US Politics/Biden Presidency (Trump-free zone)

[Chach]

5 hours ago, MikeO said:

A serious issue referencing "Sex in the City" as an example (multiple times) and you expect it to be taken seriously? Not sure if that's down to Haidt himself or the video makers.

Oz not a great example of colonialism/immigration/equality either btw as I'm sure you know...

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/10/australia-is-deplorably-racist-as-people-of-colour-are-reminded-when-they-speak-up

I think the sex and city example reasonably demonstrates that what is culturally acceptable for women in a western democracy is not universal, which was the intention.

With regards to the rise of white identity politics and the far right in Australia I have been making the point its symptomatic of all western democracies, not just he US so not really sure why you felt the need to post that.

[Cornish Steve]

Prediction of the week: President Trump will sign a bill ensuring there is no government shutdown and will almost immediately declare a state of emergency to build his wretched wall. 

[Cornish Steve]

Someone called Nate White just posted the following answer to the question, "Why do many British people not like Donald Trump?" It's worth the read. 

A few things spring to mind.

Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem.

For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace - all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed.

So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing - not once, ever.

I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility - for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman.

But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is - his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers.

And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults - he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.

There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface.

Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront.

Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul.

And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist.

Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that.

He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat.

He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.

And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully.

That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a bully's snivelling sidekick instead.

There are unspoken rules to this stuff - the Queensberry rules of basic decency - and he breaks them all. He punches downwards - which a gentleman should, would, could never do - and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless - and he kicks them when they are down.

So the fact that a significant minority - perhaps a third - of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think 'Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:

1. Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.
2. You don't need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.

This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss.

After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum.

God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid.

He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart.

In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws - he would make a Trump.

And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish:

'My God… what… have… I… created?’

If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set.

[johnh]

Steve, the real problem is that he would read what you wrote and feel proud.  Probably include it in his next election campaign.

[Palfy]

15 hours ago, Cornish Steve said:

Someone called Nate White just posted the following answer to the question, "Why do many British people not like Donald Trump?" It's worth the read. 

A few things spring to mind.

Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem.

For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace - all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed.

So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing - not once, ever.

I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility - for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman.

But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is - his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers.

And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults - he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.

There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface.

Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront.

Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul.

And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist.

Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that.

He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat.

He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.

And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully.

That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a bully's snivelling sidekick instead.

There are unspoken rules to this stuff - the Queensberry rules of basic decency - and he breaks them all. He punches downwards - which a gentleman should, would, could never do - and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless - and he kicks them when they are down.

So the fact that a significant minority - perhaps a third - of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think 'Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:

1. Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.
2. You don't need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.

This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss.

After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum.

God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid.

He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart.

In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws - he would make a Trump.

And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish:

'My God… what… have… I… created?’

If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set.

I say old boy jolly good read.

[MikeO]

2 minutes ago, Palfy said:

I say old boy jolly good read.

I actually think the guy went a bit easy on him.

[Palfy]

6 minutes ago, MikeO said:

I actually think the guy went a bit easy on him.

He probably did but he described the average Brit off to a tee and I thank him for that.

The problem with Trump Mike is when you think you've found the harshest words and statements to describe him someone will find harsher and Trump you, pardon the pun.

[Cornish Steve]

22 hours ago, Cornish Steve said:

Prediction of the week: President Trump will sign a bill ensuring there is no government shutdown and will almost immediately declare a state of emergency to build his wretched wall. 

These days, in politics, I hate being right. 

[Sibdane]

I'm watching his Q&A after he declared a National Emergency. I can't do anything but cringe listening to him. He's such a hypocrite and all he cares about is his ego. It honestly makes my stomach turn.

[Palfy]

After he finishes any speech I’m half waiting for the music and titles to roll for the end of another episode of the apprentice, there’s nothing distinguishable from Trump the President and the dickhead Trump who sat in his boardroom and said your fired. 

[Sibdane]

I don't see him having any chance, but I will be happy with anyone challenging him who could potentially weaken support for him.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-massachusetts-governor-bill-weld-announces-plan-to-challenge-president-trump-for-republican-nomination/2019/02/15/998671f6-307f-11e9-86ab-5d02109aeb01_story.html?utm_term=.cd25d278ecea

[Matt]

1 hour ago, sibdane said:

I'm watching his Q&A after he declared a National Emergency. I can't do anything but cringe listening to him. He's such a hypocrite and all he cares about is his ego. It honestly makes my stomach turn.

The constitution is toilet paper to him. It’s like watching a... I honestly don’t know. 

[Sibdane]

 

1 minute ago, Matt said:

The constitution is toilet paper to him. It’s like watching a... I honestly don’t know. 

He's beyond unprofessional. The way he interrupted and talked to reporters asking questions was a disgrace.

[Matt]

18 minutes ago, sibdane said:

 

He's beyond unprofessional. The way he interrupted and talked to reporters asking questions was a disgrace.

He is doing one good thing, unintentionally. He will drain the swamp if the people want him too. He’s shown the true colours of most politicians. If people still vote them in, that’s not on him - it’s on them. 

