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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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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

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#135551: Aug 17th 2016 at 10:57:41 AM

Well, that's lovely. Christie helped Trump dodge taxes and now they are BFF's on the campaign trail. I wish I had a lot of money so I could trade favors with politically powerful people.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#135552: Aug 17th 2016 at 11:13:56 AM

You know what's funny? Trump can literally be baited by a tweet, a Golden Star Family, his penis size, his crowd sizes, the polls, "dishonest" media, etc...except one thing:

His Tax Returns. He's remained ironclad on that from day one.

So, whatever is in there, has to be fucking damming

New Survey coming this weekend!
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#135553: Aug 17th 2016 at 11:19:12 AM

And the "liberal" mainstream media and the general public are letting it slide.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#135554: Aug 17th 2016 at 11:23:22 AM

Reading Bloomberg's bio of Bannon, he almost sounds like someone I could respect if he weren't shilling for Trump. He must know Trump has been involved in much of the same stuff he levels at Clinton and establishment Republicans but he's made no secret of his desire to tear them down.

Guy seems dangerously smart.

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#135555: Aug 17th 2016 at 11:30:13 AM

The DNC this year was a wholly mundane affair

Really? This is mundane?

If this is what passes for mundane in US Politics, y'all are a much hammier nation than I thought!

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#135556: Aug 17th 2016 at 11:51:46 AM

"Mundane" in this case apparently means "not apocalyptic, racist, or fascist". /sigh

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#135557: Aug 17th 2016 at 11:59:17 AM

Yeah, when the other guys decide to hold a 21st century Nuremberg rally...anything looks mundane after that.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#135558: Aug 17th 2016 at 12:20:09 PM

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-us-intelligence-briefing-227109

"Donald Trump offered a blunt explanation for why he wants retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn at his side as he gets his first classified briefing at FBI headquarters on Wednesday — he doesn't trust intelligence information coming from those currently in charge."

Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#135559: Aug 17th 2016 at 12:23:04 PM

[up] He shouldn't be one to talk about intelligence.

Discar Since: Jun, 2009
#135560: Aug 17th 2016 at 12:42:13 PM

Why are candidates receiving their security briefings before actually winning the election? That seems bizarre.

In other news, what's Hillary up to? We spend too much talking about how Trump is doing disturbingly well despite his horrific stances. I think that's part of the reason he's doing so well; we're letting this turn into "keep Trump out" instead of "get Hillary in." That's part of how Romney lost in 2012. How are things going on Hillary's side of the fence?

Writing a post-post apocalypse LitRPG on RR. Also fanfic stuff.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#135561: Aug 17th 2016 at 12:46:44 PM

"Clinton leads Trump by six points in latest Reuters/Ipsos poll" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN10R23K

Looks like Clinton recently named her transition team:

"Clinton names close confidants, Obama veterans to transition team" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN10R11X

On the non-presidential side:

"Liz Cheney claims victory in Wyoming primary for U.S. House seat" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN10S0F8

edited 17th Aug '16 12:49:02 PM by sgamer82

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#135562: Aug 17th 2016 at 12:51:11 PM

[up][up]

It's so that they don't get caught with their pants down upon entering office - and from what I've gleaned, it tends to be a "broad strokes" version, rather than getting into minutiae.

As for the DNC being mundane, I think it's more that the candidate herself really didn't hold her own compared to most of the other speakers. People loved Khan's speech and no one had legitimate criticism for Michelle Obama's speech - but Clinton herself didn't make much of an impact.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
megarockman from The Sixth Borough (Experienced Trainee)
#135563: Aug 17th 2016 at 12:54:06 PM

[up][up][up]Standard procedure for presidential candidates (at the least for whoever is the two major parties') after the conventions. Intended to make sure the candidates don't end up making statements that would cause them big political problems if they win because the reality on the ground is different. (I doubt it had someone like Trump in mind, though.)

