Happily though, those are drowned out by the number of people who are praising (or at least developing a grudging respect) for her. Even more pleasing is how many people are saying, "Yeah I didn't like her one bit, but I can't bring myself to vote for Republicans anymore after this shit."During the last 24 hours I can not tell you the vast amount of hotels of 'Victory!' fro the Right, cries of WE GOT HER! and 100% guarantees that she's going to prison! She's toast! It's all over for her!!!
The 2016 US Election (Part I)
Moderators: Alyrium Denryle, Edi, K. A. Pital
- Borgholio
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Re: The US Election 2016
You will be assimilated...bunghole!
- Zeropoint
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Re: The US Election 2016
That's where I am. I'm hoping for Sanders, but I'd vote for ANY of the Democratic candidates over any of the Republicans.
I'm a cis-het white male, and I oppose racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. I support treating all humans equally.
When fascism came to America, it was wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.
That which will not bend must break and that which can be destroyed by truth should never be spared its demise.
When fascism came to America, it was wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.
That which will not bend must break and that which can be destroyed by truth should never be spared its demise.
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Re: The US Election 2016
Their aren't a lot of Democratic Presidential candidates left. Webb and Chafee have both dropped out.
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Re: The US Election 2016
NOTE ALL NUMBERS FROM RCP Poll Averages
What is really interesting right now., isn't so much Hillary's numbers but those of the GOP Race...
Let us Jump into the "way back" machine and look at the date of July 10th.
At this point in time, the top Five spots were as follows:
Bush - 16.3%
Walker - 10.5%
Carson - 9.8%
Rubio - 9.3%
Huck - 7.8%
At this point in time, everything seemed "Normal" pundits were going on about the Coronation of Jeb and how a "Jeb v Hillary" race was all but certain. Walker had just come onto the field and began to rise quickly as he whipped up various nutters with his cries of "I get stuff done!" And Carson, well, Carson was a novelty and nothing more. And Trump? Well, a Joke at the time...
Something to note. See Jeb? 16%? This is the highest his numbers will ever be.. From this point on it's a downhill slide.
Fast forward 10 days...
in just TEN DAYS this happened...
Trump - 18.2% +11.7
Bush - 13.7% -2.6
Walker - 11.7% +1.5
Rubio - 6.8% -2.5
Carson - 6.0% -3.8
Trump basically EXPLODES. In ten days he gains over 10 points. The interesting things is if you look at the other top 5, everyone else numbers don't go down 'that much' between 2 to 3 %.but the AMOUNT The all go down together, corresponds to Trumps rise. IE, the nutters of each group begin to flow to Trump.
And now going just another 10 days, things get even more "Fun"
Trump - 24.3% +6.1
Bush - 12.5% -1.2
Walker - 9.5% -2.2
Huck - 6.8% +0.8
Carson - 5.8% -0.2
Once again another huge jump for Trump, over 6 points. And also once again, notice the change is even smaller, barely 1 to 2 points. These number were listed as of Aug-5, which is just One day before the first GOP Debate. Lets watch what happens after it...
(15days after the First Debate.)
Trump - 22.0% -2.3
Bush - 10.7% -1.7
Carson - 9.7% +3.9
Walker - 7.7% -1.8
Rubio - 7.3% +2.0
For the very first time Trump's number go down, and the reason is pretty much Carson, for the first time, had a chance to show that he can be just as crazy as Trump in certain areas. The 'Energy' of Trump at this point has basically started hitting a critical mass of Crazy. Jeb and Walker, the two that had for years been touted as THE 'establishment' candidates, do nothing but go down. So now, lets fast forward to one day before the NEXT debate...
One month later, Sep 16th.
Trump - 30% +8.0
Carson - 20% +10.7
Bush - 7.8% -2.9
Cruz - 6.8% -0.5
Rubio - 5.3% -2.0
So at this point, certain trends become really noticeable. Once again Jeb continues to go down, and down... And Walker at this point is pretty much gone. The "crazy" of Trump and Carson now equal over 50% of the polls. So basically 50% of all GOP being polled are going for candidates that have NO CHANCE in a general election. Also it is worth noting Rubio... So far over the last two months, he has been in the top 5 slots almost always. Sure he has been near the bottom... But his over all numbers have remained steady. Again this is all BEFORE the second debate. Lets see what happens after...
Sep 23rd.
Trump - 24% -6.5
Carson - 16.3% -3.7
Fiorina - 11.8% +8.5
Bush - 9.8% +2.0
Rubio - 9.3% +4.0
Here is where things SEEMED To change. For the first time Jeb's numbers actually go up by a significant amount, and both Carson and Trump plummet. All those numbers seemed to pour into Florina, who positioned herself as "The Female Crazy" of the race. Her outing in the debate was enough to launch her into the top five spot.
A note, this is the point that many in the media were sure that this time, NO REALLY this time Trump WAS finished! We Really mean it! Except... Well.
Oct21st.
Trump - 27.2% +3.2
Carson - 21.3% +4.0
Rubio - 9.0% -0.3
Cruz - 8.0% +1.5
Bush - 7.0% -2.8
As we see, Fio didn't last very long once in the spotlight. She polled at 5.5 in the last average. And the others? Well both Trump and Carson are back up to almost 50% of the polls, and seem as strong as ever. Once again AGAIN, Trump defies everyone calling for his demise and continues to gain power in the electorate of the GOP. Meanwhile Jeb is down to 7%. And Rubio? Well he is now in the top 3 and his numbers continue to remain about the same, in almost the past four months, his numbers have changed less than 2% up or down.
