Re: The US Politics Thread

[Pedram]

You should try living between Germany and russia

Everyone cares only about themself

You should look at Iran's history. US (and UK) propped up a undemocratic Shah in the 50s to balance out the Middle East against the Soviets and as soon as he was no longer useful to them, they left him to rot.

Americans will always look for their own interest first and Ukraine is currently fulfilling that purpose.

Thats my point. Everyone looks at their own interests first. You think the Chinese are building infrastructure in Africa from the goodness of their heart?

We as Poles are aware that the US are propping the Ukraine war for their own interest with no regard for Ukrainian casualties. The consensus is, however, that it's also in our interest (because it is)

The weaker Russia is the better. The Nordstream would benefit only Germany in the EU, others would have to fall in line. When futbol says "Europe" understand that he means Germany alone, there are no friends in geopolitics.

I don't think making a permanent enemy out of Russia is in anyone's interest tbh. they are far from their Soviet days but they are still quite powerful.

Poland should have stayed neutral in this conflict because when Russia eventually wins this conflict, it will not be the US (as usual) who is going to pay the price for this failure. it will be Germany, Poland, Baltic states who all collectively decided their interest is in antagonizing a neighboring superpower.

[Myesyats]

China will not surpass the USA anytime soon btw, they are an ageing society aswell

[Myesyats]

I don't think making a permanent enemy out of Russia is in anyone's interest tbh. they are far from their Soviet days but they are still quite powerful.

Poland should have stayed neutral in this conflict because when Russia eventually wins this conflict, it will not be the US (as usual) who is going to pay the price for this failure. it will be Germany, Poland, Baltic states who all collectively decided their interest is in antagonizing a neighboring superpower.

We've never stopped being enemies. For the past 3 years they've been shipping migrants to destabilize our border, so much so that we had to build 400km of wall and create a territorial defense unit

They are conducting hybrid warfare against us all the time. they are not allies

[BarrileteCosmico]

China needs to embrace freedom. The more autocratic they've become the worse they do.

[CBarca]

I thought Kamala did quite well in the time she had and the Democratic party did a really good job pivoting from Biden. Their problem was running with a zombie in Biden as long as they did, especially given how unpopular he was (why he was so unpopular is a different question, of which I think a disproportionate amount of blame could be placed on media coverage of his presidency). Was Kamala the right candidate? I'm not sure she's who the Dems would pick if they had a do-over, but the Dems went from "losing by an historic amount" to a "typical election loss". While keeping the executive office is the ultimate goal, margins do matter in politics.

As for blaming the Dems on moving right...OK. Let me see the evidence that a far left candidate would do better. We had a viable, loved option in Bernie, and he was never able to displace the centrist candidates. You could argue that's because of the DNC's rules, if you want, but the truth of the matter is that he's never been more popular than Obama/Biden/Clinton/other centrist Dems.

I think there is a significant amount of overanalyzing this election. Voters in the US voted based on the economy. There isn't much more to it. Anyone blaming it on wokeness or the Democratic party moving too far right or too far left is doing too much, for me. Inflation and constant fear mongering about the "impending recession" (which never ended up happening) killed Dems. Immigration was a massive issue as well.

Dems have a really interesting voter base right now. I don't think their poorly positioned for the future. They need to figure out how to stem some bleeding amongst hispanic/black voters, but otherwise they're fine. They have super engaged, high propensity voters as their base. They'll probably do disproportionately well in midterms like in 2022, and they might be well positioned for post-Trump elections 2028 and beyond.

Say what you want about Trump, who is in every way possible an absolutely despicable, horrible excuse for a human being, he is an extremely effective candidate at turning out low propensity voters and fear/grievance mongering amongst a large cohort of the US who have nothing better to do than to hate other people.

To put a ribbon on it, look at 2020. All the cards were on that election to be an easy Republican win, and Trump lost it. 2016 should have been a fairly favorable year for a Republican because of 8 years of Democratic control of the executive branch, and Trump eked it out while losing the popular vote -- against Hillary Clinton of all people. Non-Trump MAGA candidates have consistently underperformed since 2016. All credit to Trump for turning out the voters he needs to win two elections, certainly you can't take that away, but I don't really agree with those who believe in some large political realignment here.

The fact of the matter is that a lot of bog-standard Republicans probably would have done well vs Hillary in 2016, and it would have been a massive upset given the inflation/COVID disorder of 2021-2024 to see a Democratic win.

US politics has always been a swinging pendulum. At the national level, no party really keeps control for that long. Voters have a tendency to return to balance and to punish. I'll stick my neck out on this, I expect a Democratic win for the Presidency in 2028.

[BarrileteCosmico]

Biggest 3 issues were "inflation" (by which I assume they meant cost of living since inflation is kinda solved), immigration and woke culture.

I don't think Kamala could do much about any of these. She could have tried to separate herself from the Biden administration but it would always have seemed disingenuous. She also didn't run on woke issues but didn't denounced her 2019 stances where she did. Tacit approval for that.

Basically Dems should've had a primary where an outsider who is not tied to Biden's policies could've denounced those things. But Biden's ego prevented that and he ruined his legacy.

Btw CB I think this is a realignment along class rather than identity politics. It's a trend.

[elitedam]

Matt Gaetz as Attorney General and a Fox News host as Secretary of Defense. WTF?

[Vibe]

Man went to Princeton and Harvard, went to Afghanistan and Iraq, apparently has all kinds of medals and is still active in the military, but you chose Fox News anchor as the most relevant thing in his bio related to his appointment?

This is exactly why the left rhetoric fell short and Trump won, because everyone is sick of the constant, neverending brainwashing.

