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

Aleistar Since: Feb, 2018 Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
#337376: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:16:23 AM

While we're on the subject of political iconography, does anyone know what the deal is with the GOP elephant and the Democratic Donkey?

EDIT: After a discussion of why red is associated with Republicans and blue with Democrats

Edited by Aleistar on Nov 4th 2020 at 10:17:34 AM

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#337377: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:19:12 AM

I don't really think this belongs in the 2020 race thread, so I'll post it here:

Mitch tastelessly invoked MLK in his acceptance speech:

"When I witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King's March on Washington speech as an intern back in 1963, I dreamed about doing big things to help my state and our country," Mc Connell said. "I never imagined Kentuckians would make me the longest-serving senator in our state's history."

Guess who told him to suck it? None other than Bernice King and Martin Luther Junior III.

Edited by Draghinazzo on Nov 4th 2020 at 3:24:49 PM

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#337378: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:21:28 AM

> does anyone know what the deal is with the GOP elephant and the Democratic Donkey?

Andrew Jackson's opponents called him an ass and he adopted it as their symbol,the Republican elephant is based off political cartoon by Thomas nast

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#337379: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:22:23 AM

Kentuckians must really hate themselves to keep putting this guy up over and over again.

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
Aleistar Since: Feb, 2018 Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
#337380: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:26:45 AM

I think Charles probably has a lot to say, but my understanding is that Mitch runs the political machine there very effectively.

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#337381: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:30:40 AM

Yeah, there was this series of political cartoons that portrayed Republicans as elephants, and it stuck as a sort of nom de guerre.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
BonsaiForest Since: Jan, 2001
#337383: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:32:34 AM

Adding "In God We Trust" to it. Because they gotta stick it to the non-Christians (or non-religious at least), who are growing as a demographic nationwide.

RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#337384: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:39:01 AM

I think that just a red hat isn’t too much of a problem. A red beanie won’t ruffle any feathers. But from a distance, a red baseball cap is absolutely a warning sign, especially if you can’t make out what writing is on it.

Sorta like how a single armband sets off warning sirens.

Sadly my summer hat back in the day was often a red baseball cap. Didn't pay much heed to the shirts and pants though, as long as they were comfortable. But it's one more reason to loathe Trump and his toads for ruining that hat.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#337385: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:40:34 AM

Genuine question: when was the last time there was actual legitimate good faith bipartisanship in the US that wasn't just capitulation to whatever the GOP wanted?

Because right now it's looking very likely that Biden won't have the senate and will have to get as much as possible done through executive orders.

Edited by Draghinazzo on Nov 4th 2020 at 3:45:24 PM

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
#337386: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:40:56 AM

Well, switching to the motto on the $1 note, even if it is Christian-centric, is an improvement over the flag that was brought back for the sole and specific reason of racist suppression and intimidation.

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#337387: Nov 4th 2020 at 10:58:29 AM

Probably back in the 80s (I think?), before Republicans decided they didn't have to play nice to get what they wanted, and became the obstructionist party.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#337388: Nov 4th 2020 at 12:56:56 PM

[up][up][up]Biden might try to make an attempt at bipartisanship given his Congressional Record, but that would likely backfire on him the same way it did Obama in his first term.

Unfortunately the only way I could see the Democrats not losing further in the mid-term would be if they successfully branded the Republicans as the ones responsible for the lack of anything being done (or worse, that Republicans actively made a disaster worse), and that is not something that Democrats have been historically good at.

ShadowWingLG Since: Dec, 2013
#337389: Nov 4th 2020 at 12:59:05 PM

I think that Biden will give the Republicans ONE shot to play nice. And if that fails he'll start on the EO's and pound the drum with every one he signs "I only do this because Mitch isn't doing his job!"

Resileafs I actually wanted to be Resileaf Since: Jan, 2019
I actually wanted to be Resileaf
#337390: Nov 4th 2020 at 1:01:46 PM

It would help if the Democrats had someone really good at speeches, someone energetic and charismatic like Obama was. As much as I believe in Biden's will to work for the country, he certainly doesn't carry the same charisma/bluster his predecessors have.

Edited by Resileafs on Nov 4th 2020 at 4:01:58 AM

ChrispyBacon Since: Oct, 2020
#337391: Nov 4th 2020 at 1:06:21 PM

Mc Connell might be more willing to work with Biden simply because he's a fellow Old White Male but I wouldn't bet any serious money on it.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#337392: Nov 4th 2020 at 1:08:14 PM

Mitch doesn't care about that. The only thing he cares about is passing his agenda and he will do whatever it takes to do so.

Wryte Since: Jul, 2010
#337393: Nov 4th 2020 at 1:46:10 PM

The Democrats between now and 2022 absolutely have to be obnoxiously loud and forward about what legislation they're proposing. Even assuming Biden wins this race, we're looking at another two years of utter obstruction in the Senate, and they need to make it abundantly clear that the entire reason nothing is getting done is because of McConnell and by extension the rest of the GOP senators. If the Dems don't take Congress in 2022, I'm very concerned about voters being goldfish in 2024.

Edited by Wryte on Nov 4th 2020 at 1:46:48 AM

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#337394: Nov 4th 2020 at 2:29:31 PM

It looks like the rats are beginning to flee the sinking ship.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#337395: Nov 4th 2020 at 2:38:43 PM

If I had to guess, they don't really see a lot to lose if trump leaves. The democrats don't have the senate and lost multiple house seats, and they got everything they wanted from trump including the supreme court heavily stacked in their favor. They can easily play opposition and hope that them deadlocking biden for 2 years costs the democrats hard in the midterms and in 2024.

Karxrida from Eureka, the Forbidden Land Since: May, 2012 Relationship Status: I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!
#337396: Nov 4th 2020 at 2:44:53 PM

Biden can still do a good amount via cabinet appointments. For example, can replace the heads of the FCC and USPS.

Unless he has to go through Congress for that. I hope he doesn't.

Edited by Karxrida on Nov 4th 2020 at 2:45:02 AM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#337397: Nov 4th 2020 at 2:47:12 PM

Has the Senate been called yet? My understanding was that there is still an increasingly narrow window for a razor-thin majority.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#337398: Nov 4th 2020 at 2:48:38 PM

Michigan's Senate seat was called at a loss then went back to Democrat.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#337399: Nov 4th 2020 at 2:49:26 PM

Didn't people also vote for House seats yesterday? I haven't heard a single word about that. I'm assuming the Democrats have a big lead there and aren't really in danger of losing it.

Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#337400: Nov 4th 2020 at 2:51:57 PM

They can easily play opposition and hope that them deadlocking Biden for 2 years costs the democrats hard in the midterms and in 2024.

If that is the case, is there anything really stopping Trump from running again, aside from death? (Even being imprisoned doesn't technically disqualify someone, right?)

Assuming primary voters would still want him, which I think they would. He hasn't actually been framing himself as unbeatable, to which a loss would be a reality-check for his supporters. He's making the case that he definitely can lose, but only because of "cheating," causing further entrenchment into delusion.

But if the primary voters want him, but enough of the country still doesn't, that might be a good thing for an stymied Biden presidency.


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