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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

NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#258551: Oct 24th 2018 at 8:29:48 AM

Remember when Trump made it that the FBI can't investigate homegrown (i.e. white) terrorism?

This is working just the way he wanted.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#258553: Oct 24th 2018 at 8:33:09 AM

Quite, the Right has used stochastic terrorism as a tool for quite a while.

Of course, I doubt we're going to see any breathless moderates talking about "violence on the right", oh no they reserve that for when Antifa punches a neo-nazi.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#258554: Oct 24th 2018 at 8:36:15 AM

Remember when Trump made it that the FBI can't investigate homegrown (i.e. white) terrorism?
... I would not be surprised if he tried doing that, but did he actually succeed?

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#258555: Oct 24th 2018 at 8:37:03 AM

From Jake Tapper:

Breaking — The Sunrise, Florida, office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been evacuated after a suspicious package was found mailed there this morning, according to a spokesman for the police department. Are is secured and the bomb squad is on site.

I wonder why she was targeted in particular. (Other than being a Democrat I mean.)

Edited by megaeliz on Oct 24th 2018 at 11:42:58 AM

NoName999 Since: May, 2011
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#258557: Oct 24th 2018 at 8:40:42 AM

[up][up][up] They stripped funding from groups that countered right wing extremism and directed the money to countering Islamic extremism and “black identity extremism”.

Edited by archonspeaks on Oct 24th 2018 at 8:40:58 AM

They should have sent a poet.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#258558: Oct 24th 2018 at 8:42:32 AM

I mentioned it before, but what scares me right now is that for every additional target there's an additional chance that one of them won't find their bomb in time.

Edited by sgamer82 on Oct 24th 2018 at 9:42:49 AM

Cris_Meyers reluctant author, willing misanthrope from Chicagoland (Fifth Year at Tropey's) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
reluctant author, willing misanthrope
#258559: Oct 24th 2018 at 8:48:07 AM

And that, while there will be much hand-wringing, half the country will refuse to call a spade a spade and hold Trump and his rhetoric responsible for its hand in this.

Edited by Cris_Meyers on Oct 24th 2018 at 10:48:28 AM

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#258560: Oct 24th 2018 at 8:50:29 AM

From Jake Tapper

Breaking: The package with an explosive device sent to CNN’s NY offices today was addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan, according to city and local law enforcement officials

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#258561: Oct 24th 2018 at 8:57:46 AM

Is that add random as it sounds?

Cris_Meyers reluctant author, willing misanthrope from Chicagoland (Fifth Year at Tropey's) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
reluctant author, willing misanthrope
#258562: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:00:22 AM

Probably not, though I'm coming up blank as to the significance

NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#258563: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:01:36 AM

John Brennan has been critical of Trump for months

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#258564: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:02:33 AM

[up] And Trump has tweeted conspiracies about him.

Oddly, he’s actually a contributor for MSNBC, and not CNN.

Edited by megaeliz on Oct 24th 2018 at 12:04:02 PM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#258565: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:11:33 AM

I guess that makes the bomber an idiot as well as an evil asshole.

Probably figured that the target must have worked at CNN since it's the "Clinton News Network" according to their God-Emperor Trump.

Edited by M84 on Oct 25th 2018 at 12:12:31 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#258566: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:15:12 AM

Nah, in the Trump supporter's mind, MSNBC is just as bad as CNN. If it doesn't come from Trump or Fox News, it's fake news.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#258568: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:23:07 AM

"I wonder why she was targeted in particular. (Other than being a Democrat I mean.)"

She was Chairwoman of the DNC during the election and is a vocal critic of Trump.

NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#258569: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:24:26 AM

Another suspicious package at the building of San Diego Union Tribune. Which they share with other companies and houses the office of Kamala Harris

Quite frankly, I don't care if get thumped. Because too many of them are claiming false flag, Trump supporters are just beyond redeemable now.

TechPriest90 Servant of the Omnissiah from Collegia Titanica, Mars, Sol System Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Servant of the Omnissiah
#258570: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:29:10 AM

All the packages were sent to liberals or liberal-leaning politicians and people.

Gee, what are the odds this isn't a right-wing extremist?

All the same, a rather shoddy attempt at domestic terrorism. Disgusting, but pathetic.

I hold the secrets of the machine.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#258571: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:38:42 AM

Meanwhile, the Northern Mariana Islands are being hammered by a super typhoon. It has apparently made landfall on Tinian island with 180mph winds (similar to Irma last year), with Saipan also being rolled.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#258572: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:40:26 AM

Maybe it's just me, but headlines stating that the race is going to be closer than anticipated strikes me as a thing that will encourage people to get out and vote rather than discourage them. Between:

  1. "It's neck and neck! ANY VOTE COULD BE THE DECIDING ONE!!!"
  2. "The winner has pretty much already been decided and there's nothing anyone can do to change it."

I'm inclined to feel like the first line is the more motivating one.

My biggest concern going into the 2018 midterm is that two years of "There's gonna be a Blue Wave. There's totally gonna be a Blue Wave. The Blue Wave is coming. Everything's fine. Just wait for the Blue Wave. We're guaranteed a Blue Wave. We cannot fail to have a Blue Wave. Calm down, relax, don't get excited, just hold out for the inevitable arrival of a Blue Wave."

would have the same effect as "Clinton's got this in the bag. She's guaranteed a win. Trump can't possibly take the election. Relax, don't get upset, just wait for Clinton's inevitable victory."

That is, people are less likely to go to all the trouble of voting if they think their side has it in the bag and there's nothing to freak out about. Scared people vote. Complacent people have better things to do.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Oct 24th 2018 at 10:41:15 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Friendperson Since: May, 2018
#258573: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:42:03 AM

[up] Maybe that's why republicans are so effective at voting campaigns.

PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#258574: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:42:19 AM

Inb4 the alt-right looks at these bombing attempts and says 'how DARE the libruls suggest we'd have to resort to acts of violence! Let's go stage a riot protest and run someone over loudly voice our concerns, that'll show them!' :V

Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on Oct 24th 2018 at 5:43:13 PM

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#258575: Oct 24th 2018 at 9:49:01 AM

CNN just broke that former AG Eric Holder had a device mailed to him. Though that may be the same one as the first Florida case.

Edited by Rationalinsanity on Oct 24th 2018 at 1:49:31 PM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.

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