Random Politics Thread

[Virtual ghost]

Nikki Haley keeps racking up votes in final stretch of the GOP primary, and Donald Trump keeps ignoring them


Something to think about.

 

[SensEye]

I'm pretty sure Trump doesn't care. It's not clear to me that Haley supporters won't still vote Republican come November. If they were to abandon the Republicans or abstain from voting, it might benefit Trump to try to appeal to them in what is shaping up to be a close election, but then the question would become would he alienate his base by softening his stance on some controversial issues? Probably not, as Trump's base are pretty much cult followers at this point and just think whatever he says they should think. But Trump's ego doesn't allow him to compromise unless it is crystal clear a failure to compromise will seriously hurt his chances. Trump is softening now on abortion because he realizes this one issue may seriously hurt his election chances. I doubt he thinks the same way about failing to attract Haley supporters.

Haley herself is probably playing the long game. She's relatively young and there will be no incumbent for either party in 2028. I'm sure she'll run for nominee again then. And she will probably be up against a Trump lite kind of Republican (e.g. DeSantis or similar). It's probably her best strategy to keep herself distant from Trump (certainly not endorse him) so she can appeal to the non MAGA types down the road.

 

[Virtual ghost]

I'm pretty sure Trump doesn't care. It's not clear to me that Haley supporters won't still vote Republican come November.

Yes, but the question is will they ALL do that. In 2020 Biden won key swing states by a point or less. Therefore even the nudges in this "department" are likely to really matter in the end. What means that her voters are probably what is going to decide the outcome.

 

[Virtual ghost]

It’s on (for now): Biden and Trump agree to 2 debates

 

[Virtual ghost]

Democracy is a top concern for many voters. We asked them why.

One more "speaking of the obvious"

 

[The Cat]

 

[Virtual ghost]

World’s cartoonists on this week’s events

 

[Virtual ghost]

‘Politically calculated’: Trump confronts his RFK Jr. problem on vaccines

 

[Virtual ghost]

2024 Senate Election Interactive Map


New consensus map for Senate.
Ohio and Montana are what should decide control.

 

[Virtual ghost]

I suppose that it is time that I take a pipe and and go into Grandpa story mode. Since I evidently have story to tell.
In other words I just went through what was day 1 of my center right + far right government that just made a coalition government. The combination that shocked many (some of far right voters included). Therefore now it is safe to say that this is start of new era in Croatian politics. In short center right after ruling for 2 terms in a row this time has decided to search for support further right instead of towards center. What was because some seats were missing in order to make majority that is needed to rule the country. For weeks the left really tried to attract the far right that it comes to their camp and that they rule together with some smaller parties. They were literally begging them on their knees that they respect the contain that was made around center right. What is because here the center right is what is generally seen as "scary party" that has to be contained. What is the picture that many media are trying to picture for decades at this point (and to some degree they had a success). However in the negotiations it seems that center right was much more convincing and the far right swinged towards them (center right are generally pretty good in getting what they want). What then allowed the formation of coalition government. What shocked even some far right voters, since they thought that the contain will hold/stay. Especially since far right was spitting on center right for years. However it seems that in center right they made enough of compromises to rule with far right (which also made some compromieses and threw out certain people).



What leads to what exactly will be the program of incoming administartion. One of the key stories will be sorting out the Communist era stuff. Supposedly the areas are already marked and they will try to dig out mass graves that were made by Communists. Which were pretty brutal towards just about everyone that didn't play along during the Communist era. Especially since many weren't thrilled with nationalizing literally every asset that exists in the country (housing included). Therefore many remains should be digged out of the ground so that they get proper burial. Also it seems they will dig into mass rape of the Red Army, since many actors of those events are still alive. Since fall of Communism wasn't that long ago. Plus idea is to create more active culture of memory about all the victims of that era. What means cutting funding for various left wing press and media. Since those prefer to downplay what happened in Communist era. This is basically exactly why the left was begging far right to come to their side. Because they are afraid that something like this will happen. Because if the public mindset get more nagative towards that era the left will become unelectable in the terms of math (and they are in problems even as it is). Therefore it seems that center right gave some concesions, threw away some smaller left partners out of the government and made a deal with far right.



Another point is economy and development. The key point is fixing demography without making openly multicultural society of western type. What should be done through boosting local/national manufactuting. Better governing and more of sefaty nets. So that at least part of huge dyaspora that is scattered across the world returns home. Especially young for whom this could perhaps be the only way to experiance free college or any form of collge at all. The same goes for many other social programs. Which should be payed by the very fact that dyaspora to some degree came back. Another key decision is that electricity production will continue to be under government ownersip. Since this is just too stratgic sector to be left to private sector. Especially since economy is openly profiting due to that since they don't have to pay the profits of what would be private owner. This is one of the main components why national economic growth is at the very top of EU currently. Another strategic decision is sigining papers that start the project of building national center for antidotes and vaccines. What should also make sure that those services are avalable to get under what would be market value.



