US Politics 2

OrangeRKN wrote:Exactly the same arguments were made against sanders last time. He's the best candidate, who galvanises the most impassioned support, and he stands a good chance

Exactly. Current state and national polling puts Sanders at least equal to anyone else to beat Trump, if not potentially being best placed.

Sanders likely path to victory is to win back North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, with Florida and maybe Ohio going either way. There's even a halfway decent chance Texas might flip under Sanders but that's probably a longshot.



Biden (still the 'best' and certainly most popular centrist) would at this point have pretty much the same path but potentially with a better chance to win Florida and Ohio.



The real difference between Sanders and a centrist would probably be the effect on the senate and representative races, something I don't know much about and haven't really seen anyone analyse. Arguably Sanders broader appeal across minorities and general appeal as second choice might get those who didn't vote in 2016 back out, but I guess there's also the chance he wins the White House and leaves the Democrats losing both houses again.

Meep wrote:There is tremendous upside to Sanders winning and very little downside. Even if he did not win the presidential election, so what? There is going to be little material difference in the long term between another Trump victory and an establishment Democrat victory. Either way it would be the continuation of oligarchical corporate interests for the next decade or so. On the other hand, he might very well win the presidency, in which case thousands of lives are saved through the provision of universal healthcare and, a long overdue offensive against corruption within US politics and an end to western imperialist ventures overseas.

What? What's the upside to Sanders losing the general election against Trump? And yes, there is an obvious material difference between Trump and a shitty Democratic centrist.

Trump literally locks kids up without access to basic cleaning products, splitting from their families which is causing long term long term physiological damage to them. I think even Bloomberg would stop that so there is a league of difference between the worst of the democratic options and Trump.

That said I'd probably prefer someone like Sanders. I think there is a chance that when it came down to it though a lot of people would be turned off by the press constantly calling him a socialist. If I was a Yank I'd probably hedge my bets and back Warren. Also as a more 'establishment' Democrat I think she'd have an easier time getting stuff done.

Lex-Man wrote:Trump literally locks kids up without access to basic cleaning products, splitting from their families which is causing long term long term physiological damage to them. I think even Bloomberg would stop that so there is a league of difference between the worst of the democratic options and Trump.

That said I'd probably prefer someone like Sanders. I think there is a chance that when it came down to it though a lot of people would be turned off by the press constantly calling him a socialist. If I was a Yank I'd probably hedge my bets and back Warren. Also as a more 'establishment' Democrat I think she'd have an easier time getting stuff done.

For some unknown reason it doesn't matter how evil a Republican President is or how many well liked programs they cut to the bone they've brainwashed people into voting for them.
The US was supposed to be all about not having Kings but if they carry on they'll have a society where a few ultra rich will run everything and have all the power while all the rest of the people scramble for the crumbs and the people who voted for exactly that will claim that asking that rich elite few to pay more tax is socialism. The Republicans have turned so far right it's beyond comedy and they claim anyone whose solidly in the middle or just a moderate Republican is a loony Leftist who automatically wants to turn the country into Venezuela.

One thing I do feel ultra strongly about is that everyone over the voting age should be allowed to vote. Nobody should be disenfranchised even if they all decide to vote for people I hate, it's 1 person 1 vote. Yes, I do also mean everyone in prison and people who've served time get to vote.

twitter.com/politvidchannel/status/1230571858941988864

twitter.com/NYBackpacker/status/1228518467776761856

Awful classism.

And he wants to win an election.

Sounds like a Trump quote

Completely out of touch

twitter.com/baddiel/status/1230801074757435398

Baddiel makes a good point, but Channel 4 make the same error.

The guy really has no filter between his brain and his mouth.
I'm unsure why he's outraged that a film made in a country where English isn't a first language is best film of the year.

Peter Crisp wrote:The guy really has no filter between his brain and his mouth.
I'm unsure why he's outraged that a film made in a country where English isn't a first language is best film of the year.

In his head, all the films he's ever seen are made in Hollywood so that must be the only place where good films are made and therefore cinema is "an American thing". Can't be sharing any of that American exceptionalism with the rest of us, heavens no!

Preezy wrote:

Peter Crisp wrote:The guy really has no filter between his brain and his mouth.
I'm unsure why he's outraged that a film made in a country where English isn't a first language is best film of the year.

In his head, all the films he's ever seen are made in Hollywood so that must be the only place where good films are made and therefore cinema is "an American thing". Can't be sharing any of that American exceptionalism with the rest of us, heavens no!

I wonder how he reconciles the Bond films love of the British flag and major use of London?
Maybe he thinks he's a US spy who just happens to regularly holiday here?

Gonna have to call this the Trump cycle. Bad news comes out, talk shite about something to get everyone's attention away from the bad thing.

Gonna have to call this the Trump cycle. Bad news comes out, talk shite about something to get everyone's attention away from the bad thing.

Guys I think we're gonna have to call this the Squinty cycle. Bad news comes out, post twice about something to get everyone's attention away from the bad thing.

My hot take, the Oscars don't deserve to select Parasite as the best movie, Parasite is too good for the Oscars.

Also the Oscars are film awards based around what's been shown in LA not the whole of the US, so only films made in that exact geographic location should be eligible.

Memento Mori wrote:

BID0 wrote:

Preezy wrote:As much as I would love Sanders to win, he is the ideal candidate for Trump to run against. Trump would love to run against him and use the classic "he's a socialist" scare tactics which his base and wavering centrists would eat up, whereas running against Bloomberg would be more difficult, as he's basically a diet Republican.

It must have been around this time last year Bernie did a FOX news town hall in republican safe territory and he had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. There's a lot of overlap with what Trump's America first/drain the swamp narrative that those people voted for. Those people won't be voting for Bloomberg.

Is there a lot of overlap or did Bernie's campaign just get a load of his supporters to attend that town hall?

Sorry I just saw this.

I'm not sure how the crowd were picked, but given that it was put on by FOX news I'd say it was mostly hardcore Republican's in the crowd. From my memory the hosts were desperate to topic change whenever Bernie successfully answered their questions and had the crowd on side based on his answers and the narrative he was telling.

I've tried to find the entire segment that I watched on YouTube last year but the only things that seem to come up are clips from shows like the young turks which will probably end up being biased towards Bernie. It was a good watch though if you're able to come across the full version or from a YouTube channel that isn't far left.

EDIT: google gave me the video first time. Damn Edge brower with Bing




It turns out it was in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania so not as Republican as I thought

The BestPlaces Liberal/Conservative Index
Bethlehem, PA is Leaning liberal

https://www.bestplaces.net/voting/city/ ... /bethlehem

twitter.com/ewarren/status/1230703733551403009

Preezy wrote:Guys I think we're gonna have to call this the Squinty cycle. Bad news comes out, post twice about something to get everyone's attention away from the bad thing.

Excellent

Dick Van Dyke has endorsed Bernie. Which is nice, but cockneys can’t vote in the US.

Moggy wrote:Dick Van Dyke has endorsed Bernie. Which is nice, but cockneys can’t vote in the US.

I'm sure Mary Poppins could sort something out.

It's caucus/primary day in Nevada.

twitter.com/NateSilver538/status/1231107149582848001