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The Politics Thread
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Simply saying more people have died under Biden than Trump misses a lot. First, under Trump most states had had heavy restrictions and mandates, most travel was shut down, etc. It also doesn’t take into account the huge winter surge at the beginning of the year, I.e, the people already infected, hospitalized and/or near death when Biden took office. Deaths in the US were around 3000 a day as Trump left office and continued like that for serval weeks after Biden was sworn in. Hospitalization and death are lagging indicators. Then, of course, there’s the fact the the overwhelming majority still dying are unvaccinated, and the overwhelming majority of unvaccinated are conservatives. And the anti-mask, anti-vax, anti-science rhetoric floating through that crowd is a direct result of Trump and his allies downplaying, making fun of and downright attacking these things.
And in a few months, Biden will have been president for more of the Pandemic than Trump, so eventually the numbers of deaths will be higher just by virtue of duration.
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I thought I was, I checked but I was wrong. It was up to 430,000 on January 20th and 800,000 now so more died under Trump but not by a huge margin.
“Lies, damnable lies, and statistics…”
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— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) November 29, 2021
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What is this with Dems?
McConaughy? Years ago, there were stories about wanting Oprah to run.
I mean, why not groom someone young and promote him in media and conventions as an up and coming candidate? It worked with Obama.
Then again, if JFK Jr. didn’t take that plane ride and was still with us…
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Dr. Oz confirms he’ll run for Senate, slams ‘elites’ for handling of pandemic
There anyone here from Pennsylvania who’d care to comment?
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But is it enough loading stations for everyone to not have to pay anything themselves…or is it more of a symbolic gesture?
This early in the game it’s likely just a symbolic gesture, though it’s possible the commercial providers may get some kind of alternative-energy tax break from the government. Joe Biden’s infrastructure package leans heavily into creating an EV support grid:
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will invest $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever national network of EV chargers in the United States. The deal is also a critical element in the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan to accelerate the adoption of EVs to address the climate crisis and support domestic manufacturing jobs. The deal will provide funding for deployment of EV chargers along highway corridors to facilitate long-distance travel and within communities to provide convenient charging where people live, work, and shop – and funding will have a particular focus on rural, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach communities.1 user thanked author for this post.
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Dr. Oz confirms he’ll run for Senate, slams ‘elites’ for handling of pandemic
There anyone here from Pennsylvania who’d care to comment?
He’s a quack and a grifter.
In other words, he’s a perfect Republican candidate.
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Ilan Omar shows voicemail of death threats because of what Boebert said:
https://www.axios.com/omar-voicemail-death-threats-boebert-1d7ec4a4-dc36-41f1-ada5-eeae4d258566.html
I tell you, it is only a matter of time before a Dem in office gets killed because of things like this.
People truly don’t understand the scale, intensity, & volume of threats targeting @IlhanMN.
Kevin McCarthy is so desperate to be speaker that he is working with his Ku Klux Klan caucus to look aside & allow violent targeting of woc members of Congress.
This cannot be ignored. https://t.co/ppridf6bZl
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 1, 2021
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by .
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Ilan Omar shows voicemail of death threats because of what Boebert said:
https://www.axios.com/omar-voicemail-death-threats-boebert-1d7ec4a4-dc36-41f1-ada5-eeae4d258566.html
I tell you, it is only a matter of time before a Dem in office gets killed because of things like this.
People truly don’t understand the scale, intensity, & volume of threats targeting @IlhanMN.
Kevin McCarthy is so desperate to be speaker that he is working with his Ku Klux Klan caucus to look aside & allow violent targeting of woc members of Congress.
This cannot be ignored. https://t.co/ppridf6bZl
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 1, 2021
Death threats go to all sides.
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Death threats go to all sides
So two wrongs make a right?
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Death threats go to all sides
So two wrongs make a right?
That’s not what I meant…I just mean the way Al states it makes it look one sided. Both sides receive death threats and every death threat is bad.
Oh, so All Death Threats Matter?
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Death threats go to all sides
So two wrongs make a right?
That’s not what I meant…I just mean the way Al states it makes it look one sided. Both sides receive death threats and every death threat is bad.
Oh, so All Death Threats Matter?
