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

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#248726: Jul 9th 2018 at 3:15:29 PM

What The Fuck Just Happened Today - Day 536: Piece of trash

1/ Trump says he is "very close to making a decision" on his Supreme Court nominee. Aides, however, have prepped rollouts for multiple Supreme Court nominees knowing that Trump could change his mind at the last minute. Trump has narrowed his list down to two potential nominees: Brett Kavanaugh and Thomas Hardiman. The White House expects to hit the ground running once Trump makes his 9 p.m. announcement – a time he selected for maximum TV exposure. "I have long heard that the most important decision a U.S. President can make is the selection of a Supreme Court Justice," Trump tweeted. As he boarded Air Force One after a weekend of golfing at his private club in Bedminster, N.J., Trump said: "You can't go wrong." (New York Times / Washington Post / Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/08/trump-supreme-court-justice-702138

Judge Amy Coney Barrett's prospects are slipping over confirmation concerns. Trump said he would settle on a nominee by noon Monday, but aides said they were unsure as recently as Sunday night where he would land. (Wall Street Journal)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-weighs-supreme-court-candidates-as-decision-nears-1531086183

Trump has been lobbied in the final hours of his selection process by both supporters and opponents of the Supreme Court candidates. Trump has also been working the phones seeking input about Brett Kavanaugh and Thomas Hardiman. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/us/politics/trump-supreme-court-nomination.html

Mitch Mc Connell told Trump that Judges Raymond Kethledge and Thomas Hardiman present the fewest obvious obstacles to being confirmed to replace Justice Anthony M. Kennedy on the Supreme Court. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/us/politics/trump-mcconnell-supreme-court.html

2/ The Trump administration will miss a court-ordered deadline to reunite immigrant children under age 5 who were separated from their parents at the U.S. border. About half of the children under 5 years old will be reunited by Tuesday's court-ordered deadline. The administration doesn't know when the rest will be reunified. The federal judge who set the deadline said he was "very encouraged" by the administration's progress. (Reuters / CNN / Los Angeles Times)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-children/u-s-will-reunite-only-half-of-migrant-children-by-tuesday-deadline-idUSKBN1JZ263

A one-year-old child who was separated from his father at the southern U.S. border appeared in immigration court. The child is one of several toddlers who have had to appear in court without their parents present. (Associated Press / NPR)

https://www.apnews.com/4cb60fc06ca34160bf7445fdc1f47eed/Kids-as-young-as-1-in-US-court,-awaiting-reunion-with-family

Five pregnant women in immigration detention said they were denied adequate medical care while they were obviously miscarrying. ICE and Customs and Border Protection guards were either unwilling or unable to respond to medical emergencies. (Buzz Feed News)

https://www.buzzfeed.com/emaoconnor/pregnant-migrant-women-miscarriage-cpb-ice-detention-trump

3/ Trump lashed out at NATO on Twitter two days before the alliance's summit, saying NATO members "must do much more" and up their defense spending contributions. "The United States is spending far more on NATO than any other Country. This is not fair, nor is it acceptable." (Axios / Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/09/trump-criticize-nato-summit-702296

4/ The U.S. opposed a United Nations resolution encouraging breast-feeding, siding with manufacturers of infant formula and stunning public health officials and foreign diplomats in the process this past spring. American officials wanted to soften the resolution by removing language that called on governments to "protect, promote and support breast-feeding." When the effort failed, the United States threatened to withdraw military aid and hit Ecuador and other countries with punitive trade measures if they didn't drop support for the resolution. The U.S., however, backed off when Russia introduced the resolution. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/08/health/world-health-breastfeeding-ecuador-trump.html

Trump defended the report that the U.S. tried to undermine the World Health Organization resolution in support of breastfeeding, saying "the U.S. strongly supports breast feeding but we don't believe women should be denied access to formula." The U.S. wanted the resolution to remove language calling on governments to "protect, promote and support breast-feeding." (BBC)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44772686