And now at the end of this... What conclusion can we draw? Well.. I personally will go out on a limb and state the GOP has finally reached a sort of "Critical mass" in regards to crazy levels. Contrast the 'boom and bust' cycle of the 2012 election with whats going on today.
During that race, we had a host of "Crazies" that shot up in the poles, seemed to be a sure thing, and just as quickly went down in flames... Talking heads at the time said this was "proof" that the GOP was NOT led by the Crazies as 'sensible' people saw that the crazies wouldn't win, and eventually moved to another candidate...
During this same time, Romney, puttered along in the back ground at a fairly steady amount. Never surging up, but never really going down, and in the end, he basically 'Won by default.'
This time around, I think the 'Media' continues to expect the same cycle... Except it isn't happening this time.
Sure Florina went up and down in the span of a few weeks, but she is the exception. Both Trump and Carson continue to go back up and remain strong. They have both said things that, in different circles, would have doomed their chances yet no one seems to care.
Meanwhile Jeb, again THE 'establishment' candidate, is now struggling to stay relevant at this point as his campaign is kept on Life Support largely through super pacts. And Rubio? Well...
My own personal prediction is that Rubio may actually pull this out. Again, purely by default. He so far is the only Candidate to remain in the top 5 slot for the most part at a somewhat steady number. What it means is his supporters are actual genuine supporters who believe in him come what may. They have stuck with him and that gives him a lease on life few others have.
The long and short of it is for those with half a brain, it can now well and truly be said that the GOP is now fully in control of "The Crazies"
Let us sit back and enjoy the show.
What is really interesting right now., isn't so much Hillary's numbers but those of the GOP Race...
Let us Jump into the "way back" machine and look at the date of July 10th.
At this point in time, the top Five spots were as follows:
Bush - 16.3%
Walker - 10.5%
Carson - 9.8%
Rubio - 9.3%
Huck - 7.8%
At this point in time, everything seemed "Normal" pundits were going on about the Coronation of Jeb and how a "Jeb v Hillary" race was all but certain. Walker had just come onto the field and began to rise quickly as he whipped up various nutters with his cries of "I get stuff done!" And Carson, well, Carson was a novelty and nothing more. And Trump? Well, a Joke at the time...
Something to note. See Jeb? 16%? This is the highest his numbers will ever be.. From this point on it's a downhill slide.
Fast forward 10 days...
in just TEN DAYS this happened...
Trump - 18.2% +11.7
Bush - 13.7% -2.6
Walker - 11.7% +1.5
Rubio - 6.8% -2.5
Carson - 6.0% -3.8
Trump basically EXPLODES. In ten days he gains over 10 points. The interesting things is if you look at the other top 5, everyone else numbers don't go down 'that much' between 2 to 3 %.but the AMOUNT The all go down together, corresponds to Trumps rise. IE, the nutters of each group begin to flow to Trump.
And now going just another 10 days, things get even more "Fun"
Trump - 24.3% +6.1
Bush - 12.5% -1.2
Walker - 9.5% -2.2
Huck - 6.8% +0.8
Carson - 5.8% -0.2
Once again another huge jump for Trump, over 6 points. And also once again, notice the change is even smaller, barely 1 to 2 points. These number were listed as of Aug-5, which is just One day before the first GOP Debate. Lets watch what happens after it...
(15days after the First Debate.)
Trump - 22.0% -2.3
Bush - 10.7% -1.7
Carson - 9.7% +3.9
Walker - 7.7% -1.8
Rubio - 7.3% +2.0
For the very first time Trump's number go down, and the reason is pretty much Carson, for the first time, had a chance to show that he can be just as crazy as Trump in certain areas. The 'Energy' of Trump at this point has basically started hitting a critical mass of Crazy. Jeb and Walker, the two that had for years been touted as THE 'establishment' candidates, do nothing but go down. So now, lets fast forward to one day before the NEXT debate...
One month later, Sep 16th.
Trump - 30% +8.0
Carson - 20% +10.7
Bush - 7.8% -2.9
Cruz - 6.8% -0.5
Rubio - 5.3% -2.0
So at this point, certain trends become really noticeable. Once again Jeb continues to go down, and down... And Walker at this point is pretty much gone. The "crazy" of Trump and Carson now equal over 50% of the polls. So basically 50% of all GOP being polled are going for candidates that have NO CHANCE in a general election. Also it is worth noting Rubio... So far over the last two months, he has been in the top 5 slots almost always. Sure he has been near the bottom... But his over all numbers have remained steady. Again this is all BEFORE the second debate. Lets see what happens after...
Sep 23rd.
Trump - 24% -6.5
Carson - 16.3% -3.7
Fiorina - 11.8% +8.5
Bush - 9.8% +2.0
Rubio - 9.3% +4.0
Here is where things SEEMED To change. For the first time Jeb's numbers actually go up by a significant amount, and both Carson and Trump plummet. All those numbers seemed to pour into Florina, who positioned herself as "The Female Crazy" of the race. Her outing in the debate was enough to launch her into the top five spot.
