The American Politics Thread!

[Guest]

So, didn't they spend so much time telling everyone how electable Biden was, now as it turns out...

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/upshot/polling-2020-biden-trump.html

 

Good grief. Let's wait until Bernie is out of the race to drop this tidbit though. 

[Guest]

Former President Barack Obama is set to endorse Joe Biden today. 

[ButterflyEffect]

I guess it's relative elect-ability. Biden stood a better chance than Sanders, but both options were weak at best.

[sneaky]

1 hour ago, ButterflyEffect said:

I guess it's relative elect-ability. Biden stood a better chance than Sanders, but both options were weak at best.

Nah regardless of what you think of Bernie's politics he has been consistent with his beliefs and honest throughout his career.

 

America aint ready so now we get to choose between two predators with melting brains.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, sneaky said:

Nah regardless of what you think of Bernie's politics he has been consistent with his beliefs and honest throughout his career.

 

America aint ready so now we get to choose between two predators with melting brains.

You feel like history is repeating itself?

[sneaky]

1 hour ago, Drew said:

You feel like history is repeating itself?

Seems to be. I know Biden is supposedly ahead by several points but Im still skeptical. A lot of people--even to anonymous pollsters will lie about who they are voting for.

 

If Biden wins it must be because Americans really hate The Clintons because Hillary, though corrupt, was a lot more competent. 

[ButterflyEffect]

9 hours ago, sneaky said:

Nah regardless of what you think of Bernie's politics he has been consistent with his beliefs and honest throughout his career.

 

America aint ready so now we get to choose between two predators with melting brains.

Consistent message yes, but moderates within the Democratic party didn't care for him. If you can't win there, you won't win in a general. Potential moderate swing voters would likely vote status quo than for someone like Bernie.

America aint ready, and likely won't be for another 10+ years.
 

5 hours ago, sneaky said:

Seems to be. I know Biden is supposedly ahead by several points but Im still skeptical. A lot of people--even to anonymous pollsters will lie about who they are voting for.

 

If Biden wins it must be because Americans really hate The Clintons because Hillary, though corrupt, was a lot more competent. 

I think pollsters are over-estimating Biden's advantage here, and it's likely due to polling bias. I wish I could find the tweet I was reading earlier regarding it, but the take away from it was that state polls which were over-representing one race (I can't remember which) were leaning overwhelmingly Biden, but polls which had a healthier, more realistic racial demographic breakdown were a lot tighter.

I don't realistically see an easy way to victory for Biden. He essentially needs to win 3 out of 4 of Penn, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona and not lose places like Virginia or Nevada. Florida and Ohio would be nice, but I just don't see it happening. Republicans have a much easier path to victory in a close election: just dont lose too much of what you got in 2016. People do like the status quo....

[Guest]

19 hours ago, sneaky said:

Seems to be. I know Biden is supposedly ahead by several points but Im still skeptical. A lot of people--even to anonymous pollsters will lie about who they are voting for.

 

If Biden wins it must be because Americans really hate The Clintons because Hillary, though corrupt, was a lot more competent. 

Biden is more likable though. 

 

It's actually incredibly frustrating if you sit and think about it though. For example, I think Harris would be a GREAT VP pick and could convincingly be president. That said, I fear older white Americans, particularly males aren't going to warm to her. I can't PROVE it, but unfortunately, we've seen this show before. 

 

Elizabeth Warren endorsed Biden today, as well. 

[sneaky]

7 hours ago, Drew said:

Biden is more likable though. 

 

It's actually incredibly frustrating if you sit and think about it though. For example, I think Harris would be a GREAT VP pick and could convincingly be president. That said, I fear older white Americans, particularly males aren't going to warm to her. I can't PROVE it, but unfortunately, we've seen this show before. 

 

Elizabeth Warren endorsed Biden today, as well. 

See I don't find him likeable either.

 

I did find Watren quite likeable but with her whole Bernie is sexist stunt I thought the timing was super shady and it makes me question her.

 

Funny enough before all that went down I did see a poll saying Warren was least likeable.  I do perceive some sexism there...though likability Is subjective 

[Guest]

32 minutes ago, sneaky said:

See I don't find him likeable either.

 

I did find Watren quite likeable but with her whole Bernie is sexist stunt I thought the timing was super shady and it makes me question her.

