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
You only need a basic understanding of group psychology to come to the conclusion that people will be pressured into it (especially coupled with ever present misogynie in all cultures).
Sure, people are free to decide whom they want to mate with. If they decide to only marry someone with freckles or from their particular sect, that's their decision. Doesn't mean it's an intelligent criteria. And it rests on and perpetuates the idea of ideological/cultural/religious purity, which is inherently rotten.
@ rationalinsanity:
I imagine that once the purge winds into gear, it'll be a Erdogan-style purge of all possible opposition to the regime — Military personnel, Judges, Law Enforcement (including Police), Intelligence, Intellectuals, Public Transit, possibly even private industry, the works...
Keep Rolling OnSo you're essentially saying that when someone tries to exterminate you, you just have to live with the aftermath and not bother trying to rebuild the culture? Because that doesn't sound notably better.
Trying to preserve religious and cultural traditions in the face of a world that has actively tried to eradicate them seems pretty understandable to me.
Well, part of marrying within a culture is the simple fact that they value a lot of the same things that you value, ensuring compatibility. Christians marrying Christians, for example, can be assured that they're marrying someone that they have a lot of moral and cultural values in common with. At its most benign (which I think is the majority of such cases) this is what I think marrying within your culture, whatever that is, is about. Antitelchen's idea that it's always based on "our culture is inherently better than this other one" is shortsighted and ignores the basics of what most people are looking for in life long relationships.
This also seems to be veering massively off topic, folks.
![]()
Just because there were people trying to exterminate something, doesn't mean that purity, be it genetical or cultural, suddenly becomes a better idea.
It's not "our culture is better than the other one." It's "our culture must never mix with another one, otherwise it's corrupted." It's basically the "seperate but equal" philosophie.
Is there a thread better suited for this? Because it is really off topic.
Well, we certainly try to claim the status. The entire GOP platform basically revolves around the fallacious claim that heterosexual white Christian men are being gradually exterminated by threats on all sides, and that we must take action now or our white picket fences will go up in flames.
Thanks, Ambar. I needed that after the onslaught of hate coming from the RNC.
God, Clinton might need to leave the country if she loses. After Christie's witch-trial speech, I'm concerned that Trump's first order of business as President may be to demand a public execution.
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.He wouldn't have a legal leg to stand on. The FBI said there's nothing they can prosecute her with, even if they wanted to, and the Attorney General is abiding by that. Trump can't legally demand that they do anything even if he gets the presidency. Christie being an asshole doesn't change that.
Let's not imagine trouble that isn't actually likely to happen, please.
edited 20th Jul '16 9:41:39 AM by AceofSpades
I think the Republicans might be reaching to point where their criticism of Clinton might cause a bit of a Critical Backlash.
Did anyone watch Jimmy Fallon last night? It was one of his better monologues, thanks to the ample material from the RNC. He even dressed as Trump again.
edited 20th Jul '16 9:47:44 AM by speedyboris
Heh, Trump's first order. How bad is it that I fought of that immediately?
Say, are there any rough estimates for Hilary and Trump's (potential) popularity among voters right now?
Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.Dr Dougsh: It honestly would not surprise me. I think that sort of thing happened to Obama as time went on. If she actually works on progressive reforms she might win over some of the left wing voters next time.
@Marq: Right now it's about 60:40 in favor of Clinton according to 538; polls right now are similar to '08 which is good on the surface, but polls in '08 also looked a lot like polls in '04, which is bad. If something really bad happens (economic crash or major terrorist attack), and/or if the GOP manages to get another new Clinton scandal into the public conscious like they did for John Kerry in '04, we might very well be looking at President Trump, God help us.
If he does get into office, and actually tries to go through with his scheme of purging the opposition's people in the government (which is one of the big "no no's" for maintaining a functional democracy), then I guess we'll see whether he speculation of an analogue to the Deep State existing here in the US.
edited 20th Jul '16 10:01:43 AM by CaptainCapsase
Gonna cross post this on the General US Politics and LBGT Rights and America threads. Make of it what you will:
Caitlyn Jenner: Easier to come out as trans than Republican: http://bigstory.ap.org/27481211642e4ad0a27ff8653589d21a&utm_source=android_app&utm_medium=copy_to_clipboard&utm_campaign=share
edited 20th Jul '16 9:58:36 AM by sgamer82
So Trump is basically hoping to delegate power to his deputy rather than become an outright President. He wants to "make America great again", but you cannot do that without someone with many plans. Pence is not prepared to be the creator of anything related to domestic / foreign policy, from what I've heard he is an inept Yes Man with no original ideas of his own beyond cut and dry trickle down economics.
On the one hand a President Trump would be disastrous for our standing, and he would be an embarrassment unless someone steps up on his behalf.
On the other hand, all this tells me is that it'd be easy to rise up among his coterie. My inner opportunist is telling me "seek power and take advantage of the idiots."
What would Petyr Baelish do? I suspect... "stand well back from the explosion and grab things after the green fire stops and the Orange King topples himself".
Real opportunitists don't run into the middle of disasters while they're exploding, even if they supplied the matches...
edited 20th Jul '16 10:08:37 AM by Euodiachloris
Just because Jeb is a Republican doesn't mean he'll come grovelling. Man seems to stand by principle in his distaste for Trump.
At this point, the hairdo has enough advisors to pull his strings. He doesn't need or want Jeb and vice versa. Christie is going to be AG under Trump. Gingrich his Chief of Staff (I know that job usually goes to the guy running the campaign, but the first guy who would have likely gotten that position was ousted and the second guy just seems to be a party operator rather than someone with the passion to run the white house). Sessions will be given something, and Corker seems poised to be Sec State.
Trump the mad orange king is always very enthusiastic about a convert, someone who used to oppose him but who now "sees the orange light", and wants to help. It pleases his ego.
I don't think lack of attachment to the conservative ideology would bother him. It doesn't seem like he has any attachment to it himself.
This represents a unique period in politics. One which is at once revolting to me, but exciting and enticing at the exact same time.
In my opinion, good. Of course, his fans will cry "Free speech!" without understanding that the government had nothing to do with this.
edited 20th Jul '16 10:28:03 AM by Lennik
That's right, boys. Mondo cool.Trevor Noah also points out that the RNC is a parade of hate.

For all the flack Trump earns I'm wondering just how much his kids are pulling strings behind the scenes and how much of this is their ambition.