A note, this is the point that many in the media were sure that this time, NO REALLY this time Trump WAS finished! We Really mean it! Except... Well.
Oct21st.
Trump - 27.2% +3.2
Carson - 21.3% +4.0
Rubio - 9.0% -0.3
Cruz - 8.0% +1.5
Bush - 7.0% -2.8
As we see, Fio didn't last very long once in the spotlight. She polled at 5.5 in the last average. And the others? Well both Trump and Carson are back up to almost 50% of the polls, and seem as strong as ever. Once again AGAIN, Trump defies everyone calling for his demise and continues to gain power in the electorate of the GOP. Meanwhile Jeb is down to 7%. And Rubio? Well he is now in the top 3 and his numbers continue to remain about the same, in almost the past four months, his numbers have changed less than 2% up or down.
And now at the end of this... What conclusion can we draw? Well.. I personally will go out on a limb and state the GOP has finally reached a sort of "Critical mass" in regards to crazy levels. Contrast the 'boom and bust' cycle of the 2012 election with whats going on today.
During that race, we had a host of "Crazies" that shot up in the poles, seemed to be a sure thing, and just as quickly went down in flames... Talking heads at the time said this was "proof" that the GOP was NOT led by the Crazies as 'sensible' people saw that the crazies wouldn't win, and eventually moved to another candidate...
During this same time, Romney, puttered along in the back ground at a fairly steady amount. Never surging up, but never really going down, and in the end, he basically 'Won by default.'
This time around, I think the 'Media' continues to expect the same cycle... Except it isn't happening this time.
Sure Florina went up and down in the span of a few weeks, but she is the exception. Both Trump and Carson continue to go back up and remain strong. They have both said things that, in different circles, would have doomed their chances yet no one seems to care.
Meanwhile Jeb, again THE 'establishment' candidate, is now struggling to stay relevant at this point as his campaign is kept on Life Support largely through super pacts. And Rubio? Well...
My own personal prediction is that Rubio may actually pull this out. Again, purely by default. He so far is the only Candidate to remain in the top 5 slot for the most part at a somewhat steady number. What it means is his supporters are actual genuine supporters who believe in him come what may. They have stuck with him and that gives him a lease on life few others have.
The long and short of it is for those with half a brain, it can now well and truly be said that the GOP is now fully in control of "The Crazies"
Let us sit back and enjoy the show.
Praying is another way of doing nothing helpful
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"Outlaw star has spaceships that punch eachother" Joviwan
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Read "Tales From The Crossroads"!
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- Mr Bean
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Re: The US Election 2016
There's a bit of more interesting data that comes from the polling averages...
Specifically in polls where Trump does X% above 25% it's very clearly a general he takes a little bit of support from everyone else running in the race which is common from a frontrunner... but Ben Carson has an almost 1-1 relationship with Ted Cruz in that if Ted Cruz is 2%-5% lower in a poll there's a near 1-1 gain for Ben Carson in relationship to that loss. Or in other words there's a direct mirror imagine between Ted Cruz and Ben Carson, if either one drops from the race the other gains over 90% of the votes of the one who left.
Specifically in polls where Trump does X% above 25% it's very clearly a general he takes a little bit of support from everyone else running in the race which is common from a frontrunner... but Ben Carson has an almost 1-1 relationship with Ted Cruz in that if Ted Cruz is 2%-5% lower in a poll there's a near 1-1 gain for Ben Carson in relationship to that loss. Or in other words there's a direct mirror imagine between Ted Cruz and Ben Carson, if either one drops from the race the other gains over 90% of the votes of the one who left.
"A cult is a religion with no political power." -Tom Wolfe
Pardon me for sounding like a dick, but I'm playing the tiniest violin in the world right now-Dalton
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Re: The US Election 2016
And that is the reason the race is so Fcked right now, the sheer number of nominees means that numbers can change in the blink of an eye. But ONLY if people start dropping out.Mr Bean wrote:There's a bit of more interesting data that comes from the polling averages...
Specifically in polls where Trump does X% above 25% it's very clearly a general he takes a little bit of support from everyone else running in the race which is common from a frontrunner... but Ben Carson has an almost 1-1 relationship with Ted Cruz in that if Ted Cruz is 2%-5% lower in a poll there's a near 1-1 gain for Ben Carson in relationship to that loss. Or in other words there's a direct mirror imagine between Ted Cruz and Ben Carson, if either one drops from the race the other gains over 90% of the votes of the one who left.
Contrast where we are now to 2012.
At this point the race was between Romney at 26%, and Cain at 25% who at the time was the latest in the "Boom Bust" cycle of Crazies from that election. Perry, Cain, Gingrinch, and Santorum. Each one of them in the span of about a month, went from about 10% to 25% or more, and then crashed a month or so later.
Of course at the time there was at most 7 people at any one time, and half of those were basically written of as non options. Basically everyone already knew it was going to be Romney and someone else.
This time around, the sheer number of people in, means that for the most part it could be "anyones race" which is skewing the numbers terribly.
Praying is another way of doing nothing helpful
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"Outlaw star has spaceships that punch eachother" Joviwan
Read "Tales From The Crossroads"!
Read "One Wrong Turn"!
