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

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#326601: Sep 8th 2020 at 4:43:54 PM

[lol]

I choose to accept this as canon

Do not obey in advance.
Reflextion from a post-sanity world (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
#326602: Sep 8th 2020 at 5:13:06 PM

F it, sounds better than the actual Ronnie, or any other Republican in the past half-century for that matter.

Someone did tell me life was going to be this way.
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#326603: Sep 8th 2020 at 6:09:51 PM

Reigen is actually a good guy. He just also happens to be a total shyster.

Do not obey in advance.
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#326604: Sep 8th 2020 at 7:42:28 PM

So, I managed to track down the raw footage of Daniel Prude's arrest and... it is genuinely harrowing viewing, but it needs to be watched to show how callously indifferent the responding officers were to him during that entire process.

Edited by ironballs16 on Sep 8th 2020 at 10:42:49 AM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#326605: Sep 8th 2020 at 9:33:15 PM

I’m really not even shocked. Speaking from experience, both Rochester PD and Greece PD are absolute trash, and they’d rather laugh at your misfortune than lend a hand. I’ve never, not in my entire life, seen them help someone.

astrokitty Happiness is a cup of tea from Somewhere Out There Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Happiness is a cup of tea
#326607: Sep 8th 2020 at 11:24:28 PM

That...probably wouldn't even fly in a court during France's Reign of Terror. I'm astounded and appalled.

Somebody once told me the world was macaroni, I took a bite out of a tree
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#326608: Sep 8th 2020 at 11:33:11 PM

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) announced Tuesday that about 1,000 Georgians face investigation for voting twice in the state's June 9 primary, a large-scale allegation of fraud eight weeks before Election Day. Article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

These voters returned absentee ballots and then also showed up at polling places on election day, Raffensperger said. Double-voting is a felony in Georgia.

"A double-voter knows exactly what they're doing, diluting the votes of each and every voter that follows the law," Raffensperger said during a press conference at the state Capitol. "Those that make the choice to game the system are breaking the law. And as secretary of state, I will not tolerate it."

The investigation follows a chaotic primary where record numbers of voters cast absentee ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Some voters who weren't sure whether their absentee ballots would be received before election day decided to vote in person to ensure their votes would count.

Voters are allowed to cancel their absentee ballots and then vote at polling places as long as their ballots haven't yet been received by election officials. It's unclear whether the voters under investigation attempted to do so.

This is an enormous claim to make, especially as, IIRC, 1000 people would be more voter fraud than found, total, in the last 4 decades or so.

I'm highly skeptical, as Georgia Secretaries of State don't have the greatest record on these things, see: Investigators find no evidence for Georgia Gov. Kemp's hacking claim (AJC)

Just two days before the 2018 election for governor, Republican Brian Kemp opened an explosive investigation, accusing the Democratic Party of Georgia of trying to hack voter registration systems.


Sixteen months later, the attorney general's office released a report Tuesday finding no evidence of a hack and closing the investigation Kemp had launched.

No election information was damaged, stolen or lost, according to the report, and there was no evidence of computer crime.


From The Virginian-Pilot: Third former campaign staffer for Scott Taylor indicted. Prosecutor says investigation isn't over.

A third member of ex-Rep. Scott Taylor's 2018 campaign staff is facing an election fraud charge after being indicted today by a Virginia Beach grand jury.

The indictment against Heather Guillot, who served as a consultant for Taylor's reelection bid, stems from a petition scandal that rocked the former U.S. congressman's campaign two years ago. Guillot is accused of submitting forged signatures in an effort to get a spoiler candidate on the ballot that year.

Election fraud is a felony in Virginia, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine.

John Beamer, the special prosecutor overseeing the case, said Tuesday that the two-year investigation isn’t over yet and that he expects to seek at least one more indictment. He said that no one has been cleared, including Taylor. ...

"He's part of the campaign and the whole campaign is under investigation," Beamer said.

Taylor is running again this year against Rep. Elaine Luria in Virginia's 2nd district.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#326609: Sep 8th 2020 at 11:35:08 PM

Didn't Trump explicitly go tell people to vote twice?

Ayasugi Since: Oct, 2010
#326610: Sep 8th 2020 at 11:46:56 PM

[up][up]That doesn't sound right...

Some voters who weren't sure whether their absentee ballots would be received before election day decided to vote in person to ensure their votes would count.

Voters are allowed to cancel their absentee ballots and then vote at polling places as long as their ballots haven't yet been received by election officials. It's unclear whether the voters under investigation attempted to do so.

Now that sounds believable. But I guess it's easier for the government to treat all cases as malicious attempts at voter fraud rather than actually do anything to clear up confusion or reassure voters that their mail in ballots will be counted.

Edited by Ayasugi on Sep 8th 2020 at 2:48:45 PM

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#326611: Sep 8th 2020 at 11:54:49 PM

Yes, Trump told people to vote twice. He said that if you get an absentee ballot, you should fill it out and send it in. Then, "to make sure it's counted", you should go down to a polling place and vote in person. As he claims, if they get your mail-in ballot, they'll see that you already voted and won't count it, so it works out.

