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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#242626: May 16th 2018 at 6:51:26 PM

Once again, someone forgets that "the coverup is worse than the crime."

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#242627: May 16th 2018 at 6:55:19 PM

[up] Yeah, if they were to remove it themselves, this would be really, really, bad for them. (Although the alternative isn't much better... for them at least!)

To delete something from FINCEN would require NSA-level hackers, or direct collaboration from system operators, either of which would leave a trail of felonies a mile wide.

The only other explanation would be a prosecutor requesting a confidentiality hold... Which would mean it was central to an investigation...

It would be awfully stupid to try to make something disappear from a Fin CEN database, especially if it was important, because Fin CEN is one of about 100 Financial Intel services (See the Egmont Group), all with allied SIGINT services who would "borrow" anything really important.

Oh yeah, sorry, the Egmont Group. That's yet another terrifying cabal of deep state agents that you never knew about because despite their enormous reach they tirelessly keep their heads down, and do things like stop international money laundering by rogue regimes and terrorists.

Either way, to say this is really bad for them, is a gross understatement.

edited 16th May '18 7:01:36 PM by megaeliz

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#242628: May 16th 2018 at 7:03:38 PM

Usually, when you see a crime that requires a high level of skill but little long term thinking, it means someone either got really greedy, or really desperate for some reason. Given the money involved, this was probably greed.

Also, can I just add that the amazing courage and integrity of this anonymous bureaucrat is highly inspiring?

edited 16th May '18 7:04:47 PM by DeMarquis

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#242629: May 16th 2018 at 7:07:33 PM

[up] There's also a possiblity it could be a prosecutorial hold.

We don't know what type of access or technical expertise this employee had, just that he was disturbed enough to risk going public with it. If it was hacked, it would have to be either Prince or Russia.

And very much agree on the bravery and personal ethics involved here to take such a risk.

edited 16th May '18 7:11:54 PM by megaeliz

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#242630: May 16th 2018 at 7:17:17 PM

Some more of the Digital Warfare situation.

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/cambridge-analytica-shared-data-with-russia-whistleblower

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#242631: May 16th 2018 at 7:19:17 PM

[up] knew it!

They already had Russian ties, and I was almost certain that it would come out! Remember, private companies in Russia are basically proxy arms of the Kremlin, which is why sanctions are so effective.

edited 16th May '18 7:22:02 PM by megaeliz

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#242632: May 16th 2018 at 7:22:03 PM

This is definitely a "I am shocked there is gambling this establishment" situation.

However, because it also involves Britain, I actually think we might get some traction before the entire government of the USA is changed.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#242633: May 16th 2018 at 7:23:13 PM

From the hearing:

"I can't say definitively, one way or the other, if these data sets did end up in Russia, but what I can say is that it would have been very easy to facilitate that," said Wylie

It's convincing, but not concrete. CA worked with Russian politicians, but as far as we know didn't do any government contracting there. This could potentially spark a broader investigation of their overseas operation, but who knows.

edited 16th May '18 7:23:51 PM by archonspeaks

They should have sent a poet.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#242634: May 16th 2018 at 7:27:15 PM

[up] It would fit with the Kremlin's strategy of using Proxies to collect intelligence and other operations, while still maintaining a veneer of plausible deniability.

edited 16th May '18 7:27:50 PM by megaeliz

Cream Creamier~ from Planet NTR Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
Creamier~
#242635: May 16th 2018 at 7:29:00 PM

[up]Perhaps, but it's somewhat similar to black people overplaying the race card every time they face some obstacle. For example, being denied a loan. Not because you're black, but because you have a poor credit rating. If the fundamental underlying issue is not actually about race/gender/whatever type of discrimination, then don't make it into something that it's not.

...Wow. Please, do some research and reading because this is extremely misguided thinking.

Being black affects absolutely every area of one's life. Have you ever considered the possibility that the reason black people tend to have poor credit ratings is due to poverty, lack of education, and a MYRIAD of other forms of systematic oppression?

This is the same way it always goes. White people jail us disproportionately. Deny us good education. Treat us like animals, thugs and criminals. Lock us in poverty. And then when the problems spring up from that, suddenly it's our fault. Every time.

