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

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#179776: Mar 27th 2017 at 6:19:28 AM

Comey is a political opportunist, who is smart enough to see the writing on the wall. The fact that he is still investigating the Trump team is proof positive that he thinks this is a safe political path to follow. Which means that Trump is even weaker than we thought he was.

As for swaying moderate voters- the answer is to grow the economy and get them jobs. Social divisiveness goes down when the economy is good.

And the Republican Party is well worth saving. If the Dems had total control over the gov't they would go back to acting like elitists.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#179777: Mar 27th 2017 at 6:22:20 AM

[up] The thing is, it is not on the Democratic Party to "save" the GOP. Heck, they can't right now — they're plenty busy fixing their own problems.

As for growing the economy to sway moderate voters...Trump and the GOP's policies are probably not going to help much on that front, and any bill a Democrat sends their way would either be killed or the GOP will take the credit.

edited 27th Mar '17 6:24:00 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#179778: Mar 27th 2017 at 6:24:57 AM

I didnt say it would be the Dems who would save them. But we are all citizens, right? We can hope that the Reps one day get their shit together. For the good of the country.

As for your second point, you are right. That's why Keynesians have to take back control of economic policy.

edited 27th Mar '17 6:26:00 AM by DeMarquis

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#179779: Mar 27th 2017 at 6:26:24 AM

[up] The only way that is going to happen is if the "moderate" Republican voters somehow out-vote the reactionaries and actually support candidates who are reasonable.

Disgusted, but not surprised
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#179780: Mar 27th 2017 at 6:28:09 AM

That's exactly what I'm hoping for. It will happen when the economy fully recovers, and that happens when Keynesian economics becomes the basis of our economic policy. Huh, I guess it is the Dems who will save them in the end.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#179781: Mar 27th 2017 at 6:29:39 AM

If the Republican party is "saved," the Overton window doesn't budge. Better that "moderate" be redefined as "center-left" rather than "milquetoast right" by the party's ideological and political destruction. Upholding the political status-quo won't really get us anywhere; it will just put a party of bad ideas in the hands of more dangerously competent people.

And I have no sympathy for the GOP. If I were ever to identify as a Republican, it would have been with the GOP of Lincoln, Grant, or Roosevelt, not this monstrosity. I hate all of this party's works, ideas, and leaders, and I see no reason for their continued existence.

"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."
Lightysnake Since: May, 2010
#179782: Mar 27th 2017 at 6:46:14 AM

The Democratic party should not save the GOP. It should defeat it. What the GOP does with that defeat is upon its own members. Modern conservatism is less a set of principles and more a dogmatic repetition of how right you are that uses its ends as principles.

I mean, I cna disagree with Bernie fans, but we'll still agree on a number of core principles. With modern conservatism in America, it's "Small Government is GOOD!" 'Why?" "Because it IS." It's circular reasoning all around that does not allow deviation.

Eh? That's not really relevant. I'm just saying that the whole thing hurt her tremendously. It doesn't matter that it was stupid or that it was closed when she was nominated because it already did its damage although the media kept talking about that even after that which kept making it worse.

I'd even say the media did more damage.

Because even normally liberal people I knew who weren't on Team Bernie felt uncomfortable about her and asked about the email scandals.

What I'm tired of is the "we nominated someone under FBI investigation!" which isn't true because the investigation was closed when she was the nominee and it was found she did absolutely nothing illegal. Even after that, it was winnable until Comey inappropriately interfered. Yes, if not for the media, he would've been firing blanks.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#179783: Mar 27th 2017 at 6:54:50 AM

If the Dems ever get enough power they need to end gerrymandering and abolish the Electoral collage. Once that's done the GOP's disproportionate power will be gone and hopefully they'll have the ability to enact more progressive legislation.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#179784: Mar 27th 2017 at 7:30:30 AM

Unless the Republican Party mends its ways, it will go the way of the Whigs (Paraphrased Charles Mathias 1976).

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#179785: Mar 27th 2017 at 7:38:30 AM

From Paul Krugman: Populism and the Politics of Health: In which he posits that "populism" - at least in American discourse - is by and in large a form of white identity politics (or shall we say "white resentment" or "fig-leafed racism") with the purely economic populism (a category to which, presumably, we can classify people like Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn under) being a small niche that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme.

(Worth noting though that a lot of right-wing populists in Europe appear to be of the faux-populist type; I'd classify only some Nordic RWP parties as Herrenvolk social democracy, and the Front National in France depending on how seriously you take Le Pen's pro-welfare state comments)

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Wryte Since: Jul, 2010
#179786: Mar 27th 2017 at 7:39:57 AM

And the Republican Party is well worth saving.

Why?

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#179787: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:20:48 AM

I wonder if a Berniebro-type could manage to follow through on herrenvolk social democracy? I mean, that's essentially what Trump ran on; social welfare for white people and a wall for immigrants. (The reason Trump isn't even trying to follow through is because that would require him to actually govern, and it would also require him to use his own brain since his advisors are all teabaggin' it.)

...Hm. I wonder if I could get a job in the Administration? I couldn't do any worse than the people already there.

