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

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#123776: May 28th 2016 at 8:59:51 AM

@Septimus Heap

No idea. According to Maddow he wants Barney Frank and one of the governor's gone, insisting that they were pro-Clinton and would be biased against him. If there are more reasons, or they go deeper than that, I am unaware. The part that ticks me off about it is that Frank is pretty damn liberal and the legislation he helped pass is one of the things that actually reins in the very banks Sanders supposedly wants controlled so badly.

EDIT: Video can be found in this article.

edited 28th May '16 9:11:30 AM by AmbarSonofDeshar

majoraoftime (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#123777: May 28th 2016 at 9:04:50 AM

Don't let your respect for Sanders rebound too much. Watching Rachel Maddow—Sanders is demanding that a bunch of Democrats—including Barney Frank—be removed from their positions in the DNC or he will slow the actual convention to a halt. Because nothing indicates your loathing of big banks and billionaires like attacking one of the guys behind Frank-Dodd.

Gov. Dannel Malloy just made massive cuts to education and child services in Connecticut.

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#123778: May 28th 2016 at 9:08:57 AM

[up]Because the state is broke and running a massive deficit. I mean, I'm less than happy about that, but cuts were going to have to be made.

Not to mention that even if you think that what he's done is flat out awful—and believe me, I'm not happy about it—you don't, or at least shouldn't, threaten to gum up the convention because of it.

EDIT: An article on his problem with Frank. Apparently they don't like each other and haven't for years. To this I say, if the DNC can let Cornel "Obama is afraid of real black people" West at the Convention, they can have people who've said some mean things about Sanders.

edited 28th May '16 9:14:30 AM by AmbarSonofDeshar

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
#123779: May 28th 2016 at 9:14:40 AM

It's more the magnitude that Trump is projected to lose; it's looking like the race is going to be at least somewhat close as most Presidential races are.

Currently yes it's looking that way, but remember, Clinton is an entire polling bump behind Trump, she's due two bumps to Trump's one.

“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
#123780: May 28th 2016 at 9:18:55 AM

[up][up]Ugh, so Sanders is playing politics because of old petty grudges?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#123781: May 28th 2016 at 9:19:10 AM

[up]Pretty much.

Here's an article from a month back where Frank went after Sanders. Now I get why Sanders wouldn't like anything that was said there, but again, Cornel West, Sanders.

And an article he wrote further back criticizing Sanders.

edited 28th May '16 9:21:07 AM by AmbarSonofDeshar

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
#123782: May 28th 2016 at 9:56:14 AM

Is Sanders wanting West to take Frank's place? I thought part of Sanders' objection is that the committee/thing Frank is on is one where he's meant to be unbiased, which Frank obviously isn't (and neither is West).

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
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
#123783: May 28th 2016 at 10:04:31 AM

[Would the US drop the bomb again article] And 23% of respondents agreed that “we should have quickly used many more of them before Japan had a chance to surrender.”

...

19% of respondents preferred a nuclear attack on an al Qaeda target even when told that conventional weapons would be just as effective.

This is the portion of the population who want to nuke every single Islamic country in the world, and talk gleefully about "glass parking lots." So yes, yes we could. I think the Drumpfenfurher is more likely to do so than anyone else who ran in the primaries on either side.
Could you even imagine what the modern US military could do under a total war scenario?
The political fallout (both foreign and domestic) is mostly what stops us.
I'm wholly convinced that if HRC, by some miracle, achieved all of Bernie's goals ... she'd STILL be hated by her detractors on the left.
She probably would be hated by some. She'd be hated even more by the right, of course. tongue

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#123784: May 28th 2016 at 10:48:44 AM

Sanders is incredibly thin-skinned.

Dude doesn't like being challenged at all. No wonder he's had few, if any, allies in Congress.

New Survey coming this weekend!
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#123785: May 28th 2016 at 11:19:52 AM

Apparently the DNC has rejected Sanders' request. Here's hoping he and his fans don't riot.

And an article examining the number of progressives Sanders has fought with.

edited 28th May '16 11:21:12 AM by AmbarSonofDeshar

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
#123786: May 28th 2016 at 11:31:55 AM

Some of his supporters will, I doubt he's going to but he's going to end up getting the blame for the actions of folks he has no control over.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#123787: May 28th 2016 at 11:46:45 AM

[up][up] Sanders definitely was an actual socialist earlier in his life, and I've always had my suspicion he still privately holds socialist views but has become pragmatic enough to realize such positions are unworkable in the American political climate. His conflict with progressive democrats makes much more sense from that point of view.

edited 28th May '16 11:47:25 AM by CaptainCapsase

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#123788: May 28th 2016 at 11:47:23 AM

This primary needs to end already...

