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

optimusjamie Since: Jun, 2010
#167551: Jan 20th 2017 at 5:36:13 AM

At this point they're more like the Great Old Party.

Direct all enquiries to Jamie B Good
TrashJack Confirmed Doomer from beyond the Despair Event Horizon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Confirmed Doomer
#167552: Jan 20th 2017 at 5:37:10 AM

[up][up][up] Are there any further qualifications, or can Trump just get, say, the Secretary of Education to sign off on launching the nukes?

[up] Most of the Eldritch Abominations of the Cthulhu Mythos didn't notice or care that humanity existed beyond how much we'd notice or care about insects. Which means that the GOP is run by the one that actually loves screwing with us: Nyarlathotep.

edited 20th Jan '17 5:39:57 AM by TrashJack

"Cynic, n. — A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be." - The Devil's Dictionary
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#167553: Jan 20th 2017 at 5:39:56 AM

Also, is there a reason Trump can't just instantly fire anyone who refuses to help him launch a nuke?

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#167554: Jan 20th 2017 at 5:43:02 AM

Yeah, Betsy Devos or Ben Carson would both probably be stupid enough to sign off without bothering to find out why.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#167555: Jan 20th 2017 at 5:47:05 AM

It would be kind of hilarious if Trump ended up firing his entire Cabinet trying to find one who would sign off on a nuke with him.

Disgusted, but not surprised
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#167556: Jan 20th 2017 at 5:48:53 AM

Trump: "The missiles are flying! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

"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."
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#167557: Jan 20th 2017 at 5:56:01 AM

Guess [Assange] is betting on Trump pardoning him.
Assange hasn't even been charged with anything in the US. Which makes the whole "submitting to extradition" thing even more hilariously asinine as the US doesn't have an extradition order out for him. He's wanted for questioning in Sweden in connection with an alleged sexual assault (that happened in Sweden), and the UK is seeking to take him into custody on behalf of Sweden because he's in the UK.

Assange's stance is that the Swedish charges are trumped up as an excuse to get him into custody so he can be disappeared into a CIA black ops site. Keep in mind that this was before he was outed as a de facto Russian agent, he was just a guy who published leaked information — which isn't illegal under US law! (Leaking stuff is illegal, but publishing stuff someone leaked to you is not.)

edited 20th Jan '17 5:56:28 AM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#167558: Jan 20th 2017 at 6:03:13 AM

@Bluefish No, but if the the Joint Chiefs draw their sidearms and the Secret Service goes along with them, the opinion of POTUS becomes moot.

edited 20th Jan '17 6:03:53 AM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
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
#167559: Jan 20th 2017 at 6:03:44 AM

Assange, by Humon

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#167560: Jan 20th 2017 at 6:15:02 AM

[up][up] Which is why authoritarian leaders make a point of purging the upper ranks of anyone who exhibits signs of disloyalty. It's already begun.

We can't hang our hopes on there being someone around Trump who has the spine to literally stage a coup.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#167561: Jan 20th 2017 at 6:32:10 AM

If the Wikipedia page for the Gold Codes is anything to go by, the Secretary of Defense must be the one to verify the launch order. He can refuse, but isn't capable of an outright veto.

Although that begs the question, what happens if one simply can't be initiated to begin with because Trump memorized the wrong code?

edited 20th Jan '17 6:34:35 AM by Krieger22

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#167562: Jan 20th 2017 at 6:36:50 AM

[up][up]Also, as someone from a country that suffered from six succesful military coups, you don't want to open that door, not even with Trump.

edited 20th Jan '17 6:37:19 AM by IFwanderer

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#167563: Jan 20th 2017 at 6:39:39 AM

So basically, the only thing capable of legally stopping Trump from using nuclear weapons is...Trump. Wonderful. The alternative is a military coup, which would be catastrophic in its own way. (Although if it keeps us from nuking a country full of innocent people, I'll take it.)

If people's predictions are right, he'll go after a nation that can't fight back. At first, at least. And it'll be for a reason so petty and pointless that the civilized people of the world will be equal parts horrified and flabbergasted.

After that, maybe he'll decide that nukes are so much fun, he wants to keep using them. Remember - for the first time in history, we are electing a president who has expressed not only the desire to use nuclear weapons, but a complete lack of understanding as to why it's a bad idea.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#167564: Jan 20th 2017 at 6:54:19 AM

I wonder what country is in his sights? Iran? Russia would veto that? Mexico? Southern Republicans have economic interests there. China? Quite capable of fighting back. Some random African intervention?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#167565: Jan 20th 2017 at 6:58:03 AM

I'm seeing a few between-the-lines whispers that the Muslim ban may still be coming in a way; Trump staff are vaguely hinting towards a travel ban being imposed on countries with a dominant Muslim population and possibly the banning of immigrants from said countries veiled as homeland security matters.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#167566: Jan 20th 2017 at 6:59:31 AM

So, is anyone going to bring themselves to watch today's Nuremberg Rally?

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
#167567: Jan 20th 2017 at 7:01:21 AM

No. I refuse to give him the positive attention he wants so desperately.

I am going to go outside and have a good day, instead.

edited 20th Jan '17 7:01:59 AM by Pseudopartition

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#167568: Jan 20th 2017 at 7:02:00 AM

[up][up][up][up] I think the Middle East is probably a pretty likely target.

[up][up][up] Jesus Christ.

[up][up] Hell no. I'm not giving that monster any more ratings.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#167569: Jan 20th 2017 at 7:06:47 AM

Nope, not watching this either. I would be perfectly happy if I never had to see that jerk's face ever again.

edited 20th Jan '17 7:07:00 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#167570: Jan 20th 2017 at 7:09:43 AM

[up](For the record, the "Make America Kittens Again" extension will replace images of him with pictures of cats. It doesn't always catch everything, but it's actually lowered my stress levels.)

edited 20th Jan '17 7:10:11 AM by Pseudopartition

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#167571: Jan 20th 2017 at 7:13:36 AM

No. A friend of mine at work will be watching out of morbid curiosity, though, so I'll probably get the play-by-play.

However, there is ONE thing I'm looking forward to about the transition: We will no longer have to hear those annoying conspiracy theories that claimed Obama would suspend the elections, declare martial law, and jail anybody he sees fit. Which is, ironically, all stuff I could see Trump doing.

edited 20th Jan '17 8:07:22 AM by speedyboris

IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#167572: Jan 20th 2017 at 7:14:09 AM
Thumped: Please see The Rules . This is a warning that this post is the sort of thing that will get you suspended.
1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#167573: Jan 20th 2017 at 7:21:38 AM

Well he's already failed on some level, because Obama had over 400,000 people showing up for the inaugaration concert in 2009 while Trump had less than 10,000. And the weather was way warmer for Trump. One person pointed out that that's actually less people than would be at the National Mall on a normal day with that weather.

edited 20th Jan '17 7:22:10 AM by Zendervai

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#167574: Jan 20th 2017 at 7:24:21 AM

nm

edited 20th Jan '17 7:37:57 AM by speedyboris

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
#167575: Jan 20th 2017 at 7:25:39 AM

Well we don't know that, do we? I mean, allegedly the Trump protest movement people were all hired by George Soros or something. So conspiracy theory conspiracy theory

whisper whisper whistper

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you

Total posts: 417,856
Top