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

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#137251: Sep 3rd 2016 at 10:38:10 AM

Well, even if the ideas themselves never go away entirely, you can still make it so that the types who subscribe to them don't think they have an actual chance of getting them through. Crush their resolve and all that.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#137252: Sep 3rd 2016 at 10:39:07 AM

Yes, but the politicians won't cater to them if they're a political dead end. Unfortunately, they're not likely to see the kind of loss that would force them back into obscurity.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#137253: Sep 3rd 2016 at 10:40:39 AM

[up][up]In some ways I think the alt-right getting more attention is a good thing. Someone brought up earlier that they prefer it when bigots are just open about their bigotry and don't try to hide behind dog-whistles and euphemisms. I feel pretty much the same way. It makes it easier to convince the more moderate people of the toxic elements within the GOP.

[up]Opposing gay rights is a dead-end. That hasn't stopped the GOP.

edited 3rd Sep '16 10:41:14 AM by Kostya

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#137254: Sep 3rd 2016 at 10:42:31 AM

[up] Yes, but their Romney post mortem called for an end to that sort of stuff. A crushing defeat with Trump might give the parties interested in that move the political support necessary to carry them out.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#137255: Sep 3rd 2016 at 10:45:10 AM

They can't just purge the racist elements from their voter base. If they do that they have even less relevance.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#137256: Sep 3rd 2016 at 10:48:31 AM

[up] Not really? If it weren't for the racism, they'd likely do fine with many minorities, particularly hispanics, as they are more conservative on social issues than the average voter.

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#137257: Sep 3rd 2016 at 10:49:06 AM

The bulk of the party ignored those postmortems and doubled down on their exclusionist stances. They've bought into the rhetoric that they're fighting a culture war, after all.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#137258: Sep 3rd 2016 at 10:54:35 AM

Yes, but we were talking about a landslide like 1964. Romney's loss wasn't even close to that, and in all likelyhood, the results of 2016 won't be anywhere near that either.

edited 3rd Sep '16 10:58:15 AM by CaptainCapsase

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#137259: Sep 3rd 2016 at 11:16:18 AM

Hillary losing isn't really a concern to me.

What I'm more concerned about is the makeup of Congress.

New Survey coming this weekend!
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#137260: Sep 3rd 2016 at 11:53:25 AM

Bourjois or L'Oréal?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#137261: Sep 3rd 2016 at 12:29:35 PM

aren't soldiers even prohibited from making political statements of support for one candidate or another on grounds that they're expected to respect the Commander-in-Chief? I remember something about that from my stint in BCT, when our DS was explaining that you don't talk to the press because a statement from any soldier can be interpreted as being said on behalf of the military at large.
There's a little more wiggle room when the Military Times newspaper is taking an anonymous poll of military members. Also there's a lot of argument within the military about what actually counts as "making a political statement". I've listened to two chiefs arguing about whether sharing a meme on Facebook was violating it or not. The intent behind the rule is to ensure it does not look like the military is backing one candidate over another, not to stifle individuals from stating their opinions.
Like the person or not, the President is still the highest ranking officer of our combined armed forces, who are not about to run off en masse and start shooting up the country
I do believe that was my point. tongue I expect we'll have the occasional loony, but that won't be different from the rest of the country, will it?
If (Johnson) is included in the debates, do you think he'll pull more voters away from Trump, or from Clinton?
I expect he'd pull more Republican voters.
Trump basically want to turn the Mexican Border into a Toll Crossing, with people paying every time they cross the border
So he's clearly never studied the history of the Great Wall of China.
Maybe Mexicans would be less eager to hop the border if the US were to get rid of the cartels and crumbling infrastructure?
While that might be true, how exactly is Mexico's infrastructure the US' fault?note alsonote 
We won't call you an idiot
What do you mean "we"?
I wouldn't vote Republican (or any other sort of neo-conservative) if the only other choice was a dog.
Given that one town has a cat as a three-term mayor this seems a popular choice.
why is there a connection between standing for the anthem and military respect and why is that connection automatic?
I wouldn't say it's automatic, rather that they're all connected to the general idea of "patriotism." Supporting the troops is patriotic, standing for the anthem is patriotic, etc. Mind you, there have been plenty of veterans supporting Kapernik, and I've seen one picture floating around Facebook showing members of Congress just too lazy to stand for the anthem.note 

[up] Maybe it's Maybelline?

