US Politics Thread

[RupertKBD]

45 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

Current US Democrats remind me a lot of the early 2000s Republicans. 

 

War machine in bed with military industrial complex? Used to be Bush Republicans, now it's the Democrats. 

 

Pro-censorship and willing to call Americans domestic terrorists for having different views? Used to be Republicans, now Democrats. 

 

The left has lost it's way for me. It was always supposed to be a party of the working man/woman, and I feel that it was taken over by the University/College campuses. 

 

Now having said all that, I do find a lot of Republican nominees/politicians still to be very unattractive. 

 

Nikki Haley is pretty much a carbon copy of Hillary Clinton. You can pretty much add 100,000 innocent people dead around the world for every year that Nikki Haley gets in the office. 

 

Chris Christie has zero appeal to me. 

 

Vivek is saying everything that nobody in mainstream media wants to hear and it's extremely entertaining. He's got no chance of winning and he doesn't have all his policies well thought through yet. 

 

DeSantis is just so incredibly plain. 

 

 

On the Democrat side, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard are the only ones that have resonated with me. I have probably missed a lot of interesting ones, but Bidden and Clintons have completely taken that party sideways.  

 

While Trump was great for calling out the Washington establishment and shining a light on a lot of issues that would never otherwise get the spotlight, his biggest damage is the fact that Democrats completely abandoned their normal candidates and pushed the NeoCons to the top. 

 

Anyways, just having browsed the last two pages, I see that this forum is similar to the politics thread on the old forum: an echo chamber. 

 

As a fan of Fantasy and Science Fiction writing, I want to thank you for your input...

[AatuD2]

Just now, RupertKBD said:

 

As a fan of Fantasy and Science Fiction writing, I want to thank you for your input...

 

Great input dude. 

 

Care to point out specific points or you'd rather just write the generic dismissive comment that's trying to be funny? 

[the destroyer of worlds]

7 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

 

Great input dude. 

 

Care to point out specific points or you'd rather just write the generic dismissive comment that's trying to be funny? 

I'll bite.  Do tell us about who is behind the book bans.  The push to close libraries.  Recent book burnings.

 

Groups like Moms for Liberty.

 

Care to guess which side of the political spectrum they are.  MAGA should be a clue.

[RupertKBD]

Just now, AatuD2 said:

 

Great input dude. 

 

Care to point out specific points or you'd rather just write the generic dismissive comment that's trying to be funny? 

 

Yeah. The whole thing. You pop into a thread late and post what you think is insight, even though all of your talking points have been "debated" many times over.

 

• The "war machine"? Because of their support for Ukraine? Meanwhile, Trump was the guy who assassinated a foreign general in a different country.
•  
• Nobody calls people domestic terrorists for having different views. They're domestic terrorists if they act on those views with violence, like so many did on Jan 6th.
•  
• Haley a carbon copy of Hillary? Sure....except for the completely different platforms. Trump wasn't "great" at anything....except lying through his teeth.
•  
• The democrats pushed the Neocons to the top? I don't know what to say about that except WTF?

 

[24K]

56 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

Current US Democrats remind me a lot of the early 2000s Republicans. 

 

War machine in bed with military industrial complex? Used to be Bush Republicans, now it's the Democrats. 

Lol which party and politicians aren't in bed with the military industrial complex the past century.

 

56 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

Pro-censorship and willing to call Americans domestic terrorists for having different views? Used to be Republicans, now Democrats. 

Yeah but have you seen the shit the loudest GOP mouth pieces are saying and doing these days. 

 

56 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

The left has lost it's way for me. It was always supposed to be a party of the working man/woman, and I feel that it was taken over by the University/College campuses. 

You got the most union activity this year under Biden in the past two decades.

 

56 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

Now having said all that, I do find a lot of Republican nominees/politicians still to be very unattractive. 

 

Nikki Haley is pretty much a carbon copy of Hillary Clinton. You can pretty much add 100,000 innocent people dead around the world for every year that Nikki Haley gets in the office. 

 

Chris Christie has zero appeal to me. 

 

Vivek is saying everything that nobody in mainstream media wants to hear and it's extremely entertaining. He's got no chance of winning and he doesn't have all his policies well thought through yet. 

