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

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#249076: Jul 13th 2018 at 8:45:02 AM

You're a bit off the mark there, Mother Nature. You were supposed to send the woodchuck ops team to disable Scott Pruitt's car.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#249077: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:05:26 AM

Alternatively, she could send flocks of pigeons with lousy bowel control to Trump Tower.

Disgusted, but not surprised
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#249078: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:08:42 AM

I wonder why Paul Ryan isn't running for reelection.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#249079: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:19:53 AM

BBC BREAKING NEWS: Russians indicted over US election hack

The US justice department has indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers for hacking the Democratic National Committee in the 2016 election.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
thatindiantroper Since: Feb, 2015
#249080: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:28:48 AM

"Actually, there was that one time some British doofus was arrested at a Trump rally after outright declaring he intended to asassinate him. But that's as far as it's gone."

That's ...pretty damn far man.

[up][up][up] Alternatively she could give them all smallpox.

Edited by thatindiantroper on Jul 13th 2018 at 9:59:14 PM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#249081: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:31:35 AM

That's ...pretty damn far man.
Eh, a serious assassin wouldn't announce it in public period but especially not at a rally. It's not that far, just a moron being a moron.

"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
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#249083: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:39:36 AM

Yes? I wasn't saying he wasn't an assassin, by serious assassin I mean one that's actually competent and plans things out. That just sounds like a possibly mentally imbalanced moron.

"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
#249084: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:48:04 AM

C'mon don't do that thing where if someone nominally on your side does something terrible theyre "mentally ill".

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#249085: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:49:33 AM

Assassins aren’t “nominally on our side” because they want to kill a president we don’t like.

They should have sent a poet.
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#249086: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:53:48 AM

It's also insulting to the mentally ill. Stupidity and rashness aren't mental illnesses.

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#249087: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:55:32 AM

So if Russia actually was indicted, would that actually mean anything at the point?

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#249088: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:56:59 AM

You can't really indict an entire country.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#249089: Jul 13th 2018 at 9:59:46 AM

C'mon don't do that thing where if someone nominally on your side does something terrible theyre "mentally ill".
Firstly he's "not on my side" I don't condone such stupidity.

Furthermore his actions are not those of a reasonably balanced person, and you'll note that I said possibly. It's also possible that he's just extremely stupid and rash.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Jul 13th 2018 at 1:01:01 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#249091: Jul 13th 2018 at 10:02:31 AM

It's also insulting to the mentally ill. Stupidity and rashness aren't mental illnesses.
No it's not, his behavior was abnormal thus wondering about a possible abnormal state of mind is not unreasonable. I didn't even say he was definitely or even likely mentally ill, pay better attention to what I actually said.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Jul 13th 2018 at 1:02:35 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#249092: Jul 13th 2018 at 10:04:33 AM

Saying someone's mentally imbalanced isn't the same as saying they are mentally ill.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#249093: Jul 13th 2018 at 10:05:16 AM

[up]Well said.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#249094: Jul 13th 2018 at 10:35:52 AM

One nice bit in Vampyr was they avoided ableism.

An elderly woman has a Serial Killer as a son.

She asks if her son is mentally ill and can be institutionalized instead of arrested and hung (why she can't turn him in).

The Doctor/Vampire says, as kindly as possible, "No, your son is just an asshole."

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#249095: Jul 13th 2018 at 10:36:02 AM

according to Renato Marriotti, it's relatively uncommon to pursue charges against foriegn entities in a big Counterintelligence Investigations like this, since it could run the risk of jepordizing the integrity of the investigation in Discovery.

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 13th 2018 at 1:44:03 PM

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#249096: Jul 13th 2018 at 12:00:20 PM

Thread:

THREAD: What does today’s indictment of 12 Russian intelligence officers tell us about Mueller’s investigation?

1/ Today Mueller indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers for conspiring to hack servers in the United States in order to harm the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton. The indictment also charges them with money laundering. Check it out here

2/ Perhaps the most important revelation of this indictment is that Mueller has substantial evidence that the Russian government engaged in coordinated efforts to hack servers in the U.S. Trump and others speculated that Russia wasn’t responsible. That speculation is debunked.

3/ Another component of the conspiracy is equally important. The Russians “hacked the website of a state board of elections and stole information related to 500,000 voters, including names, addresses, partial social security numbers, dates of birth, and drivers license numbers.”

4/ This was part of their effort to hack into computers of those “charged with the administration of the 2016 U.S. elections in order to access those computers and steal voter data and other information stored on those computers.”

6/ Stone could be the “person in regular contact with senior members” of the Trump campaign discussed in this paragraph of the indictment (paragraph 44)

7/ This indictment shows us much of the evidence underlying the intelligence community’s assessment that Russia preferred Trump over Clinton and tried to help him win. What the indictment does not answer is whether anyone in the Trump camp sought or used that help.

8/ Some of you asked why the individual in contact with the Trump campaign was not named. It is Justice Department policy not to name individuals who are not charged in the indictment. The name would be revealed at trial if a defendant was arrested and went to trial. (Unlikely.)

9/ I would be surprised if any of the Russian defendants ever appeared in a U.S. courtroom. Because Mueller only charged people (not any corporations) we won’t see Russia hire lawyers to appear and seek discovery as they did in the prior Russian influence case.