"Congratulations, you get a cookie. You almost got a fundamental English word correct." Pick
"Outlaw star has spaceships that punch eachother" Joviwan
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Re: The US Election 2016
Just an addition to my analysis last night in regards to how the large amount of candidates is skewing the over all numbers:
if at this moment, everyone except the current “Top Five” dropped out, Lets look at what happens.
There are 14 people in right now, so if you add up the Poll numbers from those 9 people who would get the Ax, they combined add up to a total of…… 14.4%
That’s it, between NINE people those Nine currently have a grand totally of just 14.4 of those polled.
Applying that to the top five left makes for interesting situations. If we assume, for the sake of argument, that ALL of that support were to go to ONE person, here is how things would look.
Trump 27.2
Carson 21.4 +14.4 = 35.8
Rubio 09.2 +14.4 = 23.6
Cruz 07.8 +14.4 = 22.2
Jeb 07.2 +14.4 = 21.6
I find it hard to believe that Carson will be able to maintain the same amount of energy as Trump and that he could stay in long enough for the crowd to get down to just five, or even less. The same goes for Jeb, he is basically on Life support and may actually drop out simply from lack of money. Cruz and Rubio so far have the best shot of staying in the race for the long hull (IMHO). But as we see, depending on who else stays in the race, they STILL may not be able to catch up with Trump.
Let us not forget, that at his highest peak, Trump had 30%, which is an astounding amount. One would imagine as others drop out, a % of those supports may migrate to Trump. Even if he picks up only 1 or even half a % from each person as they drop out, it can still add up.
Personally the ONLY Way I truly see Trump being eclipsed, is if Carson drops out, and the majority of his supporters go to Cruz or Rubio, or shoot even Jeb. As it is, Trump once he got going, has never dipped bellow 20%, which is still a very strong amount of numbers. The long and short of it, is that as of right now, it looks like Trump, going purely ‘by the numbers’ could actually get the nomination
if at this moment, everyone except the current “Top Five” dropped out, Lets look at what happens.
There are 14 people in right now, so if you add up the Poll numbers from those 9 people who would get the Ax, they combined add up to a total of…… 14.4%
That’s it, between NINE people those Nine currently have a grand totally of just 14.4 of those polled.
Applying that to the top five left makes for interesting situations. If we assume, for the sake of argument, that ALL of that support were to go to ONE person, here is how things would look.
Trump 27.2
Carson 21.4 +14.4 = 35.8
Rubio 09.2 +14.4 = 23.6
Cruz 07.8 +14.4 = 22.2
Jeb 07.2 +14.4 = 21.6
I find it hard to believe that Carson will be able to maintain the same amount of energy as Trump and that he could stay in long enough for the crowd to get down to just five, or even less. The same goes for Jeb, he is basically on Life support and may actually drop out simply from lack of money. Cruz and Rubio so far have the best shot of staying in the race for the long hull (IMHO). But as we see, depending on who else stays in the race, they STILL may not be able to catch up with Trump.
Let us not forget, that at his highest peak, Trump had 30%, which is an astounding amount. One would imagine as others drop out, a % of those supports may migrate to Trump. Even if he picks up only 1 or even half a % from each person as they drop out, it can still add up.
Personally the ONLY Way I truly see Trump being eclipsed, is if Carson drops out, and the majority of his supporters go to Cruz or Rubio, or shoot even Jeb. As it is, Trump once he got going, has never dipped bellow 20%, which is still a very strong amount of numbers. The long and short of it, is that as of right now, it looks like Trump, going purely ‘by the numbers’ could actually get the nomination

Praying is another way of doing nothing helpful
"Congratulations, you get a cookie. You almost got a fundamental English word correct." Pick
"Outlaw star has spaceships that punch eachother" Joviwan
Read "Tales From The Crossroads"!
Read "One Wrong Turn"!
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"Outlaw star has spaceships that punch eachother" Joviwan
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Read "One Wrong Turn"!
- Dominus Atheos
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Re: The US Election 2016
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/2 ... mp-in-Iowa
Second poll puts Carson ahead of Trump in Iowa
Once might be a fluke, but twice starts to look like a pattern: A second poll in two days shows Ben Carson taking the lead from Donald Trump in what's typically known as the crucial early state of Iowa. On Thursday, Quinnipiac showed Carson leading, with 28 percent to Trump's 20 percent. Friday's Bloomberg Politics/Des Moines Register poll has similar results, putting Carson up by nine points:
The two front-runners are followed by Ted Cruz at 10 percent, Marco Rubio at nine percent, and Jeb Bush and Rand Paul tied at five percent. Cruz and Carson should be happy with this result. Trump—not so much, though presumably he learned his lesson Thursday about tweets insulting Iowa voters.... Carson leads with 28 percent of likely Republican caucus goers, followed by Trump at 19 percent. Carson is up 10 percentage points since August, when the poll was last taken, while Trump has dropped 4 percentage points.
Take a moment to appreciate that Iowa Republicans have gone from Donald Trump to Ben Carson.
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Re: The US Election 2016
Which is honestly terrifying.
