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

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#262426: Nov 21st 2018 at 12:23:13 AM

Mia Love is Haitian-American, not African-American in the sense that we normally use the term.

As for Utah in general, it's deep red but even a deep red state has a couple of blue points and Mia Love's district contained one such point. That and it was a very suburban district, and suburbanites in the midterms didn't give Trump much love. I figure that ~Bense might be able to explain Utah's politics better.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Imca (Veteran)
#262427: Nov 21st 2018 at 12:30:04 AM

This one got ingnored for Ohio that happened the post after, which is pretty bad as well but....

U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman concluded that "as despicable as this practice may be," Congress did not have the authority to pass the 22-year-old federal law that criminalizes female genital mutilation, and that it's a matter for the state's to regulate. FGM is banned worldwide and has been outlawed in more than 30- countries, though the U.S. statute had never been tested before this case.

Seriously, what the fucking fuck united states, what the fucking.....

I just

At this point I need a very compelling reason to even bother trying to stick it out until 2020. :/

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#262428: Nov 21st 2018 at 12:32:37 AM

Remember this is a country where some places still allow for things like faith healing and other horrendously dangerously bass-ackwards bullshit.

And individual judges can and do make some really, really stupid and offensive calls. Like that one guy who went easy on a college rapist. Or the late Antonin Scalia whom we have to "thank" for the Second Amendment being the biggest hurdle for gun control.

Edited by M84 on Nov 22nd 2018 at 4:34:08 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Imca (Veteran)
#262429: Nov 21st 2018 at 12:36:51 AM

This is something that fucks some one up physically for life, with no way to fix it.

And it was just approved of at a federal level.

Thats a bit beyond those kinds of things.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#262430: Nov 21st 2018 at 12:37:06 AM

Federalism struck again. Unlike in say Switzerland, in the US criminal law is a state matter except in particular circumstances (e.g terrorism, crimes involving mail, crimes with inter-state or inter-national repercussions), and FGM does not fall under "particular circumstances". For what it's worth some US states have laws against FGM and others don't.

By the by, regarding Utah it seems like their anti-gerrymandering initiative has passed by a hair.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#262431: Nov 21st 2018 at 12:38:30 AM

It's less "approved of at a federal level" and more "this isn't something the FBI should be handling".

Edited by M84 on Nov 22nd 2018 at 4:38:44 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Imca (Veteran)
#262432: Nov 21st 2018 at 12:49:12 AM

[up][up] So then under US law, it is 100% okay for a state to make a law saying that you can slice some one up with a knife.

Because bodily mutilation sounds like something that is the jurisdiction of the federal government.

And lets not mince words here, that is exactly what this is, it is like if the feds just said that is 100% okay for states to legalize the removal of men's penises.

Edited by Imca on Nov 21st 2018 at 12:52:38 PM

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#262433: Nov 21st 2018 at 12:58:12 AM

I am not going to mince words: I think you totally misunderstood what I said.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Imca (Veteran)
#262434: Nov 21st 2018 at 1:01:35 AM

No I have not, because what you have said is that by the United States system, whether or not causing permanent bodily harm to some one is a crime is a state level issue.

and that is 100% what FGM is equivalent too, removing a mans dick, so like apperntly its up to the states whethe or not taking a knife to some one is a crime?

Thats makes this even more fucked up.

Heatth from Brasil Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: In Spades with myself
#262435: Nov 21st 2018 at 1:21:28 AM

Yeah, I am with Imca on that one. If that is the United States system then the system is shit and should be changed.

Like, maybe every state should have its own law regarding this. But it is nonsensical to just dismiss the existing law and let the culprit go free.

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#262436: Nov 21st 2018 at 1:25:02 AM

It's more of a philosophy of the divestment of power between State and Federal.

The Federal Government is only doing crimes that are too big for States, usually but not exclusively because they are beyond state borders.

Mutilation, as heinous as is, is not something that fits that legal definition and thus ought, under the letter of the law, be up to the States.

Of course, this could be changed but this requires Congress to do it, the Judiciary cannot do that. And if the law on question is wrongfully laid down, it is the Judiciary's job to deal with that.

I note, the Judge was disgusted themselves but to uphold it despite how the division of powers work because of that, that would be judicial overreach.

Edited by 3of4 on Nov 21st 2018 at 10:39:41 AM

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RainehDaze Figure of Hourai from Scotland (Ten years in the joint) Relationship Status: Serial head-patter
Figure of Hourai
#262437: Nov 21st 2018 at 3:05:13 AM

Mind, there is a counter-argument at play here—that because this is illegal in various states and involves secretive arrangements across state boundaries, it is a form of inter-state commerce and would thus be something that could be regulated at the federal level.

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3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#262438: Nov 21st 2018 at 3:25:51 AM

Of course, but to create that regulation would be up to Congress and since the Judge was - from what I remember of the statement - clearly disgusted by the practice, I guess the 30 year-old law wasn't textually up for that.

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PhysicalStamina (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
#262439: Nov 21st 2018 at 4:28:33 AM

So, what exactly can be done to criminalize female genital mutilation?

