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

ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#188276: May 10th 2017 at 8:06:23 PM

@Mad Skillz: I think we keep missing each other-the one point I am trying to make is that I think the trends favor WV going redder-Manchin's counterpart was replaced by a Republican, the GOP took all three House seats, and their percentages are better on average the last few elections. WV might usually vote Democrat outside the presidency, but I think the current trends are changing and not for the better. I am saying that the state and municipal stuff is largely irrelevant, in much the same way there are plenty of state and municipal Republicans in California and Hawaii.

The only real points I wanted to make were that WV voting Trump after everything happening there in addition to voting red for everyone but Manchin in Congress suggests WV is going Red all over, with demographic shifts making it permanent. And that sticking it to Manchin, who won with 65% in that, is not productive. If you want to continue, PM me instead of the back and forth.

edited 10th May '17 8:07:43 PM by ViperMagnum357

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#188277: May 10th 2017 at 8:08:11 PM

Regardless of whether the seat could be taken back if lost (and that's assuming this woman, assuming she wins the primary, loses the election), I get think it's too risky for there to be any challenges right now.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#188278: May 10th 2017 at 8:08:47 PM

[up]x3 That's not necessarily true, at least on the State Level. Perhaps without Manchin, West Virginia would vote in another Republican Senator, but it is possible that the State House, Senate and Governorship all go (or stay) Blue. Especially since Trump's Coal Saving Plans, aren't actually saving Coal. Hell, some of the stuff he wants/wanted to do would help kill it.

Maybe instead of trying to Primary Manchin, the Sanderista's could focus on the State itself? Plenty of Republicans could easily lose to Democrats who want to focus on getting people work.

edited 10th May '17 8:09:01 PM by DingoWalley1

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#188279: May 10th 2017 at 8:09:45 PM

Trying to primary Manchin is a terrible idea and betrays a fundamental lack of understanding of the reality of WV politics, IMHO.

And while all this talk of Russian interference does seem a bit too much like Red Scare...I can't help but notice that Secular Talk aka Kyle Kulinski, co-founder of Justice Democrats (the group trying to primary Manchin) has been very dismissive of the notion of a Russian scandal.

Disgusted, but not surprised
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#188280: May 10th 2017 at 8:11:27 PM

I think I'm confused by the timing of Comey's firing. Even though he's been fired, that won't stop him from testifying, will it?

My real question is: what did Trump really gain from firing Comey? Would putting a stooge in to replace him really help if investigations continue?

Do not obey in advance.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#188281: May 10th 2017 at 8:12:16 PM

[up] You are assuming Trump really thought this through.

Disgusted, but not surprised
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#188282: May 10th 2017 at 8:13:33 PM

[up][up] It will give Trump another Cabinet Position to fill, and if he gets someone like Betsy DeVos or Scott Pruitt in (someone who is the polar opposite of their Cabinet, but got in because they kiss Trump's ass), the FBI will essentially become another neutered Department that won't really get anything done. It would also be possible for the FBI Chief to simply end their part of the Russian Investigation.

edited 10th May '17 8:13:44 PM by DingoWalley1

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#188283: May 10th 2017 at 8:13:46 PM

Presence of Russian photographer in Oval Office raises alarms

A photographer for a Russian state-owned news agency was allowed into the Oval Office on Wednesday during President Trump’s meeting with Russian diplomats, a level of access that was criticized by former U.S. intelligence officials as a potential security breach.

The officials cited the danger that a listening device or other surveillance equipment could have been brought into the Oval Office while hidden in cameras or other electronics. Former U.S. intelligence officials raised questions after photos of Trump’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were posted online by the Tass news agency.

Among those commenting on the issue was former deputy CIA director David S. Cohen. Responding to a question posed online about whether it was a sound decision to allow the photographer into the Oval Office, Cohen replied on Twitter: “No it was not.” He declined to elaborate when reached by phone.

The White House played down the danger, saying that the photographer and his equipment were subjected to a security screening before he and it entered the White House grounds. The Russian “had to go through the same screening as a member of the U.S. press going through the main gate to the [White House] briefing room,” a senior administration official said.

Other former intelligence officials also described the access granted to the photographer as a potential security lapse, noting that standard screening for White House visitors would not necessarily detect a sophisticated espionage device.

The administration official also said the White House had been misled about the role of the Russian photographer. Russian officials had described the individual as Lavrov’s official photographer without disclosing that he also worked for Tass.

