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Original poster

To think Oprah being the potus would be amazing

292 replies

Ieatcake · 08/01/2018 23:06

Female, black and lesbian would restore my faith in the world. Trump's supporters would hate that and she seems far more suited than him. She would walk it right?

OP posts:
vwlphb · 10/01/2018 08:04

was only elected as the Democratic candidate because there were no viable competitors

This is true, and the crux of it. I may be wrong but the modern American public seem to be lazy voters. The reason Hillary was the only viable candidate was because she was the only one with the brand recognition to have a chance. There are a lot of better and more interesting politicians within the party but sweet FA of US voters know the first thing about them unless they’re their state governor or senator. It is extraordinary that this thread is about Oprah and not Kamala Harris.

BertrandRussell · 10/01/2018 08:08

Would you still be calling her bitter if she was a man? I think not.

HipNewName · 10/01/2018 08:10

I’d be fascinated to know why you think political family dynasties are a good thing.

I don't. I never said that I did. I said that if my choices are between a celebrity and qualified, ethical person related a former president, I'll take the qualified ethical person.

That's not the same as saying that political family dynasties are a good thing.

I was a Sanders supporter. I really like Tim Kaine and wish he had been the democratic candidate instead of up for VP.

Most Americans I know don't think political dynasties are a good idea, even if they can't agree on much else about politics.

juliesaway · 10/01/2018 08:15

What are the odds, really, that the best-qualified people to lead the country are people who are related to people who’ve already held the position? People have bandied around Michelle Obama’s name as a future candidate and I just think, really? Is she truly the best person you can think of, or just the easiest?

This comment is so true. There’s such a lot of lazy thinking about who is governing and why, and perceptions demonstrate it’s all just seen as a show. American political culture and discourse incredibly dumbed down for the masses. Behind the scenes, (though hardly concealed), massive vested interest and conflicts of interest exist in politics - and the dollar reigns supreme. The little people have no say and they don’t stand a chance. American political society and public values are rotten to the core. It’s an amazing country but values have got so twisted. On a recent long trip to California I was utterly horrified at the level of absolute utter destitution and homelessness on the streets of all major cities I visited - some of the wealthiest cities in the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world. So many people fall through the cracks and are left to rot. most people walk on by, glad it’s not them and think it’s the poor unfortunates own fault they’ve failed to succeed. This American way of thinking will ultimately lead their society to disaster.

vwlphb · 10/01/2018 08:16

Most Americans I know don't think political dynasties are a good idea, even if they can't agree on much else about politics.

My mistake, I totally misread your post as saying that people on both sides would disagree that they’re disturbing.

Although obviously a lot of people since the time of the Kennedys have accepted them as part of the landscape.

Eltonjohnssyrup · 10/01/2018 08:21

Would you still be calling her bitter if she was a man? I think not.

Al Gore definitely got called bitter in similar circumstances. His defeat was even more questionable but I think he handled it with better grace.

I think his decision to throw in the towel and move on to other areas was also much more prudent than Hillary hanging around like a bad smell.

Gore was up against a far more credible candidate and lost. Hillary was up against someone anybody should have beaten and then lost. She really should know when to call it a day. She's toxifying the Democrats. If the economic upturn in the US continues she'd really, really struggle in 2020.

BertrandRussell · 10/01/2018 08:42

“Hillary was up against someone anybody should have beaten and then lost”

I disagree. Trump had a massive groundswell of support- just not support anyone noticed nail too late.

HipNewName · 10/01/2018 08:47

The reason Hillary was the only viable candidate was because she was the only one with the brand recognition to have a chance

Many people believe she cheated in the caucuses, and that's how she won the nomination. Bernie was a viable candidate.

Obama didn't have brand recognition when he started, and he had spent little time in the Senate.

"sweet FA of US voters know the first thing about them unless they’re their state governor or senator"

Most presidential candidates are either governors or senators, (which is how I think it should be) but that doesn't mean that they have brand recognition.

We have a 100 senators, and it's quite hard for a junior senator to make a name for themselves. I suspect the average American can only name 5 senators: their 2 plus a few of the big names, McCain, Warren, etc.

We have 55 governors (50 states plus 5 territories). Most people know their governor plus NY and California, and perhaps another one who has done something ridiculous lately that made it into the news. Why would someone in say New Mexico care who the governor is of Maine? This is a HUGE country, and parts of it are thousands and thousands of miles away from other parts of it.