Yes, of course.
That’s literally admitting to engaging in whataboutery.
To wit – you responded to a specific discussion of specific death threats against a specific person with a “you know, other people get them too”. The exact same way people respond to Black Lives Matter with All Lives Matter.
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Well I think whataboutism is a problem when you use it to imply it’s not a big deal because both sides do it. That’s not what I’m saying.
That’s not whataboutism. Whataboutism is accusing someone of being a hypocrite without addressing the actual point raised, usually by saying “what about this other thing”
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Lorcan. You forgot.. but her emails!
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So a bunch of Hunter Biden’s emails have been leaked via batshit right-wing Telegram groups, and in the middle of it was this one, which they’re of course going to overlook:
You know how I’ve been talking about class interest a bit recently? This is what I mean. Everything the people at the top say, all their bitter mudslinging is a performance, it’s pro wrestling. The Democrats don’t give a shit for example if the Supreme Court overthrows Roe Vs Wade because nobody in their tribe will ever be effected by an abortion ban, and they can campaign for years on removing it.
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You know how I’ve been talking about class interest a bit recently? This is what I mean. Everything the people at the top say, all their bitter mudslinging is a performance, it’s pro wrestling. The Democrats don’t give a shit for example if the Supreme Court overthrows Roe Vs Wade because nobody in their tribe will ever be effected by an abortion ban, and they can campaign for years on removing it.
That’s never been as obvious as it is at this moment in US history. I will still give credit to some of the younger, fresher progressives, but most politicians (particularly those on the national stage) with 12 or more years of active experience are cynical, jaded, and guided by self-interest rather than the needs of those they represent. Whether it’s Hillary Clinton or Mitch McConnell, the taint of corruption informs their every decision.
Sorry, I must be feeling the spirit of Christmas today.
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Sorry, I must be feeling the spirit of Christmas today.
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Man, Tooker Carlson is suck an unbelievable prick. Not a surprise, obviously, we’ve known that for years. But that email adds another level to it.
As for abortion rights and the Dems doing nothing so they can run on it for decades to come…yeah sounds right. Although it’s the exact reyi thought the GOP and conservatives would never really be interested in overturning Roe. Because it was such an easy thing to campaign on for decades. Once it gets overturned they risk a huge backlash the other way and lose a pretty easy talking point. Of course since Dems (ie Manchin and Sinema) refuse to really do anything to actually support voting rights, it’ll all be moot soon. Because the GOP isn’t hiding that they plan to steal elections going forward if necessary.
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Regarding the abortion issue in the US, this is an interesting link on its history and I am not surprised:
The Fall of ‘Roe’ Was Driven by Our Country’s Original Sin: Anti-Blackness
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A big problem for the Democrats is they really don’t have a lot of young, charismatic people to run for POTUS. They really need someone in their 40s-50s who can electrify the party like Obama did.
I voted for Bernie in the primaries but I honestly was disappointed with my choices. When you have Bernie, Biden, and Warren as your top picks, something is seriously fucking wrong. Kamala doesn’t have that spark either.
I think AOC has that spark and in about 10 years (she’s 32 right now), she has the potential to be a serious leader of the party. I really hope some young people rise up and take over the party. It really needs an enema.
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Georgia’s current political landscape being the shitshow it is, I’m struggling with even being cautiously optimistic about her chances.
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You know how I’ve been talking about class interest a bit recently? This is what I mean. Everything the people at the top say, all their bitter mudslinging is a performance, it’s pro wrestling.
Yes it’s hard really to deny it’s all about maintaining the status quo.
It’d be unfair to direct that to all politicians, some are truly dedicated to a cause (sometimes even if we don’t immediately agree with it, like that Tory MP who keeps referring everything to a debate on principle, which infuriated our side with the upskirting law but delighted them when he dropped his own party in the shit over the lobbying rules).
In the main though they are a rarity and most of what seems to come out is pulling up any ladders that got them to where they are.
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You know how I’ve been talking about class interest a bit recently? This is what I mean. Everything the people at the top say, all their bitter mudslinging is a performance, it’s pro wrestling.
Yes it’s hard really to deny it’s all about maintaining the status quo.