5/ Rudy Giuliani appeared to confirm that Trump asked then-FBI director James Comey to drop the probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump has previously denied saying to Comey "I hope you can let this go." "He didn't direct [Comey] to do that," Giuliani said. "What he said was, can you, can you …" Giuliani continued: "He said a lot of other things, some of which has turned out to be untrue. The reality is, as a prosecutor, I was told that many times, 'can you give the man a break,' either by his lawyers, by his relatives, by his friends. You take that into consideration. But you know that doesn't determine not going forward with it." (CNN / ABC News)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/08/politics/giuliani-comey-flynn/index.html

6/ Giuliani: Michael Cohen "should cooperate" with prosecutors as long as he tells the truth. Giuliani repeatedly downplayed the possibility that Cohen could provide damaging information to prosecutors. "As long as he tells the truth, we're home free." Two people familiar with Cohen's thinking say he has already "hit the reset button" and will continue to speak the "real truth." (NPR / CNN)

https://www.npr.org/2018/07/08/627107199/giuliani-says-michael-cohen-should-cooperate-with-prosecutors

Why does Michael Cohen keep publicly hinting that he’ll flip on Trump? There have been some reports that Cohen wants Trump to pay his legal fees. (Vox)

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/7/9/17548350/michael-cohen-mueller-trump-lanny-davis

7/ Giuliani: Trump is close to refusing to sit down for an interview with Robert Mueller. On Friday, Giuliani set new conditions for an interview with the special counsel, saying Mueller needs to prove – before Trump would agree to sit for an interview – that Trump committed a crime and that his testimony is essential to completing the investigation. Giuliani also claimed that the Mueller investigation was the "most corrupt I've ever seen." He called prosecutors working on the investigation "very, very severe partisans working on an investigation that should have been done by people who are politically neutral." (The Guardian / New York Times)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/09/white-house-close-to-refusing-interview-with-russia-investigation

poll/ 65% of women said they disapproved of Trump's job as president, while 32% said they approved. 54% of men say they approved of Trump, while only 45% said they disapproved. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-and-women-the-big-disconnect-in-american-politics/2018/07/07/9469bdca-8145-11e8-b9a5-7e1c013f8c33_story.html

Notables.

Protesters chased Mitch Mc Connell through a restaurant parking lot, calling him "turtle head," and asking "Where are the babies, Mitch?" – a reference to the infant migrant children who were separated from their families at the southern U.S. border. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/07/08/where-are-the-babies-mitch-mcconnell-pursued-from-restaurant-by-angry-crowd/

Steve Bannon was called a "piece of trash" by a woman at a bookstore in Richmond, Virginia. The owner of Black Swan Books called the police after the woman refused to leave. (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/09/politics/steve-bannon-bookstore-harassment/index.html

Stephen Miller threw away $80 of takeout sushi after a bartender raised both middle fingers and cursed at him while he was picking up takeout in his DC neighborhood. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/viciousness-trump-aides-endure-public-fury-toward-presidents-policies/2018/07/09/23d3b9a2-8051-11e8-b0ef-fffcabeff946_story.html

The Trump administration is freezing billions of dollars in payments to Affordable Care Act insurers. The so-called risk adjustment payments are meant to protect insurers from incurring big losses from many unexpected high-cost patients. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/08/insurance-obamacare-adjustment-payments-701907

White House communications director Bill Shine will attend Trump's meeting with Putin in Helsinki on July 16. The West Wing delegation also includes John Kelly, deputy chief of staff Zach Fuentes, national security adviser John Bolton, Stephen Miller, social media director Dan Scavino, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Melania Trump, and other high-level staffers and their aides. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/08/shine-trump-putin-summit-702294

Trump: "I have confidence" that Kim Jong Un will honor our "contract" and handshake agreement to denuclearize, but China may be working against it. (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/09/trump-i-have-confidence-kim-jong-un-will-honor-agreement.html

Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods don't apply to Ivanka Trump's foreign-made products for her fashion line. The goods to be levied with tariffs were apparently chosen based on what would disrupt the U.S. economy the least and have the least impact on consumers. (Huff Post / Fortune)

