***Official Political Discussion Thread***

[WASHED KING]

Already this morning, white female coworker from Buffalo.

"I don't want to hear anything about a hurricane. Next time it happens, I will say look at 2024. I'm applying for grad programs in Europe. I'm out of here."

Hope folks are moving wisely at work. I get the frustration but move wisely folks.

It's extremely hard as a teacher today. I'm not discussing any politics, not joking laughing or smiling with anyone today, giving my students a test and a video assignment and sitting down to grade, eating lunch in my room with the door shut.

Leaving work at exactly 3:55 when that bell rings. No one is getting me today.

 

[worldbeefreeg]

There is a global push toward fascism currently that goes far beyond the U.S., that's what people seemingly across the globe seem to be choosing. There is only one path toward recapturing people and bringing them toward the left (the same left that seemed to an oncoming juggernaut when Obama was elected in 200 and it doesn't involve consistent pandering toward an ever-shrinking center as the Dems have chosen to do.

 

[dacomeup]

These appeals to moderates and moving off of popular progressive policies just isn’t smart. Campaign on popular positions and show people that you’ll fight for them. The Left will inevitably take the blame for this though, but Kamala trumpeted Liz Cheney endorsements and reaching across the aisle to no avail.

 

[frshstunna]

Wish folks could save the think pieces, and trouble shooting of what the Dems did wrong instead of keeping it a 100 and addressing what really happened…She took an L to the old white dude, 2nd time it happened so it’s enough to show a pattern

No policy, talk to folks nice, and other bs …The country told us multiple times the type of person they want to see in charge…Gottta forget the Obama blip and see America for what it is and always has been

I’m glad my state is gucci for now with the ppl we have in charge and how voters make decisions here…Nothing really else to say or do so I’m just gon sit back and see what happens…Good luck to yall trying to analyze all of this and keep up with the upcoming political shenanigans and media coverage

 

[8pm at msg]

The key here is to still carve out your own principled policy positions and vision of the country or else you run the risk of falling into the time honored centrist fallacy of running instead as a republican-lite to appeal to the other side when we see it proven time and time again that Republican leaning voters will under no circumstances, ever vote for the half version over the genuine article.

The Obama-era coalition was a mirage that barely lasted half a cycle, gotta adapt to the current reality of the electorate.

Better off running on economic populism from the side of the other side of ideological spectrum that you're supposed to represent. Replicate their campaign strategy and message/line discipline but not the actual politics since you're supposed to be a credible alternative, not a polite version of the same thing they're already being offered.

Rehabilitating all the Bush-era neocons and ghouls led to absolutely zero gains and an actual decrease in Republican leaning voters voting Democrat from '20. That entire 'we love a strong republican party'/West Wing bi-partisan governing pipe dream line of thinking needs to be dead and buried for good of the Democrats. That's become a proven losing strategy multiple times.

Why not switch things up instead of doubling down into the abyss?

I really wouldn't argue any of what you're saying in a normal setting. This would be a great way to for Democrats to re-establish themselves.

The thing is an extremist is currently in office. And I honestly don't trust society to smarten the hell up and make the right decision even when presented with an alternative like you've suggested because it's clearly that sense of belonging to upper tier of the caste that appeals to them.

 

[rolaholic]

Hopefully Agent Orange just has a massive stroke. Only downside is JD Vance is mext in line.

That's a terrifying proposition in and of itself unfortunately but there's a very high chance we see him in charge at some point these next 4 years

 

[Davey Magoo]

Name calling and talking down on fellow Americans like they're inferior because they didn't vote like you is not the way guys.. I didn't vote for him but he won and I respect whoever is running the show as I'm still an American at the end of the day and don't want the country to fail. America has spoken and they made it clear who they want to lead the country, let's stop the doom and gloom and just hope that he can right the ship.

Did you see some of Trump’s commercials?

They were some of the most blatantly racist, xenophobic fear mongering pieces of gaslighting propaganda that you will ever see on television…ever.

He won because there are tens of millions of people who support that kind of ideological garbage.

How do you find common ground with people like that?

Right the ship?

He damn near sparked an insurrection on his way out the door last time.

What do you think he’s gonna do this time?

 

[Brownstone]

Economy needs to be replaced as an issue topic with Pricing. Voters conflate the two constantly, and have for decades.

There is enough blame to go around but even the most MAGA republicans that I know acknowledged the economy was strong.

Dems dropped the ball on immigration, plain and simple.

 

[UsualSuspects]

Liberal tears are flowing this morning

 

[cedric ceballos]

I never said anything about Trump winning on policy. You gotta start looking at why the Democrats are losing more and more support.

That’s definitely a conversation they need to have internally. They’re never going to win over your hardcore conservative/hardcore Trump supporter. And that’s ok.

But a lot of the on the fence voters and casual voters who voted Republican this year. And even those who lean right but aren’t hardcore conservatives etc. Those are all potential votes that are in play with an effective well rounded campaign.

 

[brownsuga1]

Economy needs to be replaced as an issue topic with Pricing. Voters conflate the two constantly, and have for decades.

There is enough blame to go around but even the most MAGA republicans that I know acknowledged the economy was strong.

Dems dropped the ball on immigration, plain and simple.

This man gets it. Best response I've seen in this thread

 

[Cashflow]

 

[worldbeefreeg]

Hopefully Agent Orange just has a massive stroke. Only downside is JD Vance is mext in line.

Vance would be far worse.

