2016 U.S. Presidential Race Megathread Mark 2.

K-9

Previous thread here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=100645229

Be civil!

alastair

On the notion that the FBI might start up raids on medical marijuana centres on the back of a new head of DoJ. Not going to happen - the law has been changed: http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20141208/CPRT-113-HPRT-RU00-HR83sa.pdf

Amerika

alastair wrote: »

On the notion that the FBI might start up raids on medical marijuana centres on the back of a new head of DoJ. Not going to happen - the law has been changed: http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20141208/CPRT-113-HPRT-RU00-HR83sa.pdf

I don't believe this statement is correct. Just today it was reported medical marijuana is to remain a federal crime, other than for research.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/

RobertKK

The DNC hack is a lot worse than first thought, now included Democratic party and Clinton campaign officials private emails.
The hackers they say have gone after everything they can. They have to assume all emails have been compromised.
Nancy Pelosi is blaming Russia.but then said she didn't know but it was the Russians.

That was on CNN.

Also new developments on the FBI, Department of Justice officials who met to talk about a criminal probe into the Clinton foundation.
June 19th 2012 Cheryl Mills, the chief of staff for Hillary Clinton in the State Department went on a train from Washington to New York.
The State department refused to co-operate with Senate investigators who wanted to know what work for the State department Cheryl Mills was doing.
It turns out she went to New York to attend a meeting for the Clinton Foundation even though she was a state employee, and was there working on behalf of the Clinton Foundation (CF).
She was there to interview two candidates to lead the Clinton Foundation. The two candidates were top level executives from Walmark and Pfizer, both huge donors to the CF.
Cheryl Mills may have been in violation of government ethics rules, she may not have had permission from the State Department who may not have been informed. CNN asked the State department and got a vague response which did not answer the questions if rules were broken.
The blurring of lines between the State department and the CF will cause problems for Hillary.
Cheryl Mills has been extremely close to the Clintons for decades.
It raises questions if the Clintons have used the State department to benefit themselves through the Clinton Foundation.

Black Swan

8 November 2016 is the date of the general election (including president), and 28 November 2016 is the trial date of Donald Trump in US District Court for alleged "fraud, racketeering, and corruption" at Trump University, founded by Donald Trump 2005 and failed/closed 2010.

For decades presidential nominees have released their tax returns before November elections, so why was Donald Trump refusing to do so? Methinks he has something to hide, and the IRS audit was a flimsy excuse that Warren Buffett showed was nonsense. If Donald Trump was paying little taxes, or worse ZERO taxes, or even worse declaring a loss, all his bluster about his business qualifications as compensation for ZERO governance, ZERO diplomacy, and ZERO prep for CiC becomes very suspect indeed.

Rather than bluster or excuses, show your tax returns Donald Trump. Otherwise you have something to hide from the voters.

Does anyone have anything positive to say about either candidate and their policies?

TheDoctor

Deleted User wrote: »

Does anyone have anything positive to say about either candidate and their policies?

Have you been following this election?

TheDoctor

TheDoctor wrote: »

Have you been following this election?

Yes. That's the problem.

alastair

Amerika wrote: »

I don't believe this statement is correct. Just today it was reported medical marijuana is to remain a federal crime, other than for research.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/

That's just news that they have not changed the schedule staus on marijuana - which is primarily because it hasn't got much evidence of medical benefit. Here's an article on the bar on FBI raids on medical marijuana centres, As passed by Congress:
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-medical-pot-20141216-story.html
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pot-congress-20151228-story.html

Farr and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) teamed up last year to write the measure that said anyone legally selling medical pot under a state law cannot be prosecuted.

Officials from the Justice Department declined comment, citing continued litigation.

Congress has put the department in a pickle, however. Federal law still classifies marijuana in the most dangerous category of narcotics, alongside heroin and LSD, substances which the law declares to be lacking any accepted medical use. Congress has declined to change that even as it has approved the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, as the provision has come to be known

Suryavarman

Adam Posen of the Peterson Institute for International Economics gives his views on Trump's economic policies in the below video. He describes the plans as "economic nonsense untruths and handouts to the rich". Amerika will be happy to know that the Peterson Institute are well known for their lack of bias.


https://twitter.com/dwnews/status/762790021128593409

TheDoctor

RobertKK wrote: »

The DNC hack is a lot worse than first thought, now included Democratic party and Clinton campaign officials private emails.
The hackers they say have gone after everything they can. They have to assume all emails have been compromised.
Nancy Pelosi is blaming Russia.but then said she didn't know but it was the Russians.