 

DeSantis is just so incredibly plain. 

Agreed but DeSantis is not plain, have you seen his smile?

 

56 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

 

On the Democrat side, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard are the only ones that have resonated with me. I have probably missed a lot of interesting ones, but Bidden and Clintons have completely taken that party sideways.  

Haha Bernie was probably the most US college campus candidate to date. 

 

56 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

While Trump was great for calling out the Washington establishment and shining a light on a lot of issues that would never otherwise get the spotlight, his biggest damage is the fact that Democrats completely abandoned their normal candidates and pushed the NeoCons to the top. 

 

Jokes aside, yeah Dems are really dropping the ball these days as it has become maibky an anti Trump party with its insistence on shoving Biden down our mouths despite everyone disliking him and horrendous polling.

 

Biden have given very little reason to ethusiastic about him other than he ain't Trump. At least the macroeconomics are doing good under him so not like he is a bad president.

 

Honestly Biden been doing better than I thought he would back in 2020. 

[Sharpshooter]

I can’t believe I’m saying this however, a lack of funding certain parts of the US military industrial complex has led to an extended war in Ukraine due to lack of shells and other important equipment. 
 

I know it’s a lot more complex than that, however, the war in Ukraine shows that when taking on a military power like Russia, the world and also the US military industrial complex is using its funding poorly or has neglected the threats that have always been in the horizon(Russia) and are on the horizon(China). 
 

Just my two cents. 

[AatuD2]

22 minutes ago, the destroyer of worlds said:

I'll bite.  Do tell us about who is behind the book bans.  The push to close libraries.  Recent book burnings.

 

Groups like Moms for Liberty.

 

Care to guess which side of the political spectrum they are.  MAGA should be a clue.

 

 

I'm not in favour of any of the book bans. I know that this is the US political thread, but what's happened in Canada has been shameful and has been a direct result of identity politics, or an extension if you will. 

 

I've never heard of Moms for Liberty, but as I said I don't agree with banning of any books. 

 

 

 

[AatuD2]

27 minutes ago, RupertKBD said:

 

Yeah. The whole thing. You pop into a thread late and post what you think is insight, even though all of your talking points have been "debated" many times over.

 

• The "war machine"? Because of their support for Ukraine? Meanwhile, Trump was the guy who assassinated a foreign general in a different country.
•  
• Nobody calls people domestic terrorists for having different views. They're domestic terrorists if they act on those views with violence, like so many did on Jan 6th.
•  
• Haley a carbon copy of Hillary? Sure....except for the completely different platforms. Trump wasn't "great" at anything....except lying through his teeth.
•  
• The democrats pushed the Neocons to the top? I don't know what to say about that except WTF?

 

 

Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know I had to read the first.... 146 pages to join the conversation. 

 

I remember you as being one of the more toxic people from the old forum towards anyone who doesn't share your point of view. Not much has changed. 

[Satchmo]

1 hour ago, AatuD2 said:

Current US Democrats remind me a lot of the early 2000s Republicans. 

 

War machine in bed with military industrial complex? Used to be Bush Republicans, now it's the Democrats. 

 

Pro-censorship and willing to call Americans domestic terrorists for having different views? Used to be Republicans, now Democrats. 

 

The left has lost it's way for me. It was always supposed to be a party of the working man/woman, and I feel that it was taken over by the University/College campuses. 

 

Now having said all that, I do find a lot of Republican nominees/politicians still to be very unattractive. 

 

Nikki Haley is pretty much a carbon copy of Hillary Clinton. You can pretty much add 100,000 innocent people dead around the world for every year that Nikki Haley gets in the office. 

 

Chris Christie has zero appeal to me. 

 

Vivek is saying everything that nobody in mainstream media wants to hear and it's extremely entertaining. He's got no chance of winning and he doesn't have all his policies well thought through yet. 

 

DeSantis is just so incredibly plain. 

 

 

On the Democrat side, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard are the only ones that have resonated with me. I have probably missed a lot of interesting ones, but Bidden and Clintons have completely taken that party sideways.  

 

While Trump was great for calling out the Washington establishment and shining a light on a lot of issues that would never otherwise get the spotlight, his biggest damage is the fact that Democrats completely abandoned their normal candidates and pushed the NeoCons to the top. 

