the partisanship couldn't get any worse. This is going to be nasty.

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The reports of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia appear to be true.

 

This is about to make an incredibly wacky election season go absolutely bonkers.

 

https://twitter.com/BettyBowers/status/698639054003245056

 

Mrs. Betty Bowers

?@BettyBowers

This would be an excellent day for Justice Clarence Thomas to continue his tradition of just doing whatever Justice Scalia does.

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https://twitter.com/BettyBowers/status/698639054003245056

 

Mrs. Betty Bowers

?@BettyBowers

This would be an excellent day for Justice Clarence Thomas to continue his tradition of just doing whatever Justice Scalia does.

 

Oh.  Oh my.  That's cold.  I'm a little ashamed that I laughed. 

 

A little.

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He brings up 9/11 

 

He bated the hook and they swallowed it hook line and sinker, even though they know they shouldn't.

 

What is Trump up to? He knows what shining a light on the 28 pages means.

 

He knows what he is doing when he says we have been lied to. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/02/17/trump_you_will_find_out_who_really_knocked_down_the_world_trade_center_secret_papers_may_blame_saudis.html

 

How far will he go. Is he really going to bring down the house of cards?

 

Sanders wins but looses? No autopsy?

 

Dangerous games.

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He brings up 9/11 

 

He bated the hook and they swallowed it hook line and sinker, even though they know they shouldn't.

 

What is Trump up to? He knows what shining a light on the 28 pages means.

 

He knows what he is doing when he says we have been lied to. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/02/17/trump_you_will_find_out_who_really_knocked_down_the_world_trade_center_secret_papers_may_blame_saudis.html

 

How far will he go. Is he really going to bring down the house of cards?

 

Sanders wins but looses? No autopsy?

 

Dangerous games.

 

The World and his dog know that the Iraqis had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.

It is also common knowledge that 15 out of the 19 attackers were Saudi Arabian, what is Trump on about? 

It will be interesting what is in these 28 missing pages, but there are several things about 9/11 which don't make sense, but that's for a different thread. 

 

And some of us knew that Iraq didn't have any WMD's before George Bush decided to invade Iraq, and Bush knew that as well, as did Blair, they were told Iraq didn't have WMD's but ignored the advice. 

 

Back on track.

I see the Pope has been less than complimentary about Mr. Trump's idea about building a wall on the border with Mexico, and Trump has replied as only Trump can. 

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The World and his dog know that the Iraqis had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.

It is also common knowledge that 15 out of the 19 attackers were Saudi Arabian, what is Trump on about? 

It will be interesting what is in these 28 missing pages, but there are several things about 9/11 which don't make sense, but that's for a different thread. 

 

And some of us knew that Iraq didn't have any WMD's before George Bush decided to invade Iraq, and Bush knew that as well, as did Blair, they were told Iraq didn't have WMD's but ignored the advice. 

 

Back on track.

I see the Pope has been less than complimentary about Mr. Trump's idea about building a wall on the border with Mexico, and Trump has replied as only Trump can. 

Agree with all you are saying, however, how many Americans that only watch and read the MSM know about the 28 pages, not to mention what is being said about what they reveal. Whether it's a cat amongst the pigeons moment time will tell, but Trump is ramping it up with something most knew nothing about and it stabs right at the heart. He might consider conducting the rest of his campaign from a secret bunker.  

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The World and his dog know that the Iraqis had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.

It is also common knowledge that 15 out of the 19 attackers were Saudi Arabian, what is Trump on about? 

It will be interesting what is in these 28 missing pages, but there are several things about 9/11 which don't make sense, but that's for a different thread. 

 

And some of us knew that Iraq didn't have any WMD's before George Bush decided to invade Iraq, and Bush knew that as well, as did Blair, they were told Iraq didn't have WMD's but ignored the advice. 

 

Back on track.

I see the Pope has been less than complimentary about Mr. Trump's idea about building a wall on the border with Mexico, and Trump has replied as only Trump can. 

