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
#156701: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:29:51 PM

[up] And the US could happily veto any attempts at reprisal coming via the UN, as we have numerous times in the past, and as every Security Council member does when their interests are threatened.

edited 18th Nov '16 2:30:09 PM by CaptainCapsase

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#156702: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:31:37 PM

Is it possible if you live in a blue state to contact lawmakers in other, redder states and argue to them about resisting Trump? For example, pointing out his capriciousness, unwillingness to follow the party line, willingness to sell out our international hegemony to foreign actors, and so on?

edited 18th Nov '16 2:32:41 PM by AlleyOop

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#156703: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:32:22 PM

[up][up] They would still be 'unlawful combatants' and subject to the Geneva Conventions and the Military Commissions Act that Mitch Mc Connell introduced in 2006 and Bush signed.

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
#156704: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:32:28 PM

Yes. They will prioritize you lower, of course, since you don't represent their constituency, but still.

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
#156705: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:33:48 PM

[up][up] Once again, that assumes congress won't just bend the knee and do whatever Emperor Trump commands lest his cult of personality force them out of office.

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#156706: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:34:50 PM

One point of argument is that Trump is so capricious that many of them will find themselves at his mercy even if they do fall step in line with him.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#156707: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:36:12 PM

[up] He's not capricious when it comes to ensuring his key supporters are kept loyal, that kind of dealing is probably the one thing Trump is actually good at. A better point of argument is "what happens to you if Trump decides he doesn't need you any more?"

edited 18th Nov '16 2:36:30 PM by CaptainCapsase

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#156708: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:39:29 PM

And if I claimed to be speaking on behalf of less English-fluent relatives in Kansas they would still believe me right? I mean, it's actually true, but I have no way of proving that to them and I don't know if they would appreciate their names being put out like that.

Anyway, as far as the damage a Pence presidency could cause, remember it took only seven years for DOMA to be instated then repealed, even with a conservative court.

edited 18th Nov '16 2:42:43 PM by AlleyOop

Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#156709: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:41:07 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has agreed to pay $25 million to settle three lawsuits against his now-defunct Trump University, the New York attorney general’s office announced Friday.

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#156711: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:48:04 PM

[up] He's not capricious when it comes to ensuring his key supporters are kept loyal, that kind of dealing is probably the one thing Trump is actually good at. A better point of argument is "what happens to you if Trump decides he doesn't need you any more?"
Then why were Gingrich and Christie purged. Those two were basically sucking his proverbial tit and he still dropped them.

edited 18th Nov '16 2:48:35 PM by PotatoesRock

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#156712: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:48:40 PM

[up] "The keys to getting into power are not (necessarily) the same as the keys to staying in power."

To use tropespeak, they Outlived Their Usefulness. We should try to appeal to Republican lawmakers to oppose Trump, particularly establishment Republicans, on the grounds that they could be next, since that's much more likely to work than an appeal to their better nature.

edited 18th Nov '16 2:51:44 PM by CaptainCapsase

Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#156713: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:50:24 PM

The Democratic Party will hit a new low in state legislative seats after suffering more losses in November’s elections, highlighting the devastation up and down the party across the nation.

Democrats need to work on their ground. They haven't held the majority of seats since 2010.

So Trump won with less votes than Romney won with.

Actually the most recent stats show that he got 200k more vote than Romney did. Though he is still a million short of Clinton.

From Wikipedia

Romney: 60,933,504 Obama: 65,915,795

Trump: 61,003,417 Clinton: 62,115,634

edited 18th Nov '16 2:51:04 PM by Demonic_Braeburn

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#156714: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:56:43 PM

We don't know exactly why Gingrich and Christie were purged, and whether it was Trump's, Kushner's, or Bannon's actions, or whether the Republican establishment held them back.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#156715: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:58:41 PM

[up][up]Ah, you're right. Though unless I really suck a subtraction, that's a difference of less than 70,000.

Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#156716: Nov 18th 2016 at 2:59:30 PM

Christie I think partly because of Bridgegate but also partly because he was critical of Trump's sexual assault related comments and at least used to be non-Islamophobic. Gingritch goes back and forth in terms of sanity too.

Basically, I don't think their being fired is a good sign because they'd be the voice of reason (such as it is).

nervmeister Since: Oct, 2010
#156717: Nov 18th 2016 at 3:02:17 PM

Saw something interesting just now. Razorfist recently did a vid explaining Trump's win, and while I know that as an unapologetic right-winger, he's unappealing to a good amount of tropers who frequent this thread (especially language-wise), he does something pretty shocking 2/3s of the way through by actually, sincerely reaching out to Hillary supporters (as in dropped his usual persona, removed his shades, and calmly let them know he understands their worries). That.....was unexpected.

edited 18th Nov '16 3:04:10 PM by nervmeister

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#156718: Nov 18th 2016 at 3:17:23 PM

@ Ambar Sonof Deshar from previous page: I'm sorry that happened to your father. Obviously I was referring to responsible use as not dangerous, not the addicts that put themselves and others in harm. IMO it should be legal at the national level but, as with alcohol, there should be a legal limit when out in public.

