US Politics Thread |OT| THE DARKEST TIMELINE

[Van Cruncheon]

People are discussing whether or not it's even worth it to have kids anymore.

that's an option for gaffers now? holy shit, i feel like rip van fuckin winkle

[Great Rumbler]

let's look at the positives, libruhs: how shook is gaf?

legit shook

[nachobro]

I don't know if even you could have made it more shaken.

People are discussing whether or not it's even worth it to have kids anymore. And complaining because Obama didn't call for overturning the election.

wrong attitude. you'd figure they'd want to increase the voting pool

[Mupepe]

Im so shook I ate a whole large pizza and bread sticks.

[benjipwns]

that's an option for gaffers now? holy shit, i feel like rip van fuckin winkle

it might just be a hypothetical kind of thing

[Let's Cyber]

There were quite a few "What is even the point of living anymore" posts too

 

[benjipwns]

i really liked the positive message ones of "they won! there's nothing we can do! why even bother with politics anymore, i don't even want to play argue about video games"

[chronovore]

Im so shook I ate a whole large pizza and bread sticks.

Yeah, I was doing pretty well, but then hit the chocolate pretty hard last night.

HOWEVER, I was surprised to realize that I had NO DESIRE to drink. I realized yesterday that if I drank, I wouldn't stop until 2020.

[Great Rumbler]

HOWEVER, I was surprised to realize that I had NO DESIRE to drink. I realized yesterday that if I drank, I wouldn't stop until 2020.

Not seeing any downsides to this, honestly. Well, other than liver failure.

[Van Cruncheon]

There were quite a few "What is even the point of living anymore" posts too

funny it took an election to make them realize that. someone remind them that japan is still here making titty elf games

[Boredfrom]

There were quite a few "What is even the point of living anymore" posts too

funny it took an election to make them realize that. someone remind them that japan is still here making titty elf games

Well, some admited that the only upside of the year is whatever problematic dude bro titty game that is FFXV is going to be GOTY, so that is out.

[james]

Itll be interested to see if Trump getting elected will hurt retail in November and December (and hurt jobs).

He can spin that in his inauguration speech as "look at the Obama economy failing, Im here to fix it, and I have a mandate to act fast"

He then institutes all his tariffs.

Economy then follows 2008 timeline. Major falls over the summer with the bottom falling out in late September.

11% unemployment by December 2017.

[Arsene Lupin III]

Sad.





Really, this situation is just sad as fuck.

[Phoenix Dark]

Itll be interested to see if Trump getting elected will hurt retail in November and December (and hurt jobs).

He can spin that in his inauguration speech as "look at the Obama economy failing, Im here to fix it, and I have a mandate to act fast"

He then institutes all his tariffs.

Economy then follows 2008 timeline. Major falls over the summer with the bottom falling out in late September.

11% unemployment by December 2017.

Retail will be fine breh come on. If Americans like anything more than racism it's holiday season deals. 

But yea the economy is gonna have some issues. Trump doesn't need congress to blow up some trade deals. He'll be able to impact the market by...just speaking. And with China who-knows-when away from implosion, Russia buying food, Euro fucking up...we could have multiple crashes at the perfect time to throw the US off.

I figured a Hillary win=US econ continues to old man jog well enough to 2020, then we see what happens. Now...we're fucked.

[benjipwns]

Rachel Maddow is basically on the verge of tears doing her opening monologue, constantly choking up in her voice.

[Brehvolution]

If there was any silver lining to this, it is that my 2 daughters get a front row seat to the conservative agenda before they get to have it affect them. 1 new voter in '18 and another in '20.

 They had it too good for too long.

[Cindi Mayweather]

Where's Tasty? Dude's been missing for a bit.

Meh, I've come to accept it. The US will always side eye arabs and this election just confirmed that it'll keep going. Me and my brother made a pact to not discuss nor follow politics for the next 4 years. I can't vote yet, he can but won't let anything get to him till he can try again.

