US Elections Thread

[RupertKBD]

6 hours ago, IamCANADIAN013 said:

Well I haven't seen him mumble incoherently through speeches.  I also haven't seen him wander off stage with a blank look in his eyes. Look, neither should even be running for President but here we are.  Biden has set the bar pretty low as far as competency goes at this point.

 

Then you haven't been paying attention.

[4petesake]

On 1/22/2024 at 11:49 PM, IamCANADIAN013 said:

 

Denazify.

 

Trump is mentally competent though.  Much more than Biden and that's really all that matters.

 

I remember when my Grandpa had Alzheimer's. The dark blank look in his eyes at times.  Have you taken a look at Biden lately?  Same look.

 

No need to run anyone else when Biden is the one running.

 

 

[StanleyCupOneDay]

On 1/27/2024 at 8:40 AM, Boudrias said:

Trump appears to be in it for what he can get. A lot of Americans can feel that things aren't going well for the USA and are prepared to look the other way when Trump chirps out a bunch of gobbly gook. I respect Biden for supporting Ukraine early on. That is what most Americans would agree with. What makes some Americans nervous is who is controlling Biden from behind the curtains? VP Harris has worse ratings than Biden and she is a heartbeat away from the Presidency. 

The leaky Mexican border is a big issue for most Americans, both DNC and GOP yet there is no deal to fix things. Both sides are playing politics. My hope is that there is a deal soon and that money and arms go to Ukraine. 

Republicans killed the border bill deal negotiated by the noted “moderate” Oklahoma Senator after demanding the border should be included with foreign aid to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine and Democrats caved on a lot of what the GOP wanted. Noted Democratic supporter David Brooks (he’s been an American conservative analyst for many decades) even took Republicans to task in an op-ed blaming them for stopping the bill.

 

The stripped down foreign aid only bill passed the Senate with a 70-29 vote. 48/51 Democrats and only 22/48 Republicans supported it. The GOP House speaker Mike Johnson refuses to take it up and moderate Republicans in the House refuse to sign on to a discharge petition to force a vote despite the fact it would likely pass with a large majority.

 

Republicans now after months of screaming about the border crisis are saying there’s no need to do anything on the border, because they want it as a political issue to use in November. That the border should be decided in November by voters. Kind of like them saying a lawful Supreme Court Justice appointment should be decided by voters in November when the GOP blocked Obama from nominating Garland.

 

Saying it’s both sides fault equally that there’s no funding or bill to deal with the border without actually looking at what’s actually happening in the US lawmaker chambers is easy and lazy thinking. It’s fine if you don’t pay attention enough to know all this, after all Canada is our country, but don’t go commenting or explaining things about another country if you don’t follow the intricacies and inner workings of it, otherwise you will be lead to false conclusions.

[StanleyCupOneDay]

Ok, now with that out of the way, it’s special elections night again!

 

Polls and most pundits had this race as a tossup, but it looks like that same anti-GOP coalition I sound like a broken record talking about, showed up again with D’s, I’s and moderate R’s voting Democratic. This was the seat held by Republican George Santos who was expelled after being exposed to have lied about, well, everything. He won by 8 in 2022. Biden won here by 8 in 2020.

 

The final margin is yet to be determined, but looking like a high single digit victory for Democrat Tom Suozzi who repped this district from 2016-2022. This is a flip red to blue and makes the already incalcitrant GOP majority even smaller to wrangle. His opponent was a black ethiopian Jewish immigrant former IDF (Israel) fighter who won local office in the Nassau County legislature and is a registered Democrat.

 

 

Next we have a suburban Pennsylvania state house district. Democrats invested money here, Republicans did not and it’s very evident in the results. This was a seat held by Dems that will stay Dem. It gives a 102-101 majority back in the State House which Dems flipped in 2022. Had GOP won here, they would have flipped control.

 

Finally, as usual, Oklahoma Democrats punch above their weight in yet another special election. Aided a bit by a Libertarian candidate, but even if all those voters went to the Republican, Democrats still would have overperformed.

