US Politics Thread

[Kieran]

This will get interesting:

 

[Federberg]

This is interesting, not only because it’s about American politics but it’s a thing in the west, where there’s a disconnect between the left, and reality. The mainstreaming of mental illness and the denial of just how unpopular their “activist” class level politics is:

the chart that shows the breadth of the decline in the Democratic Party's appeal should be a clarion call for them that things aren't going well. On the one hand Obama seems to be aware of it (see the clip below), but on the other hand wasn't he the one castigating black men for seemingly being wary about voting for Kamala?? He should have been digging in to figure out what the reason might be IF in fact it was even true...

 

[Kieran]

the chart that show the breadth of the decline in the Democratic Party's appeal should be a clarion call for them that things aren't going well. On the one hand Obama seems to be aware of it (see the clip below), but on the other hand wasn't he the one castigating black men for seemingly being wary about voting for Kamala?? He should have been digging in to figure out what the reason might be IF in fact it was even true...

Yep, he was. He was dishonest and he played the race and gender card. He said black men were misogynistic if they didn’t vote for the meme..

 

[Federberg]

So Trump has now revoked the Secret Service protection for Kamala Harris? I'm sorry but this is just dumb, and spiteful. When are people in his party going to call him out on this rubbish? I'm no Harris fan, frankly this has nothing to do with her. This is just stupid

 

[Moxie]

So Trump has now revoked the Secret Service protection for Kamala Harris? I'm sorry but this is just dumb, and spiteful. When are people in his party going to call him out on this rubbish? I'm no Harris fan, frankly this has nothing to do with her. This is just stupid

And just as she's about to begin a book tour. She's not only the former VP, she's the former Presidential candidate, in these divided times. I can't think of a Democrat more vulnerable to the hate out there, after Nancy Pelosi.

But they have to save money for all of the extravagant security he's put on his cabinet members:

Pete Hegseth reportedly has an ‘unusually large’ security detail, generating pushback

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s security detail is reportedly so large that it’s straining the Army agency that’s tasked with protecting him.

www.msnbc.com

 

[Federberg]

And just as she's about to begin a book tour. She's not only the former VP, she's the former Presidential candidate, in these divided times. I can't think of a Democrat more vulnerable to the hate out there, after Nancy Pelosi.

But they have to save money for all of the extravagant security he's put on his cabinet members:

Pete Hegseth reportedly has an ‘unusually large’ security detail, generating pushback

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s security detail is reportedly so large that it’s straining the Army agency that’s tasked with protecting him.

www.msnbc.com

I just hope Dems can get their act together enough to win the mid-terms. It's very clear now that neither the Senate or Congress will hold this administration accountable

 

[Moxie]

I just hope Dems can get their act together enough to win the mid-terms. It's very clear now that neither the Senate or Congress will hold this administration accountable

I haven't really seen any real coherent messaging from the party higher-ups, in general. They seem to be mostly sitting around waiting for everyone to get tired of the Trump circus. I know this isn't congress, but such is the state of the party that neither Chuck Schumer nor Hakeem Jeffries has endorsed Zoran Mamdani for mayor of NYC. They have a legit superstar on their hands, and just because he's a member of the Democratic Socialist Party, they're afraid to endorse him. (They don't say that's why.) He won across a lot of demographics in NYC. Personally, I ranked him 2nd, going with an older, more experienced man as my #1, but I'm fully embracing him.

In other news, Gavin Newsom has been trolling Trump on social media, with some success and real humor. I didn't think he was a good choice for Presidential candidate last time, but he's definitely making a case for himself these days.

 

[Federberg]

I haven't really seen any real coherent messaging from the party higher-ups, in general. They seem to be mostly sitting around waiting for everyone to get tired of the Trump circus. I know this isn't congress, but such is the state of the party that neither Chuck Schumer nor Hakeem Jeffries has endorsed Zoran Mamdani for mayor of NYC. They have a legit superstar on their hands, and just because he's a member of the Democratic Socialist Party, they're afraid to endorse him. (They don't say that's why.) He won across a lot of demographics in NYC. Personally, I ranked him 2nd, going with an older, more experienced man as my #1, but I'm fully embracing him.