...I know! I'll ask if Trump could appoint me as a Ninth Circuit judge! As proof of my qualifications, I'll mention that I have no law degree, just an "ordinary man's understanding" of the law, and that should be good enough for real Americans.

edited 27th Mar '17 8:23:34 AM by Ramidel

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#179788: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:21:53 AM

[up][up]From an ecological perspective, maybe the Republicans fill some niche in the political food web and are actually keeping some bigger, crazier threat in check. Anyway, been surfing xkcd when I came upon this entry. Would it be possible to get this blown up and put on the side of buildings? Getting the AHCA shot down is all well and good, so can we stop the Republicans from destroying our environment as well?

edited 27th Mar '17 8:22:18 AM by danime91

Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#179789: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:27:46 AM

[up] Like what, literal Nazis? There does need to be a genuinely conservative party (not that far right leaning, just conservative), but the Republicans have gone way too far.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#179790: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:28:02 AM

Gallup and Rasmussen Polls before the Ryancare Defeat: Gallup had Trump at 40% (A slight increase from 37% last time I saw it) and Rasmussen had him at 44% (About where he was last time I saw it). I wonder how much he'll lose in all of the Polls? Especially with him saying Obamacare is going to stay in place...

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#179791: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:28:32 AM

A lot of climate change deniers are also young Earth creationists, so they'll dismiss all the latest data out of hand on principal.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#179792: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:31:06 AM

@Septimusheap

While I agree with a lot of points in that column, I gotta disagree with the notion that Trump is not a populist. Just because he's not actually helping most citizens doesn't mean he's not populist. Populists always promise to help the masses and preach anti-elitism and anti-establishment talking points. Whether or not they actually follow through on said promises and whether or not they fuck things up...

edited 27th Mar '17 8:37:36 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#179793: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:33:57 AM

Or/and they think the Second Coming is imminent, and that all the good people (re: them) will be Raptured into heaven so they don't have to worry about anything.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#179794: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:37:15 AM

[up][up] His approval rating among Republicans is what we should be watching; the GOP fears primaries more than they do the democrats in 2018 given the significant structural advantages they have at the federal level in the upcoming midterms.

@Septiums: I disagree with Krugman's assessment that left wing economic platforms have failed to combat right wing populism; it some cases it has, ie in Scotland (dominated by the left wing SNP) and Austria (where the Green candidate at the left end of the Overton window managed to beat the right wing demagogue running for President), though it's obviously no panacea.

edited 27th Mar '17 8:39:56 AM by CaptainCapsase

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#179795: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:38:42 AM

[up][up]Hell, this is probably their wet dream:

edited 27th Mar '17 8:38:56 AM by kkhohoho

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#179796: Mar 27th 2017 at 8:59:33 AM

See, I don't think that the Green candidate of Austria or the SNP qualify as "populist". To me they sound more akin to pragmatic left wingers. And I also think there is a point in limiting the analysis to America and England, not necessarily whole UK and certainly not Austria.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
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
#179797: Mar 27th 2017 at 9:02:16 AM

ie in Scotland (dominated by the left wing SNP) and Austria (where the Green candidate at the left end of the Overton window managed to beat the right wing demagogue running for President), though it's obviously no panacea.

Except as has been explained to you multiples times neither of those parties ar popularists. The SNP are centre-left and have only made big gains due to regional issues and the total collapse of Scottish Labour, while the Austrian Green Party is a centre-left establishment party.

edited 27th Mar '17 9:02:45 AM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
CenturyEye Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign? from I don't know where the Yith sent me this time... Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?
#179798: Mar 27th 2017 at 9:03:29 AM

[up][up][up]Wish that didn't make so much sense.

Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner to lead US federal overhaul

President Donald Trump is expected to unveil a new unit aimed at overhauling the US federal bureaucracy, and headed by his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The Washington Post, which has reported the move, describes the Office of Innovation as a "Swat team" of former private-sector executives.

It will have sweeping powers to reform government procedures, the report says.

Mr Kushner told the newspaper that the "government should be run like a great American company".

"Our hope is that we can achieve successes and efficiencies for our customers, who are the citizens," he added.

Technology and data are expected to be a key area, with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Microsoft founder Bill Gates said to be working with the White House.

"Government stagnation has hindered our ability to properly function, often creating widespread congestion and leading to cost overruns and delays," Mr Trump said.

He said the new office would allow him to apply his "ahead of schedule, under budget mentality" to his government.

Mr Kushner, ...advises the president on foreign relations, and is said to have been influential in helping President Trump choose staff for his campaign and in government.


Translation: Robbing from the government and making room to give favors to cronies plus austerity and less supplies while increasing workloads and the civil service had better take it with a smile. Well, I may be biased: I've always hated New Public Management.

edited 27th Mar '17 9:04:29 AM by CenturyEye

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#179799: Mar 27th 2017 at 9:10:45 AM

@Septimus: There's a bit of a disagreement about defenitions going on here then, because I think the advancement of groups like the SNP and the Austrian Greens are very much an example of how a left wing economic platform can counter right wing populism; populism moderated by pragmatism was essentially the genesis of the era of Social Democracy, particularly in America, and I think such parties and politicians are probably the best shot at stopping further Brexits and Trumps.

Though perhaps I'm just being America-centric; both the SNP and the Greens in Austrian are far left by our standards of political discourse, which is and almost always has been heavily right leaning.

edited 27th Mar '17 9:13:43 AM by CaptainCapsase

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#179800: Mar 27th 2017 at 9:15:20 AM

I gotta say, the SNP was originally driven by populism - specifically, the desire for Scexit. And then they got into power and had to govern - the death of populism if there ever was one.

Might be a lesson there.


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