So for the most part we'll be talking about vidya, movies, music and other dumb shit cause why hand wring? What's done is done and all you can do is vote in the future.

Uhhhh tell your brother that one of the reasons republicans got this strong hold is because of prior mid term wins. If you only vote in presidential elections you're part of the problem. Hate to put it that way but more need to be educated on this. The next battle is 2018, not 2020. Though dems have a high likelhood of getting fucked there.

[Phoenix Dark]

Rachel Maddow is basically on the verge of tears doing her opening monologue, constantly choking up in her voice.

"Do you see this tear? It came from my left eye. Now I want you to look at this photo...yes, it's of a movie film reel. Well the film I'm going to talk to you about is not that, exactly. It's called the precorneal film. It covers your eyes and makes you, well, cry. That's what my left eye is doing right now. So the question you're probably asking yourself is, where did this tear come from? I want you to look at this photo. It may look like abstract art but in actuality it is...you guessed it, the Lacrimal apparatus. It's where tears are manufactured, including the one from my left eye. Why does this matter? I'll tell you after the break."

[Brehvolution]

The only thing that would make 2016 great again would be a new Cruncheons podcast.

Let's get the band back together.

[Freyj]

I really can't even comprehend the couple of Bernie Bros proudly supporting Trump at work.

[benjipwns]

"Do you see this tear? It came from my left eye. Now I want you to look at this photo...yes, it's of a movie film reel. Well the film I'm going to talk to you about is not that, exactly. It's called the precorneal film. It covers your eyes and makes you, well, cry. That's what my left eye is doing right now. So the question you're probably asking yourself is, where did this tear come from? I want you to look at this photo. It may look like abstract art but in actuality it is...you guessed it, the Lacrimal apparatus. It's where tears are manufactured, including the one from my left eye. Why does this matter? I'll tell you after the break."

[benjipwns]

[Great Rumbler]

So for the most part we'll be talking about vidya, movies, music and other dumb shit cause why hand wring? What's done is done and all you can do is vote in the future.

Wrath, let's jam some hot tunes on Plug.DJ this weekend. Maybe some Anime Church on Sunday.

[Cindi Mayweather]

We're going to an anti-trump protest. Wish us luck

[Rusty Shackleford]

The Democrats are in trouble. They have no one in the pipeline, barring another Obama out of nowhere. The Clintons are done. Obama is probably going to have to remain as figurehead of the party for the forseeable future. I think the best thing they can do now is stop blaming Trump voters for their own failure and figure out exactly why 48% of the country thought Trump was an acceptable option for president. I suspect a Sanders-esque shift toward blue-collar populism is imminent.

[Great Rumbler]

The Democrats are in trouble. They have no one in the pipeline, barring another Obama out of nowhere.

Having a stable of veterans doesn't necessarily help, though, just look at what happened to the GOP.

[benjipwns]

Why can't I get more people on the Terry McAuliffe train?!?

[Great Rumbler]

Well, he did keep Virginia blue.

[Rusty Shackleford]

The Democrats are in trouble. They have no one in the pipeline, barring another Obama out of nowhere.

Having a stable of veterans doesn't necessarily help, though, just look at what happened to the GOP.

True enough. I wonder if the anti-establishment mood of the country will be as strong in 2018 or 2020? Seems like practically anyone can throw their hat into the ring, no experience necessary.

[Great Rumbler]

Having said that, Warren's probably the early favorite for 2020, if she decides to run [and I think she will].

[benjipwns]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/how-donald-trump-won-the-inside-story/

Jennifer Palmieri
Hillary for America communications director
 Our big concern, of course, was that he would then morph into somebody else. I had heard things about him, such as he reacts with audiences in front of him . . . So the concern, well, if he gets in front of a general-election audience, is he going to moderate?