This article gives some more insights into Carson and his beliefs and background. Its... disturbing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/28/us/po ... ction.html
1. Carson has a history of violent crime..
2. Carson is part of a fringe religious group that believes the Biblical apocalypse is nigh.
3. He is running for control of thousands of nuclear weapons, and appears to have a real chance of winning.
This article gives some more insights into Carson and his beliefs and background. Its... disturbing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/28/us/po ... ction.html
To summarize some key issues:Each time Ben Carson prepared to cut into a human brain, the neurosurgeon, who was the first to separate twins conjoined at the head, said a prayer. He would scrub his hands, close his eyes and ask for God’s help. “Lord, you be the neurosurgeon,” he has described himself thinking. “I’ll be the hands.”
Since packing up his scalpel and becoming a Republican presidential candidate, Mr. Carson has not shied away from talking about his Christian faith and sprinkling policy pronouncements with prayer as he travels the country talking to voters in his blunt but soft-spoken style. So far it has worked — he has overtaken Donald J. Trump in a new national poll of Republicans and is beating him in Iowa, the crucial caucus state.
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RELATED COVERAGE
Ben Carson campaigning at Iowa State University in Ames last week.First Draft: Poll Watch: Ben Carson Edges Ahead Nationally in Times/CBS News PollOCT. 27, 2015
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Donald J. Trump, signing autographs at a rally this week in Burlington, Iowa, has lost his lead in the state to Ben Carson.Bush Cuts Costs, Carson Eclipses Trump in Iowa and G.O.P. FretsOCT. 23, 2015
An audience member held a book written by the main attraction, Ben Carson, at a campaign event in Ankeny, Iowa, this month.First Draft: Ben Carson’s Surge in Iowa Dovetails With Past Rise of Evangelicals ThereOCT. 23, 2015
But Mr. Carson’s religion has been cast in a harsher light in recent days, as Mr. Trump, whose support among evangelicals is falling, suggested that the doctor is not a mainstream Christian because he is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. “I’m Presbyterian,” Mr. Trump proclaimed at a rally in Florida last Saturday. “Boy, that’s down the middle of the road folks, in all fairness. I mean, Seventh-day Adventist, I don’t know about.”
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Interactive Graphic: Who’s Winning the Presidential Campaign?
In an election season where religion and politics have collided frequently, Mr. Carson’s faith remains a mystery to some and is something that could prove to be both a strength and a liability as he moves forward.
It is not the first time that a leading Republican presidential contender has faced questions about how evangelical Protestants, who make up a large section of the party’s electorate, would view their religious beliefs. In 2008 and 2012, Mitt Romney had to explain to voters what it meant to be a Mormon, and despite losing the last election, he won nearly 80 percent of the evangelical vote.
The Adventist legacy is rooted in the 19th century and grew out of what was known as the “Great Disappointment.” Most followers consider its initial founder to be William Miller, a Baptist preacher from upstate New York who calculated that Jesus Christ was due to return to earth on Oct. 22, 1844. When the savior failed to show up, the flock was left in a state of despair.
One of Mr. Miller’s followers, Ellen G. White, reconstituted the denomination under the doctrine that Christ had actually relocated to a heavenly sanctuary where he would begin judgment of the world. She was seen as a prophet.
Unlike members of other Christian denominations, Adventists honor the Sabbath on Saturdays instead of Sundays. They tend to be vegetarians and they continue to wait patiently for the Second Coming and the end of the world.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church counts more than 18 million members globally and 1.2 million in North America, but some skeptics see it as a sect out of touch with mainstream Christianity. While the church avoids involvement in politics, Mr. Carson’s emergence as a prominent political figure has presented an opportunity for it to gain credibility.
“We do not endorse any candidates and we do not use our church for political reasons,” Alex Bryant, secretary of the North American division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said of Mr. Carson’s candidacy. “But we do look at it as an opportunity to tell the world, tell this country about Seventh-day Adventism, our beliefs, and our desire to lift up Jesus Christ.”
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A twice-baptized Adventist, Mr. Carson has become one of the church’s biggest stars. In his autobiography, “Gifted Hands,” he recounts his mother’s conversion, which began in the ward of a mental hospital.
It was not until he was 14 that Mr. Carson became truly captured by his faith. Known for having a hot temper back then, the young Mr. Carson let a petty dispute turn into a tantrum that ended with him knifing a friend. The episode could have been deadly had it not been for a fortunately placed belt-buckle that blocked his blade. From that time on, Mr. Carson prayed away his anger.
“My temper will never control me again,” Mr. Carson wrote in his book. “Never again. I’m free.”
Mr. Carson, who declined to be interviewed for this article, attends church regularly and taught Bible school at his Seventh-day Adventist church in Maryland. Now that he is a politician, Mr. Carson speaks often about the role that God has played in his life, but he has tended to discuss his faith differently depending on the venue.
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During a 1999 interview with the Religion News Service, Mr. Carson said he was happy to attend other kinds of churches. “I spend just as much time in non-Seventh-day Adventist churches because I’m not convinced that the denomination is the most important thing,” he said. “I think it’s the relationship with God that’s most important.”
More recently, however, Mr. Carson made clear that he would always defend his Adventist beliefs against skeptics.
“I’m proud of the fact that I believe what God has said, and I’ve said many times that I’ll defend it before anyone,” Mr. Carson told the Adventist Report in 2013. “If they want to criticize the fact that I believe in a literal six-day creation, let’s have at it because I will poke all kinds of holes in what they believe.”
