US Politics Thread

[Moxie]

Biden's ticket is that he can attract non-educated Republicans? What could possibly go wrong...

Nah, that demographic is firmly Trump. They finally found themselves reflected in the White House.

 

[Federberg]

Nah, that demographic is firmly Trump. They finally found themselves reflected in the White House.

I've heard that the data doesn't support that. Trump supporters generally have a higher income profile than average

 

[britbox]

Nah, that demographic is firmly Trump. They finally found themselves reflected in the White House.

Oh, absolutely agree on the demographic. That's why I found AP's post puzzling.

On another note, if Biden is seriously the best candidate the Democratic Party can field, then it doesn't bode well. He'll get chewed alive at debates. You'd better hope there is enough anti-Trump sentiment to see him over the line and bring out the voter base en masse.

 

[britbox]

I've heard that the data doesn't support that. Trump supporters generally have a higher income profile than average

AP was talking of the "uneducated" Republicans, not the overall demographic.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

The name MIchelle Obama is being uttered by the Biden camp apparently. Genius move or desperate attempt?

 

[britbox]

The name MIchelle Obama is being uttered by the Biden camp apparently. Genius move or desperate attempt?

It'll probably ring well in the Democrat party. Neither genius or desperate IMO. I'd class it as fairly smart. We'll see if it's anything beyond rumor. It's quite clear that the hierarchy don't want Bernie anywhere near the nomination.

 

[Jelenafan]

VP : is “balancing” the ticket still a thing? When has it actually worked other than LBJ/ Kennedy a mere 60 years ago.

If Biden has to get someone younger and more progressive or Bernie someone younger and less progressive, that’s a HUGE pool.

It’s almost irrelevant , it boils down to if the voter can hold their nose and vote for the top of the ticket for whatever reasons...

 

[Moxie]

Oh, absolutely agree on the demographic. That's why I found AP's post puzzling.

On another note, if Biden is seriously the best candidate the Democratic Party can field, then it doesn't bode well. He'll get chewed alive at debates. You'd better hope there is enough anti-Trump sentiment to see him over the line and bring out the voter base en masse.

I don't really see that the debates matter anymore to the general election. Hilary wiped the floor with Trump in most of their debates. His loose relationship with the truth makes him nearly impossible to debate, anyway. Until we stop living in this "post-truth" world with Trump, it won't matter how weak or strong a debater or even candidate the Dems put up. Trump and the Republicans will drag out all the dirty tricks to take them down. It will ALL come down to how strong anti-Trump sentiment is, no matter what.

 

[Moxie]

It was the only decision a rational thinker could make, so not surprised at all.

Over to Tulsi and Warren to see if rationality is a part of their make up!

Warren dropped out. Seems that Tulsi is still in, but no one even cares. I just heard the announcement about Warren on the news, and the newsreader said: "The question is now if she will throw her endorsement to either of Sanders or Biden, the only two candidates left in the race." That's how much Gabbard matters.

 

[Moxie]

VP : is “balancing” the ticket still a thing? When has it actually worked other than LBJ/ Kennedy a mere 60 years ago.

If Biden has to get someone younger and more progressive or Bernie someone younger and less progressive, that’s a HUGE pool.

It’s almost irrelevant , it boils down to if the voter can hold their nose and vote for the top of the ticket for whatever reasons...

There's only one reason. But yes, "balancing the ticket" is still a thing. Why not?

 

[tented]

some of the stuff she's said through out her campaign. It's one thing to be anti-establishment, but a few times it's almost like she's been anti- Democratic party. I fully sympathise with her desire not to be anywhere near CNN or MSNBC though. Those journalists there can't move on from Syria, and it got old and boring really quickly. I didn't realise that she wasn't the only legislator who made that trip until a few months back. The way they go on it's like she defected. So I sympathise with her, but she confuses me. And her still sticking at it, at this stage makes no sense whatsoever

The only people who use the word “Democrat” (not Democratic) as an adjective are Republicans. As in “Democrat Party”, “that’s one of the Democrat policies”, etc. Yet I’ve noticed Tulsi Gabbard does this. Here are a couple of examples:

