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

Galadriel Since: Feb, 2015
#331076: Oct 3rd 2020 at 6:19:42 AM

Re: Online casinos shutting down election betting after Trump’s diagnosis.

I suppose they decided that gambling on someone’s risk of death was crass.

Which, to be fair, it is.

Edited by Galadriel on Oct 3rd 2020 at 9:20:35 AM

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#331077: Oct 3rd 2020 at 6:25:47 AM

I'm hearing that Senators Mike Lee (R-TN), Ron Johnson (R-WS) and Tom Thillis (R-NC) have all tested positive. I do hope all 3 men a speedy recovery.

There is one silver lining, however; So long as McConnell doesn't/can't change the rules to allow for at-home voting, then the Republicans can't vote for Amy Bennett to be on the Supreme Court (also so long as Collins and Murkowski keep their promise).

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
#331078: Oct 3rd 2020 at 6:31:19 AM

Colins has never actually said she’d vote no, just that she opposes the process.

However if three Republicans on the judiciary committee are stuck at home (currently Lee and Tillis make 2) the Republicans no longer have the votes to get the nomination out of committee.

Edited by Silasw on Oct 3rd 2020 at 1:32:08 PM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
MichaelKatsuro Since: Apr, 2011
#331079: Oct 3rd 2020 at 6:39:05 AM

Galadriel: Ah, yeah, that must be it. I thought it was because there are too many unknown factors—which probably is part of the reason— but it does make sense that any gambling company wanting to stay respectable wouldn't let you make wagers that, in practice, were about somebody dying.

Edited by MichaelKatsuro on Oct 3rd 2020 at 3:55:00 PM

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#331080: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:01:17 AM

Murkowski walked back her no, and said she wouldn't necessarily vote against the nominee. And apparently Republicans can move through with a full vote without the Judiciary Committee (can I get a check on this?) But if Collins holds, her + three Senators with COVID means the nomination is paused.


And to be clear, not wishing coronavirus on anyone, but there were multiple other Senators sitting next to Sens. Lee and Tillis at the party. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them also contract the virus.

Edited by nova92 on Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:03:21 AM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#331081: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:01:45 AM

Yeah, gambling on someone's death is a bit of a no-no.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#331082: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:03:54 AM

Unless its life insurance then it's legal..

Edited by Ultimatum on Oct 3rd 2020 at 2:04:04 PM

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#331083: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:12:33 AM

There are plenty of celebrity death pools out there.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#331084: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:20:27 AM

[up]That doesn't really make it any less crass.

Besides, pay attention to the wording "companies that want to stay respectable"

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#331085: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:26:45 AM

News dump from today.

Raleigh Observer: U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham admits to sexual texting with California strategist

North Carolina Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham, a married father of two, sent text messages of a sexual nature to a woman who is not his wife, his campaign confirmed Friday night.

Winced a bit when I read this, but it seems to have been buried by the much bigger news items this weekend.


Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 11th Circuit Court of Appeals restores Election Day deadline for mail-in ballots; a lower court had previously extended the deadline for ballots to be received by 3 days.


AJC: Sen. Kelly Loeffler continues her competition with Doug Collins for most ????? candidate in the Georgia Special Senate race, saying "China gave this virus to our President."

It's amazing to me that Gov. Kemp chose her over Collins in the first place to win back suburban voters, and now she is moving further right to fend off a challenge from Collins anyway, probably alienating those same people.


Detroit Free Press: Michigan Supreme Court rules against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on her emergency powers during COVID.

The Michigan Supreme Court issued a split decision late Friday that ruled against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a battle over her power to extend emergency declarations used to mandate COVID-19 restrictions over the last five months.

Edited by nova92 on Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:29:51 AM

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#331086: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:26:59 AM

[up][up][up][up]

The difference being that Life Insurance generally is your own life.

[up]

I had to pretty much reboot my brain when I read that "China deliberately infected Trump!" headline last night.

Edited by ironballs16 on Oct 3rd 2020 at 10:28:04 AM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#331087: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:29:02 AM

I don't trust Collins not to toss her own mother on a train track if the GOP said to.

