TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The General US Politics Thread

Go To

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

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#149026: Nov 7th 2016 at 8:38:46 AM

From a Canadian perspective, in case of a Trump win: Canada desperately building a wall along the 49th parallel. It would work well as a Poland Ball short.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#149027: Nov 7th 2016 at 8:44:09 AM

So I stole this from Democratic Underground: Things you have to believe to be a Republican

A billionaire who made his money from inheritance, shady land deals, brain-cell killingly stupid reality shows, and incessant self-promotion has earned the right to say that working people's wages are too high:

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/11/1448722/-Donald-Trump-s-wage-suppression-plan-again-cuz-wages-are-too-high

It is inappropriate of the Pope to question the religious faith of a man who constantly questions Barack Obama and Ted Cruz's religious faith:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2016/02/18/donald-trumps-predictable-holy-war-with-pope-francis/

Donald Trump is qualified to be President because of his business expertise in multiple bankruptcies, losing money on casinos, and having high profile business partners sever their ties with him.

Bill Clinton was a draft dodger for not serving in Vietnam. But it was okay for Dick Cheney, George W. and Jeb Bush, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Clarence Thomas, Dan Quayle, Tom Delay, Tom Tancredo, Pat Buchanan, Donald Trump, and Willard Mitt Romney not to go. After thirty-five years of bellicose anti-government, anti-immigrant, anti-science, pro-rich rhetoric it is shocking and confusing that an obnoxious, ignorant, racist billionaire businessman has won the Republican presidential nomination.

Valid for Hitler Comparisons: A black man wants to make health care more affordable to more people.

Not Valid for Hitler Comparisons: A bombastic bigot with a bad haircut wants to stop immigration, persecute believers of a religious minority, torture people, demand loyalty oaths, and punish those who criticize him.

You think politics has gotten polarized and vile in this country. You approve of Donald Trump encouraging his supporters to beat up protesters.

You resent satire that depicts conservatives as violent and misogynistic, and think the dumb whores that create it should be raped and murdered:

http://www.alternet.org/media/i-dared-criticize-fox-news-and-speak-samantha-bee-how-right-roared-back-me

Indiana is in Mexico. New York City is in Afghanistan: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/06/03/1534151/-Trump-yet-again-blasts-federal-judge-He-s-a-Mexican http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/6/13/1538246/-Trump-and-Mateen-separated-at-birth-but-not-by-much Bonus points with Hawaii being in Kenya

Donald Trump's constant boasting and construction of gaudy buildings bearing his name in giant letters show that he's a humble servant of the people and God. Hillary Clinton is a dangerous egomaniac who's only in it for herself.

Barack Obama is a horrible tyrant, and the only way to save our country is to vote for a man who admires Vladimir Putin, Kim Jung Un, and Saddam Hussein.

You scream about "criminalizing politics" every time a Republican gets caught doing something crooked, but want Hillary Clinton SHOT just because you don't like her:

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/7/20/1550153/-Trump-s-advisor-on-veterans-Hillary-Clinton-should-be-put-in-the-firing-line-and-shot-for-treason

You thought Barack Obama was a thin-skinned narcissist with no governing experience, and are a supporter of Donald Trump:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/07/22/jon_stewart_made_his_comeback_by_ripping_fox_news_on_the_late_show_with.html

You "don't think name calling has any place in public life". You're the running mate of Donald Trump:

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/7/29/1554172/-Trump-s-running-mate-is-upset-with-Obama-I-don-t-think-name-calling-has-any-place-in-public-life

You like Trump because he "says what he means". But he didn't mean it when he said he wanted Hillary Clinton assassinated. http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/9/1558414/-Trump-s-Second-Amendment-threat-against-Clinton-is-a-dangerous-call-for-violence

A guy who has five children with three different women has the moral authority to criticize someone else's "broken homes': https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/768514267440095232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Important Story: Is the Clinton Foundation corrupt, even though there has been no evidence that it is? Not Important Story: The Trump Foundation bribing public officials and being used as a "slush fund" for Trump to pay off his legal bills and buy giant paintings of himself.: http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/9/20/1572462/-Tuesday-Trump-Dump-Trump-used-charity-as-personal-slush-fund-Trump-Jr-continues-to-tweet-things

The embodiment of Christian values: a thrice-married sexual predator who doesn't know much about the Bible, lusts after his own daughter, and can't open his mouth without bragging about how awesome he is.

A True Christian(TM) will forgive Donald Trump for making lewd sexual comments to women and cheating on at least two (but probably all three) of this three wives, but not Bill Clinton for cheating on his one wife—or her for being cheated on.