In other news, Gavin Newsom has been trolling Trump on social media, with some success and real humor. I didn't think he was a good choice for Presidential candidate last time, but he's definitely making a case for himself these days.

lol! Yes I've been watching Newsom. He's doing it right. But... I still don't know if America wants that sort of good looking slick dude anymore...

As for Mamdani. The guy is a socialist. Saying things like there shouldn't be billionaires, in a State with more billionaires than virtually any other similar sized location on earth. He's terrible for the Democratic brand. Terrible!

 

[Moxie]

lol! Yes I've been watching Newsom. He's doing it right. But... I still don't know if America wants that sort of good looking slick dude anymore...

As for Mamdani. The guy is a socialist. Saying things like there shouldn't be billionaires, in a State with more billionaires than virtually any other similar sized location on earth. He's terrible for the Democratic brand. Terrible!

He's young. Get over it. Bernie Sanders does ok with it.

As for Newsom, that's what I thought last summer. But, seems that everyone wants a white, and "slick' is back in fashion. Anyway, he's says he's bring a knife to a knife fight, and so far, he's the only one.

 

[Kieran]

He's young. Get over it. Bernie Sanders does ok with it.

As for Newsom, that's what I thought last summer. But, seems that everyone wants a white, and "slick' is back in fashion. Anyway, he's says he's bring a knife to a knife fight, and so far, he's the only one.

He needs to get over socialism to be electable. It’s cruel, stupid and terrible idea. Unfortunately a lot of Americans think they can do something which not only never has happened - but which is impossible: to make it work…

 

[Federberg]

He's young. Get over it. Bernie Sanders does ok with it.

As for Newsom, that's what I thought last summer. But, seems that everyone wants a white, and "slick' is back in fashion. Anyway, he's says he's bring a knife to a knife fight, and so far, he's the only one.

well.. rather Newsom than a lot of others.

Lol! You do realise using Bernie as a template isn't helping your case right??

 

[Federberg]

case in point...

 

[Kieran]

case in point...

The voice of sanity!

 

[Moxie]

well.. rather Newsom than a lot of others.

Lol! You do realise using Bernie as a template isn't helping your case right??

I knew you'd glom on to that! I was waiting for it. My point is that there are no socialists in the United States. You DO realize that, right? Bernie is a progressive, and he gets work done, and keeps getting elected, by keeping the light burning for the progressive side. This worked for Elizabeth Warren for some while, and continues to. You need people who argue hard for some equanimity in all of this. To keep the rich from having every benefit. And if we can ever make it happen, make them pay more of a fair share of their taxes on their wealth. This is nothing that Trump cares about, or the Republicans, even in their old iteration, have ever cared about.

Mamdani will be the next mayor of NYC, and he'll learn the realities on the ground. There is a reason that such a "blue" city has elected so many Republican mayors. He'll have smart people around him, if the party gets over itself and helps, and he'll face the realities of running this city. He'll give up making the buses free, which is a stupid and pandering idea, IMO. Don't worry...we won't fall into chaos and "socialism." As far as Trump: he's coming for NYC, anyway. No deal that Adams made, or any Cuomo will save us from that. Of all the chips on Trump's shoulder, the biggest one is in the shape of Manhattan.

 

[Kieran]

I knew you'd glom on to that! I was waiting for it. My point is that there are no socialists in the United States. You DO realize that, right? Bernie is a progressive, and he gets work done, and keeps getting elected, by keeping the light burning for the progressive side. This worked for Elizabeth Warren for some while, and continues to. You need people who argue hard for some equanimity in all of this. To keep the rich from having every benefit. And if we can ever make it happen, make them pay more of a fair share of their taxes on their wealth. This is nothing that Trump cares about, or the Republicans, even in their old iteration, have ever cared about.