It’d be unfair to direct that to all politicians, some are truly dedicated to a cause (sometimes even if we don’t immediately agree with it, like that Tory MP who keeps referring everything to a debate on principle, which infuriated our side with the upskirting law but delighted them when he dropped his own party in the shit over the lobbying rules).
In the main though they are a rarity and most of what seems to come out is pulling up any ladders that got them to where they are.
Yeah, it’s worth noting that not all politicians, even in a particular political party are in the same class and as such their political interests might align while their class interests don’t. It’s why the phrase “voting against your best interests” exists – where you vote for a party that campaigns on one or two policies you’re passionate about, normally social ones, while the rest of the party’s agenda fucks you, usually economically.
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Agreed that the Dems are lacking young, charismatic candidate for president. If Stacy Abrams can overcome all of the obstacles in GA and win then she’ll be a legit force to be reckoned with. I feel like if Beto had managed to beat Cruz in 2018 he’d be a front-runner, but he lost a lot of shine with the failed presidential run. It’ll be interesting to see if he can recapture any of his mojo during the governor’s race. AOC definitely seems to have it and Fox knows it because she basically instantly became their Boogeyman to replace Hilary. Gavin Newsome screwed himself with plenty of dumbassery, because for a while he looked to be on that kind of presidential path. And Pete Buttigieg could still have potential to make waves in the near future if he plays his cards right.
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A big problem for the Democrats is they really don’t have a lot of young, charismatic people to run for POTUS. They really need someone in their 40s-50s who can electrify the party like Obama did.
There should have been someone like that giving speeches at the Dem conventions, on social media platforms a long time ago. I don’t know if Buttegieg or Beto are the answer.
Now, as posted before, if JFK Jr. not done that plane ride…
——————————————Stacy Abrams has her work cut out for her given that voter suppression law that includes bottles of water.
I really have a bad feeling about the midterms and POTUS runoff in ’24
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I don’t see Beto winning the Texas Governor’s race. If by some miracle he does, it will be a close win. But honestly, He just doesn’t have that fire the Democrats need.
Like Beto, Buttegieg just seems so bland to me. I really don’t see him doing well on a second run for POTUS.
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White Supremacists Stage Bizarro Rally in Downtown D.C., Find Themselves Stranded
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I see that the 2021 Hypocrite Of The Year Award has been announced a little early:
Dominic Cummings: ‘very unwise for No 10 to lie’ about Christmas parties
I was so unable to believe my eyes when I read that headline that I immediately checked them by driving to my nearest castle.
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I see that the 2021 Hypocrite Of The Year Award has been announced a little early:
Dominic Cummings: ‘very unwise for No 10 to lie’ about Christmas parties
I was so unable to believe my eyes when I read that headline that I immediately checked them by driving to my nearest castle.
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I was so unable to believe my eyes when I read that headline that I immediately checked them by driving to my nearest castle.
I trust you took your wife and kids with you, as is always sensible when unsure you can see.
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Starmer finally felt like a strong leader at PMQs today, and did very well in articulating why people are so upset about this whole Number 10 Christmas party issue.
Johnson’s response was a proper shitshow of bullshit. I’d really love to think that this issue gets sufficient traction to really damage this government. But we’ll see.
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Further COVID-19
distractionsrestrictions coming in later today may move the news cycle onwards, I fear.1 user thanked author for this post.
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That certainly seems to be the plan.
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Starmer finally felt like a strong leader at PMQs today, and did very well in articulating why people are so upset about this whole Number 10 Christmas party issue.
I mean, even Ant & Dec are scoring hits on Johnson for this. It’s not a very high bar for Starmer to clear here.
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Trump says his base ‘will be very angry’ if he doesn’t run in 2024
Yeah, no one else will be.
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Trump says his base ‘will be very angry’ if he doesn’t run in 2024
Yeah, no one else will be.
In a perfect world, Trump would run as an independent candidate, siphoning votes from whatever candidate the Republic National Committee backs, and allowing the Democratic candidate to cruise into the White House.
Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world.
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Say what you will about her and I would agree but again… Had she won, she would have been in the position to put in 3 judges to the SC instead of you know who. Now people are nervous these days about the SCOTUS possibly overturning Roe v Wade now that the conservatives have the numbers in the court to do it.