For theological reasons, Adventism has faced tensions with the Catholic and Baptist churches over the years. Last spring, Mr. Carson was invited to speak at a Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference in Ohio, but faced opposition because of his beliefs and eventually backed out.
“Dr. Carson is a Seventh-Day Adventist,” a group of pastors from the Baptist organization B21 wrote in protest of his visit. “Their official theology denies the doctrine of hell in favor of annihilation,” they wrote, “and believes that those who worship on Sunday will bear the ‘mark of the beast.’ ”
The church has also had a strongly anti-Catholic strain, and when Mr. Carson decided to attend Pope Francis’ visit to Congress last month, Adventist message boards lit up with questions about his presence with the pontiff. Some questioned him referring to the pope as the “Holy Leader” and wondered, “How do such words come from the mouth of a Seventh-day Adventist?”
On the other hand, some Adventists have been disappointed in a perceived lack of tolerance regarding Islam from Mr. Carson, who said recently that he did not think a Muslim should be able to be president. His fierce opposition to the Affordable Care Act, which he has compared to slavery, has also rankled some in the community who say that the law is in keeping with the religion’s focus on promoting health.
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“It was certainly disappointing for me,” Sam Geli, a retired Adventist chaplain who considers himself an independent, said of Mr. Carson’s remarks about Muslims. “It was very sad.”
But will Mr. Carson’s religion affect his prospects with conservative evangelicals in places such as Iowa? So far it has not been a problem.
“I think a lot of evangelicals would say they would rather have a practicing Adventist than a nominal Presbyterian who doesn’t seem to have basic theological understanding about Christianity,” said Thomas Kidd, a professor of history and religion at Baylor University in Texas. “Even if he’s not an evangelical like us, he’s sort of a friendly fellow traveler in a way that Trump is not.”
Bob Vander Plaats, president and chief executive of The Family Leader, a social conservative group in Iowa, said his members had not yet expressed concern about Mr. Carson’s religion. He cited the support that Mitt Romney, a Mormon, got from evangelicals in 2012, saying he did not think the fact that Mr. Carson is a Seventh-day Adventist would be an issue unless theology became central to the political debate.
“I think Trump threw out the fleece to let people check it out,” Mr. Vander Plaats said of why he thought Mr. Carson’s religion suddenly became an issue. “People of faith will be more interested in the fruit of leadership, policy and does it align with honoring God or dishonoring God.”
Correction: October 27, 2015
An earlier version of this article misstated when Donald J. Trump took issue with Ben Carson’s religion. It was Saturday, not Friday.
1. Carson has a history of violent crime..
2. Carson is part of a fringe religious group that believes the Biblical apocalypse is nigh.
3. He is running for control of thousands of nuclear weapons, and appears to have a real chance of winning.
- Eternal_Freedom
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Re: The US Election 2016
Not that I'm defending the guy, but based on what this article says I think you're sorely misrepresenting him there with point 1.The Romulan Republic wrote:
To summarize some key issues:
1. Carson has a history of violent crime..
2. Carson is part of a fringe religious group that believes the Biblical apocalypse is nigh.
3. He is running for control of thousands of nuclear weapons, and appears to have a real chance of winning.
"A history" implies more than one case, but as best I can tell this was a lost control of temper moment that luckily was not fatal, and as a result the guy turned to religion to control his anger. One case does not a history make. Hell, I got a £20 fine from the council once for littering, does that mean I have "a history" of littering?
Baltar: "I don't want to miss a moment of the last Battlestar's destruction!"
Centurion: "Sir, I really think you should look at the other Battlestar."
Baltar: "What are you babbling about other...it's impossible!"
Centurion: "No. It is a Battlestar."
Corrax Entry 7:17: So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again.
Centurion: "Sir, I really think you should look at the other Battlestar."
Baltar: "What are you babbling about other...it's impossible!"
Centurion: "No. It is a Battlestar."
Corrax Entry 7:17: So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again.
- Raw Shark
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Re: The US Election 2016
All else aside, I love watching these toxic right-wing super villain fucks tear each other apart and I hope that it happens for as long as possible. Oh shit, evil recognizes evil for what it is? Genuine pathos there!
"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? Y'know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! Y'know, I just do things..." --The Joker
- Mr Bean
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Re: The US Election 2016
A reminder the next Republican debate is tommorow.
Once again I intend to enjoy it, also I bought Lotto tickets, 52 million after taxes is more than enough money to live off and it would be a hilarious twofer... I won the lotto and the debate was exquisite.
Once again I intend to enjoy it, also I bought Lotto tickets, 52 million after taxes is more than enough money to live off and it would be a hilarious twofer... I won the lotto and the debate was exquisite.
"A cult is a religion with no political power." -Tom Wolfe
Pardon me for sounding like a dick, but I'm playing the tiniest violin in the world right now-Dalton
- The Romulan Republic
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Re: The US Election 2016
I don't think I can stomach watching one all the way through. Seeing the worst of America's politics flaunt their insanity and bigotry on stage for a few hours straight... ugg.
- Gandalf
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Re: The US Election 2016
A good way to watch GOP debate (especially this early in the process) is to treat the whole thing as an absurdist comedy. If you can appreciate the black humour of the process, the whole election becomes a more engrossing experience.
