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

Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#344176: Dec 19th 2020 at 11:16:05 AM

No. I don't believe so. Lyndon Johnson became President in 1963 after Kennedy was assassinated and then ran as a candidate in 1964 and was elected. Johnson then ran during the early part of the 1968 primary before dropping out. But if he had stayed in and won, he would have been president for 9 years.

[nja]

Edited by Hodor2 on Dec 19th 2020 at 1:18:08 PM

Cris_Meyers reluctant author, willing misanthrope from Chicagoland (Fifth Year at Tropey's) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
reluctant author, willing misanthrope
#344177: Dec 19th 2020 at 11:17:15 AM

But what happens if a Vice President takes over in a Presidents last year due to the latter dying, and then he runs in the next term, does that last year he took over already count as a 'full' term, can he only run for 4 more years

It's actually two terms or ten years. Just in case this situation comes about.

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
#344178: Dec 19th 2020 at 11:17:49 AM

I think this got lost by the end of the page. You can run for a 2nd time (so an effective 3rd term) as long as your partial term was less than 2 years.

The amendment prohibits anyone who has been elected president twice from being elected again. Under the amendment, someone who fills an unexpired presidential term lasting more than two years is also prohibited from being elected president more than once.

Edited by Silasw on Dec 19th 2020 at 7:18:15 PM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#344179: Dec 19th 2020 at 11:26:52 AM

"Current 3 Democrats (Montana, West Virginia and Ohio) and 3 Republicans (Maine, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania), plus the two seats yet to be determined in Georgia."

"All three Democrat senators are up in 2024, while Maine was just up and Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are up in 2022 (with the Pennsylvania Republican retiring)."

That's a bit concerning. I think Manchin is retiring after this term. If we do get the Georgia seats but don't win the WI and PA seats, or vice versa, even that narrow majority goes bye bye.

Do we really think any Democrat not named Joe Manchin can win in West Virginia? Or one not named Jon Tester in Montana? Or Sherrod Brown in Ohio?

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
#344180: Dec 19th 2020 at 11:41:26 AM

That's a bit concerning.

It’s unclear what the 2024 senate map is going to look like. There’s a lot of uncertainty for 2022 already (potential Democrat weak spots, retiring Republicans and a potential open seat in Iowa where Republicans could go off the deep end), the possibility of DC and Puerto Rico being added as states and the trend lines of Texas and Florida.

Normally Florida would be a potential pickup for 2024, buts it’s being trending very red, on the flip side Texas could be a possible pickup if it keeps trending blue.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#344181: Dec 19th 2020 at 2:00:12 PM

It's been decided that the service members of the Space Force will be called guardians. Apparently this was from a popular vote among the members.

Yes, the obvious joke has been made.

More importantly, have we got any clarification on what the Space Force will do under Biden?

Edited by Parable on Dec 19th 2020 at 2:01:02 AM

Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#344182: Dec 19th 2020 at 2:05:11 PM

Wouldn't surprise if most people forgot that was a thing with all the clusterfuck this administration was. Wouldn't surprise if it got disbanded at some point.

Wake me up at your own risk.
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#344183: Dec 19th 2020 at 2:08:12 PM

@Blueace It's apparently unlikely to be disbanded. How it was explained to me is that-essentially-the program was actually being set up before Trump got into office, Trump just was the one who finished setting it up.

Leviticus 19:34
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#344184: Dec 19th 2020 at 2:23:43 PM

You also need legislation from Congress to disband it, and it was a broadly bipartisan bill that created it.

Granted, it was included in a defense spending bill, but I don't recall anyone making a big deal about opposing it.

And looking at what I've read, the Space Force right now is mostly about consolidating the different space programs the other branches are operating. I think only the Marines don't operate one, but I'm sure there's a bottle rocket with "Chester Pully was here!" written in magic marker somewhere up in orbit.

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
#344185: Dec 19th 2020 at 2:40:29 PM

Also the US isn’t the only nation with some form of independent space command structure, Russia has a space force, the UK recently turned Joint Forces Command into U.K. Strategic Command (which has responsibility for Cyber and Space), there’s a pattern emerging.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#344186: Dec 19th 2020 at 2:46:14 PM

The modern Space Force began as Air Force Space Command in 1982, which was part of the Air Force.

