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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#1: Jul 10th 2011 at 6:17:28 PM

Nov 2023 Mod notice:


There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.

If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines before posting here.

Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.

If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules when posting here.


In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.

Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

What's precedent ever done for us?
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#3: Jul 10th 2011 at 6:28:14 PM

Ah, my bad. I keep forgetting that the election is late in 2012 rather than early. Explains some of the lack of activity so far.

Still, a worthwhile thread to have, no?

What's precedent ever done for us?
Enkufka Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ from Bay of White fish Since: Dec, 2009
Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ
#4: Jul 10th 2011 at 6:28:56 PM

The republican candidates are already campaigning, so it actually is a worthwhile thread to have.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry
blueharp Since: Dec, 1969
#5: Jul 10th 2011 at 6:42:37 PM

Well, there will be some elections shortly, the recall ones.

But the 2012 field is far from being set, though plenty of candidates are in the field.

Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#6: Jul 10th 2011 at 6:45:58 PM

I wan an incompetent Republican cantidate so Obama wins again.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
Ramus Lead. from some computer somwhere. Since: Aug, 2009
Lead.
#7: Jul 10th 2011 at 7:03:23 PM

So long as it's a candidate unaffiliated with the Tea Party, I can sleep easier.

The emotions of others can seem like such well guarded mysteries, people 8egin to 8elieve that's how their own emotions should 8e treated.
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apacalypse. from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
#8: Jul 10th 2011 at 7:04:01 PM

Erock: You already have your wish. The majority of their canidates are lunatics. Two of them have stated they want a theoacracy in so many words. The rest are just spouting standard party lines.

I keep forgetting the guys name. They have one sort of reasonable canidate but they don't consider him republican enough.

edited 10th Jul '11 7:05:19 PM by TuefelHundenIV

Who watches the watchmen?
Enkufka Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ from Bay of White fish Since: Dec, 2009
Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ
#9: Jul 10th 2011 at 7:17:46 PM

Mitt Romney? Or was it the guy that Tomu was talking about, Huntsman?

Romney is just as crazy, but subtly so. He wants to privatize FEMA.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry
johnnyfog Actual Wrestling Legend from the Zocalo Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Actual Wrestling Legend
#10: Jul 10th 2011 at 7:19:55 PM

^ The Repubs are testing the waters for privatizing all government services. Frankly Romney looks like Churchill next to those other clowns.

I'm a skeptical squirrel
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#11: Jul 10th 2011 at 7:24:06 PM

Mitt Romney is the least insane so I think he'll get it.

I want Bachmann to get the nomination though.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/07/07/263476/breaking-bachmann-pledges-to-ban-pornography/

Crap like this makes it hilarious.

TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apacalypse. from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
#12: Jul 10th 2011 at 7:28:35 PM

They can privatize it for the corporate vultures over my dead body. I would sooner take up arms then let them give corporations more power over the people.

Who watches the watchmen?
Lock Space Wizard from Germany Since: Sep, 2010
Space Wizard
#13: Jul 10th 2011 at 7:38:30 PM

He wants to privatize FEMA.
Now I'm no American and thus have not as much insight into such matters, but privatizing the most powerful agency? As far as I know they can take nearly everything over with just the president's consent. That's one of the most absurd things I've heard about in a while.

Programming and surgery have a lot of things in common: Don't start removing colons until you know what you're doing.
Enkufka Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ from Bay of White fish Since: Dec, 2009
Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ
#14: Jul 10th 2011 at 7:43:22 PM

Worse than that, the entire point is to provide disaster relief. How the heck would whatever corporation that takes over make a profit?! By billing the Federal Government for as much as they can.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#15: Jul 10th 2011 at 7:43:26 PM

I'm just gonna pretend the entire republican party are big fans of Shadow Run

blueharp Since: Dec, 1969
#16: Jul 10th 2011 at 8:05:40 PM

FEMA isn't the most powerful agency by a long shot. Its budget is peanuts, and actually, the consent of the state's governor is required before the president can do anything off Federal property.

They barely have the personnel to do their job.

edited 10th Jul '11 8:09:26 PM by blueharp

snailbait bitchy queen from psych ward Since: Jul, 2010
bitchy queen
#17: Jul 10th 2011 at 8:06:07 PM

@Post 11's link: Sharia law? What in the fuck does that have to do with anything? That deserves a double face palm.

"Without a fairy, you're not even a real man!" ~ Mido from Ocarina of Time
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#18: Jul 10th 2011 at 8:06:55 PM

I'm tempted to switch to Republican so I can vote in the primaries. Too bad I don't live in Iowa or New Hampshire.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
MajorTom Eye'm the cutest! Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Eye'm the cutest!
#19: Jul 10th 2011 at 8:08:49 PM

^^^ Which was the biggest problem during Hurricane Katrina. The city of New Orleans did not give permission for FEMA to do its stuff until long after the Lower Ninth Ward was flooded. The blame for that disaster always had rested purely on the local level. It wasn't George W. Bush responsible for that, it was Ray Nagin.

edited 10th Jul '11 8:08:59 PM by MajorTom

"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."
blueharp Since: Dec, 1969
#20: Jul 10th 2011 at 8:13:16 PM

Let's stick to election coverage, as last I checked, Nagin wasn't running. Nor Blanco.*

Anyway, people shouldn't forget that there's several hundred other offices up for election. Including some new-ish ones with redistricting changes. Anybody going to be in a new House district yet?

edited 10th Jul '11 8:20:35 PM by blueharp

Kino Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Californicating
#21: Jul 10th 2011 at 8:31:47 PM

Bachmann and Romney seem to be the front-runners, assuming Huckabee stays out of the race; looking forward to seeing what they ave to say later on.

MajorTom Eye'm the cutest! Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Eye'm the cutest!
#22: Jul 10th 2011 at 8:33:07 PM

^ Never assume the front-runners today will be the nominees in June next year. Remember, at this point in the 2008 election Barack Obama was a nobody compared to the likes of Hillary Clinton and others.

edited 10th Jul '11 8:33:36 PM by MajorTom

"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."
Kino Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Californicating
#23: Jul 10th 2011 at 8:33:38 PM

Ah, those were the good ol days.

Linhasxoc Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
#24: Jul 10th 2011 at 8:40:39 PM

Well, I think I'm not going out on a limb here by stating that the party likely to keep Congress is the party that the voting public hates less. One factor to keep in mind is that it is a presidential election year, which means higher turnout, which is generally good for Dems.

For the Presidential election, the success of the incumbent party is tied to unemployment numbers, but not very tightly; the jobs numbers are going to hamstring Obama but they won't doom him. If the Republicans nominate a fringe candidate, like Bachmann, Obama shouldn't have too much trouble getting elected. However, if someone perceived as moderate gets nominated, they'll have a real chance.

Personally, I think the candidate with the best chance is Huntsman, but as Tomu has said, he's not likely to get the nomination. Romney has the best chance to get the nomination, but if voters perceive him as a flip-flopper or an opportunist then Obama might sneak in for another term.

(As for my desired outcome, I'm kind of with Tomu–I'd like the Dems to take the House back, but have Huntsman in the White House.)

TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apacalypse. from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
#25: Jul 10th 2011 at 9:23:08 PM

This is why politics and politicians of any stripe in general always leave a bad taste in my mouth. I literally do not see any political group or person worthy of leading the nation running for it.

Who watches the watchmen?

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