In general I think the whole idea of overtly stacking the highest court in the land according to a certain political stripe is an interesting one.
On some level it feels as though it really runs against the idea of the separation of powers in a very clear way, and part of me is always slightly shocked that it’s handled in such a matter-of-fact way in the US.
Having said that, part of me also wonders whether it’s better to have that kind of politicisation of appointments out in the open, rather than having that element be still there but concealed as it is with other governments.
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Now people are nervous these days about the SCOTUS possibly overturning Roe v Wade now that the conservatives have the numbers in the court to do it.
We get what we deserve, as a nation.
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Had she won, she would have been in the position to put in 3 judges to the SC instead of you know who.
Would she? Or would she have been blocked by the Man With No Shame aka McConnell for the entirety of her Presidential term?
I think the US political system problems now can’t be solved by a President, they go too wide.
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On some level it feels as though it really runs against the idea of the separation of powers in a very clear way, and part of me is always slightly shocked that it’s handled in such a matter-of-fact way in the US.
It isn’t very different here I think, the government has a big hand in appointing judges. It works indirect, and it is a rather obscure process and it isn’t easy to find how it works exactly, but it isn’t wholly independent from the executive branch.
But what we don’t have is this fiddling with the constitution by the supreme court to come up with new policies, like what happened with Roe v Wade.
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I think McConnell would have been forced to cave at some point. He took a gamble in 2016 and it worked, but holding a seat vaccant for 5 years probably would have caused him a lot of trouble.
The sad truth is that Obama should have filled the vacancy when Antonin Scalia passed away in February 2016. With 10 months left in his presidency, he had every right (and responsibility) to appoint a viable candidate to the SCOTUS bench. McConnell whined about “outgoing president blah blah blah” and Obama, presumably in the spirit of bipartisanship, caved. Fast forward to 2020, and McConnell sang a different tune when RBG died in September and Trump quickly nominated Amy Coney Barrett just before the presidential election.
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The sad truth is that Obama should have filled the vacancy when Antonin Scalia passed away in February 2016. With 10 months left in his presidency, he had every right (and responsibility) to appoint a viable candidate to the SCOTUS bench. McConnell whined about “outgoing president blah blah blah” and Obama, presumably in the spirit of bipartisanship, caved. Fast forward to 2020, and McConnell sang a different tune when RBG died in September and Trump quickly nominated Amy Coney Barrett just before the presidential election.
And there is actual video footage of Lindsay Graham contradicting himself with regards to all this.
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Most of those GOP Trump supporters who are Christian evangelicals (like former VP Mike Pence) don’t have problems with Trump’s sex scandals, affair with Stormy Daniels, problems with Trump U, and SO MUCH MORE… There are Google links to articles of evangelicals saying things like it is the will of God for him to be POTUS.Their religious views also affect their stance on issues such as abortion, gay and transgender rights, etc. According to their interpretation of the Noah story in the Bible, it really happened. The big rainbow appeared after the Flood and God told Noah that he won’t flood the Earth again or let it be flooded. Therefore, there is no need for the population to worry about storms getting nastier or sea levels rising due to global warming and climate change because it is all under control.
Add to all that, the belief that Obama is the antiChrist, really born in Kenya, and is a secret anti-America Muslim.
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Justice should be apolitical, the idea that the party that is in charge of the government wants to appoint supreme court judges who agree with them politically, and wants to do their bidding politically like with abortion and gay marriage, is actually a travesty.
It is.
The US set up a democratic system way ahead of its time and best of class globally, but they did it over 200 years ago. Large parts of are showing their age, that party politics play any part in drawing up voting districts or judicial appointments is a fundamental flaw.
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Trump is awful, but with corona I think we are already living in a tyranny, I am not sure Trump will be much worse.
Oh, believe me, he can and will make it worse.
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Not to mention that it’s Trump’s fault COVID-19 got as bad as it did.
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To be fair to Trump he was only responsible for the US response, a lot of places had really bad Covid situations without him.
