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
Lost in Space
#108951: Jan 16th 2016 at 6:46:31 PM

This encapsulates the dilemma I feel with this primary. Clinton is the safe bet, the candidate that I know can win and can govern well. Sanders is the long shot, the dream, the candidate whose ideas I most agree with. But Clinton keeps waffling between centrist and progressive positions, and has no qualms about going on the offensive to secure her position. For his part, Sanders' ideas simply can't work without a massive and unprecedented shift in Congressional politics, and I don't know how serious he is about foreign policy.

So, I'm torn. I still don't know who I'm going to cast my primary vote for. I do know that I will be voting, though.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
FalseDichotomy from Your mind :o Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#108952: Jan 16th 2016 at 6:50:43 PM

Look for Clinton's Super PAC to start attacking Sanders on issues of his health.

Didn't Hillary have heart surgery not too long ago? Will this just end up backfiring on her?

Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
#108953: Jan 16th 2016 at 7:15:14 PM

I don't really see Sanders and Clinton having much of a difference in what they can and can't do in the "getting stuff done" department with how Congress currently is.

Their only real practical difference is that I trust Sanders not to fuck us over in more minor ways since he's not connected to Wall Street like Clinton.

edited 16th Jan '16 7:15:34 PM by Ekuran

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#108954: Jan 16th 2016 at 7:17:06 PM

She had some kind of fainting spell like a year ago, but I don't recall anything about heart problems. Anyway, attacks on health are... actually pretty common and I think tends to fade into white noise. Also, I'm still concerned about PA Cs in general. Not really related to Hillary, PA Cs just concern me.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#108955: Jan 16th 2016 at 7:33:05 PM

Bill has a history of heart issues but I thought that Hillary was mostly in the clear; barring the above mentioned fainting incident.

I think its perfectly legit to call Sanders out if his ideas really are unworkable in the current political landscape. There's no point in promising the world if you can't deliver it and if its obvious that you can't, thats a huge liability come the general.

edited 16th Jan '16 7:57:21 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#108956: Jan 16th 2016 at 7:45:11 PM

Note that i'm still likely voting for Sanders if he hasn't dropped out by the time elections get to Pennsylvania in May, i just don't think he's going to be able to do any of what he's suggesting.
IIRC, Sanders position is that he plans to use the Presidency to start things off, get the ball rolling and help leverage things for liberals using the office. Use it as a keystone of his political revolution. And a sign to the party's hard left "If we can take the presidency, we can start taking back the states, Congress, etc. so on, so forth."

BonsaiForest Since: Jan, 2001
#108957: Jan 16th 2016 at 7:50:18 PM

This is a month old, but attacking Trump just makes these voters like him more.

Basically, they tend to view attacks on Trump as being out of context, and they trust conservative news sources.

Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#108958: Jan 16th 2016 at 8:55:36 PM

I'm like, 8 pages late but someone brought up to old adage about "only a third of colonists supported the revolution", which isn't true.

I've heard conflicting stories about the specifics, But the "One third" estimate came from John Adams who himself did not claim to have anything to back it up, it was just his own estimation.

Studies have put the actual number between 15 and 20%, with a percentage in the high 40s actively supporting the rebellion.

And the taxes were hardly just a little side note. While those with an agenda certainly took advantage of the anger, average colonists were rather upset about the law requiring every day printed materials like newspapers and playing card to be made on imported, British made paper, and taxed on top of that.

Not to mention it wasn't even about paying for the war itself, but to pay for stationing troops in the colonies after the war. Which hadn't been done before the war, and if anything was even less required after the war, what with the transfer of French colonies to English control.

/ends rant/

[up] Of course it does. They fell "attacked" and "repressed" already. That's just backing it up in their minds.

edited 16th Jan '16 8:56:39 PM by Joesolo

I'm baaaaaaack
nervmeister Since: Oct, 2010
#108959: Jan 16th 2016 at 9:06:17 PM

[up][up]Well, as they say, "Dont feed the troll."

edited 16th Jan '16 9:06:59 PM by nervmeister

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#108960: Jan 17th 2016 at 1:30:23 AM

[up][up][up]sad

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#108962: Jan 17th 2016 at 4:29:59 AM

sad

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
tryrar Since: Sep, 2010
#108963: Jan 17th 2016 at 5:38:48 AM

[up][up]..............

where's that Jesus Facepalm demotivator when you need it?

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#108964: Jan 17th 2016 at 6:01:45 AM

Here, have a whole pageful of 'em:

http://facepalm.motifake.com/tags/facepalm

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#108966: Jan 17th 2016 at 7:01:01 AM

I'm not expert but I have a hard time believing it's entirely safe to bath your babies in lead contaminated water.

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#108967: Jan 17th 2016 at 7:16:07 AM

[up][up] The fact that they are not doing a thing to fix the situation.

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#108968: Jan 17th 2016 at 7:18:56 AM

It's basically like Umbridge's Ministry-mandated DADA manuals.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#108969: Jan 17th 2016 at 7:23:19 AM

They advise "don't drink the water," but babies put everything in their mouths.

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#108971: Jan 17th 2016 at 7:42:01 AM

So, what, does Michigan have a big problem with lead contamination?

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#108972: Jan 17th 2016 at 7:47:24 AM

[up]One particular city does due to the governor being an idiot.

carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#108973: Jan 17th 2016 at 8:00:42 AM

[up][up]Governor of near-post-apocalyptic living conditions factory city decided to save money by pumping water directly from the corrosive, pollutant-laden river through aged lead pipes.

On that note Obama declares state of emergency to free up extra FEMA funds for drinking water and such, but doesn't go so far as to call it a disaster, which would pay for much more but is currently legally limited to only natural, non-manmade catastrophes.

edited 17th Jan '16 8:04:28 AM by carbon-mantis

FieldMarshalFry Field Marshal of Cracked from World Internet War 1 Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Field Marshal of Cracked
#108974: Jan 17th 2016 at 8:14:05 AM

Flint, Michigan to be precise, home of Michael Moore

advancing the front into TV Tropes
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#108975: Jan 17th 2016 at 8:20:31 AM

Governor of near-post-apocalyptic living conditions factory city decided to save money by pumping water directly from the corrosive, pollutant-laden river through aged lead pipes.

Then lied about the contamination, tried to discredit and bury reports about it, and refused to seek Federal aid until it became too publicized to ignore. Sent 20 people to distribute filters and water to a city of 100,000.

Also, technically the river water wasn't polluted, just corrosive. It damaged the city's pipes, causing iron and lead to leach out. The lead poisoned the water while the iron killed the chlorine used to prevent bacterial contamination, leading to an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease.

edited 17th Jan '16 8:22:18 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

Total posts: 417,856
Top