The Neverending Thread for Political Shit

[Zip City]

CNN's John King is to election night as Mel Kiper is to the NFL draft. He's incredible.

So you're saying that John King is wrong about everything?

[Zip City]

Is it too early to call the race in favor of tinnitus >> Wolf in the battle of "Trump wins in a landslide"?

[Clams]

Some commentary from Lawyers Guns & Money

(1) Biden is now a heavy favorite to win once all the votes are counted. Michigan and Wisconsin will almost certainly go into his column. Still slightly nervous about Nevada though. Georgia would be fantastic but at the moment seems like a bit of a reach, but still definitely possible. Pennsylvania — who knows, but that would be very nice.

(2) The Senate. What a disaster. We’re looking at two years of total obstruction on the part of Moscow Mitch and Susan of the Deeply Furrowed Brow (wtf Maine?). The Senate map is very favorable to Democrats 24 months from now, but our idiot polity doesn’t understand even the Schoolhouse Rock version of our system, let alone Poli Sci 101, so it will be very hard for the Dems not to be blamed for the fact that literally nothing of any significance will get passed between now and then.

(3) Trump will never concede, and the election is close enough that his entire base will absolutely believe that the presidency was stolen. I’m trying not to be alarmist but right now it’s kind of difficult to see this country holding together for another decade or two, which just happens to be the same period when the climate crisis is going to really ramp up.

(4) Stop talking about the Latino vote. There is no Latino vote. The notion that right wing Cubans and Venezuelans have anything other than a language, loosely speaking, in common with Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans is the laziest Anglo thinking ever.

(5) It really hurts the discourse that California takes so goddamned long to report its vote. Biden is going to end up winning the popular vote by something like seven million, which by itself should be the death knell for the Electoral College — winning by seven million votes, and coming within a hair of losing the election! — but of course it won’t be because this country’s political system and accompanying culture are both bad jokes.

(6) The conventional wisdom I suppose will end up being that Trump would have cruised to re-election except for COVID, but ultimately I think the lesson of this election is it doesn’t matter at all what a Republican president does or doesn’t to — the people who vote for him literally don’t care, as long as he gives them enough of what they want, and what they want is authoritarian ethno-nationalism and Owning the Libs. Everything else, i.e., actual governance, is irrelevant.

(7) Watch how it will now turn out to be the case that Joe Biden was a Terrible Candidate Who Did It Wrong — just like in 2016 amazingly enough. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO THE DEMOCRATS RUN. Bernie would have been A Terrible Candidate — a socialist Jew! What were the Dems thinking? Warren would have been A Terrible Candidate. Pocahontas, Harvard elitist and so on. Kamala was a Cop, plus she sure seems uppity. Etc. etc etc. The problem isn’t the candidate. The problem is the country.

https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/20 ... ning-after

[tinnitus photography]

#6 for days...

[cortez the killer]

#6 for days...

Partially true. That is certainly a big part of what is commonly referred to as his "base." I think there are certain folks who will always vote Red no matter what. There are also a number of people who are one-issue voters (abortion, guns, lower taxes, deregulation, etc.) and are willing to hold their noses and stomach the mountain of baggage Trump brings to the table. Say what you want about Trump (and I fuckin' despise the man), but he is a master manipulator and has been disturbingly successful at identifying and connecting with those fringe voters with messaging that will get them out to vote for him. A 2020 example of this is tying to Socialism to Biden/Harris which appears to have made an impression on Cuban and Venezuelan people in Miami-Dade county. To the majority of us, this is an absurd and misguided claim, but it seems to have had a positive effect shaving off voters in a reliably blue county in a state the Democrats could've handily won the election by carrying.

[tinnitus photography]

#6 for days...