With the authoritarian response, it’s undeniable freedoms have been curtailed because of Covid but my impression is largely that governments have been very eager in the most part to remove them. In the case of the US and the UK where a libertarian streak is strong (the only 2 major countries that don’t have national ID card programs) at times they have seemed more eager to lift them than the public feel is sensible. Here that streak doesn’t really exist strongly but economics have driven the powers that be to also shift away from the restrictions.
Long term the real concerns for me are nothing to do with Covid but the mix of voter suppression/manipulation of election laws and the electronic surveillance we all concede to every day.
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However, we are now introducing them here. They are called “vaccine passports”, but in principle there is little difference.
I think the two things are very different. I don’t believe you can use proof of vaccination in the same way as an ID card.
However, I do think we already have something closer to an ID card than a vaccine passport. It’s called a passport.
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To be fair to Trump he was only responsible for the US response, a lot of places had really bad Covid situations without him.
Perhaps, but don’t forget that Trump shut down an “early warning” pandemic program that had been set up during the Obama presidency and which included a station near Wuhan that might have been able to detect COVID-19 before it got out of hand. His pointless and ill-advised act affected the entire world, not just US citizens.
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Also driving licences. There are actually a surprising number of situations in the UK where you need photographic ID to prove your identity. Every time I change job, I have to jump through so many hoops to prove who I am because I don’t drive and my passport expired 10 years ago.
Sounds like you could do with an ID card.
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There are actually a surprising number of situations in the UK where you need photographic ID to prove your identity.
There are and it would be naive to say there weren’t, same in the US, they are especially strict on photo ID for purchasing alcohol.
However it is a significant difference to a national ID card where in most cases it is mandatory you carry that ID on your person at all times and present it when requested by the authorities. If I go outside without a government ID card or passport I am breaking the law.
That is not a requirement in the UK, the US and UK examples are ones of access to certain activities or services. It is not mandatory to have a vaccine passport, it is a requirement if you want to go to certain venues. It is not mandatory to have a driving license or a passport as your example shows us.
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Also driving licences. There are actually a surprising number of situations in the UK where you need photographic ID to prove your identity. Every time I change job, I have to jump through so many hoops to prove who I am because I don’t drive and my passport expired 10 years ago.
Sounds like you could do with an ID card.
Honestly, I think it makes sense
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Also driving licences. There are actually a surprising number of situations in the UK where you need photographic ID to prove your identity. Every time I change job, I have to jump through so many hoops to prove who I am because I don’t drive and my passport expired 10 years ago.
Sounds like you could do with an ID card.
Honestly, I think it makes sense
Except, I would never be able to prove who I was when they handed them out
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Just consider yourself lucky that you still look young enough to get ID’d at the bar David, most of us can’t boast the same.
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Also driving licences. There are actually a surprising number of situations in the UK where you need photographic ID to prove your identity. Every time I change job, I have to jump through so many hoops to prove who I am because I don’t drive and my passport expired 10 years ago.
And since since you are the second David Meadows that we know of, you can understand why we are very suspicious of you.
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Trump sues N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James over investigations into his business
Big baby.
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AOC had some things to say about Manchin too:
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What makes me wonder is the veteran GOPers who were in the party for decades and they have seen the party come to all this. I am in no way a fan of Liz Cheney, but she did speak up against you know who and the party’s direction to the ridiculous.
Thing is… No one else? No one counters his populist message? Even Cruz, Graham, etc. who were on video at one time denouncing him are on board as if they were brainwashed Stepford Wife (or the old V tv series) style. Incredible. He insulted Cruz’s father and wife and instead of standing up to defend his family, actually went along with him. Again… makes me wonder.
It’s because for the most part they don’t give two shits about decorum, or bipartisanship or whatever. They just want power and will do whatever it takes to maintain it.
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It’s because for the most part they don’t give two shits about decorum, or bipartisanship or whatever. They just want power and will do whatever it takes to maintain it.
That’s what it comes down to. The progressive “Squad” of AOC and like-minded Dems actually seem to be concerned about the people they represent, but the rest of the politicians in Washington care about securing their positions so that they have more opportunities to line their pockets. This is as true for Joe Manchin as it is for Republicans Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz…AND for Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.