Teddy Goff
Hillary for America chief digital strategist
 I always thought that he was the ideal Republican nominee. . . . The nomination of Trump was going to make this a battle about racism, misogyny, homophobia and dealing with immigrants. That’s not even getting into the core stability of our opponent.

John Podesta
Hillary for America campaign chairman
 There’s no question, I think, that [Trump] represents change. But the question is: What kind of change? And I think we put a lot into the argument that the country would succeed by rejecting that set of values which are based on division, on bigotry, on things he had said along the way, on his sort of history of abusing people.

Guy Cecil
chief strategist of Priorities USA, a pro-Clinton super PAC
 We did video tests where we showed voters 40 different clips of Trump speaking — not ads, but just clips of him insulting a disabled reporter, a clip of him insulting Rosie O’Donnell. . . . Regardless of how we tested it — a full-out test, a clip test, online, regular survey, in-person focus group — the two things that consistently stuck out were the issue around his divisiveness and the issue around him being a danger to national security. . . . Mocking the disabled reporter was by far the top-testing clip. And, by the way, that stayed true through the whole campaign.

Paul Manafort
former campaign Chairman for Donald Trump and convention manager
 Trump views Hillary Clinton as the personification of what’s rotten in Washington. He really does make the connection between the rigged system, as he calls it, the corruption of Washington, the gridlock of Washington and the all-talk, no-action approach that Washington takes. . . . His point was that the opponent was more than just Hillary. She was the symbol.

Kellyanne Conway
Donald J. Trump for President campaign manager
 There was maybe a 14-day period where she lost eight to nine contests, I believe, to Bernie Sanders. And I studied that and I thought, she’s going to have a real problem here because she’s somebody who’s always caught unaware. She was caught unaware by Barack Obama in 2008. She seemed to be caught unaware of Bernie Sanders’s surge. . . . And we could catch her unaware again.

Sean Spicer
Republican National Committee chief strategist
 The narrative was already baked in. That was the beauty of her. In most campaigns, you’re trying to define a candidate. She was defined as someone that people don’t like and don’t trust, and all we had to do was reinforce the existing narrative.

Kellyanne Conway
Donald J. Trump for President campaign manager

 In the wake of President Obama’s historic victory, I was curious and not so convinced that Hillary Clinton was going to be able to claim the same mantle toward history that he did. . . . I’ve always thought for Hillary, the question is not, “Would you vote for a woman?” It’s, “Would you vote for that woman?” It’s Hillary. It’s not a hypothetical.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I feel like HRC's team should have picked up waaaaaaay earlier on the fact that nothing was going to dissuade most Trump voters, focus less on him as an awful person and instead focus on the parts of the country where his trade talk was well received.

Of course, being married to the guy who signed NAFTA was probably always going to work against her in those regions.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Having said that, Warren's probably the early favorite for 2020, if she decides to run [and I think she will].

I feel like Warren wouldn't be combative enough against Trump. She doesn't have that pugnaciousness that Sanders had. Trump steamrolls polite opponents way too easily.

[agrajag]

I think Warren has no chance. Fucking A. Bernie will be way too old to run again.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Having said that, Warren's probably the early favorite for 2020, if she decides to run [and I think she will].

I feel like Warren wouldn't be combative enough against Trump. She doesn't have that pugnaciousness that Sanders had. Trump steamrolls polite opponents way too easily.

breh, what?

She's the only one who really went in on him not too long ago.

Hey, I hope I'm wrong! But I just don't think she'd do well against Trump. Especially debates. It'd be HRC all over again - a (perhaps shrill) recitation of the facts against Trump's appeal to basic emotions. Wonkishness won't be enough to carry the election.

[Let's Cyber]

If this election was a wrestling storyline, Warren is the one set up for a future feud with Trump.

[agrajag]

I think Trump set an all time low in political discourse in US and the consequences will never be the same.