"Oh no, oh yeah, tell me how can it be so fair
That we dying younger hiding from the police man over there
Just for breathing in the air they wanna leave me in the chair
Electric shocking body rocking beat streeting me to death"
- A.B. Original, Report to the Mist
"I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately."
- George Carlin
That we dying younger hiding from the police man over there
Just for breathing in the air they wanna leave me in the chair
Electric shocking body rocking beat streeting me to death"
- A.B. Original, Report to the Mist
"I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately."
- George Carlin
- The Romulan Republic
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Re: The US Election 2016
Unfortunately, its hard for me to treat it as funny when I know that one of those nut jobs could end up running a powerful nation of 300 million people with a massive military including thousands of nuclear weapons. Perhaps especially when its my damn country.
- Raw Shark
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Re: The US Election 2016
Is your location tag out of date, or are you conceding that Canada is the 51st state here?The Romulan Republic wrote:Unfortunately, its hard for me to treat it as funny when I know that one of those nut jobs could end up running a powerful nation of 300 million people with a massive military including thousands of nuclear weapons. Perhaps especially when its my damn country.

The GOP debates would make a great drinking game, IMHO. Somebody says something racist or classist? Take a shot. Somebody who identifies with a minority says something racist or classist? Take two shots! Trump is talking? Waterfall until somebody stops him!

"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? Y'know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! Y'know, I just do things..." --The Joker
- Tribble
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Re: The US Election 2016
Of one of those nutjobs get into power, I could totally see them invading Canada. Our geese have caused more planes to fall out of the sky than Al-Queada, and we have plenty of oil and water. Oh, and we're communists that secretly take orders from Russia and China. More than enough reason for the Republicans to invade.Raw Shark wrote:Is your location tag out of date, or are you conceding that Canada is the 51st state here?The Romulan Republic wrote:Unfortunately, its hard for me to treat it as funny when I know that one of those nut jobs could end up running a powerful nation of 300 million people with a massive military including thousands of nuclear weapons. Perhaps especially when its my damn country.
The GOP debates would make a great drinking game, IMHO. Somebody says something racist or classist? Take a shot. Somebody who identifies with a minority says something racist or classist? Take two shots! Trump is talking? Waterfall until somebody stops him!

"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" - The official Troll motto, as stated by Adam Savage
- Elheru Aran
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Re: The US Election 2016
He's a dual citizen IIRC, currently residing in Canada.Raw Shark wrote:Is your location tag out of date, or are you conceding that Canada is the 51st state here?The Romulan Republic wrote:Unfortunately, its hard for me to treat it as funny when I know that one of those nut jobs could end up running a powerful nation of 300 million people with a massive military including thousands of nuclear weapons. Perhaps especially when its my damn country.
The GOP debates would make a great drinking game, IMHO. Somebody says something racist or classist? Take a shot. Somebody who identifies with a minority says something racist or classist? Take two shots! Trump is talking? Waterfall until somebody stops him!
And that's a fast way to alcohol poisoning...
It's a strange world. Let's keep it that way.
- Dominus Atheos
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Re: The US Election 2016
Would? Half the internet has rules for a GOP debate drinking game. Here's Rolling Stones rules for tonight:Raw Shark wrote:Is your location tag out of date, or are you conceding that Canada is the 51st state here?The Romulan Republic wrote:Unfortunately, its hard for me to treat it as funny when I know that one of those nut jobs could end up running a powerful nation of 300 million people with a massive military including thousands of nuclear weapons. Perhaps especially when its my damn country.
The GOP debates would make a great drinking game, IMHO.
DRINK EVERY TIME:
1. Donald Trump brags about how much money he makes.
2. Trump uses the words "disaster," "loser" or "head spin."
3. Trump says he "loves" somebody or thinks he/she is a "wonderful person," before ripping him/her for being a loser or a disaster or whatever.
4. Trump rips another candidate's poll numbers. Make it a double if he tweaks Jeb about cutting the pay of his staffers. Add a beer chaser if Trump doubles down and talks about how well, in contrast, he pays his people.
5. Anyone references how Hillary "lied before the committee."
6. A candidate proposes abolishing an utterly necessary branch of government, or a politically untouchable program like Medicare.
7. Jeb Bush refers to himself as "Veto Corleone," or insists that "Washington is the pejorative term, not Redskins." Drink as much as you can stomach if he actually uses either line.
8. Any candidate makes an awkward/craven pop-culture reference, including references to Peyton Manning or the Broncos.
9. Any candidate illustrates the virtue of one of his/her positions by pointing out how not PC it is.
10. Any candidate compares anything that isn't slavery to slavery. A double if it's Ben Carson.
11. Any candidate evokes Nazis, the Gestapo, Neville Chamberlain, concentration camps, etc. Again, a double if it's Ben Carson, who has been amping up the slavery/Holocaust imagery lately.
12. Carson cites the Bible as authority for complex policy questions.
13. Any candidate righteously claims he/she would never have compromised on the debt ceiling thing. You may drink more if you feel sure enough that the person is lying.
14. Carly Fiorina whips out a number that is debunked by Politifact or some other reputable fact-checking service before the end of the night. (Example: the 307,000 veterans who supposedly died last year because of Barack Obama's inept management of the VA.) Actually, drink if any candidate does this.