That was on CNN.

Also new developments on the FBI, Department of Justice officials who met to talk about a criminal probe into the Clinton foundation.
June 19th 2012 Cheryl Mills, the chief of staff for Hillary Clinton in the State Department went on a train from Washington to New York.
The State department refused to co-operate with Senate investigators who wanted to know what work for the State department Cheryl Mills was doing.
It turns out she went to New York to attend a meeting for the Clinton Foundation even though she was a state employee, and was there working on behalf of the Clinton Foundation (CF).
She was there to interview two candidates to lead the Clinton Foundation. The two candidates were top level executives from Walmark and Pfizer, both huge donors to the CF.
Cheryl Mills may have been in violation of government ethics rules, she may not have had permission from the State Department who may not have been informed. CNN asked the State department and got a vague response which did not answer the questions if rules were broken.
The blurring of lines between the State department and the CF will cause problems for Hillary.
Cheryl Mills has been extremely close to the Clintons for decades.
It raises questions if the Clintons have used the State department to benefit themselves through the Clinton Foundation.

It's really not as interesting as Trump saying Obama founded ISIS.

Amerika

There have been calls for Trump to release his tax returns so people can see what he really pays and if his business prowess is as strong as he claims. There have been calls for Clinton to release the transcripts to speeches given to Wall Street for obscene amounts of money so people can see what she really thinks of them. But neither of those two subject matters involves their ability of either to perform the duties of POTUS.

More concerning is the increasing evidence that Hillary Clinton may be suffering serious physical health problems that very likely would impact her judgement and mental faculties. A concussion, blood clot, being described as "often confused" in released emails from top aide Huma Abedin, her staff noting she often suffers from severe headaches, coughing fits, and very recently a man walking next to Clinton, who appears to be in charge of protecting her at speeches and directs security details, was photographed holding what appeared to be an emergency Diazepam syringe in his hand. Diazepam is the generic name for Valium and used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and a range of conditions, but its primary purpose in emergency epi-pen style syringes is a first line medication to stop seizures. Should the people demand she release her medical records in order to prove she has the mental capacity and health needed to fulfill the position of President?

Quin_Dub

Amerika wrote: »

There have been calls for Trump to release his tax returns so people can see what he really pays and if his business prowess is as strong as he claims. There have been calls for Clinton to release the transcripts to speeches given to Wall Street for obscene amounts of money so people can see what she really thinks of them. But neither of those two subject matters involves their ability of either to perform the duties of POTUS.

More concerning is the increasing evidence that Hillary Clinton may be suffering serious physical health problems that very likely would impact her judgement and mental faculties. A concussion, blood clot, being described as "often confused" in released emails from top aide Huma Abedin, her staff noting she often suffers from severe headaches, coughing fits, and very recently a man walking next to Clinton, who appears to be in charge of protecting her at speeches and directs security details, was photographed holding what appeared to be an emergency Diazepam syringe in his hand. Diazepam is the generic name for Valium and used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and a range of conditions, but its primary purpose in emergency epi-pen style syringes is a first line medication to stop seizures. Should the people demand she release her medical records in order to prove she has the mental capacity and health needed to fulfill the position of President?

Conspiracy theory guff for the most part..

ancapailldorcha

Amerika wrote: »

There have been calls for Trump to release his tax returns so people can see what he really pays and if his business prowess is as strong as he claims. There have been calls for Clinton to release the transcripts to speeches given to Wall Street for obscene amounts of money so people can see what she really thinks of them. But neither of those two subject matters involves their ability of either to perform the duties of POTUS.

Of course it does. If Trump is dodging tax then it shoots a serious hole in his credibility as a businessman which is a key part of his campaign. You talked before about the revenue his firms make but that's no good if he's depriving public services of essential revenue then his business are inimical to the American public and that's before looking at the likes of Trump University.

I'm not aware of the calls for Clinton's speeches to Wall Street to be made public so I've no opinion there. I see no reason for those transcripts to be made public unless all presidential speeches are made public.

