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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.

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.

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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

Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#138651: Sep 15th 2016 at 11:06:09 AM

They do. The problem is you don't really "warm up" a gas chamber, which gives the impression that Trump was consciously going for a Holocaust joke/metaphor, but conflated/mixed up gas chambers and crematoria.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#138652: Sep 15th 2016 at 11:07:28 AM

So, he's going back to the old "crime and punishment" hobby-horse of the right, which is that we should not be trying to rehabilitate criminals, but rather we should deter crime by making punishments as brutal as possible. They tried that before, you know — like, for almost all of human history. It never worked.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
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
#138653: Sep 15th 2016 at 11:16:15 AM

Speaking of crime and punishment, Alabamans want to shoot Kapernik and anyone else who doesn't stand for the anthem. Via military firing squad.

An Alabama pastor delivered a message on Friday that was not found in any Bible passage. He told the crowd at a high school football game to rise for the national anthem... or get shot.

“If you don’t want to stand for the National Anthem, you can line up over there by the fence and let our military personnel take a few shots AT you since they’re taking shots FOR you,” Pastor Allen Joyner said before a game in Mc Kenzie, Alabama, according to a now-deleted Facebook post that was preserved in a number of places online: (see screenshot at the link)

The post noted there was “crazy cheering” after the incendiary comments.

School officials quickly denounced Joyner, who announces football games at Mc Kenzie High School in addition to serving as pastor at the Sweet Home Baptist Church.

“Patriotism should be a part of school events but threats of shooting people who aren’t patriotic, even in jest, have no place at a school,” Butler County Schools Superintendent Amy Bryan told AL.com. “Threats of violence are a violation of school policy and certainly not condoned by the school board.”

It’s not clear if Joyner will continue to serve as announcer.

The church initially defended Joyner’s comments on Facebook, saying they were “taken out of context and misquoted,” AL.com reported. However, that post and the church’s entire Facebook presence were later deleted.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked a national debate in recent weeks after he refused to stand during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. The gesture has since spread throughout the league.

Joyner has not responded to a request for comment from The Huffington Post. This article will be updated if he responds.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Nightlikeday Teller of secret stories. Since: Sep, 2016 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Teller of secret stories.
#138654: Sep 15th 2016 at 11:33:13 AM

I don't think crime's punishment should be brutal. I don't support cruel and unusual punishment.That being said, some people are really just irredeemable and really deserve to be punished.

Mass murderers,genocide, rapists, pedophiles, hate crimes etc.

You've done it yourself. You've banned people from this site without bothering about "rehabilitating them." Yes this isn't the government. I still don't think that would be an unfair comparition. A forum is nothing but a society and its administrators do mirror a government.

I do support rehabilitating people just to be clear. Just not for everyone.

edited 15th Sep '16 11:50:21 AM by Nightlikeday

I know the truth—darkness beats light. Visit my DA: I'll share my secrets stories with you.
ZeroPoint Since: Feb, 2013
#138655: Sep 15th 2016 at 11:43:05 AM

I was following this election with sheer joy at Trump's numbers being so low. It gave me hope in humanity for the first time in a while.

One stumble later, and it's all gone back. Now this monster might lead the world to a climate apocalypse.

I don't want to live through the end of the world. Help.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#138656: Sep 15th 2016 at 11:45:44 AM

I'm mostly pissed the end of the apocalypse is probably gonna be some sort of Waterworld thing. I was so not ready for that. I was hoping for a Mad Max desert thing.

I should buy a boat.

Oh really when?
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
#138657: Sep 15th 2016 at 11:50:02 AM

Donald Trump Jr. defended Trump Sr.'s decision to not release his tax returns, claiming that doing so would distract from his campaign narrative.

I fully expect a media wankfest along the lines of "BUT HILLARY COUGHED ONCE!" instead of covering this or the contents of the Newsweek story. Maybe PBS might pick it up...

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
thatguythere47 Since: Jul, 2010
#138658: Sep 15th 2016 at 12:02:22 PM

@Garcon: You can come up north to the shield, if the water ever makes it this high up we've got other problems.

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?
ZeroPoint Since: Feb, 2013
#138659: Sep 15th 2016 at 12:39:23 PM

...OK; seriously. This is the part where you're supposed to say something encouraging. For the record, my therapist claims I am not depressed and that "everything will be fine because it always is", my family is horribly controlling and I have almost no friends. How do I feel hope again?

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#138660: Sep 15th 2016 at 12:43:05 PM

...That's not what this thread is for.

edited 15th Sep '16 1:02:55 PM by LSBK

Psyclone Since: Jan, 2001
#138661: Sep 15th 2016 at 12:44:31 PM

Please see a new therapist.

edited 15th Sep '16 12:45:09 PM by Psyclone

Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#138662: Sep 15th 2016 at 12:46:49 PM

Hilary's still winning by a fair bit- really the gradual decline the polls has seen was mostly just the post-convention bounce wearing off- this pneumonia scare was the only thing that seems to have put Trump above his average point for this race, which is still not a winning position. Plus we have the debate coming up, where Hillary is expected to do well.

