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

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#276401: Apr 2nd 2019 at 7:42:01 PM

Also worth noting is that Trump's had a major cultural impact, too. His victory in the election really shifted the overton window of the US.

Leviticus 19:34
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#276402: Apr 2nd 2019 at 7:43:25 PM

I mean, a lot of the things you listed as stopped or reversed harmed a lot of people before they were stopped or reversed, Marquis.

And, like, this is us limiting ourselves to stuff Trump's done in the past two years, when the guy's been a real life cartoon villain for over 50 years. Like, admittedly this is probably the most productive two years of his life in terms of hurting people, but it's not like he just started.

Edited by Gilphon on Apr 2nd 2019 at 10:45:58 AM

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#276403: Apr 2nd 2019 at 7:46:03 PM

Just. Never be cavalier about the damage done because it didn’t touch you personally.

RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#276404: Apr 2nd 2019 at 7:48:16 PM

Going back a page.

I forgot what a natural rainbow looked like. Must have relied too much on the LJN Rainbow as a reference.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#276405: Apr 2nd 2019 at 7:48:50 PM

Ok, ok, maybe "nothing in real life" was an overstatment, but he isnt allowed to change anything that matters to the power-brokers that stand behind the scenes, like shutting down the border between the US and Mexico, or starting a trade war with China, or going to war with North Korea, or any of the other things the media breathlessly report. That's not going to change- I've said this before and I'll say it again, Trump was put in place to act as a distraction- something he does very well.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#276406: Apr 2nd 2019 at 7:50:54 PM

That’s an incredibly callous thing to say.

AzurePaladin She/Her Pronouns from Forest of Magic Since: Apr, 2018 Relationship Status: Mu
She/Her Pronouns
#276407: Apr 2nd 2019 at 7:54:28 PM

[up][up] Putting aside my confusion as to which power brokers you're referring to, that doesn't mean those things didn't matter. Its not a distraction. All of it, the cruelty is the point. The attacks on immigrants, on the LGBTQ community, on women, on anyone who isn't a white straight cis man - they are the point. Its not a distraction, its white supremacist politics in action.

[up], [up]x4: [awesome][awesome][awesome]

Edited by AzurePaladin on Apr 2nd 2019 at 10:54:56 AM

The awful things he says and does are burned into our cultural consciousness like a CRT display left on the same picture too long. -Fighteer
Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#276408: Apr 2nd 2019 at 7:56:00 PM

He's also blocked sanctions against Russia from going into effect. And is blocking aid from going to PR. He also suspended war games with South Korea, ended protections from Dreamers, etc.

So yes he's done nothing if you've ignored all the things he's done.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#276409: Apr 2nd 2019 at 8:00:47 PM

My argument is that he isnt allowed to harm the economy, not that he isnt allowed to harm marginalized people. From our point of view, yes that matters, but from their point of view, they dont care either way. By "they" I am referring to the Republican donor class- the Koch Brothers and their coterie of billionaires. While I doubt that such people like the marginalized very much, I also doubt they spend much time thinking about them. They are just convenient scapegoats, a target to appease the base. It's the tax cuts and the deregulation that they want- everything else is trivia.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#276410: Apr 2nd 2019 at 8:02:29 PM

[up]

My argument is that he isnt allowed to harm the economy

You know we're still in a trade war with China, right?

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#276411: Apr 2nd 2019 at 8:02:53 PM

Chicago elects Lori Lightfoot as its first black woman mayor in a landslide election.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#276412: Apr 2nd 2019 at 8:28:18 PM

I forgot about all the tariffs he implemented, especially the ones brought against the US' allies. Another thing he s done that has real consequences.

KeybladeMaster Leader of the Harp Seals from Portland, TN Since: Feb, 2019 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
Leader of the Harp Seals
#276413: Apr 2nd 2019 at 8:36:43 PM

[up][up] That's great news! ___________________________________________ https://www.splcenter.org/20180119/america-trumped-10-ways-administration-attacked-civil-rights-year-one

There's a link to an article on from the Southern Poverty Law Center on how Trunp has affected JUST civil rights in JUST his first year in office.