Amerika wrote: »

More concerning is the increasing evidence that Hillary Clinton may be suffering serious physical health problems that very likely would impact her judgement and mental faculties. A concussion, blood clot, being described as "often confused" in released emails from top aide Huma Abedin, her staff noting she often suffers from severe headaches, coughing fits, and very recently a man walking next to Clinton, who appears to be in charge of protecting her at speeches and directs security details, was photographed holding what appeared to be an emergency Diazepam syringe in his hand. Diazepam is the generic name for Valium and used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and a range of conditions, but its primary purpose in emergency epi-pen style syringes is a first line medication to stop seizures. Should the people demand she release her medical records in order to prove she has the mental capacity and health needed to fulfill the position of President?

Increasing evidence? Care to cite any?

InTheTrees

Amerika wrote: »

More concerning is the increasing evidence that Hillary Clinton may be suffering serious physical health problems that very likely would impact her judgement and mental faculties.

Poor trump. This is his new talking point is it?

More like he's trying to distract from the Isis Founding debacle.

I'm beginning to agree with the people who think he may drop out before the election.

Amerika

Quin_Dub wrote: »

Conspiracy theory guff for the most part..

Who here claimed he was a doctor posing as a secret service agent?

Amerika

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

Increasing evidence? Care to cite any?

I just did. They're all out there to read about if you wish to get more details on any.

Suryavarman

Amerika wrote: »

I just did. They're all out there to read about if you wish to get more details on any.

You literally didn't cite any evidence whatsoever.

Quin_Dub

Amerika wrote: »

Who here claimed he was a doctor posing as a secret service agent?

Read the full article I linked - 1st half of the article deals with the Doctor vs. Secret Service piece (which you did not reference) , the 2nd half covers the evidence that what he's holding in his hand is almost certainly a torch and not an epi-pen type device - There's even a video of him using the "torch"..

ancapailldorcha

Amerika wrote: »

I just did. They're all out there to read about if you wish to get more details on any.

No, you didn't. You just posted that the evidence existed which isn't good enough.

Amerika

Suryavarman wrote: »

You literally didn't cite any evidence whatsoever.

Fair enough. Will you be saying the same for others when they make claims of readily available generalized information?

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/05/hillary-clinton-took-6-months-to-get-over-concussion-bill-says-of-timeline/
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/hillary-clinton-blood-clot-life-threatening-medical-experts/story?id=18101213
http://nypost.com/2015/11/16/hillary-is-often-confused-says-trusted-aide-huma-in-fresh-emails/
http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/hillary-clinton-health-issues-cough/2016/02/18/id/714964/
https://regated.com/2016/08/hillary-clinton-revealed-serious-health-issues-possible-brain-damage/

Amerika

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

I'm not aware of the calls for Clinton's speeches to Wall Street to be made public so I've no opinion there. I see no reason for those transcripts to be made public unless all presidential speeches are made public.

It was a major issue during the Democratic primary. The topic even came us in the debates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZOMBNFCoNQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmTy2UP7BCk

Quin_Dub

Amerika wrote: »

Fair enough. Will you be saying the same for others when they make claims of readily available generalized information?

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/05/hillary-clinton-took-6-months-to-get-over-concussion-bill-says-of-timeline/
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/hillary-clinton-blood-clot-life-threatening-medical-experts/story?id=18101213
http://nypost.com/2015/11/16/hillary-is-often-confused-says-trusted-aide-huma-in-fresh-emails/
http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/hillary-clinton-health-issues-cough/2016/02/18/id/714964/
https://regated.com/2016/08/hillary-clinton-revealed-serious-health-issues-possible-brain-damage/

To be honest - None of that is evidence of any current risk to her health or Mental well-being.

Concussion Story - 6 months to recover , long but not unusual and not indicator of long term issues ; See Scottish Rugby player Finn Russell as an example - knocked out in April and won't be fit to return to rugby until late Sept/Early October...

Blot-Clot (from 4 years ago) - The linked article even says that she'll be fine after it..

Hillary Clinton's latest health update -- cerebral venous thrombosis -- is a rare and potentially "life-threatening" condition, according to medical experts, but one from which the globe-trotting secretary of state is likely to recover from.