For all of the faults and incompetence of the recent Republican candidates, whether it was Romney, McCain or Bush, they were such classical politicians compared to Trump. Even Dubya had so much nuance and tact compared to the Donald. All half the country needed was a complete demagogue to promise them the world. These new voters don't care about logistics, they just care about promises. All you have to do now is yell as loudly and frequently about how you're going to bring back all the jobs, that the economy is going to be tremendous, everything will be great and huge, the illegals will be bant, the muslims will be bant, tax breaks for everyone, blah blah blah This is now the standard for a political candidate. If you dare bring any realism to the discourse you will now be viewed as part of the corrupt political establishment. I really didn't think Americans at large were this stupid, but it seems they were just chomping at the bit for someone to come and promise them everything they want to hear.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I think Trump set an all time low in political discourse in US and the consequences will never be the same.

For all of the faults and incompetence of the recent Republican candidates, whether it was Romney, McCain or Bush, they were such classical politicians compared to Trump. Even Dubya had so much nuance and tact compared to the Donald. All half the country needed was a complete demagogue to promise them the world. These new voters don't care about logistics, they just care about promises. All you have to do now is yell as loudly and frequently about how you're going to bring back all the jobs, that the economy is going to be tremendous, everything will be great and huge, the illegals will be bant, the muslims will be bant, tax breaks for everyone, blah blah blah This is now the standard for a political candidate. If you dare bring any realism to the discourse you will now be viewed as part of the corrupt political establishment. I really didn't think Americans at large were this stupid, but it seems they were just chomping at the bit for someone to come and promise them everything they want to hear.

That's exactly going to be Warren's problem. The next election will be won on emotion. Warren may have the facts on her side - I'd probably vote for her - but the fact is that Repubs will tear fancy-pants Professor Warren a new one with the "ivory tower" label. She doesn't have the charisma or the ability to compress important numbers and facts into simple sentences.

Frankly, the Dems need Bill Clinton again. Someone with the common man's touch and a head for facts. Definitely more populist than Clinton was, though. And I don't see anyone like that.

[benjipwns]

I really didn't think Americans at large were this stupid, but it seems they were just chomping at the bit for someone to come and promise them everything they want to hear.

It's weird seeing this sentiment posted on places that aren't conservative or libertarian.

[agrajag]

I really didn't think Americans at large were this stupid, but it seems they were just chomping at the bit for someone to come and promise them everything they want to hear.

It's weird seeing this sentiment posted on places that aren't conservative or libertarian.

why

[Kara]

I really didn't think Americans at large were this stupid, but it seems they were just chomping at the bit for someone to come and promise them everything they want to hear.

It's weird seeing this sentiment posted on places that aren't conservative or libertarian.

why

In those realms it's a well worn meme that minorities vote Democratic because the party promises them things they don't deserve and can't possibly be paid for.

[benjipwns]

not just minorites! at least on the libertarian realms which include the medicare and social security parasites

plus it reminds me of the olden times, back when Steam was just a twinkle in gaben's eye

[agrajag]

I really didn't think Americans at large were this stupid, but it seems they were just chomping at the bit for someone to come and promise them everything they want to hear.

It's weird seeing this sentiment posted on places that aren't conservative or libertarian.

why

In those realms it's a well worn meme that minorities vote Democratic because the party promises them things they don't deserve and can't possibly be paid for.

That's not true though. Either way, it's pretty ridiculous to draw a parallel between the perceived liberal entitlement and the egregious demagoguery of Trump.

[Brehvolution]

The cynical person in me wants to let them axe medicare. Why should I/we pay so much to keep these fucks alive who vote overwhelmingly for these shit candidates?

Or maybe they just voted themselves into extinction.

[agrajag]

The cynical person in me wants to let them axe medicare. Why should I pay so much to keep these fucks alive who vote overwhelmingly for these shit candidates?

my only silver lining out of this whole thing for me is that I've been gambling on my health and not paying for insurance for close to a decade now. I made out ok the first year Obamacare was put in place because the penalty was only like $250 for the whole year or something. But the last time I did my tax returns they penalized me for the exact amount I would have paid if I had health insurance! So I'm not going to miss those penalties eating up my tax returns.. It'd be nice being able to have health insurance with a pre-existing condition, but I guess I can't have it both ways.