You whine that the culture is too PC for you to say racist, sexist, homophobic shit and you have to watch what you say. But you throw a fit when the other side calls you deplorable

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/9/9/1568578/-Trump-campaign-jumps-to-the-defense-of-homophobes-racists-misogynists-and-bigots

You have giant buildings and a private plane with your name on them, and spend $20,000 on a giant portrait of yourself, and can accuse anyone else in the world of being "elitist" with a straight face

Bribery: NOT taking money from Donald Trump.: http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/9/20/1572375/-Pam-Bondi-logic-I-had-to-take-Donald-Trump-s-money-or-it-would-have-looked-like-a-bribe

You scream with outrage at the idea that Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton are going to take everyone's guns away, even though they've never said a thing about doing so, but not a peep when Donald Trump actually says he's going to take people's guns away.: http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/9/23/1573380/-NRA-strangely-silent-over-Donald-Trump-s-gun-grabbing-policy

Business losses of nearly a billion dollars during one of the greatest boom times in American history are the mark of a great businessman.

You're more offended by people repeating the vulgar word for female genitalia that Donald Trump used more than Trump using the word: http://crooksandliars.com/2016/10/ana-navarro-rips-scottie-nell-hughes

You brag about getting the endorsement of a notorious racist and anti-Semite you yourself once condemned: http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/10/12/1581443/-Trump-campaign-brags-about-praise-from-someone-Trump-once-called-a-Hitler-lover

You're worried about transsexual "perverts" going into women's restrooms; you ardently support a Presidential candidate who bragged about going into a room where 15 year old girls were changing clothes "Consent" to sex is some weird left wing conspiracy nonsense: http://crooksandliars.com/2016/10/rush-limbaugh-blames-left-their-obsession

Fertilized eggs are people but refugee kids aren't

The same party that compared Vietnam Vet Max Cleland to Osama Bin Laden and routinely issues attack ads tying Democratic candidates to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid is justified in threatening to sue Democrats for ads linking them to their party's Presidential candidate.

The same party that decries "frivolous law suits" every time some corporation hurts people is justified in threatening to sue Democrats for ads linking them to their party's Presidential candidate.

Big Scandal: Hillary Clinton's friends' emails.

Not A Big Scandal: Donald Trump destroying emails and other records demanded by court order. Multiple times: http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/10/31/1589009/-Donald-Trump-destroyed-emails-recordings-documents-in-defiance-of-court-orders

It totally makes sense to fire a commentator with ties to the Clinton campaign at the same time they have one with ties to the Trump campaign still on the payroll:

https://twitter.com/oliverdarcy/status/793116668079796224

edited 7th Nov '16 8:45:08 AM by NoName999

DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#149028: Nov 7th 2016 at 8:59:43 AM

[up][up][up]

Though Trump as Palpatine isn't quite right. More like Trump as Nute Gunray.
Still an Insult to Rocks, though - the Trade Federation is actually good at business.

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#149029: Nov 7th 2016 at 9:03:21 AM

[up] They're not as racist either.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#149030: Nov 7th 2016 at 9:04:35 AM

After record ratings, CNN renews 2016 U.S. election for second season

https://www.thebeaverton.com/2016/11/record-ratings-cnn-renews-2016-us-election-second-season/

evil grin

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#149031: Nov 7th 2016 at 9:29:42 AM

So my school had a mock presidential debate. It went pretty much as expected. "Stein" had policy proposals that sound nice but are completely detached from reality, "Johnson" was just kind of there, and "Trump" valiantly tried his damndest to make his policies sound reasonable (and was a much better debater than the real thing, which is pretty sad) but couldn't quite cut it, leaving "Clinton" the only viable option, as per usual.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
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.
#149032: Nov 7th 2016 at 9:31:33 AM

[up] How did the audience respond?

Oh God! Natural light!
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#149033: Nov 7th 2016 at 9:37:17 AM

I couldn't really tell, because it was all in the spirit of good fun. The crowd cheered at a few zingers, but mostly just watched. I saw a few Stein fans though, which makes me a little sad, but I don't blame them. We're a pretty liberal school, so I think that Hillary has the majority support, albeit halfheartedly maybe.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#149034: Nov 7th 2016 at 9:47:30 AM

I trust that people picked which positions to argue, yes? I remember at my school we did have a debate about immigration policy and I was picked to argue the Swiss People's Party side, even though I strongly disagreed (and disagree) with it.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#149035: Nov 7th 2016 at 9:49:05 AM

Yes, they got to pick which side they represented.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
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.
#149036: Nov 7th 2016 at 9:50:05 AM

What did the Trump and Clinton reps say, exactly?

Oh God! Natural light!
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#149037: Nov 7th 2016 at 9:52:48 AM

538 has Clinton up to 68% in all projections, probably due to good polls in NH and Pennsylvania, as well as one (highly regarded) poll that had her up to a tie in Ohio.

Unfortunately the Dems are now less likely to take the Senate, having fallen behind in Nevada, North Carolina, Missouri and Indiana. Though early voting in the first two (which 538 stresses they can't measure effectively) might reverse that tomorrow.

edited 7th Nov '16 9:54:28 AM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#149038: Nov 7th 2016 at 10:00:39 AM

We had three topics: Education, terrorism, and healthcare.

On education, the Clinton rep talked about her plan to make public college tuition-free and reduce student debt, while the Trump rep talked about his plan to introduce a voucher system to make in easier to attend private and charter schools.

