The General US Politics Thread

@Hodor: That makes the allusion all the more apt, because that is certainly something that could happen now.

Edited by Redmess on Jan 13th 2021 at 10:55:15 AM

See Pre-Nixon Republican presidents.

Edited by Forenperser on Jan 13th 2021 at 10:57:33 AM

So on Fox News apparently former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz said that Trump has done nothing to be impeached for this, and besides the typical sidestepping of "finding it a shameful day" and saying "he's a bit frustrated with the President" I think this part more relevant: "had a line in the speech from Donald Trump where he invoked violence and to break the law, they [the Democrats] would have put it in there [the impeachment resolution], but they didn't."

I bring this up because I'm fairly certain that seem flimsy reasoning is going to be used more and more with this. It goes back to how Republicans don't seem to understand stochastic terrorism or, probably more likely, just don't want to recognize it when it comes from their own side.

There might be some merit on some right leaning ideas, but the party got taken over by Heil Jackasses, so it lost any point on discussing with them. And having opposition is good for debates and democracy. Just make sure they don't cheat so shamelessly.

[[Film/Spaceballs"How many assholes we got on this ship?!"]]

"Hoy!"

"KEEP FIRING, ASSHOLES!"

Edited by Pendrake on Jan 13th 2021 at 2:03:34 AM

The GOP already split into two parties.

The problem was their base felt they weren't RACIST ENOUGH. The GOP moved to the Far Right to absorb them.

They were called the Tea Party and Sarah Palin w/ Trump (even then) were their parents.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Jan 13th 2021 at 2:03:07 AM

Love that scene. Such a shame that Republicans like Will McAvoy are basically extinct today.

I mentioned this before, maybe the Whig Party will make a comeback?

Republicans have fallen into the same trap that fundamentalist evangelical Christianity did. Their ideology includes the axiom that they are always in the right and everyone one else is in the wrong.

When someone's ideology does not allow for them to be wrong, they will go to ever more extreme and deranged lengths to avoid acknowledging their mistakes and misconceptions. Trump made it so much worse because the guy is likely a narcissist who literally can't even conceive of the fact that he can be wrong and is willing to go to insane lengths to prove it.

Well, anyone wanna place bets on one of the Q-Horde groups jumping the gun and giving the Pro-impeachment side what it needs?

I'd still be nervous just how far they are willing to go.

That's not a trap. It's a strategy. Republicans aren't trying to be right. They want awful things. They want to strip rights from women, minorities, non-Christians, and the LGBT and to funnel wealth out of the poor's hands and into the rich's. They want these things because they are rich white cis-het Christian men. Their entire platform is "Make us your god-kings and deliver unto us fealty."

There is no good argument for what they believe in, so they don't make good arguments. They don't try to make good arguments. Republican ideals can't win a debate, so they employ the time-honored tactic of always behaving like debate-winners regardless of the words being said.

They speak with unshakable conviction, never concede an ounce of territory, and never try to defend their points - instead attacking the left's positions and forcing the left to try and spend their time arguing basic facts. Regardless of what nonsense they're actually saying, they carry themselves and speak as though only an idiot would disagree with the Iron-Clad Truth they're laying down. For people who don't really know enough about a given subject to weigh the facts for themselves, this is very effective at making them look like they're right.

Remember: if you're explaining, you're losing. If you're trying to argue points that the audience doesn't understand, you're losing. If you're getting flustered and repeating data over and over, practically begging them to see reason because they seriously just said that a provable fact is made-up, you're losing.

Republicans remain competitive despite offering literally nothing to their constituents because when they say the terrible things that they say, they do so in a way that makes it look like they know what they're talking about. Low-info voters fall for that every time.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Jan 13th 2021 at 2:28:44 AM

On one hand, they are violent and deranged. On the other, they are very, very dumb and they are already on their asses.

Just got a count on how many Guardsmen are in DC.

20,000.

The most military personnel the US has deployed ANYWHERE currently.

Never before have they lived up to the name "National Guard" so well.

"Hey, you guys want a fake tan like your glorious leader?"

Edited by Pendrake on Jan 13th 2021 at 2:34:53 AM

Yeah, and I could genuinely see the MAGA heads charging the position expecting the Guard to aid their coup, only to get a face full of microwave beam, if they’re lucky.

What worries me is the reports of police and military people participating in the riot feeding into that delusion the police and military will help them.

What worries more is that in some cases they are right.

McConnell says he's undecided on whether to vote to convict Trump.

Evil Turtle says “While the press has been full of speculation, I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate" but I think we all know he's merely weighting what option benefits him most.

Which is also why the National Guard's ranks have been being screened HEAVILY for the past few days.

You know I can’t help but think of it as Trump guaranteeing Biden gets a military leader on day 1, far, far larger than the joke Trump tried to get for himself

I know that’s not the reality, but it makes me laugh in a time when laughter is oh so much more valuable

Nice to see that Anti-Maturin acknowledges the Senate will have an actual trial this time...

Because Harris is about to kick his ass out of power

Edited by TheAirman on Jan 13th 2021 at 4:43:07 AM

Annnd Schumer.

Pelosi's about to sign off on the Impeachment, on the lectern that idiot decided to try and steal.

Edited by Pendrake on Jan 13th 2021 at 2:50:21 AM

The only thing that worries me about this whole thing is there's the possibility that either Russia, China or even both could do something to further make things worse for both the US and its western allies, like trying to invade either Ukraine, Taiwan or both, while the Americans are busy dealing with their own problems.

Remember it's the National Guard in DC.

The USAF, Marines, Army and Navy aren't allowed to be used in Domestic Affairs, so they'd still have the Force Projection they need.

Public tips on the Insurrectionists have reached 125,000.

Technically currently a division of the Air Force anyways. Plus, you know, Space is their jurisdiction.

Edited by Pendrake on Jan 13th 2021 at 3:22:40 AM

Send in the Space Force.

Also, for anyone worrying about there not being enough National Guardsmen to protect the other State Capitols?

Per the US Military's site, there are 350,000 of them. Which means there's still 330,000 left to guard their own states.

That's still 6600 per Capitol if divided evenly. and they can easily be force multiplied by Equipment, Vehicles, and Drones. As well as local law enforcement.

And there's still just shy of a Million total servicepeople in the US Military apart from them.

Oh, also, I'm pretty sure the Coast Guard would assist the National Guard where possible as well. there's roughly 90,000 of them.

Edited by Pendrake on Jan 13th 2021 at 3:17:51 AM

Ah, Trump, using the "No True Scotsman" fallacy.

...You can tell he's reading off a teleprompter. Watch his eyes.

Edited by Pendrake on Jan 13th 2021 at 3:27:33 AM