 

Anyways, just having browsed the last two pages, I see that this forum is similar to the politics thread on the old forum: an echo chamber. 

Well we all have opinions.  Thanks for sharing.

[RupertKBD]

7 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know I had to read the first.... 146 pages to join the conversation. 

 

I remember you as being one of the more toxic people from the old forum towards anyone who doesn't share your point of view. Not much has changed. 

 

That's me....the toxic avenger....

[AatuD2]

28 minutes ago, 24K said:

Lol which party and politicians aren't in bed with the military industrial complex the past century.

 

Good question! I think that Obama tried not to be, but didn't succeed (he mentions it in one of his exit interviews). 

 

People here despise Trump, but he also tried to practice a non-interventionist policy that didn't start any new wars overseas (although he did send lots of arms to Ukraine). 

 

Eisenhower also tried and warned us in his famous speech: 

 

 

 

28 minutes ago, 24K said:

Yeah but have you seen the shit the loudest GOP mouth pieces are saying and doing these days. 

 

You got the most union activity this year under Biden in the past two decades.

 

Biden has been good for the unions in the last year, and his recent Infrastructure bill will provide lots of jobs. 

 

I just don't see a lot of labour leaders as being prominent voices on the left in the last 10-15 years. 

28 minutes ago, 24K said:

Agreed but DeSantis is not plain, have you seen his smile?

 

Haha Bernie was probably the most US college campus candidate to date. 

 

Haha yes and his platform shoes! 

 

Bernie stood for more of what the traditional left was. Bernie was also one of the last candidates that I believe wouldn't have promoted more wars. 

My issue with the left being taken over by colleges and universities is that the extremes from there have implemented identity politics as the core. Identity politics have just been a terrible idea to introduce and have increased the divide between different groups of people, in my opinion. 

28 minutes ago, 24K said:

 

Jokes aside, yeah Dems are really dropping the ball these days as it has become maibky an anti Trump party with its insistence on shoving Biden down our mouths despite everyone disliking him and horrendous polling.

 

Exactly, I do believe that it would be smarter for Dems to ditch Biden as soon as possible and find someone other then Kamala Harris or Gavin Newsome to run. 

 

 

28 minutes ago, 24K said:

Biden have given very little reason to ethusiastic about him other than he ain't Trump. At least the macroeconomics are doing good under him so not like he is a bad president.

 

Honestly Biden been doing better than I thought he would back in 2020. 

 

Other then the blunder in Ukraine and his outer image (his age), he's been okay economy-wise. I still don't trust any of the Bidens or Clintons not to go around waving the LGBT flag while bombing a family wedding in Middle East. 

[Satchmo]

26 minutes ago, Wiggums said:

 

Yes, how dare these mothers for thinking these types of books are inappropriate for children.... 

 

 

 

 

Ok, I'll bite.   What is that from and from what children's library was it banned? 

Edited December 19, 2023 by Sharpshooter
Inappropriate content

[JoeyJoeJoeJr. Shabadoo]

27 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

 

Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know I had to read the first.... 146 pages to join the conversation. 

 

I remember you as being one of the more toxic people from the old forum towards anyone who doesn't share your point of view. Not much has changed. 

 

[AatuD2]

31 minutes ago, Sharpshooter said:

I can’t believe I’m saying this however, a lack of funding certain parts of the US military industrial complex has led to an extended war in Ukraine due to lack of shells and other important equipment. 
 

I know it’s a lot more complex than that, however, the war in Ukraine shows that when taking on a military power like Russia, the world and also the US military industrial complex is using its funding poorly or has neglected the threats that have always been in the horizon(Russia) and are on the horizon(China). 
 

Just my two cents. 

 

Horrible strategy in Ukraine. 

 

Pushing NATO on Russia's doorstep was going to lead to a war and this was known to everyone for a very long time... and by long time I mean 15 years... and by everyone I mean Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, the head of CIA, former heads of USA foreign affairs, etc, etc. 

 

Absolutely horrible strategy that has led to the destruction of Ukraine. 

 

 

Ukraine and Russia had a deal agreed to in peace negotiations in Istanbul that would've seen the end to the war on March 14th, 2022. 

