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Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#261251: Nov 9th 2018 at 8:30:31 AM

Uh you can,nothing stopping you

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#261252: Nov 9th 2018 at 8:33:40 AM

Other than the mod post on the last page

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#261253: Nov 9th 2018 at 8:34:33 AM

Oh right,that.

-whistles innocently-

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#261254: Nov 9th 2018 at 8:45:36 AM

Hang on, why do we have a "General" politics thread if we can't talk about general U.S political things? Why have it if discussion should be moved to threads specifically about that topic?

I think a "general" thread should mean we can discuss anything related to politics. It's inclusive, not exclusive.

It's the "general" thread in the sense of "if it's not covered elsewhere, it goes here". When specific topics start to dominate the thread and crowd out any other discussion, they get spun off into their own thread, so that both conversations (the "specific topic" conversation and the "general" conversation) can go on simultaneously.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
TechPriest90 Servant of the Omnissiah from Collegia Titanica, Mars, Sol System Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Servant of the Omnissiah
#261255: Nov 9th 2018 at 9:56:49 AM

Looks like a recount is likely in Florida. Sure hope that happens in Georgia too. Mostly because the howls of protest from Trump's acolytes will be music to my ears should the recount show them losing.

I hold the secrets of the machine.
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#261256: Nov 9th 2018 at 10:11:58 AM

[up] To the surprise of no one, Trump doesn't want the recounts to happen for that very reason, saying the people of Florida have spoken and we should just move on.

You better believe he'd be demanding a recount if he initially LOST Florida.

Edited by speedyboris on Nov 9th 2018 at 12:12:14 PM

fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#261257: Nov 9th 2018 at 10:17:27 AM

With the felon enfranchisement I have a feeling that he won’t win that state in 2020. Nothings certain, but it’s far less likely.

Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#261258: Nov 9th 2018 at 10:22:24 AM

He has also stated that he and the federal government could possibly intervene to prevent fraud. All because they don’t realize counting votes takes time, or worse, they do and are capitalizing on public ignorance on how elections work.

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
#261259: Nov 9th 2018 at 10:45:19 AM

Is the felon enfranchisement automatic or could the Florida government refuse to implement it and try and drag things out though the courts?

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#261260: Nov 9th 2018 at 10:52:05 AM

[up]The only real time that I know that they did that was the High-Speed Rail initiative that languished for two decades because the state didn’t want to pay for it until they could find a private company to do it.

Still, it would not at all surprise me if they try to do everything they can to not implement it. Especially if one or more of the recount races flip from R to D.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#261261: Nov 9th 2018 at 11:06:12 AM

A couple stories from the developing What the Fuck Just Happened Today feed:

In a last-minute act, Jeff Sessions drastically limited the use of consent decrees between Justice Department officials and local police departments. Consent decrees allow federal law enforcement officials to use court-enforced agreements to overhaul local police departments accused of civil rights abuses and violations. Sessions added three strict new requirements for the agreements: top political appointees must sign off on the deals, department lawyers must show evidence of additional violations beyond unconstitutional behavior, and the deals must have a sunset date. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/us/politics/sessions-limits-consent-decrees.html

Ryan Zinke is preparing to leave his role as Secretary of the Interior. Zinke has been exploring potential roles at Fox News, the energy industry, and other business sectors as it becomes increasingly likely that he will no longer have a job in Trump's cabinet and as ethics investigations into his behavior in office continue to mount. Trump recently told reporters that word on Zinke's future in the White House may come "in about a week." (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/08/ryan-zinke-fox-news-956537

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#261263: Nov 9th 2018 at 11:15:25 AM

Something Looks Weird In Broward County. Here’s What We Know About A Possible Florida Recount. Unfortunately it would require a never-seen-before change to flip the election.

Note that this is different than Georgia, where a runoff - that is a whole new election - may be in the cards. Emphasis on may since that happens only if Kemp's share falls under 50% and that's not currently the case.

"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!
(•̀⤙•́)
#261264: Nov 9th 2018 at 11:32:57 AM

With the felon enfranchisement I have a feeling that he won’t win that state in 2020. Nothings certain, but it’s far less likely.

I wouldn't hold my breath for felon enfranchisement to provide that great of a benefit. It happened a) during the Trump Administration and b) in an election year that's project to go Republican for AG, Governor, and Senate.