In an update from her doctors, Clinton's brain scans revealed a clot had formed in the right transverse venous sinus, and she was being successfully treated with anticoagulants.

"Often Confused" - Slightly taken out of context given that the mails were talking about schedules etc.. I've worked with many Senior execs who couldn't tell you what was happening in their schedule without their admins.. Doesn't make them incompetant , just makes them very very busy..

Coughing fits - Who here hasn't had a persistent cough that took time to shake off at some point ? and again , the article you quote says this about it.

Coughing fits — In February 2016, presidential candidate Clinton suffered her third public coughing fit during a speech in Harlem. "Clinton had to dig out a lozenge at last year's Benghazi hearings," noted the Daily Mail, and "also suffered a coughing fit in Iowa back in January, something she attributed to speaking a lot on her campaign tour." The fits prompted many to speculate as to what could be causing them. Ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Jonathan Aviv told "Inside Edition," "It's not just cough. There's some hoarseness, there's some throat clearing, in fact there's frequent throat clearing. When you have these trio of symptoms, you have to think of what I call throat burn reflux, which is acid reflux affecting the throat."

So - A cough and indigestion (or worst case an ulcer or maybe hiatus hernia) - Again nothing that should raise fears of anyones capability to do a job..

Hillary Brain Damage - The last link is just a regurgitation of all the other stuff trying to build a theory..


So , just tenuous links to a variety of individual health issues of varying severity over a number of years to try and suggest that she's some kind of ticking time bomb in terms of mental health..

Hardly convincing to be brutally honest.

Suryavarman

None of those links have anything of concern. I wouldn't be particularly worried about the health of someone that managed to maintain a gruelling campaign schedule over a year and a half without issue either.

Do you think Reagan's alzheimers seriously impacted his presidency?

Amerika

Quin_Dub wrote: »

So , just tenuous links to a variety of individual health issues of varying severity over a number of years to try and suggest that she's some kind of ticking time bomb in terms of mental health..

Still a concern. Releasing her medical records could clear the concerns up.

Amerika

Suryavarman wrote: »

Do you think Reagan's alzheimers seriously impacted his presidency?

Seriously impacted his presidency? No.

ancapailldorcha

Amerika wrote: »

Still a concern. Releasing her medical records could clear the concerns up.

Her medical records are private and rightly so. Odd that you think they ought to be released while saying nothing on the subject of Trump's tax returns.

Suryavarman

Amerika wrote: »

Seriously impacted his presidency? No.

So if it wasn't an issue for Reagan then why is it an issue for Clinton? (even though Clinton's "problems" are a lot less serious)

alaimacerc

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

Her medical records are private and rightly so. Odd that you think they ought to be released while saying nothing on the subject of Trump's tax returns.

I'd say his "deflecting wildly to Clinton's supposed health issues" actually speaks volumes to the defensibility of Trump's failure to follow the convention of releasing tax returns.

B0jangles

Suryavarman wrote: »

Adam Posen of the Peterson Institute for International Economics gives his views on Trump's economic policies in the below video. He describes the plans as "economic nonsense untruths and handouts to the rich". Amerika will be happy to know that the Peterson Institute are well known for their lack of bias.


https://twitter.com/dwnews/status/762790021128593409

Wow, he doesn't really pull any punches there, does he?

Christy42

Amerika wrote: »

Fair enough. Will you be saying the same for others when they make claims of readily available generalized information?

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/05/hillary-clinton-took-6-months-to-get-over-concussion-bill-says-of-timeline/
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/hillary-clinton-blood-clot-life-threatening-medical-experts/story?id=18101213
http://nypost.com/2015/11/16/hillary-is-often-confused-says-trusted-aide-huma-in-fresh-emails/
http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/hillary-clinton-health-issues-cough/2016/02/18/id/714964/
https://regated.com/2016/08/hillary-clinton-revealed-serious-health-issues-possible-brain-damage/

Seriously? She had a concussion in 2012? She had a cough in February.
She had a blood clot in 2013 that threatened her life. This is pure desperation at this stage.