10/ Perhaps the most important implication of the indictment is its potential political impact. Congressional Republicans question whether Mueller is doing his job, and Trump calls the investigation a “witch hunt” daily. This indictment suggests Mueller is doing his job.

10/ Perhaps the most important implication of the indictment is its potential political impact. Congressional Republicans question whether Mueller is doing his job, and Trump calls the investigation a “witch hunt” daily. This indictment suggests Mueller is doing his job.

12/ This indictment also suggests potential future steps by Mueller, along with what might be the clearest path towards an indictment charging an American with knowingly aiding the Russian effort, something this current indictment does not do.

13/ This indictment indicates there was a Russian conspiracy to harm Democrats and to undermine our elections by (among other things) stealing voter data. If an American joined the conspiracy, he/she would be liable for all of it even if the American wasn’t aware of all of it.

14/ Moreover, any American who knew about the criminal activity and helped make it succeed would be criminally liable for aiding and abetting, regardless of whether they joined the conspiracy.

15/ It remains to be seen whether Mueller finds sufficient evidence to charge an American with aiding the Russian effort. But this indictment indicates widespread crimes committed by Russian operatives, so the question is just whether there is proof of American involvement. /end

Something to note, is this indictment is part of the Counterintelligence, and not the Law Enforcement side of of the the investigation.

Edited by megaeliz on Jul 13th 2018 at 3:24:36 PM

Wariolander Since: Nov, 2017
#249097: Jul 13th 2018 at 12:38:57 PM

By the way, Scotland called Trump a mangled apricot hellbeast. That's the best insult for him so far.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#249098: Jul 13th 2018 at 12:41:27 PM

[up]That really is [lol]

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
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
#249099: Jul 13th 2018 at 12:53:05 PM

Cross posting this to the Race thread too: another black person has been profiled, this time by an off-duty cop while at his own apartment complex, with the complex manager backing up the police officer.

    Full article text 
Emphasis mine.
A black resident of an Indianapolis apartment complex was sitting by the complex’s pool when a white off-duty police officer confronted him and told him to leave the area.

Shayne Holland has been a resident of the River Crossing at Keystone apartment complex for more than a year. On July 6, he was relaxing in a pool chair when a white woman working as security—later identified as an off-duty officer from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department—approached and asked him if he was a resident of the complex.

“When she asked where I lived, I said I don’t know you and you haven’t identified yourself, so I’m not just going to give you my address,” Holland told the Indianapolis Star. However, he did show her his complex-issued key, which grants him access to the pool, and told her she could test the key as proof of his residence.

At that point, the police officer contacted the apartment office to further verify his residency, and Holland began filming the altercation. He posted several videos of the incident on Twitter.

“What’s your address?” the officer can be heard asking Holland in the video.

“What’s your badge number?” Holland replies, without missing a beat.

When the apartment manager arrived at the pool, she confirmed to the officer that Holland lives at the complex. Rather than settle the matter, however, the dispute only escalated from there.

Next, the officer told Holland he needed to leave the area because he would not tell her his address. The apartment manager sided with the officer. In one of the videos, the apartment manager tells Holland, “You didn’t answer her question.”

Holland responds, “Why do I need to give this lady who I don’t know my address?”

“I just don’t feel like I’m welcome,” Holland says to the apartment manager in the video, and he asks the two women to try to see the situation from his perspective.

The apartment manager notes that a “sign says I can ask anybody to leave [the pool] at any time” and tells Holland to leave immediately. She can also be heard telling Holland to shut up when he says that he feels threatened and cites how frequently black people die in altercations with police officers. When Holland again holds up his key as proof of his residency, the police officer can be seen snatching it out of his hand.

Alex Stokely, the vice president of the company that oversees the River Crossing complex, told the Indianapolis Star that the apartment manager has been placed on leave and that an internal investigation is being conducted.

Swimming pools have a long, racist history dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries, when black Americans were often barred from using pools, and there are many examples of both police officers and white swimmers confronting and even beating black swimmers. In an infamous case in 1964, a hotel owner in Florida poured acid into a whites-only swimming pool in an attempt to force black civil rights protesters out of the water.

These racist incidents are still unfortunately common today. On July 4, a white man in North Carolina called the police alleging that a black woman swimming at a community pool was not authorized to be there. (She was.) In a widely reported 2015 incident, someone called the police on a group of black teens attending a pool party in Mc Kinney, Texas. When the police arrived, an officer cursed out the teens and slammed a young black woman to the ground before drawing his gun on the crowd.

Holland expressed frustration with the way he was treated at his apartment complex last week. “It’s extremely frustrating. … I’m from a place where we didn’t have a pool in the neighborhood. Now that I’m at an age and a place where I can afford to attain that, I still have to deal with being profiled,” he told the Indianapolis Star. “I feel like more and more people in 2018 are comfortable telling young African-Americans what they should and should not be doing.”

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Imca (Veteran)
#249100: Jul 13th 2018 at 12:58:15 PM

From what I read, he saw it anyway (likely from second hand info rather than directly seeing it) and he said it made him feel "unwelcomed"

Wasn't just the blimp that made him feel "unwelcome", the protestors also kept him awake all night by blaring the cries of the children he has separated from there parents outside his room.


Total posts: 417,856
Top