[markjazzbassist]

1 hour ago, Matt said:

He is doing one good thing, unintentionally. He will drain the swamp if the people want him too. He’s shown the true colours of most politicians. If people still vote them in, that’s not on him - it’s on them. 

except he hasn't.  his staff is still majority swamp politicians.  the drain the swamp thing was a sound byte.  also some of the non-swamp people he brought in are just corrupt business people (see all the people who left due to ethics violations aka half his cabinet).  so sure they weren't politicians but they were just as corrupt or worse.

[Cornish Steve]

Next up: the Mueller investigation.

[Chach]

19 hours ago, Matt said:

The constitution is toilet paper to him.

Which is why my prediction is that Ivanka will be the first female President of the US. After he installs her at the end of 2024.

[Matt]

16 hours ago, markjazzbassist said:

except he hasn't.  his staff is still majority swamp politicians.  the drain the swamp thing was a sound byte.  also some of the non-swamp people he brought in are just corrupt business people (see all the people who left due to ethics violations aka half his cabinet).  so sure they weren't politicians but they were just as corrupt or worse.

Oh I know it was a catchphrase and that he’s surrounded himself by the people he said he’d clean out. What I meant was he’s shown, again unintentionally, to what extents politicians will go to and shown their true colours is UHD. 

[Palfy]

9 hours ago, Chach said:

Which is why my prediction is that Ivanka will be the first female President of the US. After he installs her at the end of 2024.

She wasn’t born in the  

[Chach]

14 hours ago, Palfy said:

She wasn’t born in the  

Google says she was.

I'm only half joking too, in a WaPo poll a majority of Republicans said they would support Trump postponing the 2020 election if he suggested it.

[Palfy]

9 minutes ago, Chach said:

Google says she was.

I'm only half joking too, in a WaPo poll a majority of Republicans said they would support Trump postponing the 2020 election if he suggested it.

You know I use to think I was crazy some of the stuff going on in the USA as made me look quite sane and liberal in my beliefs, to be honest I’m quite disappointed with myself for letting them get that far a head of me I think I need to ramp it up a notch or two. 

[markjazzbassist]

Sanders is running in 2020 he announced.  age will  be a concern but unless a person further left emerges, he will get my vote if they don't sabotage him again.

[Sibdane]

20 minutes ago, markjazzbassist said:

Sanders is running in 2020 he announced.  age will  be a concern but unless a person further left emerges, he will get my vote if they don't sabotage him again.

Yeah, I didn't realize he was already 77 (79 when he would take office). He's definitely not the underdog this time around though.

I was originally skeptical of Warren, but I'm liking her more after reading about some of her policies. I'm still holding out for O'Rourke personally.

[Matt]

His age will be his undoing if the Dems don’t fuck him over again... can’t see many voting for someone who might not survive a term 

[markjazzbassist]

15 minutes ago, Matt said:

His age will be his undoing if the Dems don’t fuck him over again... can’t see many voting for someone who might not survive a term 

depending on his Vice president choice it wouldn't be a factor for me.  If he picks a strong candidate for Vice it would be in good hands.  Someone like a protege, young and socialist.

[nyblue23]

5 hours ago, markjazzbassist said:

depending on his Vice president choice it wouldn't be a factor for me.  If he picks a strong candidate for Vice it would be in good hands.  Someone like a protege, young and socialist.

Not sure who this would be other than, say Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but I’m also not about to advocate putting someone as divisive AOC on a ticket, as much as I like her.

[nyblue23]

5 hours ago, sibdane said:

Yeah, I didn't realize he was already 77 (79 when he would take office). He's definitely not the underdog this time around though.

I was originally skeptical of Warren, but I'm liking her more after reading about some of her policies. I'm still holding out for O'Rourke personally.

Ever the moderate you are, haha. I’ll vote for pretty much whoever the hell dems end up nominating, but I really do hope it’s someone who brings some fresh ideas to the office, as we haven’t had a truly progressive president since Carter.

[Matt]

5 hours ago, markjazzbassist said:

depending on his Vice president choice it wouldn't be a factor for me.  If he picks a strong candidate for Vice it would be in good hands.  Someone like a protege, young and socialist.

There’s the “Jew card” that could be used against him too. Im hoping he’s going to pick a vice that’s more moderate, I think that’d be a big help for his cause. Else he’ll risk pushing a lot of voters away

[markjazzbassist]

11 minutes ago, nyblue23 said:

Not sure who this would be other than, say Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but I’m also not about to advocate putting someone as divisive AOC on a ticket, as much as I like her.

yeah i don't want her there yet, she's too young and inexperienced.  honestly i don't know who either i just mean to say he needs a VERY strong Vice president on his ticket because he is old, if he does get one the age will be a non-issue because people are comfortable with the vice.  most vice presidents are just on the ticket to win one part of the voting block, i don't want that.

9 minutes ago, Matt said:

There’s the “Jew card” that could be used against him too. Im hoping he’s going to pick a vice that’s more moderate, I think that’d be a big help for his cause. Else he’ll risk pushing a lot of voters away

he's not a practicing jew though matt, he has stated he is agnostic or athiest (can't remember which now) and is just jewish by birth in essence.  i don't see that as an issue.

[Palfy]

6 hours ago, markjazzbassist said:

Sanders is running in 2020 he announced.  age will  be a concern but unless a person further left emerges, he will get my vote if they don't sabotage him again.

Running in 2020 at his age he will be struggling to walk