US Politics Thread

[Federberg]

Tulsi Gabbard's still in, at least technically. But I got one of those emails yesterday from a political group (plea for $ disguised as survey,) asking whether Bernie should drop out, since there were only two people left in the race. So I went to her campaign website. However you feel about it, that's just downright insulting. I haven't heard one mention of her in the news about Bernie dropping out, either.

just shows how relevant she is. I'm not sure why it's insulting. Does she even have 10 delegates? The question needs to be asked why is she still in?

 

[britbox]

Tulsi dropped out around 3 weeks ago and endorsed Biden.

 

[Federberg]

Tulsi dropped out around 3 weeks ago and endorsed Biden.

“Although I may not agree with the vice-president on every issue, I know that he has a good heart, and he’s motivated by his love for our country and the American people,” Gabbard said.

“I’m confident that he will lead our country guided by the spirit of aloha, respect and compassion, and thus help heal the divisiveness that has been tearing our country apart.”

 

[Federberg]

It's not the first time I've heard something like this since Warren dropped out, "only two candidates left," and I ch

I guess she couldn't be bothered to change her website. Thanks for the update.

Nothing to do with gender. I’m pretty sure I would say the same thing if it was a bloke or a transgender

 

[Moxie]

Nothing to do with gender. I’m pretty sure I would say the same thing if it was a bloke or a transgender

That is an incomplete quote. I started to reply to you, but thought I'd lost it, so I figured I'd come back later and respond again. Then I started to answer BB, and the old (half of) one was still there. So I deleted them both. What I was GOING to write was that I would feel the same if Steyer, for example, or Buttigieg had been the other one left. Seriously. I don't see everything through the lens of gender.

EDIT: Also, I see that I hadn't manage to delete correctly, but I have now.

 

[Jelenafan]

Am I the only one looking at Wisconsin Republicans with disgust?? My goodness, if the only way you can win an election is to suppress the vote then you're not worth voting for. This is one of the problems with US democracy at the moment. If you can't sell your product to the majority of the voting base then you need to develop a more attractive offering. But instead the GOP seems to be doing everything they can to frustrate democracy in the name of sustaining their unpopular beliefs. This is why I could never vote Republican. Trump literally said that if more people vote Republicans will never win. WTF!!! Change your fucking policies and win the hearts and minds of the electorate. Surreal...


Say what you want about the Tories over here, but they have updated their product with a view to maintaining popular support. They are not doctrinal or idealogues, and that's what has made them the most successful centre right political force in the Western world

Wisconsin Republicans it’s par for the course....their gerrymandering is legendary (in absolute terms it’s brilliantly efficient)

Republican Gerrymandering Has Basically Destroyed Representative Democracy in Wisconsin

The best way to preserve political power? Drawing lines to ensure that the will of the people won't matter.

www.gq.com

Excerpt:

“Comparing this year's results with those from previous elections provides an even more startling perspective on the GOP's efficiency. As noted by the Washington Post's Philip Bump, in 2016, Republican candidates won 161,000 more votes than their Democratic counterparts, which yielded a 29-person GOP advantage in the assembly. This seems intuitive enough: Get more votes, get more seats at the table. In 2018, however, Democrats received 205,000 more votes than Republicans, which yielded a 27-person advantage. For Republicans.”

 

[Moxie]

Am I the only one looking at Wisconsin Republicans with disgust?? My goodness, if the only way you can win an election is to suppress the vote then you're not worth voting for. This is one of the problems with US democracy at the moment. If you can't sell your product to the majority of the voting base then you need to develop a more attractive offering. But instead the GOP seems to be doing everything they can to frustrate democracy in the name of sustaining their unpopular beliefs. This is why I could never vote Republican. Trump literally said that if more people vote Republicans will never win. WTF!!! Change your fucking policies and win the hearts and minds of the electorate. Surreal...


Say what you want about the Tories over here, but they have updated their product with a view to maintaining popular support. They are not doctrinal or idealogues, and that's what has made them the most successful centre right political force in the Western world

I gave this a "like" earlier, but I wanted to come back to it. It's absolutely scandalous that voters in Wisconsin were forced to go out and vote today, against the wishes of the Democratic governor. (With the support of the Supreme Court, I might add.) Republicans have long proven that they will try to win "by any means necessary," (voter suppression in a huge way, gerrymandering districts...which happens on both sides, to be fair,) but not, as you suggest, by changing their policy platform to be more appealing to a wider voting majority.

Another thing this does bring up, however, is why do we drag out our primaries so long? COVID-19 aside, which has changed a lot of things about this election cycle, my state, NY, wasn't going to vote until 28 April, anyway. Bernie has dropped out. This makes the presidential primary vote in populous states like NY and NJ inconsequential, even if we voted on schedule. When things go back to normal, I would suggest that we tighten up the primary schedule. More states and diverse states to vote in the first weeks. Get a real bead on who is viable. Then by Super Tuesday or shortly after, have most of the states accounted for. Who does it serve to string it out so long? I get that the candidates want to cover as much ground personally as they can, but why do they matter more than the enfranchisement of the voters?

