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BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#238951: Apr 15th 2018 at 12:17:24 PM

Here's hoping that Cheeto shows some decency or at least silence when she and/or her husband do pass on.
Only if her death results in Hell freezing over.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#238952: Apr 15th 2018 at 12:29:55 PM

Is that referring to me? Because I'm less skeptical of mueller himself, than of the idea that his investigation is going to lead to (righteously deserved) treason charges against Trump, rather than yet another big fat Republican nothingburger.
No actually, I was talking about Silasw in the context of the "Mueller is a Republican and thus less trustworthy" discussion.

And I think that's fair, I think some people (not necessarily in this thread) really need to get some perspective on Mueller's investigation. It's absolutely important but the certainty that it will lead to action against Trump is dangerous in that it's just asking to be disappointed.

I don't particularly like or trust Comey; he proved himself either a fool with delusions of fairness, a fool with delusions of kingmaking, a short-sighted career grabber, a useful patsy, or a knowing accomplice with the But Her Emails story, and I don't think his standing up to Trump necessarily makes him a better person, especially now that he's essentially powerless aside from tweaking Trump's temper (which you can also do as a porn star or a high school student).

That said, he's fighting, and that's useful. I'm willing to extend him and his book deal the benefit of the doubt as long as his interference is targeted at Trump.

Agreed, in-spite of my animosity towards Comey I have absolutely no problem with him acting against Trump. In a way I view it as a sort of repentance on his part, he has responsibility for Trump and damn well should work to rectify his error.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
thatindiantroper Since: Feb, 2015
#238953: Apr 15th 2018 at 12:43:14 PM

“It's absolutely important but the certainty that it will lead to action against Trump is dangerous in that it's just asking to be disappointed.“

Been saying this for months.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#238954: Apr 15th 2018 at 12:44:45 PM

[up]I remember and you're quite right tongue

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#238955: Apr 15th 2018 at 12:45:03 PM

Yeah, I doubt Trump himself will get nailed on anything to do with Russia, but obstruction and/or financial crimes are far more likely to stick. Plus, even his inner circle get charged wholesale, and a full investigation showing that he broke the law and tried to cover up, will render him a lame duck without political capital. He'll be a sitting duck come 2020.

Remember, Capone only went down on tax evasion, and not murder, smuggling or extortion. He still went to prison, and his organization imploded. Defeating Trump is more important than punishing him for what he's done.

edited 15th Apr '18 12:48:14 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#238956: Apr 15th 2018 at 12:47:11 PM

[up]Quite right, which is why the investigation into Cohen is so important. He's Trump's problem solver who was personally responsible for doing illicit activities, based on what I've read I think he's Trump's pressure point and could plausibly be how Trump is brought down.

edited 15th Apr '18 12:47:42 PM by Fourthspartan56

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#238957: Apr 15th 2018 at 12:48:40 PM

Mike Pompeo is on his way to being rejected by the Foreign Relations committee (first Sec of State nominee since 1925 to get a thumbs down if it happens), and since Paul is a no and Mc Cain is sick, he needs at least one Democrat to flip if Mitch decides to bring him to a general vote anyway.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/15/politics/tim-kaine-mike-pompeo-secretary-of-state/index.html

edited 15th Apr '18 12:49:26 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#238958: Apr 15th 2018 at 12:53:46 PM

[up][up] I'm going to guess, that Mueller's team has stuff they want from the Cohen raid as well, since he is also part of the Trump/Russia story, and he already has evidence that he lied about being in Prague in summer 2016.

edited 15th Apr '18 12:54:06 PM by megaeliz

GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#238959: Apr 15th 2018 at 1:34:25 PM

The way I see the Mueller Investigation going is not that it will take down Donald Trump himself... After all, he is President and would have to be impeached by a Congress that is almost certainly not going to do that. No, instead the Mueller Investigation is going to take down everyone around Trump. Anyone who does not need to be impeached who knowingly worked with Trump on criminal matters is going to be taken down. Yeah, Donald Trump may have become President and will likely avoid jail time, but his entire business empire will be in ruins.

Wizard Needs Food Badly
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#238960: Apr 15th 2018 at 1:55:38 PM

[up] And the case that Mueller's office refered to the New York Office will be presumably be going after him and cohen for financial crimes in his business dealing.

edited 15th Apr '18 1:57:19 PM by megaeliz

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#238961: Apr 15th 2018 at 1:57:54 PM

Courtesy of The Good Fight

"You can reply to this Message!"
pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Cape Malleum Majorem
#238962: Apr 15th 2018 at 2:05:11 PM

[up]Yeah, reminds me of Nixon's infamous quote: "If the president does it, that means it's not illegal."

Umm, No. EL—Wrong—Oh!

This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#238963: Apr 15th 2018 at 2:05:13 PM

The ultimate irony here is that he brought everything that's coming for him upon himself the moment he decided to run for Public Office.

He probably could have gotten away being the shady billionaire real-estate developer, just like he had been for years, until he made the grave mistake of running for president.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#238964: Apr 15th 2018 at 2:11:33 PM

Comey's problem during the election is that he was only thinking about the FBI, not the country as a whole. This is a persistent danger of bureaucracies — it's very easy for them to fall into the trap of acting to serve the organization's interests, rather than serve the interests the organization was created to serve.

