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
#165651: Jan 7th 2017 at 12:56:38 PM

The Republicans coming around to Putin isn't simply a case of enemy of my enemy, in many ways Trump's base and other right wing neo-nationalist movements view Putin as "one of them", and a very real way he is the Ur-Example of the kind of strongman Trump and his counterparts overseas aspire to become.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#165652: Jan 7th 2017 at 1:01:20 PM

[up][tup]

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#165653: Jan 7th 2017 at 1:02:45 PM

Republicans wanting to be ruled, and Democrats wanting to be Governed?

New Survey coming this weekend!
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#165654: Jan 7th 2017 at 1:09:21 PM

@Tactical Fox: I don't know how much stock I'd put into that. This is a Russian Diplomat, after all, and we have several Republican Senators and Congressmen/women that actively acknowledge and condemn Russia's interference.

This could be Putin's new angle: He tampered with the Election, got caught, and is now intentionally trying to make Republicans look worse then they already do. Either that, or Mr. Pushkov is referring to every day Republicans.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#165655: Jan 7th 2017 at 1:12:03 PM

Pushkov also talked at length about how it's Obama and Clinton, he used their names, who are undermining American democracy by falsely accusing Russia of interfering.

Oh really when?
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#165656: Jan 7th 2017 at 1:12:41 PM

[up][up]More or less, yeah. They see Putin as a Great Man, in terms of the Great Man Theory. It's the premise that history is defined by the actions of a rare few Great Men, individuals of tremendous intelligence, influence, courage, etc. who stepped up out of the shadows of time to do Great Things that shaped the course of human history.

Everyone else is basically just worthless garbage whose opinions are unfit for acknowledgment, but those Great Men are titanic gods among men who should be worshipped by the teeming masses for their incredible qualities.

Trump's campaign revolved around the Great Man theory. Remember his words at the RNC? "I, alone, can fix it!" This is the image he molded of himself: that he is one of those Great Men, ready to step up and singlehandedly save America, needing no more experience than his own inherent Greatness.

Trump gets on well with Putin because Putin similarly presents himself as one of history's earth-shattering Great Men, and the Republicans rally around them because their small-government philosophy revolves heavily around clearing out what they essentially see as the human clutter that is democracy and paving the road for Great Men to step up and lead the way.

They also get on very well with Christians because Christianity, too, revolves around the principle of Great Men - especially the one Great Man for whom the faith is named. It is not by accident that the Republicans directly compared Trump to Christ this December, celebrating the coming of our "new king".

This worldview ultimately forms the basis of a lot of Republican decisions and policy.

edited 7th Jan '17 1:17:15 PM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#165657: Jan 7th 2017 at 4:53:32 PM

Trumps core supporters will forgive him anything if they think hes trying to get them jobs. The rest of his supporters, however, are going to demand he deliver the goods.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#165658: Jan 7th 2017 at 5:18:42 PM

https://twitter.com/maturetrumptwts?lang=en

This probably the most amazing parody account ever.

It's Trump's tweets as if written by a Mature adult.

New Survey coming this weekend!
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#165659: Jan 7th 2017 at 5:46:39 PM

[up]Continuing from there, remeber when Billy West was doing Trump quotes in character as Zapp Brannigan? Mark Hamill decided to join the fun, Meet the Trumpster

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#165660: Jan 7th 2017 at 5:48:29 PM

It's from the Star Trek Mirror Universe. Presidential Trump is the last gasp of democracy before Goatee'd Obama strikes back.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#165661: Jan 7th 2017 at 5:53:07 PM

[up]And, shock of all shocks, there really is a Crooked Hilary over there!

IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#165662: Jan 7th 2017 at 5:59:59 PM

[up][up]What? This is the mirror universe. In the good timeline Trump lost by landslide, Podesta's account wasn't hacked, and Hillary's emails were forgotten in the news cycle by the time of the conventions.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#165663: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:13:16 PM

No, see: that's the Mirror Universe, this is the Bad Timeline.

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#165664: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:18:26 PM

God, that Mature Trump account just makes me sad...

It's been fun.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#165665: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:32:48 PM

I think the funniest/most salient part to me oddly enough is the icon.

Mature Trump accepts that he's old and balding and doesn't wear a ridiculous toupee, which instead of making him younger and hipper just makes him look gross, boorish and skeevy.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#165666: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:39:42 PM

Apparently Trump lets people pull on his hair to prove it's real. I have seriously considered putting myself in such a position, and just ripping the damn thing off, real hair or no.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165667: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:40:49 PM

The ensuing squeal of piggish pain would be more than worth the subsequent lifetime in Guantanamo.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#165669: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:42:54 PM

Mature Trump doesn't like taxes, but understands that taxes pay for niceties like roads and healthcare.

Mature Trump is a fairly ruthless businessman, but believes that long-term investments are more profitable than just screwing your partners.

Mature Trump is willing to invest in green technology to boost American business, even if he has doubts about the severity of climate change.

Mature Trump isn't quite up to speed with the civil rights movement, but he's not going to fuck over someone just because they don't see eye-to-eye.

Mature Trump is aware he's inexperienced in government, which is why he's filling his cabinet with experienced veterans.

God, I've made myself sad.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#165670: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:46:35 PM

Have you seen the Doonesbury book "Yuge". Trudeau has been making fun of him for decades. Reading it now is just an exercise in sad futility.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#165671: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:48:48 PM

Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Trumplings fail to see what the big deal is with Russian meddling.

I know it should come as no surprise, but I still can't help be be freshly appalled at every new display of gross ignorance, or lack of fundamental morals.

I think it's safe to say at this point that for his worshipers to turn on him, Trump would have to start fucking them over in visible, day-to-day ways. And that's not as easy of a proposition as it seems, when you remember their sheer disconnect from reality, and their eagerness to blame liberals for literally everything. All he has to do is go "don't believe the media - it's actually the Democrats' fault that you're now living in a radioactive refrigerator box!" and most of them will eat it up.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#165672: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:53:47 PM

[up]I think the worst of that is, those Trumplings being interviewed are not a bunch of angry teens and twenty-somethings; those are retirement age people who lived through the escalations of the 80's and several are old enough to remember the 60's and the Cuban Missile Crisis. One thing to learn abut this stuff from a book and be derisive of "exaggeration", something else entirely to reject reality because you don't like it. Seriously, WTFF.

FluffyMcChicken My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare from where the floating lights gleam Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
#165673: Jan 7th 2017 at 6:55:54 PM

[up][up]

"fucking them over"

Now you've got me imagining him going full Caligula, demanding access to senators' wives in Congress and ordering women he finds attractive to kneel before him in the streets. I'm anticipating his personal codename to be "Incitatus" or "High Horse".

Newsweek: A look at Thomas Hardiman, a possible Trump Supreme Court nominee

edited 7th Jan '17 6:56:37 PM by FluffyMcChicken

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#165674: Jan 7th 2017 at 7:02:01 PM

This is more Pop Culture then Politics, but it involves Donald Trump, and he's going to be President, so...

Arnold Schwarzenegger fires back at Pres-Elect Trump, who Criticized him for the Ratings of The New Celebrity Apprentice: "I Hope you'll work for ALL the American People as hard as you worked for your ratings".

edited 7th Jan '17 7:02:19 PM by DingoWalley1

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#165675: Jan 7th 2017 at 7:12:26 PM

Not surprised, Arnold is one of the best people in the Republican party atm even though he's pretty much retired from politics at this point. Previously he had already said he was not voting for Trump.


Total posts: 417,856
Top