All signs point to a result similar to Obama win against Romney in 2012.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#138663: Sep 15th 2016 at 1:01:53 PM

Zero, this is the US politics thread, not the mental health thread. We had this problem before, with a whole lot of people posting basically the same thing you just did, and it bogged things down unnecessarily. If you genuinely want to discuss politics, fine, but we're not here to soothe your anxiety specifically, or entertain your hyberbolic statements of sure doom. There are other threads on this forum where you can actually find that sort of support, but it's not here and it's probably not in the OTC. Try Yackfest.

edited 15th Sep '16 1:02:33 PM by AceofSpades

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#138664: Sep 15th 2016 at 1:39:18 PM

These things all swing. The "health scare" is totally bogus, as we will see going forward. You need a change in the fundamentals to really swing an election like this, even if depressing Dem turnout might be simply a matter of mere media arglebargle.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#138665: Sep 15th 2016 at 1:47:54 PM

[up] That's really not the case, unfortunately. For all the talk about demographics, the actual tipping point where things become untenable for a GOP solely built on the white vote doesn't seem likely until perhaps a decade from now.

edited 15th Sep '16 1:59:35 PM by CaptainCapsase

ZeroPoint Since: Feb, 2013
#138666: Sep 15th 2016 at 2:13:27 PM

@Ace Of Spades: OK, I'll go there. Thank you and sorry for disturbing you.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#138667: Sep 15th 2016 at 2:16:09 PM

In other news, I may be participating in some phone-banking and awareness actions, with some other people on campus. It's a bit surprising that the one who's starting this up is also the president of the Veterans Association or something like that, but, there are all kinds.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#138668: Sep 15th 2016 at 2:34:16 PM

You do realize he intended to travel further but got stuck in Russia because the US revoked his passport?

Yeah, I've heard that version of the story. He was trying to get to Ecuador, but because the U.S. revoked his passport, he got stranded in Russia - which was just supposed to be a layover, since it's right between the United States and Latin America.

Issue is, I've looked at a map a couple times in my life. I mean, I admit there are a lot of countries I could not for the life of me tell you where they go, but still, the most glaring issue I've found in the story is basic geography. There is basically no way to accidentally wind up in Russia on your way from the United States to Ecuador.

Regarding Clinton's pneumonia

My position on this is the same as my position on any and all other "health concerns" about her: Worst case scenario, she wins the election and then immediately drops dead on the spot, and we're stuck with four years of America's Step-Dad as President.

This still sounds to me like a preferable alternative to a Trump presidency. The only way the health issues are in any way a concern is if you think Trump is a superior alternative to Tim Kaine.

... And those rules specified that in case of a man armed with a gun and trying to commit Suicide by Cop, the primary course of action is to fatally shoot him rather than talk him into giving himself up?

My thoughts exactly. Shooting someone who is immediately recognizable as trying to commit Suicide by Cop is an assisted suicide. That's actually a crime!

Where are these "Shoot anyone who is holding a gun immediately because all people with guns are threats to the lives of police!" policies when it's the Oath Holders? Or the Bundy Militia? Or half of Texas?

edited 15th Sep '16 2:35:15 PM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#138669: Sep 15th 2016 at 2:36:28 PM

You know perfectly well where they are when the Oathkeepers are out patrolling neighborhoods.

Hell a fair number of them are actually Oathkeepers

Oh really when?
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#138670: Sep 15th 2016 at 3:01:04 PM

[up][up] Uh, Russia is nowhere close to Latin America. In fact, it's just west of the US and Canada.

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#138671: Sep 15th 2016 at 3:03:54 PM

Sanders is calling for Snowden's pardon?

Okay, I'm convinced.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#138672: Sep 15th 2016 at 3:03:57 PM

[up][up]That's the point.

edited 15th Sep '16 3:06:41 PM by LeGarcon

Oh really when?
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#138673: Sep 15th 2016 at 3:04:01 PM

[up][up][up]Your sarcasm detector appears to have misfired.

edited 15th Sep '16 3:04:16 PM by Gilphon

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
#138674: Sep 15th 2016 at 3:25:53 PM

[up]X3 He's not, he is calling for a deal to be made where Snowden serves a sentence but is not execute or locked away for life.

[up]X5 In fairness one can accidentally end up in Russia if one uses Julian Assange as a travel consultant, because that's where Assange will send you.

I think Snowden got talked into going to Russia by Assange, then realised that he was you know, in Russia, tried to leave but was to late.

edited 15th Sep '16 3:28:09 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#138675: Sep 15th 2016 at 3:32:03 PM

[up]That's fair enough for me.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

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