Partially true. That is certainly a big part of what is commonly referred to as his "base." I think there are certain folks who will always vote Red no matter what. There are also a number of people who are one-issue voters (abortion, guns, lower taxes, deregulation, etc.) and are willing to hold their noses and stomach the mountain of baggage Trump brings to the table. Say what you want about Trump (and I fuckin' despise the man), but he is a master manipulator and has been disturbingly successful at identifying and connecting with those fringe voters with messaging that will get them out to vote for him. A 2020 example of this is tying to Socialism to Biden/Harris which appears to have made an impression on Cuban and Venezuelan people in Miami-Dade county. To the majority of us, this is an absurd and misguided claim, but it seems to have had a positive effect shaving off voters in a reliably blue county in a state the Democrats could've handily won the election by carrying.

this seemed to make a lot of those same points.

[beantownbubba]

At least it was a good day in the war on the war on drugs. Special shout out to Oregon!! You guys rock!

Remember the post Cold War “peace dividend”? Maybe there will be a post war on drugs peace dividend. At the very least maybe cookies for all?

Can anyone explain to me why the postmaster general is not in jail?

[beantownbubba]

While we’re celebrating big weed’s victory, put this in your pipe and smoke it: Mitch McConnell will now be the most powerful person in Washington by a considerable margin. Virtually nothing beyond the regulatory margins will be able to happen without his say so and he will be able to command a king’s ransom for any concessions he deigns to make.

[Zip City]

While we’re celebrating big weed’s victory, put this in your pipe and smoke it: Mitch McConnell will now be the most powerful person in Washington by a considerable margin. Virtually nothing beyond the regulatory margins will be able to happen without his say so and he will be able to command a king’s ransom for any concessions he deigns to make.

Yes, but the question is this: how much will the American public stomach his intransigence? He could literally prevent Biden's entire cabinet from being confirmed, never allow a single judge vacancy (on any level) to be filled, etc., but what will the people put up with?

[beantownbubba]

While we’re celebrating big weed’s victory, put this in your pipe and smoke it: Mitch McConnell will now be the most powerful person in Washington by a considerable margin. Virtually nothing beyond the regulatory margins will be able to happen without his say so and he will be able to command a king’s ransom for any concessions he deigns to make.

Yes, but the question is this: how much will the American public stomach his intransigence? He could literally prevent Biden's entire cabinet from being confirmed, never allow a single judge vacancy (on any level) to be filled, etc., but what will the people put up with?

Easy answer: A lot. I don't know where the exact line is but I do know it's pretty far out there. Plus McC is a master, he won't waste his powder on some unobjectionable second level cabinet member - he understands that whoever that person is, s/he is much better used as an example of how cooperative the Majority Leader is, if only the Pres & Nancy weren't so intransigent. Or socialist. Or radical.

[beantownbubba]

espite a highly polarised, emotive situation, this hasn't turned violent.

The turnout has been huge. A lot more people are now engaged with politics and can see the value of the vote.

From what I can tell, at this stage most people can see Trump's attempt to stop votes being counted (FFS) for the bullshit it is.

These are bigger positives than they may seem right now. There's light amongst the FUBAR.

#1 is true.

#2 is what a normal person would think but there is no evidence whatsoever that reality, facts, the law trumps the preferred narrative for Trumpists. If they hear that the vote is fraudulent or improper than that's what most will believe, whatever the facts, logic, history, or any other relevant factor.

#3. Even giving you full credit for #2, it's exactly the lack of light that is the problem; let's call it the black hole of American politics (as distinct from the third rail of American politics, let me know if you don't get that reference). Even if we assume that Biden is going to win, there is no getting around the fact that after 4 years of Trumpism in action more than 40% of the American electorate thinks re-electing Trump is the sensible, preferred, best thing to do. And that is a fundamentally fundamental problem that just won't go away. It sucks the light, the optimism, the belief, right out of the system like a black hole and breeds mistrust, cynicism, fear and doubt.

[LBRod]

We are a country that kidnaps children. We are a country that puts babies in cages. We are a country that glories in its corruption and celebrates its ignorance. We are a country that sends anonymous storm troopers to attack peaceful citizens.

