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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#325001: Aug 25th 2020 at 7:54:37 AM

Mitch has effectively done to the national Republicans what he did to Kentucky's political machine by dismantling the opposition and discussion to pure Cult of Personality and patronage for absolute loyalty.

He either doesn't understand or doesn't care this is effectively killing his party, especially by rounding it around an idiot. I don't buy for a second they plan to throw Trump under the bus.

That is not their ideology as they cannot CONCEIVE of losing anymore.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#325002: Aug 25th 2020 at 7:56:02 AM

There was also a black Democrat speaker praising Trump at the RNC.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#325003: Aug 25th 2020 at 7:56:14 AM

There is a political center in the U.S.. We shouldn't ignore that. It's occupied by undecided folks, but it's also occupied by people who've bought into the propaganda that Democrats and Republicans are equally extreme. It is helpful to have some of those cross over the fence to take a side.

It doesn't help when people make a point of claiming extreme points of view on "both sides".

[up][up] As for Moscow Mitch and his buddies, they occupy a realm of extraordinary cynicism where they will do anything to remain in power no matter what political positions they must take. In this case, they know they're outnumbered by Democratic voters, so they pander to an extremist base while doing everything in their power to suppress Democratic voters, gerrymander, and otherwise cheat at the elections.

Edited by Fighteer on Aug 25th 2020 at 10:58:29 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Blueeyedrat Since: Oct, 2010
#325004: Aug 25th 2020 at 7:57:14 AM

There was also a black Democrat speaker praising Trump at the RNC.

Tim Scott's a Republican. At the moment, he's the only black Republican senator. (Unless there was another speaker I wasn't aware of)

Edited by Blueeyedrat on Aug 25th 2020 at 7:57:35 AM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#325005: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:04:14 AM

I'm not saying the Reps are planning to throw Trump under the bus, but they are creating an opportunity to do so and come out relatively unscathed should Trump lose. These people will gladly use Trump as long as he is useful, but don't think they will be loyal to him no matter what.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
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
#325006: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:06:51 AM

[up][up] There was, a Georgia state rep I believe.

Generally you get a couple low-level crossovers/people who aren’t running for officer anymore (remember you can’t be expelled from a political party in the US), the big thing for democrats this year has been the prominence of the Republicans endorsing Biden.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#325007: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:12:18 AM

Why can't you be expelled from a political party? Seems like an odd rule to have.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
megarockman from The Sixth Borough (Experienced Trainee)
#325008: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:15:02 AM

I think freedom of association (you must be allowed to join or leave a group voluntarily) as provided by the First Amendment. Not explicitly stated in the amendment itself, but the Supreme Court ruled that freedom of speech necessitates freedom of association for the former to have much meaning (NAACP v. Alabama, 1958).

The damned queen and the relentless knight.
PointMaid Since: Jun, 2014
#325009: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:20:12 AM

Specifically, the government can't limit your free association. I guess since political parties are closely tied to the government...

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#325010: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:24:46 AM

That sounds like a massive loophole for abuse. You could just join an organization and discredit them from the inside, then?

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
PointMaid Since: Jun, 2014
#325011: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:29:31 AM

People have been known to register as a certain party (that they don't believe in) in order to vote in a primary for a candidate they think is a bad one and will lead to the party losing. This does mean they don't get to vote in any other party's primary, though.

ciyinwanderer Since: Dec, 2018
#325012: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:32:15 AM

It's certainly an odd situation. Someone with the most abhorrent of beliefs can run on a party's ticket. The party can disavow and try to fund a primary opponent, but if the monster wins, they get to keep on using that party's name.

One could argue though that this reveals the actual values of a party instead of what they say their values are in public.

This signature was thumped to preserve the dignity of the moderators.
minseok42 A Self-inflicted Disaster from A Six-Tatami Room (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
A Self-inflicted Disaster
#325013: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:32:41 AM

How does one join a political party in the US? You don't have to pay any fees or anything? What's to stop say, Donald Trump from joining the Democrats?

"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow
megarockman from The Sixth Borough (Experienced Trainee)
#325014: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:33:19 AM

No fees. All I did was register to vote in the Democratic primary. You can switch parties from election to election, though the exact rules for doing so depend on your state.

Edited by megarockman on Aug 25th 2020 at 11:34:17 AM

The damned queen and the relentless knight.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#325015: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:33:25 AM

And if you get enough politicians and voters in a party to espouse a particular belief system, the party becomes about that belief system. The Democrats used to be pro-segregation and are now against. The Republicans used to be pro-business and are now pro-racism.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
minseok42 A Self-inflicted Disaster from A Six-Tatami Room (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
A Self-inflicted Disaster
#325016: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:37:59 AM

Are there any limits to people like the military or teachers joining political parties in the US?

"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow
Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
minseok42 A Self-inflicted Disaster from A Six-Tatami Room (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
A Self-inflicted Disaster
#325018: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:42:34 AM

In some other countries, civil servants are supposed to be non-partisan, so I wondered if that was the case in the US.

"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#325019: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:42:37 AM

I can't even understand why you'd put teachers in with the military. With the military you at least want to avoid someone somehow running for office whilst part of the military due to the messed up order of things then, but teachers?

megarockman from The Sixth Borough (Experienced Trainee)
#325020: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:44:04 AM

All of them qualify as being agents of the government, so the question makes sense. The answer is no (I work for the state of New Jersey), that would be an infringement on their First Amendment rights, though there are rules in place for civil servants on what activities I can do in the role of civil servant so that the position doesn't becoming overly politicized.

The damned queen and the relentless knight.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#325021: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:44:27 AM

Uh, Republicans are still pro-business. That's why they fanatically oppose social programs and support deregulation.

Anyway, to answer the previous poster. Yes, political parties cannot expel their members. This is very much necessary in the US because we're a two-party system, if parties could kick people out then they'd be effectively disenfranchised. That isn't to say that there aren't ways to enforce compliance, there are. They're just more subtle.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#325022: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:45:10 AM

[up][up]Right. Civil servants can do whatever they like as private citizens, but may not espouse any political party or take any sides in their official duties.

[up] Yes, "pro business", which is why the Trump GOP is busy wrecking the economy for trade wars and such. If you said they are "pro mega-rich donors", then that has always been true, but the myth of being favorable to business in general is mere propaganda.

Edited by Fighteer on Aug 25th 2020 at 11:46:21 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
PointMaid Since: Jun, 2014
#325023: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:46:15 AM

Generally, if a primary candidate is against what most of the party wants, they won't get past the primary, so won't hold office or have any party sway or voice.

minseok42 A Self-inflicted Disaster from A Six-Tatami Room (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
A Self-inflicted Disaster
#325024: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:47:07 AM

It might not make sense, but in my country, teachers and members of the military are constitutionally supposed to be politically neutral, so they are forbidden from joining political parties, which was why I asked that question. So apparently, this is something unique to my country.

Edited by minseok42 on Aug 26th 2020 at 12:47:55 AM

"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#325025: Aug 25th 2020 at 8:48:18 AM

Yes, "pro business", which is why the Trump GOP is busy wrecking the economy for trade wars and such. If you said they are "pro mega-rich donors", then that has always been true, but the myth of being favorable to business in general is mere propaganda.

You can be pro-business and bad for the economy, what businesses want is not the same thing as what the economy or society as a whole needs.

Republican policies are great for big business, which defacto makes them pro-business.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang

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