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

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
#123626: May 26th 2016 at 4:21:11 PM

if Trump won and he were to invite these... militia types.. to 'supplement' the police in 'restoring order' after another black-shooting/terror attack/terror threat, the police would oppose it tooth-and-nail?
However corrupt and racists any given police force may be, it's an almost certainty that they would utterly oppose any kind of civilian militia group from moving in. Largely this is due to self-preservation; the types that join racist militias also usually hate the police because ... illuminati or something.

Also, as Tobias said, Trump couldn't legally pull them in - it's outside the scope of his powers. But if he gave a public address encouraging them to act, they probably would, and it would hamper the local police. What Drumpfenfurher could do is send in the Army or National Guard - but they are far more likely to act in a fair and even manner, and put down the racists with glee.

As welcome as cute animals are, I prefer more concrete reassurances that things aren't quite as bad as we think.
But look at that puppy! LOOK AT HIM! evil grin
Some? Try all. This election cycle pretty much confirmed what everybody already knew, but now we have direct evidence for: the vast vast vast majority of the GOP base are racist assholes. Some are just hiding it better than others.
No. Not all. More than I'm comfortable with; possibly (at this point) even a majority. But not all Republican voters are racists. I've known too many Repubs who are absolutely not racists, who vehemently oppose Trump, and yet still consider themselves Republicans.note 

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#123627: May 26th 2016 at 4:30:00 PM

[up] Doing that would be be outside of the scope of powers the president is supposed to have, but if the next president ends up getting 4 supreme court appointments, they only need one of the sitting justices to be willing to play sycophant to have borderline autocratic power via the court and executive orders.

Which incidentally is how Sanders might have been able to get a large portion of his agenda done, failing a mass movement seriously altering the balance of power in congress.

edited 26th May '16 4:32:48 PM by CaptainCapsase

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#123628: May 26th 2016 at 5:31:42 PM

The Supreme Court is the biggest reason why Trump being elected would be a disaster that the US might take decades to recover from.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#123629: May 26th 2016 at 7:11:55 PM

You're aware all Supreme Court appointments need to be approved by Congress, right? The President can't just get anyone they want installed.

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#123630: May 26th 2016 at 7:23:38 PM

[up]Trump is under the impression that he can do anything he wants. He can't hear you over the sound of how awesome he [thinks he] is.

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#123631: May 26th 2016 at 7:26:33 PM

[up][up]TRUMP: Note to self: Change how Supreme Court assignments work when I get into office...

edited 26th May '16 7:27:08 PM by kkhohoho

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#123632: May 26th 2016 at 8:25:53 PM

Keep in mind that he's not appointing HIMSELF to those seats (as much as I'm sure he'd enjoy doing that). He's just putting a bunch of Republicans there, and the GOP-led Congress has no problems with that.

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#123633: May 26th 2016 at 8:27:48 PM

RE: The Trump/Sanders potential debate

I was watching The Last Word and I'd say his guests—a Republican and Democratic strategist—summed it up well. If Trump wins such a debate, it will give him the chance to unify the Republican Party behind him by taking on the evil socialist. It also gives him the opportunity to elevate Sanders and hurt Clinton's campaign. Even if Sanders does well, it still hurts Clinton's chances, and intensifies the rabid support among some of the crazier Sanders fans who are liable to look at the debate and be upset that it's not what they are getting in the general election. For Sanders it's a chance to essentially spite Clinton, and maybe, if he does well, steal California, and go into the Democratic convention with just a little more power, at the cost of making her chances even harder in the general.

The only way it works out for Clinton they noted is if both Trump and Sanders come off so badly that the viewers say "I'm voting for somebody who wasn't on that stage tonight."

I get why Trump might want to do this. I'm sorry that Sanders is even considering it. No matter how well he were to do—even if he were to annihilate Trump—it only hurts the party in the long run, and makes Trump's chances in the general better.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#123634: May 26th 2016 at 8:33:57 PM

Isn't one of Sanders thing that he doesn't actually care about the Democratic Party?

But this debate seems like a not happening on Trump's part. I am curious why Sanders even suggested it, though.

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#123635: May 26th 2016 at 8:47:12 PM

[up]Doesn't care in the least. Like his most fanatical supporters—guys like Jimmy Dore—Sanders can expect to comfortably ride out the worst of a Trump presidency, so who cares if his actions help the man get elected?

As to that second point, he's losing and desperate. He's been telling himself and his supporters for a year now that he was going to beat Clinton, that they were the true heart and soul of the progressive movement and they were going to take the nomination from her. And it hasn't gone anywhere. He's looking defeat in the face and grasping for a media stunt that can turn it around, and in his mind this debate, were it to go forward could be that stunt.

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
#123636: May 26th 2016 at 9:14:16 PM

Yeah it's not like Sanders has spoken plenty about how horrible Trump would be and how preferable Clinton would be as presiden.. Oh wait a second, he has done that.

You guys keep acting as if Sander is being extra spiteful to Clinton, when he's currently still not even at the point where she dropped out against Obama, nor is he honestly pushing for the nomination anymore.

Maybe just maybe Sanders wants to debate Trump because he thinks someone should challenge Trump's message now and not wait till later? Maybe he'll do some damage that Clinton can later capitalise on, maybe the personal insults Trump will throw at him will be so much worse then what Clinton has throw that Sanders more rabbit supporters will hate Trump extra hard.