[nja]

edited 17th Aug '16 12:54:25 PM by megarockman

The damned queen and the relentless knight.
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#135564: Aug 17th 2016 at 12:58:20 PM

It was put in place by Harry Truman. After he became president after FDR's death, he didn't find out about the Manhattan Project until 12 days after he was sworn in. And even then, it looks for all the world like it was an "oops, maybe we should tell the president about this" situation where they nearly forgot entirely. He decided that was ridiculous and changed the policy for any future presidents because they should probably know at least the broad strokes of what's going on going into the final stretch.

That's why a lot of Presidential candidates tend to change part of their platform out of nowhere around this time. They got information they didn't have before that totally changes the situation.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#135565: Aug 17th 2016 at 1:06:43 PM

As just one example, Obama got really quiet about his platform position of withdrawal from Middle-Eastern wars after he got his intelligence briefing.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#135566: Aug 17th 2016 at 1:10:21 PM
Thumped: for switching the discussion from the topic to a person. Doesn't take many of this kind of thump to bring a suspension. Stay on the topic, not the people in the discussion.
"Yup. That tasted purple."
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#135567: Aug 17th 2016 at 1:11:13 PM

I'm reminded of how Kennedy used the "missile gap" in the 1960 election to claim that the Eisenhower administration, and Nixon by association, was weak on national defense based on erroneous reports he had received from the Air Force. It wasn't until halfway through the election cycle did the president release the information briefings revealing to Kennedy that there was a missile gap, but it was in favor of the US by a large margin. Eisenhower and Nixon couldn't publicly refute Kennedy's claims though because it would have sent the Soviets into a missile building frenzy and endangered U-2 spy flights.

Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#135568: Aug 17th 2016 at 1:26:18 PM
Thumped: for switching the discussion from the topic to a person. Doesn't take many of this kind of thump to bring a suspension. Stay on the topic, not the people in the discussion.
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#135569: Aug 17th 2016 at 1:31:33 PM

We all know the outcome of this kind of thing:

"Hey, what box you checking? HILLARY?! (sucker-punches voter) YOU GONNA VOTE TRUMP OR WE'RE GONNA GET REAL NASTY! CAPISCE?"

edited 17th Aug '16 1:32:15 PM by speedyboris

Discar Since: Jun, 2009
#135570: Aug 17th 2016 at 1:38:42 PM

Thankfully, it's impossible for them to actually do that. There's no way any electoral volunteer would actually let them into the voting booths (if you're that corrupt, you may as well just let them stuff the ballot box directly). The much bigger problem is the brownshirts driving away minorities and frightening Hillary supporters into leaving.

Writing a post-post apocalypse LitRPG on RR. Also fanfic stuff.
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#135571: Aug 17th 2016 at 1:39:52 PM

I think that is the general idea.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#135572: Aug 17th 2016 at 1:53:21 PM

[up][up][up][up] Oh do shut up

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#135573: Aug 17th 2016 at 1:59:46 PM

@ Bat: Since when was "Central America" a single country? smile

Keep Rolling On
SciFiSlasher from Absolutely none of your business. Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#135574: Aug 17th 2016 at 2:21:24 PM

[up] I do believe he was just referring to the region in general, since in general, it's pretty crappy.

[up][up] OK, I know I'm not really one to say this...but could you please watch your attitude, Jack? Like, even if I strongly disagree, I'm not going to just tell someone to shut the fuck up and then not even tell them why they might be wrong. Like, really, Jack, you seem to be constantly flip-flopping between "America is much better than the rest of the world, so stop bitching" and "We need a Chinese-style police state, NOW." Starting to wonder why you weren't sent to the pit like Nihlus.

"Somehow the hated have to walk a tightrope, while those who hate do not."
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
#135575: Aug 17th 2016 at 2:35:16 PM

Oh just drop it the lot of you.

Let's not go hysterical and say that the US is in the same state as Mexico or Central America, that's insulting to all regions involved.

Let's also not go insulting other tropers, even if they themselves have stepped out of line.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran

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