 

[brokenshoelace]

Watching Trump and Biden literally struggle through basic English as they debate during one of the most critical phases in the history of the modern world is going to be so sad for the current state of America. Trump will absolutely eat that hypocritical, demented piece of shit alive. Fuck Barrack Obama for making that piece of shit relevant (and for so many other things that his charisma and wit overshadow), and fuck Joe Biden. Fuck Donald Trump as well, but at least he's transparent. Of course I'd prefer for Biden to win simply for the whole "lesser of the two evils" nonsense but he has no shot in hell.

 

[Federberg]

I gave this a "like" earlier, but I wanted to come back to it. It's absolutely scandalous that voters in Wisconsin were forced to go out and vote today, against the wishes of the Democratic governor. (With the support of the Supreme Court, I might add.) Republicans have long proven that they will try to win "by any means necessary," (voter suppression in a huge way, gerrymandering districts...which happens on both sides, to be fair,) but not, as you suggest, by changing their policy platform to be more appealing to a wider voting majority.

Another thing this does bring up, however, is why do we drag out our primaries so long? COVID-19 aside, which has changed a lot of things about this election cycle, my state, NY, wasn't going to vote until 28 April, anyway. Bernie has dropped out. This makes the presidential primary vote in populous states like NY and NJ inconsequential, even if we voted on schedule. When things go back to normal, I would suggest that we tighten up the primary schedule. More states and diverse states to vote in the first weeks. Get a real bead on who is viable. Then by Super Tuesday or shortly after, have most of the states accounted for. Who does it serve to string it out so long? I get that the candidates want to cover as much ground personally as they can, but why do they matter more than the enfranchisement of the voters?

it's an absurdly long and needlessly expensive process. Just look at how short the recent UK elections were. And shock horror the will of the people was resoundingly achieved. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a construct of the media to maximise revenue

 

[britbox]

Seriously, this is the best the Dems can come up with after four years...

 

[Federberg]

Seriously, this is the best the Dems can come up with after four years...

Sky News Australia??

 

[britbox]

Sky News Australia??

Don't shoot the messenger. If you think Biden is the man for the job then stick your neck out and say it.

 

[britbox]

Watching Trump and Biden literally struggle through basic English as they debate during one of the most critical phases in the history of the modern world is going to be so sad for the current state of America. Trump will absolutely eat that hypocritical, demented piece of shit alive. Fuck Barrack Obama for making that piece of shit relevant (and for so many other things that his charisma and wit overshadow), and fuck Joe Biden. Fuck Donald Trump as well, but at least he's transparent. Of course I'd prefer for Biden to win simply for the whole "lesser of the two evils" nonsense but he has no shot in hell.

When you say the "lesser of two evils", what criteria are you using? What are you looking for from a US president?

 

[britbox]

As regards Biden... somebody (anybody) sell this guy? without using the word "Trump" in the pitch... The silence is deafening to date.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Two rich hetero white males...A leftist nightmare. I cannot decide whom I dislike more...Trump is a despicable human being and I hate what Biden stands for. Trump should eat him alive during the debates. But...Obama family has been silent till now and now that the field is set, they may be the wind to fill the sails of the Biden bid. I am curious as to what the turnout would be. Biden is as exciting as a sloth on prozac, Trump is Trump...
300 million people and these are the choices. Carlin was so right...garbage in, garbage out.

 

[Federberg]

Don't shoot the messenger. If you think Biden is the man for the job then stick your neck out and say it.

hahaha! I think my position is crystal clear mate. TRUMP OUT!!! You can put up a badger turd to run against him, and that's what I would support. Clear enough?

 

[Federberg]

As regards Biden... somebody (anybody) sell this guy? without using the word "Trump" in the pitch... The silence is deafening to date.

So deafening I guess that after he won South Carolina he crushed Bernie? Yup, I like that kind of silence I guess...

 

[Federberg]

Two rich hetero white males...A leftist nightmare. I cannot decide whom I dislike more...Trump is a despicable human being and I hate what Biden stands for. Trump should eat him alive during the debates. But...Obama family has been silent till now and now that the field is set, they may be the wind to fill the sails of the Biden bid. I am curious as to what the turnout would be. Biden is as exciting as a sloth on prozac, Trump is Trump...
300 million people and these are the choices. Carlin was so right...garbage in, garbage out.

out of curiosity what do you think Biden stands for?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

out of curiosity what do you think Biden stands for?

Bigger government, less individual freedoms, compromise to the far left, unearned moral superiority (aka virtue signalling) , as corrupt as Trump ( look at his son) , creepy old man touching younger women in weird ways, total slave to the establishment....OR you can go to his website to find out more
One thing though. Things would be more "normal" with him as the pres. Although I am not sure how the new normal will look like when the dust settles from this whole thing.

 

[Federberg]

Bigger government, less individual freedoms, compromise to the far left, unearned moral superiority (aka virtue signalling) , as corrupt as Trump ( look at his son) , creepy old man touching younger women in weird ways, total slave to the establishment....OR you can go to his website to find out more
One thing though. Things would be more "normal" with him as the pres. Although I am not sure how the new normal will look like when the dust settles from this whole thing.

they're all for bigger government mate, the only difference is which part of government they want to enlarge
would love to hear about the virtue signalling, can you be more specific?
I always chuckle at corruption comparisons with Trump. Why does his son's taking advantage of nepotistic opportunities put him in Trump's league?
Biden is an equal opportunity toucher mate. Look at the record. He does that regardless of age, gender or race... ergo.. not creepy. Just retail politics. A bit hyperbolic there I think
Slave to the establishment? Can't argue with that one..