Now, if a recount lands in our favor, that might help us a bit. But as it is, it would be trivially easy for the Republicans to claim the credit for felon enfranchisement in 2020 via the correlation of Republican wins happening alongside it and the tendency for the President to be credited for everything, good and bad, that ever happens.

It's still a big accomplishment that we should be proud of, but don't expect this to be, like, THE THING that makes Florida a blue state now and forevermore or something.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Nov 9th 2018 at 12:33:54 PM

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LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#261265: Nov 9th 2018 at 11:42:48 AM

I'm pretty sure they just meant that felons tend to be very Democratic, and so giving so many the right to vote again will most likely be very good for the Democratic Party.

Like, someone posted a link that this returned voting rights to 40% of the black men in Florida. Which is good, but also horrible that was a thing in the first place. But also not particularly surprising.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#261266: Nov 9th 2018 at 11:44:14 AM

I wouldn't hold my breath for felon enfranchisement to provide that great of a benefit. It happened a) during the Trump Administration and b) in an election year that's project to go Republican for AG, Governor, and Senate.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you this isn't true, the ex-felons got their votes back the day after the election. So using the prior election as evidence about how much it will or will not impact Florida seems critically flawed.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#261267: Nov 9th 2018 at 11:45:56 AM

They got their rights back on Amendment 4, which was a ballot measure voted into action alongside those politicians.

It's not hard for the lay person to make the association, "People voted for Amendment 4 AND Republicans, so Amendment 4 must be a Republican policy!"

Edited by TobiasDrake on Nov 9th 2018 at 12:46:52 PM

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SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#261268: Nov 9th 2018 at 11:48:13 AM

See, my thinking was that the felon enfranchisement thing passed this year because a) attitudes towards crime are changing since the 1980s and b) the vast majority of voters - including and I suspect especially Trump voters - aren't politics experts and don't know that such a thing may generate a partisan shift.

I don't think that we can categorically state that all felons are Democrats, either. Sure, there is a good chance that ex-felons are disproportionally Democrats but there are like a million caveats.

In House news, if this source is to be believed the new Democratic congresscritters this year are in seats that are more likely to stay blue than those elected in 2006 and 2008. Ergo, it will be more difficult for the GOP to regain a House majority.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#261269: Nov 9th 2018 at 11:50:05 AM

I think that's a rather unlikely connection to make, even with a dim view of people's intelligence, just based on which party has spent the past however many years making it harder for said people to vote.

TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#261270: Nov 9th 2018 at 12:00:25 PM

Most of those that had their voting rights restored are no doubt acutely aware of Rick Scott's role in keeping them from voting. He is on the panel that approves them, after all. Just because they got their rights back with a Republican elected soesn't mean they'll forget.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#261271: Nov 9th 2018 at 12:10:31 PM

Perhaps. You guys have more faith in the public's memory span, attentiveness, and resistance to inevitable FOX News propagandizing than I do.

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Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#261272: Nov 9th 2018 at 12:18:04 PM

I think a more reasonable concern with the newly enfranchised voters is that there is a good chance most of them won’t actually vote in the next cycle, either because of other systemic barriers or just plain old apathy.

No to mention there is always the chance the referendum will not be enforced/honored.

Things are definitely better for Democrats in Florida going forward, but it’s to early to say the state will flip next time.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#261273: Nov 9th 2018 at 12:22:26 PM

That's my thought as well. This is a good thing, but it's not a magic bullet and I have zero expectation that all 1 million voters who just got voting rights are going to be in the polls stamping a Democrat ticket in 2020.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Nov 9th 2018 at 1:23:15 PM

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LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#261274: Nov 9th 2018 at 12:26:40 PM

I mean, does anyone have an expectation for that? Even the person you quoted said they didn't think anything was guaranteed.

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#261275: Nov 9th 2018 at 1:18:41 PM

I am sure all those people who fought to have their voting right restored (which are no all of the ones who were disfranchised but still a LOT) and who will be able to vote next election, WILL actually use the right to do so and next to none of them will vote for the party which denied them for so long. You know, if you are actually fighting for something you know who is responsible for you not getting it and who most likely got enough voters to the ballots to ensure that your rights would be restored.

And if you look at the numbers and how close the numbers are now and during every other election in Florida, yes, those votes WILL make a difference.

Edited by Swanpride on Nov 9th 2018 at 1:19:29 AM


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