 

And that’s it for tonight! Have a great evening all!

Edited February 14 by StanleyCupOneDay

[nuckin_futz]

Hard to see this as anything but a repudiation of Trump. Looks more and more like the voting public is sick and tired of GOP nonsense.
 

Get ready to hear a lot more whining about stolen elections because the Trump Republicans can’t win.

[Duodenum]

More elections, more democrats winning big. Gives me hope. 

[Alflives]

12 minutes ago, nuckin_futz said:

Hard to see this as anything but a repudiation of Trump. Looks more and more like the voting public is sick and tired of GOP nonsense.
 

Get ready to hear a lot more whining about stolen elections because the Trump Republicans can’t win.

What matters most for the free world is that the Orange Assclown loses. If he ends up in prison that’s icing. If dead that’s scotch. 

[4petesake]

1 hour ago, nuckin_futz said:

Hard to see this as anything but a repudiation of Trump. Looks more and more like the voting public is sick and tired of GOP nonsense.
 

Get ready to hear a lot more whining about stolen elections because the Trump Republicans can’t win.

Doturd sees it as a repudiation of not being MAGA enough.

 

“Very Foolish Woman”— Trump Attacks GOP Candidate Mazi Pilip After Election Loss

Trump makes New York’s special election about himself

 

 

[StanleyCupOneDay]

3 hours ago, nuckin_futz said:

Hard to see this as anything but a repudiation of Trump. Looks more and more like the voting public is sick and tired of GOP nonsense.
 

Get ready to hear a lot more whining about stolen elections because the Trump Republicans can’t win.

100% completely anecdotal, so don’t take any of this to the bank and bet your house. A truckload of salt is warranted, because voters are freaking weird (I mean it, you’d bang your head against the wall if you listened in to focus groups on undecided/swing voters and what they think) and make their decisions for all sorts of reasons (most of which we never hear about) based on the candidates, a coin flip, timing, whatever issue is in their head that day etc, but there’s at least some evidence of this happening. At least as far as NY03 is concerned.

 

 

Edited February 14 by StanleyCupOneDay

[Boudrias]

10 hours ago, StanleyCupOneDay said:

Republicans killed the border bill deal negotiated by the noted “moderate” Oklahoma Senator after demanding the border should be included with foreign aid to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine and Democrats caved on a lot of what the GOP wanted. Noted Democratic supporter David Brooks (he’s been an American conservative analyst for many decades) even took Republicans to task in an op-ed blaming them for stopping the bill.

 

The stripped down foreign aid only bill passed the Senate with a 70-29 vote. 48/51 Democrats and only 22/48 Republicans supported it. The GOP House speaker Mike Johnson refuses to take it up and moderate Republicans in the House refuse to sign on to a discharge petition to force a vote despite the fact it would likely pass with a large majority.

 

Republicans now after months of screaming about the border crisis are saying there’s no need to do anything on the border, because they want it as a political issue to use in November. That the border should be decided in November by voters. Kind of like them saying a lawful Supreme Court Justice appointment should be decided by voters in November when the GOP blocked Obama from nominating Garland.

 

Saying it’s both sides fault equally that there’s no funding or bill to deal with the border without actually looking at what’s actually happening in the US lawmaker chambers is easy and lazy thinking. It’s fine if you don’t pay attention enough to know all this, after all Canada is our country, but don’t go commenting or explaining things about another country if you don’t follow the intricacies and inner workings of it, otherwise you will be lead to false conclusions.

I have been around long enough to know that both the GOP and the DNC are using the border for their own political purposes. That might be 'easy and lazy' thinking in your books but that is my comment. Not a false conclusion as you assume.  

[RupertKBD]

Ah yes, the classic "both sides" gambit.....when you are forced to try and defend the indefensible....

[Boudrias]

37 minutes ago, RupertKBD said:

Ah yes, the classic "both sides" gambit.....when you are forced to try and defend the indefensible....