 

Funny enough before all that went down I did see a poll saying Warren was least likeable.  I do perceive some sexism there...though likability Is subjective 

I try and immerse myself in analysis from different places when it comes to this. I think that was a bit desperate on her part, in all honesty. What's weird is, her base is college educated whites, perhaps the only group that cared about her at all. Bernie had a cross-section of people going for him and many of them didn't have degrees. Oddly enough, you had this kind of elite vs. man of the people thing going. She was able to articulate the policy better, but ultimately Bernie was more authentic instead of Elizabeth from Norman, Oklahoma, she was Professor Warren from Cambridge. Still amazed she didn't do better in my state considering ...she's my senator! LOL. 

[bswanson]

Sure Biden is not the best chioice, but better than Trump. If Trump wpuld have taken this seriously at end of Jan maybe we would be reopening the Country by now, but no he downplayed it. 

[TeamAudra]

8 hours ago, bswanson said:

Sure Biden is not the best chioice, but better than Trump. If Trump wpuld have taken this seriously at end of Jan maybe we would be reopening the Country by now, but no he downplayed it. 

Seriously, as in banning flights from China, while Fauci was doing interviews, saying CV isn’t highly transmissible, and that we shouldn’t worry about it? 
 

https://catsroundtable.com/dr-anthony-fauci-national-institute-health-nih-infectious-diseases-coronavirus-us/

Edited April 16, 2020 by TeamAudra

[mercfan3]

1 hour ago, TeamAudra said:

Seriously, as in banning flights from China, while Fauci was doing interviews, saying CV isn’t highly transmissible, and that we shouldn’t worry about it? 
 

https://catsroundtable.com/dr-anthony-fauci-national-institute-health-nih-infectious-diseases-coronavirus-us/

 

Seriously as in..not shutting down the pandemic team just because Obama created it, not firing the medical staff in Wuhan China. Accepting tests and ventilators from WHO early on. (I have quotes from my senator as early as February 5, saying that the Trump administration is not taking this seriously). Not testing, tracking and quarantining. Not using his presidential powers to help states get resources. Insisting the states are on their own. Halting the processing of emergency funds so he can put his own damn name on it. Trying to send ventilators - that we need - to Russia..I could go on. 

 

But yea, sure..his  "shut down" (when, it had spread to other Countries at that point anyway - and he didn't even really shut it down) of China flights was totes him being serious, not at all him being xenophobic. 

 

As for Harris and Warren and their likability. They are no different than Clinton..who is extremely popular when she is not seeking power, and not so popular when she is. Because woman. The difference between Harris and Warren/Clinton, is Harris is charismatic. She's not an issue as VP because she's in a support role, not a seeking power role. Although she will be susceptible to the Palin attacks..(on her looks and previous relationships). 

[TeamAudra]

11 minutes ago, mercfan3 said:

 

Seriously as in..not shutting down the pandemic team just because Obama created it, not firing the medical staff in Wuhan China. Accepting tests and ventilators from WHO early on. (I have quotes from my senator as early as February 5, saying that the Trump administration is not taking this seriously). Not testing, tracking and quarantining. Not using his presidential powers to help states get resources. Insisting the states are on their own. Halting the processing of emergency funds so he can put his own damn name on it. Trying to send ventilators - that we need - to Russia..I could go on. 

 

But yea, sure..his  "shut down" (when, it had spread to other Countries at that point anyway - and he didn't even really shut it down) of China flights was totes him being serious, not at all him being xenophobic. 

 

As for Harris and Warren and their likability. They are no different than Clinton..who is extremely popular when she is not seeking power, and not so popular when she is. Because woman. The difference between Harris and Warren/Clinton, is Harris is charismatic. She's not an issue as VP because she's in a support role, not a seeking power role. Although she will be susceptible to the Palin attacks..(on her looks and previous relationships). 

I noticed you glossed over the Fauci comments. They weren’t getting accurate information from China or the WHO. On top of that, we have clips of Pelosi, Cuomo, and the idiot mayor of New York, much more recent than that, not taking this seriously. Please don’t make me defend Trump. It makes me feel icky. Thanks. 

Edited April 16, 2020 by TeamAudra

[mercfan3]

31 minutes ago, TeamAudra said:

I noticed you glossed over the Fauci comments. They weren’t getting accurate information from China or the WHO. On top of that, we have clips of Pelosi, Cuomo, and the idiot mayor of New York, much more recent than that, not taking this seriously. Please don’t make me defend Trump. It makes me feel icky. Thanks. 

 

I'm not all in on Fauci like most people. Although I think he's better than the rest of the group. WHO was telling the world to take this seriously by early February. And we would have had better information from China, had Donald not fired the medical research team there. 

 

WHO, Pelosi, and Cuomo were all taking this seriously by mid/late February. Senate Democrats were discussing it early February.

