Posted on 10/03/2016 2:23:44 AM PDT by Gigantor
Authored by Eric Zuesse,
Sometimes, things in politics are the opposite of the way they seem. The Presidential contest between the ‘liberal’ Hillary Clinton’ and the ‘conservative’ Donald Trump is perhaps the most extreme example of this — for ten reasons that will be documented here.
I have never voted Republican in my life, starting with my first vote in the 1960s. I’ve consistently supported Bernie Sanders for President (even before he entered the contest). The reason for that support is his record in public office, regarding especially these ten key issues, where Sanders’s actions in public office contrast sharply against Hillary Clinton’s actions in public office. (Her policy-words lie often; but her policy-actions never have lied — actions speak the truth.) Trump has no record at all in public office. Even if he’s as bad as he sometimes projects to be, he’s not as bad as Hillary’s policy-record already is. But his clear superiority over her isn’t merely his lack of any record in public office; because, as will be demonstrated here, his words on some of the crucial public-policy issues have been consistently far more progressive than her actions on those same issues have been (and sometimes more progressive than her words on these issues have been) — and, in Donald Trump’s case, words are all that we have to go by, because his record as a businessman displays nothing about his authentic views about public policy, but only about his self-interest. Both of these two candidates are liars, and any intelligent voter knows it by now.
First, here, will be stated these ten key issues, on each of which issues Bernie and Hillary are opposites, and then Trump’s stated position regarding each of the ten will be presented.
At the end will be presented the reason I won’t vote for Jill Stein.
2: Sanders has fought consistently against Obama’s mega-‘trade’ deals. Hillary consistently favored them.
3: Sanders favors working with Russia against jihadists in Syria. Hillary opposes that.
4: Sanders says jihadists are America’s top foe. Hillary says both jihadists and Russia are equally anti-American, equally dangerous to America. Hillary is simply a neoconservative; Sanders isn’t. Her having voted to invade Iraq was no mistake on her part; it was consistent with her entire international outlook, all of which is neoconservative, like invading Libya, Syria, etcetera. Bernie’s vote against invading Iraq was likewise consistent with his international outlook.
5: Sanders has been consistently opposed to fossil fuels. Hillary has aggressively supported them.
6: Sanders says that the system is rigged. Hillary says that it’s not.
7: Sanders says the system is rigged specifically against the poor. Hillary says the problem that keeps people poor is instead individual bigots — against Blacks, Hispanics, women, gays, etc. Not the system itself. She is proud to represent the system. She’s not against it. She’s for it.
8: Sanders’s political career has been financed by small-dollar donations. Hillary’s has been financed by mega-donations.
9: Sanders favors every possible means of reducing the influence big-money donations to politicians has over politics. Hillary opposes that idea.
10: Sanders favors socialized health insurance, like exists in the European nations that spend per-capita half what America does but have higher life-expectancy than America does. Hillary opposes that — she favors the existing profit-based system of health-care, and opposes the European system where basic healthcare is a right, no privilege (that’s based only on ability-to-pay).
--Detailed breakdown of the ten reasons at link--
I agree with about 1/2 of his points
You're not voting Republican, you're voting for Trump.
...guess he’s not aware that the Brits healthcare system is about to implode....
Having used it I can say it works no better than a county hospital
Well, even in damage control mode concerning her revealed comments about Bernie supporters (at least the young ones), it is going to be a challenge to win them back big time.
Points 1-4, 6-8 are less ideological and more anti-establishment. Points 5, 9-10 are much more ideological.
Trade has always cut ideological lines, and Democrats always hate big political money, unless it is union money.
It is a curious election. The “liberal” is claiming to be conservative and the “conservative” has never been a conservative. These distinctions are no longer relevant, it would seem. Now it is “corrupt” vs not corrupt.
And yet, you voted for obammy. Twice.
Moron
Trump is far from a leftist liberal. He is also not the corrupt insider that PIAPS is. He may not push all the button in exactly the right way but compared to McCain, Romney, G.W Bush he is a conservative.
Trump is the most pro 2nd amendment in 75 years at least.
Trump is the only candidate since 1926 to oppose globalism.
Trump is reviving Reagan’s tax plan
Trumps healthcare plan is straight from Phil Gram in the 1980’s
Trump is more transparent than PIAPS.
Trump has given more details on his policies than anyone I can remember.
You can’t really argue based upon his platform that Trump is not running as a conservative
Trump clearly loves our country and wants to protect the people in it.
Hillary (and her mindless followers) hate our country and either don’t care what happens to the people in it, or feel they deserve punishment for slavery, polluting Mother Earth, or using the wrong pronoun when referring to someone who’s confused about their own sex.
Next to those, the terms “Republican” and “Democrat” mean nothing. In fact, I’d lump the vast majority of Republicans right in there with Democrats - they’re simply getting rich (or, rather, richer), while pretending to be on the “side of the people.” I can tolerate a few, but I don’t really trust them. They’re politicians - be definition some of the lowest lifeforms on the planet.
... make that “by definition,” not “be definition”.
bttt
A huge upgrade over the "republicans" we've been being betrayed by for decades....
Not disagreeing with you one bit but in the past he has never been identified as a conservative. Reagan had a long history of conservativism. The RINOs since had at least been GOP. These things are part of his appeal for at least some. We Tea Party types are just happy to have someone with a record of loving America. The other side can’t find a single candidate that does.
I have never voted Republican in my life, starting with my first vote in the 1960s.
I forgive you for that.
Believe what you want, just VOTE TRUMP/PENCE!
As a play upon the famous words of Churchill, to be idealistic when young is normal, to have not recognized and accepted reality by your mid thirties to 40's is stupidity befitting of the village idiot.
I mostly agree with seven of them (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8) and partly agree with one (9). The best way to curb the influence of big money in politics is to severely the power of politicians to return favors.
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