“We were not informed by the Russians that their official photographer was dual-hatted and would be releasing the photographs on the state news agency,” the administration official said.

As a result, White House officials said they were surprised to see photos posted online showing Trump not only with Lavrov but also smiling and shaking hands with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Kislyak has figured prominently in a series of damaging stories for the administration. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was forced to resign in February over his contacts with Kislyak last year and over misleading statements about the nature of those conversations to Vice President Pence.

The administration official said that “it is standard practice for ambassadors to accompany their principals, and it is ridiculous to suggest there was anything improper.” He added that White House rooms “are swept routinely” for listening devices

You DENSE motherfuckers!

New Survey coming this weekend!
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#188284: May 10th 2017 at 8:16:33 PM

I think we keep missing each other-the one point I am trying to make is that I think the trends favor WV going redder-Manchin's counterpart was replaced by a Republican, the GOP took all three House seats, and their percentages are better on average the last few elections. WV might usually vote Democrat outside the presidency, but I think the current trends are changing and not for the better. I am saying that the state and municipal stuff is largely irrelevant, in much the same way there are plenty of state and municipal Republicans in California and Hawaii.

Well I'm not really disagreeing with you then but I don't think the state and municipal stuff is irrelevant. It's relevant to West Virginia. And I don't state your cynicism in this regard. It's still possible to turn around.

Anyways, I agree with Dingo.

And while all this talk of Russian interference does seem a bit too much like Red Scare...I can't help but notice that Secular Talk aka Kyle Kulinski, co-founder of Justice Democrats (the group trying to primary Manchin) has been very dismissive of the notion of a Russian scandal.

That's why I gave TYT props. A lot of more leftwing places like to dismiss the Russian scandal too much saying that Dems are trying to blame their ineptness on Russia and not on the weakness of their candidate.

But I don't think they're Russian plants. I think they're trying to force an "I told you so" down people's throats.

edited 10th May '17 8:18:15 PM by MadSkillz

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#188285: May 10th 2017 at 8:18:08 PM

[up][up]surprised

edited 10th May '17 8:18:46 PM by BearyScary

Do not obey in advance.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#188286: May 10th 2017 at 8:19:05 PM

[up][up] However, don't forget that TYT also helped found Justice Democrats, though I suppose that would just make them an Unwitting Pawn at worst.

edited 10th May '17 8:19:16 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#188287: May 10th 2017 at 8:34:17 PM

@M84 Relevant:

What experts in Russian propaganda learned from the 1980s was that you could be an honest antiwar liberal and still be manipulated as part of a campaign to weaken NATO. In fact, your sincerity made you a more attractive target. “Soviet-bloc disinformation specialists preferred the art of exploiting what was then called unwitting agents,” said Thomas Rid, a cyberwar expert from Kings College London, in his testimony to the committee. “There is no contradiction, in their reading, between being an honest American patriot and at the same time furthering the cause of Russia.”

Leftists can be played in similar ways. At the hearing, Rumer observed that Russia had exploited the Occupy Wall Street movement to feed class antagonism and discredit American democracy. Rubio pointed to another case, described by Adrian Chen in the New York Times Magazine, in which Russian-orchestrated accounts circulated a false rumor that “an unarmed black woman had been shot to death by police” in Atlanta.

Here.

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#188288: May 10th 2017 at 8:55:30 PM

Fun fact: Secular Talk hasn't run a story even MENTIONING Comey's firing even though it's literally the biggest news of the last two days.

Something is up with that dude.

New Survey coming this weekend!
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#188289: May 10th 2017 at 9:19:11 PM

And while all this talk of Russian interference does seem a bit too much like Red Scare...I can't help but notice that Secular Talk aka Kyle Kulinski, co-founder of Justice Democrats (the group trying to primary Manchin) has been very dismissive of the notion of a Russian scandal.

Kulinski's an idiot and always has been. He's almost the archetype of the white male "liberal" pontificating on issues he knows nothing about. He's indulged in leftist, Bill Maher style Islamaphobia, he spread anti-Clinton BS throughout the last election, and from what I gather, he's a fairly hardcore druggie with all that entails. I mean, that Bernie voter we all like to bitch about, who lectures women and people of colour on what they should really care about while acting like "free college" and "legal drugs" are the most important issues in the world? Kulinski is that caricature made flesh.