 

Boris Johnson and Biden told Zelensky to not agree to the deal. 

 

Ukraine is now lowering the age of mandatory recruitment and also enlisting women. It's an absolute travesty what has happened there. Putin and Biden both have blood on their hands. 

 

Biden's role in this goes back to his vice president days under Obama when he was in charge of the Ukraine portfolio in 2014. 

[24K]

21 minutes ago, Wiggums said:

 

Yes, how dare these mothers for thinking these types of books are inappropriate for children.... 

 

 

 

 

15 minutes ago, Satchmo said:

Ok, I'll bite.   What is that from and from what children's library was it banned? 

 

It is 'Gender Queer' and can be found in US middle school and high school library as it had won a major award in the young adult category for ages 12 to 19(?). 

 

So not exactly children but rather teens. Middle school maybe cutting it a bit close but who here didn't already seen real porn by high school. If you think your children hadn't yet, I have a tilted bridge to sell you. 

 

Pretty tame actually for high schoolers to be honest. 

 

 

Edited December 19, 2023 by Sharpshooter
Inappropriate images

[bishopshodan]

22 minutes ago, Wiggums said:

 

Yes, how dare these mothers for thinking these types of books are inappropriate for children.... 

 

 

 

 

 

Disgusting,

Nobody should be sexting at work.

 

 

Edited December 19, 2023 by Sharpshooter
Inappropriate images

[Sharpshooter]

3 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

 

Horrible strategy in Ukraine. 

 

Pushing NATO on Russia's doorstep was going to lead to a war and this was known to everyone for a very long time... and by long time I mean 15 years... and by everyone I mean Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, the head of CIA, former heads of USA foreign affairs, etc, etc. 

 

Absolutely horrible strategy that has led to the destruction of Ukraine. 

 

 

Ukraine and Russia had a deal agreed to in peace negotiations in Istanbul that would've seen the end to the war on March 14th, 2022. 

 

Boris Johnson and Biden told Zelensky to not agree to the deal. 

 

Ukraine is now lowering the age of mandatory recruitment and also enlisting women. It's an absolute travesty what has happened there. Putin and Biden both have blood on their hands. 

 

Biden's role in this goes back to his vice president days under Obama when he was in charge of the Ukraine portfolio in 2014. 

NATO wasn’t pushed ‘on’ Russia. 
 

Russia’s expansionist moves under Putin prompted more Eastern European countries to join NATO, as insurance. 
 

This particular conversation should be had in the Ukraine War Thread, though. 
 

 

[the destroyer of worlds]

2 minutes ago, 24K said:

 

 

It is 'Gender Queer' and can be found in US middle school and high school library as it had won a major award in the young adult category for ages 12 to 19(?). 

 

So not exactly children but rather teens. Middle school maybe cutting it a bit close but who here didn't already seen real porn by high school. If you think your children hadn't yet, I have a tilted bridge to sell you. 

 

Pretty tame actually for high schoolers to be honest. 

 

 

Here's the thing.  It is WAY WAY WAY better for children to learn about things in a controlled environment than the back seat of mom's minivan.  There also is the case that there are a significant number of parents who won't teach their kids any of this.  Again, those kids will have to learn about this stuff in the back seat of the mini van.

 

The data actually supports this.  States that switched to abstinence only education saw a significant rise in teen pregnancy and STD's.  

 

And the parents who object to books like this are the problem.  They are likely the ones out burning books with their church groups.  They are the ones trying to whitewash history books.  They are the ones who are in groups like Mom's for Liberty.

[bishopshodan]

2 minutes ago, 24K said:

 

 

It is 'Gender Queer' and can be found in US middle school and high school library as it had won a major award in the young adult category for ages 12 to 19(?). 

 

So not exactly children but rather teens. Middle school maybe cutting it a bit close but who here didn't already seen real porn by high school. If you think your children hadn't yet, I have a tilted bridge to sell you. 

 

Pretty tame actually for high schoolers to be honest. 

 

 

 

Thanks.

I thought it was probably a teen book. 

No problem for me.

 

My middle school had quite a few naughty books. I remember 'Not wanted on the voyage' having a part in it that used a unicorn horn in an interesting way. 

