US Politics Thread 2021-24

[em2nought]

I'm afraid of what the democrats and their allies are capable of if faced with losing. I think it's in the realm of possibilities that they do something crazy. Look at this fairytale story of a strong capable leader that they've been repeating over and over again for years with them knowing that it's not true.

I repeat what was so wrong with President Trump's last term? What did he do that was so terrible? No wars, getting started on securing the border, making other nations pony up for their own defense, self sufficient in energy, broke @ss Iran with no money to give to all the terrorists. It just doesn't seem like things were all that bad, except he did spend too much.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by em2nought

I'm afraid of what the democrats and their allies are capable of if faced with losing. I think it's in the realm of possibilities that they do something crazy. Look at this fairytale story of a strong capable leader that they've been repeating over and over again for years with them knowing that it's not true.

I repeat what was so wrong with President Trump's last term? What did he do that was so terrible? No wars, getting started on securing the border, making other nations pony up for their own defense, self sufficient in energy, broke @ss Iran with no money to give to all the terrorists. It just doesn't seem like things were all that bad, except he did spend too much.

It’s the President who submits a proposed annual budget to Congress. Not the other way around. Ultimate approval lies with congress. In fact if the president vetos what congress approved. Congress has the power to force their will on the president. Hence the power of a representative government, we don’t do kings.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Dargo

In countries that have a majority system, after elections, one party is almost always the strongest. That party directly dominates the parliament and the government. As a rule, these countries have only two or three (major) parties. There is a major difference in the kind of government you get with each electoral system.

One like that being the UK and believe me we've had a good number of crap governments. I'd take proportional representation any time.

[mapuc]

Have taken a look in my crystal ball
If Biden is the Dems candidate-Trump will win
If the VP or some other not so old Dems, are their candidate-Dems will win.

This is the truth.

Markus

[Otto Harkaman]

The true nightmare begins
https://nypost.com/2024/06/18/media/...thleen-parker/

[Jimbuna]

I wouldn't have thought so, we're just as bad if not even worse.

Story by Victoria-craw
I’m a Brit in the US – Americans would love to have the UK’s leadership options

IN WASHINGTON – The UK is managing to hold an election in six weeks.

The French will soon have accomplished theirs in just one month.

India, with 969 million voters, wrapped everything up in a mere 44 days.

But here in America, with six weeks to go until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the country’s political pundits are again speculating about replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic Party’s standard-bearer, with not a word about the felon with 34 convictions continuing his run.

For this Brit watching Americans grapple with their utterly woeful election campaign, it’s almost hard to remember Ronald Reagan’s 1989 maxim that the United States was a “shining city on the hill”, a democracy so resilient that it should be emulated by other countries.
“We’re the envy of the rest of the world,” barked Biden during last Thursday’s television debate, an event which – over ninety infantile minutes – served as all the proof you could need that his claim was demonstrable nonsense.

“I had to switch it off,” texted one Democrat-supporting friend. “I am absolutely heartbroken,” wrote another. “That’s literally the only word that adequately describes my feelings.”

For senior figures within the country’s permanent, unelected elite, the debate also served as a way-too-late wakeup call. New York Times columnists Thomas Friedman (also “heartbroken”) and Nick Kristof joined the newspaper’s entire Editorial Board and suddenly cashed-in their Biden chips.

Over at The Washington Post, David Ignatius – the high priest of the city’s commentariat – engaged in his own Roman emperor thumbs-down moment. “Biden’s closest counsellors… have an obligation to be honest with him,” he opined, urging the President to summon “the strength and wisdom to step aside”.

The country is now at a dramatic and foreboding crossroads: some observers think Biden will lose in November, and yet Democrats fret that four months is insufficient time to defenestrate him and present voters with a viable alternative to save American democracy.

If anyone still wonders whether the machinery of America’s electoral process is broken beyond repair, that situation alone makes the case. (Pity, by the way, Vice-President Kamala Harris, largely written off as being a viable successor to the man from whose post she remains a mere heart-beat away).

Other indicators of America’s electoral and political dysfunction also ring clear as a bell. Even before Biden’s performance last week, the country was facing four more months of an underwhelming campaign that – by Election Day on November 5th – will have brought the nation to a governing standstill for an entire year.

I know, I know: the timeline is decreed in black-and-white in the still-revered US Constitution. But can anyone seriously imagine that back in the 1770s, the founding fathers would have supported the proposition that one American year in every four should become totally consumed by electioneering that in 2024 alone is expected to soak up expenditure of more than $10bn (£7.9bn).

That’s right: 10 BILLION bucks, as a former UK Prime Minister might put it, “spaffed up the wall” by presidential, congressional and local candidates all seeking to outspend one another in a never-ending spiral of financial and advertising incontinence. The issue never comes up on the campaign trail, while the cash fuels the most dyspeptic, vacuous political campaign in modern US history.

Biden’s relentless fund-raising efforts even continued during the debate itself, with hilarious, unintended consequences. “Joe is facing off… against Donald Trump right now”, wrote First Lady Jill Biden in a pre-planned e-mail that hit inboxes shortly after its first excruciating half-hour. “Isn’t he making you proud?” the e-mail asked, proving that irony in America is as dead-and-buried as her husband’s electoral chances.

