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

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#105927: Dec 4th 2015 at 9:04:32 PM

Oh Republicans, please PLEASE give him the nomination. The democrats could run a dead rat against him and it'd win.

I'm baaaaaaack
probablyinsane Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!
#105929: Dec 4th 2015 at 9:26:13 PM

Currently:
Clinton
Rubio
Trump
Cruz
Bush
Sanders sad

I won't be surprised if Trump overtakes Rubio.

Plants are aliens, and fungi are nanomachines.
Luminosity Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Lovey-Dovey
#105930: Dec 4th 2015 at 9:38:27 PM

How much truth is in the "one party gets a two-term president, then inevitably the other one gets elected" phenomenon I keep hearing about?

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#105931: Dec 4th 2015 at 9:39:19 PM

Depends on the president.

Oh really when?
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#105933: Dec 4th 2015 at 10:16:39 PM

The better rule is this: Over the six months prior to the election, is the economy improving or getting worse? If it's improving, the incumbent party keeps the White House. If it's declining, then the opposition party takes it.

I would expect a flurry of activity in the Republican half of Congress over the next six to nine months focused around sabotaging the economy or getting us into a major military conflict.

edited 4th Dec '15 10:17:37 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#105934: Dec 4th 2015 at 10:20:08 PM

Also, it's only really happened twice so far in recent memory (Bill Clinton (followed one-term Republican George "H-Dubs" Bush, who followed two-term Republican Ronald "Top of the Slippery Slope" Reagan, who followed one-term Democrat Jimmy Carter)-> Dubya -> Obama).

For most of our history, it's been long periods of one party dominating the White House until something happens to change who's dominating.

edited 4th Dec '15 10:23:51 PM by Balmung

Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#105935: Dec 5th 2015 at 8:44:38 AM

@Ramidel Well Clinton is better than most republican options, and all that have a chance of winning, so I wouldn't mind too much. But I really want to see bernie take it, and Trump wouldn't have a chance against either of them.

I'm baaaaaaack
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#105936: Dec 5th 2015 at 8:51:52 AM

Sanders' low odds are because he's badly seeded. The odds would look different if he were the presumptive Dem nominee.

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
#105937: Dec 5th 2015 at 8:56:11 AM

Yeah his odds count are only so low because it's assumed he'd not win against Hillary for the nomination.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#105938: Dec 5th 2015 at 10:50:13 AM

Does anyone know Obama's numbers after this attack, or even the general mood of the country. At school me and my friends were discussing refugees after the Paris attacks, and only me and 1 other guy though we should take in any more. I imagine it has gotten even worse after this.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#105939: Dec 5th 2015 at 11:02:00 AM

[up]Pew's latest is still dated in July.

As to the country's reactions, I doubt that's it's as monolithic as feared. Sure, the bigots online (seriously, has the GOP tried getting someone less blatantly racist to serve as the face of the youth supporting them online) are being their usual selves, but there have been quite a few demonstrations in support of the right of American Muslims to not live in fear. I feel that it's far too soon to tell... except with Trump's supporters.

edited 5th Dec '15 11:02:44 AM by Krieger22

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#105940: Dec 5th 2015 at 11:06:32 AM

I think Sanders' could take Trump on in the general, if only because Trump will drive plenty of vital demographics to vote against him and may well depress Republican turnout (25% of GOP voters have said they will not vote for Trump if he gets the nomination).

But his chances of beating Clinton are pretty low, she has the better ground game, better contacts, more resources and wider appeal.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#105941: Dec 5th 2015 at 12:05:37 PM

Also, frankly, Sanders needs to step up his game and establish himself as something other than a one-trick pony, as Fighteer has said many times. He's got an economic idea - great. We've heard it. Now what the hell else is he doing to establish his brand? What's his foreign policy going to be like? How is he going to deal with inheriting a Middle East in near anarchy? How will he handle Syrian refugees - and immigration in general, for that matter? Does he have further plans for action on climate change? Does he use an iPhone or an Android?

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#105942: Dec 5th 2015 at 12:16:31 PM

And what is his goddam Space Policy. Seriously, I wish the candidates would discuss it a bit more, namely at all.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#105943: Dec 5th 2015 at 12:49:48 PM

For Space policy to be discussed, more American citizens need to be interested in it. Actively interested. And the public just isn't these days.

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#105944: Dec 5th 2015 at 12:54:47 PM

It's a chicken and an egg scenario. The public isn't interested because they deem it unimportant, because our leaders hardly ever discus it.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#105945: Dec 5th 2015 at 2:35:28 PM

Both sides of the line are stuck on the idea that getting to Mars is such a huge hassle right now, so why bother?

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#105946: Dec 5th 2015 at 4:08:32 PM

Because it's there.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Keybreak (Long Runner)
#105947: Dec 5th 2015 at 4:17:51 PM

"Because it's there" is the best non-answer I've ever heard.

Way better than the non-answer "because I said so".

You gotta believe me when I scare you away, all that I wish for is that you would stay
AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#105948: Dec 5th 2015 at 4:28:14 PM

"Because I can" still the best non answer.

edited 5th Dec '15 4:28:46 PM by AngelusNox

Inter arma enim silent leges
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#105949: Dec 5th 2015 at 4:38:40 PM

Because, at a time when US public morale is near rock bottom, a successful mission in space would boost both our international image, and our faith in ourselves. It's better than doing what Reagan and Bush 1 did to restore morale after Vietnam,win a few wars.

And it would be a triumph for the entire human species as well, not to mention the fact that in the long term we need to become a multi planetary species to survive. But these arguments are long term,so they don't matter to the electorate, and in any case are better suited for the Space thread.

Let us hope that Elon gets to Mars before the Chinese, and that he doesn't go mad with power once he has a whole planet as his domaintongue

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
rikalous World's Cutest Direwolf from Upscale Mordor (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
World's Cutest Direwolf
#105950: Dec 5th 2015 at 4:44:53 PM

To get presidential about our non-answers and thus tie it back to politics, not because it is easy but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.


Total posts: 417,856
Top