Every single issue has a racial component. Every single one.

The fact that "black people always playing the race card" is where you mind went to, even ignoring the hilariously ignorant example used, speaks volumes about how much privilege causes people to lack empathy.

There has literally never been a period in American history where black people haven't been systematically oppressed in almost every single way possible.

edited 16th May '18 7:34:12 PM by Cream

Rawr.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#242636: May 16th 2018 at 7:29:03 PM

The ease of which they've found people willing to betray their country is staggering.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#242637: May 16th 2018 at 7:31:03 PM

[up] It all comes down to MICE. Money, Ideology, Coercion, Ego. It's a spycraft basic, there's lots of ways to get someone to work against their country. That's not even counting the ways someone can work against their country without realizing it.

They should have sent a poet.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#242638: May 16th 2018 at 7:38:28 PM

[up] I feel like with Trump it is mostly money and ego. He obviously doesn't have any sort of cohearent ideology, and long as you appeal to those things, you can play him like a fiddle, no coercion required.

edited 16th May '18 7:39:28 PM by megaeliz

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#242639: May 16th 2018 at 7:42:06 PM

[up] Not that he doesn't have genuinely awful beliefs and views. He genuinely does seem to be a bigot.

Disgusted, but not surprised
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#242640: May 16th 2018 at 7:44:34 PM

[up] It's still not a true ideology, at least in the sense he's referring too.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#242641: May 16th 2018 at 7:57:04 PM

Trump may be too lazy to put on a white hood, but he definitely thinks lesser of black people.

Disgusted, but not surprised
TheWildWestPyro from Seattle, WA Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
#242642: May 16th 2018 at 7:57:42 PM

[up]

Case in point: that little comment about Nigerians and huts.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#242643: May 16th 2018 at 7:59:47 PM

Trump was famous during his early career for keeping out black and Latino tenants from his buildings.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#242644: May 16th 2018 at 7:59:48 PM

I think it's worth mentioning the distinction of beliefs and ideology, the former are one's emotional impulses that hardly need any rational or intellectual backing while the latter are a series of ideas and values bound together with an intellectual backing (of some sort).

Thus it is accurate to say that Trump is not driven by any ideology but he is mostly certainly driven by beliefs, most specifically the combination of selfishness and racism that is our homegrown flavor of toxicity.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Cream Creamier~ from Planet NTR Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
Creamier~
#242645: May 16th 2018 at 8:04:45 PM

As far as I'm concerned, the distinction is meaningless at the end of the day. Selfishness + racism = Hateful ideology.

Rawr.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#242646: May 16th 2018 at 8:05:29 PM

I'm inclined to think Trump is a racist old rich white dude who is proud, ignorant, and fully of the mind he doesn't need to change.

And it's too late too anyway.

There won't be any George Wallace moment for him.

edited 16th May '18 8:05:40 PM by CharlesPhipps

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#242647: May 16th 2018 at 8:15:36 PM

[up][up]I disagree, it's the difference between Trump who is too stupid to hold consistent positions and thus is incapable of more effectively putting his bigotry into effect and someone smart enough to have consistent positions who is thus more effective.

Having racist beliefs instead of racist ideology is not especially different morally, my point is purely practical.

[up]This is absolutely true.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#242648: May 16th 2018 at 8:19:27 PM

[up] The difference is that ideology is an easy way to influence someone, it's harder with beliefs.

They should have sent a poet.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#242649: May 16th 2018 at 8:25:39 PM

This is why pandering to his ego is risky. Because you've got to to do it in a way that doesn't challenge his awful beliefs at the same time. Which more often than not means going along with his selfish greed and bigotry. Pandering to money is also risky since he's equally hardheaded about what he thinks is good economics.

And of course there's no reasoning with Trump. He's not a reasonable man.

edited 16th May '18 8:28:36 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
RJ-19-CLOVIS-93 from New Zealand (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#242650: May 16th 2018 at 11:46:34 PM

Anyone share a birthday(or someone they're close to) with a US President? While I don't, my mother's birthday (December 5) is the same as Martin Van Buren


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