American Politics Discussion

[Azeem]

16 minutes ago, nudge said:

That's borderline Cold War rhetoric full of demagoguery that is condescending and, frankly, quite insulting to the rest of the world.

Combine this with you're either with us or against us mentality 

[Dr. Gonzo]

12 minutes ago, nudge said:

Yes, superpowers flexing their muscles and using all sorts of influence to dictate the course of events around the globe has been happening for thousands of years and it's part of geopolitics, so I agree with you that it's an inevitable reality, sadly. I can also understand prefering one superpower over another, though as you duly noted in your last paragraph, that's also often questionable. It's not what grinded my gears though. It's the suggestion that the world actually NEEDS the president of the US to assume the role of "the leader of the free world" (lol) in order for the humanity to be saved and prosper, as if the rest of the world were a bunch of peasant hillbillies with no skill, knowledge and competence and needed the guidance of a benevolent figurehead from a glorious superpower to save them all. That's borderline Cold War rhetoric full of demagoguery that is condescending and, frankly, quite insulting to the rest of the world.

I think at this point, America needs to handle its own various issues before dictating anything to the rest of the world.

A pandemic’s epicentre, racial tensions constantly turning violent, and political and religious militias popping up as the country gets more divided... it doesn’t feel like the “leader of the free world,” at least not to the perspective of this English guy living in the US.

[SchalkeUK]

The two party system has not worked for the electorate since the turn of the 20th Century not long after which the Labour (Socialist party) came into being and the Whigs (liberals) were demoted to a third party.  The socialists grew due to the dominance of the Trade Unions and their 'unelected bosses' which is still a great problem for the Labour party as they keep interfering and putting off a lot of voters.  The Main party at present is dominated by what are generally regarded as 'upper class twits' and have no idea of what real life outside the public school system is like.  In power they make decisions and laws and get them passed by using the Parliamentary Whips to ensure their party members do not rebel (at least not too often) and then when they lose power the others simply change everything and it stays like that until they get booted out and the others come back and change it all again which is why the UK economy sometimes struggles and why we joined the Common Market and not the European Union and then voted to leave what we didn't join in the first place.  Boris and Michael are in power at the moment and are the finest liars we have ever had in charge - although Donald is their best example of how to somehow complain about fake news when - in actuality - they are the ones normally making it.  The answer?  Most people realise that voting or not voting changes nothing and we just have to live with it and get on with our lives as best we can - presently I fail to see why Donald raves about the so-called China Plague 'cos it's the best thing that has happened for him and just might give him a chance to get in again whilst Boris bumbles on day to day not knowing what the heck he is doing and blaming it all on the scientists.

I know you didn't actually ask for that, but it is the view from a position of weariness having had to live with these idiots in charge for so long - and please don't get me started about Local Government 'cos that would take weeks to even start and sort it out! Best thing to do?

[6666]

6 hours ago, Eco said:

Did you watch? 

I thought Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. acted well. 

Donald J Trump, 45th US President is a fucking bully and twat of the highest order. I'm not sure when it became socially acceptable to just blab out lie after lie and get away with it. 

Biden was being a regular bullshitting politician that was also interrupting and avoiding staying on topic when Trump actually made decent points about Biden  Difference is that he didn't do it like an uncontrollable mess like Trump.

The main win here for Biden was Trump shooting himself in the foot with his stance on race relations.

Bernie should've won this whole thing but he definitely would've gotten into a shouting match... Tulsi Gabbard would've had both for lunch.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Tulsi Gabbard’s next gig is 100% going to be on Fox News

[Dr. Gonzo]

 

[Harry]

Unbelievable.

As if the 2020 election needed further uncertainty and angst.

If trump truly has Covid, at his age that likely means he has a 15% chance of being dead before the election, and a significantly higher chance of being hospitalised and incapacitated.

It also means Biden will need to isolate and go off the campaign trail and could well be infected himself after being a catching pad for trump spittle for 90 minutes on Tuesday night.

Next level unbelievable shit.

[Harry]

To be honest though I don't know whether to believe it. He's posted it on Twitter where he has a 2% ratio of being honest. 

Am I wearing as tin foil hat here? I dunno. He will now skip the debates, and have the opportunity to either come out before the election claiming Covid is no big deal or alternatively withdraw from the contest he thinks he's likely  to lose and sub in Nikki Haley or pence and create last minute chaos.

Presumably Biden now isolating as a close contact of a confirmed case and at an equal or greater risk if he catches it.

[Stan]

10 minutes ago, Harry said:

To be honest though I don't know whether to believe it. He's posted it on Twitter where he has a 2% ratio of being honest. 

