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
In theory it probably could, but the real question is whether anyone with the power to do so gives a shit. Obama himself is probably too concerned with ensuring a peaceful transitionnote to do so, which is one point on which I think he could not be more wrong.
"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."@RBluefish: How do you do that without causing a constitutional crisis? Also, until there's evidence that the Russians actually tampered with voting machines (which is very unlikely) rather than just leaking documents, that's a bit of an extreme reaction.
edited 9th Dec '16 5:22:51 PM by CaptainCapsase
If nothing is done to stop this or if the Republicans don't try and rein Trump in while in office at least a little, it will be the ultimate evidence and vindication of all the things liberals have been saying about them for years: that they are greedy, amoral plutocrats who don't give a shit about fairness, the democratic process, or their fellow americans, and they will do whatever it takes to be the boot stamping America's face as they impose theocracy, white supremacy and social darwinism on the masses.
I mean, you could (with good reason) argue they've repeatedly shown that for years now, but if they as a whole don't step up and show some goddamn integrity than they've basically crossed the Moral Event Horizon.
edited 9th Dec '16 5:27:28 PM by Draghinazzo
Obama could possibly declare Russia an enemy of the United States and officially kick off the Cold War and be able to pen Trump and his campaign for colluding with the enemy.
But that would be one hell of a thing to do. There'd be no pretending anymore and the world is gonna get split up again.
edited 9th Dec '16 5:25:47 PM by LeGarcon
Oh really when?I don't know if you'd need to do anything that dramatic. If half of the well-sourced allegations are true, then Trump really is already ineligible for POTUS, and in fact should probably be prosecuted for treason.
edited 9th Dec '16 5:26:44 PM by RBluefish
"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
You'd need to declare Russia an enemy to prosecute Trump for treason in the first place.
Either way, given a new cold war means a new nuclear arms race, and an elevated risk of the world ending because of a false alarm, I wouldn't be so hasty. If it's just some damn emails, oh well. Hold that against Trump, make sure everyone knows it when he's up for reelection.
edited 9th Dec '16 5:36:19 PM by CaptainCapsase
There isn't much room for action between 'tell everyone' and 'make Trump step down', though, and we've already seen that the people who voted for Trump don't listen to things like this. The people who ended up voting for Trump either embraced and wanted to vote for all the shitty things he is and stands for, or accepted that those weren't dealbreakers. Maybe this will convince some people to change their minds, but I'm pretty sure the sort of person who voted for Trump because they think it's about time black people stopped whining about slavery doesn't care too much about Russia.
It's been fun.![]()
Yes, but thus far that tampering consists of them stealing and releasing emails from the DNC and the Clinton campaign; going ballistic over another nation stationing nuclear weapons in a neighboring country is one thing, doing that over relatively benign leaks is another matter entirely. Use it to impeach Trump if you can find him guilty of an actual crime rather than retroactive treason charges.
edited 9th Dec '16 5:48:19 PM by CaptainCapsase
![]()
![]()
![]()
To be honest, I'm quite sure that if the Republicans really want to impeach him they'll doubtlessly find something because this is going to be one of the most corrupt governments imaginable.
The question is WILL they? Where exactly is their line in the sand, the point where Trump goes so far that even they can't stomach him anymore?
The source posted earlier indicated that the evidence strongly points towards the Russians using Wikileaks as a source to undermine Clinton in favor of Trump.
That's not exactly a conspiracy theory.
edited 9th Dec '16 5:56:08 PM by Draghinazzo
Not just the CIA. The NSA outright stated it weeks ago. Several prominent Senators and House members (both Democrats and Republicans) are launching their own investigations, including Elijah Cummings and Lindsey Graham.
It's a little bit more than just a "conspiracy theory" now. That's without even getting into the numerous ties with Russia Trump's campaign has.
edited 9th Dec '16 5:58:27 PM by RBluefish
"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."![]()
![]()
![]()
The Republicans will never impeach Trump, unless what I would consider two extremely unlikely scenarios both occur:
1. It reaches a point where Trump won't be useful for obtaining any of their own goals.
2. They find a way to do so without putting their own necks on the line.
Otherwise, some of them will always have some kind of incentive to stick with him, no matter how bad things get or how badly the American people want him gone.
edited 9th Dec '16 6:01:09 PM by Eschaton

Can it be halted?
1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV