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

Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#330626: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:31:10 PM

In case anyone is wondering what happens if a presidential candidate dies, I looked it up and it depends in part on when.

If they die before the election, their party selects a new candidate, likely but not necessarily their running mate (in this case, I believe both parties would most likely select the current running mates) who can also select their own new running mate. This also happens if a candidate dies after the election but before the Electoral College meets, but in this case, a lot of uncertainty because nothing says the Electors have to vote for the new candidate and you may see defections.

If they die after the Electoral College meets but before Congress formally counts the votes (between Dec 14 and Jan 6 this cycle), the party no longer selects a replacement and there would be the question of whether Congress would validate the votes for the dead candidate as electing their running mate. If Congress for whatever reason decides not to validate these votes, Congress can then decide the election under the 12th Amendment, with the House selecting the president and the Senate selecting the vice president. If they do validate the votes, the dead winner's running mate becomes president-elect (or arguably vice-president-elect which then automatically promotes to president-elect).

If the candidate dies after formally becoming president-elect (this is technically only after Congress counts the votes from the Electoral College), their running mate, as vice-president-elect automatically takes over as president-elect.

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
#330627: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:31:11 PM

Well about all I can say without breaking site rules is I guess this counts as an October surprise

Edited by TheAirman on Oct 2nd 2020 at 2:03:47 PM

PSN ID: FateSeraph | Switch friendcode: SW-0145-8835-0610 Congratulations! She/They
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
#330628: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:35:06 PM

I honestly doubt much will come of all this. Most likely scenario is that Trump recovers just fine and rants about it being a hoax like usual.

Somebody once told me the world was macaroni, I took a bite out of a tree
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#330629: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:36:29 PM

Sure, but he's probably going to infect a bunch of other people in the process, including other officials. Which could have a roulette of effects.

Ayasugi Since: Oct, 2010
#330630: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:37:33 PM

[up][up][up]Can't be the one Trump was promising tho, since it's September 31st according to his fundraising emails.

Edited by Ayasugi on Oct 1st 2020 at 2:37:54 PM

devak They call me.... Prophet Since: Jul, 2019 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
They call me.... Prophet
#330631: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:40:43 PM

It's not what happens to Trump. It's the message it sends. With maybe the exception of some crackpots, literally everyone in the world believes the US president to be the most powerful man on earth. If the US president was a teddybear and you asked 7 billion people who was more powerful, the teddy or the Pope (IE god's replacement on earth), most would go with the teddybear.

The fact that the most powerful, well-equipped, well-guarded man on earth with literally the power to eradicate mankind from the face of the earth can get the virus... that's an image that is hard to counter with any narrative. Any downplaying is damage mitigation.

DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#330632: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:42:53 PM

At least 20 people have been exposed to Hope Hicks recently

You know those zombie apocalypse stories where the elites attempt to hide from the situation in a bunker complex, only for one of their own to turn out having the virus?

This kinda feels like one of those situations.

Edited by DrunkenNordmann on Oct 1st 2020 at 8:43:04 PM

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#330633: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:43:38 PM

[up]It does kind of have vibes of The Masque of the Red Death.

Edited by M84 on Oct 2nd 2020 at 2:45:20 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#330634: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:48:00 PM

If Trump hits the campaign trails proclaiming ‘it was just a cold’ could that be a path to reelection?

Also... in before Fox News starts explaining what COVID is now.

Edited by Memers on Oct 1st 2020 at 11:49:15 AM

Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#330635: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:50:04 PM

[up]I feel we're at least 200,000 American deaths too late for that to happen.

devak They call me.... Prophet Since: Jul, 2019 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
They call me.... Prophet
#330636: Oct 1st 2020 at 11:55:48 PM

From what i saw, Fox seems to be taking it seriously.

[up]200 000 is pretty terrible compared to good measures, but we're also a far way from the absolute worst case. If this is what makes the USA enact better measures and prevents millions more deaths, that's great.

Wispy Since: Feb, 2017
#330637: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:03:10 AM

My main worry is he will survive and try to downplay the effects of it.

He won't come out of this unscathed though. Covid can fuck up a healthy person's organs, he isn't healthy so hes probably fucked on that front even if he has the best doctors with him.

Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#330638: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:04:29 AM

[up][up]The US is also accounts for 20% of all virus deaths globally. It's not the worst case scenario, but it's not anywhere close to the good side of line.

And I doubt Trump turning around and being super onboard with preventing the virus this late stage in the game is going to happen and if it did it's not going to win the election for him. Too many people have died and suffered for that to happen.

[up]We'll have to wait and see. People as old and unhealthy as him have caught the virus and survived, and he has access to enough quality healthcare to do their best to keep him alive.

Although my thoughts now turn to all the people who have been infected by Hope and Trump. That includes the SC nominee, that includes Senators, that includes evil turtle himself. At the very least this could throw a temporary delay into the SC hearings. As low as the Evil Turtle is I don't see him forcing through a vote for someone whose currently sick with a virus and I don't see the Republicans pulling it together if Mitch gets sick.

Edited by Shaoken on Oct 3rd 2020 at 5:08:24 AM

AngrokVa indighost from america, unfortunately Since: Feb, 2012 Relationship Status: Saddled with unnecessary feelings
indighost
#330639: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:06:45 AM

Thirty minutes before Trump's tweet, E-6B "doomsday planes" were launched in case any countries tried anything funny.

RT There's an E-6B Mercury off the east coast near DC. I looked because I would expect them to pop up if he tests positive. It's a message to the small group of adversaries with SLBMs and ICBMs.

Here's another E6-B that just popped up visible on MLAT on the west coast. IMO Stratcom wants them to be seen.

A reply to another tweet asking about this:

It's the plane that has the ability to order the killing of everyone on earth if someone attacks the US with nukes in a first strike. It can talk to our missile subs under water even if DC is gone.

Edited by AngrokVa on Oct 2nd 2020 at 3:08:45 PM

Imca (Veteran)
#330640: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:10:33 AM

Thats just buisness as usual for if something like this happens, not really a concern.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#330641: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:16:14 AM

If the US president was a teddybear and you asked 7 billion people who was more powerful, the teddy or the Pope (IE god's replacement on earth), most would go with the teddybear.

The Pope has massive social influence, institutional wealth, as well as ownership of his own country. A teddy bear is an inanimate object.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:16:28 PM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#330642: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:35:10 AM

I know a lot of people are celebrating about this, "schadenfreude" and all that, but I just can't.

Too many unpleasant things can happen as a result of this. I'm terrified for Biden right now

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#330643: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:39:25 AM

Yeah,

I don't want to wish ill on anyone.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:39:45 PM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
AngrokVa indighost from america, unfortunately Since: Feb, 2012 Relationship Status: Saddled with unnecessary feelings
indighost
#330644: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:45:48 AM

I'm worried about Biden, too. But, let's consider a couple of things: during the debate, they didn't shake hands or make any sort of physical contact, and they were standing a good distance from each other.

devak They call me.... Prophet Since: Jul, 2019 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
They call me.... Prophet
#330645: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:46:31 AM

I don't wish ill on anyone, but well, turns out i didn't need to.

AngrokVa indighost from america, unfortunately Since: Feb, 2012 Relationship Status: Saddled with unnecessary feelings
indighost
#330646: Oct 2nd 2020 at 12:55:25 AM

There's a somewhat reassuring Twitter thread that explains what's up with the E-6Bs right now.

Just to bring attention to an interesting discussion thread happening with @jonostrower

@Oriana0214

@mgerrydoyle

@TimInHonolulu . #OSINT is showing some air traffic related military preparedness in the US. 1/

@TimInHonolulu saw that E-6B's are showing up. Onn the East coast

https://twitter.com/TimInHonolulu/status/1311883569086623744 2/

... and also on the West coast. https://twitter.com/TimInHonolulu/status/1311885172862668801 3/

An E6-B conveys instructions from the National Command Authority to fleet ballistic missile submarines and Minuteman ICBMs using the Airborne Launch Control System. /4

Given #POTUS announced he has #COVID19 its possible the US is making its nuclear posture more assertive or at least demonstrating that they can. 5/

However, @Oriana0214 made the excellent point that E6 activity has been quite busy this year. https://twitter.com/Oriana0214/status/1311915659157176321 6/

For several years the DOD has been working on the concept of being "strategically predictable, but operationally unpredictable."

https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf 7/

All of this is to say that when it comes to US nukes, there is a plan for everything. Don't duck and cover yet. /end

Edited by AngrokVa on Oct 2nd 2020 at 3:57:10 PM

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#330648: Oct 2nd 2020 at 1:16:26 AM

Too many people are gloating... I am extremy worried now that this October Surprise is what gets him re-elected.

minseok42 A Self-inflicted Disaster from A Six-Tatami Room (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
A Self-inflicted Disaster
#330649: Oct 2nd 2020 at 1:17:27 AM

Why would this be of any advantage to Trump?

"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow
Imca (Veteran)
#330650: Oct 2nd 2020 at 1:18:52 AM

If nothing serious happens to him it emboldens his bases claim that Corona is nothing but the flu.


Total posts: 417,856
Top