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

DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#184501: Apr 24th 2017 at 8:23:52 AM

[up]x13 I read that as Trump bragging about having higher approval ratings than 9/11...

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#184502: Apr 24th 2017 at 8:29:34 AM

Since Saturday was Earth Day, and last week was National Parks Week, here's a piece on how Republicans came to hate the enviroment.

http://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2017/4/22/15377964/republicans-environmentalism

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#184503: Apr 24th 2017 at 8:46:35 AM

@Star Outlaw: I think you want the US Culture thread. How people view America and Americans isn't really about politics.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
StarOutlaw Since: Nov, 2010
#184504: Apr 24th 2017 at 9:25:00 AM

[up]You're right, wrong place. Still, I don't think we can deny that culture and politics are tightly interwoven. There's a culture war going on, and a major part of that is deciding which narrative is going to be accepted. Politics shape that narrative, it's why we have identity politics. Culture is a big reason that immigration is such an issue with people, because they're afraid of their own culture being replaced. I'd go as far to say that preserving or changing culture is the driving force behind most politics. How many right wingers are anti-environment just because they hate the tree hugging hippy lifestyle? I bet you could sell an electric car to them if you shaped it like a muscle car and advertised than it ran on thunder and lightning, because looking like a badass is more important.

I'll try to get back on real politics though. I really wish the Russia investigation would pick up the pace, and get more staff. I almost wish that the British would do it for us since I really don't trust Congress right now. I think Trump could get reelected not just because of who he is, but because, let's be honest, we don't have a lot of one term presidents. Most do get reelected. I do have some hope though; The popular vote margin is still too big to ignore, and despite whatever polls have shown, I highly doubt Trump is gaining any popularity. I just pray that whichever Dem runs against him will know to target those swing states. And until then, I hope the Russia investigation leads to impeachment.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#184505: Apr 24th 2017 at 9:47:32 AM

I wasn't sure, it could sort of apply to either.

Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#184506: Apr 24th 2017 at 9:48:44 AM

[up] That brings something more worrying, if going through 8 years with him, will America regain its status as a diverse nation or a broken insane, divisive shell of its former self? Trump is way too controversial to be reelected, not even his supporters to the highest caliber will be eternally loyal to him.

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#184507: Apr 24th 2017 at 9:49:47 AM

[up] We'll still be powerful even after Trump. We'll still be a great country. The American people are, despite everything, still overall a very understanding and very optimistic lot. That's actually part of why I think a lot of Trump supporters are still giving him the benefit of the doubt. But yeah, as a nation we've got a bit of soul-searching to do.

edited 24th Apr '17 9:52:02 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#184508: Apr 24th 2017 at 9:52:40 AM

It's worth noting that even the one-term presidents had approval ratings that blew Trump's out of the water at this point. The only post-WII president who ever had lower rating than Trump at the same point in their presidency was Bush Jr., and even then there's only one day where Trump's winning- Bush dug himself out of the hole the recount put him in much faster.

You may not have many one-term presidents, but you've never had a president as unpopular as Trump either. If he's not gonna be a one-term president, it's meaningless to speculate about such things.

Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#184509: Apr 24th 2017 at 9:55:36 AM

be The Idealist here, even when in doubt.

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#184510: Apr 24th 2017 at 9:57:39 AM

I've been suggesting things for a while now, so I honestly have a question for everyone: How do you guys think we can win the 2018 and 2020 elections?

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#184511: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:02:07 AM

[up] Realistically, we can maybe get the House to a razor thin margin and gain some governorships. The senate map is abysmal for the democrats in 2018, and we'll be lucky if the GOP doesn't gain seats there due to the mismatch in the parties of candidates up for reelection.

For 2020, what the democrats need is a candidate who isn't exceedingly divisive with a large chunk of the electorate, to start with.

edited 24th Apr '17 10:04:15 AM by CaptainCapsase

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#184512: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:05:41 AM

I'm not asking about numbers or Internal GOP politics, I'm asking about strategy to get 50 percent plus one of the votes. How do you prospose we win votes and actually lay the groundwork to win.

