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

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#101176: Sep 18th 2015 at 11:08:59 AM

You guys should see our system

It is still paper only

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
BAFFU Since: Dec, 2012
#101177: Sep 18th 2015 at 11:16:24 AM

I will note that there is some overlap in both the Computer and Lawyer languages, and it's the same thing that tends to trip people up on both: a thing means what it means. It doesn't mean what you think it means or what it implies it means or what is commonly secretly meant when people say it. The thing means exactly what it means.

True that

edited 18th Sep '15 11:16:55 AM by BAFFU

Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#101178: Sep 18th 2015 at 11:25:43 AM

[up][up] Then the only thing you have to worry about is losing a file in a sea of filing cabinets.

Trust me, its not fun sifting through mountains of paper.

edited 18th Sep '15 11:27:48 AM by Skycobra51

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#101179: Sep 18th 2015 at 11:27:31 AM

The Veterans' Administration healthcare system would like to discuss piles and piles of physical paperwork.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#101181: Sep 18th 2015 at 11:52:39 AM

I think that Trump is going to find that, no matter how popular he is with his voters, the media and political establishments won't let him laugh off his insulting approach to them.

"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
#101182: Sep 18th 2015 at 11:52:47 AM

Well that's new.

“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
#101183: Sep 18th 2015 at 11:53:14 AM

Goes a bit further than that. One of Trump's supporters said Obama is a Muslim and not even an American. And went on to say that Muslims in general are a problem in America and Trump did nothing to correct him.

Now the establishment Republicans are finally catching wise to the idea of using his racist rhetoric against him.

edited 18th Sep '15 11:53:36 AM by LeGarcon

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
#101184: Sep 18th 2015 at 11:54:28 AM

How polarizing. I wonder how that is going to turn out for the primaries.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#101185: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:04:58 PM

[up][up]There's really no point in correcting what some insignificant supporter says. They'll just say it again anyway.

[up]They are still about a year away so who knows.

edited 18th Sep '15 12:05:53 PM by Skycobra51

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#101186: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:06:59 PM

It was at a very public rally so yeah there is. It's about sending a message.

By staying silent he says that he's fine with those kind of thoughts and those kind of people.

Oh really when?
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#101187: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:07:42 PM

[up][up] It makes a big difference... if you want to maintain decorum in the political arena and not encourage crackpots like that. Trump's failure to chastise his supporter, however, means that he doesn't care if those people support him. This, in turn, means that they will flock to his banner as the other candidates reject them.

In isolation, it doesn't look like much. In context, it's a clear statement that Trump welcomes those bigots.

edited 18th Sep '15 12:07:48 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#101188: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:10:32 PM

[up]The bigots are probably nothing more than a stepping stone to Trump, once in office he'll most likely..dispose of them.

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#101189: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:12:15 PM

No, they're his entire base. He'll need them if he's gonna go anywhere because you bet your ass every member of congress and everyone else will be after his throat.

You must understand, Trump is not a Republican. He's an independent agent who's hijacked the Republican party and is being pushing into office by all the bigots we haven't cleaned up.

edited 18th Sep '15 12:13:04 PM by LeGarcon

Oh really when?
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#101190: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:18:34 PM

[up][up] We tried that idea with the Tea Party. When you give a bunch of extremists a voice, what they do is start electing politicians that support their views. Do this enough and their views become a litmus test for being electable, and the whole political establishment shifts towards them.

Hell, forget the Tea Party. Examine any other time in history when a seemingly fringe group took control of a nation because they were pandered to by a charismatic leader.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#101191: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:20:04 PM

That as well. On their own and isolated they're nobodies but if we let them speak and have positions their background noise becomes the norm.

Few things are as influential as background noise.

Oh really when?
Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#101192: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:21:51 PM

Democray in action.

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#101193: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:24:13 PM

Not democracy, unless democracy is five or ten percent of a nation's population running it through the magic of Republicanism. I'm aware of the danger of Godwinning a debate, but that's exactly how such things come to pass.

Democracy as an institution is not sacred and above reproach. It requires systems of checks and balances and it requires the willingness to occasionally clean house of its worst influences. We would all be better off if the racist assholes who support Trump were completely cast out of the political process. We gain nothing except a Pyrrhic moral victory by letting them in.

edited 18th Sep '15 12:26:01 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#101194: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:41:48 PM

Sure we do that, but what's to stop us from doing it to anyone else we disagree with?

I admit we'd be better off without them, but they're entitled to their opinion and a right to vote if they so choose-at least here in the States.

Democracy and Republicanism are flawed yes, but silencing the opposition just because their opinions are repugnant is a slippery slope.

edited 18th Sep '15 12:46:51 PM by Skycobra51

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#101195: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:54:33 PM

And letting their opinions roam free risks casting that democracy into the pit and living under a tyranny. I know which I'll choose. The Founding Fathers that we worship like little gods knew full well that sometimes democracy must be cast into the crucible in order to reforge it.

Jupiter knows that if we just sit here passively, accepting the presence of hate groups in politics as something normal and expected, we'll be fighting a constant rearguard action to stop them from suborning it. I should remind you that those groups have no interest in democracy whatsoever.

Considering how willing we are to suborn other nations' democracies at the first sign that extremists might take over and threaten our American Way of Life, it's rather hypocritical of us to allow our own extremists to flourish under the umbrella of the very democracy we claim to stand for.

edited 18th Sep '15 1:01:03 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#101196: Sep 18th 2015 at 12:55:35 PM

This, in turn, means that they will flock to his banner as the other candidates reject them.

To add to this, it's also going to drive away decent people for who don't like the idea of a president welcoming people who demonize Muslims, immigrants, Muslim immigrants, etc. into his fold.

Trump is the Tea Party candidate no matter what, it would cost him nothing to publicly condemn a bigot in front of the country since he still has 4/5 things they like going for him, which is more than anyone else. It would have been even better PR if he had. His campaign could have said, "Look! He stands up for discriminated minorities! You guys had him wrong this whole time!"

Instead he's just tightening his grip on the base while letting other potential supporters slip through his fingers.

Compare Bernie Sanders, who has gone out to speak to at least one conservative Christian college with the hopes of winning at least some of them over based on his position of social reform.

Skycobra51 A suitable case for treatment from The US of A Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
A suitable case for treatment
#101197: Sep 18th 2015 at 1:03:10 PM

[up][up]Neither option is ideal though, they eventually lead to the same thing.

The problem is, how far would you go to get rid of the extremists?

You can't exactly have Police kicking in doors and arresting them.

edited 18th Sep '15 1:06:21 PM by Skycobra51

Look upon my privilege ye mighty and despair.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#101198: Sep 18th 2015 at 1:06:21 PM

I think there are a couple of things we need to do. 1. Stop letting people use the "It's my opinion" card. You can think whatever you want but if your opinion doesn't conform to reality it's worthless and should be ignored. 2. Following off of 1 we need to ensure that schools teach people the truth. We're getting better at this but a lot of places still have a tendency to sugarcoat American history. 3. Make voting mandatory. I cannot stress enough how important this is.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#101199: Sep 18th 2015 at 1:06:28 PM

[up][up] [citation needed]

Nobody said arrest them. Just don't give them the time of day in politics. Ignore them. Marginalize them. Ridicule them. Stop making goddamn reality TV shows celebrating their way of life.

Oh, and make voting mandatory.

edited 18th Sep '15 1:07:45 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#101200: Sep 18th 2015 at 1:11:09 PM

Sure, you can use speech to fight speech, but government force against extremists is unwise. After all, anyone can call anyone an extremist.

Leviticus 19:34

Total posts: 417,856
Top