American Politics 3.0 - Back to Brunch

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

So people are just tired, exhausted and unhappy in general? (see women are exhausted thread)

Or they expect much much more from their leaders

With economic growth slowing in developed countries in the last 20 years, people have come to regard economics and politics as a zero-sum game - gains for you come at the expense of loss for me. You can throw in declining sense of belonging and recognition as real-world social and community networks dissolve. And social media amplifies the resentment and antagonism.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Average approval ratings over their presidencies:

* George H W Bush 61
* Clinton 55
* George W Bush 49
* Obama 48
* Trump 41
* Biden 43 (as of Jan 22)

https://news.gallup.com/poll/116677/...cs-trends.aspx

That looks like a long-term trend.

It’s also a trend evident across Western democracies.

Or just couple of unpopular Presidents. Nixon, Ford, and Carter were 49%, 47%, and 45% respectively but that didn't mean those kind of approval ratings were permanent. And while Obama's average was lower due to struggles mid-term, he finished at 60% approval. That's entirely different to Trump and Biden's enduring unpopularity. Which make sense; a segment of the people who might like Biden or Trump's policies are still going to be turned off because of their declining cognitive state and their insanity, respectively.

And other leaders' unpopularity really just backs up my point about the Democrats' failure. When the status quo is generally unpopular, trotting out a near senile 81 year old as your attempt to sell the status quo is an awful strategy. Trump's incapability and unpopularity is enough to still make it an election. But if they truly believe Trump is an existential crisis to American democracy, they're certainly not acting like it.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Azure

Its really simple.

Endless wars and trillions wasted. Both Democrats & Republicans at fault.
Inflation & economic issues. Both Democrats & Republicans at fault.
Border crisis. Both Democrats & Republicans at fault. Yes I know they act like they are presenting options to fix the problem, but its hogwash.
Ballooning debt and deficit. Both at fault.

You can add to the list as needed.

I remember when the Democrats would not vote in favor of war, war, war. Now they have no problem doing that. I remember when Democrats were seen as the working man's party, now go ask most Americans. Its not as clear.

It doesn't mean Republicans are better, but a lot of the positions where Democrats have been 'better' they are really just more of the same or in some cases worse.

And its not even about who is POTUS. You have to look at the House & Senate, where members have often been serving for decades leading to all these issues.

Ha ha ha. What a load of garbage this is.

Republicans and their tax cuts for the wealthy and major corporations have always increased deficits more than democrats have. Trump increased the national debt more in his 4 year term than any president in a term in US history. His tax cut was made permanent thanks to republicans and Manchin/Sinema, and has continued to balloon the debt during Biden's term, while making it difficult to fight inflation. Another example is the Bush tax cuts, which caused the national deficit to soar under Bush after Clinton kept it in check during his presidency.

The idea that republicans are "deficit hawks" is the biggest bunch of BS ever sold to the American people.

Inflation - again, tax cuts for the wealthy have been very inflationary and have devastated the average American. Republicans are squarely to blame.

Wars - plenty of blame to go around, but far from equal. Bush invaded Iraq, Obama withdrew the troops. Bush invaded Afghanistan, Biden withdrew the troops. Obama invaded Libya, that one is squarely on him. Obama started the drone program, but Trump put it on steroids. Ukraine- democrats want to continue funding Ukraine defense against Putin, republicans want to stop funding. Yemen- both parties terrible. Gaza- both parties terrible. Overall, failing grade for both parties, but republicans notably worse.

Party of workers - Democrats and it's not close. Biden is the most pro-union president in decades.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Okay so let's suppose that yes, Trump being re-elected is some post-apocolyptic event that ushers in a New Dark Age. What does electing Biden do? Kick the can down the road another 4 years?

The rise of Fascism in America has a face, but Trump is a symptom, not a cause.

It has a face; it's the Tucker Carlsons, the Daily Wires, the PragerUs of the world, filling peoples' heads with dangerous propaganda. Then you have Trump and everyone in his orbit, spreading lies and using emotional manipulation tactics to lure people into his cult.

Look, if we understand that the fate of the world is literally at stake, we can choose to either stand in the way of fascists, or we can bend over and let them take over everything. I think it's worth standing in their way, even if it means voting for a flawed 81 year old for president, even if we have reasons to not particularly like him, understanding that he's at least trying to make things better for the American people, and he's been obstructed by 2 members of his own party (Manchin/Sinema) from doing what he truly wanted to do in his first term.

