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Nov 2023 Mod notice:


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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

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
#170026: Jan 26th 2017 at 9:58:51 PM

Preparing for it to be true is crucial.

There's a difference between preparing for something to happen and assuming that it is certain to happen.

Your insistence that the Dems can't retake the House is exactly the attitude that has prevented the Dems from retaking it since 2010. Because since 2010 the Dems have been convinced that the can't win the House and have thus allowed the Republicans to basically hold it without any real opposition.

Gerrymandering is a huge problem to overcome, as is what's going to be huge levels of voter suppression. But Jim Crow laws were overturned by a Congress elected under Jim Crow laws, it's possible, it's been done before.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#170027: Jan 26th 2017 at 10:03:34 PM

I was probably speaking too pessimistically when I said that the possibility had been negated, it's true. But I stand by my assessment of the situation presently at hand, and I am similarly allowed my own predictions.

You do, however, make a good point about Jim Crow laws being overturned despite being under the control of the group that established them. I don't think the situation is directly equivalent here, but it is still something to consider. (Frankly, I think we need to be taking a page out of the Civil Rights movement's book right now, in more ways than one.)

edited 26th Jan '17 10:14:15 PM by RBluefish

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#170028: Jan 26th 2017 at 10:20:50 PM

China preparing for global supremacy in the era of Trump.

As Chinese Foreign Ministry official Zhang Jun put it in a discussion with foreign journalists: "If people want to say China has taken a position of leadership, it's not because China suddenly thrust itself forward as a leader. It's because the original front-runners suddenly fell back and pushed China to the front."

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
#170029: Jan 26th 2017 at 10:24:32 PM

On the Senate I'd note that there is some hope, the numbers look bad but the Dems have a history of doing well with the Class 1 senate seats. In 1964 (before the passing of the voting rights act I might vote) while defending 25 seats to 9 Republican seats the Dems made 2 gains, in 2012 the Dems defended 21/23 seats (23 counting independents) against 10 Republicns and gained 2 seats.

Now the difference is the lack of a presidential election to boost Democrat turnout, but Trump may address that issue for us. So all hope is not lost.

Still I'd laugh so hard if we end up with 50 Dems (counting the two Dem aligned independents), 49 Republicans and Evan Mc Mullin as the senator from Utah.

edited 26th Jan '17 10:26:44 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
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#170030: Jan 26th 2017 at 10:26:34 PM

[up][up] tl;dr: China is laughing their asses off at the USA.

Wonder if China Takes Over the World will actually come to pass. I guess it depends on China being able to overcome their own internal economic woes.

edited 26th Jan '17 10:27:38 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#170031: Jan 26th 2017 at 10:33:49 PM

I do think we shouldn't discount people turning blue or running for office out of sheer hatred for trump. As others have said we strongarmed our way into power to pass the voting rights act. If anything can motivate people to do it again, it's him.

edited 26th Jan '17 10:34:04 PM by fruitpork

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
#170032: Jan 26th 2017 at 10:42:54 PM

Additionally if the border wall does end up angering people in border states due to being A: federal overreach and B expensive that's flames for the time, add in likely cost of living increase in the same states due to the Mexico tariffs and you've got the possibility of the Dems nabbing the senate seats in Texas and Arizona.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#170034: Jan 26th 2017 at 11:18:53 PM

Especially Texas since their economy pretty much depends on Mexico, so thumping Mexico as badly as Trump had suggested could very well turn Texas blue.

Wizard Needs Food Badly
Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#170035: Jan 26th 2017 at 11:22:08 PM

[up] Or in the worst case scenario,make it separate from the Union to establish a nation on their own, causing a domino effect on the other states who wish to separate as well.

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#170036: Jan 26th 2017 at 11:32:04 PM

Nah, all those Texan secessionists are now the ones who would be the most militant about stopping it from leaving.

edited 26th Jan '17 11:32:23 PM by Eschaton

Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#170037: Jan 26th 2017 at 11:32:40 PM

[up]Really? How?

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#170038: Jan 26th 2017 at 11:48:22 PM

IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS LONG SINCE NOT EVEN FUNNY.

For one, it's not feasible, even with a stupidly punishing tariff. Needs way more than that for secession to be in the offing because, hey, secession is actually illegal and would require the consent of both the state legislature and the Congress, because Texas sure as fuck doesn't have a standing army it can use to fend of the rest of the US military in this day and age. Also, with the US Congress currently being Republican led, Texas Republicans have no need to try and curry favor with secessionists at this moment. They expect to get what they want.