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-china-tariffs-spares-clothing-shoes-ivanka-safe_us_5b42a597e4b09e4a8b2e72c3

Members of Trump's Florida clubs appear to have been invited to tour Air Force One. Two separate tours were scheduled at the Atlantic Aviation FBO at Palm Beach International on Feb. 18, 2017. Those attending would have paid Trump's exclusive clubs thousands of dollars annually. (Buzz Feed News)

https://www.buzzfeed.com/tariniparti/trump-air-force-one-mar-a-lago-tour

Trump's personal driver for more than 25 years sued the Trump Organization for more than $200,000 in unpaid overtime wages over the past six years. Noel Cintron received two raises in 15 years, but had to give up his Trump Organization health insurance in order to get a $7,000 pay increase. (Bloomberg / Washington Post)

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-07-07/donald-trump-s-incompetence-is-no-joke

The EPA granted "super polluting freight trucks" a loophole in the final hours of Scott Pruitt's tenure as administrator. The move by the EPA will allow a significant increase in the production of a diesel freight truck that produces as much as 55 times the air pollution of trucks with modern emissions controls. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/06/us/glider-trucks-loophole-pruitt.html

Edited by sgamer82 on Jul 9th 2018 at 4:15:25 AM

StarOutlaw Since: Nov, 2010
#248727: Jul 9th 2018 at 3:17:14 PM

I think it isn't so much people and American society have been becoming less racist since the 60s, but rather just more ashamed of it. So, instead of being blatant or obvious, it's veiled behind excuses and dog whistles.

A lot of racist people who don't think they are racist will look for an excuse to descriminate, and usually that excuse is a petty crime, like drugs or illegal immigration. As soon as someone of color does even one little thing wrong, it gives those kinds of people all they need to treat them like garbage. Don't want to lose your kid, then don't cross the border. Don't want to get shot, then do everything the cop tells you exactly as he says it, and don't run away. You don't even need to be dangerous, just suspicious, so don't loiter either.

I'm feeling particularly sour right now. Bunch of cowards and bullies ruining the dream for everyone.

Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#248728: Jul 9th 2018 at 3:22:55 PM

Of the four contenders, I really hope Trump picks Hardiman, you know, to replace a moderate with another and ensure that the Supreme Court doesn't become a rubber stamp for conservative policies in the next decades.

Life is unfair...
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#248730: Jul 9th 2018 at 3:26:01 PM

He was the closest thing to, as I understand it.

Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#248731: Jul 9th 2018 at 3:28:14 PM

[up][up] He was the deciding vote in prohibiting bans on "sodomy", gay marriage and other such matters, as well as judging that the EPA should be able to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Good enough for a republican-appointed judge to me.

Edited by Grafite on Jul 9th 2018 at 11:28:22 AM

Life is unfair...
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#248732: Jul 9th 2018 at 3:32:13 PM

He had a few not-terrible decisions, but that doesn't make him a moderate. It just means he wasn't entirely terrible. Which, coming from Trump is the absolute best we can hope for.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#248733: Jul 9th 2018 at 3:34:41 PM

He had a few not-terrible decisions, but that doesn't make him a moderate. It just means he wasn't entirely terrible. Which, coming from Trump is the absolute best we can hope for.

Hence "closest thing to"

Edited by sgamer82 on Jul 9th 2018 at 4:36:28 AM

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#248734: Jul 9th 2018 at 3:50:39 PM

Was there ever ever a time when US courts weren't staffed by ideologues?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#248735: Jul 9th 2018 at 3:50:59 PM

Really hope you guys aren't going to watch the Live SCOTUS pick. It's the least we can do.

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
TroperOnAStickV2 Call me Stick from Redneck country Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Call me Stick
#248737: Jul 9th 2018 at 4:28:32 PM

My take is don't watch the live thing, to do your little bit to starve Trump of attention, but definitely find a recap afterwards.

