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

CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#124401: Jun 2nd 2016 at 5:12:20 AM

[up][up]I'm actually kind of curious why the "Trump" brand is so appealing (to others, at least) in the first place. To me, slapping Trump's name on a product gives it a kitschy quality.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#124402: Jun 2nd 2016 at 5:19:43 AM

I assume it's because Trump's initial success as a real estate mogul and Art of the Deal propelling him to fame. It might be Kitschy but his name has a level of "Quality Assured" value. So the assumption is if Trump's name is on it, it's got to be a surefire thing. There's no way he'd put his name on a shoddy product for a cash grab. :P

Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#124403: Jun 2nd 2016 at 7:41:46 AM

It's not like we haven't seen the same thing going on with Paul Ryan. Scratch beneath the surface and you'll find questionable competence and quality, but people love to invest in the brands they recognize. Which is why commercials work, even though everyone hates them.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#124404: Jun 2nd 2016 at 7:43:18 AM

The fact that people are so easily induced to identify with a brand without investigating the truth of any claims made on its behalf is one of the greatest arguments against democracy, unfortunately. It's depressing. And by "brand", I don't just mean consumer products.

edited 2nd Jun '16 7:43:42 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#124405: Jun 2nd 2016 at 7:47:47 AM

Federal regulators unveiled rules that could mean a death sentence for the payday-lending industry, a cause that has already sparked infighting between mainstream Democrats like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the party’s Elizabeth Warren wing.

edited 2nd Jun '16 7:48:04 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.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#124406: Jun 2nd 2016 at 7:52:50 AM

I'm saddened by the whole payday lender affair. It is absolutely true that low-income consumers need access to banking and credit, but these storefront businesses that string them along for exorbitant interest rates are not helping.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#124407: Jun 2nd 2016 at 10:22:26 AM

This one conversely, is pretty nasty. I'd be curious to see how accurate its predictions turn out to be though.

It's certainly a slap in the face to claims that Sanders is more electable than Hillary.

Defeating Sanders was the easiest victory Trump's had in this entire race and I'm not sure if he even did it on purpose. He basically went, "Yo, pull my finger," and Sanders tripped, fell, and broke his entire political career trying to reach it.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#124409: Jun 2nd 2016 at 10:41:48 AM

He's making quite a bit out of his closing in on the California primary, though. He's still eight hundred behind. I have to wonder if he thinks his super delegates plan will actually work.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#124410: Jun 2nd 2016 at 10:56:27 AM

[up] I think he intends to concede at the convention or after the last primary. Unless he knows something we don't.

edited 2nd Jun '16 11:03:35 AM by CaptainCapsase

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#124411: Jun 2nd 2016 at 11:02:23 AM

Sanders' actions at the convention will make or break his credibility, I think. The debate flap is not irrelevant but comparatively less important.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#124412: Jun 2nd 2016 at 11:26:17 AM

The simple truth is that he's in a far worse position in terms of delegates than Hillary Clinton was at this point in 2008, to the point where his dogged insistence on campaigning looks increasingly ridiculous. Even if he doesn't raise a huge stink at the convention, he's setting the example for his delegates to do so. If he doesn't call them off soon, we're going to have one hell of a mess. Do you think all of them will exercise dignified restraint? Hah.

edited 2nd Jun '16 11:26:51 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#124415: Jun 2nd 2016 at 11:38:04 AM

Wait, so it's not Trump who is a Democratic plant, it's Sanders who's a Republican plant. Brilliant!

On a more serious note, the idea that Sanders has brought out all the left-wing kooks that the Democrats try to keep voiceless because they tarnish the party's image is not all that far-fetched. However, there is an extremely valid point that the DNC is laden with corruption and needs a good shakeup, which wouldn't have happened without Sanders' candidacy. Something about clouds and silver linings...

edited 2nd Jun '16 11:40:04 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#124416: Jun 2nd 2016 at 12:12:28 PM

This is why I am not that unhappy with the current campaign. While he's kvetching about the DNC he isn't hurting Clinton that much because they are separate, and while I am looking forward to a Hillary Clinton presidency the DNC comes off more like a corrupt political machine.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#124418: Jun 2nd 2016 at 12:14:16 PM

Septimus, I'm curious, how come you're so interested in who gets to be the American president? (If I'm remembering correctly you're Swedish, if I'm not then feel free to ignore the question.)

edited 2nd Jun '16 12:14:47 PM by AceofSpades

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#124419: Jun 2nd 2016 at 12:15:57 PM

Well, seems like we have parallel scandals here...

I still think Trump as a Democratic plant is theoretically plausible, since he's a moderate (the bigotries aside) and extremely vulnerable. Only in terms of cui bono, not really plausible in other aspects.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#124420: Jun 2nd 2016 at 12:54:01 PM

[up][up] Because Europe is pretty much the US's lapdog and we don't want to get ****** over because of it.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#124421: Jun 2nd 2016 at 12:54:53 PM

"Ryan says despite differences, he will vote for Trump in November" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0YO2KU

Hardly a ringing endorsement, but as good as.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#124422: Jun 2nd 2016 at 12:55:19 PM

I didn't realize Europe was one unified entity.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#124423: Jun 2nd 2016 at 1:16:59 PM

@Ace: Actually, I am from Switzerland. Spent some time in Germany though.

I've been exposed to US politics since the times where I and some friends were spoofing Dubya on a playground in a rural/montane town in southern Switzerland.

This year, international media have been swept up in the Trump hype just as much as your domestic ones. And your elections are kinda of a big event. And he reminds me of Adolf Hitler insofar as a lot of people thought the latter was immature, impulsive yet fundamentally well-intentioned force. Seems like the exact same error is happening about Trump.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#124424: Jun 2nd 2016 at 1:18:30 PM

[up]

Well, aren't most countries in Western Europe part of NATO? And even if not, a large number have fairly close diplomatic and economic ties to the US, so there'd be a vested interest in making sure no one buggers things up too badly.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#124425: Jun 2nd 2016 at 1:18:37 PM

I don't think anyone but his supporters think that he's well-intentioned.


Total posts: 417,856
Top