Clinton says she is for women, but allows Jay Z to campaign with her using very demeaning lyrics about women. Not to mention she excepts money from countries that hold back women and has completely destroyed the lives of many women who had the bravery to speak the truth about her husband. Clinton condemns Trump for saying something inappropriate about one individual who said something bad first, then exaggerates and says he's against a whole group of people.

Democrats say Trump cheated on his taxes, but, we would all take the same deductions to save our hard earned income. It's not cheating, it's being smart.

Well, perhaps, if we want to have a healthy, two-party system, the media will spend some time after the election examining the factors that have caused the disintegration of the Republican Party and whether it even has a future in American politics.

Four years ago, the Republican Party commissioned a report to learn what changes it could make to be more relevant to the American people and to be more competitive (beyond gerrymandering and voter suppression tactics). The report advised reaching out to Latino voters, among other things. But, then, the Republican Party ignored the recommendations and, instead, allowed itself to be hijacked by egomaniacal demagogue in populist clothing.

We've all seen this play out in front of out eyes. But, it would be a useful story for the media to explain carefully the factors that have led to this debacle.

Dave: do you believe that when the Republicans say we need to show a valid ID they are being prejudiced against a race?

Trump took legally allowed tax deductions, just like any business owner or private citizen.

Clintons left the White House "broke" (their words) & now are worth over $250,000,000 after both made many speeches for $200,000+ to various special interest groups & foreign entities. Wonder how many strings they have attached to them now.

Trump is self funded & likely no strings attached, although not perfect, he cares about the United States of America. News agencies continuously "cherry pick" & selectively edit what he says to unduly influence voters.

I will be voting for Mr. Trump.

"Dave":"...the disintegration of the Republican party...". Really? Every major poll has this election very close on the day before the election, with the difference between the two parties within the margin of error. Sounds like a healthy two party system, "Dave". As to "disintegration", your party is rigged, as shown by the leaked e-mails, the current Democratic Party Chairwoman, Donna Brazile, gave Hillary the debate questions with Bernie prior to the debate, and your parties prior Chairwoman, Debbora Schultze Wasserman, had to resign when the e-mails showed she was doing everything possible to rig the primary election in Hillary's favor. Perhaps, "Dave", you should clean up your own parties disgusting swamp of cesspool corruption and lies and criminal activity, before worrying about the Republican party?

Democrats are the party of slavery. Democrats are the ones who started the Jim Crow laws and segregation, opposed the civil rights movement and voting rights.

American - I think the "proof is in the pudding," as they used to say. If Donald Trump is the best that the Republican Party can come up with for a presidential candidate, that is more than enough evidence of its near-demise. Pettiness, rampant insults, vindictiveness, hyperbolic statements that are off the charts, blatant sexism, crudeness and vulgarity, insatiable ego -- are these really the qualities that Americans (or even Republicans) want in a president?

We will have plenty of time to analyze the untenable fractiousness in the Republican Party after the election is over. But, let's just list a few: Long-unfulfilled promises to the religious right; a trickle-down, supply-side economic theory that has enriched the the wealthy and left everyone else (even white, blue-collar workers) behind; a "compassionate conservatism" that has proven to be little more than empty words; hostility to any immigrants who don't look like them.

Resident - Trump's claim to be "self-funded" is just one more of his many lies. Most of the Trump campaign funds are from other donors, and quite a bit of those funds was spent in purchasing services from Trump's own companies.

Marie - Do you believe that closing large numbers of polling places in minority neighborhoods is racism (or just partisanship)? Either way is is undemocratic and anti-American.

"Dave": You really need to work on your critical thinking skills and logical analysis. Your thesis was the disintegration of the Republican party and the lack of a competitive two party system. As I factually pointed out, all the current polls have this a very tight race, within the margin of error. Factually, this will be one of the closest races in the last 40 years. So, "Dave", your thesis is factually incorrect and false, as the Republican party is doing just fine, and win or lose, this will be a very tight race.

Of course, you have demonstrated you do not like to factually and logically look at things, and instead just spitted out your subjective opinions of Trump(which is also funny as the first 6 adjectives you listed apply very well to Hillary)

Sorry, "Dave", but keep trying buddy, I am rooting for you to put together a cohesive, intelligent, and factually based analysis.