 

The difference is that Fox News and the GOP in general have generally defended GWB and the insanity of the Iraq war to the point of absurdity.  The unwritten rule is that when it comes up, if you're a Republican, you're supposed to sigh and say that it was hard being the commander in chief and complain about revisiting the past and then try to deflect blame onto Bill Clinton and Sid Blumenthal.  Saying GWB failed the country is what the majority of the US thinks at this point, but NOT the majority of Republicans.

 

That's why when Trump when out and said it, the moderators, the candidates, and all the reporters in the room got, "OH NO HE DIDN'T" looks on their faces.

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The difference is that Fox News and the GOP in general have generally defended GWB and the insanity of the Iraq war to the point of absurdity.  The unwritten rule is that when it comes up, if you're a Republican, you're supposed to sigh and say that it was hard being the commander in chief and complain about revisiting the past and then try to deflect blame onto Bill Clinton and Sid Blumenthal.  Saying GWB failed the country is what the majority of the US thinks at this point, but NOT the majority of Republicans.

 

That's why when Trump when out and said it, the moderators, the candidates, and all the reporters in the room got, "OH NO HE DIDN'T" looks on their faces.

If most Republicans don't think that, why is Trump saying the things he is, he is no fool. Are you sure about that? I suspect you might be a bit off with that.

 

Edit, Sorry, do you mean the voters or the party?

Edited by niblick1874
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Geoff Kilpatrick

The Pope calls out Trump just in time for Wrestlemania. It's gonna be epic.

Also just in time for bible bashing evangelicals, who think the Bishop of Rome is the Antichrist, to vote.
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Also just in time for bible bashing evangelicals, who think the Bishop of Rome is the Antichrist, to vote.

Yep, lumberjack match it is then.

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Trump just lies out and out!

 

I heard a piece on the radio yesterday where the commentator said Trump, at a hustings/rally, said that the Americans were the most overtaxed country in the World.

 

This, apparently is simply not true, but no one questions his rhetoric or calls him out on it.  It's mental!

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If most Republicans don't think that, why is Trump saying the things he is, he is no fool. Are you sure about that? I suspect you might be a bit off with that.

 

Edit, Sorry, do you mean the voters or the party?

 

The dynamic right now is that the GOP has been saying up-is-down on things like 9/11 and Obamacare and all sorts of other things for about 20 years now.  They've made promises like repealing the Affordable Care Act that they never had any ability to follow through on, and there's a fair number of voters who are still fairly conservative but are completely fed up with the Republican establishment.  Trump's support is a big sign of that facade cracking, which I suppose is good, but millions of angry and disillusioned voters turning to things like xenophobia and the like is a pretty ugly turn.

 

Trump is doing a very good job of singing a tune that they like.  His strike at GWB was primarily directed at Jeb Bush, because the #1 thing most people in the country know about Jeb is that he's a Bushie, and for some that's all they know, so slamming his brother is good politics for Trump.

 

Overall, the spectacle of what the Republican party has turned into is pretty depressing.

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The dynamic right now is that the GOP has been saying up-is-down on things like 9/11 and Obamacare and all sorts of other things for about 20 years now.  They've made promises like repealing the Affordable Care Act that they never had any ability to follow through on, and there's a fair number of voters who are still fairly conservative but are completely fed up with the Republican establishment.  Trump's support is a big sign of that facade cracking, which I suppose is good, but millions of angry and disillusioned voters turning to things like xenophobia and the like is a pretty ugly turn.

 

Trump is doing a very good job of singing a tune that they like.  His strike at GWB was primarily directed at Jeb Bush, because the #1 thing most people in the country know about Jeb is that he's a Bushie, and for some that's all they know, so slamming his brother is good politics for Trump.

 

Overall, the spectacle of what the Republican party has turned into is pretty depressing.

Thanks for that.

 

It's a sad state of affairs but I don't believe that it's just the Republicans that are clutching at straws.