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Yep. There are far too many politicians on both sides just in it for themselves. I’ve never been a huge fan of Pelosi, but I had some respect for her here and there. Then I saw her comments on members of Congress buying stock and it was never more clear that she’s part of the problem and needs to go along with the rest of them. Unfortunately we’re stuck with most of them basically until they die.
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I wonder if it’s possible to have some form of government by leaders who don’t profit financially from their political activities. Make them do some oath of poverty like monks.
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I think term limits would be a great start, with senators being limited to one (1) six-year term and representatives to two (2) two-year terms. I would probably give senators two-year terms as well and limit them to two (2) terms.
I wonder if it’s possible to have some form of government by leaders who don’t profit financially from their political activities. Make them do some oath of poverty like monks.
Sadly, even if that were a thing, I think they would hide money so they would never be “poor”.
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Also there is a hereditary element which is frankly the worst way imaginable to choose new representatives of the people.
While I agree, it’s also hard to see a better way to fill the Lords. If it’s elected, it’s pointless because there is nothing to make it different from the Commons. If it’s wholly appointed by government, you get the loading problem you’ve already mentioned.
I think the Lords is important as a check & balance for the government, but it’s inherently flawed and I also think inherently unfixable.
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In Ireland, the Seanad is the equivalent of the House of Lords, and it’s a mix of political appointees and people elected by university graduates. It’s vaguely more democratic than the Lords, but not much, there was actually a referendum to remove the Seanad in 2013 which narrowly failed – there’s been calls to reform the Seanad for…checks notes… almost the entire life of the Republic and people who voted to retain the Seanad argued that reform is preferable to removing the only check on the Dáil.
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Yes that’s interesting, that in the UK the nobility still has such influence. Maybe as the only Western country where that’s the case.
It’s far less so than it used to be, 92 of 780 are hereditary since a reform in 1999, which was meant to slowly phase out the rest but it didn’t happen. This is typical of the UK who eschewed revolution for a very very slow moving removal of hereditary powers, as I’ve said before while US rhetoric tends to project George III as an absolute monarch he reigned over the removal of any role for the royal family in the judiciary and several other former powers. The reason the Queen does all that ceremony of door knocking to open Parliament is she is not allowed to enter the House of Commons without permission on that one day a year. I can go any time and observe, she can’t.
The rest are ‘life peers’ appointed by committee. In some cases these are quite defensible for people who have excelled in certain areas, Baroness Grey-Thompson is a record breaking Paralympian, Lord Winston a leading medical scientist and educator, Lord Sugar a successful self-made businessman etc. One of my classmates in school had a grandfather who was made a Lord for local charity work and was a great guy from a working class background. In many other cases appointments are party cronies and it’s something for them to do after fading electoral fortunes.
The problem that creates is the upper house, because it isn’t democratic and only partially merit based, is completely toothless. All they can do is review legislation, make recommendations and send it back to the Commons who can just send it back unchanged. At most their ultimate power is to delay so often some changes are accepted to get things moving. This contrasts a lot with the US Senate to can veto everything passed to them if they want.
So I tend to agree with D&D that another duplicate elected house is slightly pointless, I’d be happy for a congress of experts of people appointed on merit but that’s enormously down to who makes the appointments which is now heavily compromised by being the government of the day. The number of Lords is way too high and keeps increasing as each government puts in more to sway to their side.
I guess my ideal second chamber would have to be some merit based and independently allocated system but I suspect that’s easier said than done.
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Also there is a hereditary element which is frankly the worst way imaginable to choose new representatives of the people.
While I agree, it’s also hard to see a better way to fill the Lords. If it’s elected, it’s pointless because there is nothing to make it different from the Commons. If it’s wholly appointed by government, you get the loading problem you’ve already mentioned.
I think the Lords is important as a check & balance for the government, but it’s inherently flawed and I also think inherently unfixable.
Maybe requiring a two-thirds majority vote in the Commons on each appointment? It dismantles somewhat the myth that it’s up to the Queen to select Lords, but I don’t think anyone even buys that. But a two-thirds majority vote would at least stop some of the more egregious appointments. Also an upper limit on the number of members. It’s utterly ridiculous that it can just be stuffed by a new government when it comes to power currently.
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