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

GoosefromWikipedia (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded)
#324201: Aug 17th 2020 at 7:44:25 PM

Basically, Trump wants to destroy the post office because he thinks it is a road block in his agenda. It will get to point that he will stop funding for any state that lists a candidate other then Trump during the election.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#324202: Aug 17th 2020 at 7:46:28 PM

Bernie is up. Praising his supporters for all the progress they've made but warns it'll all be for nothing if Trump wins. That we've become used to Trump's evils and that authoritarianism has taken root in our country. How his family has experienced what happens when authoritarianism takes over a democracy. How he'll work with progressives, moderates and even conservatives to stop Trump.

"Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Trump golfs."

Attacking Trump for doing nothing or worse to while people are losing jobs and housing. That we need a leader who will take the reigns immediately.

"I know that Joe Biden will begin that fight on Day 1."

Goes on to highlight Biden's progressive credentials; Minimum wage, unions, childcare, infrastructure and climate change.

That they don't always agree but Bernie praises Biden's healthcare plan and crime reform plan. That he has every confidence Biden and Harris will work to bring a better future.

Michelle Obama: "Being president doesn't change who you are, it reveals who you are."

She's reminding people how important voting is, how such a small number of people made Trump president. Comparing how the Obama-Biden presidency ended to what Trump has brought now. How just saying "Black Lives Matter" brings derision from the highest power in the nation.

How the lack of empathy Trump encourages leads to pretty much everything he's fanned the flames of. "This isn't who we want to be."

"Going high means taking the harder path."

Michelle: Joe Biden has the knowledge, experience, will, and empathy to take on the hardest job in the world. "His life is a testament to getting back up."

"His ability to learn and grow, we find in that the wisdom and humility that we need right now."

Edited by Parable on Aug 17th 2020 at 8:00:16 AM

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#324203: Aug 17th 2020 at 8:04:45 PM

Dang. Michelle is bringing it. Do whatever it takes to vote. Vote early, get your friends and family to vote early. If you can't, back a lunch box and get in line, stay all night if you have to.

Praising the protesters and activists for fighting for each other. "This is who we are!"

What is outro music video. [lol]

Edited by Parable on Aug 17th 2020 at 8:08:32 AM

CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#324204: Aug 17th 2020 at 8:11:23 PM

[up][up][awesome]

[up][awesome]

"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."
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#324205: Aug 17th 2020 at 8:12:35 PM

Man, the RNC is going to be a dumpster fire compared to this.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#324206: Aug 17th 2020 at 8:17:42 PM

The RNC's gonna be a total shitshow. Probably going to have some Qanon crap show up too.

Disgusted, but not surprised
GoosefromWikipedia (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded)
#324207: Aug 17th 2020 at 8:33:55 PM

I think that the entire RNC is just going to be pro-Trump and Q Anon propaganda and very long advertisements for conservative talk shows.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#324208: Aug 17th 2020 at 8:45:32 PM

Are they even going to show the Republican one? I thought they cancelled a public one because, essentially, the GOP is aware Trump is an incoherent mass of lunacy and racism.

Which only works with their base some of the time.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
rmctagg09 The Wanderer from Brooklyn, NY (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
The Wanderer
#324209: Aug 17th 2020 at 8:55:55 PM

I hear Trump will give his RNC acceptance speech at the White House.

Hugging a Vanillite will give you frostbite.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#324210: Aug 17th 2020 at 10:16:04 PM

I guess he doesn't want the Army of the Potomac rising from their graves to defend Gettysburg once again.

Still a bad call. Should have picked Trump Tower or Mar-a-lago, but we all know that he doesn't give a damn about separating his governmental and political roles.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#324211: Aug 17th 2020 at 10:33:57 PM

By the way, the convention ended on this surreal note of Billy Porter covering Buffalo Spriengfield's "For What Its Worth":

Good cover. Bad green screen though.

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#324212: Aug 17th 2020 at 11:13:54 PM

So I've been thinking some more about the whole idea of "rehabilitating" the GOP. I still think it's a fool's errand at present.

Let's take a look at Taiwan for a bit. For those not familiar with Taiwan's politics, there are two "main" political parties (grossly simplifying matters I know but bear with me), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT). The KMT were...well, let's just say that their past bullshit makes the present-day GOP look good in comparison. Look up the "White Terror" sometime.

Anyway, the KMT has undergone a lot of changes over the years, especially recently. Why?