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#188290: May 10th 2017 at 9:24:53 PM

I'm gonna need some sources for that drug thing Ambar. That's a pretty wild accusation.

But it wouldn't surprise me.

New Survey coming this weekend!
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#188291: May 10th 2017 at 9:29:37 PM

I don't want to link to his vids, but this is taken from a Rational Wiki article that is largely supportive of Kalinski (and therefore unlikely to be doing a hatchet job).

Kulinski loves to use pharmaceutical drugs such as Adderall, Vicodin, Percocet, Xanax, and Klonopin. He's also done cocaine. He is scared of hallucinogens such as LSD, magic mushrooms, and DMT. He also dislikes cannabis because it gives him paranoia and anxiety most of the time.[18] He uses the plant drug Kratom to help him focus for his job, so he was understandably outraged when the DEA wanted to ban it.[19] He loves Kratom, so much so he started stockpiling it when the ban was announced

Link to the article I took it from is here, links to the vids where he discusses it are in its footnotes.

edited 10th May '17 9:31:06 PM by AmbarSonofDeshar

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#188292: May 10th 2017 at 9:29:44 PM

He admitted it himself in his own videos. Oddly enough, he doesn't like marijuana, though he supports legalizing it.

[up][nja]

edited 10th May '17 9:30:33 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#188293: May 10th 2017 at 9:32:31 PM

Anyone who is using that many different drugs, at once, has problems. It would also make me really question his judgement, if I didn't already have lots of other reasons to do that (like his raging Islamaphobia and decision to vote for Jill Stein).

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#188294: May 10th 2017 at 9:34:16 PM

And still calling Tulsi Gabbard a progressive.

lmfao

New Survey coming this weekend!
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#188295: May 10th 2017 at 9:37:56 PM

[up]That too. Be it politically or in his personal life, man's a tool.

Isn't it amazing, by the way, how he was prepared to believe Clinton was a war criminal or what have you, but when Tulsi defends crimes against humanity he's all onboard?

edited 10th May '17 9:39:05 PM by AmbarSonofDeshar

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#188296: May 10th 2017 at 9:42:34 PM

I only know the barest essentials of Secular Talk and I haven't liked what I've heard. I've stayed away. I don't think I've even watched one video of theirs.

Clearly, I am not missing out.

edited 10th May '17 9:44:06 PM by MadSkillz

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#188297: May 10th 2017 at 9:43:51 PM

It's not even that. He literally outright ignores it. Jill Stein having financial ties to the industries she speaks out against? Doesn't mention it. Jane Sanders being under investigatioN? Doesn't mention it. Omaha Mayor race being a bust? No mention. Etc. etc.

He's just a tool for the alt-left to spew it's anti-Democrat, anti-establishment, and anti-HRC propaganda. Nothing more.

If it's all an act, he's laughing all the way to the bank.

New Survey coming this weekend!
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#188298: May 10th 2017 at 9:46:25 PM

[up] That's a little disingenuous. The race was barely reported on today.

You Tube channels like these sometimes take a while to construct a video on things they want to go deep into especially if they want to gather their thoughts and find all the relevant info on it.

FireCrawler2002 Since: Apr, 2017
#188299: May 10th 2017 at 9:53:05 PM

Any way I can fight against the considered European flight laptop ban? I constantly travel from the US to Europe and take my laptop everywhere I go, and there is no way in hell I am letting those assholes touch my fucking laptop...

edited 10th May '17 9:54:12 PM by FireCrawler2002

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#188300: May 10th 2017 at 9:53:10 PM

Not to put too fine a point on it, but if Kulinski "can't do his job" without that drug the DEA was considering making illegal then, depending on the nature of its effects, we may be literally watching a man rant while high. Or alternately, reading out something he wrote while high.

In any case, he's repeatedly tried to downplay the entirety of the Russia scandal, and has denied or ignored links between Russia (and RT) and players in Trump's cabinet and elsewhere. Given that he's a Jill Stein fanboy, and that she has her own set of links to Russia, this is perhaps unsurprising—admitting to the Russia scandal might mean admitting that his own vote, and his convincing others to vote Green, helped to elect Trump, something he denies. He loves to bitch about the corporate media getting Trump elected, but by the God he doesn't believe in he's not going at admit he might have done the same.

Again, he's pretty much every stereotype about Sanders supporters given life.

edited 10th May '17 9:56:11 PM by AmbarSonofDeshar


Total posts: 417,856
Top