Am I wearing as tin foil hat here? I dunno. He will now skip the debates, and have the opportunity to either come out before the election claiming Covid is no big deal or alternatively withdraw from the contest he thinks he's likely  to lose and sub in Nikki Haley or pence and create last minute chaos.

Presumably Biden now isolating as a close contact of a confirmed case and at an equal or greater risk if he catches it.

Yeah the cynic in me says that he's making it up and it's just a way of going in to the background to think of the next ploy. 

It's definitely a way for him to come out the other side saying he 'beat Covid'. 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Yeah he’s too much of a liar to be taken at face value. I’ll believe it when he’s hooked up to a ventilator 

[The Artful Dodger]

If he comes through this fine, which is statistically still very likely, then be prepared for 'it's just a flu' theories to go into overdrive.

[RandoEFC+]

The excitement over this is absolutely absurd. I have no idea what's actually going on in the UK news-wise today. 8 of the top 9 stories on the Sky News website are about it. Alright, it's a big news story but for fuck's sake get a grip.

[Azeem]

Curious if he pulls out of this because of the disease how will the elections go on ?

[Stan]

Helicopter outside White House, apparently to take Trump to hospital. 

 

[nudge]

2 minutes ago, Stan said:

Helicopter outside White House, apparently to take Trump to hospital. 

 

From what I've read, he's already been taken to the Walter Reed Military medical center.

[Harry]

He's been given experimental antibody cocktails, and being described as expected to stay at Walter Reed for a few days. Thats a concerning development. He could be well attended by doctors in the white house and is not going to be the type to take this step unless it's absolutely necessary.

First reports he was assymptomatic, then mild symptoms, now being described as a moderate case. That has escalated quickly for 18 hours.

 

[Eco]

Wow - it's crazy how fast this has escalated since the debate where he commented on how often (and big?) Biden's face masks wore in a mocking tone, and now here he is, in the hospital with coronavirus. 

Seriously hope he is able to pull through, despite what he says, it's clear he's not the healthiest of people in the world, so I wish him a speedy recovery. Maybe this is awaken all of those supporters who thought this was a hoax and masks was just the first step to America becoming Nazi Germany. 

 

[Stan]

11 minutes ago, Harry said:

First reports he was assymptomatic, then mild symptoms, now being described as a moderate case. That has escalated quickly for 18 hours.

That in itself seems very unusual. 

I hope they're not overcompensating in this elaborate fake news (yes the cynic in me writes that...) 

[Harry]

What a weird News day. Half Trump's inner circle now have Covid. Kellyanne Conway. Two senators.  Talk of the trip to hospital being done early while he could still walk to the chopper.

A mix of well wishes and told you so's from across the world.

And the irony that if this had been Biden hospitalised Trump would already be leading the call for him to exit the presidential race.

[Stan]

26 minutes ago, Harry said:

And the irony that if this had been Biden hospitalised Trump would already be leading the call for him to exit the presidential race.

Thought exactly the same when I watched the news and it mentioned that Biden wished Trump and his family well in recovery. If the shoe is on the other foot there's not a chance in hell Trump is that kind of well-wishing. He'll take the piss like he did to Hilary when she had pneumonia. 

[Bluewolf]

[Harry]

Confusion reigns:

- trump was already being given oxygen at the White house before he left for Walter Reed. Confirmed by multiple sources and outlets.

- there's now well substantiated reporting that trump had been symptomatic before Hope Hicks. This was fuelled by the doctors releasing a timeline of the president's treatment which suggests 72 hr history not 48. Looks like they were hoping to wait and see in hope his case turned out mild. They only disclosed Trump's Covid when it became clear he'd be needing to be admitted to hospital.

- refusal by doctors to share Trump's oxygen levels and temperature, nor will they confirm/deny he's been given dexamethasone. Dexamethasone would suggest he has severe/critical Covid. 

- 3 or 4 senators who were in attendance at the Supreme Court nomination party at the White house now have COVID.

- 11 staffers who traveled for the debate

- Chris Christie, who was one of 6 locked away doing debate prep with Trump now in hospital.

Biden has tested negative but is still in the incubation period. 

Bottom line I would assume trump is a severe case with a bad prognosis. Be careful what you say.

[Stan]

The neglect and disregard for his own entourage/family is just disgusting if Trump was symptomatic before he was out with them for that convention and presidential debate. 

He literally really does only care about himself and no-one else. 

Surprised me he didn't just go up to Biden at the debate and cough in his face knowing he could have passed it on to someone. 

[Harry]

I feel like I'm watching the West wing play play out in real life. You know the episodes where Bartlett's multiple sclerosis plays up, and you see what's happening behind the scenes with them not wanting the public to panic...

However this time is seems like a bunch of meercats have replaced the majority of the president's inner circle and are running interference.

 

[Azeem]