Because they're on a losing streak. They've taken severe electoral beatings in the last few years. So now they're going on a bit of soul-searching to try and find a way they can still be relevant in Taiwan.

So that's what needs to happen in the USA. Before we can even think of "rehabilitating" the GOP, the GOP needs to lose. And lose hard. They need to lose so hard - not just this year but in the next few years - that even they cannot deny that they will lose all relevance if they don't change.

Edited by M84 on Aug 18th 2020 at 2:15:34 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#324213: Aug 17th 2020 at 11:16:32 PM

I have no idea what the Republicans even stand for other than money and hurting people so I don't think they're salvageable either. Note: I used to BE a Republican and a very serious one at that.

Everything I thought they believed in the Democrats embody more and everything they don't believe in that I do, the Republicans still don't.

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.
#324214: Aug 17th 2020 at 11:23:10 PM

[up]Corporatist capitalism mixed with religious fundamentalism and anti-intellectualism served with a heap of bigotry.

Edited by M84 on Aug 18th 2020 at 2:23:39 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#324215: Aug 17th 2020 at 11:25:51 PM

The religious fundamentalism only exists to line their pockets with money taken from megachurches and hurt women as far as I can tell.

You mobilize the religious fundamentalists against women, gays, and trans people.

It's a scam that corrupts and warps Christianity in America and it's sadly worked all too well.

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.
#324216: Aug 17th 2020 at 11:28:49 PM

[up]Some denominations anyway. Mostly Protestants.

There's a reason the P in WASP stands for Protestant.

Disgusted, but not surprised
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
#324217: Aug 17th 2020 at 11:30:33 PM

Yeh I only see the GOP reforming after a new Era of Good Feelings.

“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
#324218: Aug 17th 2020 at 11:34:20 PM

To be fair, one of the funniest things I've ever read is a Black Comedy lament about the grandchildren of GOP members today.

Religious fundamentalists are flummoxed and outright horrified that a huge number of the current wave of teenagers and adults are just not as racist or homophobic as them if at all.

The article struggled to put into words why this was a bad thing without admitting why.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Aug 17th 2020 at 11:34:47 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Wryte Since: Jul, 2010
#324219: Aug 18th 2020 at 1:03:43 AM

So this is what's sitting at the top of the youtube home page now: Trump attack ads against Biden, imploring you to text "Radical," "Extreme," and "Left" to various numbers, with no indication as to what that accomplishes. I assume adding you to a mailing list.

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.
#324220: Aug 18th 2020 at 1:05:13 AM

Or costs you extra for the text as campaign "donation"

"You can reply to this Message!"
CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#324221: Aug 18th 2020 at 3:33:59 AM

[up][up] I keep getting fucking political videos recommended to me even though I don't watch anything politics-related...

Imca (Veteran)
#324222: Aug 18th 2020 at 4:42:25 AM

It goes off your search history as well, youtube and google are one entity.

EX: I look up things about warships, youtube starts recomending me warship videos.... I look up stuff about Azure Lane specificly, and now its going to narrow that down to warship girls.

And it will learn from this, if I go and google a ship right now its going to return the Azure Lane articles first, not the historical ones.

The data retention and sharing between the two is higher then you may realize.

Edited by Imca on Aug 18th 2020 at 4:44:50 AM

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#324223: Aug 18th 2020 at 5:23:03 AM

I have YouTube Premium, so the ads just sail on by, unnoticed, like leaves in the wind. It's the best monthly subscription I've ever paid.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#324224: Aug 18th 2020 at 5:38:33 AM

Yes, the algorithm for Youtube is... overeager, to put it mildly. The main reason is to raise engagement. Youtube desperately wants you to stay and watch more ads.

[up] I have Ad Blocker, which does the same thing... for free.

Also, Biden is Scrappy? That sounds like it should be a meme. Scrappy is going to take back the White House.

Edited by Redmess on Aug 18th 2020 at 2:40:46 PM

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#324225: Aug 18th 2020 at 5:52:59 AM

Yes, but with ad blockers, creators don't get paid for your views. The least I can do is contribute to the channels that I watch. They aren't doing this for the applause or self-gratification. Plus, Premium views pay creators even if their videos aren't monetized. As a business model, it's unparalleled (besides direct channel subscriptions that is).

Edited by Fighteer on Aug 18th 2020 at 8:55:47 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

Total posts: 417,856
Top