Another big thing that probably isn't a coincidence are pro life rallies that happened over the last few days. Therefore it is kind safe bet that there will be some changes in this department. Especially since abortion isn't that easy to do even as it is (from what I understand). However now the basic paradigm shoud be changed and idea is to use welfare state to fix this imported cultural war. In other words the far right is proposing that every pregnancy is counted as working for one year, and that you get money into your retirement fund for pregnancy. What is also designed as a measure to fix the aging demography. However this is only the start of the story. Another concept is the one of "anonymous birth", a women with undesired pregnancy comes in and gives a birth. However after that she is free to just walk away and live her life. While the government will take over the child. Even as it is government is heavily giving money to help rise a child, medicine is socialized, the same goes for education all the way to Ph.D. Therefore in a way it isn't that much of a leap that the government takes over the whole process. Especially since due to demographic problems there is plenty of realestates that are empty once you walk away from city centers. In other words the main argument for abortion is economic one. Therefore people on the right think that once you take that away the argument of being pro-abortion becomes pretty thin one. While average Joe fully understands that there needs to be more children if you don't want mass immigraion. Plus they are paying for socialzed medicine and free college for generations. So there is nothing fundamenally controversial about all of this. After all letting the ancient nation state down the drain is something that would be much more controvesial at the end of the day.


So when you sum up all of this it is kinda safe to say that all of this is defeat of individualism. In other word things are returing to more standard Slavic logic. Not that the things ever went too far from all of that, but all of this is evidently some sort of U turn on many trends. Which is kinda why the left and liberals are taking all of this pretty heavily. Since all of this is not only that they lost for the 3rd time in a row but it seems that they will lose plenty of cultural wars that are further ahead. Particually devastating was the fact that the turnout was the highest in decades and it resulted with pretty obvious further turn to the right. While centrist parties are all bellow 2%, therefore those people are done until further notice.



Therefore the new era just started and judging by everthing thus far it wouldn't be the boring one.
(I just had to put all of this on paper)

 

[SensEye]

While the government will take over the child. Even as it is government is heavily giving money to help rise a child, medicine is socialized, the same goes for education all the way to Ph.D. Therefore in a way it isn't that much of a leap that the government takes over the whole process.

This sounds weird. If the government puts these children up for adoption, I could see that working out fine, but if they are planning to raise these kids in some sort of group home type setting, that is almost certainly a recipe for disaster.

Children need at least one functional parent to raise (and love) them to turn out well. Not paid caregivers.

 

[The Cat]

Or a kick ass spy thriller. Too bad Spy Kids is already taken, that would have been the perfect name for the project. You know what. It still could be.

 

[Virtual ghost]

This sounds weird. If the government puts these children up for adoption, I could see that working out fine, but if they are planning to raise these kids in some sort of group home type setting, that is almost certainly a recipe for disaster.

Children need at least one functional parent to raise (and love) them to turn out well. Not paid caregivers.

The post was too long even as it is and therefore I skipped some details (like this one). But yeah, adoption should evidently be the part of the plan. However in these parts it is not that strange that an orphan lives in orphanage and then moves to college. Which is paid by national budget (just as their education before that). Parents are evidently desirable but it is possible to make the system that works without them. I even met some people that had this path and they are fully socially functional. However all of this are just proposals and we will see what will actually happen.

The fresh news is that there will also be large reform of education. The one that should put more focus on practical education such as construction, various electricians, repairmen, farmers, various technicians ... etc. What should make sure that the society keeps producing and maintaining physical goods. What is vital for control of trade deficits and being more self-sustainable in the world that is increasingly unstable. In other words since schools are owned/controlled by the national government the government can remake the plan which profile of people it prefers to train. Plus military conscription is also in the "remake and relaunch" phase. Short course just so that everyone gets the general game plan and realization that the world doesn't revolve around them. When you are frontline country towards Russian sphere of influence you simply need to have something like this in the current era.


Therefore it seems that the clock is going back however you turn it.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Trump says he’s ‘looking at’ contraception restrictions


Banning both abortion and contraception is evidently a bad idea. One can be perhaps be managed, but if it is both that evidently lead to serious social problems.

 

[The Cat]

Trump says he’s ‘looking at’ contraception restrictions


Banning both abortion and contraception is evidently a bad idea. One can be perhaps be managed, but if it is both that evidently lead to serious social problems.

Dark Ages don't just happen. They take a lot of work from everyone.

 

[ceecee]

This is a snippet from a recent Rolling Stone interview with Kid Rock. I mean I want to laugh but there are so many people without any grasp of factual events - they truly believe 9/11 and MS-13 are exactly the same people doing exactly the same thing. And so easily triggered.

How Kid Rock Went From America's Favorite Hard-Partying Rock Star to a MAGA Mouthpiece

Kid Rock, a.k.a. Bob Ritchie, used to bring together rock, country, and hip-hop fans with his eclectic music. Now his MAGA politics are dividing fans.

www.rollingstone.com

 

[The Cat]

I'll never understand the once appeal of Kid Rock.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I'll never understand the once appeal of Kid Rock.

He's also a complete fake. His Dad owned car dealerships, I believe.

 

[Coriolis]

Trump says he’s ‘looking at’ contraception restrictions


Banning both abortion and contraception is evidently a bad idea. One can be perhaps be managed, but if it is both that evidently lead to serious social problems.

The best way to minimize the number of abortions provided is to make effective contraception widely available. The fact that people pushing to ban abortion don't strongly support birth control shows they have a different agenda.

 

[Totenkindly]

I'll never understand the once appeal of Kid Rock.

More like Skid Rock, if you ask me...