By Friday, Robert DeNiro was getting in on the act. It remains an unexplained facet of Election 2024 that the Biden campaign thinks there are American voters who take their cue from him, but it’s safe to say that the last thing Democratic Party supporters needed the morning after the night before was yet another plea for money from the star of – among other films – Meet the Fockers.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...9f9cffca&ei=16

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Otto Harkaman

The true nightmare begins

There was a sighting, recently she raised her fugly head out of the primordial swamp. Don't think she's not scheming as we type.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I wouldn't have thought so, we're just as bad if not even worse.

Ahh yes a New Zealander living in London writing for a British based paper offering opinion from across the Atlantic presuming too know how I think. It’s comparable to people getting their information from late night comedy shows and Hillary Clinton memes.

That garbage belongs in the U.K. politics thread since the article is directed at you peasants and subjects of the crown and geared towards how you should think about how wonderfully utopian your government is compared to the rest of world. But as your quote implies it appears you know better. Just as I know Victoria-craw is literally talking out of her arse. Because if that crap monarchy of yours came over here again there’ll be another insurrection like you had in 1776.

[Jimbuna]

'That says it all': Democrats rejoice as poll shows most think Biden should keep running


Story by David McAfee

President Joe Biden has faced calls to drop from the 2024 race, but a recent poll showing most Democrats want him to stay put is being celebrated on social media.

Recently, reports have suggested that Biden, who has been criticized for running for a second term despite being in his 80s, has been speaking with family members about whether to bow out. On Sunday, the New York Times reported that Biden's family encouraged him to keep running at the gathering.

The YouGov poll showed that, of registered Democrats, 55% think Biden should keep running, while 45% say he should "step aside."

Former MSNBC personality Keith Olbermann said, "Today's YouGov/CBS Poll: Should Biden stay in the race? YES, 55%-45% Should TRUMP stay in the race? NO, 54-46% That says it all."
He asked, "Any effing questions?"

Journalist Rachel Janfaza added that, "Compared to all other age groups - young voters are the most supportive of a Biden run and the least supportive of a Trump run."

@PrezLives2022 chimed in, "YouGov/CBS poll says Biden should stay in 55/45 while same poll says Trump should drop out 54/46. I’d say Biden is in better shape than Trump at this point. 33 million raised since Thursday….stay strong Team Biden"

@BernBoomer had this interpretation: "YouGov/CBS Poll: Biden should stay in. Trump should drop out."

Others pointed out that the Trump bow out question was asked to registered voters, while the Biden question was posed to Democrats.

The same poll found that 72% of respondents do not believe Biden has the mental and cognitive health to serve as U.S. President for another term, which also prompted celebration from skeptics of Biden.

Conservative Charlie Sykes said, "Dem Xitter is assuring me that this won't be a problem and that we should stop talking about it."

"CBS POLL: ****72 Percent ***** Say Biden doesn't have cognitive health to serve as president," he added.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...3d29b073&ei=20

[Jimbuna]

Trump will be happy with that.

The vote went 6-3 with the justices following party lines as far as I'm aware.

Donald Trump has presidential immunity for official acts while in office, Supreme Court rules

Donald Trump does not have presidential immunity for all acts conducted while in office, the Supreme Court has ruled.

However Trump does have absolute immunity for ‘official acts’ undertaken while in office. What exactly constitutes an official act has not yet been clarified.

The ruling came as the court declined to quash the prosecution of Trump over the January 6 riot but did effectively delay a possible trial until after the election in November, when Trump may sweep back into power.

Part of the ruling, which was written by Chief Justice John Roberts, states: "The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official.

“The President is not above the law. But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts.
“That immunity applies equally to all occupants of the Oval Office."

All three of the court’s liberal justices dissented from the decision, which will be seen as a boon to Trump and his campaign at a time when the former president faces several ongoing legal challenges.

It is likely the decision will cause further delays to the attempted prosecution of Trump over the January 6 riot at the Capitol.

The decision on Monday mean the charges Trump faces will not be dismissed but some actions closely related to his core duties as president may well be found to be off-limits to prosecutors.

Trump’s lawyer conceded in the oral argument in April that at least some of the allegations in the indictment, brought by special prosecutor Jack Smith, concern private conduct that would not be protected by any immunity defense.

Minutes after the decision was released, Trump wrote on social media: "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!"
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...adbba029&ei=13

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Trump will be happy with that.

The vote went 6-3 with the justices following party lines as far as I'm aware.

Hope none of our democrat friends has an aneurysm today.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Trump will be happy with that.

The vote went 6-3 with the justices following party lines as far as I'm aware.

Actually every former, current and future president will be extremely happy with the decision. I couldn’t imagine the ramifications if it was otherwise.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by em2nought

Hope none of our democrat friends has an aneurysm today.

Sorry but I'm not sure what you mean

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Sorry but I'm not sure what you mean

Probably means how the typical Democrat fanboy will find way to twist the decision into something like… Now Trump can in his official capacity send SEAL Team 6 to kill them in their sleep. You should see some of the crap that’s already hitting the headlines now.

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Sorry but I'm not sure what you mean

I mean this decision will make their heads explode in anger.

AOC is calling for impeachment of the court.