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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.

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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

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#113801: Mar 1st 2016 at 4:54:22 AM

I am super not ready, because this is where Trump wins everything and Clinton spontaneously combusts.

Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#113802: Mar 1st 2016 at 4:56:10 AM

Maybe you should take a break from this thread

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#113803: Mar 1st 2016 at 4:58:04 AM

I'd prefer not to-I'll learn to grow out of this. Promise I won't hysterical-post.

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
#113804: Mar 1st 2016 at 5:00:21 AM

Honestly for the sake of your health I think you should.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Achaemenid HGW XX/7 from Ruschestraße 103, Haus 1 Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
HGW XX/7
#113805: Mar 1st 2016 at 6:20:22 AM

Clinton spontaneously combusts.

My prediction is that this will not happen. Of the states voting, Clinton should sweep most of the South, with the exception of Oklahoma. Sanders will also take Vermont. Sanders needs to win in Minnesota, Colorado, and Massachusetts to be viable going forward.

Schild und Schwert der Partei
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#113806: Mar 1st 2016 at 6:43:48 AM

Whens the Super Tuesday results coming?

We know Trump is gunna win them all on the Republican side but I am interested in knowing what happens on the dem side.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#113807: Mar 1st 2016 at 6:57:41 AM

Apparently, in the military, I am no longer allowed to share memes or I risk being prosecuted.

1. You may not engage in partisan political activities and should avoid the inference that your political activities imply or appear to imply Do D sponsorship, approval, or endorsement of a political candidate, campaign, or cause.

2. You may not campaign for a partisan candidate, engage in partisan fundraising activities, serve as an officer of a partisan club, or speak before a partisan gathering. You can however, express your personal opinions on political candidates and issues, make monetary contributions to a political campaign or organization, and attend political events as a spectator when not in uniform.

3. You may generally express your personal views on public issues or Political candidates via social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, or personal blogs, much the same as you would be permitted to write a letter to the editor of a newspaper. If, when expressing a personal opinion, you are identified by a social media site as Do D employee, the posting must clearly and prominently state that the views expressed are those of the individual only and not of the Department of Defense.

4. You may "follow" "friend" or "like" a political party or candidate running for partisan office, but you may not post links to, "share" or "re-tweet" comments or tweets from the Facebook page or twitter account of a political party or candidate running for partisan office. Such activity is deemed to constitute participation in political activities.

The first three are pretty much "no duh" points, the kind of thing that has always been blocked - the military does not want people to think that we are endorsing any particular candidate. But I honestly don't see how they're splitting the hair so that my forum posts supporting Bernie are a-ok, but sharing a pro-Bernie meme is not.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#113808: Mar 1st 2016 at 7:04:34 AM

To play devil's advocate I think how the policy maker sees it is that memes are essentially viral marketing campaigns rather than personal expressions of politics.

For example, if I write a post that says "I like Rubio" I'm making a personal expression of my own beliefs. However, if I were to share a meme going around about how Rubio is cool, I'm part of a larger mechanism and am connecting it to the military. At least, that's what their logic is.

Leviticus 19:34
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#113809: Mar 1st 2016 at 7:11:39 AM

So apparently security at a Drumpf rally choke slammed TIME photographer Chris Morris

edited 1st Mar '16 7:19:56 AM by Aszur

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
#113810: Mar 1st 2016 at 7:17:21 AM

Basically they see sharing a meme in as the same. Putting a leaflet though a door, you're publicly sharing the campaign literature of a campaign, as opposed to making a person statement on your personal position.

edited 1st Mar '16 7:17:44 AM 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
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#113811: Mar 1st 2016 at 8:03:40 AM

Both Sanders and Clinton have substantial leads on Trump in general polls; though Clinton lags slightly behind Cruz and Rubio (though I suspect that would change given time; those two are less known).

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/01/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-poll/index.html

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#113812: Mar 1st 2016 at 8:05:17 AM

What about that study that showed that Clinton would lose to everybody, when Sanders would beat everyone? I mean, it sounds biased, but is it true?

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#113813: Mar 1st 2016 at 8:08:53 AM

Wasn't that study dependent on using data from incumbent elections?

edited 1st Mar '16 8:09:00 AM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#113814: Mar 1st 2016 at 8:10:07 AM

It doesn't matter. It's pretty much Generic Republican (anyone but Trump) beating Clinton. But Generic Democrat (Sanders) beating Generic Republican.

And that's primarily because Hillary Clinton been in the public sphere for over 2 decades and Trump is... Trump. The other guys aren't that "well known."