 

 Agreed that the NYC mayor is an idiot. 

 

This has been a difficult situation - no doubt. But Donald's response has been terrible.  You don't have to defend him.

Edited April 16, 2020 by mercfan3

[bswanson]

^ exactly if we shut down in Feb maybe things would be a little better.  and yeah the NY said dumb things too

Edited April 16, 2020 by bswanson

[TeamAudra]

1 hour ago, bswanson said:

^ exactly if we shut down in Feb maybe things would be a little better.  and yeah the NY said dumb things too

Here’s the chart. Exactly when in February should we have shut down the world’s largest economy, and how would you have sold that to the American people? 
 

[TeamAudra]

Here’s the good news...shut down or no shut down, these CV epidemics appear to last approximately 8 weeks, if you look at the various charts. Countries with minimal, or no shut downs just have more cases/deaths. We should be in relatively good shape by the middle of May. States that have it under control will start opening back up within the next few days. 
 

The bad news is, we have a lot of damage to repair. 

Edited April 17, 2020 by TeamAudra

[bswanson]

there may not have been many cases yet but there were warnings that it would get worse. 

[Jonathan]

 

[Guest]

Two questions for you guys to take it back in time a bit. 

 

1. Who is your favorite president in your lifetime and why?

 

2. How has your political ID evolved over time? For example, are you someone who grew up in a liberal household and are now conservative or vice versa?

[Smoochy]

On 4/20/2020 at 3:12 PM, Drew said:

Two questions for you guys to take it back in time a bit. 

 

1. Who is your favorite president in your lifetime and why?

 

2. How has your political ID evolved over time? For example, are you someone who grew up in a liberal household and are now conservative or vice versa?

1. Can't say I'm a huge fan of any of the ones I grew up with, but I guess I would say Obama. Obama in 2008 really got me excited about the future and gave me confidence in a politician actually working for me. Now, I wasn't a huge fan of him at the end of his presidency as he did a lot of things I, personally, don't agree with (trade, wars, bank bailout, etc...) but he's the only one besides George W Bush that I am old enough to remember. I was a baby when Bush Sr was in office and was a toddler/elementary school with Clinton.

 

2. Pretty drastically. My parents are independents but lean Democrat most of the time, however, they're not insanely political. I've honestly never discussed politics with them outside of a handful of times and most of that has been about Trump and how incompetent he is. For me, I used to be somewhat conservative when I was in my teenage years (high school mostly) but throughout my 20s, I've become much further left than your standard "liberal". If I had to label myself, I would say I'm a left wing populist. Not a full blown socialist by any stretch, but I definitely am closer to socialist than, say, conservative.

Edited April 21, 2020 by Smoochy

[mercfan3]

1. Bill Clinton (surprise). I love Obama too, but Bill was my childhood president - and things were going well. I think people in the early twenties look back at his presidency in horror..not realizing the political state of our country in that time period. Bill "stopped the bleeding," and America and the middle class saw huge economic growth under him. Likewise, some of the current mouthpiece legislation (The Crime Bill, Glass Steagal) did not have the impact that some claim..

 

2. I really don't know how to explain what I am politically anymore...maybe pragmatic progressive? In high school, I would have loved Bernie. I would literally joke about taxing the wealthy back into the middle class. But results matter to me - and I find that people who work to make change within a system are more impactful and effective change makers than those who protest. (Not that protest isn't important..but to what end?) As I've gotten older, I've appreciated our system more so. Again, as someone more liberal - and more prone to federal over states..this presidency has certainly made me appreciate the balance of power between states and the federal government more than I ever thought I would. 

[ButterflyEffect]

On 4/20/2020 at 5:42 PM, Drew said:

Two questions for you guys to take it back in time a bit. 

 

1. Who is your favorite president in your lifetime and why?

 

2. How has your political ID evolved over time? For example, are you someone who grew up in a liberal household and are now conservative or vice versa?

Even though I'm Canadian....

1. I don't have a lot of options here. I was born during the final months of Reagan, and was too young for George Bush Sr. I was a child throughout Bill Clinton's presidency, but was too young to really understand or care about politics. That would leave George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. The easy answer there is Barack Obama. He's wasn't a bumbling idiot.

2. I grew up in a fairly Liberal household which has shifted slightly more conservative throughout the years. My parents are easily influenced by the Russian bots on social media that have been shitposting about Justin Trudeau being useless in the last one and a half years. I myself started out as a fairly conservative leaning person who has drifted closer to the centre line now. I am neither super liberal or super conservative, and share ideology with both sides of the spectrum.

[Jonathan]