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

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.
#186076: May 1st 2017 at 8:41:58 PM

I must agree - that hardly seems to be saying what you claim it is, Fox.

Oh God! Natural light!
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#186077: May 1st 2017 at 8:45:51 PM

Interesting article on how the spending bill worked out so hard in the democrats favor.

https://www.vox.com/2017/4/30/15496696/congress-funding-deal-government-open

Basically in order to avert a government shutdown, republicans needed democratic votes, but the democrats were not budging on their positions. The more they conceded to the democrats, the more libertarians would not vote yes, forcing them to rely even more on democratic votes,

edited 1st May '17 8:54:37 PM by megaeliz

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#186078: May 1st 2017 at 8:49:38 PM

[up] After years of being able to get by on obstruction, united by opposition to Obama, the GOP has forgotten how to govern, forgotten how to negotiate, and forgotten how to compromise. They were probably originally planning on doing the same to HRC, and didn't properly plan on how they would handle actually having so much power.

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

Disgusted, but not surprised
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#186079: May 1st 2017 at 9:01:47 PM

I feel like the party is deeply divided as well, which also contributes to their inability to govern. There's the libertarian wing, and the moderate wing. If they try to please the moderate wing, the libertarians will balk, and if you try to please the libertarian wing, the moderates will balk, basically creating their own gridlock.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#186080: May 1st 2017 at 9:02:32 PM

Here's to hoping it stays like that, at least until the Democrats can (hopefully) get a majority in at least one chamber of congress.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#186081: May 1st 2017 at 9:04:11 PM

The ideological divide is incredibly deep, and probably not going away any time soon.

Would this make the republicans The Millstone to themselves or something?

edited 1st May '17 9:07:30 PM by megaeliz

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#186082: May 1st 2017 at 9:06:32 PM

[up][up][up] Just as I thought; There aren't 2 Parties in Congress right now (at least the lower house), there are 3. The Republicans, the Democrats, and the Teapublicans/Freedomites. And if the Republicans and Teapublicans can't work together, then the actual largest party in Congress is the Democrats.

Nancy Pelosi deserves the Speakership of the House.tongue

edited 1st May '17 9:06:56 PM by DingoWalley1

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#186083: May 1st 2017 at 9:07:49 PM

[up] It used to be that the "moderate" Republicans and the Tea Party could at least agree on a platform of "screw the Democratic Party".

If they can't even agree on that anymore judging by the spending bill...

Disgusted, but not surprised
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#186084: May 1st 2017 at 9:11:13 PM

and all the democrats really need to do is extend an offer to help create something that can get passed, while the republics are infighting. This also has the added benefit of making them look more reasonable, as they are the party offering to find solutions while the republicand are screaming at each other.

edited 1st May '17 9:18:52 PM by megaeliz

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#186085: May 1st 2017 at 9:13:58 PM

Does she not know or remember what Obama's childhood and early adulthood was like? His life before President, in fact?

This is full blown pandering to WWC.

Obama is the only winner our party has left, and its current leaders are rushing to shit on him so they can get some Bern-cred. This is disgusting.

And there goes my remaining respect for Warren. I already posted a long time ago that I didn't approve of her demonizing Wall Street and her simplistic views of banking, but this? Yeah, I'm done. I'm glad she's probably not going to run for President in 2020.

At this rate I wouldn't be surprised if she falls over herself sucking up to Trump just because he supposedly claimed he's open to bringing back Glass-Steagall.

That said, if she does end up the Democratic Party candidate in 2020 somehow, I'll still vote for her because she's better than Trump (an incredibly low bar).

And people accuse me of purity tests.

Smh.

If this makes you lose respect for Warren but Hillary calling Kissinger her friend, seeking his endorsement and praising him doesn't then in the words of the famous Obi Wan Kenobi "Then you are lost!"

edited 1st May '17 9:14:24 PM by MadSkillz

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#186086: May 1st 2017 at 9:16:21 PM

Maine's Republican Governor, Paul Le Page, is suing his Attorney General, Janet Mills, for aiding the legal opposition of Trump's Muslim Ban.

Ha! It's funny 'cause the battle to silence the power of the courts will have to be waged in a courtroom.

Think about that.

Yes, Trump does appear to have a very weird and very personal grudge against Obama and appears to be pushing more White House and Congress resource into undoing Obama than into creating his own legacy (ignoring the idea of 'undoing Obama' being his legacy).

No one should be surprised at this. Like, that was literally his reason for running in the first place: because Obama made fun of him at a White House Correspondents' Dinner. We've known that since the campaign, when one of his spokespeople outright said it.