That was true before Trump.

[beantownbubba]

We are a country that kidnaps children. We are a country that puts babies in cages. We are a country that glories in its corruption and celebrates its ignorance. We are a country that sends anonymous storm troopers to attack peaceful citizens.

That was true before Trump.

I'll give you babies in cages although the circumstances were different (but still unacceptable). Please explain the others because the references are not obvious to me. If it saves time I will acknowledge that we did have an actual government program to kidnap adults after 9/11 that lasted many years but I am not aware of any such program involving children.

[305 Engine]

espite a highly polarised, emotive situation, this hasn't turned violent.

The turnout has been huge. A lot more people are now engaged with politics and can see the value of the vote.

From what I can tell, at this stage most people can see Trump's attempt to stop votes being counted (FFS) for the bullshit it is.

These are bigger positives than they may seem right now. There's light amongst the FUBAR.

#1 is true.

#2 is what a normal person would think but there is no evidence whatsoever that reality, facts, the law trumps the preferred narrative for Trumpists. If they hear that the vote is fraudulent or improper than that's what most will believe, whatever the facts, logic, history, or any other relevant factor.

#3. Even giving you full credit for #2, it's exactly the lack of light that is the problem; let's call it the black hole of American politics (as distinct from the third rail of American politics, let me know if you don't get that reference). Even if we assume that Biden is going to win, there is no getting around the fact that after 4 years of Trumpism in action more than 40% of the American electorate thinks re-electing Trump is the sensible, preferred, best thing to do. And that is a fundamentally fundamental problem that just won't go away. It sucks the light, the optimism, the belief, right out of the system like a black hole and breeds mistrust, cynicism, fear and doubt.

Understand the reference. To go back to previous posts, the "third rail" of politics is actually another concept quite common around the world!

I fully understand that theres a huge grey area here and huge problems remain. "Trumpism" and crazy populism are going to hang around a while despite losing today. But, I think we can all allow a few moments to enjoy the positives before returning to the fuckery.

[beantownbubba]

I think we can all allow a few moments to enjoy the positives before returning to the fuckery.

Wise words.

[cortez the killer]

Biden's ahead in Nevada and Wisconsin. If that holds, any other of those four states* but North Carolina is a win, and North Carolina, god bless it, would be a tie. Lose Wisconsin or Nevada and any two states would be a win or a tie. Lose both of them and any three states would be a win or a tie.

[bovine knievel]

^^^^
Joe Exotic has put on a few pounds!

[boyyourself]

I personally could use a Biden victory. I'm out of margin for Trump hysteria, and ready for this "pandemic" to end. I've been hearing that'll all happen real quick with a Trump loss. Fingers crossed

[Clams]

Or better yet, consider Montgomery County, home to the Main Line suburbs just outside Philadelphia. In 2016, Montgomery gave Clinton a net of over 93,000 votes over Trump. But as of this Friday morning, the county’s vote stood to give Biden at least 130,000 over Trump.

^^^ from 538.com

That's my county. You're welcome.

[305 Engine]

Thoughts and prayers for Trump.

[phungi]

Or better yet, consider Montgomery County, home to the Main Line suburbs just outside Philadelphia. In 2016, Montgomery gave Clinton a net of over 93,000 votes over Trump. But as of this Friday morning, the county’s vote stood to give Biden at least 130,000 over Trump.

^^^ from 538.com

That's my county. You're welcome.

Clams speaks the truth... this is one seriously motivated cluster of highly educated suburban men and women, who are seriously fed up with quarantining while COVID spreads through the country

[Cole Younger]

I personally could use a Biden victory. I'm out of margin for Trump hysteria, and ready for this "pandemic" to end. I've been hearing that'll all happen real quick with a Trump loss. Fingers crossed

Yeah I’ve been over this Trump derangement stuff for a long time. I’ll be glad if now I don’t have to hear people scream about him constantly but if past is prologue we have a good year of it still. Some people just can not be happy.