I am not into 'gambits' so either there is some validity or I am full of bullshit. When 2.5 million people enter the country through that border each year I don't think it is BS. The GOP plays this up as it gives them support from nervous Americans. The DNC admits there is a problem because they realize the issue is not polling well for them. They are adjusting their position on documentation as a result. 

[Warhippy]

11 hours ago, nuckin_futz said:

Hard to see this as anything but a repudiation of Trump. Looks more and more like the voting public is sick and tired of GOP nonsense.
 

Get ready to hear a lot more whining about stolen elections because the Trump Republicans can’t win.

If the Dems had any stones in their trousers they'd basically finally over a decade later use the Party of No against themselves by simply pointing out every loss or every failed piece of legislation was simply because the GOP doesn't want to work and give Dems any level of win by helping people.  

 

Essentially, the GOP would rather see the nation burn to the ground than give the Democrats a bucket of water because they would be able to say the dems burnt it all to the ground while they tried to help

[RupertKBD]

4 minutes ago, Boudrias said:

I am not into 'gambits' so either there is some validity or I am full of bullshit. When 2.5 million people enter the country through that border each year I don't think it is BS. The GOP plays this up as it gives them support from nervous Americans. The DNC admits there is a problem because they realize the issue is not polling well for them. They are adjusting their position on documentation as a result. 

 

Disagree.

 

You appear to be making the case that both sides are equally cynical when it comes to the border situation, but the FACT is, the Bill's main sponsor was a Republican who worked closely with a Democrat and an Independent. The came to a COMPROMISE, something that is virtually unheard of in the current US political landscape and something that guarantees there will be things that each side doesn't like....

 

This bill was killed for one reason: DONALD TRUMP. He wants the border crisis to continue, so he can campaign on it and the cast of cowards sitting in the House lack the spine to go against his wishes and take the very action that Republicans have been crying about for years.

 

And to make it even worse, these same Republicans have voted to Impeach the guy who would have been charged with implementing the agreement they just shot down.

 

 

[StanleyCupOneDay]

7 hours ago, Boudrias said:

I have been around long enough to know that both the GOP and the DNC are using the border for their own political purposes. That might be 'easy and lazy' thinking in your books but that is my comment. Not a false conclusion as you assume.  

Once again you’re confusing two things as one and the same and yet refuse to differentiate between them.

 

Saying both parties use the border for political purposes is absolutely correct. You’re right. That’s the same with every single topic. All sides try to use whatever issue of discussion is for their advantage (this is the most barest of basics in politics and not anything new) as a party. It’s the number one job of any politician or political party anywhere.

 

Saying both sides are at fault for not having a solution to the border right now is completely different and 100 percent (I may be undershooting it a bit honestly) a false conclusion that is an end result because it doesn’t involve the person thinking it to spend one second looking at what actually happened on a political topic.

 

You can always be cynical and revert to just say “both sides always suck and this is a problem that isn’t solved so it’s both sides fault” on everything. That is indeed easy and lazy thinking whereas it takes more time and effort to actually dive into the legislating end of things where bills are created and processes take place that determine laws. If you don’t want to do that, that’s fine, but I’m going to push back if you insist on arguing against someone who actually does follow this very closely.

 

Have you once looked at the border bill compromise deal agreement and what it entailed? Did you know it funded ICE (noted Dem boogeyman) with an increase in resources? Did you know it hired more border patrol agents? Did you know it made it harder to claim refugee status? Did you know it hired more immigration judges to clear out the backlog of claims and lessen the number of catch and release undocumented immigrants? Do you disagree with any of these things?

 

Did you know more Democrats than Republicans voted for it in the Senate? Did you know the Senate GOP blocked their own border deal they negotiated? Did you know Dem Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries supports it and GOP majority leader Mike Johnson doesn’t and refuses to bring it up for a vote? Did you know moderate Republicans refuse to sign a discharge petition to force a vote on a bill that would pass by a large majority? Did you know Biden supports it and Trump doesn’t?