Dave: I will agree that Trump may not be the best representative for the Republican Party, but I would also have to say Hillary Clinton is also not a good candidate. I would have to agree with American that the characteristics you pointed out about Trump would also fit Hillary. Sexism by Hillary is explained by the first comment above and as far as the vulgarity she's got that covered by including Jay Z. As far as my religious freedom, I would only trust the Republicans with that. As far as immigration, the only person I would trust with that is Trump. His wife is a legal immigrant, he makes it very clear that he wants to keep America safe. There is no hostility. Finally, I'm not aware of any Republican who wants to close polling places in minority neighborhoods just to make it harder for them to vote.

I think most voters with any kind of IQ would vote for 'none of the above' if offered. Or write in Donald Duck......

Both 'electable' candidates hurl. If Trump just learned to keep his trap shut he'd been a much better candidate. If anybody needed a babysitter, it's him.

Glad it is almost over. and if Clinton gets 270, no doubt Trump will attempt to tie up in court. <sigh>

SHale: I disagree with writing all of the above, and I really don't think that Donald Duck would help to keep our country safe in this very dangerous new world. I do agree with you that Trump should filter and make better choices with the words he uses. But to tell you the truth, I am much more open to selecting someone who talks straight and honest and to your face rather than someone who lies behind your back. I do not believe Hillary is a murderer, but I do believe people have died because of her lack of action and unsecured emails. I truly believe that the most condemning emails will be held by our enemies to blackmail her when she becomes even more powerful.

Oh my goodness I just remembered, the Clintons already stole from the White House once, why would we let them do it again?

Marie: How about Micky Mouse, then? There was a lot of 'tongue in cheek' sarcasm in my comment; gotta be careful with sarcasm as it sails above heads sometimes.
If Trump ever became 'Presidential' that would have helped his case. The problem is his MOUTH and he sorta has quite a bit of problem with the truth as he tends to invent is own personal reality. Myself, I figure once he had the nomination he'd become a mature, Presidential candidate. Never happened. Even today, he is at it again with slurs against other public figures. Guess he went off script A G A I N.
And Clinton, well way way way too much baggage there. So sad the only 2 parties that ever become President come up with such poor nominations.

And the 2 other parties, well they never have an electable candidate either. Hence 'none of the above' being a real option. OR a write in: RAMBO? ___snicker___ high sarcasm___

Marie -

I guess you haven't been reading about the significant reduction in the number of polling places in minority neighborhoods in North Carolina. Or the emails among Republican legislators in that state who were plotting to reduce minority voting the very day after the Supreme Court ruled that North Carolina was no longer subject to pre-clearance review by the DOJ under the Voting Rights Act. No word fits such actions better than unpatriotic. How sad that Republican Party leaders apparently believe that the only way to hold onto power (in the face of changing demographics) is to engage in voter suppression and gerrymandering.

Dave: Another case of exaggeration trying to change the storyline. Out of thousands of undeliverable mail less than a handful were actually real people who did not pick up their mail. So I agree, we should not allow thousands of possible voter fraud situations to exist.

No, Marie, that's not what I'm referring to. This link describes the voter restrictions enacted by North Carolina (Republicans) and struck down by the US Court of Appeals this summer:

Web Link

The court found that the State of North Carolina directly targeted African American voters. This is just one of many examples in Republican-controlled states of efforts to undermine voting.

Voting is a fundamental right in this country -- likely the most fundamental right. To attempt to prevent other citizens from voting, simply because they might not vote Republican, is about as un-American as one can get.

Dave: after clicking on your link, and seeing it's from the very liberal Washington Post, I decided not to read it. But maybe I'll come back to it later if I have time to decipher what is true and false. As of now, I still do not believe any Republicans would take away the rights of anyone's vote no matter what their race religion or anything else.

And in another state GOP filed lawsuits because polls were staying open later, which served a group not voting GOP.

Ooopppps

SHale: In my opinion, this is another example of exaggeration or one-sided information. I believe in law and order. I believe our laws should be enforced. If the law says polling stations are supposed to be closed at a certain time, then that's what should happen. Although, I do believe that the last person standing in line at the time the polls close should be excepted, but that is a interpretation of the law that is not up to me.

Although this conversation seems to only be with a few people, I truly appreciate the debate without any hostility or name-calling. Let's hope the whole country can safely vote today and be able to handle the results tomorrow peacefully. God bless America and God speed.

