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

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#138326: Sep 12th 2016 at 7:00:57 PM

We're not panicking. We're mildly concerned for the most part, knowing it probably isn't horrible but there's a slightly greater than 0 chance of bigger issues..

edited 12th Sep '16 7:01:22 PM by Elle

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#138327: Sep 12th 2016 at 7:42:02 PM

So Clinton is apparently suffering from "walking" or "atypical" pneumonia, which is generally less severe/incapacitating than other forms, plus it tends to pass in 1-2 weeks, instead of about a month. I had it in Junior High, and while it was easily the most miserable physical experience of my life (the coughing and shortness of breath mostly), I was able to go back to school after it passed the infectious period. And, while I was a teenager and not a 67 year old, I didn't really have other problems, I was never bedridden nor was I hospitalized beyond a low-priority trip to the ER to get a diagnosis/medicine for it.

I remember my family doctor and the school nurse telling me that if you have to get pneumonia, this is the form to get.

edited 12th Sep '16 7:47:21 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#138329: Sep 12th 2016 at 7:46:41 PM

Incubation period is about a week IIRC, and a national campaign (lots of people, closed spaces, stress) is basically a breeding ground for infections. Probably late August, early September.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#138330: Sep 12th 2016 at 7:49:58 PM

We'll have to see whether or not her case responds to antibiotics before breathing a sigh of relief. Antibiotic resistance is a thing these days. Given her age, it's also statistically more likely than usual that the bacteria involved is Legionella pneumophila (compared to a younger person with atypical pneumonia), aka Legionnaire's disease, which is one of the nastier forms of atypical pneumonia, and I recall there was an outbreak some time in mid August.

edited 12th Sep '16 7:59:58 PM by CaptainCapsase

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#138331: Sep 12th 2016 at 7:51:39 PM

Also, I believe that my case took longer (about 3 weeks) to resolve because it was viral and that's harder to treat.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#138332: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:09:54 PM

So This is a thing...

Yeah, that's not how you take on /b/, Clinton.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#138333: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:15:01 PM

So This is a thing...

Yeah, that's not how you take on /b/, Clinton.

That's actually pretty good, given who her target audience for that sort of article is. Hint: it's not people who already know what those memes are.

edited 12th Sep '16 8:15:53 PM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#138334: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:25:13 PM

And Trump is already using ads to attack Clinton for her "basket of deplorables" comment.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
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
#138335: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:26:03 PM

Short of throwing out Vice's history of Pepe and co., this is as good as it gets for the relatively uninformed.

I must admit that Cap's post made me think that someone on the website decided to anon it up...

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#138336: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:27:48 PM

My pneumonia was mycoplasma, which is a particularly difficult one to treat because it takes a week or more for the lab results to come back for it.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#138337: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:27:53 PM

[up][up][up][up] Yes, but r/the-Donald (and r/politics, more or less the polar opposite politically) are laughing their asses off. This is why you don't feed the trolls.

Like, for God's sake, we have the leading candidate for President seriously discussing Pepe the Frog on her campaign website. This election cycle is absolutely nuts.

edited 12th Sep '16 8:35:41 PM by CaptainCapsase

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#138338: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:35:26 PM

You're going to get the bad end of those places no matter what so I'm not sure it matters.

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#138339: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:40:54 PM

When is the first debate?

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#138340: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:42:08 PM

[up]September 26. So it's still a couple of weeks off.

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#138341: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:43:35 PM

So it's possible Clinton will pull through her pneumonia and Trump will say something even dumber that'll bring his polls down, allowing Clinton to crush him in the debates.

I know we have every right to be worried about a Trump presidency, but I still doubt he'll be elected.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#138342: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:50:07 PM

[up]Debate performance tends to influence poll numbers, not the other way around.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#138343: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:51:40 PM

[up][up]Same here. Still, just on the offchance that Trumpy gets into office, anyone know how to to get a passport for Canada? Either that or Mexico; I'm not too picky.tongue

edited 12th Sep '16 8:52:25 PM by kkhohoho

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#138344: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:54:10 PM

Trump is gonna perform horribly in the debate anyways, I don't see the worry.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
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
#138345: Sep 12th 2016 at 8:57:57 PM

Trump is trying to get rid of the debate moderators.

Although given the insane softballing the media has been doing with Trump, I doubt any moderator would try to stop him from attempting a Gish Gallop.

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#138346: Sep 12th 2016 at 9:05:11 PM

As discussing Pepe the Frog is as much a product of the internet age as it is the bigotry present in Trump's supporters, it's entirely possible that future presidential candidates will also have pages on their websites discussing memes that pop up in political discourse. So I don't think it's really a ridiculous or bad thing to have one page that discusses the imagery being used here. If anything is ridiculous, it's that the alt right has made it necessary to discuss the imagery they're using so the wider audience can understand the intended message.

[up]So basically he's trying to ensure that he can just talk and talk without anyone to stop him.

edited 12th Sep '16 9:07:11 PM by AceofSpades

golgothasArisen Since: Jan, 2015
#138348: Sep 12th 2016 at 9:10:32 PM

I honestly have seen no political ads on tv aside from the same three Hillary for America clips.

"If you spend all your heart / On something that has died / You are not alive and that can't be a life"
Nightlikeday Teller of secret stories. Since: Sep, 2016 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Teller of secret stories.
#138349: Sep 12th 2016 at 9:16:50 PM

I'm inclined to think most of us internet folk are in the minority of vocal speakers. There are few forums it is socially acceptable to support Trump. Even in an anonymous site like this, few would admit liking him. Think about it.

We don't know each other's real names, some of us use anime avatars, and yet it is still taboo.

Anonymous sites like 4chan's /b have a lot of people that are underage, or that aren't even American. They seek to "troll" others. So, I don't think they're that reliable.

Yet, the polls clearly show Trump has a lot more supporters than those that are publicly saying it on the Internet. He has enough people backing him up for us to seriously fear he might win.

edited 12th Sep '16 9:23:01 PM by Nightlikeday

I know the truth—darkness beats light. Visit my DA: I'll share my secrets stories with you.
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
#138350: Sep 12th 2016 at 9:29:15 PM

Social media is the leading zone on the Internet where racist get to congratulate themselves and reinforce their views. Their demographics are pretty different from, say, here. Even 4chan is becoming the domain of the "normies" they claim to despise so much.

Trump does pretty badly in the "not cis white male" demographics, though, and hopefully someone remembers to rip him a new one in the debates regarding his complete lack of policy that doesn't involve nativism, bigotry and ignorance.

Regardless, the standards of political discourse in the US now frequently include rationalization of disproportionate use of force by law enforcement on minorities, misogyny, white supremacism and rampant dehumanization of LGBTQ people. Trump is a good summary of the entire thing, but there's been a pretty bad structural failure as well.

Reminder: "Basket of deplorables" is still pretty tame.

edited 12th Sep '16 9:30:39 PM by Krieger22

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

Total posts: 417,856
Top