There are two ways for Sanders supporters to fall in behind Clinton more then we're expecting them to, they either need to like Clinton more or like Trump less. Sanders getting personally insulted and attacked by Trump is a dam good way to make Sanders supporters hate Trump.

Plus if Sanders is willing to play dirty he can throw dirt st Trump in a more mudslinging way then Clinton will be able to, because come November it doesn't matter what the national electorate think of Sanders, but if he's managed to turn some of them against Trump that could be a big help.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#123637: May 26th 2016 at 9:15:34 PM

I got nothing against Sanders. It was just honest curiosity.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#123638: May 26th 2016 at 9:21:24 PM

Actually, this does seem kind of spiteful to me. To do something like this before the primary is even over is highly unusual, and his announcement of the situation made it very clear he expects this to help him get the nomination. And Trump sure as hell would rather face Sanders than Clinton.

In any case, I'm mostly just confused this is happening. Of course, it hasn't even been planned yet, just the two of them talking about it. They might not even be able to find someone to host this on TV, because it's been suggested to be full of ethical concerns.

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
#123639: May 26th 2016 at 9:25:21 PM

all Supreme Court appointments need to be approved by Congress, right? The President can't just get anyone they want installed.
Sooner or later, Trump would nominate someone who would be marginally acceptable enough to get installed. The other option is that we'd face a minimum of four years more of the kind of horrid obstructionism we've seen with the Senate since Scalia died. And frankly, I don't think SCOTUS would survive if they did get whittled down to four justices because nobody got approved.
TRUMP: Note to self: Change how Supreme Court assignments work when I get into office.
FDR was popular enough to get elected four times and even he couldn't restructure the Supreme Court the way he wanted to.
Maybe just maybe Sanders wants to debate Trump because he thinks someone should challenge Trump's message now and not wait till later?
I certainly hope so.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
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
#123640: May 26th 2016 at 9:27:07 PM

It's highly unusual sure, but that rather describes everything that Sanders has done, so it being usual doesn't mean it's inherently spiteful, it would only be that if Clinton suggested making it a three person debate and Sanders then refused.

This is all academic anyway, as Trump is refusing to do it, which probably means he at least thinks that it would hurt him.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#123641: May 26th 2016 at 9:27:10 PM

Trump's message has been challenged repeatedly, and at length, by just about everybody. He didn't need to jump at the gun.

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
#123642: May 26th 2016 at 9:29:35 PM

Not on a debate stage it hasn't, Trump has never had his message and ideas challenged in a debate, even the Republican debates. Because in the end the other Republican candidates agreed with his ideas and message, as such they only challenged his personal character and message delivery.

edited 26th May '16 9:30:19 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
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
#123644: May 26th 2016 at 9:52:14 PM

The money quote.

"You are asking me questions about Latin America that I am very interested in but right now I’m running for president of the United States,” Sanders said in response to a question about the implosion of left wing governments in Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil.

Here's the thing Sanders, you kinda need to know that shit if you want to be considered qualified to run. He's getting an isolationist smell about him Sanders is, left-wing isolationism.

It reminds me of the nuclear waste dumping thing with the quote.

When they asked if he would visit the site in Sierra Blanca, he said, “Absolutely not. I’m gonna be running for re-election in the state of Vermont.””

When he was running in Vermont he didn't care about a town in Texas and wanted to focus on Vermont, now he's running for the whole US he doesn't care about South America and wants to focus on the US.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
rikalous World's Cutest Direwolf from Upscale Mordor (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
World's Cutest Direwolf
#123645: May 26th 2016 at 10:04:29 PM

Clearly the solution is to make him ruler of the world and hope nothing important happens to Mars.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#123646: May 26th 2016 at 10:08:07 PM

Sooner or later, Trump would nominate someone who would be marginally acceptable enough to get installed. The other option is that we'd face a minimum of four years more of the kind of horrid obstructionism we've seen with the Senate since Scalia died. And frankly, I don't think SCOTUS would survive if they did get whittled down to four justices because nobody got approved.

My point is that the President can't just fill the Supreme Court with toadies who take their orders from the White House. They can nominate people whose political opinions they broadly agree with, sure, but that's hardly the same thing.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#123647: May 26th 2016 at 10:26:17 PM

Trump has proposed a bunch of SCOTUS justices already. From what I can tell, they are both very conservative and likely acceptable to the Republican senators. So yeah, they'd probably get appointed if you let Republicans have a Senate majority.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
vandro Shop Owner from The little shop that wasn't Since: Jul, 2009
Shop Owner
#123648: May 26th 2016 at 11:00:00 PM

That interview has really soured me on him. He should at least pretend to know what the other left-populists in his own continent think and how they operate. Also, latin america is not south america, Silas, I know the US people tend to use both terms interchangeably, but I would be rather grateful if you too didn't engage in such geographic misnomer.

Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#123649: May 27th 2016 at 12:15:41 AM

'Young Turks' host Cenk Uygur offers $1 million to stage Sanders-Trump debate.

Donald Trump says he would approve the Keystone XL pipeline project as president as long as the United States receives a large chunk of oil revenue in exchange.

edited 27th May '16 1:02:07 AM by Demonic_Braeburn

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.
Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#123650: May 27th 2016 at 3:14:56 AM

[up]Must be easy making ridiculous demands. You get to look all tough and patriotic for the base without ever having to actually change the status quo.


Total posts: 417,856
Top