  • Promoting a white nationalist agenda.
  • Slashing civil rights enforcement
  • Raising the number of deportations
  • Attacking muslims
  • Attacking voting rights
  • Shredding LGBT protections
  • Encouraging police abuse
  • Reviving debtors' prisons
  • Undermining public education
  • Eroding the rights of students with disabilities
This is just the short form of the bad stuff he's done, there's plenty more that can be found.

Edited by KeybladeMaster on Apr 2nd 2019 at 10:37:21 AM

Keyblade Master was here
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#276414: Apr 2nd 2019 at 8:44:40 PM

It's just an "overstatement".

It's completely fucking wrong.

Disgusted, but not surprised
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#276415: Apr 2nd 2019 at 9:07:01 PM

And, like, this is us limiting ourselves to stuff Trump's done in the past two years, when the guy's been a real life cartoon villain for over 50 years. Like, admittedly this is probably the most productive two years of his life in terms of hurting people, but it's not like he just started.

Quite a few comic and Saturday Morning cartoon villains during the 80s were actually inspired by him, IIRC.

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#276416: Apr 2nd 2019 at 9:09:20 PM

I'd also argue that "he didn't do those things, he just allowed Congress to do them instead" is disingenuous. Him allowing Congress to do evil things doesn't absolve him of responsibility for them; especially when the alternative was a President who would have made an effort to stop said evil things. Trump's inaction is just as damning as his action, and the idea that he doesn't fully enjoy watching McConnell work is foolish.

We could also talk about all his agency appointees and their impacts, too. What's Betsy DeVos been up to lately?

It's been fun.
KeybladeMaster Leader of the Harp Seals from Portland, TN Since: Feb, 2019 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
Leader of the Harp Seals
#276417: Apr 2nd 2019 at 9:16:52 PM

[up]Trying to defund the special Olympics for one.

Keyblade Master was here
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#276418: Apr 2nd 2019 at 9:22:30 PM

Surprisingly not being as evil as she was made out to be concerning the Special Olympics. Apparently, slashing the budget for that wasn't her idea, it came from the White House Budget Office.

Which just means that when Trump said he overrode her Special Olympics budget cut, he was actually just telling her to stop what he signed off on in the first place.

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#276419: Apr 2nd 2019 at 9:33:05 PM

Also they’re still trying to slash a ton of other disability programs.

[down][awesome]

Edited by wisewillow on Apr 2nd 2019 at 12:55:43 PM

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#276420: Apr 2nd 2019 at 9:54:09 PM

We could also talk about all his agency appointees and their impacts, too. What's Betsy De Vos been up to lately?

Removing funding from programs to help autistic children and pressuring congress to fund more charter schools.

As a person on the spectrum, I find this so repulsive that I don't think I have the words to express it.

It's not just people of color and LGBT+ people that get fucked with white supremacists in power. They have no empathy for anyone besides themselves, because they are scum.

GoldenKaos Captain of the Dead City from Cirith Ungol Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Captain of the Dead City
#276421: Apr 3rd 2019 at 1:52:55 AM

Also, you're acting as if pulling out of the Paris Agreement and the Iran Deal isn't damaging, or allowing development on National Parks. Or that loading up the Supreme Court with GOP Judges isn't damaging.

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#276422: Apr 3rd 2019 at 4:06:09 AM

There's also the whole Net Neutrality thing. Which isn't a thing anymore thanks to Trump.

Disgusted, but not surprised
GoldenKaos Captain of the Dead City from Cirith Ungol Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Captain of the Dead City
#276423: Apr 3rd 2019 at 4:09:39 AM

Wyldchyld often said that Brexit is more damaging domestically for the UK while Trump's Presidency is damaging internationally - I suppose both for the US's international standing and the state of international politics. Luckily the US system of checks and balances are mostly working to keep Trump from doing some egregious shit.

Edited by GoldenKaos on Apr 3rd 2019 at 12:15:05 PM

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#276424: Apr 3rd 2019 at 4:11:57 AM

The checks and balances system is getting quite the stress test nowadays.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#276425: Apr 3rd 2019 at 4:15:34 AM

the checks and balances is mostly congress putting it's foot down and occasionally saying no,as well as the constitution + supreme court and those have been only marginally successful in thwarting Trump

I'd also say another check and balance is the ability to vote Trump out office

have a listen and have a link to my discord server

Total posts: 417,856
Top