Random Politics Thread

[Virtual ghost]

World’s cartoonists on this week’s events

 

[SensEye]

Burgum is out of Republican primary ... but it isn't that it really matters.

I'm disappointed though. His cause seemed hopeless but I would like to see somebody present an alternative to Biden. Let the people not party apparatchik decide.

 

[Virtual ghost]

I'm disappointed though. His cause seemed hopeless but I would like to see somebody present an alternative to Biden. Let the people not party apparatchik decide.

I would rather see alternative to Trump on the right. Biden is someone I can live with.

 

[SensEye]

I would rather see alternative to Trump on the right. Biden is someone I can live with.

So would I. That looks unlikely to me. So the next best thing is to insure Trump does not become president again. Biden is a bad bet to prevent that IMO.

I guess we'll see. Unless mother nature steps in and removes one of these geriatrics from the game.

 

[The Cat]

Getting old sucks, but everyone is doing it, unless they get themselves killed young. I often wonder how as the callow, seemingly buying into ageism young, ripen will they change their tune and settle in to "hypocrisy" due to their inexperienced haste, or will they honor their lack of perspective and die young enough to still be their own heroes.

 

[Virtual ghost]

So would I. That looks unlikely to me. So the next best thing is to insure Trump does not become president again. Biden is a bad bet to prevent that IMO.

I guess we'll see. Unless mother nature steps in and removes one of these geriatrics from the game.

Of course but I don't think they will remove Biden as well. Now is basically the last moment to do it but it seem that there is no desire to do it within the party.

However what I wanted to say is that it would be nice that Trump doesn't get through the primaries. What is simply because in that case the key dilemma is solved sooner. What in my book matters.

 

[The Cat]

 

[The Cat]

 

[The Cat]

Looks like Ted Maltin just inst just cucking Arnold Schwarzenegger with Rita Wilson this year.​

 

[ceecee]

Lubbock County becomes latest to approve “abortion travel ban” while Amarillo City Council balks

Lubbock is now the fourth, and largest, county to pass the ordinance which would punish people through civil lawsuits for aiding pregnant women seeking abortions outside of Texas.

www.texastribune.org

 

[The Cat]

Lubbock County becomes latest to approve “abortion travel ban” while Amarillo City Council balks

Lubbock is now the fourth, and largest, county to pass the ordinance which would punish people through civil lawsuits for aiding pregnant women seeking abortions outside of Texas.

www.texastribune.org

rat out your neighbor to the jack boots. seems so surreal to see it in our time.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

rat out your neighbor to the jack boots. seems so surreal to see it in our time.

Draconian AF.

 

[The Cat]

17 year old prosecutor. I dream of a world where 17 year olds wanted to be defense attorneys instead.

 

[Virtual ghost]

2024 Presidential Election


The consensus map got updated today.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

2024 Presidential Election


The consensus map got updated today.

They just need Wisconsin and PA. Seems doable if they aren't idiots (like, for instance, the sort of people who do dumb shit like run victory laps in Georgia because a poll or two said they might win there).

The key to winning there is (and this is just a guess) probably through focusing a lot on creating jobs, such as bringing back manufacturing and other kinds of businesses. It will probably help if the President is not constantly trying to push a free trade deal through Congress and being extremely vocal about it. But I don't see Biden doing that, especially given the particular moment we are in where free trade is no longer this bipartisan consensus. The important thing is to not let Trump dominate or lead on that kind of thing, and I think Biden might understand that.

The thing I can't predict is Israel/Palestine and the role of third party candidates; it could be significant in Michigan and perhaps elsewhere. A mitigating factor is simply the fact that Trump would be much worse and there's evidence for that.

The third party thing pains me, because I do think there should be multiple parties. But if it's worth going after at all here, people are doing it wrong by focusing on these big presidential races, which is always when you hear about them. It would be much smarter to slip into state and local elections where there are much as less gatekeepers/hurdles and establish something of a presence that way, rather than just being organizations that field failed presidential candidates. Many incumbents in those kinds of races are probably complacent as hell, especially if they have a safe seat. Furthermore, nobody will care if middling Alderman X lost her seat between her middling opponent Candidate Y because Purple Party candidate Z took enough votes from Alderman X to cost her the seat. People generally don't follow these kinds of races with the same intensity, even many extremely political people.

 

[Virtual ghost]

They just need Wisconsin and PA. Seems doable if they aren't idiots (like, for instance, the sort of people who do dumb shit like run victory laps in Georgia because a poll or two said they might win there).

The key to winning there is (and this is just a guess) probably through focusing a lot on creating jobs, such as bringing back manufacturing and other kinds of businesses. It will probably help if the President is not constantly trying to push a free trade deal through Congress and being extremely vocal about it. But I don't see Biden doing that, especially given the particular moment we are in where free trade is no longer this bipartisan consensus. The important thing is to not let Trump dominate or lead on that kind of thing, and I think Biden might understand that.