The FBI is a law enforcement agency. If it has to take a hit to its own reputation in order to serve the law, then it should do so. What happened with Comey is that he was convinced that Hillary was going to win no matter what, so he made the statement about reopening the investigation (which was illegal under the Hatch Act, a law that forbids federal employees from using their position to do anything that could affect an election) in order to shield the FBI from accusations of having a pro-Clinton bias. He planned to say "we told the public everything we knew when we knew it, but she won anyway". Of course, she didn't win — almost certainly because of his announcement, according to most political analysts — so in protecting the FBI he damaged the country. Not (just) in the sense of Clinton would have been a better President than Trump, but in the sense that a theoretically nonpartisan apolitical government agency played kingmaker for a Presidential election, accidentally or not.

Ultimately, what bothers me most about Comey's response is that he doesn't own up to his mistake. Excerpts released from the book have him admitting that he handled it poorly, but the only thing he says he would have done differently is change the phrasing of his statement. He does not admit that making the statement at all was wrong. Which in my mind confirms the interpretation that he's convinced of his own self-righteousness. He's unwilling to cop to his mistakes even when said mistakes and their consequences are clear as day with the benefit of hindsight, which leaves me unable to look at him as a man who legitimately tried to do his best in an admittedly tough situation.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#238965: Apr 15th 2018 at 4:01:30 PM

Regardless of how ethical Mueller himself may be, His report may never be released to the public—basically because he is not a truely independent council. Any report he writes up will be delivered to the Deputy Attorney General, not Congress. And the DAG isnt legally required to release that report. So it really all comes down to Rosenstein, not Mueller. And even if Rosenstein wanted to release it, there are certain legal barriers to doing so.

"Mueller may soon lay out his final markers — perhaps further indictments, perhaps a full report to Rosenstein. But the questions of whether Congress will see his final report, or whether the public will ever be able to see it, remain very much open. At the very least, we may expect extended and complex court proceedings to try to delay release past November’s midterm elections. The public and the press should brace themselves."

edited 15th Apr '18 4:01:57 PM by DeMarquis

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#238966: Apr 15th 2018 at 4:20:03 PM

People might take a delayed/refused release as a sign that something really bad is there.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TheWildWestPyro from Seattle, WA Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#238968: Apr 15th 2018 at 4:48:21 PM

Trump's approval rating is holding at ~40%

But the same poll has a very nice number, namely Democrats having a 15%+ enthusiasm edge when it comes to the midterms.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/15/politics/two-polls-donald-trump-republicans/index.html

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#238969: Apr 15th 2018 at 5:38:18 PM

Certainly, if there is a report and it hasn't been released, "Release the Report!" has a nice ring to it, as campaign slogans go.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#238970: Apr 15th 2018 at 5:47:04 PM

[up] Better Slogan than #ReleaseTheMemo certainly.

By all appearances it looks like Rosenstein and Mueller are in lock step right now, so I imagine he would at least try to approve it's release. And I do know they have to tell at least tell a few people in congress. I can't remember who though.

edited 15th Apr '18 5:49:59 PM by megaeliz

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#238971: Apr 15th 2018 at 6:13:56 PM

Macron says he 'convinced' Trump to stay in Syria ahead of strikes' [1]

French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he "convinced" President Donald Trump to stay in Syria before the United States, United Kingdom and France launched strikes against targets at three sites Friday night .

"Ten days ago, President Trump said the USA's will is to disengage from Syria. We convinced him that it was necessary to stay," Macron said during a two-hour televised interview with several French media outlets. Macron said France also convinced Trump that the strikes had to be limited to suspected chemical weapons sites...

...In his interview, Macron said the US would stay put.

"Please be reassured we've convinced him that we had to stay on in the long-term," Macron said.

At least there's one adult in the room, I guess?

edited 15th Apr '18 6:19:00 PM by megaeliz

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#238972: Apr 15th 2018 at 6:20:08 PM

One effect of our President being incredibly manipulable is that people with benign intentions can set him on a good path, still not the best considering that not everyone is so benign...

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#238973: Apr 15th 2018 at 6:27:05 PM

Several leaders (Xi, Putin, Trudeau, Macron, etc) have learned that directly appealing to Trump's ego makes working with him a lot easier. He wants to think that he's friends with other leaders, so they act like that to get what they want. Results have been....mixed, but its a whole lot smarter than taking him on directly.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#238974: Apr 15th 2018 at 6:30:47 PM

A long time ago someone in the French Politics thread pointed out that Macron, due to being a successful banker among other things, is the kind of person that Trump would be more likely to consider a source of good advice.

The thing is, Macron has his own issues despite being leagues ahead of any of his rivals in France and he's in France and has his own responsibilities so he can't be telling Trump what to do 24-7 (even if he wanted to which he doesn't).

And at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how good you are at pandering to Trump's ego. He's just not a reliable person.

edited 15th Apr '18 6:32:22 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#238975: Apr 15th 2018 at 6:56:20 PM

Without mentioning Mueller, Trump lawyers urge high court to bolster his power to fire executive officials: "...

Mueller was appointed under department regulations that say the special counsel may be removed only for "misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest or for other good cause." Under those rules, only Rosenstein currently would have the power to fire Mueller. Some lawyers argue that the regulations have the force of law and would prevent Trump from directly firing Mueller.

But Francisco's brief suggests the administration lawyers believe the Constitution itself authorizes the president to remove officials who wield executive power in the government. Last week White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration had been advised that the president has the power to fire the special counsel."

The "We Totally Dont Mean Mueller" Trump Regime appears to making an executive power grab. People who would know think the Supreme Court is unlikely to go along with it.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.

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