The American Politics Thread

Easy Money wrote: I wouldn't worry about sleepy joe, his political career is a setting sun (son?) and I seriously doubt he will be getting the nomination for anything but a retirement home.

The Dark Elf wrote: The F.B.I. arrested the two men, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who are also important witnesses in the House’s impeachment inquiry, as they were trying to board a Frankfurt-bound flight with one-way tickets on Wednesday night at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/10/us/politics/lev-parnas-igor-fruman-arrested-giuliani.html I am wondering how many associates of Trump and/or Trump Associates like Giuliani, that have Russian associations and/or were born in Russia or the Ukraine, or like Manafort, are actually sent to prison for illegal dealings in the Ukraine, have to be arrested and/or indicted before the blind and/or evidently stupid supporters of Trump finally acquiesce and/or sullenly agree that Trump and/or his associates are criminals?  "One-way tickets" out of the country? Illegally funneling money to Trump's Campaign? Opened doors to Ukrainian politicians for Giuliani, and by extension Trump? But...but...but...Biden. But...but...but...Hillary. But...but...but...Obama. Indictments. Arrests. Guilty pleas. All Trump associates. Hundreds. And Bill Clinton was impeached for just a blow-job. Yet we're still having a discussion about impeachment here?

 

Edited by SteveG - October 12 2019 at 11:29

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Populist political movements are sweeping the world right now. Liberals just need to "Get Over It!"

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall – think of it, always.”- M. Gandhi. 

"I want to see Trump debate Biden"

If you want to see old men argue about a world that has left them far behind you could always go down to Houston and visit the place where my parents are staying.

Coal mining, record players, beauty pageants, comb overs, Normandy ... watch history come alive!   ...and you girls best watch out for those wandering hands ..boys will be boys you know.   

Easy Money wrote: "I want to see Trump debate Biden" If you want to see old men argue about a world that has left them far behind you could always go down to Houston and visit the place where my parents are staying. Coal mining, record players, beauty pageants, comb overs, Normandy ... watch history come alive!   ...and you girls best watch out for those wandering hands ..boys will be boys you know.

I'd much rather see Pete Buttigieg debate with Donald Trump (could be done as an Intelligence Squared US debate).

Edited by Logan - October 11 2019 at 10:49

Snicolette wrote: Logan wrote:   I'd much rather see Pete Buttigieg debate with Donald Trump (could be done as an Intelligence Squared US debate). That would be something, eh?

It would, and could be very frustrating too.

As American Squared {edit, I mean Intelligence Squared} US writes, "Let's restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse." Or as Neil deGrasse Tyson rather glibly said, "Let's Make America Smart Again." To me a good debate isn't so much about having winners and losers, it's about having rational points, and interesting perspectives, made by both sides done in the spirit of honesty, charity (the principle of charity being an important component in much formal debate), and inquiry. Too much so-called debate deals in straw-manning, rather than steel-manning the opponents' arguments. I do tend to prefer dialectic to debate per se.

Something like "Is Hillary planning to run for President again in 2020!?? ............ I sincerely hope so. I'd like to see her humiliated again by losing the election for a third time in a row" goes against my values. I'd rather see people up against each other that I respect, and the best, most thoughtful and most respectable candidates by my reckoning from all parties.

Edited by Logan - October 11 2019 at 22:21

Snicolette wrote: I was just thinking in terms of how erudite Buttigieg is vs....well, you know.

So was I when I posted it, actually. But I wanted to bring it to a broader philosophical point. It would be an interesting contrast. I wonder what the Vegas odds would be on Trump "winning" the debate with the audience?

Edited by Logan - October 11 2019 at 12:59

Trump may have more say in Vegas, which may skew things, but I think that the Intelligence Squared audiences are commonly quite erudite themselves. I didn't hear that town hall. Would love to hear that debate with Warren, and will seek it out. Glad you brought that up. Thanks.

Logan wrote: Trump may have more say in Vegas, which may skew things, but I think that the Intelligence Squared audiences are commonly quite erudite themselves. I didn't hear that town hall. Would love to hear that debate with Warren, and will seek it out. Glad you brought that up. Thanks.

Yes, we've seen what happens when people are surrounded by toadys.  Or is that toadies?  Anyway, you get my drift.  It's never conducive, in politics, business or the arts, for that matter.