Random Politics Thread

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

RJK Jr. claims Trump ‘emissaries’ asked him to be his running mate

That would be better than him running as an independent.

 

[Virtual ghost]

That would be better than him running as an independent.

Probably, less of a spoiler.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Does it matter that Democrats are raising more money than Republicans?

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Does it matter that Democrats are raising more money than Republicans?

No. Hillary Clinton raised a great deal more money than Donald Trump in 2016. I guess if you don't use it wisely, it doesn't matter how much money you raised.

I saw this thing so much. Funny, I'd always associated annoying calls to "think of the children" with the political right. Now, I partially associated it with this stupid Hillary ad. And this helped her, how? I had made a specific decision to vote against Trump, who I consider a fascist, so it didn't change my vote, but I could see it flipping some people (the commercial was that annoying). Or perhaps just cause them to decide to not show up.

 

[The Cat]

 

[ceecee]

https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/GREENE_223_xml240417175751235.pdf

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

When Trump announced he was running in the middle of 2015, I thought he was a fascist. It was based upon the messaging, the way he communicated, and what he was trying to sell. I felt depressed for about a week or two after he won, and this probably persisted into a lower-grade form of depression for a while.

I think many people here felt during his first term that I wasn't anti-Trump enough. This was probably because I couldn't relate to much of the Democratic messaging, like "covefefe". For instance, I think it was a mistake to portray him as unsophisticated when so many people perceive the Democratic party as elitist; it's playing into their hands. Being "unsophisticated" is a feature not a bug in American politics. What that does is tell everybody that he's a "relatable" billionaire; which you should not do if you are the opposition. Billionaires are presumed to have all kinds of virtues, simply because they are billionaires. It's the secularization of calvinism or something like that, a variation on the idea that God has chosen to give them that wealth because of their virtue. And, well, one you can relate to, one you can have a beer with? That's even better.

It was January 6 that confirmed that my initial suspicions regarding fascism were right; he indicated that the rioters had his support.

His second term would be an entirely different beast than the first. He seems determined to purge anybody from the new administration who is not loyal to him. Likely, he wants to avoid having people like Mike Pence in key positions.

 

[The Cat]

When Trump announced he was running in the middle of 2015, I thought he was a fascist. It was based upon the messaging, the way he communicated, and what he was trying to sell. I felt depressed for about a week or two after he won, and this probably persisted into a lower-grade form of depression for a while.

I think many people here felt during his first term that I wasn't anti-Trump enough. This was probably because I couldn't relate to much of the Democratic messaging, like "covefefe". For instance, I think it was a mistake to portray him as unsophisticated when so many people perceive the Democratic party as elitist; it's playing into their hands. Being "unsophisticated" is a feature not a bug in American politics. What that does is tell everybody that he's a "relatable" billionaire; which you should not do if you are the opposition. Billionaires are presumed to have all kinds of virtues, simply because they are billionaires. It's the secularization of calvinism or something like that, a variation on the idea that God has chosen to give them that wealth because of their virtue. And, well, one you can relate to, one you can have a beer with? That's even better.

It was January 6 that confirmed that my initial suspicions regarding fascism were right; he indicated that the rioters had his support.

His second term would be an entirely different beast than the first. He seems determined to purge anybody from the new administration who is not loyal to him. Likely, he wants to avoid having people like Mike Pence in key positions.

Pop culture is written for rich people. Protagonists and heroes are often written wealthy to arm wave their ability to have entertaining experiences. When your fictional heroes and inserts are wealthy and do spectacular and or heroic things and we live vicariously through the experience. There is naturally a bit of emotional imprinting on the subconscious. Audiences don't love the underdog as much as they used to.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Pop culture is written for rich people. Protagonists and heroes are often written wealthy to arm wave their ability to have entertaining experiences. When your fictional heroes and inserts are wealthy and do spectacular and or heroic things and we live vicariously through the experience. There is naturally a bit of emotional imprinting on the subconscious. Audiences don't love the underdog as much as they used to.

They also always have gigantic houses and apartments.

After thinking about it more, I think I was exhausted by politics during his first term. Probably, if you really pushed me, I would admit that I found the present state of politics upsetting. I had the sense that progress didn't exist, and I didn't believe that anyone responsible was going to come along and clean this up.

 

[The Cat]

They also always have gigantic houses and apartments.