There is 0 evidence and I do mean 0 in what you have provided that she has major health issues at the moment. In 2012 and 2013 sure I would agree with you, she had health issues. However the great thing about science is that we have figured out how to help the body heal itself. Unless you have evidence that she has issues now then your argument is worthless (well I guess it is some deflection away from Donald's tax returns which seem more and more likely to have something dodgy in them).

I have had many coughing fits over the course of my life so far. I am 100% healthy. I am sure you have had them to as they happen occasionally when you get a cold or some other minor infection. Then you have her stalling on her lines for a second (then replayed 5 times to give the impression of it being longer).

Suryavarman

Some great polling news has just come for Trump via a NBC/WSJ Marist poll. He only trails by 5 points in Florida. This could be a close race!

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/764122813745754112

TheDoctor

Suryavarman wrote: »

Some great polling news has just come for Trump via a NBC/WSJ Marist poll. He only trails by 5 points in Florida. This could be a close race!

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/764122813745754112

I wouldn't call those polls "great" for Trump to be honest.

B_Wayne

Amerika wrote: »

Still a concern. Releasing her medical records could clear the concerns up.

This is a bit like Obama releasing his birth cert. Build conspiracy,demand release of information which no other presidential candidate has had to do. Tax returns on the other hand are established and have been released for decades.

Suryavarman

This isn't wholly relevant to the discussion in this thread but Freakonomics did a podcast a couple of weeks ago where they looked at ways to make the US political system more functional. They came up with 10 different ideas such as different voting systems, giving people vouchers to donate money to candidates and having debates in an empty room. I thought I'd post it here in case anyone is interested.

Suryavarman

TheDoctor wrote: »

I wouldn't call those polls "great" for Trump to be honest.

Sarcasm really doesn't translate well over text.

Amerika

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

Her medical records are private and rightly so. Odd that you think they ought to be released while saying nothing on the subject of Trump's tax returns.

Correct, medical records are private the same as tax returns. Release them all I say... anything that might deviate from the public statements the candidates have made, such as the amount of taxes paid, speeches that might counter what the candidates are feeding us, or medical conditions that might adversely affect their job as president.

ancapailldorcha

Amerika wrote: »

Correct, medical records are private the same as tax returns. Release them all I say... anything that might deviate from the public statements the candidates have made, such as the amount of taxes paid, speeches that might counter what the candidates are feeding us, or medical conditions that might adversely affect their job as president.

Not remotely the same thing. Presidents have to disclose their tax returns. This has been how it's done for a long time now.

TheDoctor

I assume if Trump released his medical records we could see how unhealthy he was he got a medical deferment and couldn't go to Vietnam.

Quin_Dub

TheDoctor wrote: »

I assume if Trump released his medical records we could see how unhealthy he was he got a medical deferment and couldn't go to Vietnam.

Whilst he didn't release full medical records there was a statement from his "personal physician" a few months back.

'Astonishingly excellent': Donald Trump releases report saying he'd be the healthiest president 'ever'

Amazingly it would seem that the bone spurs he had that prevented him from serving in Vietnam magically cured themselves without surgical intervention.

Astonishing indeed..

ancapailldorcha

The problem with the pro-Trump arguments is that they aren't pro-Trump arguments at all but tedious expositions about how bad Hillary is. I read an article earlier about Trump's speech on his economic policy. It detailed how he proposed wealth and corporation tax cuts which seem like handouts to the wealthy elite that he isn't part of despite being a billionaire. I don't see how this is going to help ordinary working class people who he's hoping will vote for him. Prior to this, I couldn't name a single Trump policy.

LostinKildare

EDIT: Sorry, Quin_Dub, cross-posted!


It is customary for every presidential candidate to release a letter from his/her doctor testifying to the candidate's state of health. This is usually done during the primaries, or definitely when the candidate has won the party's nomination.

Clinton's campaign released her doctor's letter last year. Pretty standard stuff:

Hillary Clinton is a healthy 67-year-old woman who suffers from hypothyroidism, seasonal allergies and takes blood thinners as a precaution against clots, according to a two-page letter from her personal physician released Friday afternoon by her campaign.
“Her cancer screening evaluations are all negative,” Dr. Lisa Bardack, chair of internal medicine at the Mount Kisco Medical Group, and Clinton’s physician since 2001, wrote, summarizing Clinton’s health history. “She is in excellent physical condition and fit to serve as President of the United States.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/hillary-clinton-health-excellent-doctor-letter-2016-campaign-120861#ixzz4H8Njigx8

The doctor's letter from Trump's campaign was anything but standard. After opening with a typo, "To Whom My Concern", the good doctor enthuses that the patient's tests show "only positive results" (uhhh. . . ) and are "astonishingly excellent", the patient has "extraordinary strength and stamina", and this doozy: “If elected,” Bornstein writes, “Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency”. Wow, the stupidity . . . doesn't sound like something a doctor would write, does it?

