The Naqib and Canada's general election.

[happy daze john in oz]

There will be an election of global importance next year in USA, to find the next president. H. Clinton, Bill in address, looks to be favorite at present. But I have heard many USA correspondents who say she is too far into the past and we need a more up to date person. How say you of the USA and Canada?

[Rodney Mills]

John in Oz and anyone interested.

Democrats:

Currently we have four running for election as the candidate for president Democratic Party. The number in parenthesis are the latest percentage in the polls. These will change from poll to poll as it is still very early in the game.

Hillary Clinton ( 55.1%) Normally slightly left of center, but swinging further to the left because of her main rival Bernie Sanders' very leftish position.

Bernie Sanders (23%) An admitted socialist. in fact the only socialist in the Congress. One of his promises if elected is to push for free university education for all, this of course is propelling lots of excitement amongst students and young college graduates feeling their education loans will be cancelled. Sanders has been drawing large crowds to his speaking engagements.

O'Malley (1.0%) A senator and unless a meteorite falls on both Clinton and Sanders, no chance.

Chaffee (1.0%) A senator and ditto as above.


Republicans:

Currently there are fourteen candidates for president. The top five are:

Donald Trump (40%) The right wing of the Republican party favor him at this time and that accounts for his high percentage. It seems the more outlandish his statements are the higher goes his %. The rank and file keep saying he is going to flame-out and crash, now it seems they are getting a bit worried.

Carson (14%) A Neurologist who has never held an elective office. Politically close to Trump, but soft spoken, no ranting,

Bush (6%) Son of George Bush Sr. and brother of George Bush Jr. At the moment seems to be one Bush to many, plus he had a disappointing showing in the recent Republican debates.

Cruz. Senator. (5%) Looks to me that he is waiting in the wings for Trump to fall on his face, if so, he will be ready for the right-wing voters.

Rubio. Senator. (5%) Similar to Bush in Philosophy and a rival to Bush too. Though Hispanic he has lost appeal due to his parties unfavorable (to Hispanics) comments on immigration and the children of illegals that were born in the U.S..

The rest are in the 3%-1% range. The only outsider who might make a move later is Governor Christy of New Jersey. At one time was expected to be a front runner, but he's had some problems in his home state and has fell out of favor.

Some of the things Trump has said he would do if he was president:

Ship all the illegals back to Mexico, the whole eleven and a half million of them. First, the illegal Hispanics come from Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Columbia, etc. I'm sure the Mexicans would love that lot. Secondly, he has no answer to the logistics of herding them up, sorting them, housing and feeding them while they are checked out, and transporting them to and across the border. The children born here in the U.S. are by law U.S. citizens and make up as much as half the number, who's going to look after 3 million kids when their parents are shipped back. To enact this would require a change to the constitution. Next he's going to build a wall separating Mexico from the U.S.A.. AND make Mexico pay for it! It's funny, Mexico gets all the headlines about illegal immigration, but currently the main illegals are Orientals and S.E. Asians, mainly Indians, arriving on a visitors visa and overstaying.

Trump would cancel Obama's Medical Insurance program, thus denying 12 million medical insurance. When asked what he would replace it with he says "Something huge, you're gonna love it!" I could go on. I personally think he's just in it for the publicity for his business name, and will bail out...I better be right or god help us.


Cheers Rodney

[happy daze john in oz]

OK Rodders, given all of that and it is no different to any other lot, promise the earth and give you a bucket of dirt. But who is the best? There is talk here that if H.C. wins there will be far more trouble in the east as she will back Israel to go into Palestine. There is still a long way to go and someone maybe will come out of no where, but will they be the right one. Clinton as you say is a bit left and such can be a very dangerous type. Image of Blair ad Gillard come to mind, bit scary wen you think about it.

[John Pruden]

my view is if like a lot on here if you move from your country of birth do it legally obey the laws of the land you move to and don't try to change the way of life of the country you have gone to simple!!! no we get them here then you get a team of legal eagles that stand by you and sew the government because its against your human rights costing us not them thousands in paper work and red tape? we have lots that should not be here and lots we don't want but we will pay the price for it down the line that is the state of the united kingdom of anyone who wants to drop their hook here... jp

[Rodney Mills]

Thanks for the questions John, whew! you are making me put my thinking cap on.

The only way I can compare our political philosophy to Australia and the U.K. is to start out with the premise that the U.S.A is much further to the right. We have no party that could compare to the Brit. Labor Party for starters. Our Democratic Party would compare in many ways to your the Conservative Party. Our Republican Party is way to the right of your conservatives.

When I am saying this I am using the philosophy of the center of each party. Which means that the Republican Tea Party conservatives are way off the chart as far as you are concerned. A left thinking republican could roughly compare to a right wing democrat. Now the runner up to Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders is a socialist, the only one in Congress. He is a Senator from the State of New Hampshire and would compare to a Brit Labor Party M.P. (remember every one of our politicians is further to the right than yours or the Brits).

Okay, that phrase you used supposedly coming from H. Clinton is a new one on me. That's not to say it isn't true, I've never heard anything close to that being mentioned.

H.Clinton: I would consider her normally as a centrist (democrat). on social issues and a bit more to the right on foreign issues effecting the U.S., because of the strong interest in Bernie Sanders this has caused her to slide her speeches more to the left than she normally is, but like all politicians, if she wins she will quickly forget all that she promised.

H. Clinton has handled herself very well in the recent debate. Yesterday she did extremely well for thirteen hours off cross examination in a congressional hearing on the loss of lives in our Bengasi embassy disaster. At the moment she is flying high but there is a long way to go to election time and "%hit happens." The Republicans absolutely hate her.

So in summation: When discussing about Democrats think Conservatives, move further to the right with Republicans, and in the case of the "Tea Party" movement, think to the right of Attila the Hun.

When one applies for a voters registration there is what is called "your preference," Republican, Democrat or no preference (Independent).

I am an Independent. I am liberal on social issues. I support increasing the minimum wage, the best of attention to our veterans, equal rights for women and every American regardless of color, religion, etc.. I am conservative on most monetary matters. I favor a strong military to protect the United States with the very minimum activity overseas. Leave us alone and we will be your friend for life, help where we can etc., but threaten our safety and we hammer (I don't mean you John just nations in general) and not just with the very best of weapons but with our financial clout and controls too. I have lots of compassion for peoples, but when I play I play to win, I always have. Remember your old report card? Mine always said "Rodney does not play well with others."

So in the fifty years I have been here I have voted for Republicans and Democrats, depending on my circumstances, and what was in my own interests. I must admit I haven't voted for a Republican for President for the last dozen years or so.

If the election was held today, there is nobody on the Republican side I could vote for. I would (deep shudder), hold my nose and vote for Clinton.

Cheers, Rodders.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Rod.
For my penny's worth I don't think Donald the Trump will get in to me he looks like the old raving loony party they had in the UK.
Cheers Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Thanks for that Rodders, throws a new light on it. I have always considered USA to belike UK and Oz with opposing political parties but did not understand there s no Labor equivalent, lucky you. Socialists we have as well as the looney Greens who would be the direct oppose of your Tea Party.