Sorry, I'm just sick of the anti-marijuana smear campaign/overly-aggressive war-on-drugs that's been going on for the better part of 80+ years, especially since Sessions is apparently fond on continuing it.

edited 18th Nov '16 3:19:05 PM by speedyboris

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#156719: Nov 18th 2016 at 3:19:21 PM

[up] Especially since it's basically used as a tool to discriminate against African Americans.

Things you can do to try to get your senators to oppose Jeff Sessions as AG. No idea if it'll work but it's important to engage where you can, since I know some of the tropers here live in red states.

Those worried about Sessions' past behavior can call their senators to protest Session's appointment to attorney general. Luckily, presidents require Senate approval for the appointment of attorney general (and many other executive positions), and citizens can call their senators to weigh in on the decision. To do so, find your senator's phone number at this link and give their office a call. Give them your name, address, and tell them you're a constituent of the senator's area. Then you can say something along the lines of:

"I'm calling to ask [Senator's name] to block Jeff Sessions from the position of attorney general."

You can outline why you believe Sessions is unsuited for the role, and explain your reasoning. Senators are meant to represent and defend their constituents' desires in the Senate, and in fact, being re-elected to their post depends on it. With enough pressure, senators will need to acknowledge constituents' opposition to Sessions and vote against him. So if you're concerned about Sessions becoming the United States' next attorney general, find your senator's phone number, ring their office, and then inform your friends that they have a say, too.

edited 18th Nov '16 3:20:10 PM by AlleyOop

GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#156720: Nov 18th 2016 at 3:30:35 PM

Also on Christie, he apparently was the person who sent Kushner's father to prison for fraud, so there might be a grudge there involved as well.

Wizard Needs Food Badly
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#156721: Nov 18th 2016 at 3:47:27 PM

Obviously I was referring to responsible use as not dangerous, not the addicts that put themselves and others in harm.

And I can respect that. I just have a serious problem with people saying "it's not dangerous" and leaving it at that. I think that statement is in and of itself inherently dangerous; most of the addicts that I've known (and I've known a lot) have, at one point or another, fed me a version of that.

As a society I think we've done a relatively decent job of getting people to understand that alcohol has the potential to be very destructive. I'm not sure, as we move towards decriminalization or legalization that we're doing a very good job with marijuana. I've met a lot of younger people who tell me "it's harmless and that's why it will be legal soon" or some variant of that, and that's very concerning to me—after all, if somebody told you alcohol was harmless, you'd probably worry, right?

I've also met a lot of people, who, while fully aware that driving drunk is a bad idea, are incapable of wrapping their heads around the notion that driving stoned is an equally bad idea. As you can imagine, that's an issue that's pretty near and dear to me. Again, it seems to stem from a belief, expressed to me repeatedly, that the drug is completely harmless and they don't need to fear a loss of control.

Long story short, while I'm in favour of legalization, I worry that those of us arguing for it may have done too good a job of downplaying the dangers, and I think we need to address that before it becomes even more widely available.

GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#156722: Nov 18th 2016 at 4:22:59 PM

[up] I think the issue here is that pro-marijuana people have a tough time explaining that marijuana is as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco are. Yes, marijuana should be legal, but only as legal as alcohol and tobacco are which have sin taxes, age and location restrictions, and not being able to drive while under the influence. Certainly, marijuana is not as harmful as heroin or cocaine, but it should be assumed to be as harmful as alcohol and tobacco are and treated as such.

edited 18th Nov '16 4:26:19 PM by GameGuruGG

Wizard Needs Food Badly
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#156724: Nov 18th 2016 at 4:27:40 PM

[up][up]The problem is that in the push to make it clear it's not heroin or meth they seem to have forgotten that it is at least as bad as booze—or at least forgotten to share that with the next generation. Again, the number of people I've met, most of them younger than me, who tell me it's totally harmless or so much safer than alcohol, or pick your inaccurate claim.

edited 18th Nov '16 4:28:11 PM by AmbarSonofDeshar

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#156725: Nov 18th 2016 at 4:29:44 PM

[up][up] Let's hope they listened to a certain Carl Schurz on this.


Total posts: 417,856
Top