The democrats have an enthusiastic and energized base. People are rediscovering democracy. How do we use that?

edited 24th Apr '17 10:09:47 AM by megaeliz

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#184513: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:06:09 AM

[up][up] Please, please, please don't let it be Gabbard...

edited 24th Apr '17 10:06:16 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#184514: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:09:59 AM

In before people willfully misread my posts again:

  • Get people registered
  • Get people invested in what's at stake
  • Get people to vote
  • Get people to vote strategically
  • Get people to vote early
  • Get transportation for those who can't vote early
  • Get some means of providing ID for voters in states with voter ID

Because so far what has been proven is what sort of person the Economically Anxious White Working Class Middle Class is.

[up][up]Please don't tell me that by "energized" they mean "the Democrats will give free weed to everyone".

edited 24th Apr '17 10:11:35 AM by Krieger22

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#184515: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:10:51 AM

[up][up] I seriously doubt she'll even be running. The rule of thumb is that you need to have senatorial or gubernatorial experience to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate, and while the GOP utterly shredded that particular convention in 2016, it wasn't broken by the democrats.

edited 24th Apr '17 10:11:12 AM by CaptainCapsase

Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#184516: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:12:28 AM

It's realistic for them to get a healthy majority in the house in 2018, if the trend we've been seeing the special elections holds. With the senate, holding on to what they have is the goal, bringing it to a tie being the optimistic scenario.

In 2020, though- well, if things go well in 2018, the dems will have a good chance of leaving 2020 in control of all three- there's a much more friendly senate map and an exceptionally unpopular president in the works there.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#184517: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:14:46 AM

Turnout alone won't win an election. Try to persuade people too.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#184518: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:16:08 AM

@M84: I find it hard to believe that she could muster the support to become the Dem nominee. She is a pretty niche voice in the political field and I doubt that would improve with more exposure.

It's still a long way to 2020, but the only candidate that makes any sense right now is Elizabeth Warren, and it's still not certain if she will ever throw her hat into the ring or not.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#184519: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:16:19 AM

[up][up] If you want to win through turnout you need to get people who don't typically vote to come to the polls.

[up] Warren probably isn't going to run; she doesn't really seem interested in the job of president at all. There's been rumors going around that the current governor of New York (Andrew Cuomo) might run, and he'd definitely be the party brass's favorite unless Warren ends up changing her mind.

edited 24th Apr '17 10:23:18 AM by CaptainCapsase

ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#184520: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:20:57 AM

[up][up]We have spoken about this in the past, and Elizabeth Warren will be nearing the far end of her career by 2020-she may not be too old yet, but she is getting there and ideally you want a candidate who will have the endurance to run again in 2024 as an incumbent.

If blatant misogyny and racism was less of a factor, my #1 choice should have been an easy answer; as it is, I still believe Kamala Harris is the best bet for the Democrats, even with the uphill struggle she will face.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#184521: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:23:05 AM

Not the point, Capsase. Turnout-focused strategies are part of the reason for the polarization. Krieger's blanket assertion is only roughly true, too.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#184522: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:26:57 AM

[up][up] Oh yeah, Kamala Harris could be an excellent candidate.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#184523: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:28:18 AM

Keep whichever candidate well under wraps, though. A systematic character assassination campaign needs time.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#184524: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:35:08 AM

How does one keep a candidate under wraps? A Surprise nomination in the last year before the election?

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#184525: Apr 24th 2017 at 10:41:01 AM

[up] Don't put all your eggs in one basket for starters. Ideally a candidate emerges as a major contender naturally over a relatively short period of time, as was the case with Obama, but for that to happen you need to cultivate enough young lawmakers to have a reasonable bench.

edited 24th Apr '17 10:45:15 AM by CaptainCapsase


Total posts: 417,856
Top