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Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#148876: Nov 6th 2016 at 2:42:11 PM

The idea of any particular attribute or past act being "disqualifying" for a candidate is pretty much meaningless. The only literal qualifications for public office are those defined in the laws and/or constitutions of the respective governments. Otherwise, it's nothing more than a part of the process of deciding who can get enough support to be worth putting on the ballot.

"Disqualifying" in the sense we're talking about here means, "Enough people will never vote for a candidate who has said/done/been convicted of X that it's not worth running them." But if the voters demonstrably support them even given those traits, as with Trump, then they can win an election.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#148877: Nov 6th 2016 at 2:42:57 PM

[up]...I don't think anybody is disputing that.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#148878: Nov 6th 2016 at 2:43:49 PM

Lebron James is that well known basketball player, yes?

You know, I have always noted that a relatively large number of well-known African American people are active in sports. I wonder if this is a coincidence.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
nervmeister Since: Oct, 2010
#148879: Nov 6th 2016 at 2:44:07 PM

This society is already plagued by HFDSS (Heel–Face Door-Slam Syndrome). One mark on your record and - no matter your desire to contribute, no matter if you payed your debt - you earn countless "fuck you's" from employers in careers you might've excelled at in terms of knowledge/skill. Perpetuating that kind of mentality, even on politicians, will just keep influencing others to keep it alive and well.

AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#148880: Nov 6th 2016 at 2:47:27 PM

I don't think it is a good thing, if he keeps doing the same things while in office he should do time again. However it doesn't necessarily mean he isn't doing a decent job as a mayor or has policies that are harmful.

His history with sexual assault is and should be something to be considered when voting but that alone shouldn't determine if he can run or not for office.

Inter arma enim silent leges
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#148881: Nov 6th 2016 at 2:48:34 PM

So, shifting gears to the Ohio thing and Trump enforcers in general, how much do you think this is going to effect the election?

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#148882: Nov 6th 2016 at 2:51:39 PM

[up][up][up]There is a world of difference between being unemployable and being handed public power. Those of us who have a problem with this guy are not saying he should be unemployable, we are saying he shouldn't be mayor of a major metropolitan centre.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#148883: Nov 6th 2016 at 2:52:07 PM

[up][up] Probably little. Democrats are rolling out armies of lawyers to polling places in key states to ensure that no shenanigans take place.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#148884: Nov 6th 2016 at 2:59:04 PM

"Correct, but it is up to the voters to decide whether someone who has been convicted of a crime in the past is someone they want to represent them."

Depends on whether they like the crime(s) in question.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/andrew_jackson_9337.jpg

edited 6th Nov '16 2:59:40 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
nervmeister Since: Oct, 2010
#148885: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:00:40 PM

[up][up][up]Yeah. You're right. That's getting off track. Anyways, even political power shouldn't be kept out of the hands of someone who already paid his debt, provided he/she stays on the wagon.

edited 6th Nov '16 3:00:55 PM by nervmeister

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#148886: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:07:06 PM

[up]That really depends on the crime. Again, some crimes say something about a person. Maybe if he'd been out for a decade or two and nothing had happened again I'd be more charitable. But he hasn't, and there's too many charges, not "just" the statutory rape one orbiting him.

edited 6th Nov '16 3:08:07 PM by AmbarSonofDeshar

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#148887: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:11:25 PM

[up]x4 How are supposed to stop people from threatening to beat the shit out of someone if they don't vote for Trump?

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#148888: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:17:10 PM

Apologies if this has been posted already, but apparently Comey's come out and said the content of the emails had nothing incriminatory whatsoever.

The FBI said it had nothing to add to Comey’s letter. Yet while the immediate drama has ended, Comey remains in a precarious position.

John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House judiciary committee, signalled political battles to come, saying: “We will have many questions about the FBI’s handling of this investigation.”

Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat on the Senate intelligence and judiciary committees, said the end of what she called Comey’s “October surprise” made his decision to intervene “even more troubling”.

Feinstein called on the justice department to “look at its procedures to prevent similar actions that could influence future elections”.

Kellyanne Conway signalled that fire may be coming Comey’s way from both parties, telling MSNBC: “I immediately thought that he’s mishandled the investigation from the beginning.”

nervmeister Since: Oct, 2010
#148889: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:17:16 PM

That really depends on the crime. Again, some crimes say something about a person. Maybe if he'd been out for a decade or two and nothing had happened again I'd be more charitable. But he hasn't, and there's too many charges, not "just" the statutory rape one orbiting him.
So you wouldn't be adverse to some kind of legally enforced wait period on when a wrongdoing politician can run for any kind of political office again. Not too shabby of an idea.

edited 6th Nov '16 3:25:01 PM by nervmeister

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#148890: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:21:08 PM

The crimes that would betray the most dangerous traits in a president are also the ones one doesn't usually get arrested for.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#148892: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:31:16 PM

[up][up]I can't say those are the most dangerous traits. Unless you're trying to argue that being a crooked exec is worse than rape/arson/murder/what-have-you.

[up][up][up]Not necessarily what I was driving at per se, but an idea I could certainly get behind. With a sliding scale of length of wait period proportional to crime.

edited 6th Nov '16 3:32:30 PM by AmbarSonofDeshar

nervmeister Since: Oct, 2010
#148893: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:42:20 PM

[up]In terms of the sheer number of people affected at once as a traceable byproduct of such ethics violations, one could indeed make the argument that "white collar villainy" is the nastier crime.

edited 6th Nov '16 3:42:44 PM by nervmeister

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#148894: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:42:43 PM

Regarding Ohio's voter intimidation law, it probably won't swing the national election. Trump is probably going to take Ohio, but it won't matter if Clinton hangs on in Nevada, Florida, North Carolina, etc.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
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
#148895: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:47:41 PM

The only way that Trump enforcers will swing things seriously is if ''tis either a super close call anyway or if they do something crazy like shoot up a polling station in a heavily Clinton area.

If we get a Trump win that's how I see it happening by the way, multiple black polling stations being shot up by Trump supporters and thus tons of votes either not being cast or be destroyed in the bloodbath.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#148896: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:55:44 PM

Unfortunately, given the circumstances? I would not count out the possibility of someone trying to do a horrible thing like that.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#148897: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:57:32 PM

Have we ever had a case of voters being subject to multiple mass shootings? Because I think that would merit at least some sort of recount.

Oh God! Natural light!
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
#148898: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:59:23 PM

A recount wouldn't effect things, those who died or fled wouldn't have voted so there would be no votes to recount. I mean you could rerun the election but that's different and I don't even think there's a way to do that in the US.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#148899: Nov 6th 2016 at 3:59:36 PM

If not a re-run of that state's election, if a significant number of voters were prevented from voting/had their ballots destroyed.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#148900: Nov 6th 2016 at 4:09:05 PM

"In terms of the sheer number of people affected at once as a traceable byproduct of such ethics violations, one could indeed make the argument that "white collar villainy" is the nastier crime."

If President Trump raped, murdered, and ate one innocent child every day, and otherwise governed responsibly, he would do less damage in four years of tenure than if he threw one nuke, or failed to repair the wrong dam, or caused a financial crisis, or got rid of Education, or slashed public healthcare, or stopped backing NATO members unless they paid up, or...

At that scale, personal evil is way, way less dangerous than even simple negligence in policy-making, let alone active malice.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

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