[Zip City]

I personally could use a Biden victory. I'm out of margin for Trump hysteria, and ready for this "pandemic" to end. I've been hearing that'll all happen real quick with a Trump loss. Fingers crossed

Yeah I’ve been over this Trump derangement stuff for a long time. I’ll be glad if now I don’t have to hear people scream about him constantly but if past is prologue we have a good year of it still. Some people just can not be happy.

Or, you know, people could have legit gripes with the guy.

[305 Engine]

Trump doesnt seem like the sort to fuck off quietly. So, people sick of hearing his name are probably going to be disappointed for a while.

[Zip City]

Trump doesnt seem like the sort to fuck off quietly. So, people sick of hearing his name are probably going to be disappointed for a while.

I predict that he will hold a MAGA rally somewhere (probably Florida) on inauguration day, and will then do a national tour of MAGA rallies for the next year

[Clams]

[Cole Younger]

I personally could use a Biden victory. I'm out of margin for Trump hysteria, and ready for this "pandemic" to end. I've been hearing that'll all happen real quick with a Trump loss. Fingers crossed

Yeah I’ve been over this Trump derangement stuff for a long time. I’ll be glad if now I don’t have to hear people scream about him constantly but if past is prologue we have a good year of it still. Some people just can not be happy.

Or, you know, people could have legit gripes with the guy.

Oh Lord. Zip you don’t have to try so hard. I didnt say nobody had a legitimate gripe. What I am saying is, after having to see people scream and holler and jump up and down for four years I would be looking forward to that going away now that he’s out. But I feel pretty sure that isn’t going to happen for quite a while. You got what you wanted. Why is that not enough? What would be enough? Do the democrats have to win every election everywhere in this country for things to be ok? I just don’t get letting somebody else or a group of people have so much control over how you feel. If you don’t feel this way then I’m not talking about you. I mean you in a general way rather than you personally.

[Cole Younger]

Trump doesnt seem like the sort to fuck off quietly. So, people sick of hearing his name are probably going to be disappointed for a while.

I predict that he will hold a MAGA rally somewhere (probably Florida) on inauguration day, and will then do a national tour of MAGA rallies for the next year

But why do you care? He’s not going to be the president anymore. So what do you care if he travels around and runs his mouth? You aren’t going to watch it or go to the rallies if he has then so it will be like it isn’t even happening.

[cortez the killer]

This is great!

[boyyourself]

Cole Younger
Re: The Neverending Thread for Political Shit
Report Quote
Unread post Fri Nov 06, 2020 11:13 am

Zip City wrote: ↑
Cole Younger wrote: ↑
boyyourself wrote: ↑
I personally could use a Biden victory. I'm out of margin for Trump hysteria, and ready for this "pandemic" to end. I've been hearing that'll all happen real quick with a Trump loss. Fingers crossed
Yeah I’ve been over this Trump derangement stuff for a long time. I’ll be glad if now I don’t have to hear people scream about him constantly but if past is prologue we have a good year of it still. Some people just can not be happy.
Or, you know, people could have legit gripes with the guy.
Oh Lord. Zip you don’t have to try so hard. I didnt say nobody had a legitimate gripe. What I am saying is, after having to see people scream and holler and jump up and down for four years I would be looking forward to that going away now that he’s out. But I feel pretty sure that isn’t going to happen for quite a while. You got what you wanted. Why is that not enough? What would be enough? Do the democrats have to win every election everywhere in this country for things to be ok? I just don’t get letting somebody else or a group of people have so much control over how you feel. If you don’t feel this way then I’m not talking about you. I mean you in a general way rather than you personally.




I'm all out of margin for giving or receiving a gripe. Especially considering that griping is just another form of inaction. Or, perhaps I need to just gain more tolerance for the sound of perpetual whining.