Scuzz
5743
I don’t think there is a cap on paying into it anymore, or is that medicare? One of them is now paid regardless of income. If you mean as a paid out then I got nothing except a cap has to be there.
CraigM
5744
For 2016 contributions are capped to the first $118,500 of income.
Timex
5745
Palin was a mistake because she was pandering to voters who would have already voted for McCain.
McCain was not well liked by the more conservative elements of the GOP, largely because he was a moderate. The thought at the time was that by attaching Palin to the ticket, it’d pull in some of those more conservative grassroots elements of the GOP, as she was much more in line with those conservatives, who had played a key role in getting Bush elected twice.
The reality is though, those voters probably would have come out anyway. And while they wouldn’t have picked McCain as their ideal choice, they sure as hell would have picked him over Obama. The “get out the vote” effect of Palin ended up being dwarfed by the depressing effect she had due to her giving really dumb answers to various interviews. Although, to be fair to Palin, she was actually significantly LESS stupid when it all started. She had not fully embraced what she is now, which is a walking bumper-sticker with a stupid catch phrase on it. But she wasn’t qualified to be VP, and that lack of qualification actually ended up dragging down McCain, who was by all measure quite qualified.
Palin ended up dragging McCain down, because she ended up creating an opening for attack that had not previously existed… Where McCain’s experience was largely beyond reproach, adding Palin to the ticket ended up creating a situation where people could make up the scenario where McCain dies and then Palin takes over. The reality is, McCain’s pretty spry now, even 8 years later… I don’t see him dying any time soon. But the fear of Palin becoming President was presented as a real thing.
Ultimately though, I think it demonstrates a mistake in thinking that the VP should ever be designed to target the wing of the party who is more extreme than the candidate themselves. Those people, by their nature, are gonna vote for whoever the hell the party puts up. They do not matter in a general election, as much as they will scream and yell and try to tell you otherwise. They are immaterial, because they are effectively voting automatons. Their partisanship means that you can do whatever the hell you want and get their vote, simply because of the letter in front of your name.
This is happening, people.
With 19 days to go before the Florida Republican primary, GOP front-runner Donald Trump has opened up a 16-point lead over Sen. Marco Rubio.
So timex, who would you vote for? Hillary/Hitler or Trump/Jesus?
Timex
5749
Hillary/Hitler.
Since Trump is essentially Hitler Jr., the choice is “Would you like a small chance of Hitler, or would you like GUARANTEED HITLER?” I take the option of maybe not having Hitler.
This is, clearly, the only rational choice.
Clearly the former–the latter’s got a socialist Jew on the ticket and America ain’t ready for that ;-)
insert <appropriate slow clap gif> here
Why doesn’t this forum have likes?
Clinton is being savaged on Twitter again with the #WhichHillary hashtag, which points out instances of her hypocrisy. Some of my favorites:
Nesrie
5755
Pretty sure Hilary wouldn’t be around for long with that person behind her. Trump is probably safe though, at least from Jesus. His followers though might put him in danger.
Can’t wait for Rubio to spin victory if he gets toasted in his home state.
Strollen
5757
I disagree. Palin was a hail merry pass and it worked. Palin gave McCain a bounce and shifted the momentum of the race. McCain was up against a very formidable candidate, and was trailing all the polls. The percentage of the base, that actually votes regularly in Presidental election is about 40-45% (higher for Republican lower for Democrats) so taking their vote for granted is a mistake. Nominating a conventional politician like say Romney, would have pretty much guarranteed McCain a loss. Palin did energize the base. If Palin hadn’t turned out to be so awful in interviews (continuing the football and analogy she fumbled the ball, the next couple of times she touched it), it might have worked. As it was she ended up mobilizing the Democrat base as much or more than the Republican base. For many Democrats McCain was one of the most acceptable Republican, adding Palin remind Hillary supporter why they hated Republicans
Although, I think ultimately the economy collapse turn the campaign from normal domestic and foreign policy campaign to strictly a domestic campaign which was McCain weakness and Jesus/Abe Lincoln as McCain’s VP wouldn’t have made a difference.
I love voting for my Muslim socialist US Rep every two years :)
Scuzz
5759
Wouldn’t it be Sanders/Lenin?
Nope, alliteration is very important to the democratic ticket.
Yeah, I convinced by random images on the internet too. That is why I know that cat wants my cheeseburger.
