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

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#155951: Nov 16th 2016 at 7:50:07 PM

Emails won't do anything, they've got scripts to deal with those. Letters tend to be ignored.

It's actually phone calls that do the most. They have to physically answer those and can't hang up on you. You'll still just get random staffers but it'll make a lot of noise and fuss and they'll have to address all the traffic.

Oh really when?
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#155952: Nov 16th 2016 at 7:50:33 PM

[up] It is at the very least harder to ignore a pile of letters on your desk than a full email inbox.

But I can see phone calls being even harder to ignore.

edited 16th Nov '16 7:51:09 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#155953: Nov 16th 2016 at 7:54:47 PM

One of my old acquaintances, who could have been considered proto alt-right 8 years ago, shared the "Keep Bannon out of White House" petition and essentially renounced Trump and everything he stands for.

Glad to know at least some of the people I used to know have some fucking sense.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#155954: Nov 16th 2016 at 7:57:42 PM

So apparently Sanders has had a new position created for him called something something of Outreach, Schumer's the DNC chair, Warren is vice chair, and now they need someone to be the Opposition.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#155955: Nov 16th 2016 at 7:58:49 PM

[up] Maybe Ellison, since a lot of people were backing him for DNC chair?

Wait, I'm pretty sure you have it backwards, Schumer is senate minority leader still, DNC chair is undecided, possibly Ellison since a fair number of major democrats beyond Sanders backed him.

edited 16th Nov '16 8:01:57 PM by CaptainCapsase

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#155956: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:03:14 PM

Here is a list of contact information for Senators, Representatives, and other important people, including addresses and phone numbers. I encourage everyone to call their representatives (small R) about Bannon especially - we can't let Trump normalize him.

It's been fun.
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#155957: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:07:48 PM

Welp. I'm moving to Canada or maybe Spain.

Canada is more remote and less likely for people to bother it.

But I can get my citizenship in Spain faster.

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#155958: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:08:12 PM

Also what are the chances that Truml calls up the draft for a war against Iran?

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#155959: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:09:43 PM

[up][up] I would advise against Spain. Or Canada. Or really moving anywhere. I don't think anywhere is safe; it's entirely possible in the next year that France, the Netherlands, and Italy will elect their own Trumpist candidates, and at that point the EU is more or less dead in the water, leaving Germany as the last bastion of liberal democracy in the world.

edited 16th Nov '16 8:10:04 PM by CaptainCapsase

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#155960: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:11:44 PM

The irony of that is darkly amusing.

The most famous fascist state in history, now the last bastion of liberal democracy in a world gone mad?

It's almost poetic.

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#155961: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:12:21 PM

"Donald Trump's rise was a triumph of fear. "

"Donald trump, you have been chosen for your ability to install fear, welcome to the siniestro corps"

.....just saying

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#155962: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:12:31 PM

[up][up] Alongside Japan I suppose. Which just makes it even more darkly amusing.

For good measure, let's suppose Italy somehow dodges Trumpism. The Axis back together again with a Heel–Face Turn.

edited 16th Nov '16 8:14:24 PM by CaptainCapsase

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#155963: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:12:50 PM

I probably did get it backwards, what all these different jobs do tend to escape me sometimes. Like, I was unaware that the DNC and the RNC didn't have to be currently holding a public office because I don't think Priebus was before he got brought into Trumps fold? Or do the parties have different but unofficial requirements?

KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#155964: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:13:57 PM

[up][up] I don't know, I've heard of right-wing leanings in the Japanese Government, including the Prime Minister.

I mean, not Trump levels, but still...

edited 16th Nov '16 8:14:15 PM by KarkatTheDalek

Oh God! Natural light!
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#155965: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:15:06 PM

[up] Japan is fairly culturally conservative, but there isn't a huge reactionary wave building like there is in the west, as far as I'm aware at least.

KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#155966: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:17:25 PM

I wouldn't say a reactionary wave, but there does seem like there might be a growing nationalist sentiment.

I'm hardly an expert on Japan, though - other people here might know more.

Oh God! Natural light!
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#155967: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:18:50 PM

Trump won't call up a draft short of a real crisis, he does and he'll face massive protests and a general strike. Plus, the military doesn't like the idea of unmotivated and poorly trained conscripts.

[up]That's mostly in relation to WW 2 related denialism.

edited 16th Nov '16 8:20:17 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#155968: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:18:57 PM

For good measure, let's suppose Italy somehow dodges Trumpism. The Axis back together again with a Heel–Face Turn.

The last hope for humanity, confronted with the chance for an ultimate redemption.

Damn that would be an awesome story.

I wouldn't say a reactionary wave, but there does seem like there might be a growing nationalist sentiment.

They have their own "alt-right" (ultranationalists on 8chan) and historical revionist far-right but I have no idea if they're poised to gain any power in the immediate future.

edited 16th Nov '16 8:20:51 PM by Draghinazzo

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#155969: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:24:52 PM

Relevant:

Germany excited to finally be good guy in next World War

https://www.thebeaverton.com/2016/08/germany-excited-to-finally-be-good-guy-in-next-world-war/

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#155970: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:25:37 PM

The irony of that is darkly amusing. The most famous fascist state in history, now the last bastion of liberal democracy in a world gone mad? It's almost poetic.
Isn't Germany supposed to be like that precisely because of what they've been through? They've seen what happens firsthand, and I've heard there's still a lot of public guilt over it. But if I've learned anything in the last week, it's not to take anything for granted, bet I'm not the only person who's said that.

So about the Electoral College: What I've gathered here is that, even if faithless electors flipped the election for Clinton, it would undermine her legitimacy as president, right? And also that the party in charge is never going to get rid of the College, because that is what elected them. But if at least a few electors go against their state (which, to be fair, is probably pretty unlikely), could that scare the Republicans enough to get them to at least consider it?

On a purely symbolic level, given that one elector already said he'd vote against Clinton regardless, I'd have some more faith in people if a few would turn faithless against Trump.

LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#155971: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:26:45 PM

The irony is darkly hilarious.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#155972: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:27:29 PM

Oi, why did us Canuckians just get dismissed? We still have a Liberal Prime Minister. A fresh-faced and popular one at that.

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#155973: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:28:56 PM

I tried calling my Rep and leaving a voicemail, but when I pressed pound, it didn't give me any voicemail options.

i'm tired, my friend
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#155974: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:29:56 PM

Isn't Germany supposed to be like that precisely because of what they've been through? They've seen what happens firsthand, and I've heard there's still a lot of public guilt over it. But if I've learned anything in the last week, it's not to take anything for granted, bet I'm not the only person who's said that.

From what I understand, after WW 2 Germany made it a point to stomp on that part of history with an absolute vengeance to make sure it never happened again. They made holocaust denial a crime, and the swastika isn't allowed to be used in any context besides museums or certain pieces of art. They take it extremely seriously. It would have done Japan a lot of good to follow their example, because they didn't do that and it led to the creation of ultranationalists and historical revisionists who downplay Japan's war crimes.

Guilt isn't really a productive emotion in almost all cases but if it's kept them from going fascist again, all the better.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#155975: Nov 16th 2016 at 8:35:51 PM

The Japanese internment camps are being cited as precedent for forced Muslim registry.

We've elected Hitler, he's appointed Goebbels, now this.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."

Total posts: 417,856
Top