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

Falrinn Since: Dec, 2014
#223626: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:15:56 PM

I'll admit that I was very cynical of Jones's chances. I figured this would turn out like so many special elections in Republican-leaning house districts had gone. As in Moore would win, but with a margin significantly smaller then the traditional partisan lean of Alabama.

The night isn't over yet, and there are semi-plausible scenarios where Moore manages to sneak a win yet, but the fact that I can right now say that Jones is more likely to win then to lose has me legitimately shocked. Shocked in a very good way to be clear, but all the same I can barely believe I just typed the previous two paragraphs.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#223627: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:17:11 PM

Just had a state official on CNN saying that Jones is taking Jefferson county by a large margin.

Damn it, this won't be over before I need to sleep, cause I work 8 hours straight tomorrow.tongue

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#223628: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:17:14 PM

[up][up][up][up] Yeah, I agree that women's bodily autonomy should be a red line.

edited 12th Dec '17 7:17:34 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#223629: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:18:04 PM

Guys, the Bookies have Jones' chances at 90%

https://www.predictit.org/Market/3299/Who-will-win-the-2017-US-Senate-special-election-in-Alabama

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, Bitch! from Eldritch Nightmareland Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, Bitch!
#223630: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:18:19 PM

I cut my Dangan Ronpa 2 play through short just to check on this election, and now I imagine Doug Jones as the Ultimate hope and Roy moore as a Remnant of Despair (Donald Trump being the Ultimate Despair, obviously).

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Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#223631: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:18:20 PM

With that said, it would certainly be bigger news if Jones won — a bigger disruption to the status quo — and that might cause the GOP to do some thinking about how it wound up in a place where it had nominated Roy Moore in Alabama and somehow lost a Senate race there.

Nate, love ya man, but I don't think so. The GOP cannot shift gears - their base, the guys who turn out in primaries, is completely reality-proof.

PhysicalStamina (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#223632: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:18:44 PM

Who are the Bookies and why are they seemingly significant?

It's one thing to make a spectacle. It's another to make a difference.
TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#223633: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:19:08 PM

Bookies are oddsmakers for gambling purposes.

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#223634: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:19:29 PM

[up][up][up] Which sadly means we'll keep getting Moore-like candidates.

edited 12th Dec '17 7:19:45 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#223635: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:19:45 PM

Nate, love ya man, but I don't think so. The GOP cannot shift gears - their base, the guys who turn out in primaries, is completely reality-proof.
Yeah the GOP's just going to double down on the crazy, the best thing they could do is descend into civil war. Nothing else is really realistic.

"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -Hylarn
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#223636: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:20:22 PM

[up][up][up][up]

Literally the Vegas odds-makers, whose entire livelihoods consist of being as close to the mark as they can get when crafting the odds.

edited 12th Dec '17 7:21:11 PM by ironballs16

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, Bitch! from Eldritch Nightmareland Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, Bitch!
#223637: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:20:25 PM

Doug Jones just needs an ahoge and he really can be an Ultimate Hope. tongue

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LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#223638: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:20:35 PM

I'll admit that I was very cynical of Jones's chances. I figured this would turn out like so many special elections in Republican-leaning house districts had gone. As in Moore would win, but with a margin significantly smaller then the traditional partisan lean of Alabama.

That's not being cynical, that's was the consensus. Cynical would be saying that it would be a landslide in Moore's favor despite polling and the allegations against him.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#223639: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:21:42 PM

Yeah, my own expectation was along the lines of what happened in Georgia Sixth. A win for the GOP, but a close one.

I took comfort in the idea that the GOP would actually have to struggle for a "safe" Senate seat.

But now that there's actually hope that Jones might win?

I suddenly understand the Hope Is Scary trope.

edited 12th Dec '17 7:22:43 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#223640: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:21:46 PM

@M84: I would agree, except for the points I stated above (the tactical consideration that Roe is not a battle we have to keep fighting, and the fact that pro-life Democrats would be better at fighting the abortion battles that do still need to be fought).

RainehDaze Figure of Hourai from Scotland (Ten years in the joint) Relationship Status: Serial head-patter
Figure of Hourai
#223641: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:21:59 PM

It's also worth noting that when bookies shift gears, they tend to end up being right. News outlets and pollsters can get too certain.

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Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, Bitch! from Eldritch Nightmareland Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, Bitch!
#223642: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:22:46 PM

NY Times upshot is calling it for Jones at 95% favorablity.

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M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#223643: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:23:44 PM

[up][up] OTOH, the bookies also favored HRC last year. At least, the ones I checked.

But this isn't 2016 and there's no Electoral College in play. It's easier to calculate the odds in an election like this.

edited 12th Dec '17 7:24:21 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
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
#223644: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:24:07 PM

I've been tracking the discussion thread/AL Senate watch party on /r/neoliberal and it's hilarious, it's the Cult of the NYT Upshot Needle

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#223645: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:24:16 PM

Nate, love ya man, but I don't think so. The GOP cannot shift gears - their base, the guys who turn out in primaries, is completely reality-proof.

The only way they can shift gears is their base becoming so irrelevant that they can't win the presidency anymore and their positions make them auto-lose in anything but the reddest of red states, and on top of that it'd have to be enough for them to forsake what I assume are the demands of their donors as well.

It's gonna take a lot for that to happen.

RainehDaze Figure of Hourai from Scotland (Ten years in the joint) Relationship Status: Serial head-patter
Figure of Hourai
#223646: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:24:38 PM

[up][up][up] I think they actually changed or stopped taking bets earlier in the night—they were as confident as everyone else up to the results.

edited 12th Dec '17 7:24:49 PM by RainehDaze

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TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#223648: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:25:17 PM

Roe may not entirely be in danger, but access sure is. Some counties have only one Planned Parenthood, if that. The GOP has been sabotaging abortion providers (regardless of the fact that they also help expecting mothers plan pregnancies, do STD tests, and teach sex ed), and we need to keep fighting that battle.

Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, Bitch! from Eldritch Nightmareland Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, Bitch!
#223649: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:25:55 PM

The Bulletin in The AP is also calling a Doug Jones win.

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M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#223650: Dec 12th 2017 at 7:26:39 PM

[up][up] Yeah, a pro-life candidate might not be as keen on protecting Planned Parenthood.

edited 12th Dec '17 7:27:00 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised

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