I've never even heard of the man and I don't know how he will fare, but I don't think Fox news anchor is a fitting description of his career.

Imagine you get hired somewhere and someone say they hired a goallegacy poster, WTF

[elitedam]

I chose Fox News anchor because that's what he's been doing for the last ten years. He has zero experience running a department that size. He got the job because for the past few years he's been blowing smoke up Trump's ass on TV.

What rhetoric? That because people disagree with you, they're trying to brainwash you? That you guys who get your news from @carlitovonlongdong69420 on Twitter are the only ones who are truly informed? GTFO here with your pretentious horseshit.

How about Gaetz? What's your excuse for that clown? I'm sure his appointment is the left's fault as well.

[Vibe]

[Pedram]

Man went to Princeton and Harvard, went to Afghanistan and Iraq, apparently has all kinds of medals and is still active in the military, but you chose Fox News anchor as the most relevant thing in his bio related to his appointment?

This is exactly why the left rhetoric fell short and Trump won, because everyone is sick of the constant, neverending brainwashing.

I've never even heard of the man and I don't know how he will fare, but I don't think Fox news anchor is a fitting description of his career.

Imagine you get hired somewhere and someone say they hired a goallegacy poster, WTF

A moving excerpt from Pete Hegseth's book, "American Crusade, Our Fight to Stay Free" (2020)

"Simply put: if you don’t understand why Israel matters and why it is so central to the story of Western civilization—with America being its greatest manifestation—then you don’t live in…

— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) November 13, 2024

TLDR: He's a nutcase.

Frankly i'm not sure putting a guy who thinks he's a "crusader" in the 21th century and believes in end times messianic BS at the head of the largest military on Earth is a good idea.

[Myesyats]

I'm confused, this video has re-surfaced but I thought he want anti- Ukraine war.

Trump pick for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth:

“You know what ceasefires are for him [Putin]? An opportunity to reload”

“[We should be] equipping and supplying Ukraine with what it needs

The Biden administration has not been doing it fast enough” 1/

pic.twitter.com/j6OieSaKTD

— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) November 13, 2024

[Myesyats]

It’s the first pick that really surprised me. This guy seems to be a warhawk which goes against Trump’s pacifist narrative and also Tulsi’s appointment. Their anti Zelensky sentiment seems legit but He might be playing 5d chess with Putin and bluffing with regard to withdrawing Ukraine aid.

Palestine seems fucked too

[Pedram]

Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence will cause pure chaos lmao

Don't think she will get confirmed though, she's openly pro Russia.

[Myesyats]

Other than believing that the war wouldn’t have started if Biden promised Ukraine wouldn’t join NATO etc, what makes her pro Russian?

[Pedram]

I should have clarified that's not my view of her. it's what the foreign policy blob in DC says. according to them she's a Russian asset who keeps repeating Putin talking points.

[Myesyats]

I think she’s just anti interventionist in general, her views are similar with regard to any conflict US was/is involved in. Russian propaganda used clips of her but that’s not really proof of anything

I think Trumps pick of Heghseth might be a turning point in the Ukraine war but I’m still not sure which way. Putin is relatively weak now, it would be stupid to let him have the land that he is already occupying and letting him regroup. The logical thing would be to overwhelm him and make him weaker than ever. I guess we will find out soon

But if they’re really only pretending to cut Ukraine aid and instead go all out to finish Putin, then Trump is a great actor.

[Pedram]

Well Donald Trump Jr, Vance and Tucker are basically filling Trump's cabinet and will be running the show. all three have implied ending the Ukraine war is one of their priority. if i was Zelensky right now i'd be shitting bricks.

[Myesyats]

Either way Ukraine are fucked. Getting just enough aid to sustain the war will still get them killed but over a longer period

But I’m hearing Trump advisors are proposing a demilitarized zone. Not that it’ll solve anything but I presume it’s one of the options…

[Myesyats]

MAJOR UPGRADE.

Our Health Secretary will actually be a gleaming picture of HEALTH for once. pic.twitter.com/zfBitjyNVt

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 14, 2024

[Vibe]

I think I glanced somewhere that Blinken said that they will get as much money as humanly possible to Ukraine until Trump takes office.

Anyway, interesting times ahead, hope for swift negotiations and end of all wars. But who knows.

[Myesyats]

BREAKING:

Russia issues a warning to NATO.

If NATO missiles are fired against Russia, it will mean World War III. pic.twitter.com/bTppMwONGo

— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) November 19, 2024

If I had a dollar for every Ruzzian warning I’d be a gazillionaire

Or else, we are in WW3

It’s funny how Russia can use NK and Iranian missiles and nobody says anything, but NATO missiles = world war.

[Myesyats]

Wow they suspected Ruzzia, but it might’ve been China. Finland is hinting at triggering article 5

WW3 is brewing

BREAKING:

Strong evidence indicating that the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng destroyed 2 undersea telecom cables connecting Finland-Germany & Sweden-Lithuania

A Danish Navy vessel is shadowing Yi Peng right now. She’s trying to leave the Baltic Sea. Board the ship!

Via @auonsson pic.twitter.com/6pvkeACyIh

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 19, 2024

[Thimmy]

Yes

[Vibe]

The warmongerers will probably escalate as much as possible before Trump takes office.

Stay safe everyone. We live in a sick world, I sometimes forget.

Human life is worthless.

[Pedram]

"You're SO deluded."

Cenk Uygur clashes with pollster Allan Lichtman over the downfall of the Democrats.

Allan: "Who taught you manners?!"

https://t.co/YmVwKQEiTI@piersmorgan | @cenkuygur | @AllanLichtman pic.twitter.com/CmW4gsFZUt

— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 19, 2024

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