15. A low-polling candidate makes a wild and outrageous statement in a transparent attempt to revive his or her campaign. Huckabee calling for summary bludgeonings of immigrants would be an example.
16. A candidate complains about not getting enough time. This evergreen drinking game concept is henceforth known as the "Jim Webb rule."
17. The audience bursts into uncomfortable applause at a racist/sexist statement.
DRINK THE FIRST TIME AND THE FIRST TIME ONLY:
18. A candidate evokes St. Reagan.
DRINK EVERY TIME YOU HEAR:
19. "Selling baby parts"
20. "White Lives Matter" or "All Lives Matter"
21. "Ferguson Effect"
22. "I'm the only candidate on this stage who…"
23. George Bush/My brother "kept us safe"
24. "Shining city on a hill"
TAKE A SHOT OF JAGER IF:
25. Anyone references a biblical justification for gun ownership, or insists an infamous historical tragedy would have been prevented if more people had been armed.
The following rules are optional, for the truly hardcore.
BONUS SHOTS IF:
Ted Cruz mentions his wife's baking skills without mentioning she worked for Goldman Sachs.
Rand Paul mentions the Constitution, the Framers or the founders before he mentions his children.
Someone makes a quiet car joke at Christie's expense.
Fiorina mentions being a secretary or having a husband who drove a tow truck.
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/ne ... z3pseibNBf
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook
- Dalton
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Re: The US Election 2016
Not often that someone emphasizes their own bad spelling!Mr Bean wrote:A reminder the next Republican debate is tommorow.
Tonight is FIGHT NIGHT here at CNBC. I will be watching on mute to make sure the L3 banner doesn't blow up. Get ready for Your Money Your Vote.


To Absent Friends
"y = mx + bro" - Surlethe
"You try THAT shit again, kid, and I will mod you. I will
mod you so hard, you'll wish I were Dalton." - Lagmonster
May the way of the Hero lead to the Triforce.
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Re: The US Election 2016
Someone finally noticed!Dalton wrote:Not often that someone emphasizes their own bad spelling!Mr Bean wrote:A reminder the next Republican debate is tommorow.
Tommorow or tomorrow, I love throwing extra letters in there just for you Dalton.
Also of note, no official free CNBC streams old the traditional illegal but easy to find. Russian streams one Google search away and you can stream it from CNBC website if you have a cable login... good luck if you buy your cable from someone other than the big six.
Kids table starts in an hour and a half, big boys in three and a half hours like the 1st Republican debate.
"A cult is a religion with no political power." -Tom Wolfe
Pardon me for sounding like a dick, but I'm playing the tiniest violin in the world right now-Dalton
- Dalton
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Re: The US Election 2016
Really? That's lame. It should be free to view for all, so the idiot brigade reaches the maximum number of people.


To Absent Friends
"y = mx + bro" - Surlethe
"You try THAT shit again, kid, and I will mod you. I will
mod you so hard, you'll wish I were Dalton." - Lagmonster
May the way of the Hero lead to the Triforce.
- The Romulan Republic
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Re: The US Election 2016
Like Elheru Aran said, duel citizen currently living in Canada. I still follow US politics closely and vote in US elections however.Raw Shark wrote:Is your location tag out of date, or are you conceding that Canada is the 51st state here?The Romulan Republic wrote:Unfortunately, its hard for me to treat it as funny when I know that one of those nut jobs could end up running a powerful nation of 300 million people with a massive military including thousands of nuclear weapons. Perhaps especially when its my damn country.
And if Canada were part of the US, it would only be fair to make each province and territory a new state, bringing the total up to 63. We are a nation of 30 million up here. Of course, that would also add over two dozen new Senate seats that are probably more likely to go to the Democrats...

Isn't that a good way to die of liver poisoning?The GOP debates would make a great drinking game, IMHO. Somebody says something racist or classist? Take a shot. Somebody who identifies with a minority says something racist or classist? Take two shots! Trump is talking? Waterfall until somebody stops him!

- Mr Bean
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Re: The US Election 2016
Kids table debate half hour in...
Lindsey Graham is still quality entertainment the rest are mostly boring, everyone is running over their time. And I do mean everyone.
Also clever tactic by Graham, calling the military "The 1% of the population"
Lindsey Graham is still quality entertainment the rest are mostly boring, everyone is running over their time. And I do mean everyone.
Also clever tactic by Graham, calling the military "The 1% of the population"
"A cult is a religion with no political power." -Tom Wolfe
Pardon me for sounding like a dick, but I'm playing the tiniest violin in the world right now-Dalton
- Mr Bean
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Re: The US Election 2016
Whaaaaat
Okay that was a sideways question, it was a question about monopolies asked to Sanatorium phrased as "Coors beer is being bought up by big booze, is it a big company to far or is there enough competition left?"
*And Santorum fails to answer the question. It's all Obama fault.
Okay that was a sideways question, it was a question about monopolies asked to Sanatorium phrased as "Coors beer is being bought up by big booze, is it a big company to far or is there enough competition left?"
*And Santorum fails to answer the question. It's all Obama fault.
"A cult is a religion with no political power." -Tom Wolfe
Pardon me for sounding like a dick, but I'm playing the tiniest violin in the world right now-Dalton