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

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#279651: May 6th 2019 at 4:47:18 PM

If he refuses to leave then the Secret Service just toss him out on the front steps. That's part of their official job.

Trump doesn't have the personal loyalty of any of the martial powers so any sort of a refusal to step down or a "coup" on his part is just going to be him throwing a temper tantrum on the oval office floor.

Oh really when?
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
#279652: May 6th 2019 at 4:52:47 PM

Yeah the secret service seem to be professionals who do their job properly, which is good, because Trump probably isn’t beyond ordering them to engage in a shootout to protect Barr if Congress sends the capital police to arrest him. Something they won’t do if they remain professional.

It’s why Trump replacing the head of the secret service worries me though, he’s probably trying to turn the secret service into his personal goon squad.

Edited by Silasw on May 6th 2019 at 11:53:12 AM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#279653: May 6th 2019 at 5:00:55 PM

It does seem to be a thing in British politics that insults get rebranded.

[up]Figures. Must be our sense of humour.

We do it a lot too. Especially if you guys are the ones insulting us.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#279654: May 6th 2019 at 5:11:20 PM

Everyone in the secret service hates Trump's guts.

He charges them an arm and a leg to rent facilities and services from companies he owns whenever he travels and generally treats them more like personal servants than bodyguards.

I'm sure they're eagerly awaiting the opportunity to kick him out of the white house

Oh really when?
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#279655: May 6th 2019 at 5:18:36 PM

If Trump was to order them to fire on civilians could they take action against him?

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#279656: May 6th 2019 at 5:20:05 PM

They've be legally obligated to

Oh really when?
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#279657: May 6th 2019 at 5:28:13 PM

They have the right to refuse an unlawful order. At the bare minimum, they can do that - and they can probably restrain him from ordering any less-savory units to do so.

Edited by Ramidel on May 6th 2019 at 4:28:46 AM

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#279658: May 6th 2019 at 5:31:42 PM

Police, military, etc. generally have a special "Rule Zero" along the lines of "if you're ordered to do something blatantly illegal, disobey that order". At least for the military, I can say that the law is that the "just following orders" defense is basically invalid because of that.

Similarly, most of those organizations require their members to take an oath primarily to the Constitution and the US itself first (as opposed to its leader), specifically to allow this sort of Zeroth Law Rebellion if necessary.

Leviticus 19:34
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#279659: May 6th 2019 at 5:49:54 PM

One of the strengths of the US Constitution is that there is no way to override a Presidential election, so Trump can bitch, moan and get his hardcore followers to riot, but once his term is up, he loses all his powers. Anyone who could prop up an illegitimate presidency after an election loss at gunpoint are only Loyal to the Position and even the elements of the government who do support him won't commit outright treason for him.

That said, while Trump couldn't override an election, if he did casts doubts the damage to institutions could get even worse. Plus, the likely surge in riots, domestic terror and hate crimes.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
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
#279660: May 6th 2019 at 5:54:11 PM

even the elements of the government who do support him won't commit outright treason for him.

Two cabinet members are currently committing contempt of Congress so as to protect Trump, I am not longer certain that you’re right.

[up]X5 They’d be required by law to say no, they could also report him to congress and/or the cabinet so as to bring about impeachment/the 25th.

Edited by Silasw on May 6th 2019 at 12:55:19 PM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#279661: May 6th 2019 at 6:27:54 PM

It's a shame that any hypothetical "end of democracy" scenarios are so horrifying versus being like Metal Wolf Chaos.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#279662: May 6th 2019 at 6:33:27 PM

Metal Wolf Chaos is too American for America, Chuck.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#279663: May 6th 2019 at 6:35:40 PM

Except in Metal Wolf Chaos the President was The Hero and the VP was the Big Bad.

That's...really not the case here.

Edited by M84 on May 6th 2019 at 9:37:54 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Bur from Flyover Country (Living Relic) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#279664: May 6th 2019 at 6:37:00 PM

Metal Wolf Chaos is a remarkable thing to exist.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#279665: May 6th 2019 at 6:38:00 PM

I don't even want to imagine Trump with a mecha. It'd be more like this:

Disgusted, but not surprised
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#279666: May 6th 2019 at 6:38:42 PM

Say, what happened to the legal/judicial battle over Trump's "NASHEENAL EEMUHGENSEE" bullshit?

A bill was passed through the House and Senate to override him. Trump vetoed it because, for some reason, the President can veto a bill whose specific purpose is to f*ck over the President's decisions. The House failed to beat his veto and the bill died.

Trump won, the National Emergency is here to stay, the end.

Vote Democrat 2020.

Edited by TobiasDrake on May 6th 2019 at 7:41:03 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#279667: May 6th 2019 at 6:41:16 PM

[up][up]I think you're giving Trump too much credit if you think he can pilot a mecha.

Or operate any piece of machinery more complicated than a toaster.

Edited by HailMuffins on May 6th 2019 at 10:41:52 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#279668: May 6th 2019 at 6:42:05 PM

Maybe Obama can be Metal Wolf.

The Democrats magically legalizing a third term....and Presidential Mecha.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#279669: May 6th 2019 at 6:42:07 PM

[up][up]I imagine any mecha Trump would pilot would be as idiot-proof as possible.

[up]And while we're at it, maybe we can invent Time Travel to convince people to fucking vote in 2016.

Edited by M84 on May 6th 2019 at 9:43:05 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#279670: May 6th 2019 at 6:44:00 PM

I've been assuming most of this discussion was about if Trump actually lost reelection but refused to leave, but are we also talking about him hypothetically winning another term, and then refusing to leave after that term is up, too?

HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#279671: May 6th 2019 at 6:46:15 PM

It would also apply, but frankly I don't want to even consider the possibility of Trump being re-elected.

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#279672: May 6th 2019 at 6:47:24 PM

No one does, but we seriously need to if we want to prevent it from happening.

i'm tired, my friend
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#279673: May 6th 2019 at 6:48:09 PM

Same thing, secret service boots him out.

If you want to stay after your terms then you're gonna have to start shooting people in the street to make it happen and Trump doesn't have anyone personally loyal to him that's willing to do that.

Oh really when?
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#279674: May 6th 2019 at 6:48:53 PM

Yeah, I can imagine the same idiots who thought Trump couldn't possibly win in 2016 thinking he can't possibly win in 2020 and deciding not to vote. Again.

Disgusted, but not surprised
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#279675: May 6th 2019 at 6:51:08 PM

@M84 TBH, If I could time travel I'd go a little further than just 3 years if my goal was to stop Trump's presidency. The man is a symptom of a larger disease that spread before Trump (and mutated in both memetic and literal senses).

Edited by MorningStar1337 on May 6th 2019 at 6:52:09 AM


Total posts: 417,856
Top