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

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#104501: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:04:59 AM

Which seems like it creates a perverse incentive to be as anti-civil rights as possible to fire up the voter base.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#104502: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:07:29 AM

Of course it does. The GOP has swum into the deep end, willingly, and there's no going back. It's a classic example of the trap of pandering to a group's most extreme elements.

At this point, only massive electoral defeat will stand any chance of smacking them back to reality.

Edit: It's worth noting that the Democrats have mainly avoided that trap by refusing to admit groups like Greenpeace and the anti-vaxxer movement to the governing table. It's something that they could easily fall into, though, given sufficient incentives.

edited 4th Nov '15 7:12:55 AM by Fighteer

"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
#104503: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:08:53 AM

And suddenly I'm glad that over here that crap is (mostly) relegated to the fringe parties.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#104504: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:19:46 AM

[up][up]What's wrong with Greenpeace?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#104505: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:24:23 AM

They are environmental terrorists, in a similar vein to PETA. They are deeply radicalized and have become almost completely unsympathetic.

edited 4th Nov '15 7:24:35 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#104506: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:26:50 AM

Yay, PA Supreme Court was swept by Democrats. Now we'll likely have a better time of it when redistricting comes up again.

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#104507: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:28:18 AM

Is districting managed by the supreme court, or are we just banking on the PA supreme court vetoing any ridiculous gerry mandered maps?

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#104508: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:46:23 AM

The latter. The current map only barely survived a SC challenge.

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#104509: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:57:04 AM

PA looks like it took a decent swing to the Democrats here and there, then again, Corbett's administration basically turned off an otherwise middle of the line state to the more severe shenanigans, I'm assuming is going on. (i.e. ripple effect from last year's asskicking.)

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#104510: Nov 4th 2015 at 7:58:32 AM

I didn't get any kind of literature about votes in my district, so I will have to assume that either there wasn't anything to vote on or there was a really weak canvassing effort. And yes, Tom Asshole Corbett did a hell of a lot to revitalize the spirit of the Democratic party in Pennsylvania thanks to his antics.

edited 4th Nov '15 7:59:04 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#104511: Nov 4th 2015 at 8:02:25 AM

Greenpeace is radical? I'd hate to know what you think of Sea Shepherd then :P

I'm baaaaaaack
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#104512: Nov 4th 2015 at 8:05:43 AM

Isn't Greenpeace the group that was spiking trees and blocking oil exploration vessels with kayak fleets? I could be misremembering.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#104513: Nov 4th 2015 at 8:08:00 AM

Years ago they did. Lately they've mostly done protests and banners and stuff. Once in a while they still physically block things but I don't think they've done tree spiking since the 80s or 90s.

They also do really stupid things like leaving a bunch of footprints around the nazca lines while putting up a protest banner

edited 4th Nov '15 8:12:11 AM by Joesolo

I'm baaaaaaack
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#104514: Nov 4th 2015 at 8:24:49 AM

You're lucky, fighteer. My inbox, physical and digital, was stuffed daily with appeals.

They seem to think i'm still part of the IFCW union for some reason :-/

Of course, i'm Pittsburgh, where they absolutely need high turnout to make statewide wins possible.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#104515: Nov 4th 2015 at 8:38:50 AM

So, apparently Chris Christie's social media cred has been exploding over a video released by the Huffington Post that captures him having a frank and remarkably intellectually sound conversation about addiction at a recent town hall meeting. Link.

He makes the case that addiction is a thing that can happen to anyone; it does not indicate a moral unworthiness on the part of the addict, and it deserves treatment, not contempt, using anecdotes about his mother and about a lifelong friend that he met in law school. He even pulls out the "I'm pro-life, but I am for the whole life, not abandoning the child once it's spent its obligatory nine months in the womb" line.

Dammit, Christie, I'm trying not to like you and you do this! A world in which he can't sell himself as a Presidential candidate with common-sense positions on some of the GOP's pet issues is a truly sad one, despite his jerkass behavior in other aspects of his career.

My father died of his smoking addiction, claiming to the end that it was "his choice". I know firsthand how terrible our national discourse about this problem is.

edited 4th Nov '15 11:06:59 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#104516: Nov 4th 2015 at 8:43:45 AM

Yeah, I have something of a soft spot for Christie (notwithstanding Bridgegate, which is the kind of thing which I think disqualifies someone to hold higher office). He and Jeb seem like the only candidates whose presidency I wouldn't look at with complete dread- which is why there's no way they are going to get the Nomination.

I mean it kind of makes sense (although maybe it shouldn't)- any Republican candidate a Democrat would be okay with is not a candidate a Republican would want (and I guess vice versa).

BonsaiForest Since: Jan, 2001
#104517: Nov 4th 2015 at 8:44:33 AM

I can imagine how addiction would trick people into thinking their addictive behavior is a choice. I can also see how people who know they have an addiction would be too scared to admit it and want to play the “I’m choosing to do this” card to avoid looking weak.

Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#104518: Nov 4th 2015 at 8:44:50 AM

Yeah I liked that. Still probably wouldn't vote for him but everything in that matched my views on those subjects.

I'm baaaaaaack
Luminosity Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Lovey-Dovey
#104519: Nov 4th 2015 at 10:48:21 AM

They are environmental terrorists, in a similar vein to PETA

Huh? PETA are terrorists? I was under the impression they're just a bunch of loudmouths with a lethal allergy to research.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#104520: Nov 4th 2015 at 10:50:40 AM

Nah, almost every animal they get their hands on is killed. They also steal pets off porches and then kill them. Plus assorted other attacks on people.

Throwing buckets of blood on people wearing fur for example.

Oh really when?
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#104521: Nov 4th 2015 at 10:53:42 AM

They also at least co-operate with terrorists, for example the ALF.

edited 4th Nov '15 10:54:50 AM by DrunkenNordmann

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Luminosity Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Lovey-Dovey
#104522: Nov 4th 2015 at 11:00:19 AM

[up][up] Whoa. Could you PM me links on this stuff?

[up] ALF?

DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#104523: Nov 4th 2015 at 11:04:48 AM

[up] ALF

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#104524: Nov 4th 2015 at 11:05:39 AM

[up][up]It's easy enough to find on their site. They're proud of it actually. They say no kill shelters are one of the worst problems with animals so they're huge advocates for killing all animals that come into their shelters after a couple days.

edited 4th Nov '15 11:07:08 AM by LeGarcon

Oh really when?
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#104525: Nov 4th 2015 at 11:07:52 AM

ALF is straight up eco-terrorists. Bombings, break ins, arson, whole nine yards.

PETA, to steal a term, be cray, but the main organization these days just makes ridiculous campaigns and stupid online games trying to make a point.

They also are against no-kill shelters and actually euthanize many of those who arrive at their animal shelters.

They've even taken animals from no-kill shelters and killed them themselves hours later.

And they're the ones behind the whole "rather wear nothing than fur" campaigns with the naked women just holding protest signs. So you know, they're not all bad.

HOWEVER, they also send money to ALF, ELF, and other actual eco-terrorists.

edited 4th Nov '15 11:09:17 AM by Joesolo

I'm baaaaaaack

Total posts: 417,856
Top