It's one thing to make a spectacle. It's another to make a difference.
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#262440: Nov 21st 2018 at 4:36:43 AM

Pass laws at a state level doing it, which theoretically should be easy, except I’m sure that there’s going to turn out to be a tiny religious movement in at lest one state that has a thing for mutilating children’s genitalia and also has a ton of influence over the state government.

So it’ll probably end up illegal in 49 states or something.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#262441: Nov 21st 2018 at 4:53:06 AM

Quoth Marq FJA:

That "abortion is punishable by death" bullshit should have its own culprits marked for the death penalty themselves for every woman they inflict said travesty on.

... Now there's an idea. Make a law that punishes with death anyone who is convicted of knowingly proposing and passing legislation that seeks to cause the deliberate killing of people for no possible reason other than racism, sexism or some other form of discrimination. Let's see how many of those scumbags try that BS again afterwards.

Reminds me of an idea I had, that anyone who proposes, votes for, or fails to veto (when possible) an anti-abortion law should be made actionable for child support. Of course, that has zero chances of happening in states where anti-abortion laws are being voted, so...

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#262442: Nov 21st 2018 at 5:14:34 AM

Maybe they should attach to every suggestion to tighten abortion rules a bill which allots money to an organisation which helps young mothers and those who just can't afford another child.

Friendperson Since: Aug, 2018
#262443: Nov 21st 2018 at 5:14:57 AM

I would understand their opposition to abortion as a method of birth control if we had way, way better and cheaper prenatal and pregnancy care, federally mandated maternity and paternity leave, and much better support for adoption services. But we have literally none of those things. Also, talking about the death penalty for women who get one almost feels like a trolling tactic- they have to know there's no way in God's green Earth that's happening, so they're just doing it to get people talking.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#262444: Nov 21st 2018 at 5:18:18 AM

Opposition to abortion is based on a fundamental, underlying social paradigm wherein women are the property of men: walking wombs who double as homemakers. In this model, women have no basic rights as independent humans with their own choices and desires.

It's not all phrased in that manner, but that's what it comes down to in the end. Now, some "compassionate" abortion opponents recognize that in order to not be absolute hypocrites, they must also offer pre- and post-natal care for women, contraception/birth control, sex education, rape prevention and counseling, family coaching, adoption services, child support, and so on. But that's too complicated for most of them, and it inherently recognizes women as "real people" rather than baby factories.

Edited to add: Given a choice, I'd rather see a pregnancy come to term than be aborted. The idea of ending a potential human life is tragic, never more so than for the mother who is faced with that choice. But I'd never dare tell someone in that position that they don't have the right to make it.

Edited by Fighteer on Nov 21st 2018 at 8:28:16 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#262445: Nov 21st 2018 at 5:54:35 AM

I feel we are straying close to one of the forbidden topics...

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speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#262446: Nov 21st 2018 at 6:31:11 AM

Did anyone bring up the story yesterday that Trump wanted to prosecute Comey and Clinton? It's yet another example of Trump testing the boundaries of what he's allowed to do, and the president weaponizing the defense department against political opponents is something dictators do. Good news, Mueller's got even more to work with now.

Edited by speedyboris on Nov 21st 2018 at 8:40:52 AM

Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#262447: Nov 21st 2018 at 6:48:18 AM

[up] The Mueller investigation seems to have lost traction as of late, it seems like all the big names (involved in the administration) were just caught early.

[up][up][up] So do pro-life groups only see women as baby factories or is that an obvious hyperbole? You seem to be saying both in different paragraphs. Former senate democratic leader Harry Reid was opposed to abortion and you can't claim he didn't see women as equals.

Edited by Grafite on Nov 21st 2018 at 2:52:27 PM

Life is unfair...
Friendperson Since: Aug, 2018
#262448: Nov 21st 2018 at 6:52:58 AM

[up] Sounds like hyperbole. Some people I've met that are opposed to abortion just don't like the idea of taking a life, albeit an undeveloped one.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#262449: Nov 21st 2018 at 6:54:21 AM

[up][up]Mueller has been quiet (due to the midterm election campaign, and because this stuff takes time), not idle.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TobiasDrake Queen of Good Things, Honest (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
Queen of Good Things, Honest
#262450: Nov 21st 2018 at 7:00:17 AM

Bodily autonomy.

Did you know that if a person was dying and desperately needed a kidney, the law could not compel me to donate mine? Every part of my body is legally considered to be my property. It could be a three-year-old child on that operating bed, and I still have a legal right to say, "Let him die. My kidney belongs to me."

In fact, if I so choose, even when I die, I can demand that my potentially life-saving kidney be left in the ground to rot with me and no one can say a thing about it. The same is true of my liver, heart, and other potentially life-saving organs. I have a legal right to let other people die to preserve my bodily autonomy.

Why should a womb be any different?

Edited by TobiasDrake on Nov 21st 2018 at 8:03:17 AM

My Tumblr. Currently liveblogging Haruhi Suzumiya and revisiting Danganronpa V3.

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