Quote:I haven't watched that video, but I have done a little more digging on the three Democratic front-runners (Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley). My views on Clinton and Sanders haven't changed--Hillary is unelectable for all kinds of reasons and Sanders, despite having some views that I agree with, is very much an extreme, incredibly polarizing left-winger who would be unable to defeat a more moderate Republican candidate, and I'm still feeling like the Republicans will push a moderate-by-comparison candidate with a big name like Bush or Rubio over the far right-wingers to try for some of the moderate vote that might be completely disenfranchised by a Clinton/Cruz race.

 

The guy who keeps on impressing me is Martin O'Malley. He essentially pulled Maryland out of the economic toilet by himself, cut unnecessary government jobs, slowed government spending (it still increased every year, but more slowly than in the past), had the stones to raise taxes--particularly the sales tax, which should be the future replacement for income taxes--and championed a cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay. He's a little farther left than I would like in a few areas, particularly in granting reduced tuition to illegal immigrants and passing very strict gun control legislation, but the man's got a record of getting things done, and we could really use a leader like that right now. I don't think he's a young Bernie Sanders at all. Politically, I think he's the closest candidate to the center out of all the players in the field now, and that certainly wouldn't change if Biden jumped into the fray. Rand Paul remains my choice, but I wouldn't be surprised if that changes to O'Malley over time. I might actually change my party from Republican to Democrat so I can vote for him in the primary, especially if it keeps looking like Paul won't stand a chance of surviving against the Bush, Rubio and Cruz camps.

 

I would suggest watching them in their own words.  One of the things that O'Malley "brags" about is his supposed change in Baltimore.  Why not really do the research regarding that?

 

If you actually watch his speech, his talking points are pretty close to Bernie Sander's talking points.  Blame and demonize the "evil rich" and "make them pay their fair share".  In other words "give more free stuff" to people and tax the "evil rich" in order to pay for it.

 

There is nothing in his message that unites the people of our country, but plenty more that divides us.  That's a common theme among the democrat candidates.  The video that I linked demonstrates that.  I'll put up another thread soon that will feature republicans giving their message.  I would point out one thing.  The message given my most republican candidates talks about America's greatness and the American dream.  They actually give a true message of hope, and have an appreciation for the fact that someone can work their way up.

 

I personally tend to believe the republican message.  In every single job that I had, I got on the bottom rung of the ladder, and climbed up to the top.  It wasn't government regulation that enabled me to earn promotions and enabled me to move into higher positions and thus earn higher wages.  It was because of my own hard work.  Every single American citizen has every bit of opportunity to achieve what I have achieved in my life time.  My "success" in life wasn't given to me and I certainly don't feel like any of it was "deserved".  I worked for everything that I have.

 

The democrat candidates want that to be a "given".

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