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
More negligent homicide than genocide. He’s stripped healthcare provisions in the state to line up with some misguided Republican ideal that people can just take care of themselves, to disastrous effect.
They should have sent a poet.That criminal reform bill is an awful, awful bill. I’d rather see it scrapped than modified.
Edited by wisewillow on Nov 20th 2018 at 10:01:17 AM
So how come most of Kentucky's electorate is giving him a free pass? Or have they gerrymandered the districts there so bad that he's impossible to dislodge?
I hold the secrets of the machine.Because the electorate is ignorant and driven by base emotional impulses, in this case, it's probably racism.
"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -HylarnMc Connell is a Senator; gerrymandering isn’t a relevant issue.
That may be so, but what he's doing affects people, irrespective of race. Last I checked, disease doesn't ask for race, ethnicity and permission before it infects someone.
You'd think even a diehard racist would be more than a little ticked that their healthcare is being whacked.
Edited by TechPriest90 on Nov 20th 2018 at 10:06:52 AM
I hold the secrets of the machine.You'd think even a diehard racist would be more than a little ticked that their healthcare is being whacked.
I can promise you that support for him is not separate from race so the effects of his policies don't really matter when talking about whether or not racist will support it.
Furthermore, I absolutely would not think that. Racists have no problem hurting themselves if they perceive the out-group to be hurt slightly more.
As I said, ignorance and base emotional impulses.
Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Nov 20th 2018 at 10:11:37 AM
"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -HylarnIgnorance, and a general “better dead than a Democrat” mentality.
They should have sent a poet.That's....tragic. Vile, but tragic.
What a shame.
Sounds like a quote. Source on that?
Edited by TechPriest90 on Nov 20th 2018 at 10:15:37 AM
I hold the secrets of the machine.That's from the former president Lyndon B. Johnson.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard FeynmanIt was uttered by our great President Lyndon B Johnson.
"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -HylarnBlaming the public for voting for Mitch Mc Connell because of racism is one of those things that gets done from people out of state who have the "rural=ignorant" view. They tend to also miss Trump was elected by middle class and rich Americans in suburbs.
A fact I was surprised by to.
No, in general Mitch gets elected because he has absolute control over every element of the state's government and almost no contenders can even get on the ballot. He squeezes them out of advertising, lies on the air openly, and everyone is scared shitless he'll destroy them. He controls the horizontal, verticle, and the political machine.
For example?
We legalized weed.
Then Mitch said that we wouldn't take the vote to make it official until next quarter and then tabled it then. The people in favor for it were all quietly sacked.
He did even worse with people who supported Obama Care.
People HATE Mitch among the poor but he feeds the view the dirty poor whites dying of opiods, lack of medical care, and so on are just degenerates anyway.
Edited by CharlesPhipps on Nov 20th 2018 at 7:41:31 AM
Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.As for using the term genocide.
Well, 6000 Kentuckians die each year of the opiod epidemic he keeps denying any relief for.
60,000 Kentucky children go hungry unless fed by their churches.
200,000 Kentuckians don't have enough food.
https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/kentucky
And that's the most basic of material Mitch is trying to bring about. He wants to squeeze the poor until they die early and in great numbers.
Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.Genocide usually implies a racial or ethnic component that doesn’t apply here.
Mitch Mc Connell wins elections because the people of Kentucky like what he stands for. Don’t forget that he’s one by massive margins of victory in almost every race he’s been in, including one of the largest margins of victory in Senate history in 2002. The “rural=ignorant” stereotype may not be right, but it’s not wrong either.
It also requires purposeful intent, this is just the horrific outcome of bad policy.
Edited by archonspeaks on Nov 20th 2018 at 7:48:56 AM
They should have sent a poet.Negligent Grand Homicide?
"You can reply to this Message!"Ive read that Mitch isnt very popular among his constuents, and needs to worry about getting re-elected in 2020.
