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

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#105651: Dec 2nd 2015 at 1:05:46 PM

Given that the California shooting was at a Social Services center, I've got a sinking suspicion that the perpetrators might be examples of a Right-Wing Militia Fanatic. I kind of hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be the least bit shocked if they were, as such a location would mean they're killing people "leeching" off the government.

edited 2nd Dec '15 1:09:00 PM by ironballs16

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#105652: Dec 2nd 2015 at 1:10:15 PM

First, wow, this is terrible news. When will it end?

I feel bad/hypocritical about speculating about the identity of the perpetrators (read hoping they aren't Muslims) but yeah, social services center does suggest that as more likely. I'd think if it was homegrown Islamic terrorists, they'd go for some kind of public venue (that seems to be a consistent MO in the United States and other countries).

Edit- I could be wrong of course and as is always the case with this kind of thing, who knows what goes through the minds of crazy/evil people.

edited 2nd Dec '15 1:14:45 PM by Hodor2

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#105653: Dec 2nd 2015 at 1:10:58 PM

Well, we can more or less rule out "left-wing terrorism", no matter what Ted Cruz says, as that doesn't really exist in the United States.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
BonsaiForest Since: Jan, 2001
#105654: Dec 2nd 2015 at 1:12:02 PM

What I'm seeing says that the shooting is at a place for people with developmental disabilities.

Now I really want to know the shooter's fucking motive.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#105655: Dec 2nd 2015 at 1:21:45 PM

[up][up]

Well, at least in regards to causes outside of extremist environmentalists or PETA types - and they generally go with vandalism rather than murder.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Julep Since: Jul, 2010
#105656: Dec 2nd 2015 at 1:35:49 PM

Now I'm expecting Trump's declaration. "It's a tragedy. But if the people in San Bernadino had been allowed to carry..."

Oh wait.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#105657: Dec 2nd 2015 at 1:36:50 PM

And even worse is that I saw two political cartoons today that are a bit prescient.

One from Marc Murphy of the Kentucky Courier-Journal (Map of the US - "Where a mass shooting will almost certainly happen today" with an arrow pointing to D.C. "Where nothing will be done about it. Again. Almost certainly.")

And one from Andrew Marlette of Pensacola, FL, of Obama's speech vs. thoughts while talking about climate change.

Speech: "Once again, the time to act is now..."

Thoughts: "...Or don't. Whatever. I'm out of here in a year, and frankly, I'm sick of reminding y'all. So good luck, suckers! Maybe President Trump's wall will keep out the Mexicans, Muslims, and rising sea levels."

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#105658: Dec 2nd 2015 at 1:38:35 PM

Seems that the suspects in San Bernardino were last reported fleeing the scene in a black SUV.

"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
#105660: Dec 2nd 2015 at 1:56:48 PM

Time to arm the mentally disabled?

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#105661: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:00:35 PM

If Trump is any indication, they are already armed.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
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
#105662: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:14:34 PM

14 dead, 14 injured and 1-3 suspects on the run.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:15:07 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
TotemicHero No longer a forum herald from the next level Since: Dec, 2009
No longer a forum herald
#105663: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:16:26 PM

Based on what I'm seeing, make that 14 dead, with 14 injured. (Edit [nja]'d!) Also, the whole thing apparently took place in less than five minutes. The shooters went in, killed, and went out before the police arrived.

There's no pretending; that's military-grade precision right there.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:24:52 PM by TotemicHero

Expergiscēre cras, medior quam hodie. (Awaken tomorrow, better than today.)
Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#105664: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:16:47 PM

So following twitter for news (lots of stupidity, unsurprisingly).

I guess that Farooq name mentioned above was leaked from a police scanner as being a suspect. I was wondering where it was coming from.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:17:11 PM by Hodor2

carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#105665: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:18:50 PM

The Trump-ites I'm seeing are already foaming at the mouth and calling for lynchings.

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#105666: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:21:21 PM

Lynching who, exactly? Nothing is known...

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#105667: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:23:22 PM

Their is so much I want to say, most of it I would regret latter. Whomever did this should pay. Shooting up this place seems like something unaffiliated teenage psychos', like the Columbine shooters, would do. I've never heard of the far right launching an attack of this barbarity and with this many participants. 3 operatives seems like something ISIS would do.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
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
#105668: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:24:29 PM

[up][up] Mexicans I suspect, that's generally who Trump's fans want to be lynched. No this isn't specific to this situation, their natural reaction to everything is to call for Mexicans to be lynched.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:25:00 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#105669: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:25:35 PM

The nuttier groups are blaming ISIS/Muslims. More of a local worry for me since the groups in my area have been more paranoid and outspokenly hostile than usual since the Colorado shooting.

edit- To clarify, when I say hostile I mean "Dox and leak the names and addresses of local Muslim citizens to Militas/The Klan" kind of hostile. The last time something like Boston happened we had death threats and arsons, and that was before Trump and his ilk.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:35:08 PM by carbon-mantis

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#105670: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:29:42 PM

[up]Until the facts become clear, this very well could be and ISIS attack. Believing such is not paranoid.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:29:57 PM by JackOLantern1337

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#105671: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:30:16 PM

"Round up the usual suspects." (Claude Rains in Casablanca, 1942.)

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#105672: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:32:27 PM

ISIS

Far Right

Random Nuts with guns

Edit: Oh and Al Qaeda.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:33:07 PM by JackOLantern1337

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
TotemicHero No longer a forum herald from the next level Since: Dec, 2009
No longer a forum herald
#105673: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:34:06 PM

More info coming in, got multiple news sources saying this:

The attack took place in a building (part of the facility) that housed a library and conference center. An as-of-yet unknown outside group had been renting the conference center. Employees and patients would have been inside this building at the time of the attack.

Starting to look like this mystery group might be the target. We'll know more once they reveal who this group is.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:35:26 PM by TotemicHero

Expergiscēre cras, medior quam hodie. (Awaken tomorrow, better than today.)
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#105674: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:34:55 PM

[up][up] Technically speaking, ISIS is a far-right group, and are random nuts with guns. Ergo, if it is ISIS, then it's really all three.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:35:02 PM by Protagonist506

Leviticus 19:34
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#105675: Dec 2nd 2015 at 2:34:57 PM

It could also be unicorns.

Unicorns have succeeded in pulling off terrorist attacks on American soil as many times as ISIS has. So if we're considering ISIS to be a probable suspect, we must also consider unicorns.

edited 2nd Dec '15 2:35:14 PM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.

Total posts: 417,856
Top