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

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#323751: Aug 13th 2020 at 11:03:35 AM

On the Israel deal, I note that Israel hasn't committed to stopping Israeli citizens from settling in the West Bank under Israeli military protection.

So stopping the annexation is, uh, a meaningless agreement.

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#323752: Aug 13th 2020 at 11:24:58 AM

Yeah, words in paper are meaningless where Trump and Bibi are involved.

"You can reply to this Message!"
ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#323753: Aug 13th 2020 at 11:35:02 AM

[up][up][up] That guideline just screams "Change me." Because not prosecuting until after the election is over seems like a loophole to allow "the victors" to avoid prosecuting the people who help them win.

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#323754: Aug 13th 2020 at 12:42:19 PM

Pretty much this, yes. He's not declining; he's always been like this.

This, pretty much. Now, I would not accuse him of being charismatic, either, but he is very marketable. He is the American Dream, complete with all the horrifying bits of it.

Kafka nowadays would write something like: "As Uncle Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into Donald Trump".

But this giant insect instead of being reviled and feared, is celebrated.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#323755: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:01:40 PM

53% of voters approve of Biden picking Harris as his running mate. Including 84% of Democrats, 79% of Black voters, and 56% of voters under 35.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#323756: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:10:18 PM

https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/01/17/generation-z-looks-a-lot-like-millennials-on-key-social-and-political-issues/

One bit of good news is the Republican ideology is DOA for the next generations.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Reflextion from a post-sanity world (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
#323757: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:12:01 PM

Not that surprising, with how hard the boomers are trying to ensure that there isn't a next generation.

Someone did tell me life was going to be this way.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#323758: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:20:23 PM

Brian Kemp has decided to drop his lawsuit against Atlanta's mask mandate, because he's planning to restrict it to government property instead by executive order. Note that the article does not mention the bit after the comma in its headline.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#323759: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:24:23 PM

AP: Trump campaign sues key Iowa counties over absentee mailings

President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign has sued two Democratic-leaning Iowa counties that are making it easy to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to invalidate tens of thousands of voters’ absentee ballot applications.

The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and other GOP groups filed the lawsuits Wednesday against elections officials in Linn and Johnson counties.

At issue are absentee ballot request forms that the counties are sending to registered voters with personal information already filled in, including their names, dates of birth and voting pin numbers. Voters just have to review, sign and return the forms to get ballots in October that they can mail back or drop off, avoiding crowded polling places.

[...]

Trump easily won Iowa in 2016 but lost the two counties by nearly 40,000 votes. Those who cast absentee ballots overwhelmingly backed Hillary Clinton while Trump narrowly won Linn County among Election Day voters.

The Trump campaign and GOP groups did not sue Republican-leaning Woodbury County, where the auditor sent prepopulated forms to 57,000 registered voters this month. Trump carried that county by 8,500 votes in 2016.

Auditors said the goal of prepopulating the forms was to prevent common mistakes, including leaving blank a voter pin number that few people know. Voters must provide either that number or a driver’s license number to get an absentee ballot under Iowa’s voter identification law.

A new law passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature blocks county officials from using their databases to fill in pin numbers and other missing information like they have in past elections. The law was passed days after Iowa’s June primary, which saw record turnout and heavy absentee ballot use.

[...]

The League of United Latino American Citizens and Majority Forward have filed a lawsuit challenging the law, arguing it places “an undue burden on the fundamental right to vote.” But a judge said Wednesday he will not hear their request for a temporary injunction until Sept. 23, after the request forms will have been sent statewide.

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#323760: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:32:58 PM

Well this is a trainwreck of epic proportions... admitting to election tampering and everything.

Its late 1920s and early 30s Germany all over again and nothing can be done but people complaining. Just like back then.

I don't think dems even have a remote chance in hell with the amount of interference that Trump is doing.

Edited by Memers on Aug 13th 2020 at 1:38:33 AM

ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#323761: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:46:03 PM

[up] Which leaves options nobody likes.