I think there’s a global conspiracy to see who can get the most clicks on the worst liesI like mass manslaughter or democide. Incidentally, I would not overemphasize the role of racism in the specific context of Kentucky; that state is part of Appalachia, not the Deep South. Mining country in a way, not plantation country. Not the same social dynamics.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard FeynmanA quick preview of today's What he Fuck Just Happened Today feed:
A federal judge barred the Trump administration from refusing to provide asylum to immigrants who cross the U.S. border illegally. U.S. District Court Judge Jon Tigar rejected Trump's Nov. 9 proclamation that said anyone who failed to cross into the U.S. at a designated port of entry would not be granted asylum. "Whatever the scope of the President’s authority," Judge Tigar wrote, "he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden." The ruling will remain in effect for one month barring any further appeals. (Associated Press / CNN)
https://apnews.com/9ba57ad1383f41c3afe1baa5b2d9c3bf
The FBI now classifies the far-right organization known as the Proud Boys as an extremist group. The group has be designated as an "extremist group with ties to white nationalism," according to documents produced by Washington state law enforcement. The document also warns that the Proud Boys are "actively recruiting in the Pacific north-west" and that they have "contributed to the recent escalation of violence at political rallies held on college campuses, and in cities like Charlottesville, Virginia, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington." (The Guardian)
If one wants to use a term I suspect that classocide would be a more appropriate term, as the slaughter is aimed more along class lines than anything else. Also there are instances of what’s been argued to be genocide that were caused by malicious indifference rather than direct targeted action, look at what the Soviets did to Ukraine and the British did to Ireland and Bengal.
As for Mc Connell being popular, sure, but so in Putin and several other dictators, that dosnt change the fact that an elected official having total control over the media and government (including the election process itself) means that are able to subvert democracy to the point where any viable opposition is blocked and denied a chance at power.
Edited by Silasw on Nov 20th 2018 at 4:19:20 PM
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ CyranI'm not clear on how, exactly, being a U.S. Senator at the federal level would give Mitch power and control over the election itself to the extent that is being suggested here. Elections are handled at the state level. Mitch isn't Governor of Kentucky or something.
I am not aware of any state-level power or influence that a federal-level elected official holds. Mitch winning elections because people are voting for him makes more sense to me than Mitch somehow being able to influence the state's politics in a dictatorial fashion via abusing his Senator powers.
Edited by TobiasDrake on Nov 20th 2018 at 9:57:46 AM
My Tumblr. Currently liveblogging Haruhi Suzumiya and revisiting Danganronpa V3.It was pretty clear already, but, btw, the Florida races have been called.
There are now four races left (well, and the Mississippi Senate race, but that one will go into a run-off anyway):
Georgia 7th: Will most likely go to the Republican, though very narrowly. It currently stands 50.2 to 49.8%
New York 27th: I honestly don't get what the hold up there is...the race has been at 49.4% vs 48.5% for ages now. Or do they also have the system with the second choice vote? Otherwise I really don't see why the race still hasn't been called for the Republicans.
New York 22th on the other hand will most likely go Democratic, 50.4% vs 49.6%. Again, I am wondering what the hold up is.
And Utah is still an open race. Currently the Republican candidate is ahead, but the difference is extremely narrow and they still haven't been 100% reported.
Bottomline is that the Democrats should finish with a gain of 38 or 39 seats.
I don't think it's about him having official control as a senator, it's about how the entire republican party in the state answers to him, as the senior Republican politician from the state.
The political machine in the state answers to him, that's because he's a very powerful and important political figure, the same way that the political machine for democrats in Nevada answered to Harry Reid for so long. To use a more extreme example, Gadaffi in Libya held no official position towards the end of the dictatorship, but he still controlled the entire country.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
> Mitch Mc Connell's genocide in Kentucky is aimed at poor whites so at least he's not completely discriminatory.
First time I'm hearing of a genocide in Kentucky,I think you meant something else
New theme music also a box