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

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#136351: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:34:43 AM

[up] Not really. Obama is reasonably well liked, but his approval rating wasn't abyssmal when he entered office. In fact, IIRC, his current approval rating is still lower than what he entered office with, which is almost universally true.

edited 25th Aug '16 10:36:44 AM by CaptainCapsase

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#136352: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:35:42 AM

@ Garcon:

What? The Republican party has always been as bigoted as Trump. The whole issue is that Trump is too stupid and too blatant about it.

Even Abraham Lincoln?

Keep Rolling On
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#136353: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:36:09 AM

have we stepped into a world where being an incumbent as a disadvantage?

Can the left stop being so self defeating and pessimistic for once?

Speaking as a center-left and a font of cynicism, I'm actually cautiously optimistic about a Clinton presidency — there's a good chance the Senate will flip, and along with that comes the possibility of anchoring a liberal majority in the Supreme Court for decades to come.

As for whether she will be a one-term president, no one can really say. The Republicans are a mess right now. It's unlikely they'll reverse their downward demographic spiral in four years.

"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."
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#136354: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:36:21 AM

[up][up]Oh come on, you know what I mean.

Now you're just being silly.

edited 25th Aug '16 10:36:33 AM by LeGarcon

Oh really when?
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#136355: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:37:31 AM

At the same time, hasn't it been a Thing of Clinton's that she's well liked while actually in office, even if she can't campaign worth a damn?

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#136356: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:37:49 AM

[up][up] You know me, of course I'm being silly smile. But you did leave yourself open to it...

edited 25th Aug '16 10:38:00 AM by Greenmantle

Keep Rolling On
blkwhtrbbt The Dragon of the Eastern Sea from Doesn't take orders from Vladimir Putin Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
The Dragon of the Eastern Sea
#136357: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:38:26 AM

[up]Remember the Republican Party was once the bastion of progressiveness and civil rights.

Somehow the Alt-Right ate it. And everyone fled to the Democrats and overwhelmed that party.

So like, I dunno. Imagine Taiwan and China mutually invading and mutually succeeding in taking the seat of power of the other.

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#136358: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:38:46 AM

[up][up][up] No? She's well liked out of office, disliked in office, and hated while campaigning.

edited 25th Aug '16 10:39:28 AM by CaptainCapsase

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#136359: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:39:19 AM

Apparently people tend to like her when she actually has the job and hate her when she's trying to get it. Balance that with incumbent advantage (assuming she wins) and...I really don't know if that ups her chances of being reelected or not.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#136360: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:41:18 AM

[up] That was true for SOS when she was out of sight, out of mind. The President cannot vanish from the public eye without severe repercussions.

edited 25th Aug '16 10:41:56 AM by CaptainCapsase

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#136363: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:44:23 AM

Once Clinton gets elected and actually attempts to pass some progressive legislation I'd expect some of her detractors to come around. If they don't then they aren't worth pandering to.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#136364: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:45:53 AM

[up] Not going to happen without both chambers of congress, which is out of reach until 2020 at a minimum.

edited 25th Aug '16 10:47:30 AM by CaptainCapsase

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#136365: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:47:03 AM

I said attempts. I doubt she'll accomplish much but the same could be said of Bernie if he got in. The point is if people still hate her after making an honest attempt to do these things then they're idiots.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#136366: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:48:09 AM

[up] Most of the electorate consists of "idiots" then. If they don't see their lives improve, they won't think better of Clinton, or the democrats.

edited 25th Aug '16 10:50:11 AM by CaptainCapsase

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#136367: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:53:11 AM

I think you're under selling the intelligence of the electorate. The GOP isn't going to become any less toxic

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#136368: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:54:48 AM

[up] I think you're overselling their prospensity for altruism, and overestimating how easily apathy can set in when a voting block does not see policymakers as working to benefit their own demographic. I'm not calling people stupid, far from it, I'm asserting they aren't that engaged with politics unless there's something in it for them.

What I'm expecting is something not unlik what's going on in Europe right now; despite losing decisively at first, the alt-right will continue to gain ground until it eventually wins or we find a way to pacify the population supporting such groups.

edited 25th Aug '16 11:00:22 AM by CaptainCapsase

randomdude4 Since: May, 2011
#136369: Aug 25th 2016 at 10:57:33 AM

Also Teddy Roosevelt and Eisenhower were Republican, while Andrew Jackson was Democrat.

The Republican party has not "always" been bigoted, even if the alt-Right make it seem that way. Historically the Republicans want more laissez-faire economics with little-to-no government intervention, due to the belief that government-run economies would lead to corruption as seen in communist states like the USSR and China. In the last decade we've seen why that doesn't work quite as well, but it's a perfectly valid belief to have; the government's control over an economy could lead to a lot of corruption under the right (or, rather, wrong) leaders.

I won't deny that the Republican party does widely attack a lot more of the social equity movements, but it's foolish to make sweeping statements. I'm more than willing to bet that most people in the party are good-minded people who are embarrassed by what the Tea Party has done.

This is what I meant a few pages back when I said when this place is incredibly hostile towards the right. No wonder if conservatives feel threatened posting here.

edited 25th Aug '16 10:59:21 AM by randomdude4

"Can't make an omelette without breaking some children." -Bur
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#136370: Aug 25th 2016 at 11:00:00 AM

At the same time, hasn't it been a Thing of Clinton's that she's well liked while actually in office, even if she can't campaign worth a damn?
It's less that she can't campaign worth a damn and more that whenever she's campaigning, the spin doctors emerge from their lairs and dredge up everything from her past that can be presented in an even remotely negative light, and then make up some new things for good measure.

She's well liked out of office, disliked in office, and hated while campaigning.
She had pretty good approval ratings both as Secretary of State and as Senator. I'm not sure about earlier when she was First Lady, though.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Matues Since: Sep, 2011
#136371: Aug 25th 2016 at 11:01:02 AM

The Republican Party had the first African American member of the senate.

Oh how times have changed.

randomdude4 Since: May, 2011
#136372: Aug 25th 2016 at 11:07:14 AM

[up]There's also Representative Mia Love (R-UT), who is both black and a woman. It's not like the Republican party is entirely crotchety old white dudes, even though some of the more outspoken ones are.

And I'm sorry if I seem defensive about all this. I'm not a Republican or even conservative, but I despise Black-and-White Morality in politics.

edited 25th Aug '16 11:12:55 AM by randomdude4

"Can't make an omelette without breaking some children." -Bur
blkwhtrbbt The Dragon of the Eastern Sea from Doesn't take orders from Vladimir Putin Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
The Dragon of the Eastern Sea
#136374: Aug 25th 2016 at 11:09:55 AM

[up][up]That is a terrible designation.

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you
smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#136375: Aug 25th 2016 at 11:11:13 AM

Regardless of if there's black or female Republicans, their policies are still horrible, and have been for a long time. Segregation, homophobic and transphobic legislation, attempts to take control of women's bodies...

It may not be black and white, but they're still terrifying.


Total posts: 417,856
Top