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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.

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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

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#333176: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:26:46 AM

"I can't really imagine how Bernie would have been worse than Trump."

He might be a... I got nothing.

In other news, Greta Thunberg has endorsed Biden.

Galadriel Since: Feb, 2015
#333177: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:26:57 AM

Well, really, who else would she endorse?

I will say that, for all that I wish the Dems had someone more progressive than Biden (i.e. someone who actively championed and pioneered progressive policies rather than someone who might accept them if pushed), I think that electorally he turned out to be the right choice for this year.

In Feb-March I wanted Bernie to win and a campaign focused on radical change (particularly in the area of income inequality, health, and education), but that was before the pandemic was in full swing. Now everyone’s unsettled and terrified and they want someone who feels safe and reassuring, and Biden is that.

(I think Warren, with her strong focus on competence and good public policy, could also have gone over very well and been a great contrast to the Trump administration’s incompetence on COVID-19. But her problem, or one of them, was that her support base was high-education progressives, who are likely to vote Dem regardless of the candidate; there was always a question of whether she’d win over lower-education voters. I think she’d have made a great president, though.)

Edited by Galadriel on Oct 10th 2020 at 12:33:50 PM

MichaelKatsuro Since: Apr, 2011
#333178: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:27:33 AM

How do English-language news outlets pronounce Greta's last name?

Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#333179: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:27:39 AM

Even Nixon did a few good things. He created the EPA, after all.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#333180: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:27:47 AM

To me it's very straightforward. Trump isn't the most evil thing ever, but he is a very stupid and malicious person in a position of high power.

Even if every negative thing Joe Biden has ever been accused of were God's Honest Truth, he would still be better than Trump at his best.

Speaking for myself, we can talk about how progressive he is or is not til the cows come home, but until he's sworn in on inauguration day, it doesn't actually matter.

Edited by sgamer82 on Oct 10th 2020 at 9:28:56 AM

GoldenKaos Captain of the Dead City from Cirith Ungol Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Captain of the Dead City
#333181: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:28:03 AM

Good for her. Who knows it might get some idiots to shut up about Biden not doing anything about the environment. Hah! Unlikely, they'll just cancel her for being a LIB.

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#333182: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:36:53 AM

How do English-language news outlets pronounce Greta's last name?

I've heard it pronounced Thun(as in thunder)-berg.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#333183: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:39:49 AM

Always is a bit much, he's backed some politicians with questionable backgrounds simply because of their allegiance to him, Tulsi Gabbard being the most infamous one.

Backing candidates he prefers is in no way mutually exclusive with backing Democrats when it counts.

Bernie does both, as is right. Leftists should work to move the Democratic Party in a more radical direction.

(though obviously, it's reasonable to criticize them if they back a bad candidate)

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Galadriel Since: Feb, 2015
#333184: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:41:05 AM

If the Dems win the Senate, how do they decide which one of them is majority leader?

Edited by Galadriel on Oct 10th 2020 at 12:41:45 PM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#333185: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:41:44 AM

I don't think those environmental plans are enough at this point, but that is not really a Biden problem specifically.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#333186: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:42:38 AM

[up]Yeah, personally I'd define Biden's environmental plans as a decent start. It's a fine beginning to our efforts to halt emission but it can't be our end point.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Oct 10th 2020 at 9:43:04 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#333187: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:42:42 AM

Let's save the existential environmental despair for once we've overcome the existential societal despair. I can only handle one at a time...

It's been fun.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#333188: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:43:24 AM

Is her last name not pronounced like Thunder?

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#333189: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:44:41 AM

I've always pronounced it like that in my head, but maybe it's actually "thoonberg".

i'm tired, my friend
Scarecrow4774 from In Wonderland Since: Mar, 2017 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#333190: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:48:01 AM

[up] I've only heard it pronounced like that.

“We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” - Lewis Carroll
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#333191: Oct 10th 2020 at 9:48:33 AM

If the Dems win the Senate, how do they decide which one of them is majority leader?

There's an election among the Democratic Senators.

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
#333192: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:03:14 AM

How many times has Trump tried to grab absolute power in the White House?

Well there’s the time he tried to blackmail a foreign nation into cooking up charges against the son of his political rival, there’s the time he tried to deploy the army against peaceful protesters, the time he went on national TV and ordered the Attorney General to arrest his political opponent, his previous political opponent and his predecessor, the time he started plotting with the Pensilvania Republican Party to award him the presidential election regardless of the votes.

That’s just the ones we know about, hell it’s just the ones I can think off without having to really do any thinking.

Let's say for the sake of argument that, worst-case scenario, Biden is a die-hard centrist

Let’s not, we can’t grant the premise, we did that with Hillary and it was a big part of what resulted in her loosing, we said “even if she’s the second coming of Nixon she’s still better than Trump” and all the public heard was “she’s the second coming of Nixon” and they then went and voted 3rd party.

Edited by Silasw on Oct 10th 2020 at 5:06:20 PM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Nerevarine Since: Mar, 2016
#333193: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:10:39 AM

Good news for anyone in Texas: that governor order limiting each county to use just one ballot drop off box has been blocked.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/politics/texas-ballot-drop-boxes/index.html

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#333194: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:12:33 AM

While I understand the sentiment, it is perfectly safe for us to think about hypotheticals. We are not going to accidentally sink Biden's election chances, I promise.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#333195: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:13:38 AM

[up][up] There's a good chance it could be overturned in the conservative 5th Circuit Court.

TotemicHero No longer a forum herald from the next level Since: Dec, 2009
No longer a forum herald
#333196: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:25:39 AM

With the election less than a month off, the question becomes "Is there enough time to appeal this again and get a ruling?"...or more specifically, "How willing is the Fifth Circuit court to move this case up to the top of the docket?".

Edited by TotemicHero on Oct 10th 2020 at 1:36:20 PM

Expergiscēre cras, medior quam hodie. (Awaken tomorrow, better than today.)
MichaelKatsuro Since: Apr, 2011
#333197: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:26:17 AM

Greta's last name Thunberg is pronounced "toon-bury," sort of. That is, the same Y-sound as in "year" or "yawn."

EDIT: Actually, it would probably be more correct to write it "toon-berry." Hooboy, writing Swedish pronunciation for English people is hard.

Edited by MichaelKatsuro on Oct 10th 2020 at 7:33:39 PM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#333198: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:35:33 AM

Let’s not, we can’t grant the premise, we did that with Hillary and it was a big part of what resulted in her loosing, we said “even if she’s the second coming of Nixon she’s still better than Trump” and all the public heard was “she’s the second coming of Nixon” and they then went and voted 3rd party.

This. It didn't help that too many people thought HRC had it in the bag and so felt safe about not voting for her.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#333199: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:38:45 AM

Again, we are not going to throw the election by debating Biden's flaws. We're just a quiet forum with maybe a few dozen people in the thread. Our opinions are not going to sway the nation.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#333200: Oct 10th 2020 at 10:39:53 AM

Pretty sure "we" isn't referring to this one thread

i'm tired, my friend

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