[Rusty Shackleford]

The cynical person in me wants to let them axe medicare. Why should I pay so much to keep these fucks alive who vote overwhelmingly for these shit candidates?

my only silver lining out of this whole thing for me is that I've been gambling on my health and not paying for insurance for close to a decade now. I made out ok the first year Obamacare was put in place because the penalty was only like $250 for the whole year or something. But the last time I did my tax returns they penalized me for the exact amount I would have paid if I had health insurance! So I'm not going to miss those penalties eating up my tax returns.. It'd be nice being able to have health insurance with a pre-existing condition, but I guess I can't have it both ways.

If ACA is scrapped I wouldn't be surprised to see some states enacting their own programs (like Colorado's attempt this election).

Same thing with Roe v. Wade - if overturned, some states (CA, etc...) would move to make it legal within the state.

[Brehvolution]

The cynical person in me wants to let them axe medicare. Why should I pay so much to keep these fucks alive who vote overwhelmingly for these shit candidates?

my only silver lining out of this whole thing for me is that I've been gambling on my health and not paying for insurance for close to a decade now. I made out ok the first year Obamacare was put in place because the penalty was only like $250 for the whole year or something. But the last time I did my tax returns they penalized me for the exact amount I would have paid if I had health insurance! So I'm not going to miss those penalties eating up my tax returns.. It'd be nice being able to have health insurance with a pre-existing condition, but I guess I can't have it both ways.

My poke was at the elderly. My heart goes out to you and your needs, but apparently, America is now against that.

[Great Rumbler]

There's a report out that Trump's pick for Secretary of State could be John Bolton. 

[benjipwns]

That's not true though. Either way, it's pretty ridiculous to draw a parallel between the perceived liberal entitlement and the egregious demagoguery of Trump.

Sorry, it was a joke at everybody's expense, for retreating to it when they lose an election. Democrats just won the last two times so I hadn't seen it in a while!

[benjipwns]

There's a report out that Trump's pick for Secretary of State could be John Bolton. 

Yeah, but apparently the other person he's considering for this is Newt.

I think I'd prefer Bolton of all people.

[Great Rumbler]

The report I saw said the other person was Bob Corker [Tennessee Senator].

[agrajag]

The cynical person in me wants to let them axe medicare. Why should I pay so much to keep these fucks alive who vote overwhelmingly for these shit candidates?

my only silver lining out of this whole thing for me is that I've been gambling on my health and not paying for insurance for close to a decade now. I made out ok the first year Obamacare was put in place because the penalty was only like $250 for the whole year or something. But the last time I did my tax returns they penalized me for the exact amount I would have paid if I had health insurance! So I'm not going to miss those penalties eating up my tax returns.. It'd be nice being able to have health insurance with a pre-existing condition, but I guess I can't have it both ways.

My poke was at the elderly. My heart goes out to you and your needs, but apparently, America is now against that.

Yeah, I know, it was just a tangent post.

My grandmother's sister on my mom's side is pushing 100. She emigrated from U.S.S.R. to France and then to US as a young girl during WWII and worked her ass off to plant her roots here and care for her family. She idolizes capitalism and hates Liberals with a passion. She in so many ways such a strong, inspiring woman, but a hateful shrew in others. I've grown to not want to ever be around her. I was invited to go to Thanksgiving to my cousin's (same part of the family), and my cousin's husband is a Duck Dynasty watching, conspiracy theory believing alt-righter. He was mocking me about me coming over and doing some spirit cooking (I am a chef by profession). I figured I would be working that day anyway so I said I wouldn't be able to make it, but I found out today that we're not going to be open for Thanksgiving and I still don't feel like going there with that fucker and my aunt there, gloating about Donald fucking Trump..