Well, I suppose it's preferable to ignore the truth when it doesn't fit with your view of the world, Marie. Here's a direct link to the court's opinion:

Web Link

Or, I can spare you the effort and just excerpt the key language:

"After years of pre-clearance and expansion of voting access,
by 2013 African American registration and turnout rates had
finally reached near-parity with white registration and turnout
rates. African Americans were poised to act as a major
electoral force. But, on the day after the Supreme Court issued
Shelby County v. Holder, 133 S. Ct. 2612
(2013), eliminating pre-clearance obligations, a leader of the party that newly dominated the legislature (and the party that rarely enjoyed African American support) announced an intention to enact what he characterized as an “omnibus” election law. Before enacting
that law, the legislature requested data on the use, by race, of a number of voting practices. Upon receipt of the race data, the General Assembly enacted legislation that restricted voting and registration in five different ways, all of which disproportionately affected African Americans.

In response to claims that intentional racial
discrimination animated its action, the State offered only meager
justifications. Although the new provisions target African Americans with almost surgical precision, they constitute inapt remedies for the problems assertedly justifying them and, in fact, impose cures for problems that did not exist. Thus the asserted justifications cannot and do not conceal the State’s true motivation. “In essence,” as in League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry (LULAC), 548 U.S. 399, 440 (2006), “the State took away [minority voters’] opportunity because [they] were about to exercise it.” As in LULAC, “[t]his bears the mark of intentional discrimination.” Id.

Faced with this record, we can only conclude that the North Carolina General Assembly enacted the challenged provisions of the law with discriminatory intent. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the district court to the contrary and remand with instructions to enjoin the challenged provisions of the law."

Marie: One sided? You are aware it was the GOP that filed the lawsuits, yea? And really, isn't the point that all valid voters are able to place said vote? I really don't think polling locations staying open passed X time would cause the earth's rotation cease.... BUT well know fact GOP does not want Hispanics or other races to vote because, well you KNOW why....

So glad this circus is over.

Web Link

So, "Dave", thanks for lecturing us on the demise of the Republican Party! The people have spoken, and spoken loudly. The liberal media, despite their best efforts, could not silence the people. We have the Presidency, the Senate, and the House. Jay Z, Lebron, Cher, Katy Perry, and Barbara Streisand, do not speak for the people, and we have nothing in common with them. Much needed change is coming, along with new US Supreme Court Justices who will follow the law, not make it. Obamacare and illegal Executive Orders of Obama are gone, as are sanctuary cities for illegal aliens. God bless America, and The Grand Old Party!

Well, Democracy is the best form of government, but an imperfect one at that, as last night's election result showed.

Our Republic has survived the flawed leadership and scandals of Warren Harding, Richard Nixon, Watergate, Iran Contra, etc. Let's hope it can survive the prospect of right-wing authoritarianism for next four years.

Anyone who thinks the severe fractures in the Republican Party are going away just because Trump was elected is deluding himself. Trump's personal life itself (mistresses, paying for their abortions) doesn't align very well with the views of the religious right.

And, I think it will be hard for him to deliver on his promises to improve the economic circumstances of the blue-collar workers to whom he directed his appeal. We've seen the Obama Administration pull the economy back from the brink of the economic disaster that it inherited from the Bush Administration -- despite constant opposition to those efforts by congressional Republicans. A reversal of that progress seems more likely than an improvement. They can likely agree on even bigger tax cuts for the rich and for corporations. But, that approach has been proven to be a failed recipe under each Republican administration (anyone remember the massive deficits during the Reagan years?).

So, we are stuck with Trump for four years -- or at least until the work gets too hard or he gets bored by it. His inclination seems more toward the pomp and circumstances of the office than toward rolling up his sleeves and burning the midnight oil (as was President Obama's habit). Maybe he can bring back the "palace guard" uniforms that Richard Nixon used briefly at the White House, until he was shamed into withdrawing them?

In any event, it will be a crazy ride for a while. Let's hope Trump begins to understand the magnitude of the task ahead for him. Our kids' lives depend on it.

In the early part of the 19th century only property owners could vote. America turned out some good presidents under that system.
We need to go back to that.

Well, James, the Constitution kinda gets in the way of that. Voting is a fundamental right of citizenship under the Constitution.

...and if we dumped the Electoral College Clinton would be Prez Elect.....

The constitution was in effect when property owners only could vote. Was it not?

James - Not the same Constitution. A little thing called the 14th Amendment came along and required the states to afford their people equal protection of the laws. A U.S. Supreme Court case called Kramer v. Union School District (and others that followed) made it clear that governments cannot limit the right to vote to property owners only.

But, thanks for sharing an elitist viewpoint!

American - Still think that the Republican Party is "doing just fine?" Or was this week's healthcare chaos just a preview of the fractures that underlie that Party?

They are quickly discovering that it's a lot harder to govern than to be just the "Party of No."