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
@Redmess Actually, I think the 'anti-president' angle is semi-plausible. I don't think Trump is going to try a particularly serious coup, but I think he intends to leave office and become some kind of pseudo-cult leader or otherwise cause trouble.
Leviticus 19:34Stephen Quizzes Canadian Thomas Middleditch With U.S. Citizenship Test Questions.
I never understand these kind of citizenship tests. What are they testing, really? Some general knowledge and cultural and historical trivia? And the irony is that all too often a country's own citizens can't even pass these tests, resulting in the weird situation that immigrants, by that country's own standards, are better informed about that country than many of their own citizens.
Edited by Redmess on Nov 10th 2020 at 3:43:36 PM
Hope shines brightest in the darkest timesI'd argue immigrants being more informed about the country they're moving to than natives is...not necessarily a bad thing, even if there's not a whole lot of point to it.
Leviticus 19:34Pentagon sees flurry of resignations after trump fires secretary
.
So how big of a problem would this be come January?
It means that Biden will have a lot of positions to fill come January. Which is something he and his team seem to have anticipated.
They knew Trump would metaphorically shit all over everything before being forced to leave the WH.
Edited by M84 on Nov 11th 2020 at 12:47:00 AM
Disgusted, but not surprised@RedSavant, I think SeptimusHeap has said that Senators who threaten to filibuster will do so when called on it. And Mitch wouldn't filibuster himself. It'd be a random GOP Senator.
@minseok42, the reasons usually given for keeping it are: 1) respecting norms 2) respect for minority opinons/fostering bipartisanship 3) fear of retaliation once the other side gains a trifecta.
@CharlesPhipp I think it's because most of the vocal voices for removing the filibuster come from the left of the party (although many moderates are in favor as well) and the most vocal voices for keeping it come from the centrist wing.
I personally liked Sen. Tim Kaine's opinion on the filibuster: he said (paraphrasing) that he was the governor of a state without one, and it functioned just fine.
Edited by nova92 on Nov 10th 2020 at 10:17:38 AM
@Raineh: That's my point. If the Republicans want to filibuster, I say we make them put their money where their mouth is and suffer for it. Ideally we can remove the filibuster eventually, because we need to get SOME things done, but if we can't then I want the Republicans to get feet blisters for every bill they block.
It's been fun.That's fine, if there's nothing else for them to do anyway. If a typical day in a Dem-majority Congress is six hours of Dems suggesting bills and Republicans raising their hands and saying "no, we filibuster that", then I say call them on it. Make them stand and talk.
If Congress can't get anything else done anyway, it's best to pick the option that makes Republican Senators suffer, in my book.
Edited by RedSavant on Nov 10th 2020 at 2:19:04 PM
It's been fun.A shame they can't bring phones or other electronic devices (for obvious reasons).
Otherwise they could just play Among Us or something while the Republicans rant for hours on something inane.
Disgusted, but not surprisedThat's basically my thought. We should definitely expect more from our legislative branch than this, but if the two options are "Dems put up 100 bills, Republicans say they'll filibuster all of them" and "Dems only get to put up 6 bills because the Republicans are forced to actually filibuster all of them", then I pick the one that makes Republican Senators miserable.
It's been fun.My thought was to get the Senators on the record and force them to defend their positions and talk for hours about why they oppose the bill. "The Voting Rights Act is bad because....", but they know no shame so on second thought, probably wouldn't work.
Gov. DeSantis continues to be just awful (must be a day that ends in Y). From The Tampa Bay Times: How DeSantis wants to crack down on protests: Expand 'stand your ground'
Gov. Ron DeSantis has drafted "anti-mob" legislation that would expand Florida's "stand your ground" law - a move that critics say will allow armed citizens to shoot suspected looters or anyone engaged in "criminal mischief" that disrupts a business.
Lawyers say it's just one of the many troubling aspects of the draft bill being pushed by the Republican governor in response to police-brutality protests that erupted across Florida and the United States this summer.
"It allows for vigilantes to justify their actions," said Denise Georges, a former Miami-Dade County prosecutor who had handled stand your ground cases. "It also allows for death to be the punishment for a property crime - and that is cruel and unusual punishment. We cannot live in a lawless society where taking a life is done so casually and recklessly."
Edited by nova92 on Nov 11th 2020 at 5:29:18 AM

My English class last semester had that happen and my other English professor completely dropped Zoom after it happened to one of their other classes.
Edited by Scarecrow4774 on Nov 10th 2020 at 9:04:11 AM
“We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” - Lewis Carroll