The 2012 Political Race Thread!

**blingdomepiece** · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 4358 Location: Ottawa ON Canada

The people have elected a GOP House, and a Democratic Senate and President. The message that should be received by both parties is to work together and compromise to deal with the fiscal cliff, immigration reform, etc.

I understand Dems might be frustrated by this, but if they don't like it, they need to turn the House in 2014. It's going to be two years of passing stuff that isn't ideal, or two more years of gridlock.
_________________

Expert Pro Keys: 50/63 GS, most recent The Killing Moon
Expert Pro Drums: 53/83 GS, most recent Free Bird / Oh My God / Oye Mi Amor
Expert Pro Bass: 6/83 GS, most recent Everybody Wants to Rule the World

**HellAshes** · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 8320 Location: Livingston, NY

**raynebc** · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 992

**Yewb** · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 3020 Location: Plymouth, UK

Someone on SH - I can't remember who, but I'd certainly credit them if I could - fairly recently put forth the point that "abortion is murder, but it's alright if you were raped" is a very odd claim. If you accept that an unborn child has a right to life, why is it permissible to terminate that life based on the fact that it is the result of a rape? Would that be equally permissible once the child has been born?
_________________

expertwin wrote:

ShadoWolf wrote:

expertwin wrote:

I just want to, you know, get my name out there. BTW, it updates every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Was just the first two, decided to do Saturdays as well.

Serious advice now: No-one likes indecision in their work, so find what you like that you're even remotely good at, and stick with it. Don't flit from one thing to another, because that just smacks of a large lack of determination and drive. And people don't like you for that, and won't remember you for it. I mean, I get that you have a plucky spirit and a willingness to try new things, but there's a limit, man.

I might knock it down to just Thursday and Friday.

JOE2210 wrote:

Leave me alone, I have been drinking and your made up words mean nothing to me.

**megallica** · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 2429 Location: Woodbridge, VA

**bclare** · Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 6048 Location: Boston

**raynebc** · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 992

**krisdaschwab912** · Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 6567 Location: UW-Eau Claire

Here's how I feel on abortions: I'm not a fan. If I were a woman, I would never get one unless it was from one of the aforementioned scenarios of life endangerment or rape. But I'm not a woman, and I can't make a decision about a woman's body because it's not mine. That's why I'm in favor of having access to abortion, with a specific restriction on, for lack of a better word, "elective" abortions after a certain point (somewhere between 20 and 24 weeks, or whenever the fetus could survive outside the womb [otherwise known as, in my opinion, when life begins]). Like others have mentioned, I'm also a proponent of increased access to birth control and sex education.

One other thing about this topic: What would our SH users think about something like this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_Finland

To compare, the abortion rate in Finland is 8.9 per 1000 women as of 2008, whereas the United States is at 19.1. http://m.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2012/06/geography-abortion/1711/

The Finnish system is an interesting concept, but I'm sure the idea of "free abortions" would cause most hard-line republicans to shit a brick or two.
_________________

krisdaschwab912's dream six-pack undergoing revision.

PiemanLK, on krisdaschwab912's legendary dating skills wrote:

I'd listen to him, he knows his way around with the ladies.

**TheLonging** · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 4191

The Bible supports fetuses being a person only after it is born btw. Like anything in the Bible, it is up to interpretation and translation. I take no credit for this, so I will instead link/quote from this blog, and the only reason I do is because people use religion as an excuse to ban abortion, without even so much as a second thought. If you oppose it for other reasons, fine whatever. Anyway:

**bclare** · Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 6048 Location: Boston

**raynebc** · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 992

Here's a pretty good recent collection of health violations:
http://familyfoundation.org/2012/09/breaking-news-fetal-remains-blood-found-in-virginia-abortion-center/

**blingdomepiece** · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 4358 Location: Ottawa ON Canada

Abortion is a wedge issue and a base-motivating issue. That you guys have just spent a couple of pages debating it at the expense of all other issues shows how powerful it is.
_________________

Expert Pro Keys: 50/63 GS, most recent The Killing Moon
Expert Pro Drums: 53/83 GS, most recent Free Bird / Oh My God / Oye Mi Amor
Expert Pro Bass: 6/83 GS, most recent Everybody Wants to Rule the World

**Metalhead911** · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:50 am Post subject:

**GuitarHailz** · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 4910 Location: Austin, Texas

I really hope that Puerto Rico becomes the 51st state. Not only for the historical significance, but I really just can't find a reason why they shouldn't. They're already a territory of the US, and something like 10,000 Puerto Ricans serve in our military. They voted on it and they want to join us, I don't see denying them to be a good move at all.

Plus to deny them statehood would look bad for the GOP as well, since they need to improve relations with Latino voters if they hope to get anywhere in 2014 and 2016. Also being Catholic they will probably tend to vote Republican as well, it would only help them. I guess we'll see.

Plus there's something psychological about it, people will want to visit there once they become a state (I know I would, it's way closer than Hawaii). If increased tourism means more tax dollars for our government and a better quality of life for them, it seems like a win-win. I think it could help out everyone, but I'm always open to discussion.

If this happened flag companies everywhere would rejoice! And we'd need a new Animaniacs song! I'm partial to a simple 9/8/9/8/9/8 star flag, but I kinda like this one too strangely enough.
_________________

**Sarg338** · Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 5143