The thing I can't predict is Israel/Palestine and the role of third party candidates; it could be significant in Michigan and perhaps elsewhere. A mitigating factor is simply the fact that Trump would be much worse and there's evidence for that.

The third party thing pains me, because I do think there should be multiple parties. But if it's worth going after at all here, people are doing it wrong by focusing on these big presidential races, which is always when you hear about them. It would be much smarter to slip into state and local elections where there are much as less gatekeepers/hurdles and establish something of a presence that way, rather than just being organizations that field failed presidential candidates. Many incumbents in those kinds of races are probably complacent as hell, especially if they have a safe seat. Furthermore, nobody will care if middling Alderman X lost her seat between her middling opponent Candidate Y because Purple Party candidate Z took enough votes from Alderman X to cost her the seat. People generally don't follow these kinds of races with the same intensity, even many extremely political people.

Yes, they only need WI and PA on top of that map. What would make for 270 EVs directly.
It is doable but they shouldn't be too relaxed about all of this. Plus if they get this they will probably get Nevada as well.
Also I am all for the third parties, especially since I am from the multi-party system (so I know how that works). However 2024 simply isn't the time to vote third party if you are for preservation of democracy. Especially if you are in a state that is at least somewhat competitive. This is because if Trump wins that basically complicates things for all democratic nations worldwide. Since the democratic camp will start to dissolve and that will create plenty of new problems (and that involves new problems for US citizens as well). I fully understand that the establishment messed up in a lot of ways, however Trump isn't the solution to that.

 

[The Cat]

Yes, they only need WI and PA on top of that map. What would make for 270 EVs directly.
It is doable but they shouldn't be too relaxed about all of this. Plus if they get this they will probably get Nevada as well.
Also I am all for the third parties, especially since I am from the multi-party system (so I know how that works). However 2024 simply isn't the time to vote third party if you are for preservation of democracy. Especially if you are in a state that is at least somewhat competitive. This is because if Trump wins that basically complicates things for all democratic nations worldwide. Since the democratic camp will start to dissolve and that will create plenty of new problems (and that involves new problems for US citizens as well). I fully understand that the establishment messed up in a lot of ways, however Trump isn't the solution to that.

My understanding has been that if America is really serious about third parties: Election years are not the time to start floating them. Its a thing that takes several years to get going, is that a correct understanding of the timelines?

 

[Totenkindly]

My understanding has been that if America is really serious about third parties: Election years are not the time to start floating them. Its a thing that takes several years to get going, is that a correct understanding of the timelines?

Well, there, you just answered your own question

 

[Virtual ghost]

My understanding has been that if America is really serious about third parties: Election years are not the time to start floating them. Its a thing that takes several years to get going, is that a correct understanding of the timelines?

When is the right time to start a third party is kinda circumstantial in countries that have established multiparty system. Since third party is something that usually comes out of need. Although to me term third party is kinda weird term since multi party system means that there should be a fourth party, a fifth party, a sixth party ... etc. I currently have something like 24 parties in the parliament if I counted well. It can be argued that this is too much but this is how it is. Plus some of those were actually formed in the election year. However that alone doesn't prevent the party from coming out first or that it wouldn't make it to the coalition government (where it will get to push through some of their policies into active effect). In other words multiparty system has a different definition of what is win in elections. Since the system is about making coalitions that will make breakthroughs. Usually it is the rule that the largest party in the parliament gets to form a majority around itself. However it can happen that the smaller ones will decide to come together to bypass the largest party or parties. The only real rule is that the coalition in the end needs to have over 50% of seats. However how the combination will look like depends on the specifics of the area/country.

However when it comes to USA, that is a though one. Since your system isn't friendly for third parties and with this in mind it is questionable when it is the right time to start one. I mean the key problem is "winner takes all" that obviously doesn't exists in a genuine multiparty democracy. However the odds are that you will probably need more time to make such party relevant in the country that is as big as USA. Therefore you will probably need even multiple election cycles to actually achieve something. This is why the story has to start at the local levels where things aren't so strict and people would perhaps be more willing to experiment. As I said you will just have to throw the ball up floor by floor. Since the roof is just too high that you can hit it from the outside.

 

[SensEye]

I doubt America will ever modify their election system to allow 3rd parties to have a viable chance. The two established parties have zero incentive to do so (and I am sure they would be the ones voting on any potential change).

So the only way there will ever be change to the electoral college system (and whatever else would need to be modified) would be for the public to vote in a majority 3rd party almost out of nowhere. If this 3rd party understood they had captured lightning in a bottle, they may try to modify the system so they might be viable down the road, knowing they likely could never win again under the current system.

I can't imagine two more unpalatable contenders than corrupt Trump and senile Biden. So if not now, when? Unfortunately, I know the answer to my own question: never.