She'd just do it with a feigned heavy heart.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#331088: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:32:14 AM

[up][up] Loeffler and Collins are in a race to see who can break through the bottom of the barrel first and it's an absolute trainwreck. See: Her Attila the Hun ad.


[up] I believe the term you're looking for is "concerned".

Edited by nova92 on Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:33:23 AM

MichaelKatsuro Since: Apr, 2011
#331089: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:38:06 AM

I disagree completely with the people who wish for Trump's death. I don't want the man to die. I want him to survive, and change his ways. I want him to do better, and to acknowledge all the ways in which he's been a horrible person.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#331090: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:39:59 AM

I don't wish his death but I believe that if he's disabled for a few weeks that there is less chance he will deliberately subvert democracy as well as attempt to destroy a fair vote for President. I fear he plans to destroy the medical coverage for millions of Americans, including my wife, who was destitute due to preexisting conditions prior to our marriage.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Alycus Since: Apr, 2018
#331091: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:41:06 AM

The news about Cunningham is concerning since NC is a must-win state for Democrats, but on the other hand, the text messages appear to be consensual in nature, so it's apparently more of a case of being unfaithful?

Edited by Alycus on Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:41:33 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#331092: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:42:07 AM

I admit to wanting to believe Mitch McConnell is losing his shit over this.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#331093: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:44:00 AM

In a just world, Trump would go down as one of modern history's greatest mass murderers. While certainly not all of the 208,000 and counting U.S. deaths can be laid to his willful inaction on coronavirus, certainly a significant number can, and that's not counting the abduction and mutilation of children, the provocation of white supremacist violence, the systematic oppression of minorities, the economic malfeasance costing jobs and lives, the abandoning of U.S. military forces, and so on.

No, we shouldn't wish him death, but contracting the disease is just in a fundamental way. Now we need to see if he'll recover, and if not, what his government will do to preserve itself.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#331094: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:44:10 AM

[up][up][up] General sentiment so far seems to be as long as it's just the texts, it's not great but it won't hurt him too badly, especially in the context of the news cycle the news came out in?

Edited by nova92 on Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:44:32 AM

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#331095: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:44:27 AM

If there's a better time for random sexting to come out than now, I can't think of it.

Galadriel Since: Feb, 2015
#331096: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:46:18 AM

@Michael Katsuro:

I agree that would be best, but I don’t have any expectation of it happening.

I want the world to be rid of his political presence, one way or another.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#331097: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:52:05 AM

Trump isn't going to go down as "modern history's greatest mass murderers" even in a just world:

  • There is too little evidence that all - or even most - of these deaths are intentional.
  • Because Trump (unlike, say, Stalin) doesn't do much of the governing/order-giving himself as he's a lazy bum, a lot of the responsibility falls on other people from governors to cabinet members.
  • Even ignoring all of the above, his death toll doesn't stack with the competition.

The texting thing is prudish fear mongering.

“Would make my day to roll over and kiss you about now,” said one text message from Cunningham.

In one text from Guzman, she says: “I have flexibility this month — done with school, training, big RF Ps, etc. So the only thing I want on my to do list is you.”

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article246191610.html#storylink=cpy

bespeaks that we are talking about consensual exchanges, not online sexual harassment.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#331098: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:54:14 AM

[up] The biggest concern is the cheating thing, but I just find it hard to believe that a single voter is going to decide, in 2020, based on this?

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
#331099: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:54:48 AM

There is the whole issue of him sending such texts to someone other than his wife, affairs being better then abuse doesn't make them okay.

“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
#331100: Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:55:00 AM

I would have just put down Trump as an idiot and con man but Jared Kushner turned out to be deliberately sabotaging coronavirus relief because he believed it would hit Democrats/Blue States hardest.

That is bioterrorism.

It's the same as the Irish Famine or Stalin and the Ukraine.

Not Hyperbole is the case after that.

Trump may have not given the order but his son in law did.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:55:30 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.

Total posts: 417,856
Top