 

These are just a sliver of the things that if you don’t actually know happened will lead you to your false conclusion that both sides are at fault. Democrats share some of the blame here as with almost all problems in the US (it’s rarely ever 1 sided), BUT it’s not at an equal level to Republicans on this current problem.

 

A border bill compromise that far more Democrats than Republicans support. Because when you say it’s both sides at fault for a problem, when it’s more like 75-25 or 66-33, you’re essentially not assigning proper blame amounts and giving one side a pass and the other a penalty which leads you to, yes, a false conclusion.

 

If you don’t believe me, take a minute and read what David Brooks has to say on why the GOP is to blame on this, not Democrats and what has become of his party. This is coming from a hardcore “Democrat” who wrote pieces like this frequently, who is obviously a partisan hack in the tank for the Dems. Here’s a free link to read it in its entirety.

 

https://archive.ph/uLsg9

 

Brooks: Democrats must confront their privilege

By David Brooks

The New York Times

 

 

 

OPINION

DAVID BROOKS

Trump Came for Their Party but Took Over Their Souls

 

This wasn’t just about Republicans cynically bending their knee to Trump. Rather, I’m convinced that Trumpism now pervades the deepest recesses of their minds and governs their unconscious assumptions. Their fundamental mental instincts are no longer conservative, but Trumpian.

 

Here are some of the convictions that Republicans had to assent to in order to do what they did this week:

 

Democracy is for suckers.

 

Entertainment over governance.

 

Foreigners don’t matter.

 

Lying is normal.

 

America would be better off in a post-American world.

 

Edited February 14 by StanleyCupOneDay

[Ilunga]

On 2/14/2024 at 3:59 PM, nuckin_futz said:

Hard to see this as anything but a repudiation of Trump. Looks more and more like the voting public is sick and tired of GOP nonsense.
 

Get ready to hear a lot more whining about stolen elections because the Trump Republicans can’t win.

 

I don't know how it has escaped people there has been a new party in the US for the last 8 years of so.

 

The Trumplicans.

[Ilunga]

@StanleyCupOneDay 

 

If you had to call it today.

Who do you believe will win ?

And by roughly how many electoral votes ? 

My interest is ramping up a bit coming into this election cycle.

 

I don't usually contribute to the these US politics threads, it's a complete shitshow.

I certainly hope Biden beats PO1135809.

It is a really fuckin scary proposition, another four years of PO1135809.

Not just what this means for America, but the impact this will have on the world.

 

I do wish the American people had two better, and younger people to chose from.

[StanleyCupOneDay]

8 hours ago, Ilunga said:

@StanleyCupOneDay 

 

If you had to call it today.

Who do you believe will win ?

And by roughly how many electoral votes ? 

My interest is ramping up a bit coming into this election cycle.

 

I don't usually contribute to the these US politics threads, it's a complete shitshow.

I certainly hope Biden beats PO1135809.

It is a really fuckin scary proposition, another four years of PO1135809.

Not just what this means for America, but the impact this will have on the world.

 

I do wish the American people had two better, and younger people to chose from.

 

If I absolutely had to call it, I’d say Biden wins the presidency, Democrats win the House and Republicans win the Senate. As far as the Electoral Vote for Biden goes, he wins NV, MI, PA and WI while Trump wins AZ and GA for a 276-262 victory. But I like being cautious. This is where I think it sits if an election were held today. After his criminal trials and/or convictions taking him out of running a campaign like fundraising and meeting voters, billions of dollars spent by Democrats on ads about abortion, the economy and how Republicans don’t want to fix any problems, I expect 2020 Biden + NC to be the end result. Or a 319-219 victory.

 

This thread is meant to be about elections only, but sometimes discussion about issues occurs too. You and me both, the Democratic bench in the country is insanely strong compared to just less than a decade ago and the Republican bench has been severely weakened if not wiped out. From Governors to Senators, the list is very long and the party is in great hands for the future. There’s a large contingency of talent ready to takeover (as we’ve already seen happen in the US House with Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn older Dem leadership stepping down from their positions). This will be the last time Democrats nominate an old person for president.