[24K]

2 minutes ago, AatuD2 said:

 

Horrible strategy in Ukraine. 

 

Pushing NATO on Russia's doorstep was going to lead to a war and this was known to everyone for a very long time... and by long time I mean 15 years... and by everyone I mean Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, the head of CIA, former heads of USA foreign affairs, etc, etc. 

 

Absolutely horrible strategy that has led to the destruction of Ukraine. 

 

 

Ukraine and Russia had a deal agreed to in peace negotiations in Istanbul that would've seen the end to the war on March 14th, 2022. 

 

Boris Johnson and Biden told Zelensky to not agree to the deal. 

 

Ukraine is now lowering the age of mandatory recruitment and also enlisting women. It's an absolute travesty what has happened there. Putin and Biden both have blood on their hands. 

 

Biden's role in this goes back to his vice president days under Obama when he was in charge of the Ukraine portfolio in 2014. 

Do you really believe Putin would not invade Ukraine if they didn't want to join NATO?

 

It was always in Putin's plans for Russia to take back Ukraine be it annexed or an obedient puppet. 

 

The peaceful plan went out of the window after the Euromaiden protest and you can't blame the US or any other European leaders for that as it is a home grown movement. 

 

As for the Istanbul treaty. Signing it would just delay the invasion down the road when Putin can regroup after his botched invasion. 

 

Honestly Ukraine is probably the one thing Biden did right as far as foreign policy goes. 

 

As far as Trump goes for not starting wars, he almost did with Iran by assassinating their general. Just be glad cooler head prevailed in Iran. 

[King Heffy]

1 minute ago, 24K said:

As far as Trump goes for not starting wars, he almost did with Iran by assassinating their general. Just be glad cooler head prevailed in Iran. 

Not before a civilian passenger jet was shot down in retaliation.

[The Arrogant Worms]

[Satchmo]

4 minutes ago, 24K said:

 

 

It is 'Gender Queer' and can be found in US middle school and high school library as it had won a major award in the young adult category for ages 12 to 19(?). 

 

So not exactly children but rather teens. Middle school maybe cutting it a bit close but who here didn't already seen real porn by high school. If you think your children hadn't yet, I have a tilted bridge to sell you. 

 

Pretty tame actually for high schoolers to be honest. 

 

 

 I had not heard of it.  I admit my feathers might have been ruffled if it was my kids high school library.  My wife would have gone ballistic. 

 

My two boys would not have been part of the target audience though.   I can see how other kids, who feel excluded, can benefit from art and literature that includes them.  

 

I can also see how some people might think such books are pushing those kids towards something.   I think that just silly - they don't need a push as they are already there.

[Wiggums]

1 minute ago, the destroyer of worlds said:

Here's the thing.  It is WAY WAY WAY better for children to learn about things in a controlled environment than the back seat of mom's minivan.  There also is the case that there are a significant number of parents who won't teach their kids any of this.  Again, those kids will have to learn about this stuff in the back seat of the mini van.

 

The data actually supports this.  States that switched to abstinence only education saw a significant rise in teen pregnancy and STD's.  

 

And the parents who object to books like this are the problem.  They are likely the ones out burning books with their church groups.  They are the ones trying to whitewash history books.  They are the ones who are in groups like Mom's for Liberty.

 

They have to learn about tasting their own vagina juices at age 12?  

 

 

Liberals have banned books as well.  Mom's for liberty would be doing the opposite of trying to erase history but okay.  Liberals have set back racial tensions 30 years.  Hell, Aunt Jemima got cancelled and even her own family was disgusted and offended that the history was erased.  

 

 

 

[bishopshodan]

Just now, Satchmo said:

 I had not heard of it.  I admit my feathers might have been ruffled if it was my kids high school library.  My wife would have gone ballistic. 

 

My two boys would not have been part of the target audience though.   I can see how other kids, who feel excluded, can benefit from art and literature that includes them.  

 

I can also see how some people might think such books are pushing those kids towards something.   I think that just silly - they don't need a push as they are already there.

 

Isn't it so sad though that some get so very upset about what people do with their own bodies.

 

We live in a society that glorifies violence and death in almost every form of entertainment. But helping young lesbians understand some sexual options is seen as disgusting.