On terrorism, the Clinton rep talked about the need to work with allies and make it easier for various agencies to work together to take down lone-wolf terrorism, while the Trump rep mentioned a three-pronged plan involving increasing the military budget, increased attention to the cyber sphere and a third thing that I've actually forgotten but it wasn't his more unsavory policies like "extreme vetting" or the reintroduction of waterboarding

On healthcare, the Clinton rep talked about improving Obamacare while fixing up a few things to drive prices down, while the Trump rep called Obamacare a total failure that he'd replace with "something better" without specifying what that would be, but it would involve lower prices and greater access for more people.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
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
#149039: Nov 7th 2016 at 10:27:07 AM

Phil Mason (A.K.A. Thunderf00t) made a video over Trump and Hillary yesterday, in which he called out Trump on all anti-science (specially anti-vaxx and climate change denialism), his motions against freedom of speech, birth certificate controversy and all the shit he was up to. Meanwhile his review on Hillary was a mere display of incompetence and nothing more serious than that and for jumping on hot topics at the first opportunity but he also highlights how the Trump and Republicans have been grasping straws to land something on Hillary.

This is the first time I've seen a video of his being having a 5x/4x like dislike ratio and a lot of his followers throwing a fit over him not being a Bernie bro or a Trump supporter.

The video is priceless, it is essentially someone who the alt-right would think it was on their side but unlike them, you can be against feminism and the SJW and not be stupid to support Trump.

Inter arma enim silent leges
TotemicHero No longer a forum herald from the next level Since: Dec, 2009
No longer a forum herald
#149040: Nov 7th 2016 at 10:30:22 AM

Surprised no one posted this yet. The reactions of a broad spectrum of Californians to this election - go!

Expergiscēre cras, medior quam hodie. (Awaken tomorrow, better than today.)
Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#149041: Nov 7th 2016 at 10:40:35 AM

I have a question, are polls trustworthy in the USA?

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#149042: Nov 7th 2016 at 10:40:52 AM

Trump sure is popular with the Old White Men...

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#149043: Nov 7th 2016 at 10:45:05 AM

And the Young White Man too.

But darn it, old guy has the same reactions as my grandpa. -_-

Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#149044: Nov 7th 2016 at 10:47:24 AM

[up][up][up]Broadly, yes. Some garbage polls exist, of course- such as anonymous online polls that allow people to answer more than once- but there are all the reputable polls you could ask for out there.

Though of course the nature of the beast is that you'll get some variance and disagreement between pollsters, so the question is more 'how trustworthy are they' than 'are they trustworthy'. And the answer to that is that the average from polling is almost always within 3% of the actual result.

edited 7th Nov '16 10:47:37 AM by Gilphon

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#149046: Nov 7th 2016 at 10:59:35 AM

"I did a lot of freaking out about Barack Obama," the conservative pundit told the New Yorker in a recent interview. “Obama made me a better man.”

Beck said that he regrets calling Obama a racist and recognizes that it's hard to relate to the experiences of African Americans.

“There are things unique to the African-American experience that I cannot relate to,” he told the New Yorker. “I had to listen to them.”

Beck praised Michelle Obama's campaign speeches warning of the dangers of Donald Trump, specifically the first lady's speech in New Hampshire blasting Trump over his vulgar comments on a now-notorious 2005 tape.

“She didn’t say, ‘The government should do X, Y, or Z.’ She said, ‘We,’ ‘Us’—without a political party. ‘We are better.’ ‘We need to stop this,’ ” he told the New Yorker. “It had to do with ‘Who are you as a human being?’ ‘How do you view women?’ Brilliant speech."

“That was a moment that transcended all political thought," he added.

The conservative, who has rejected Trump as the Republican nominee, also explained why he can't support Trump. He told the New Yorker that Trump once called him into a guest room at his Mar-A-Lago resort and then telephoned him.

“We had this weird, almost Howard Hughes-like conversation,” Beck told the New Yorker.

He said the conversation left him thinking Trump is crazy.

“This guy is dangerously unhinged,” Beck told the New Yorker. “And, for all the things people have said about me over the years, I should be able to spot Dangerously Unhinged.”

Well that was a surprising amount of humility and critical self-examination.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#149047: Nov 7th 2016 at 11:00:57 AM

Handle, this is the part where you quote "The World Turned Upside Down".

Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#149048: Nov 7th 2016 at 11:01:23 AM

Mhm. I'm getting the impression that not liking Trump and dealing with backlash from that made him re-evaluate where he stood.

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
#149049: Nov 7th 2016 at 11:03:13 AM

[up][up][up][up]That is actually heart warming if you think about it.

edited 7th Nov '16 11:03:40 AM by AngelusNox

Inter arma enim silent leges
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#149050: Nov 7th 2016 at 11:06:32 AM

[up]x10 Some polls are, some aren't. Though they are less reliable these days since some polls only call landline phones (which usually mean older demographics).

I prefer to look up the betting markets for election odds.

edited 7th Nov '16 11:07:00 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised

Total posts: 417,856
Top