 

That said, I came across a meme on the Musk hellsite that really gets across the 2020 US Election, which I’ll get to in a minute. Everyone keeps saying “why is it a pick between 2 old guys?” when no one is looking at what’s actually been accomplished under either or comparing the two. People are judging the book by its cover and not reading the pages beneath it.

 

Biden has passed into law countless bills to help Americans on healthcare, drug costs, climate change, infrastructure, manufacturing, veterans, jobs, child poverty, pandemic recovery, small businesses, gun violence, expanding oil production, unemployment, marijuana and unions. Trump managed to pass tax cuts. They’re 2 old guys, but are they really the same?

 

If Biden really was old and senile then how exactly is he one of, if not the most productive presidents in history? And what exactly does it make Republicans who manage to complain Biden is taking them to the shed in negotiations and that he’s old and senile and unfit to lead as president. Well, which is it? Is he a genius leader who outmaneuvers his opposition or a guy who can’t tie his shoelaces? The biggest problem with Biden, which he’s always had in his life, is public speaking with his stutter and misstatements. But behind the scenes where the actual work of a president is done, he’s in tip top shape.

 

As for that meme I mentioned earlier, it only works for those who have watched The Lord of The Rings movies, but if you have: The 2020 election is a choice between 2 people who are both old: Gandalf and Saruman. One is trying to save Middle Earth, the other is trying to destroy it.

[RupertKBD]

I think most people would get the LOTR reference, but I would alter that meme a bit....

 

Trump would be Sauron, with his army of red hat wearing Orcs....Mike Johnson would be the Saruman analogue, doing the bidding of his lord and master..... 

[StanleyCupOneDay]

26 minutes ago, RupertKBD said:

I think most people would get the LOTR reference, but I would alter that meme a bit....

 

Trump would be Sauron, with his army of red hat wearing Orcs....Mike Johnson would be the Saruman analogue, doing the bidding of his lord and master..... 

 

Then the visual 2 old guys part doesn’t fit. Saruman built an army too and is trying to destroy Middle Earth. I agree overall Sauron is a better fit for being Trump, but you don’t see how old he is, which makes the meme less visually powerful then you seeing 2 old guys as the choice before Americans.

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

32 minutes ago, RupertKBD said:

I think most people would get the LOTR reference, but I would alter that meme a bit....

 

Trump would be Sauron, with his army of red hat wearing Orcs....Mike Johnson would be the Saruman analogue, doing the bidding of his lord and master..... 

 

2 minutes ago, StanleyCupOneDay said:

 

Then the visual 2 old guys part doesn’t fit. Saruman built an army too and is trying to destroy Middle Earth. I agree overall Sauron is a better fit for being Trump, but you don’t see how old he is, which makes the meme less visually powerful then you seeing 2 old guys as the choice before Americans.

 

But how can we be certain that russian guy puta isn't the best fit for Sauron?  

[RupertKBD]

17 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

But how can we be certain that russian guy puta isn't the best fit for Sauron?  

 

https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Morgoth#Legacy

[RupertKBD]

26 minutes ago, StanleyCupOneDay said:

Then the visual 2 old guys part doesn’t fit. Saruman built an army too and is trying to destroy Middle Earth. I agree overall Sauron is a better fit for being Trump, but you don’t see how old he is, which makes the meme less visually powerful then you seeing 2 old guys as the choice before Americans.

 

I haven't see the meme, but I probably would have done something like this:

 

 

 

Also, if I was going to do "The Two Towers", it would look something like this:

 

[StanleyCupOneDay]

2 minutes ago, RupertKBD said:

 

I haven't see the meme, but I probably would have done something like this:

 

 

 

Also, if I was going to do "The Two Towers", it would look something like this:

 

 

Here it is:

 

 

[RupertKBD]

Love the JRR Jokien handle.....