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

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#162151: Dec 13th 2016 at 4:40:31 PM

[up] The Democratic-Republicans, from Jefferson to Q. Adams, from 1801-1829. A Total of 28 years.

The Republican Party from Lincoln to McArthur have the 2nd longest, from 1861-1885. A total of 24 years.

edited 13th Dec '16 4:41:56 PM by DingoWalley1

CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#162152: Dec 13th 2016 at 4:58:00 PM

[up]Difficult to say whether John Quincy Adams was really a Democratic-Republican, since he ran in a 4-way race against three other candidates from the same party, representing four factions that later took up unique names.

edited 13th Dec '16 4:58:51 PM by CrimsonZephyr

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
RedRob Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: One Is The Loneliest Number
#162153: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:03:06 PM

So after reading like, 500 pages of "Trump's going to be a worse leader than Satan", I have to ask, as a white male living in the Cleveland area and about to go off to college next year, how likely is it that the next 4 years of my life are going to be shit with him as president? I'm genuinely fearful he's going to mess America up so much that I'll be better off moving to Europe or something.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet Unless I grew it. In that case, throw it in the trash.
TrashJack Confirmed Doomer from beyond the Despair Event Horizon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Confirmed Doomer
#162154: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:05:48 PM
Thumped: Extreme positions are not tolerated here. We don't care if they're sincere or you're just trolling. Either way, the forums don't need this sort of thing.
"Cynic, n. — A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be." - The Devil's Dictionary
pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#162155: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:08:37 PM

[up][up]At the risk of sounding cliché — you live in Cleveland; things really can't get any worse for you.

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
blkwhtrbbt The Dragon of the Eastern Sea from Doesn't take orders from Vladimir Putin Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
The Dragon of the Eastern Sea
#162156: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:12:35 PM

I heard on the radio that the CEO of Exxon, who has a LOT of interest in drilling in Russia (and thus would LOVE for sanctions on Russia be lifted) has been appointed to Trump's cabinet.

At first, I was starting to think y'all had lost it to the tin-foil hattists, but now I would like to add my hat and commence panicking with all the rest of you.

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you
nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#162157: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:13:12 PM

[up]Yep. Secretary of State.

edit: what a non-informative page-topper, lol.

edited 13th Dec '16 5:13:51 PM by nightwyrm_zero

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#162158: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:14:37 PM

It's been known for a while now he was in the running. It's been on MSNBC like every night. Trump basically jerked Romney around because he could.

RedRob Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: One Is The Loneliest Number
#162159: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:16:27 PM

[up][up][up][up] I live near Cleveland, not in it, though if things really can't get much worse, I'm probably going to be fine, seeing I been able to deal with it for nearly 2 decades.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet Unless I grew it. In that case, throw it in the trash.
Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#162160: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:30:32 PM

So after reading like, 500 pages of "Trump's going to be a worse leader than Satan", I have to ask, as a white male living in the Cleveland area and about to go off to college next year, how likely is it that the next 4 years of my life are going to be shit with him as president? I'm genuinely fearful he's going to mess America up so much that I'll be better off moving to Europe or something.
Provided that you're also straight and Christian (or at least not stereotypically or openly not-straight/not-Christian) and that Trump doesn't start a nuclear war (or a non-nuclear war large enough to reinstate the draft), your particular lot is unlikely to get too much worse (though it will get worse as Lootin' Paul Ryan tears apart the social safety net so that he can live out his Ayn Rand fanfic IRL) outside of a recession/depression (not all that unlikely). That said, it's also certainly not going to get any better - he's made it clear through words and appointments that he has no interest in actually helping working class people of any race and the Rust Belt is going to remain in decline, since things like the Carrier deal have already shown him to be inept at "saving" jobs, and to my knowledge, he has no plan for actually creating jobs beyond supply-side magic (Step 1: Enrich the already wealthy with tax cuts; Step 2: ????; Step 3: PROFIT! (note that the reality of these "supply-side economics" or "trickle-down economics" or "Reaganomics" or more accurately "Voodoo Economics" plans is Step 1: Enrich the already wealthy with tax cuts; Step 2: PROFIT! (but only for people who are already rich)).