[Fuzz]

Spoiler!

LOL.

[PsYcNeT]

Makes sense.

Yoda was well meaning but inept/easily tricked and his actions led to the rise of the Empire and the genocide of the Jedi, which included war crimes against children.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Makes sense.

Yoda was well meaning but inept/easily tricked and his actions led to the rise of the Empire and the genocide of the Jedi, which included war crimes against children.

You’ll be waiting a long time before you see a U.S. presidential administration that doesn’t carry out or support military actions overseas.

[aaronck]

Who all is going to invest in Truth Social when it goes public?
Time for the Trump supporters to get rich!

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/15/busin...ock/index.html

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Makes sense.

Yoda was well meaning but inept/easily tricked and his actions led to the rise of the Empire and the genocide of the Jedi, which included war crimes against children.

And yet, it was actually Palpatine's propaganda that led people to foolishly abandon the Jedi-led republic and give all power to a dictator, thinking that doing so would solve their problems. Here we are in the real world and you're falling for the propaganda of Tangerine Palpatine.

George Lucas tried to warn us, but it appears to be falling on deaf ears.

You don't actually think the situation in Gaza would have unfolded with any less bloodshed had Trump been president this past year instead of Biden, do you?

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

And yet, it was actually Palpatine's propaganda that led people to foolishly abandon the Jedi-led republic and give all power to a dictator, thinking that doing so would solve their problems. Here we are in the real world and you're falling for the propaganda of Tangerine Palpatine.

George Lucas tried to warn us, but it appears to be falling on deaf ears.

You don't actually think the situation in Gaza would have unfolded with any less bloodshed had Trump been president this past year instead of Biden, do you?

I really think you're missing my point here.

Were I American, I would vote Biden, because the alternative is much worse.

This however does not make Biden a viable candidate, and in fact he's a real turd. The choice should not be eating a turd vs cutting off my dick however, and all the people saying "just eat the turd, it's better than cutting off your dick" are missing the point that no one wants to eat the turd. Obviously cutting off my dick and bleeding out in a ditch is worse, but I could still get pretty sick eating that turd. Some voters will decide they don't want to eat the turd either and will just stay home, and I think you'll see a far larger segment of voters in this set than last election.

Why can't I just have like, a slice of toast or a bagel?

[photon]

Enough people stay home because they don't want to eat the turd and you get the 2nd option by default.

[ResAlien]

You can’t blame people for not being excited to go out and eat a turd. Blaming voters for bad candidates is foolish, blame the party for not having any candidates that actually make the voter base excited.

But you’ll get a worse turd then! Fine man whatever I’m eating #### either way so you’re not really selling me.

[PsYcNeT]

That's really the whole rub isn't it?

Do the fencesitters outnumber the alienated?

The Dems are banking on it

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

That's really the whole rub isn't it?

Do the fencesitters outnumber the alienated?

The Dems are banking on it

That's a failed strategy. Republican voters show up to vote, the Republican have a better ground game. Democrats are too big tent, big gesture politics, they just don't care about their constituents. Young people vote democrat, the democrats then promptly turn around and kick the people who think education should be affordable in the head.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That's a failed strategy. Republican voters show up to vote, the Republican have a better ground game. Democrats are too big tent, big gesture politics, they just don't care about their constituents. Young people vote democrat, the democrats then promptly turn around and kick the people who think education should be affordable in the head.

This is entirely my point, but I'm getting told that "far left issues" are a loser for Dems, so young folk should just suck it up and throw their vote to ol' Genocide Joe to keep sending billions to kill brown children because Trump would also kill the brown kids, but probably will also put gays in work camps.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Why can't I just have like, a slice of toast or a bagel?

Too many carbs (people beholden to donations)

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Surprised this wasn't brought up already. FBI informant on the Biden's was anti-Biden and was lying all along. The GOP and their fans were eating his stuff up for years. Turns out.......it was all made up.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1758240350559240321

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Surprised this wasn't brought up already. FBI informant on the Biden's was anti-Biden and was lying all along. The GOP and their fans were eating his stuff up for years. Turns out.......it was all made up.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1758240350559240321

Knock me over with a feather.

Always goes back to this: If Donald Trump/MAGA is accusing someone of wrongdoing, you can be sure they are already guilty of it themselves.

[troutman]

Alexander Smirnov.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by troutman

Alexander Smirnov.

Any relation to Yakoff?