After thinking about it more, I think I was exhausted by politics during his first term. Probably, if you really pushed me, I would admit that I found the present state of politics upsetting. I had the sense that progress didn't exist, and I didn't believe that anyone responsible was going to come along and clean this up.

If you insist.
How do you feel now?​

 

[The Cat]

They also always have gigantic houses and apartments.

After thinking about it more, I think I was exhausted by politics during his first term. Probably, if you really pushed me, I would admit that I found the present state of politics upsetting. I had the sense that progress didn't exist, and I didn't believe that anyone responsible was going to come along and clean this up.

Not to mention the lighting is always dazzling and warm, the shots are bright and engaging. Everything as can be made up to the finest detail to glamorize the audience. Glamour and Glamorous are alike for a reason.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

If you insist.
How do you feel now?​

Better than I did then, actually, although there is greater cause for concern. My concerns are more likely to be addressed and acknowledged; alternative opinions have much more of a voice. On the other hand, I think the consequences, should Trump winning in November, will be much more severe. It will probably eradicate what progress has been made, and this will be the least of it.

The stakes are greater, but I think the Democratic party is better than it was. Somebody may disagree with me on that, but foreign policy typically isn't something we get to vote on. Really, in primaries, we're lucky if we get to vote on policy at all. This election is the only time I can think of where we've ever gotten to vote on foreign policy (although perhaps there were differences in 2020). A month or two ago, I saw a post from Instagram by Mehdi Hassan explaining what exactly Trump's policies would be regarding the Middle East and Gaza, and they are in fact worse than Biden's.

In summary, there is a sense of progress being made and that people are trying to make things better, even if global affairs darken that picture. A second Trump term, though, would be fully unhinged and out for revenge.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Like saying that if Hillary wins, "There will be a taco truck on every corner". This brings to mind two reactions, first, it makes me roll my eyes, because who wouldn't want a taco truck on every corner.

Second, the way this is stated as a bad thing (and verbally expressed) is also unsettling. It's hard to explain exactly why, but it reminds me of Nazi propaganda films where Jews are compared to rats. It's the same idea.

But you know, I couldn't talk about any of this at the time, or I would have been called paranoid and deluded. It's the same for the Trump presidency. I wasn't going to put myself out there about any of this when the opposition is focused on his Twitter typos.

 

[The Cat]

Like saying that if Hillary wins, "There will be a taco truck on every corner". This brings to mind two reactions, first, it makes me roll my eyes, because who wouldn't want a taco truck on every corner.

Second, the way this is stated as a bad thing (and verbally expressed) is also unsettling. It's hard to explain exactly why, but it reminds me of Nazi propaganda films where Jews are compared to rats. It's the same idea.

But you know, I couldn't talk about any of this at the time, or I would have been called paranoid and deluded. It's the same for the Trump presidency. I wasn't going to put myself out there about any of this when the opposition is focused on his Twitter typos.

It's going to be ok Leonard.​

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

It's going to be ok Leonard.​

You know, I almost liked this and then I realized it was from BBT.

 

[The Cat]

You know, I almost liked this and then I realized it was from BBT.

So what? Like it if you want to. Nobody's gonna think any more or less of you in any way that isnt already insane.

 

[SensEye]

His second term would be an entirely different beast than the first. He seems determined to purge anybody from the new administration who is not loyal to him. Likely, he wants to avoid having people like Mike Pence in key positions.

You might be right.

To be honest, I thought Trump was going to be much more damaging than he actually was. I think he was held in check by the traditional politicians and long time political appointees around him. Not many of those left if there's a second time around, and Trump is likely to clean house even more. A sufficiently crooked VP might have allowed him to pull off his coup (or at least led to full scale chaos). Trump will probably work to insure the right morally bankrupt flunkies are in place going forward.

Plus, he won't have to worry about any more elections (assuming he doesn't manage to remove term limits - which it would not surprise me if he tries) so he's just going to suit himself even if his popularity numbers start to tank.

It's going to be a wild ride if he gets in.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

So what? Like it if you want to. Nobody's gonna think any more or less of you in any way that isnt already insane.

I was going to dump all this stuff soon anyway. It was rattling around in my brain.

 

[The Cat]

I was going to dump all this stuff soon anyway. It was rattling around in my brain.

ITs good to think about how you got here, and how far you've come, but dont fall into the trap of borrowing trouble from the opinions of hypothetical "other people" you deserve better.