Hopefully I'll feel confident to change my avatar off this scumbag soon. Apologies to any scumbags I insulted.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#248738: Jul 9th 2018 at 4:28:59 PM

I believe that Lark wants to deny Trump his beloved ratings.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#248739: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:15:02 PM

Got a Reuters notification that Trump's nominating Brett Kavanaugh.

"Trump picks conservative Kavanaugh as Supreme Court nominee: NBC" - http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-trump-nbc/trump-picks-conservative-kavanaugh-as-supreme-court-nominee-nbc-idUSKBN1K002C

Edited by sgamer82 on Jul 9th 2018 at 7:15:03 AM

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#248740: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:21:04 PM

So is this full-on horrible, or relatively okay?

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#248742: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:24:57 PM

[up][up] When I posted that Kavanaugh was the front runner for the job, people said he would suck, but not as bad as Gorsuch or many of the other picks. From what I gathered, he does suck, but he also has a couple of positive positions, like for Obamacare.

So this is relatively better then what it could be. He is still a very Conservative Justice, but he's probably going to be more like Roberts then he is like Scalia.

Edited by DingoWalley1 on Jul 9th 2018 at 9:24:43 AM

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#248743: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:25:17 PM

One thing I read about Kavanaugh is that he believes that a sitting president should not be allowed to be indicted.

Uh-huh.

Do not obey in advance.
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#248744: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:28:57 PM

Here's what I heard:

Drafted the Starr report, which urged impeachment of Clinton.

Argued presidents should be exempt from time consuming lawsuits and investigations.

Dissented when the DC Circuit upheld Obamacare.

Favors employers in case of labor and employment.

Edited by tclittle on Jul 9th 2018 at 8:28:54 AM

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#248745: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:29:13 PM

Apparently even being investigated during his term as president is something that shouldn't be done, according to Kavenaugh.

So yeah, could have been worse, but I'm not sure how with this whole Mueller thing going on. We can only hope that enough of the other judges disagree with him on this issue, but that can't be relied on at this point.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#248746: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:42:40 PM

Hard right American Family Association has come out against Kavanaugh due to his positions on religious liberty, Obamacare, and abortions.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#248747: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:43:50 PM

[up]x3

Dissented when the DC Circuit upheld Obamacare.

Minor Correction: He originally found that the Court did not have the authority to judge the law in the first place. However, he would also join the unanimous decision that Obamacare wasn't against the Origination Clause in the Constitution (IE, the law started in the House of Representatives), dissenting only when the same Court decided not to hear a retrial.

Edited by DingoWalley1 on Jul 9th 2018 at 9:47:42 AM

RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#248748: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:45:00 PM

I guess it's no surprise that Kavanaugh is Trump's pick as an attempt to resist being impeached when Mueller finally crosses the finish line.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#248749: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:45:24 PM

[up][up][up][up]

Which is especially odd considering his involvement in the Ken Starr investigation, particularly the fact that he was investigating the Vincent Foster suicide.

That said, this probably is the best we can reasonably hope for out of Trump in terms of a judicial nominee, which is kind of depressing to say.

And handily enough, Heavy.com did both a write-up and embedded a link to Kavanaugh's original writings on the topic, so feel free to read through (relevant portion is on page 6)!

[down]

I think it hinges heavily on how he answers questions relating to the above - if he insists that a sitting President shouldn't be subject to investigations, let alone indictments, there's no way in hell they could reasonably support him. Hell, I think a number of moderate Republicans might even balk at the prospect on that one.

And notably, he brings up Clinton v. Jones, which the Supreme Court unanimously allowed to proceed, setting clear precedent that a sitting President can sure as hell face a civil lawsuit while in office.

Edited by ironballs16 on Jul 9th 2018 at 6:54:45 AM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#248750: Jul 9th 2018 at 6:47:40 PM

So is this a hill the Senate Democrats are going to die on? Or are they going to get it over with to focus on the midterms?

Edited by Parable on Jul 9th 2018 at 6:47:57 AM


Total posts: 417,856
Top