Being a governor or senator doesn't necessarily give name recognition. In a normal election cycle, people learn about the candidates from appearances, speeches, debates, books they've written, etc.

ShatnersWig · 10/01/2018 08:47

Rousette If you think Sanders is too old then I think you have to also exclude Biden. Sanders is only a year older.

Original poster
Ieatcake · 10/01/2018 08:47

Would you still be calling her bitter if she was a man? I think not.

Biscuit it's nothing to do with gender, she is just very bitter and hasn't don't herself any favours by blaming everyone but herself and not accepting it and moving on.

Trump probably wouldn't have been so bitter as I don't think he even wanted the job to start with.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ieatcake · 10/01/2018 08:47

Would you still be calling her bitter if she was a man? I think not.

Biscuit it's nothing to do with gender, she is just very bitter and hasn't don't herself any favours by blaming everyone but herself and not accepting it and moving on.

Trump probably wouldn't have been so bitter as I don't think he even wanted the job to start with.

OP posts:
SuperBeagle · 10/01/2018 08:48

Would you still be calling her bitter if she was a man? I think not.

Of course. I don't dislike her because she's a woman. There are several women I would like to see run in the future.

BertrandRussell · 10/01/2018 08:48

Why do you think she is bitter?

SuperBeagle · 10/01/2018 08:51

Because she is. Read the book if you're so curious to see how bitter she is.

HipNewName · 10/01/2018 08:52

Hillary was up against someone anybody should have beaten and then lost

It looks like the Russians meddled in the election and played a role putting Trump in the while house.

Eltonjohnssyrup · 10/01/2018 08:58

It looks like the Russians meddled in the election and played a role putting Trump in the while house.

That isn't confirmed and so far any influence appears to have been small. It doesn't change the fact that almost any other candidate would have wiped the floor with Trump even with Russian interference.

Eltonjohnssyrup · 10/01/2018 09:03

I disagree. Trump had a massive groundswell of support- just not support anyone noticed nail too late.

He didn't have a 'massive groundswell of support'. He had a very narrow victory and Hillary won the popular vote.

A candidate without Hillary's baggage would have beaten him. An awful lot of Americans see her as corrupt and prepared to put up with very questionable behaviour from Bill to further her quest for power and money.

Fekko · 10/01/2018 09:14

A melon in a hat would’ve beaten him. He couldn’t have done it on his own - there was definately internal and external meddling going on there.

LaurieMarlow · 10/01/2018 09:16

A candidate without Hillary's baggage would have beaten him

No way of knowing that. Pure conjecture.

HipNewName · 10/01/2018 09:18

@Elton - the investigation is ongoing. Right now, no one actually knows what happened in the last US election.

LaurieMarlow · 10/01/2018 09:22

If Trump demostrated anything, it's that the US voting public weren't looking for qualifications and experience in their POTUS. They were looking for a personality they could get behind, someone who embodied the idea of a 'leader', in however flawed a capacity.

Given that, I can see why Oprah might seem like a good idea as a candidate to run against him.

CrazyExIngenue · 10/01/2018 09:23

A melon in a hat would’ve beaten him.

No, I don't believe that. The more I reflect the more I think there weren't many life long politicians that could have beaten him. His election unveiled an underbelly of the US that most of the world doesn't see, one of poverty, limited education, incredibly deepset myopia and indoctrination and racism. These people have been waiting for a Trump for generations. They hoped Regan would be their Trump, and then they hoped the Bushes, but they were disappointed. Trump was a god send to them.

makeourfuture · 10/01/2018 09:26

His election unveiled an underbelly of the US

"In Birmingham they love the Governor..."

Eltonjohnssyrup · 10/01/2018 09:26

I've been following the investigation, and although it's not been published yet the rumblings I've been hearing is that the Russian angle isn't going to be significant and it's going to focus on financial irregularities. The charges so far point in that direction.

Leilaniiii · 10/01/2018 09:32

WTF is a potus? Is Oprah gay? How comes I didn't know all this stuff Grin. Anyway, yes - I think she would make an amazing president. However, I don't think she's compliant enough in nature for the 'powers that be' to allow it to happen.