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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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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#127926: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:21:51 PM

With Breaking Bad, etc, I think you're making overly-specific hay out of a universal thing: those characters are interesting. They have conflict woven into their premise. They are probably fascinating to write.

Edit: Ah, the trope I'm looking for: Emotional Torque.

Also, the creatives involved with Wolf of Wall Street emphasized that it's meant to be a satirical take-down of the characters it depicts, not a glorification. (Source: Wikipedia.)

edited 27th Jun '16 8:24:32 PM by Elle

rikalous World's Cutest Direwolf from Upscale Mordor (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
World's Cutest Direwolf
#127927: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:24:32 PM

[up][up][up]Tarquin's operating in a different kind of narrative. The thing both your Tarquins and your Walter Whites have in common is that they're both taken out by the protagonist in the end, but with Tarquin the protagonist is the hero and with Walter White the protagonist is Walter White. The Breaking Bad type of story isn't about good triumphing over evil, it's about evil's fuckups and immorality wreaking its own destruction.

Fargo got mentioned, so let's look at how that sucker ended. The crooks are either dead or in jail because of their own greed and stupidity, the money they were after is lost in the middle of nowhere, and the kind-hearted Gundersons get to live happily ever after. Not exactly the bad guy living like a god for three decades.

So how 'bout those US Politics, eh? Trump sure is a short-fingered vulgarian.

Stormtroper from Little Venice Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: I-It's not like I like you, or anything!
#127928: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:24:38 PM

Maybe it's just me but I've been noticing that when somebody puts South Park on the political spectrum, it's the opposite of where they themselves are in.

And that's how I ended up in the wardrobe. It Just Bugs Me!
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#127929: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:27:15 PM

[up]I'm a neo-conservative of some sort, and I don't see South Park as leftist per say. Having said that, every episode of the show I've seen was one hand-selected by my brother who chose them specifically because he agreed with their message.

Leviticus 19:34
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#127930: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:27:17 PM

That's because Southpark takes potshots at both sides but the creators have come out and said they're libertarians. Which are right wing. Not to mention their brand political nihilism is also right wing.

Oh really when?
Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#127931: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:30:52 PM

Libertarian intersects with liberal at certain points, mostly social ones.

That said, the South Park guys seem to revel in being equal opportunity offenders.

Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#127932: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:32:17 PM

I've heard the South Park team be referred to as "Status Quo Warriors" due to episodes with the moral "both sides are equally bad, let's just sit on our asses!"

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
wehrmacht belongs to the hurricane from the garden of everything Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
belongs to the hurricane
#127933: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:36:08 PM

I haven't seen much of South Park, but this[up] is actually what it has been described to me as.

Surprisingly it actually represents a LOT of the people I see on the internet, where people are jaded assholes who mock anybody with strong opinions towards social change and if you care about anything strongly you "lose".

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#127934: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:36:52 PM

Guys, this seems way more suited to the US culture thread. Which is still on the front page.

Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#127936: Jun 27th 2016 at 8:57:15 PM

Lol, watching Elizabeth Warren....

She's like Hillary's version of Obama's angry translator.

New Survey coming this weekend!
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#127937: Jun 27th 2016 at 9:10:44 PM

[up] I'm not sure how to take that. As far as Warren goes, she's one of the better democrats,though assuming Clinton wins in November she's going to be a bit old to run for President. Which is rather unfortunate. As things stand the democrats are also facing a demographic catastrophe, albeit in the party elite rather than the base.

edited 27th Jun '16 9:14:40 PM by CaptainCapsase

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#127938: Jun 27th 2016 at 9:15:07 PM

The theory is that given how Clinton's getting on the stage with her that Warren might actually be the VP pick. Something about the presentation. Warren herself doesn't seem to have presidential ambitions so far. VP might be another thing though.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#127939: Jun 27th 2016 at 9:16:51 PM

[up] Warren as VP isn't going to happen; no senator from a state with a Republican governor is going to be in the running.

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#127940: Jun 27th 2016 at 9:17:18 PM

I dont think she would take it, the senate is literally the best place for her to do the most good.

But then again there are not really that many big name dems out there that a large number of folks have heard of nation wide..

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#127941: Jun 27th 2016 at 9:18:08 PM

[up] Unless of course the intent is to kick her upstairs; in that event, they threaten her with a primary behind closed doors unless she takes the position. The lack of any democrats younger than 65 with national appeal is probably the biggest worry for the party. If that doesn't change, the GOP is going to more or less win by default.

edited 27th Jun '16 9:20:11 PM by CaptainCapsase

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#127942: Jun 27th 2016 at 9:20:07 PM

Mississippi's latest attempt at "religious liberty" overturned; clerks are forbidden from citing religious objections to granting a license.

Seriously, isn't there some way to punish legislatures that try to pass laws in direct defiance of court rulings? Contempt of court or something?

smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#127943: Jun 27th 2016 at 9:21:30 PM

There is. That's why Kim Davis was in jail for a bit.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#127944: Jun 27th 2016 at 9:22:20 PM

Nah she just refused to do her job, she's not a legislator or anything.

Oh really when?
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#127945: Jun 27th 2016 at 9:22:30 PM

Contempt of court refers to things happening within the court, I believe. In any case, they got sued over it, so there was a consequence.

Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#127946: Jun 27th 2016 at 10:14:27 PM

I hate the Misplaced Nationalism a lot of Americans have. It makes them come off as egotistical and having a superiority complex, and leads to stuff like Trump and Brexit.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#127947: Jun 27th 2016 at 10:18:01 PM

Ok, I'm drawing the line at Americans being directly responsible for Brexit. That's firmly Britain's issue.

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#127948: Jun 27th 2016 at 10:18:29 PM

[up][up]But Brexit was British?

And I'd argue Trump wasn't caused by nationalism per say, but rather people who hate politicians.

According to something I read, Americans don't really have as much national pride as some other first world nations. Apparently, the nation with the highest national pride is Canada.

edited 27th Jun '16 10:19:04 PM by Protagonist506

Leviticus 19:34
smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#127949: Jun 27th 2016 at 10:24:12 PM

That's because you have people here who are incredibly proud of America, sometimes to the point of doing horrible things, and you have people here who hate our country because of all the shit they've gone through, sometimes to the point of doing horrible things.

In Canada it's more "we've got healthcare and are nice to each other, so I think we've got a swell country."

Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#127950: Jun 27th 2016 at 11:57:06 PM

The US Supreme Court has ruled that Second Amendment rights no longer apply to domestic abusers.

And why it should be the case.

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot

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