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#123789: May 28th 2016 at 11:50:19 AM

[up][up]You do realize he still calls himself a socialist? He's not hiding it.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#123790: May 28th 2016 at 11:51:05 AM

[up] Yes, bus his policy positions are that of a social democrat, not an actual socialist.

edited 28th May '16 11:51:38 AM by CaptainCapsase

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#123791: May 28th 2016 at 11:52:37 AM

And the difference is what? And if he's still using the word that still makes him ballzier than most.

Honestly, that comes off as a sort of No True Scots Man remark.

edited 28th May '16 11:53:52 AM by LSBK

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#123792: May 28th 2016 at 11:53:47 AM

The longer the Democratic primary goes on, the less I like Sanders. I don't know if he's losing his shit because he's losing or if he's just revealing his true colors, but seriously. If he had kept doing what he was doing, campaigning and making speeches and trying to get as many votes and delegates as possible while talking about his own vision for America in order to influence the direction of the party and pushing Clinton into making some promises that it would look bad to back out of later, I would have applauded him for being a class act and tempering his conviction with pragmatism. Now, though, he's gone off the deep end. You lost, dude — make the best of the situation, don't shoot yourself in the foot by refusing to accept reality. Maybe he's bought into his own hype and he honestly believes that he's the One True Hope for America? Whatever the reason, it's not going to change the fact that he's going to lose. If he keeps throwing shit everywhere, he's just going to lose and be covered in shit. And if he manages to cover Clinton in shit at the same time, then that's not going to benefit anyone but Trump.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#123793: May 28th 2016 at 11:56:35 AM

[up][up] It's a world of difference; social democrats are still ultimately capitalists, and favor adding socialist inspired policies like welfare onto an existing capitalist system, and generally tries to maximize private ownership of the means of production like other capitalist ideologies. "True" socialism advocates for a planned economy (not necessarily centrally planned however), and limited or no private (communal ownership is generally fine) ownership of industry.

It should be noted that Capitalism versus Socialism is more of a spectrum than a true dicotemy, but even social democrats aren't that far towards the "socialism" side of the spectrum; the "social" side of the equation is fairly limited.

edited 28th May '16 12:03:22 PM by CaptainCapsase

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#123794: May 28th 2016 at 11:57:07 AM

I have to agree. The recent behaviour of Sanders is becoming irritating and harmful.

My personal sense is that the endlessly dragging on primary is wearing people down.

edited 28th May '16 11:58:55 AM by SeptimusHeap

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#123795: May 28th 2016 at 11:59:24 AM

[up][up] I suppose it's interesting to note Bernie's older brother Larry — he's the Health Spokesman for the Green Party of England & Wales...

Keep Rolling On
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#123796: May 28th 2016 at 12:02:49 PM

[up][up][up]More than being limited it just seems like you have very unrealistic standards. Even your admission of it not being unilateral while still basically treating it as such gives it that feel.

Edit: By that I mean, it seems like Sanders version of "socialism" probably lines up more with what people who advocate for it actually mean and want.

edited 28th May '16 12:04:37 PM by LSBK

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#123797: May 28th 2016 at 12:05:20 PM

[up] It's not a dichotomy, but on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is pure laissez faire anarcho-capitalism and 10 is communism, where we're at currently is a 2 and social democracy is maybe a 2.5, 3 at most.

edited 28th May '16 12:07:07 PM by CaptainCapsase

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#123798: May 28th 2016 at 12:10:09 PM

And what's funny, Bernie has pretty much guaranteed that ANY candidate who's even remotely like him in the future is going to get stomped on early on before their campaigns can get off the ground.

If the DNC could go back in time, there's no doubt in my mind they would've buried him the moment he announced his candidacy.

New Survey coming this weekend!
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#123799: May 28th 2016 at 12:12:32 PM

[up] And in doing so they'd be walking the first steps on the path to a leftist revolution (velvet or otherwise) in the United States; Trump managed to force his way through the GOP in spite of the changes made to prevent another Ron Paul scenario, and it's more or less impossible to get more undemocratic than superdelegates without mass election fraud or doing away with primaries altogether.

edited 28th May '16 12:14:32 PM by CaptainCapsase

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#123800: May 28th 2016 at 12:14:50 PM

Or a revolution in the other direction if this shutting-out attempt is met by a party split. Which would probably cause the DNC officials responsible for the attempt to lose their jobs. Or you end up with actual violence and injuries or deaths rather than just riots.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman

Total posts: 417,856
Top