Edited by WillKeaton on Dec 19th 2020 at 3:46:45 AM

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#344187: Dec 19th 2020 at 2:47:58 PM

"which has responsibility for Cyber and Space,"

Interesting. Who is in charge of cyber defense in the US?

Imca (Veteran)
#344188: Dec 19th 2020 at 2:51:35 PM

It's not got a dedicated branch, something that was needed more then a space force

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
#344189: Dec 19th 2020 at 3:15:20 PM

I think each US branch is responsible for their own cyber defence, with non-military institutions being similarly devolved, who if anyone has responsibility for offensive cyber operations might well be classified (especially if the answer is “nobody”).

Edited by Silasw on Dec 19th 2020 at 11:16:27 AM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#344190: Dec 19th 2020 at 3:15:49 PM

Short of mind control, that ain't happening.

Even if you're right, and I hope you're not, this doesn't make my point any less true.

~PhysicalStamina

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#344191: Dec 19th 2020 at 3:31:01 PM

I never said it does, one. Two... okay, and? Your point being true has nothing to do with whether or not nuking the filibuster is dead in the water. For this reason I'm beginning to wonder if we shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket like this after all.

i'm tired, my friend
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#344192: Dec 19th 2020 at 3:37:00 PM

There is only one basket, it's called abolishing the filibuster. Nothing else is remotely adequate.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#344193: Dec 19th 2020 at 3:54:07 PM

And that is extremely unlikely as long as we have Dems like Manchin in the Senate. We need to prepare for the possibility that a vote to kill the filibuster will result in that not happening and get some Plan Bs, Cs, and Ds, ready ASAP. Going "nuke filibuster or nothing" is just setting yourself up to quit the fight should that not work.

Edited by PhysicalStamina on Dec 19th 2020 at 6:54:55 AM

i'm tired, my friend
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#344194: Dec 19th 2020 at 3:56:53 PM

We can get things done even if we dont win a majority in the Senate, because in that case we filibuster. These things work both ways.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
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
#344195: Dec 19th 2020 at 3:57:37 PM

The only option is filibuster chance, but that could manifest in different ways. Be it a strict up nuking of it or something more subtle.

These things work both ways.

They really don’t. You can’t filibuster down the status quo, you can’t filibuster against a lack of support, you can’t filibuster an unwillingness to reform.

That’s before we get to the filibuster loopholes like Reconciliation.

Edited by Silasw on Dec 19th 2020 at 12:00:30 PM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#344196: Dec 19th 2020 at 3:57:48 PM

[up][up]That's only necessary with a R House and R President. Otherwise stuff we don't like gets voted down or vetoed.

Much like other forms of sloganeering, "abolish the filibuster" may sound great as a rallying cry, but what if it turns out not being possible? Do we just go home and cry?

"We couldn't get a $15 minimum wage, but we did get $14.97." "Fuck you, class traitor. Go home to the Republicans where you belong." Has it really come down to this?

Edited by Fighteer on Dec 19th 2020 at 6:59:43 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#344197: Dec 19th 2020 at 4:00:30 PM

We can get things done even if we dont win a majority in the Senate, because in that case we filibuster. These things work both ways.

What? No, stopping the enemy from doing something is not getting things done. We would not be doing anything, we would be stopping others from doing them.

Preventing harm is better than harm occurring but we should not trick ourselves into thinking that it is constructive. It's not.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Dec 19th 2020 at 4:02:04 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#344198: Dec 19th 2020 at 4:01:54 PM

Sometimes holding your finger in the dike is the best you can do.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
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
#344199: Dec 19th 2020 at 4:02:40 PM

but what if it turns out not being possible? Do we just go home and cry?

We’ve got reconciliation, executive orders and that’s it. Without filibuster change there’s no ability for democrats to pass major legislation. We’re not talking a smaller increase to the minimum wage, we’re talking zero increase.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#344200: Dec 19th 2020 at 4:03:06 PM

Yeah, you prevent them from getting their tax cuts, privatization, or deregulation until they give us some of what we want. That's how politics work.

You know we got Obama care passed without filibuster reform. We got Civil Rights legislation passed that way too.

Edited by DeMarquis on Dec 19th 2020 at 7:04:10 AM

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.

Total posts: 417,856
Top