Trump tweeted thanks to the wrong person --- his doctor's father (also a doctor, but deceased). The doctor that did (supposedly) write this letter seems to have disappeared.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/12/14/the-donald-s-trumped-up-medical-report.html

I don't know why Hillary haters are revving up a new conspiracy about her health when their guy is so vulnerable on this issue. Trump if elected would be the oldest president ever (70). He has many times bragged about his poor diet of junk food, and how he never exercises. His doctor's letter is a joke -- in fact, it was widely ridiculed in the media when it was released. Actually, the voters deserve to see a serious medical report on him.

InTheTrees

LostinKildare wrote: »

The doctor's letter from Trump's campaign was anything but standard. After opening with a typo, "To Whom My Concern", the good doctor enthuses that the patient's tests show "only positive results" (uhhh. . . ) and are "astonishingly excellent", the patient has "extraordinary strength and stamina", and this doozy: If elected, Bornstein writes, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency . Wow, the stupidity . . . doesn't sound like something a doctor would write, does it?

It says a lot about his narcissism that he would believe anyone would accept that.

RobertKK

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

The problem with the pro-Trump arguments is that they aren't pro-Trump arguments at all but tedious expositions about how bad Hillary is. I read an article earlier about Trump's speech on his economic policy. It detailed how he proposed wealth and corporation tax cuts which seem like handouts to the wealthy elite that he isn't part of despite being a billionaire. I don't see how this is going to help ordinary working class people who he's hoping will vote for him. Prior to this, I couldn't name a single Trump policy.

Here in Ireland the argument is our low corporation tax is important for job creation and attracting Foreign Direct investment (FDI).
The thing is Trump is proposing on slashing corporation tax to help keep jobs in the US and to help more jobs to be created.
He would move US corporation tax close to the Irish rate 15% versus 12.5%.
Trump is also proposing a 10% tax on money held abroad by US companies if they bring that money home to the US. It was reported by Reuters that US companies are holding $2.1 trillion abroad.
Hillary is saying she would raise taxes on the middle classes - something which would be unpopular in this country, while Trump said he would cut taxes on the same group while removing poorer people from paying tax.

I think there was a lot of good stuff in the Trump economic policy speech. Removing means for the rich to lower their tax bills, which Trump says he also benefits from, he would want to release his tax return soon.

I think Hillary Clinton is really wrong to want to tax the middle classes more. This will drive down consumer demand.
It was interesting listening to Hillary yesterday at a factory in Michigan and talk about being against trade agreements she was supporting before Sanders and then Trump posed a problem in these areas.

Suryavarman

RobertKK wrote: »

Here in Ireland the argument is our low corporation tax is important for job creation and attracting Foreign Direct investment (FDI).
The thing is Trump is proposing on slashing corporation tax to help keep jobs in the US and to help more jobs to be created.
He would move US corporation tax close to the Irish rate 15% versus 12.5%.
Trump is also proposing a 10% tax on money held abroad by US companies if they bring that money home to the US. It was reported by Reuters that US companies are holding $2.1 trillion abroad.
Hillary is saying she would raise taxes on the middle classes - something which would be unpopular in this country, while Trump said he would cut taxes on the same group while removing poorer people from paying tax.

I think there was a lot of good stuff in the Trump economic policy speech. Removing means for the rich to lower their tax bills, which Trump says he also benefits from, he would want to release his tax return soon.

I think Hillary Clinton is really wrong to want to tax the middle classes more. This will drive down consumer demand.
It was interesting listening to Hillary yesterday at a factory in Michigan and talk about being against trade agreements she was supporting before Sanders and then Trump posed a problem in these areas.

Hillary Clinton isn't proposing raising taxes on the middle class. Donald Trump is.