 

As I've said, unless something big happens, it's all being set up (Clinton v Trump), and hidden in plain site. The closer you look, the more it becomes apparent that it's all a show to give the illusion that the voter has a say in who represents the parties. I realize that it has to be a tight race to be able to do the manipulation that is going on, but guess what. When it comes down to Clinton v Trump, Trump will have Clinton by the balls (Yes I meant that) as he has already proven but not used anywhere near the extent that he can.

 

Why, when Trump has a list the leanth of his arm that he could use against the Bush bunch (and didn't have to bother using any because bush was never in it) does he use 9/11 and espesualy the 28 pages? Is it an attempt to con (or prove to) the Republican voter that he is a true Patriot? Remember, there are millions of Americans that believe they were lied to concerning 9/11 and even the Dems amongst them may consider voting for him because of this alone and Trump knows that.

 

Meanwhile, more importantly, in breaking news.

 

A man that queued for days with many others to make sure he could get his hands on a pair of the greatly sought after new Kanye West Sneakers claims that he has been used. He fumed that he has now come to the conclusion that the reason for there only being 30 pairs available was to cause an outcry and create more publicity for the footwear . It's not just me he screamed, everyone has been conned and there needs to be an inquiry.  

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Thanks for that.

 

It's a sad state of affairs but I don't believe that it's just the Republicans that are clutching at straws.

 

As I've said, unless something big happens, it's all being set up (Clinton v Trump), and hidden in plain site. The closer you look, the more it becomes apparent that it's all a show to give the illusion that the voter has a say in who represents the parties. I realize that it has to be a tight race to be able to do the manipulation that is going on, but guess what. When it comes down to Clinton v Trump, Trump will have Clinton by the balls (Yes I meant that) as he has already proven but not used anywhere near the extent that he can.

 

Why, when Trump has a list the leanth of his arm that he could use against the Bush bunch (and didn't have to bother using any because bush was never in it) does he use 9/11 and espesualy the 28 pages? Is it an attempt to con (or prove to) the Republican voter that he is a true Patriot? Remember, there are millions of Americans that believe they were lied to concerning 9/11 and even the Dems amongst them may consider voting for him because of this alone and Trump knows that.

 

Meanwhile, more importantly, in breaking news.

 

A man that queued for days with many others to make sure he could get his hands on a pair of the greatly sought after new Kanye West Sneakers claims that he has been used. He fumed that he has now come to the conclusion that the reason for there only being 30 pairs available was to cause an outcry and create more publicity for the footwear . It's not just me he screamed, everyone has been conned and there needs to be an inquiry.  

 

The only point I'll engage here is what Trump vs. Clinton might look like.  Clinton has been dealing with bullies like Trump her whole life.  Guys like Cruz and Bush aren't used to having a guy like him smack them around, but Clinton has been quite literally hounded by Fox News for 24 years.  

 

If that's the pairing, and I retain doubts that Trump actually gets the nomination, Clinton will cut him to shreds.

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The only point I'll engage here is what Trump vs. Clinton might look like.  Clinton has been dealing with bullies like Trump her whole life.  Guys like Cruz and Bush aren't used to having a guy like him smack them around, but Clinton has been quite literally hounded by Fox News for 24 years.  

 

If that's the pairing, and I retain doubts that Trump actually gets the nomination, Clinton will cut him to shreds.

She had better hope Trump or Fox doesn't start hounding, bullying or smacking her around like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rF_ytID7wg not to mention the stuff since then, because instead of the presidency, it will be the jail.

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She had better hope Trump or Fox doesn't start hounding, bullying or smacking her around like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rF_ytID7wg not to mention the stuff since then, because instead of the presidency, it will be the jail.

 

Oh good grief, is this more Vince Foster crap?  No way I'm watching that.

 

Look, I'm not going there with you on the conspiracy theories.  There's a thread for that.  Post it there so I can continue to ignore it.  I would love to get you back in touch with reality, but having had these conversations with others before I'm also quite aware that it's not happening.

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Geoff Kilpatrick

Oh good grief, is this more Vince Foster crap? No way I'm watching that.