Seriously, I trust that the Republicans in this state know that they can't really do that kind of thing and were mostly just grossly pandering a few years ago. Also, actual secessionists are very, very few.

Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#170039: Jan 27th 2017 at 12:08:29 AM

So, blue turning if possible then.

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#170040: Jan 27th 2017 at 12:21:36 AM

Eh, possible. But while we can make some gains here I wouldn't count on it turning blue these next two elections.

GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#170041: Jan 27th 2017 at 12:27:36 AM

Yeah, get it right... This is a Republican Federal Government so it's California threatening secession and Texas who is completely loyal to the Union. If the Federal Government was in Democrat hands, then Texas would be vowing secession while California would be completely loyal. Also it would take things getting a lot worse before secession is actually a viable option. Even though Trump is horrible and the country is very divided, we aren't at the level of division there was prior to the Civil War and/or in such horrible condition as to make secession a viable option.

Wizard Needs Food Badly
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#170042: Jan 27th 2017 at 12:41:30 AM

For one, it's not feasible, even with a stupidly punishing tariff. Needs way more than that for secession to be in the offing because, hey, secession is actually illegal and would require the consent of both the state legislature and the Congress, because Texas sure as fuck doesn't have a standing army it can use to fend of the rest of the US military in this day and age. Also, with the US Congress currently being Republican led, Texas Republicans have no need to try and curry favor with secessionists at this moment. They expect to get what they want. Seriously, I trust that the Republicans in this state know that they can't really do that kind of thing and were mostly just grossly pandering a few years ago. Also, actual secessionists are very, very few.

If Trump breaks American power, keeps on the course he's pushing the country towards and gets his agenda done, the Republicans successful rig the elections even more in their favor and Trump decides he's not giving to give up power then you'll see a full on revolt.

I don't think it'd be about separating so much as taking back control of America but if it doesn't succeed then you'll see many blue states settle for making their own country. And you can bet that other countries would help us out.

Also a significant portion of the military would probably desert in those instances.

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#170043: Jan 27th 2017 at 12:51:18 AM

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/china-deploys-long-range-nuclear-cpable-missiles-russian-coast-us-president-donald-trump-a7548296.html

China has moved and deployed nuclear long range missiles to its coast from where it can hit the west coast of the USA.

edited 27th Jan '17 12:51:48 AM by MadSkillz

Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#170044: Jan 27th 2017 at 12:58:05 AM

Does trump care about the west coast? It's full of Dems, illegals, and illegal Dem voters.

edited 27th Jan '17 12:58:24 AM by Medinoc

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
iflewaway someone from somewhere Since: Dec, 2016
someone
#170045: Jan 27th 2017 at 1:00:56 AM

I misunderstood the comment because I'm a moron, please ignore this post.

edited 27th Jan '17 1:36:50 AM by iflewaway

something
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#170046: Jan 27th 2017 at 1:04:07 AM

Of course he cares, he has property there.

And as much as I want it to fall into the sea, losing the only thing he values in the region could prove perilous.

Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#170047: Jan 27th 2017 at 1:05:09 AM

[up] Which of course, will fail.

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#170048: Jan 27th 2017 at 1:05:34 AM

what's the relationship between POTUS and Bannon like? Is POTUS his puppet?

Something akin to Obama/Biden, but creepier.

From the rogue POTUS' staff Twitter.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#170049: Jan 27th 2017 at 1:29:41 AM

Madskillz: We don't have the kind of infrastructure it would take to one, create armies for these theoretical seceding states, or to resist the forces that would surely be brought against them in such a scenario. To "break American power" in this instance would require breaking down a whole lot of our power structure. And such a thing would be unlikely to leave state governments whole enough to enact such things. And we don't exactly have a history of literal coups in this country.

The Civil Rights Movement didn't exactly lead to secession. It's highly unlikely this will, either. Let's take a few more lessons from that rather than doomsday scenario fantasies about repeating the Civil War when things were organized quite a bit differently.

edited 27th Jan '17 1:31:55 AM by AceofSpades

IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#170050: Jan 27th 2017 at 2:49:21 AM

From a few pages ago, since the thread moves fast: so Trump wants to be king? well... this may become a good protest song against him with a few changes to the lyrics.

And it's kind of crazy that China may become the Only Sane Man in the UN Security Council.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV

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