edited 13th Dec '16 5:31:10 PM by Balmung

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#162161: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:35:06 PM

Former Wrestler Booker T has announced he is running for Houston mayor in the 2020 election as an Independent.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#162162: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:41:06 PM

[up][up] Calling Reaganomics aka trickle-down "voodoo" is fitting, since it's more or less pseudo-economic crap. It's not really the same thing as supply-side economics. Small wonder trickle-down has never really done much to actually improve the economy.

edited 13th Dec '16 5:42:41 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
RedRob Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: One Is The Loneliest Number
#162163: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:41:34 PM

[up][up][up] Well I've calmed down now. I'll be able to cope with that for the next 4 years, provided those worst case scenarios don't come to pass.

edited 13th Dec '16 5:41:48 PM by RedRob

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet Unless I grew it. In that case, throw it in the trash.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#162164: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:44:51 PM

[up] Yeah, if you're a well-off white guy, you probably won't be too inconvenienced. It'd also be great if you took some time in the next four years or so looking out for those who are going to be hurt by our new administration.

edited 13th Dec '16 5:45:19 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
TotemicHero No longer a forum herald from the next level Since: Dec, 2009
No longer a forum herald
#162165: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:53:40 PM

Someone ought to tell the tabloids that they aren't helping. The one I saw in the store today (hooray for holiday shopping) had the headline about "Trump's secret plan to save 25 million jobs" or something like that.

Protip: "Fake news" predates the Internet. sad

Expergiscēre cras, medior quam hodie. (Awaken tomorrow, better than today.)
Falrinn Since: Dec, 2014
#162166: Dec 13th 2016 at 5:58:32 PM

[up] To be fair, if they made up negative things about Trump, there's a good chance they would accidentally wind up being right. And they had a reputation to maintain.

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#162167: Dec 13th 2016 at 6:00:54 PM

[up][up]Trump can't keep secrets, he has no plans because he's incapable of thinking more than five minutes ahead, and the only jobs he can actually create are flunkies and yes-men on his personal staff.

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#162168: Dec 13th 2016 at 6:03:21 PM

"If you have selfish ignorant citizens, you're going to get selfish ignorant leaders."

Goddamn, Carlin was a prophet.

New Survey coming this weekend!
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#162169: Dec 13th 2016 at 6:07:30 PM

[up] “As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” ― H.L. Mencken

In other words, we've all got a little Trump in us.

...<throws up>

edited 13th Dec '16 6:08:19 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#162170: Dec 13th 2016 at 6:11:31 PM

US has perfected democracy! AMERICA NUMBER ONE!!

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#162171: Dec 13th 2016 at 6:12:17 PM

[up][up][up][up][up]If it's the National Enquirer, I've been noticing them running with more or less the Trump/Breitbard line since the Ted Cruz sex scandal (which appears to have petered out and I now doubt if it was anything). At the time it was noted that the guy who owns that rag is a Trump-friend.

I don't actually know anyone who takes the National Enquirer seriously but if they're looking to milk the current climate as a propaganda rag...

edited 13th Dec '16 6:12:34 PM by Elle

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#162172: Dec 13th 2016 at 6:16:36 PM

Responding to some things....

RE: Castro, imperialism, and the left

Fidel Castro is not a monster. He was a villain to his victims, but a hero to Nelson Mandela and many others in Africa, and several others in Cuba. To deny Castro's heroism is to deny America's villainy. The good doesn't wash out the bad, nor the bad the good.

creations suggests that America want to be seen as the country that helps the little guy, but in actual fact they have rarely done that. Castro for all his manifest flaws, did do that and which I, as an anti-colonialist and anti-racist, can't take away from him.

Cuba for example, despite being an authoritarian dictatorship, poses no threat to anyone outside of their own borders, whereas the United States is regarded in global popular opinion the number one threat to world peace, despite being one of the most open societies in the world.

