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

Gabrael from My musings Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
#97926: Aug 6th 2015 at 2:50:01 PM

Telling people to be nice about a powerful group successfully fulfilling their devotion to ruin your life is like saying Eric Garner should have said please.

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#97927: Aug 6th 2015 at 2:50:28 PM

The only person I ever saw actually advocate for killing the rich (kill, not eat mind you, but he was an anarchist) on this forum got banned years ago and didn't post much in this thread. It's a straw man argument because hell, I rarely see anyone even on the internet saying that. I may be lucky in my choice of websites though.

However I do see a lot of actual politicians doing things to torpedo health care, unions, and the general ability of people to get together and hold protests, and creating harmful voter restriction laws. I'm not one for believing in false dichotomies. There is one set of people in this point in time that is doing bad things fairly consistently.

Also, Jack, you bring up China a lot. I don't know why, but we constantly have to reassure you that China is not actually a threat to us. And your arguments are the same ones that the likes of Trump are using, and there's a lot of people that listen exclusively to folks like him instead of going somewhere and discussing it with others who have alternate viewpoints.

edited 6th Aug '15 2:51:55 PM by AceofSpades

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#97928: Aug 6th 2015 at 2:55:23 PM

Yeah, I thought my "Jack's thinking China is relevant again" senses were tingling.

And I should say that I'm not advocating a kind solution to this shit, just not necessarily a bloody one. Largely because I'm quite close to Camp Lejeune and my neighborhood is gonna look like downtown Baghdad should anything serious happen.

Oh really when?
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#97929: Aug 6th 2015 at 3:00:45 PM

I do not advocate for being nice, if this is defined in any way by giving them credence or otherwise any positive attention. Just for being civil.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#97930: Aug 6th 2015 at 3:06:43 PM

Right. Don't fight a jerk on their terms, they tend to know what they're doing in that arena. That doesn't mean you can't be constantly vigilant and constantly fighting, you just don't need to go calling them conservatards or whatever.

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#97931: Aug 6th 2015 at 3:10:20 PM

Dont let them die with a battlecry, but with a whimper.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#97932: Aug 6th 2015 at 4:09:07 PM

One can call things like they are without stooping to the level of one's opponents. Just see The Daily Show for an example of how that works. Or read Krugman's column. One of the things that Keynes said during his time was that you can't play nice with bad ideas — it just lets them fester.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#97933: Aug 6th 2015 at 5:02:31 PM

Fiorina killed it. Didn't agree with her necessarily, but where there was no daylight in policy and only charisma could differentiate.....she was it.

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#97935: Aug 6th 2015 at 6:15:20 PM

The first one. Second one just started.

The Mc Carthy look alike needs to lose very quickly.

TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#97936: Aug 6th 2015 at 6:18:49 PM

To expound on that a bit, there was a debate for everyone who missed the cut for Fox' top 10 field. That was held earlier today. The top 10 are just starting up, I believe.

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#97937: Aug 6th 2015 at 6:21:37 PM

How did the bottom 10 fare? I'm curious.

AngelicBraeburn from Eccentric California Since: Jan, 2015
#97938: Aug 6th 2015 at 6:40:24 PM

Christie and Rand Paul are really laying into each other.

The artist formally known as Deviant Braeburn
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
#97939: Aug 6th 2015 at 6:41:23 PM

I don't get where this "be civil" thing has come from, everyone here is civil, it's part of the forum rules.

Unless people are radically redefining "being civil" to mean only saying nice things, that's that being civil, that's being cowardly and mollycoddling. Where has anyone here been mean, or even an arse? Or been hatful towards any actual person (no the Republican Party as a party doesn't count, you nuts might be able to call operations people but you can't call political parties people or I'm sending in the bloody redcoats)?

Hell the only time I see people approach being uncivil is when they're already being civil and someone comes in and tell them "you need to be more civil".

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#97940: Aug 6th 2015 at 6:46:08 PM

I think it's meant more in general and as part of our political dealings with Republicans.

Oh really when?
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#97941: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:05:22 PM

"You have to be polite" is a form of concern trolling. It asserts that the most important thing in a political debate is its decorum, as if by raising one's voice one scares away a hypothetical class of people who care more about tone than content.

That this rule applies only to one side in the debate is what makes it trolling. Your opponent gets to be as hateful as they care to, and you can't yell back because you might offend someone's tender sensibilities.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
BAFFU Since: Dec, 2012
#97942: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:14:17 PM

DUDE.....

Trump is hilarious!

He is getting tough questions and turning them on the other candidates.

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
#97943: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:16:00 PM

For those of us unable to watch, anyone care to give us some highlights?

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
BAFFU Since: Dec, 2012
#97944: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:19:42 PM

question: "MR. Trump you have lost your lenders billions of dollars and your resort on Atlantic City went bankrupt"

Turmp: "This lenders are big guys, they aren't the kittens you make them out to be, they are sharks(applause from the crowd) and as governor Christie will tell you all businesses are going bust in Atlantic City (crowd laughs)

[1]

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#97945: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:22:12 PM

I wonder if any of them read the Iran deal.

Oh really when?
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#97946: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:23:12 PM

Trump is really showing 'em how it's done.

Also: Can we please elect Kasich? A conservative who manages to defend Medicaid like that in the middle of Republican Hell deserves a lot better than he's going to get.

edited 6th Aug '15 7:24:49 PM by Ramidel

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#97947: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:24:22 PM

...we're going to get President Trump aren't we

AngelicBraeburn from Eccentric California Since: Jan, 2015
#97948: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:24:37 PM

Trump is actually a better debater than I expected him to be.

The same can't be said for Jeb Bush who just looks awkward when people call out his contradictions.

edited 6th Aug '15 7:26:09 PM by AngelicBraeburn

The artist formally known as Deviant Braeburn
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#97949: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:25:42 PM

Nah, we're gonna get Republican Nominee Trump and then President Bernie Motherfucking Sanders.

Oh really when?
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#97950: Aug 6th 2015 at 7:26:13 PM

That's too optimistic, I'd think. More people know Trump than Sanders, after all.


Total posts: 417,856
Top