This is malice disguising itself as ignorance. Trump wants to appear totally ignorant of the fact that his "just making sure" second vote proposal is a felony. Actually, Trump is entirely aware that if you're going down to vote in person anyway, there's no reason to send in a mail-in ballot unless you're trying to double vote.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Sep 8th 2020 at 11:55:14 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#326612: Sep 8th 2020 at 11:56:51 PM

I thought he said that it was to test the system, which means he also openly admitted knowledge that this is illegal.

Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#326613: Sep 9th 2020 at 12:05:59 AM

I.....what?

Reading more I see that if the DOJ did take over the defense then they would have to pay any fines. Because of course that's what Trump wants.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#326614: Sep 9th 2020 at 12:07:03 AM

Yup, if the United States is the defendant then it doesn't even matter if Trump loses, at least not for him. The taxpayer instead has to directly pay.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#326615: Sep 9th 2020 at 12:08:10 AM

So my taxes are going to help pay to defend Trump from rape allegations.

I feel even less guilty about taking that stimulus check now.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#326616: Sep 9th 2020 at 12:45:02 AM

Old news, but Taylor Swift is taking a political position in favor of basic decency.

Taylor Swift's political opinion is only noteworthy because she was a big hit on /pol/ until she mentioned that she wasn't on their team, and because she usually doesn't like to be a political influencer. Further tears from the alt-right are always a good thing.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#326617: Sep 9th 2020 at 12:53:30 AM

Reminds me of Jim Gaffigan, a comedian who tries to be as apolitical as possible, coming out and saying that Trump needs to be stopped. Guy outright called Trump a traitor, a con artist, a rapist, and a fascist.

Edited by M84 on Sep 10th 2020 at 3:55:00 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Khudzlin Since: Nov, 2013
#326618: Sep 9th 2020 at 1:04:02 AM

Sincere question: how do you know that your ballot has been received when you vote by mail?

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#326619: Sep 9th 2020 at 1:08:04 AM

Your state should have some kind of tracking system in place. At least that's the case in California.

Disgusted, but not surprised
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#326620: Sep 9th 2020 at 1:37:06 AM

Sadly, Taylor tried to sink the racist homophobic female Senator of TN but failed to move the needle much.

Marsha Blackburn won.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
WoodyAlien3rd from Persimmon Land (Italy) Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: Omelette du fromage~
#326621: Sep 9th 2020 at 3:29:07 AM

Could we please avoid this one though? It is very male centric and carrys the implication that sex is a demeaning experiance for women, and while I have not heard the whole thing based on context I assume gay men to... (...) Err, sorry for saying any thing especialy this late.. its just this is one of those things that goes beyond crude and into problematic that I am willing to bet people without particular life experiences (growing up in a conservitive nation as a woman) dont even think of....

It wasn't my intention to offend anybody or get anybody to feel personally attacked, it's just that I remembered hearing that speech with Parker & Stone's trademark brand of taking complex issues in the context of a show full of vulgar humor, without thinking that things have come a long way since 2004 and not everyone has had the same life experiences. However it does make sense, from a certain point of view.

By the way, I just don't understand how so many people around the world are seeing Trump as a kind of Christ-like figure who will save the planet from whatever ultimate evil. I can get those who want to make the other side to look bad at all costs and the literal Neo-Nazis, but what do the other people see in him to support him no matter what? He's a whiny moronic sociopath without an ounce of charm who looks and acts like a cartoonish caricature, so how can so many people put so much trust in him? I can (barely) understand the QAnon stuff, but after a while I started thinking that it's all a matter of Psychological Projection, AKA most of these people are pedos themselves and want Trump to destroy everything and blame the "others" rather than face the accusations.

"Effective Altruism" is just another bunch of horsesh*t.
Khudzlin Since: Nov, 2013
#326622: Sep 9th 2020 at 4:53:26 AM

[up][up][up] Mail-in ballots pretty much don't exist in my country (this is pure curiosity, thanks for indulging it). So, you get a tracking number with your ballot and can look it up on a dedicated website?

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#326623: Sep 9th 2020 at 4:55:08 AM

In my county at least, all I need to do is enter my voter info into the site and it will show whether my ballot was received or not.

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
#326624: Sep 9th 2020 at 5:07:11 AM

A quick Google indicates no way for me to confirm that my postal vote has been received, I'll have to check the vote paperwork next election and see if it says anything.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Khudzlin Since: Nov, 2013
#326625: Sep 9th 2020 at 5:47:50 AM

[up][up] Sounds like a good system (if the info goes beyond your name or stuff other people can easily find).

[up] That, on the other hand, is ridiculously bad.

Edited by Khudzlin on Sep 9th 2020 at 2:49:47 PM


Total posts: 417,856
Top