Okay, the hero-worship of Castro is getting a little out of hand here. Castro didn't "stand up for the little guy", and he was a threat outside his own borders—he helped impose a succession of Communist dictatorships that brutalized their own populace. His fans love citing his support for Nelson Mandela, but once you get past him the list of decent human beings that Castro supported is a short one. He supported the MPLA which killed 100-200 000 of their fellow Angolans. He supported FRELIMO, which killed between 83 000 and 200 000 of their fellow Mozambicans, depending on who does the counting. He supported Qaddafi, whose crimes against the Libyan people should need no introduction. He backed Mengistu Haile Mariam, arguably the worst dictator in Ethiopian history, whose party murdered at least 500 000 Ethiopians (and that's not counting the famine that followed).

As for anti-imperialism...Castro was, to all intents and purposes, a mercenary, loaning his army to the USSR and its Communist clients in order to pay his debts to the Soviet Union and bring much needed cash into Cuba. To that extent, he repeatedly assisted in the imposition of Marxism-Leninism, a foreign, Eurocentric worldview, onto the local populace. Ethiopia is a case in point—with Castro's aid, the Derg overthrew Ethiopia's traditional leader, Emperor Haile Selassie, and replaced it with Communist dictatorship on the Soviet model—a foreign import if ever there was one. And before you mention that Selassie was an emperor and therefore an imperialist—so where the Derg, who did everything they could to suppress the independence movements in the various regions of the former Ethiopian Empire. It's also worth noting that he refused to condemn the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, earning himself the ire of the rest of the non-aligned movement in the process.

Long story short, Castro, in addition to being a repressive dictatorial ruler at home (who killed between 5000 and 17 000 of his own people, putting him somewhere between Augusto Pinochet and Efrain Rios Montt when it comes to bodycount) consistently exported a murderous Russian political ideology to Third World countries. He was not only a tyrant, he was an outright imperialist.

If you are the kind of person who become enraged at the Americans for "spreading democracy", yet you are prepared to excuse Castro's mercenary work on behalf of Communism, then you have a double standard that is every bit as bad as that of those on the right whom you would vilify. Castro was not the worst dictator in history—far, far from it—but to posit him as any sort of hero in the light of his actual actions, while simultaneously condemning the same actions when undertaken by the USA, is the worst form of hypocrisy.

RE: Trump appointments

Appointing the guy from Exxon-Mobil is pretty much the definition of conflict of interest, but as we all know, Trump doesn't care about that, and neither does anybody else.

RE: Trump and intelligence briefings

Olbermann sums it up well. At best we get W 2.0. At worst we're heading to a Russian-dominated international community.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#162173: Dec 13th 2016 at 6:25:06 PM

[up] The tense should make it clear I was referring to the modern day Cuba. Even at its relative apex though, its ability to "threaten" the world barely compared to the Soviet Union or United States.

RedRob Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: One Is The Loneliest Number
#162174: Dec 13th 2016 at 6:33:51 PM

@M84

Any advice on how to do that while at college?

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet Unless I grew it. In that case, throw it in the trash.
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#162175: Dec 13th 2016 at 6:34:56 PM

If you are the kind of person who become enraged at the Americans for "spreading democracy", yet you are prepared to excuse Castro's mercenary work on behalf of Communism, then you have a double standard that is every bit as bad as that of those on the right whom you would vilify. Castro was not the worst dictator in history—far, far from it—but to posit him as any sort of hero in the light of his actual actions, while simultaneously condemning the same actions when undertaken by the USA, is the worst form of hypocrisy.

A case could well be made that Cuba allying as firmly with the Soviet Union as possible, and providing military support to the Soviet agenda in exchange for defense and funding, was simple self-defense. As you noted, the US has a long history in Latin America and not everyone down there likes how the American Empire has acted.

(And, of course, because I think that the American Empire is generally a force for good in the world, I'm not going to blame Castro for being a firm ally of the Soviet Empire.)


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