Drowsy Emperor

Pretty easy to adapt the famous Goering quote to illustrate why that is seen as being 'popular'. Get the press to demonise an enemy, label anyone who doesn't agree as weak or a terrorist sympathiser, then celebrate getting a 'bad guy' when he dies; it's the same everywhere but just a bit more extreme in the US. She was pretty obviously trying for a soundbite/ quote of the "we got him" type, she just stuffed it up and got moderately psychotic instead- small punishment compared to how her (and, to be fair, Dave and Nick's) decision impacted the people of Libya. End of the day all the Mad Dog of Tripoli stuff was done precisely to set the scene for nobody crying when he (or his grandchildren) died by labelling him as a rabid animal that has to be put down for the greater good (the greater good). Essentially though, the biggest flaw most US politicians see in the current climate is that of appearing 'weak'; hence the popularity of the Tea Party a few years ago going after anyone on their own side who'd compromise with Obama, and to a large extent Trump's current popularity as well. That goes extra for Clinton, since she's female some people will assume she's 'weak'. Makes sense

Dislike of Iran could be xenophobia/ jingoism or probably most accurately, bigotry, but Iranian is not a race or ethnicity so it can't be racist. Persian, Azeri, Arab, Kurd and Arab are the main ethnicities in Iran. Realistically though it just plays well with the electorate under the calculation that anyone who likes Obama's foreign policy simply will not vote for a Repub candidate and are likely to vote for her despite her record, even if holding their noses while doing so. I've indirectly addressed a lot of the other stuff below, too. You have seen the We came, we saw, he died clip? The problem with Hillary is basically that she's always been running for President since she got back into politics. That is one of the reasons why she is actively disliked by so many people, everything seems to be calculated and there's a feeling that she's just a walking aggregate focus group response form. In terms of her foreign policy specifically she knows perfectly well that she's going to be labelled as "weak on america's enemies!" or similar because she's female and a Democrat, so her history is strident arch hawk to counter that. Ironically, while an asset vs a Republican that was one of her weaknesses as a primary candidate vs Obama. But in any case that may or may not reflect her real views and what she would do if actually elected, but it certainly reflects a calculated long term strategy to counter an obvious weakness. Same with distancing herself from Obama's policies. Personally, I'd be amazed if she tore up the Iran agreement or significantly changed anything. Rhetoric and posturing as a candidate is risk free, putting that stuff into action isn't. As for Gaddafi, very few americans were going to mourn the passing of The Mad Dog of Tripoli, celebrating it with giggly, crappy classical allusions may seem decidedly sociopathic and the whole intervention was moronic; but that response will have been popular and makes her look strong, and that is what counts. I'd go a bit further than Malcador and say he probably is*. Most large organisations as a whole are sociopathic, and Putin in practically a large organisation by himself. *or whatever form of psychopathy sociopathy is formally defined as nowadays If that is what will give her popular support then I know even less of the US "average Joe" than I thought.

Reading: Yeats's complete poems Gene Wolfe's Soldier of the Mist About to finish (I recommend it): Walter Miller Jr.'s Canticle for Leibowitz Finished: Arthur Clarke: Rendezvous with Rama (decent) Gave up on (due to being underwhelming): Robert Heinlein: The Moon is a harsh mistress Alfred Bester: The stars my destination Next up: Daniel Keyes: Flowers for Algernon

Does Putin strike you as a sociopath? And why should they be glad at Gaddafi being killed, what has he done to the US (that they haven't returned several times over by killing his grandchildren in strikes on his palace) other than refuse to obey?

It shows everything about her that anyone needs to know, that you can wear the finest suits, finish the best university and still be a worse piece of **** than most criminals prowling the streets. What does the fact that you see it as a result of mere carelessness (so she should think it rather than say it? difference much?) rather than a sign of a sort of mental instability say about you?

Its all bull**** pre-election talk. You can even see it in his face as he's speaking it. The clip was about Gaddafi, not Bin Laden. Just take a look:

You have seen the We came, we saw, he died clip? How is he worse, in regards to foreign policy? He's explicitly said that the Iraq war was an unnecessary disaster and he's against intervention in Syria now. Also possibly the only US politician to have a balanced view of Putin He just adopted a strategy of public appearances that sets himself apart from the other candidates and is deliberately being controversial at every juncture because he realizes that there may be benefits to playing the game outside the usual rituals. You could see that in the debates, how he dominates others by thinking quickly, adopting controversial points of view (for US standards anyway) and being loud and rude (which always goes far in politics, as people respect combativeness). People like him for the simple reason is that he (at first glance) looks like a leader and not a technocrat. In reality, he's about as much a leader as a hamburger is a hearty meal - but if the others are the same oatmeal you've been eating for decades, even a burger starts looking tasty.

Sure, if 'Iranian' was only the description of their race and not also one for their countrymen/government (people do this a lot, I'm sure you've come across people talking badly about "Americans" or "Russians" in the same vein), I guess that would be similar to your 'Jews' example. Reaching a bit far to jab her with racism with that, to be honest. A minor part of your post, but was one that made me raise an eyebrow. Frankly, she's so beyond simple racism as to render this discussion moot. Even Hitler didn't cheer like a child after his political enemies were murdered. She makes Trump look balanced and reasonable, and frankly, his foreign policy (such as it exists, I don't think he's very versed in international politics at all), makes more sense than hers does.

Aren't identity politics wonderful? Admittedly, none of if it trumps a horse in the senate, so the US still has a ways to go.

That's the most bizarre rationale I've ever heard. A candidate should be elected based on gender? What a triumph of ideology and stupidity over politics. Besides, she's barely human, let alone female.

With decent politics all the numbers could have been 0's.