Mamdani will be the next mayor of NYC, and he'll learn the realities on the ground. There is a reason that such a "blue" city has elected so many Republican mayors. He'll have smart people around him, if the party gets over itself and helps, and he'll face the realities of running this city. He'll give up making the buses free, which is a stupid and pandering idea, IMO. Don't worry...we won't fall into chaos and "socialism." As far as Trump: he's coming for NYC, anyway. No deal that Adams made, or any Cuomo will save us from that. Of all the chips on Trump's shoulder, the biggest one is in the shape of Manhattan.

How do you know that Mamdani will see sense and drop socialism? He sounds like he’s directly from the activist class, which means he’s among the politically illiterate. Globalise the intifada, indeed. You have people in high positions like the so-called squad who are enemies of your country, not critics. You don’t know what you’re getting there…

 

[Moxie]

How do you know that Mamdani will see sense and drop socialism? He sounds like he’s directly from the activist class, which means he’s among the politically illiterate. Globalise the intifada, indeed. You have people in high positions like the so-called squad who are enemies of your country, not critics. You don’t know what you’re getting there…

He's not a socialist. He's already grown out of the remark about the Intifada, so he'll grow out of making the buses free, which is a pretty minor detail. I have faith, plus I've seen it work over and over. No one person runs this city, and they can't change it overnight.

I know who the politicians are who are enemies to this country, and they are Trump, and those soulless cowards who roll over to him. Or worse, like MTG and Kristi Noem, the crazy fanatics who actually roll like that. They're steamrolling over our democracy.

 

[Federberg]

He's not a socialist. He's already grown out of the remark about the Intifada, so he'll grow out of making the buses free, which is a pretty minor detail. I have faith, plus I've seen it work over and over. No one person runs this city, and they can't change it overnight.

I know who the politicians are who are enemies to this country, and they are Trump, and those soulless cowards who roll over to him. Or worse, like MTG and Kristi Noem, the crazy fanatics who actually roll like that. They're steamrolling over our democracy.

there are politicians like Trump, De Santis, MTG etc who are a threat to the US Constitution. And then there are other politicians who's policies would be damaging to America. All things being equal the Trump cohort is more damaging in the long term, but let's not kid ourselves. The other type will damage people's pockets. I won't say anything as trite as 'they're as bad as each other', but.... surely America can get better than any of them??

 

[Kieran]

He's not a socialist. He's already grown out of the remark about the Intifada, so he'll grow out of making the buses free, which is a pretty minor detail.

How do you know any of this? Because he walked it back after it alarmed so many people?

“He’s already grown out of the remark about the intifada?” What does this even mean? And why do you believe it?

I know who the politicians are who are enemies to this country, and they are Trump, and those soulless cowards who roll over to him. Or worse, like MTG and Kristi Noem, the crazy fanatics who actually roll like that. They're steamrolling over our democracy.

You’re bound to think that, in fairness. You easily ignore the trouble caused by fifth columnists on the left…

 

[Moxie]

there are politicians like Trump, De Santis, MTG etc who are a threat to the US Constitution. And then there are other politicians who's policies would be damaging to America. All things being equal the Trump cohort is more damaging in the long term, but let's not kid ourselves. The other type will damage people's pockets. I won't say anything as trite as 'they're as bad as each other', but.... surely America can get better than any of them??

A touch of socialism to temper your capitalism is not a bad thing. You have it over there. The gulf between the very rich and the working poor is widening here, and Trump is all about widening it even further. You need people to argue from the other side.

 

[Federberg]

A touch of socialism to temper your capitalism is not a bad thing. You have it over there. The gulf between the very rich and the working poor is widening here, and Trump is all about widening it even further. You need people to argue from the other side.

But that's my point...the antidote to rising inequality is NOT socialism. It never has been. What socialism does is make EVERYONE poor. And there are decades of sample data that proves this... in multiple countries! What is required is someone in the middle - right leaning Democrat, or left leaning Republican - who advocates for the middle class. Someone who is as opposed to tax cuts for the rich as they are genuinely interested in trimming the budget. That's what most of us so called traditional conservatives actually want. And yes if some government tasks can be done as well, if not better in the private sector then that's what should happen.