/livejournal

[Freyj]

Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act. Fully repeals Obamacare and replaces it with Health Savings Accounts, the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines, and lets states manage Medicaid funds.

People who worry about affording food aren't generally looking at savings accounts.

Oklahoma couldn't manage an Arby's.

[agrajag]

That's not true though. Either way, it's pretty ridiculous to draw a parallel between the perceived liberal entitlement and the egregious demagoguery of Trump.

Sorry, it was a joke at everybody's expense, for retreating to it when they lose an election. Democrats just won the last two times so I hadn't seen it in a while!

Nah, it's all good. I wish I was someone who saw both parties equally as bad so I could not give a fuck right now and snipe at everyone from my ivory tower.

[Momo]

Im so shook I ate a whole large pizza and bread sticks.

Fuck man, get your hand off the carb nuke button, I'm here for you 

[benjipwns]

The report I saw said the other person was Bob Corker [Tennessee Senator].

Politico said Newt and Corker, then added Bolton later. So I guess all three!

Corker would probably be my pick of those three. Newt is like the worst possible person for that particular position even in a conservative/Republican administration.

[benjipwns]

Nah, it's all good. I wish I was someone who saw both parties equally as bad so I could not give a fuck right now and snipe at everyone from my ivory tower.

hey, it's the clock tower buddy

[Brehvolution]

We are going to witness the right's fever dream of government.

Goodbye liberal America. Hello police state.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Charles Pierce over at Esquire calls Politico "Tiger Beat on the Potomac." It has its good points but sometimes it really does seem like a breathless gossip rag.

[Stro]

I'm from the mid west. Central Indiana. In one of three counties that are reliably blue and in the city of which actually turned the tide in 2008 and made Indiana go blue for the first time since LBJ. I can tell you that the "all Trump voters are racist" thing is an incredible simplification that only people that aren't from or haven't been to the mid west would make. This always blue city went red this year. This is one of hundreds of cities that in the 50s-90s were booming from all the factories. People going straight from high school into 25 year careers with great benefits and pay. And then, in the 90s, when jobs started going to Mexico or China, these cities literally started dying. People who had no college education because it wasn't necessary a generation before were now in their 40s-60s, with no education, nothing to put on their resume, and no jobs to send their resumes into.

My city in particular lost nearly 50% of its population over the past 30 years. You go to anywhere near downtown and what you see is boarded up houses, empty storefronts. You go to the South side and you see the same thing. You go to the North side and you see the same thing. Walmart has been the biggest employer here for 15 years before Nestle built a plant, about 80% of which is staffed by people outside of the city/county. It's a dead city. A once booming city. Now dead. Hillary came here once in 2015. She never came back. When the economy was great in the 90s and everyone was making money, these were the people getting put out of work. And they still haven't recovered. And that's how the whole rust belt is.

The reason Obama was able to get so many of these places to vote for him, even places that usually wouldn't, was because he came to these towns and spoke to them like they were people. Normal people. Americans. People worthy of talking to. And that worked. Hillary completely ignored them. Trump spoke to them like they were people. Normal people. Americans. People worthy of talking to. There are TONS of counties throughout the mid west and rust belt that voted for Obama in 2008/2012 or both that didn't vote for Hillary. To see that they'd vote for a black man, but not Hillary, and then paint them all with a "they're just dumb white racists" brush is incredibly stupid and exactly why Dems couldn't get those people on their side again. Hillary and her campaign mangers just wrote these people off. Obama didn't. Bill warned them not to and was openly mocked for it. These people, even true blue dems, have seen that democrats do nothing for them. They haven't since...LBJ. So the options were, keep voting for the group that has never helped you and keeps ignoring you, or vote for the guy that at least pays lip service to you and acknowledges that you actually exist.

And now you have Donald Trump as president.