Suryavarman

InTheTrees wrote: »

It says a lot about his narcissism that he would believe anyone would accept that.

Kind of funny that Trump's supporters are using medical issues from years ago to attack Clinton when their candidate currently suffers from narcissistic personality disorder.

Amerika

Suryavarman wrote: »

So if it wasn't an issue for Reagan then why is it an issue for Clinton? (even though Clinton's "problems" are a lot less serious)

First, nobody knew Reagan hod Alzheimer’s until a while after he left office. So there was no reason for anyone to have concerns while he was POTUS. If he would have exhibited signs of it while campaigning, or during office, then I would have had serious concerns, and if it was determined he had Alzheimer’s that might have affected his job then the American people should have been told and he should have dropped out of the race, or resigned if he was in office, and Bush I taken over.

Therefore it would be fair then to see what's going on with Hillary, correct? Or are you going to move the goalposts again?

InTheTrees

Suryavarman wrote: »

InTheTrees wrote: »

It says a lot about his narcissism that he would believe anyone would accept that.

Kind of funny that Trump's supporters are using medical issues from years ago to attack Clinton when their candidate currently suffers from narcissistic personality disorder.

Yes. He's obviously overweight, and has a pasty unhealthy complexion that requires a fake tan to mask.

ancapailldorcha

RobertKK wrote: »

Here in Ireland the argument is our low corporation tax is important for job creation and attracting Foreign Direct investment (FDI).

But the US isn't Ireland though. The two aren't comparable. However, you have a point. Lowering corporation tax is generally a good thing. You've also failed to address Trump's proposed tax cut for wealthy people. It's going to be hard to sell this to the typically white, working class voters that he attracts as a measure to improve their income. US labour costs more than Chinese, Mexican or Polish labour which is why companies have relocated. Cutting CT alone won't bring them back. Ireland also has access to the richest trading block in the world. Another reason why the 2 don't compare well.

Black Swan

Amerika wrote: »

There have been calls for Trump to release his tax returns so people can see what he really pays and if his business prowess is as strong as he claims.

Why is Donald Trump afraid to release his tax returns? Why? Presidential candidates have done this for decades, including those under audit. "There's nothing preventing Trump from releasing his tax returns now. Not the IRS, not the law, not even precedent."

Hillary Clinton has nothing to hide in her tax returns, having released several including 2015 Friday, "revealing that she and her husband paid an effective tax rate of greater than 40 percent in 2015 and donated just under 10 percent of their income of nearly $10.7 million to charity."

Methinks that the real reason why Donald Trump has not released his tax returns is based upon what they may reveal; e.g., paying ZERO taxes would not go over well with the voters, given the unpopular experience that Mitt Romney faced during the 2012 presidential elections when his tax returns revealed low taxes paid.

By refusing to release his tax returns (like past presidential candidates have done before November elections for decades) raises yet another concern about Donald Trump. Is this an exercise in good judgment or does this exemplify bad judgment by Donald Trump, as well as raising the specter that Trump will also hide other things if elected president, and not exhibit the transparency that so many voters demand of the federal government and its office holders; e.g., will a president Donald Trump be secretive, exhibiting cover-ups like Richard Nixon (of Watergate fame), especially about things that make him look bad?

By not releasing his tax returns lots of important (or needless) speculation occurs, including if Trump: "He has Russian ties," or "he did not pay any taxes," or "he has mob ties," or "He donates no — or very little — money to charity," or "He is not as rich as he says." Donald Trump's only excuse, that he is being audited is flimsy indeed, especially after Warren Buffett, who is also being audited this year, challenged Trump to a tax duel. One of the richest persons on the planet has nothing to hide in his tax returns, why should Donald Trump?

Amerika

Suryavarman wrote: »

Kind of funny that Trump's supporters are using medical issues from years ago to attack Clinton when their candidate currently suffers from narcissistic personality disorder.

Some of the worlds greatest leaders had narcissistic traits. Napoleon, Winston Churchill, Alexander the Great, Charles de Gaulle, Mahatma Ghandi, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton. And I believe a case could be made that Hillary Clinton’s actions regarding Benghazi inquiry showed malignant narcissism, attendant paranoia, and a disturbing inability to consider the people affected at the center of the inquiry.