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#323762: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:47:59 PM

The short answer is - call your local congressional rep and Senators' offices. Write them letters. Bitch and moan and complain near-daily, and they'll be tempted to act just to shut you up.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#323763: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:48:36 PM

It's not looking good. On a similar note: ‘That’s not our game’: Kudlow says White House won’t accept ‘voting rights’ provisions in virus aid bill

“So much of the Democratic asks are really liberal, left wish lists — voting rights and aid to aliens and so forth.”

The priorities of the administration during this pandemic are quite clear: less people voting, more people dying.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#323764: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:49:21 PM

> Its late 1920s and early 30s Germany all over again and nothing can be done but people complaining. Just like back then.

Lets..avoid doom saying with comparisons to 1930s Germany

Edited by Ultimatum on Aug 13th 2020 at 8:49:36 AM

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
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
#323765: Aug 13th 2020 at 1:53:09 PM

Rigged elections have been won before, that’s how you de-rig a system. Remember, the congress that passed the Voting Rights Act was elected via the rigged system they pushed back against.

Also Democrats do have the budget as a very handy weapon about to come up, if Trump is going to de-facto shut down the Postal Service democrats can force him to shut down the rest of government as well or relent on the Postal Service.

Edited by Silasw on Aug 13th 2020 at 8:53:50 AM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#323766: Aug 13th 2020 at 2:04:04 PM

[up][up] I'd like to point out that said comparisons have been made before, due to Trump's rhetoric as well as the camps his government's running.

Partly by people who lived through that time.

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#323767: Aug 13th 2020 at 2:04:06 PM

A budget shutdown this close to an election is a very risky play. Especially during a pandemic and the resulting recession. Could be a disaster electorally if the public blames the Democrats.

That said, Trump and the GOP have largely taken the blame for the previous ones.

Edited by Rationalinsanity on Aug 13th 2020 at 6:04:34 AM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#323768: Aug 13th 2020 at 2:14:36 PM

If the Democrats get pummelled for using the funding nuke option to try saving democratic process itself, something more than the GOP is horribly wrong in the US.

It's in their bloody name, for crying out loud!

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#323769: Aug 13th 2020 at 2:21:59 PM

Senate is going on recess for three weeks.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#323770: Aug 13th 2020 at 2:28:04 PM

something more than the GOP is horribly wrong in the US.

Well, yeah. Just look at how far some people will reach to claim "both sides are the same!" or "it doesn't affect me, so why should I care?"

My musician page
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#323771: Aug 13th 2020 at 2:40:16 PM

Damned if you do, damned if you don't, really.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Imca (Veteran)
#323772: Aug 13th 2020 at 2:48:11 PM

If the Democrats get pummelled for using the funding nuke option to try saving democratic process itself, something more than the GOP is horribly wrong in the US.

I mean.... There is, the GOP is a symptom not the cause.

People vote for these assholes after all, and they never make any attempt to hide it... "All mexicans are rapists", "grab em by the pussy".... "Wow he is speaking what we are all thinking, time to vote for him"

:/

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#323773: Aug 13th 2020 at 2:49:22 PM

[up]

The whole argument against Absentee Ballots by the GOP is that if people COULD vote they WOULD.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#323774: Aug 13th 2020 at 2:52:06 PM

I'd like to believe that some non-voters just ignore the political news because they think it's "boring" and if they found out just how cartoonishly evil the republicans are, they'd have the empathy to do the bare minimum. But I somehow doubt enough of them meet that criteria to make them the most efficient target of outreach.

My musician page
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#323775: Aug 13th 2020 at 3:00:40 PM

At this point I feel like the only hope we have is if Democrats nation-wide go through the same effort to go to the polls in person like Milwaukee did last spring (virus be damned), as a big fuck you to the GOP's voter suppression efforts.

Edited by speedyboris on Aug 13th 2020 at 3:04:30 AM


Total posts: 417,856
Top