But why would anyone vote for Hillary, even compared to the other democratic candidates

Everyone's making far too much fuss over Trump. Even if he wins, the president is just the public face of the government - he's by no means the sole decision maker, maybe not even the most relevant one at that. And Trump, as a businessman and a millionaire is certainly not going to rock the boat in any significant way. He's just using strong rhetoric as an election strategy, to set himself apart from the other candidates.

The best measure of any society is how it treats its most impoverished and weakest members. That things such as free health care and education (and I don't mean any, but the absolute best that society can afford) are even a matter of debate in the US is a sufficient reason it should never speak of human rights in other countries.

Deliberately obtuse or just uninformed? Neither, he is right. Gaddafi was captured hiding in some drain and then killed by his captives a short time later....he got what he deserved. And this was the Libyan rebels....not the West who killed him When you arm, finance and offer intelligence, air and electric communication support to people that did the deed can you really say that you weren't involved? Sure if that was what supported the Arab Spring you would be right....but the West didn't arm, finance or initially support the Arab Spring. It was an ideological movement created and spread by Muslims who wanted a more equitable society in many countries in the North Africa and the ME who were tired of being ruled by families or dictators for decades But Libya's rebels were armed and supported by west in their effort to depose Gaddafi. Even if rebellion itself was not started by west, said rebellion would have most likely failed without help from west. So it is quite dubious to say that west didn't play part in Gaddafi's death. Let take hypothetical and badly fitting metaphor to give an example that resembles situation distantly. Person has been beaten and otherwise subjugated by thier spouse and then they plan to get revenge against said spouse and ask help from their neighbor who then provides them a gun, and then goes and strikes said spouse unconscious and then leaves said person with a gun to sort things out with their unconscious spouse, who then shoot their spouse. Would you say that neighbor in question is innocent and didn't partake in said murder anyway, because said person was already planning to murder their spouse? The "rebels" only existed in the first place because of outside encouragement and support. Even Lenin had to get a wagon of German gold to make the revolution happen, and that was in a state that was disintegrating. There is no such thing as "popular protests", every protest has to be organized and the organizers, if not the rabble on the street, do it for a purpose. But this is known to anyone who knows anything about politics. And utterly besides my original point, which was that Hillary Clinton is a monster. She's a monster because she doesn't even realize how casually evil she is - as is evident from the video. Basic lack of empathy is a trait of psychopaths.

Deliberately obtuse or just uninformed?

You realize that Clinton is still the heavy odds on favorite right? Clinton 8/11 Trump 5/2 Rubio 13/2 Sanders 12/1 If America picks this: Then they might as well nominate the next candidate straight out of hell Why did you like Gaddafi? You know he was a brutal dictator who ruled his country for 40 years and didn't have ONE Democratic election Facts about Libya under Gaddafi that you probably did not know Facts you probably do not know about Libya under Muammar Gaddafi: • There are no electricity bills in Libya; electricity is free … for all its citizens. • There is no interest on loans, banks in Libya are state-owned and loans given to all its citizens at 0% interest by law. • If a Libyan is unable to find employment after graduation, the state pays the average salary of the profession as if he or she is employed until employment is found. • Should Libyans want to take up a farming career, they receive farm land, a house, equipment, seed and livestock to kick start their farms – all for free. • Gaddafi carried out the world’s largest irrigation project, known as the Great Man-Made River project, to make water readily available throughout the desert country. • A home considered a human right in Libya. (In Qaddafi’s Green Book it states: “The house is a basic need of both the individual and the family, therefore it should not be owned by others.”) • All newlyweds in Libya receive 60,000 Dinar (US$ 50,000 ) by the government to buy their first apartment so to help start a family. • A portion of Libyan oil sales is credited directly to the bank accounts of all Libyan citizens. • A mother who gives birth to a child receives US $5,000. • When a Libyan buys a car, the government subsidizes 50% of the price. • The price of petrol in Libya is $0.14 per liter. • For $ 0.15, a Libyan local can purchase 40 loaves of bread. • Education and medical treatments are free in Libya. Libya can boast one of the finest health care systems in the Arab and African World. All people have access to doctors, hospitals, clinics and medicines, completely free of charge. • If Libyans cannot find the education or medical facilities they need in Libya, the government funds them to go abroad for it – not only free but they get US $2,300/month accommodation and car allowance. • 25% of Libyans have a university degree. Before Gaddafi only 25% of Libyans were literate. Today the figure is 87%. • Libya has no external debt and its reserves amount to $150 billion – though much of this is now frozen globally. I know that some of these things are true, the rest I can't confirm. Do you have even a quarter of this? So pls, switch channels from CNN sometime mmkay? Finally:

You realize that Clinton is still the heavy odds on favorite right? Clinton 8/11 Trump 5/2 Rubio 13/2 Sanders 12/1 If America picks this: Then they might as well nominate the next candidate straight out of hell

I think this election is going to be about voting for or against trump, not even "for" the other guy.

No. I'm 0% Hitler. That means I'm 100% Hitler free. I don't even, i mean come on! You have to want to invade Poland. It's the current year! Debates sure are fun: He walked into that one soooooo badly

So many people have invaded Poland that if Hitler had a steam profile he wouldn't have even received an achievement for it.

I got 24%, so I must be mini-me from Austin Powers

Goddamn it. Basically anyone from Europe is likely to get Sanders on the top since he's the sole candidate that resembles European politics. That said: Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump. I just have to see that whale in the White House. It will be even more glorious than Bush

Homeworld 3, Alpha Centauri 2. Remakes if not sequels so I can at least enjoy upgraded graphics. SM Beyond Earth was a disgrace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVCpNWXKfXs