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

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#290951: Sep 25th 2019 at 3:04:51 PM

Warren is in the lead in California now too, apparently siphoning supporters from Harris.

She's still lagging behind Sanders and Biden with minority voters though, so there's work to be done.

fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#290952: Sep 25th 2019 at 3:11:09 PM

My biggest worry is sanders will start throwing mud as another woman dares to overtake him in polls, causing the whole “dnc rigged” conspiracy theory all over again.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#290953: Sep 25th 2019 at 3:28:45 PM

I mean, Warren has already overtaken him in the polls, from what I can tell, and he hasn't really said much about it. It's possible he will eventually I guess as it becomes increasingly obvious that Warren is favored over him, but he's actually mostly avoided taking potshots at Warren so far.

DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#290954: Sep 25th 2019 at 3:58:49 PM

I hope Sanders just drops out once the writing is on the wall rather than stick to the very end like he did in 2016. He's splitting the progressive vote share with Warren, and making Biden's nomination significantly more likely.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#290955: Sep 25th 2019 at 4:10:52 PM

Sanders will keep going so long as he has money. And he had a lot of money.

Interestingly, Pod Save America remarked that Warren's team might actually be annoyed by the latest polling numbers. Putting her in first place makes her the target of everyone else, and this far from the Iowa caucus leaves a lot of time for some mud to sick to her. They'd rather have her stay in close second and jump to the top later in the year.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#290956: Sep 25th 2019 at 4:19:30 PM

Considering the entirely different dynamics between Warren and Sanders, it's kind of ridiculous to compare it to 2016.

I mean, they're literally friends. Things are different.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#290957: Sep 25th 2019 at 4:46:04 PM

Also, it's probably the fact that Trump won that Sanders was contemplating heavily on "What if he was the primary candidate?". Assuming Warren wins all and fixes the mess the nation is in, I'd imagine Sanders would settle down a notch.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#290958: Sep 25th 2019 at 4:51:27 PM

I've mentioned this in a few other contexts, but yes, 2020 is going to be different if Warren is the candidate. She's not really comparable to Hillary at all.

Robrecht Your friendly neighbourhood Regent from The Netherlands Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Your friendly neighbourhood Regent
#290959: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:03:04 PM

I hope Sanders just drops out once the writing is on the wall rather than stick to the very end like he did in 2016. He's splitting the progressive vote share with Warren, and making Biden's nomination significantly more likely.

Funny thing is: I don't think he is making Biden's nomination more likely.

Bernie's continued involvement in debates right now is way better for Warren than it is for Biden. They absolutely support each other in debates and tag team Biden and the others and there's also the fact that him just being there provides a contrast with Warren.

Bernie doesn't really have any concrete policies, this is true, but he's excellent at explaining why, for instance, Biden's neoliberalism or Yang's techbrocialism are shitty.

He'll us his time to point out the flaws in the other candidates' proposals and then give the broad strokes of what the progressive approach to the problem is and, of course, he'll get called on how vague that is.

That's when Warren jumps in and only needs to use her allotted time to explain her policy proposals and everyone who thought 'Yeah, ok, sounds good, but how?' at Bernie's broad strokes then goes 'Ooooh, so that's how!' at Warren's plan.

My prediction would be that Bernie's going to pull out not when it becomes obvious that he's not going to win the nomination, but once it becomes obvious that Warren is.

Angry gets shit done.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#290960: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:06:13 PM

[up]Indeed, they're complementing each other far more than obstructing. And if it starts to look like Biden might win? Then one of them can drop out and throw their support behind the other.

Frankly, I think some people here are viewing the primary in 2016 terms with Warren standing in for Clinton and Sanders standing in for... well Sanders. Which is a mistake, the dynamic is very different.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Sep 25th 2019 at 5:07:54 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
TheAirman Brightness from The vicinity of an area adjacent to a location Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Historians will say we were good friends.
Brightness
#290961: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:11:22 PM

Acting DNI threatened to resign if he can't testify freely before Congress.

Senate votes 54-41 to overturn Trump's emergency declaration over US-Mexico border.

I don't understand what's going on, good things are actually happening?

PSN ID: FateSeraph | Switch friendcode: SW-0145-8835-0610 Congratulations! She/They
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#290962: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:12:44 PM

I feel like that episode of Deep Space Nine where the democratic Cardassians took over the Union right before the Klingons conquered them.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#290963: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:13:12 PM

The first is good. The second is meaningful, but a non starter, Trump will just veto it again.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#290964: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:26:07 PM

I don't think the veto actually works that way with Senate override.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#290965: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:27:45 PM

I just heard Trump brought Pence into his conference on the Ukraine scandal.

Could Trump be threating to take down Pence with him leading to President Pelosi in order to keep Republican's in line?

Edited by tclittle on Sep 25th 2019 at 7:28:38 AM

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#290966: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:34:55 PM

@Spartan: If anything, the Hillary counterpart would be Biden with Warren and Sanders competing to be the Sanders.

Watch me destroying my country
TheAirman Brightness from The vicinity of an area adjacent to a location Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Historians will say we were good friends.
Robrecht Your friendly neighbourhood Regent from The Netherlands Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Your friendly neighbourhood Regent
#290968: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:54:28 PM

The points I made about Sanders and Warren working in support is also why, despite not wanting to see her anywhere near the presidency, I kinda do want to see Williamson back on the debate stage.

Because she may be a ditzy anti-vaxxer, but she's also not afraid to call out the comfortable blanket of bullshit that 'moderate' Democrats wrap themselves in when it comes to things like systemic white supremacy.

Angry gets shit done.
nombretomado (Season 1) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#290969: Sep 25th 2019 at 5:59:46 PM

That's not really a trade-off I'm willing to make, personally. The ideal scenario would be someone calling out white supremacy, but not backing dangerous anti-science rhetoric.

Edited by nombretomado on Sep 25th 2019 at 6:00:13 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#290970: Sep 25th 2019 at 6:04:38 PM

Williamson is a blight. Almost literally given her anti-vaxxer views. She should not be on the same stage as the other candidates. She should not be in the race at all.

Giving an anti-vaxxer more legitimacy on a national stage is extremely dangerous even if their chances of winning are nil.

Edited by M84 on Sep 25th 2019 at 9:06:03 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#290971: Sep 25th 2019 at 6:07:01 PM

While they may not be running for president, there's plenty of people willing to call out moderate Democrats out for that kind of thing, Robrecht, without all the ridiculous bullshit Williamson brings with her. We don't need anti-vaxxers who think we can psychically affect hurricanes getting a wider audience.

Robrecht Your friendly neighbourhood Regent from The Netherlands Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Your friendly neighbourhood Regent
#290972: Sep 25th 2019 at 6:28:56 PM

Well... I meant more in the sense of people going 'Wow, okay. How about this, but not fucking batshit? Oh, hey. There's Warren.'

But yeah, good point.

Angry gets shit done.
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#290973: Sep 25th 2019 at 6:33:34 PM

I'm somehow not surprised that Trump threatened Pence.

Do not obey in advance.
Reflextion from a post-sanity world (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#290975: Sep 25th 2019 at 7:40:24 PM

So my best friend got a job as basically a journeyman political staffer for Andrew Yang's campaign. He has a lot of experience staffing no-hoper campaigns. Basic idea of the mentality of Yang Gang's Massachusetts operation is a lot of white techbros as expected, and quite a bit of delusion — if a poll doesn't have Yang leading with at least 10% support, they think the results are rigged. But worryingly, he's seen an increase in donations since late August, at least at the MA level, so that might convince Yang to stay in even if there's a marked enthusiasm gap in the polls.

Edited by CrimsonZephyr on Sep 25th 2019 at 10:43:10 AM

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

Total posts: 417,856
Top