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
I mean he has something resembling diplomatic experience insofar as Exxon Mobil is practically a real life example of an N.G.O. Superpower MegaCorp, the issue is that under Tillerson the company frequently took actions that harmed American interests overseas. He's certainly more qualified for the position than Trump was for the top office.
edited 13th Jan '17 10:07:05 AM by CaptainCapsase
Maybe. The question is to what extent he's the consummate professional he presents himself as (and there are examples of that in the private sector to public sector revolving door cases) versus the suspicion that he's in this for his own gain. I suspect a bit of both, but much like I prefer Mattis as SOD over Michael Flynn, Tillerson is vastly better than Bolton.
We're faced with a choice between foreign policy from the Nixon administration, and foreign policy that wouldn't look out of place in Doctor Strangelove. The choice to me is obvious.
edited 13th Jan '17 10:13:02 AM by CaptainCapsase
That's kind of what big oil does, though. They're poisoning the planet and bleeding it dry, and getting filthy rich in the process.
Remember that $500 billion Arctic drilling deal that Exxon signed with Russia? The one could do massive damage to the environment, and was blocked by US economic sanctions? Sanctions that Tillerson will soon be in a position to lift?
"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent.""[Rex Tillerson] better watch his mouth," Chinese Media Threatens
.
Dear lord, now I know Tillerson shouldn't get the Secretariat.
Yeah, but climate change isn't an issue to old rich guys. They'll be able to hold off the worst impacts on them, at least long enough to die comfortable.
Or Trump becomes the template for a horrifying, orange skinned, strain of Super Mutants.
edited 13th Jan '17 10:46:18 AM by Rationalinsanity
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Maybe, but you'd think they would be concerned for any younger relatives or children who would likely live to see the full effects of climate change.
If anything, being turned into a ghoul or a Super Mutant would only improve Trump's looks.
edited 13th Jan '17 10:47:27 AM by M84
Disgusted, but not surprisedWhy won't American media fully investigate what could be the biggest story in U.S. political history?
I agree; I, like the majority of America, am not in Washington and can't know the full details of what's being discussed and investigated, and the media isn't doing a good job of giving this the urgency it needs. Some outlets are also very quick to denounce this as fake.
edited 13th Jan '17 10:52:08 AM by speedyboris
![]()
Their kids and relatives are likely protected by familial inheritance and similar dynastic systems, that is if their parents care enough to secure them.
I'm pretty convinced that a not insignificant part of the media is anticipating a huge windfall in ratings from the inevitable reality show nature of Trump's administration. Ergo they wouldn't want to see him leave too quickly.
When the head of CBS said something along the lines of "Trump might be bad for the country but he's good for ratings", I saw red. I also vowed never to watch CBS again.
Granted, that was pretty easy since I rarely watched CBS in the first place.
edited 13th Jan '17 10:53:32 AM by M84
Disgusted, but not surprised(Although, it's worth noting that there are many Christians (and almost certainly people of other religions as well, but I have less experience there) interpret the whole "stewardship over the Earth" thing as including environmental protection. Of course, religious Republicans have already incorporated so many contradictions with the Bible into their worldview that it's unsurprising that they don't see it this way. I'm thinking, specifically, the "love thy neighbour" and "being poor doesn't mean you deserve it" parts.)
You'd also be surprised just how many people believe that they can just sit back and let technological advances handle it, somehow - despite the fact that any plan for unlimited growth without consequences is going to ultimately run up against the laws of physics, regardless.
The only silver lining here, and we really need to cling to this, is that when the Trump regime inevitably crashes and burns itself to the ground, any movement that was vocal in their opposition to him will gain in credability (provided, of course, that they remain in touch with the needs and values of a majority of Americans).
I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Glad there's someone else who thinks it will. Because too many people here seem to think that Trump's going to set himself up as the Uber Fuhrer and rule America for generations to come. Even if they aren't saying it, they might as well be. We're giving in to fear and speculation and uncertainty, and if we keep doing that, then we might as well be handing them their dictatorship personally on a silver platter.
edited 13th Jan '17 11:49:44 AM by kkhohoho
There are too many variables to make a solid prediction. What we do know is that countries that have even stronger democratic institutions and traditions than ours have had those institutions permanently damaged by people like Trump. It's especially problematic when it isn't just a demagogic leader but a leader backed by a party that is ruled by ideology and has no respect for ethics or facts, with a committed voter base that is essentially locked in a thought bubble.
The question is whether the backlash against Trump will result in him going down in flames and being swept out of office before his administration does so much damage to our nation that it's not recoverable. But the movement that he represents isn't going to go away so easily no matter who wins in 2020, nor will all the people who get into office and/or enter the civil service and business management in the toxic environment he creates.
edited 13th Jan '17 12:02:45 PM by Fighteer
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"Reuters reports that Ben Carson & Steve Harvey are collaborating on inner city initiative.
Peace is the only battle worth waging.
About as much as Ben Carson. Actually, he almost certainly knows less, but they needed another black man, because As You Know, all blacks are from the hood.
edited 13th Jan '17 1:04:10 PM by CrimsonZephyr
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

![[up] [up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png)
Yeah, but screw Kissinger, is the thing. I couldn't care less what kind of warped ethics they may operate on. We shouldn't be normalizing them and holding them up as legitimate points of view.
"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."