Fast forward to 5:07




On Twitter:

 

[Federberg]

The only people who use the word “Democrat” (not Democratic) as an adjective are Republicans. As in “Democrat Party”, “that’s one of the Democrat policies”, etc. Yet I’ve noticed Tulsi Gabbard does this. Here are a couple of examples:

Fast forward to 5:07




On Twitter:

Thanks for this. I've been having difficulty providing specifics about why she gives me a bad vibe. This is actually one of those things that I've found very suspicious

 

[tented]

Thanks for this. I've been having difficulty providing specifics about why she gives me a bad vibe. This is actually one of those things that I've found very suspicious

You‘re welcome.

I’ve been acutely aware of it since 2006, after reading The “ic” Factor.

 

[britbox]

Thanks for this. I've been having difficulty providing specifics about why she gives me a bad vibe. This is actually one of those things that I've found very suspicious

She's independent and free-thinking. Clearly that doesn't mesh well with the "party machine". People like old Joe, controlled by the donors, who tell people how they should think are much more favourable. Heaven forbid that one of those people actually thinks for themself. Cast them out! How dare they!

 

[Moxie]

You‘re welcome.

I’ve been acutely aware of it since 2006, after reading The “ic” Factor.

Thanks for that. I have long known intuitively and in context what it's all about, but I didn't realize how far it went back, and I never saw it diagramed so well. Example from the other day. I was listening to the radio and a Republican politician was being interviewed. He used "Democrat" party in his reponses, and the interviewer called it out. He said, "I only ever get asked about that on NPR. I mean nothing by it, it's just that I'm uneducated and don't use proper grammar." Butter wouldn't have melted in his mouth with his cool Southern accent.

 

[mrzz]

"The question is now if she will throw her endorsement to either of Sanders or Biden, the only two candidates left in the race." That's how much Gabbard matters.

Yeah, generally candidates that "matter" are absolute piles of shit that I would cross the street not to shake the hand or breathe the same air, so for sure Gabbard does not matter. In fact, that is precisely why she does not matter.

 

[Moxie]

This is a very interesting profile of Tulsi Gabbard from the NYer from Nov.2017. What Does Tulsi Gabbard Believe? Tell me if you can't read it behind the pay wall, and I can copy it. It's long, but interesting. Gets into some of why her politics were initially very conservative. She grew up in a cult...there's no other way to spin that. Some of her "anti-gay" views have "evolved." But, as she comes off as a somewhat "confusing" Democrat to many of us, it is clear that it's hard to gain National office in the very blue state of Hawaii as anything other than a Democrat. How much is she a "free-thinker" and how much is she an ambitious opportunist? Even some of her constituents find her an enigma.

 

[britbox]

This is a very interesting profile of Tulsi Gabbard from the NYer from Nov.2017. What Does Tulsi Gabbard Believe? Tell me if you can't read it behind the pay wall, and I can copy it. It's long, but interesting. Gets into some of why her politics were initially very conservative. She grew up in a cult...there's no other way to spin that. Some of her "anti-gay" views have "evolved." But, as she comes off as a somewhat "confusing" Democrat to many of us, it is clear that it's hard to gain National office in the very blue state of Hawaii as anything other than a Democrat. How much is she a "free-thinker" and how much is she an ambitious opportunist? Even some of her constituents find her an enigma.

What's confusing to you? Other than her views changing on gay marriage (which seems to follow the path of prominent democrats - just take Hillary for instance). Her life journey is really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Moxie]

What's confusing to you? Other than her views changing on gay marriage (which seems to follow the path of prominent democrats - just take Hillary for instance). Her life journey is really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Mostly I wonder if, had she been from a different state, if she'd have stayed a Republican, and kept her conservative views on some things. Anyway, glad you enjoyed the read. I also found it interesting.

 

[britbox]

Mostly I wonder if, had she been from a different state, if she'd have stayed a Republican, and kept her conservative views on some things. Anyway, glad you enjoyed the read. I also found it interesting.

I didn't read that she was ever a republican. It sounds like she's not tribal though, which is a good thing. Grown-up politics.