The best hope is we get Trump from 2016. The guy who has little ability to stay focused in meetings, high cabinet turnover, little legislation actually passed and someone who has no loyalty to the ghouls in his party/cabinet and constantly turns them against each other.

Trump isn't the one to really fear. It's Musk, Tom Cotton, Stephen Miller etc. Unfortunately Trump seems older and slower now and I'm not sure he'll push back against these guys as much. I expect him to be less involved and more deferential and that's what scarier to be honest.

 

[Kierris]

He literally just won after doing this for the past 8 years.

Yes... What point are you making? The other side does something and you follow suit? Both your responses so far have been bu bu but what about them... Which has nothing to do with my point as I'm not Republican and I'm not making an argument for why any side is better.

 

[allergic2broke]

I hate to say it but dude took the shot and missed. Crazy to look back now, maybe that was staged.

 

[frshstunna]

I never said anything about Trump winning on policy. You gotta start looking at why the Democrats are losing more and more support.

You said focus on policy and I’m telling you that’s what none of this election was about …that’s not why they are losing support

 

[Cashflow]

The internet has done so much irreversible harm to society.

Social media has amplified people being contrarians just for the reaction that comes with it.

 

[maq25060]

This isn’t cheering for a sports team. He told us what he plans to do. Why do we have to “hope he can right the ship”?

Because you live here? Are we just supposed to chicken little the situation? Or should we try to live in peace and hope for the best?

 

[Davey Magoo]

Trump posted an ad on Twitter of an illegal immigrant holding a knife in a dark tunnel, about to rape a woman (presumably a white woman).

…think about that.

 

[keko jones]

If Trump delivers on key promises, it could significantly solidify the Republicans position for another term. It’s important for any political party or candidate to start laying solid groundwork early, ensuring they can respond effectively to issues that resonate with voters. If not is a wrap!

 

[nonnative]

Ive said this before but I'll say it again. People rightfully laugh and ridicule Russia for floundering so bad in Ukraine but what Putin was able to do in 2014-2016 with nothing but a bunch of computers is the greatest military victory in history.

Without firing a single bullet, he was able to put his greatest enemy in his pocket.

 

[dacomeup]

Yes... What point are you making? The other side does something and you follow suit? Both your responses so far have been bu bu but what about them... Which has nothing to do with my point as I'm not Republican and I'm not making an argument for why any side is better.

The question here is what point are you making? You’re telling people not to behave in a way that the twice elected President has done and won 2 elections based off of. It’s not a what about them. It’s just obvious that you’re missing that this does appeal to a large part of the electorate. So you taking umbrage at this and telling people to “keep hope” is moronic.

Thought you said “yall got it it” though, so no need to respond.

 

[elpablo21]

That’s definitely a conversation they need to have internally. They’re never going to win over your hardcore conservative/hardcore Trump supporter. And that’s ok.

But a lot of the on the fence voters and casual voters who voted Republican this year. And even those who lean right but aren’t hardcore conservatives etc. Those are all potential votes that are in play with an effective well rounded campaign

She was literally out there on the trail with "Those who lean right and aren't hardcore conservatives"

And it got her NOTHING.

What is the point to keep moving center if the center just keeps moving right?

Is it even the center anymore? Those times are dead man

 

[rolaholic]

I really wouldn't argue any of what you're saying in a normal setting. This would be a great way to for Democrats to re-establish themselves.

The thing is an extremist is currently in office. And I honestly don't trust society to smarten the hell up and make the right decision even when presented with an alternative like you've suggested because it's clearly that sense of belonging to upper tier of the caste that appeals to them.

You're very much spot on about the class/caste component.

So much of the country vote like they're temporarily embarrassed millionaires rather than working class.

The contradiction shines through when they're looking down on the so called 'coastal elites' while championing a foundational coastal elite like Trump .

They all secretly want to be them and think that he's their golden ticket to joining the club when the members of the club wouldn't piss on any of them if they were on fire let alone let them in .

There's 100% that aspect, there's also an aspect of a large swathe of folks genuinely voting out of spite and loving to tell everyone all about it.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Welp, this sucks.

Real quick, I haven't been around not because I don't want to. Life been tough for the last 6 months. Dealing with health issues, mom dealing with other health issues, lost a close friend, girlfriend got in a bad crash and been taking care of her, been traveling to Saint Lucia because my grandma is finally starting to slip mentally and I want to spend as much time with her while she remembers me.

I wish I were making all this **** up. All this happened so close together I logged outta NT one day when I was trading in my phone and really never had the time or interest to log back in. I don't really know when or if I will post actively again.

Anyway, regarding the election. It was better I wasn't around because I was sure Trump was gonna win.

Really by no fault of Harris, all things she ran a great campaign.

But like I was a while ago, Trump had a major advantage in that people are really upset about inflation and immigration. But the unfortunate thing is that they don't understand both, and worse don't understand what policies can get the outcomes they desire.

We see this happening all over the work. Where incumbent parties are taking major loses because people are pissed about those two things.

I still found time to do campaign work, and I saw this over and over. People just think Trump has some magic in these areas. Even though when we pulled people, they prefer Harris's policies, and had a more favorable view of her personally.

People are gonna focus on the culture war stuff, there will be a lot of finger pointing but I would suggest people wait until next spring more thorough analysis comes out on who broke where and for what reason. There will be some really nasty reasons too, but hey, a lot of voters are petty and irrational people too.

Anyway, hope everyone and their families and safe and healthy.

Because and America and the world are in serious trouble.

When stuff gets better on my end, I'll be back around.