He's in this for revenge against Obama, personally.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#186087: May 1st 2017 at 9:21:25 PM

The divides within the Democratic Party, while sometimes large, are not nearly as insurmountable as the republicans, I think.

edited 1st May '17 9:24:27 PM by megaeliz

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#186088: May 1st 2017 at 9:23:35 PM

[up] As evident by 2006-2010, where, despite the vast differences in the Democrat Party, they got a whole lot done, especially compared to the Republicans from 2010-now.

It's kind of funny; The Republicans are united in Elections, but not in Government, while the Democrats are united in Government, but not in Elections.

Jasaiga Since: Jan, 2015
#186089: May 1st 2017 at 9:24:20 PM

Well, to be fair, the Democrats have a diverse coalition with competing interests that have to be balanced.

We're not a monolith.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#186090: May 1st 2017 at 9:25:28 PM

[up] Which makes it a real hassle to win elections, but is pretty handy when it comes to writing policy and getting it passed.

edited 1st May '17 9:26:04 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#186091: May 1st 2017 at 9:26:28 PM

[up][up] [up]I wouldn't go that far. 20+ Democrats voted against the ACA for example.

Minority of them, yes, but still significant. Pelosi and Cyburn had to put in work during the 111th Congress

edited 1st May '17 9:26:50 PM by TacticalFox88

New Survey coming this weekend!
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#186092: May 1st 2017 at 9:26:33 PM

[up] still, I think that we are united in something positive. It's not just against Trump. We are fighting for something, our planet, our healthcare, refugees, and whatever else you're fighting for. We want to protect the positive change in our world, and help create a better one.

[up][up]And the reverse is why the GOP is good at winning elections, but not actual policy, then.

edited 1st May '17 9:34:40 PM by megaeliz

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#186093: May 1st 2017 at 9:27:26 PM

@Tactical Fox: Did... did you read the part where she said "no longer" as in she was acknowledging a changing world? I mean, I don't really agree with what she's saying but uh... you've sure as hell got your own form of ideological purity, even if I can't tell what it is. I believe I've pointed out before that you're rather militant in your.... centrism? I'm not sure, really, but boy are you scathing to literally everyone, it seems like.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#186094: May 1st 2017 at 9:30:25 PM

[up] I for one think specifically name-dropping Obama as out-of-touch was a mistake and not entirely accurate IMHO. She could have just said "a lot of politicians" without specifically naming names, particularly from her OWN PARTY...and especially the PREVIOUS DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.

edited 1st May '17 9:30:41 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#186095: May 1st 2017 at 9:34:06 PM

Pretty sure him being the most identifiable was the point. Maybe a bad call on her part, but if you're going to name drop someone he's probably the best person to do so.

edited 1st May '17 9:34:46 PM by LSBK

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#186096: May 1st 2017 at 9:36:30 PM

A purity test? Is THAT what you're calling it? Militant Centrism? When I'm pretty liberal (well, more so center left, emphasis on left)? That's hilarious.

I'm a pragmatic leftist. I operate in the real world and on realpolitik. Some of you might enjoy idealism and ideology, and that's fine, in moderation, but I don't. I only care about what's possible, both in terms of passing this shitshow we call a Congress AND how policy affects people's real lives, in a tangible way.

So forgive me if I despise any divergence from reality considering the bullshit I have to put up with day-in-and day out, and keep it real.

Does that mean I can't be wrong? Absolutely not. That's why I look regularly at even conservative think tanks just as much as I do left leaning ones. Evaluate the evidence, make a decision, move on.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on Warren, I can admit that, but that's because I know she knows better, that's what's even more frustrating.

New Survey coming this weekend!
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#186097: May 1st 2017 at 9:38:21 PM

You come off as less pragmatic and more spiteful towards anyone who remotely disagrees with you. Maybe that's not what you're going for, but the way you sensationalize everything doesn't help change that impression.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#186098: May 1st 2017 at 9:40:30 PM

Saying what she did just makes for a convenient headline such as "Elizabeth Warren blasts Obama for being out of touch". Which is pretty much guaranteed to create further strife and division, even if the actual quote in context wasn't quite that damning. And I'd argue that even in context it doesn't sound good.

Either this was just a simple mistake on her part, or she really is trying to distance herself from Obama. Which also seems like a mistake to me, given that Obama, for all his faults and mistakes, is still a rather popular figure.

edited 1st May '17 9:41:14 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#186099: May 1st 2017 at 9:42:51 PM

If we're going to criticize the far left and far right then we should also criticize the hard-center baked into our political climate.

HextarVigar That guy from The Big House Since: Feb, 2015
That guy
#186100: May 1st 2017 at 9:46:20 PM

Ew. I prefer a creamy center.

Your momma's so dumb she thinks oral sex means talking dirty.

Total posts: 417,856
Top