Assuming that someone other than Trump wins the GOP nomination, expect all their dirty laundry to air out and become less viable.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#113815: Mar 1st 2016 at 8:29:00 AM

Well, tonight's the night we find out if Trump is on a (nearly?) unstoppable roll or not.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
SolipsistOwl Since: Jan, 2016
#113816: Mar 1st 2016 at 8:43:53 AM

DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz is working against Obama-appointed Elizabeth Warren by co-sponsoring a Republican bill to deregulate the payday loan industry.

DNC Chair Joins GOP Attack On Elizabeth Warren's Agency

Payday lenders have been gunning for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau since the day President Barack Obama tapped Elizabeth Warren to set up the new agency.

They've had plenty of help from congressional Republicans — longtime recipients of campaign contributions from the payday loan industry. As the CFPB has moved closer to adopting new rules to shield families from predatory lending, the GOP has assailed the agency from every conceivable angle — going after it's budget, attempting to tie its hands with new layers of red tape, fomenting conspiracy theories about rogue regulators illegally shutting down businesses and launching direct attacks on payday loan rules themselves.

To date, the GOP blitz has resulted in a few close shaves for the young agency, but no actual defeats. But the industry has cultivated a powerful new ally in recent weeks: Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.).

Wasserman Schultz is co-sponsoring a new bill that would gut the CFPB's forthcoming payday loan regulations. She's also attempting to gin up Democratic support for the legislation on Capitol Hill, according to a memo obtained by The Huffington Post.

edited 1st Mar '16 8:46:12 AM by SolipsistOwl

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#113817: Mar 1st 2016 at 8:46:19 AM

Clinton spontaneously combusting is more down to the slim chance that something out of the endless accusations and investigations ends up sticking and she gets under indictment.

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#113818: Mar 1st 2016 at 8:46:31 AM

[up]

This kind of agency didn't exist already?

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#113819: Mar 1st 2016 at 8:47:15 AM

What about that study that showed that Clinton would lose to everybody, when Sanders would beat everyone? I mean, it sounds biased, but is it true?

You can also find studies that says Mecha-Barack Obama from the year 3387 will fly back and win but that doesn't mean it's true

Point being: You can find a study that proves anything you want online.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#113821: Mar 1st 2016 at 9:05:18 AM

Regarding the CFPB and the DNC... that is yet more evidence that Debbie Wasserman-Schultz needs to get the boot. Holy hell.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#113822: Mar 1st 2016 at 9:12:51 AM

By the way, here is a blast from the past. About that link of this "scarily accurate" professor, here is more about his statistics model.

Here is a quote about his actual guesses for 2008.

With either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama facing off against John Mc Cain in November, the forecast is for a nail-biter, not a sure time-for-a-change vote. Why such a close contest at a time when a Republican president with low approval ratings and a sagging economy portend a sure Democratic victory? For one thing, this is an election without the sitting president on the ballot. His legacy counts for a lot less than it would with him on the ballot. Historically, in elections without a sitting president the outcome in November is very close. Remember 2000, or 1960! That is the message of the cyclical predictor of the model. What is more, the GOP nominee is the primary winner—Mc Cain coming in first in New Hampshire—and that makes the incumbent party competitive in the November election. The ability of a party to rally around an early-primary winner says a lot about its electoral strength in the general election. Plus, in this particular instance the primary winner has proven that he can appeal to voters beyond the partisan base.

Dunno about you, but that sounds neither decisive, nor accurate, since Obama pretty much won easily.

edited 1st Mar '16 9:13:45 AM by Aszur

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#113823: Mar 1st 2016 at 9:39:54 AM

You know that Americans are terrified of Trump when they are considering moving to one of the most economically backwater places in Canada if he wins.tongue

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1345911-cnn-reporting-from-cape-breton-as-trump-inspired-spotlight-continues

I actually did a project about revitalizing the island's economy/population last year; I admit that my group and I never thought about turning the place into a giant camp for American refugees.[lol]

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#113824: Mar 1st 2016 at 10:03:47 AM

TIL that there's an American Samoa caucus.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#113825: Mar 1st 2016 at 10:35:08 AM

Huh.

Why the fuck does wikipedia list the following?

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a global set of conferences run by the American politician Ted Cruz, under the slogan "Ideas Worth Spreading"

Edit: Hahaha. Was changed as I posted it. I caught a rare glimpse of wiki vandalism!

edited 1st Mar '16 10:36:27 AM by Aszur

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes

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