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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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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

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#157601: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:44:25 PM

If it came down to Mitty Romney versus Donald Trump, I would vote for Mitt Romney.

Not likely to happen, though...

It's been fun.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157602: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:45:51 PM

It's really weird to me because Trump doesn't come across as unhinged or a complete buffoon in that video. He sounds like a regular Republican who just took office.

I'm afraid way too many people are gonna buy into that and forget everything else he's done up till now.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#157603: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:46:19 PM

Some of his primary cabinet picks have deep connections with various industries and interests.

You guys think Trump might break the top 3 worst presidents list (Jackson, Buchanan and Johnson IMO) within the next four years?

As for him sounding reasonable, we'll see how long that lasts.

edited 21st Nov '16 5:47:22 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...
#157604: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:47:16 PM

He's well on his way there given the people he's chosen to serve in the White House, and he'll have MANY, MANY, MANY opportunities to be even worse.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#157605: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:47:58 PM

[up][up] Of course they do. Trump wasn't running to take the American elite down a notch, he just wanted to be part of the club.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#157606: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:47:58 PM

The conflict of interest issues alone are going to make the Grant administration (not the man himself mind you) look positively transparent.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157607: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:50:00 PM

As for him sounding reasonable, we'll see how long that lasts.

Well, it was pretty clearly a scripted series of soundbites designed to make him sound reasonable. He doesn't usually operate in that kind of environment, so it doesn't mean anything. I was just commenting on how bizarre it was.

edited 21st Nov '16 5:50:12 PM by Draghinazzo

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
#157608: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:50:11 PM

So what's to stop him from deciding to toss a nuke around if some foreign country so much as looked at him funny?

I've been told that he can't actually give such an order on his own, if he tried it would be an illegal order and the troops would be required by law to ignore it.

Also the Secret Service are next to Trump at all times, so if he tried to nuke someone because they calle him names on Twitter the Secret Service would hopefully step in.

But yeah it's a possibility and a risk, it's one we're going to have to live with for some time now.

edited 21st Nov '16 5:50:51 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
TotemicHero No longer a forum herald from the next level Since: Dec, 2009
No longer a forum herald
#157609: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:51:43 PM

My prediction is that his presidency ends up similar to that of Ulysses Grant - not very effective, mired in corruption, with just enough damage done by that to push a somewhat unhealthy compromise from the following president (in that case, Hayes ending Reconstruction, not sure yet what it would be with Trump). Not the worst, but still lower in quality than the average.

History repeats...

Edit: I see I'm not the only one making this comparison.

edited 21st Nov '16 5:52:15 PM by TotemicHero

Expergiscēre cras, medior quam hodie. (Awaken tomorrow, better than today.)
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#157610: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:52:13 PM

I'd honestly ask for a moratorium on direct-embedding anything with Trump or Pence talking in this thread.

Sincerity Mode and all.

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
#157611: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:53:10 PM

You don't have to watch it and if things are relevant people can spot them.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#157612: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:53:27 PM

[up][up] Why?

Anyway, if history is repeating, I would say Trump is the new Hoover. By which I mean his economic plans will fuck up horribly and cause a global depression.

edited 21st Nov '16 5:54:43 PM by CaptainCapsase

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#157613: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:54:43 PM

Because that's bad for my mental health, and have to imagine that's the case for others.

Nothing wrong with hyperlinking, just no direct embed, kindly.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#157614: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:55:19 PM

[up] Well I'm sorry, but Trump's now the president of the United States. If you want to avoid discussing him you should avoid the US politics thread.

edited 21st Nov '16 5:55:28 PM by CaptainCapsase

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157615: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:56:55 PM

Yeah this thread isn't exactly meant to be a safe space. Nothing wrong with being upset about the situation, but people aren't exactly doing anything wrong by embedding a video from the POTUS even if it is from Trump.

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#157616: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:57:01 PM

Not avoid discussing him, just avoid hearing him. Happy to discuss, i have a political scientist's curiosity about him and his ilk.

It's a personal goal of mine to not have to listen to him or Pence for the next four years (and hopefully not a moment longer).

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157617: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:58:26 PM

You don't have to click on the video tho. Someone like me is probably gonna do bullet points on anything he says so you won't have to.

TotemicHero No longer a forum herald from the next level Since: Dec, 2009
No longer a forum herald
#157618: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:59:20 PM

While people can summarize what he says, personally I'd think that if you wanted to avoid bias of any type, you'd want to hear it straight from the man's mouth, regardless of how you feel about him.

Your choice, I suppose.

Expergiscēre cras, medior quam hodie. (Awaken tomorrow, better than today.)
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#157619: Nov 21st 2016 at 5:59:51 PM

Aye, part of it is i'm on my older computer where Youtube isn't working right anymore.

I'd still prefer not to see it, but i get that it's more avoidable.

henry42 [REDACTED] from Western Hemisphere Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
[REDACTED]
#157620: Nov 21st 2016 at 6:00:36 PM

Trump wasn't running to take the American elite down a notch, he just wanted to be part of the club.
Precisely. He may have cloaked it in populist rhetoric, but he was never really that different from the political elite he railed against.

One does not shake the box containing the sticky notes of doom!
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#157621: Nov 21st 2016 at 6:01:06 PM

Also, I do wonder how he's going to create more jobs for the steel workers? What is it that he and the GOP can reasonably do for them at this time?

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.
#157622: Nov 21st 2016 at 6:02:15 PM

I mean, I totally understand you, Ogodai. For time being, I have no desire to listen to the man speak if I can avoid it.

Still, as long as you don't click on it, it shouldn't be a problem, right?

Oh God! Natural light!
henry42 [REDACTED] from Western Hemisphere Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
[REDACTED]
#157623: Nov 21st 2016 at 6:08:32 PM

[up] Me neither. In fact, I can't even stand to look at his face. Politics aside, this will still be an unpleasant four years.

One does not shake the box containing the sticky notes of doom!
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#157624: Nov 21st 2016 at 6:11:37 PM

[up]Assuming he isn't impeached. Or doesn't resign. Or doesn't have a heart attack. Or isn't assassinated. Or the EC can't get enough votes to replace him with an establishment Republican. Things may be looking bleak, but the fact that there are at least five different ways he can be ousted from the oval office — with some of them even looking like distinct possibilities — means that there just might be a light at the end of the tunnel.

edited 21st Nov '16 6:12:10 PM by kkhohoho

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
#157625: Nov 21st 2016 at 6:12:14 PM

Plenty of people don't watch videos, that's why it's good conduct to include at least a brief summary when posting them, but if you can't manage someone even posting a video that you don't have to watch then you need to leave this thread for your own mental wellbeing.

[up] Trump being removed won't mean we won't have a deeply unpleasant four years, just that the years will be slightly less authoritarian batshit insane, they'll still be horrible for a lot of people and a lot of people will suffer and die.

edited 21st Nov '16 6:14:12 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

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