 

Look, I'm not going there with you on the conspiracy theories. There's a thread for that. Post it there so I can continue to ignore it. I would love to get you back in touch with reality, but having had these conversations with others before I'm also quite aware that it's not happening.

Who's Vince Foster?
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Kalamazoo Jambo

Who's Vince Foster?

 

Deputy White House Counsel under Clinton and friend of the Clintons who commited suicide. Some conspiracy nuts think different, of course.

 

In more relevant news, Jeb Bush has dropped out of the race after a poor performance in South Carolina.

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Geoff Kilpatrick

Deputy White House Counsel under Clinton and friend of the Clintons who commited suicide. Some conspiracy nuts think different, of course.

 

In more relevant news, Jeb Bush has dropped out of the race after a poor performance in South Carolina.

Cheers.

 

Reading that they think the GOP will unite around Rubio to take on Wiggo. What a shambles they are!

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They have option but to rally round Rubio now.

 

Surely Kaisch and Carson will follow Jeb out the door and it will be a straight three way race between Rubio, Cruz and Trump.

 

It's good that it's happened early enough in the race to give Rubio a chance but he's got to pick up votes soon.

 

If he doesn't get any momentum before Super Tuesday and Trump clears up it's going to be over.

 

He needs to at least overtake Cruz or it could be a straight fight between the two nut jobs.

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Oh good grief, is this more Vince Foster crap? No way I'm watching that.

 

Look, I'm not going there with you on the conspiracy theories. There's a thread for that. Post it there so I can continue to ignore it. I would love to get you back in touch with reality, but having had these conversations with others before I'm also quite aware that it's not happening.

UA, Dinesh D'souza? What's he all about?.
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Oh good grief, is this more Vince Foster crap?  No way I'm watching that.

 

Look, I'm not going there with you on the conspiracy theories.  There's a thread for that.  Post it there so I can continue to ignore it.  I would love to get you back in touch with reality, but having had these conversations with others before I'm also quite aware that it's not happening.

Here we have a typical reaction from someone that doesn't look therefor doesn't know, and here was I thinking you were better than that.

 

Vince Foster takes up one twentieth of that documentary and only one half of that is about his death, the other half explains his role in the Whitewater scandal.

 

The documentary has nothing to do with theory and sticks to the documented facts that are backed up by reputable people that were there at the time. It is about the Clintons from there time in Arkansas to when they got to the Whitehouse. It is a documentary that is akin to sticking your toe in to test the water and shows the type of people they are and also the kind of people they associate with and are beholding to.

 

Monica Lewinsky? Don't make me laugh. Look at this, don't look at that. You do know what was going on at the same time don't you? Chinagate?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCIrIQJ2bfg  .

 

Want to watch a move with the wife? Go rent Kill the messenger (see if you can figure out where it fits in with the documentary you did not watch) and find out what happens to brave people in the media that try to bring the truth to the American people. The truth is not pretty and you may not want to know (what's your idea of hell?) but do not denigraid those that care and therefor take time out to look at all that's out there. Not all are nutjobs, far from it.

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AlphonseCapone

Here we have a typical reaction from someone that doesn't look therefor doesn't know, and here was I thinking you were better than that.

 

Vince Foster takes up one twentieth of that documentary and only one half of that is about his death, the other half explains his role in the Whitewater scandal.

 

The documentary has nothing to do with theory and sticks to the documented facts that are backed up by reputable people that were there at the time. It is about the Clintons from there time in Arkansas to when they got to the Whitehouse. It is a documentary that is akin to sticking your toe in to test the water and shows the type of people they are and also the kind of people they associate with and are beholding to.

 

Monica Lewinsky? Don't make me laugh. Look at this, don't look at that. You do know what was going on at the same time don't you? Chinagate?

.

 

Want to watch a move with the wife? Go rent Kill the messenger (see if you can figure out where it fits in with the documentary you did not watch) and find out what happens to brave people in the media that try to bring the truth to the American people. The truth is not pretty and you may not want to know (what's your idea of hell?) but do not denigraid those that care and therefor take time out to look at all that's out there. Not all are nutjobs, far from it.

Yawn.

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