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#137262: Sep 3rd 2016 at 12:49:16 PM

Someone delete this post

edited 3rd Sep '16 12:53:30 PM by NoName999

Antiteilchen In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good. Since: Sep, 2013
In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good.
#137263: Sep 3rd 2016 at 2:03:46 PM

In some ways I think the alt-right getting more attention is a good thing. Someone brought up earlier that they prefer it when bigots are just open about their bigotry and don't try to hide behind dog-whistles and euphemisms. I feel pretty much the same way. It makes it easier to convince the more moderate people of the toxic elements within the GOP.
I was thinking the same. The alt-right is thrilled to get attention because they think most people secretly agree with them and are silenced only by "political correctness". They can't even imagine people honestly caring about issues like equality. While that's true for too many people, they overestimate their appeal outside the Basement Dweller demographic. Having their bigotry out in the open makes it way easier to refute and it will disgust and alienate even more people.

That's the reason for the dog whistles. Even the Nazis hid the details of their death camps from the public. The irony is, that despite railing against political correctness, euphemisms are what enabled their ilk to fester in the first place.

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#137264: Sep 3rd 2016 at 2:17:32 PM

I almost wished someone at the DNC convention had called out the GOP's Southern Strategy, i.e "The Republicans don't have a problem with what Trump is saying. They're just upset that he's being blatant about his racism and bigotry rather than hiding it." But alas, long-term goals and all that.

New Survey coming this weekend!
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#137265: Sep 3rd 2016 at 2:37:12 PM

[up][up] The issue is though, I am somewhat worried that, while the majority of people don't agree with them, there are enough who are sufficiently apathetic that they could get into power.

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#137266: Sep 3rd 2016 at 2:38:24 PM

The only ones who'd be apathetic are white people, to keep it real.

There's enough minorities, thankfully, that their options would be pretty limited.

New Survey coming this weekend!
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#137267: Sep 3rd 2016 at 2:44:54 PM

[up] Voter turnout rates are fairly similar across demographics.

thatguythere47 Since: Jul, 2010
#137268: Sep 3rd 2016 at 3:12:04 PM

In normal elections. Trump represents a very real and very loud threat to minorities. I wouldn't be surprised to see a noticeable bump in hispanic/muslim/black voters turning up compared to previous elections.

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#137269: Sep 3rd 2016 at 3:19:12 PM

Trump is doing poorly among Catholics, and especially among those who attend Church regularly.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trump-is-driving-catholic-voters-toward-clinton/?ex_cid=538fb

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#137270: Sep 3rd 2016 at 3:26:00 PM

Yay, I get to be proud of my religion for once.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#137271: Sep 3rd 2016 at 3:27:19 PM

That seems consistent with other reports of certain denominations also despising Trump (mormons are the other big one).

He's basically too much of a buffoon for them to ignore.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#137272: Sep 3rd 2016 at 3:30:00 PM

That's nice. You think the whole voting in large numbers against someone instead of for someone is ever going to be a problem?

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#137273: Sep 3rd 2016 at 3:30:27 PM

[up][up] They'll despise him, but they won't vote that much more than they already do. People tend to skip voting oftentimes because they literally can't afford to take the time to go do it.

edited 3rd Sep '16 3:30:41 PM by CaptainCapsase

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#137274: Sep 3rd 2016 at 5:53:39 PM

[up][up]Not really. Canadians did it for years until Trudeau became a thing. Imperfect choices are the standard options in a democracy.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#137275: Sep 3rd 2016 at 6:08:19 PM

One way I saw the Canadian voting strategy described was "the guy who acts the most American? Everyone vote against him. Who cares who the other guy is, he just doesn't act like an American."


Total posts: 417,856
Top