[johnu]

 thepossum, on 2024-June-23, 08:00, said:

My memory seems to think of something like Christian America being swamped by Christians who need to be stopped followed by loud cheering

What the hidden subtitles would have said is:
"Fake christian America being swamped by brown people who don't speak English who need to be stopped followed by loud cheering"

[Winstonm]

I read on another site the claim that Trump is destroying the GOP. I disagree. He is rebranding it. This is frightening. His appeal is spectacle, escapism. Want to know his base? Look no further than the crowds at Nascar events, pro-wrestling fans,, and NFL football fans. Mix in the welcome to anyone with a gripe and you have the perfect mix for a demagogue.

[thepossum]

 johnu, on 2024-June-24, 02:15, said:

What the hidden subtitles would have said is:
"Fake christian America being swamped by brown people who don't speak English who need to be stopped followed by loud cheering"

It crossed my mind that Christian means something else - who am I to say. Loud cheers

[pilowsky]

War is common and so are elections, but is there any causal relationship?
Carter's loss, despite incumbency, is often associated with a broken helicopter in the Iranian desert.
Do autocrats like Trump so much that Russia would invade Ukraine, Iran set fire to the middle east and China attempt a naval blockade of a tiny island in the Phillipines?
Or are they just flexing in the new multipolar world?

[Winstonm]

 pilowsky, on 2024-June-27, 18:20, said:

War is common and so are elections, but is there any causal relationship?
Carter's loss, despite incumbency, is often associated with a broken helicopter in the Iranian desert.
Do autocrats like Trump so much that Russia would invade Ukraine, Iran set fire to the middle east and China attempt a naval blockade of a tiny island in the Phillipines?
Or are they just flexing in the new multipolar world?

The super wealthy see themselves as world citizens. Countries are insignificant.

[pilowsky]

When asked about his response to the fentanyl crisis Trump said "I bought an incredible dog".

[shyams]

I am no law expert (or even a lawyer type) but, to me, it seems like the United States Supreme Court has been systematically destroying the abilities of administrative functions to do their job. Numerous opinions over the past few years have gone in favour of Private Sector corporations that sue a (/any) Regulatory body on interpretation/application of rules & laws.

This is not good, especially considering that the Pvt sector in the USA has far fewer restrictions than (say) the EU.

Large US multinationals corporations that operate in the EU market comply with the (stringent) EU regulatory framework. These same companies then go about defying/challenging the (relatively modest) US regulatory framework when serving in the domestic market.

[foobar]

Call me pessimistic or what you will, but after last night, the US elections can only go one way, barring a deus ex machina, or a change in the Democratic ticket.

[kenberg]

 foobar, on 2024-June-28, 15:39, said:

Call me pessimistic or what you will, but after last night, the US elections can only go one way, barring a deus ex machina, or a change in the Democratic ticket.

With much regret, I believe you are right.

The problem was never age, not exactly. I am 85 and this summer I decided to hire someone to mow the lawn. When my father was 85 he had been dead for eight years. Aging problems vary. The debate brought the problem out clearly. Biden has trouble focusing, he loses track of what he is saying, he mixes up words. It's a problem that is associated with age but the debate made it clear that for Biden the problem has arrived, age be damned. It's a problem that usually gets worse, a second term would end in January of 2029, are we up for that? If it is still Biden versus Trump in November I will be voting for Biden, but that just shows what I think of the other choice. I saw (I forget where) some comments from preveviously undecided voters and one guy said someting on the order of "If I have to choose between a lying scumbag and a guy who has lost his abilities I'll take the lying scumbag". Well, I'll stick with the guy who has lost it but I doub that we are a majority.

[pescetom]

I have never been keen on the existence of a non-bridge forum, let alone the need to debate the politics of another country... but with respect and gratitude to Biden it seems to me important that the democrats quickly find a more vital and convincing candidate.

[pilowsky]

When neither candidate is suitable America needs to re-advertise.

[thepossum]

It's a decision for the people of the USA but they are kind of powerful - some of us even have alliances with the USA - sorry, more correctly, my country is in alliance with them. I do try to avoid opinions one way or the other. Just occasionally ask questions

Is this forum not something of a relaxing space compared to the Bridge forums

[kenberg]

 thepossum, on 2024-June-29, 18:37, said:

It's a decision for the people of the USA but they are kind of powerful - some of us even have alliances with the USA - sorry, more correctly, my country is in alliance with them. I do try to avoid opinions one way or the other. Just occasionally ask questions

Is this forum not something of a relaxing space compared to the Bridge forums

Right. Politcal comments are easy. Playing a bridge hand, now that requires some serious thought.

[smerriman]

Perhaps I'm eternally optimistic, but if there ever was a politician who would stop spending all of their time talking about how awful the alternative was, and instead just be a bit positive - perhaps even recognising that some things the opposition did were beneficial for the country - then I would almost surely vote for them, no matter what party they were from. Sadly, even in NZ, this doesn't really exist (though far less dramatic compared to USA..)

[shyams]

 smerriman, on 2024-June-29, 21:14, said:

Perhaps I'm eternally optimistic, but if there ever was a politician who would stop spending all of their time talking about how awful the alternative was, and instead just be a bit positive - perhaps even recognising that some things the opposition did were beneficial for the country - then I would almost surely vote for them, no matter what party they were from. Sadly, even in NZ, this doesn't really exist (though far less dramatic compared to USA..)

Well said.

I find it infuriating that, during debates or speeches, politicians in many nations

A. do not focus on policies, actions, and (for want of a better phrase) "national philosophy";
B. do not explain why things will be better under their rule (positive) and instead focus exclusively on how things will be worse under the opponent (negative)
C. despite not doing A. or B. above, make it pretty obvious to the audience that it is the voters' obligation to vote for them... even when politicians offer nothing in return.

 kenberg, on 2024-June-29, 06:54, said:

I saw (I forget where) some comments from preveviously undecided voters and one guy said someting on the order of "If I have to choose between a lying scumbag and a guy who has lost his abilities I'll take the lying scumbag"

I wouldn't be surprised if numerous US voters hold their noses and vote for the (insanely sleazy) candidate using this argument.

[thepossum]

I thought remarkable that both accused the other of being the "worst President in history". Quite a competition to contemplate

[Winstonm]

It is not Trump himself who is most distrubing but all the scum he brings with him, i.e., Bannon, Miller, Kushner, Proud Boys, etc.

[kenberg]

I have been thinking. Perhaps there is an opportunity here. Biden had not been doing all that great before the debate, and now it is worse. Biden has the best interests of the country at heart. But.

Maybe we could have a diverse group of respected Democratic leaders meet with him and lay it on the line: It's time to go. I know he has said he will stay in, but I think he can, with the help of people he respects, recognize truth when he sees it.

Then who? Of course I don't know. But just to pick a name maybe Gretchen Whitmer.

I can imagine a large sigh of relief from many voters, basically saying "Thank you, we can now vote for her, rather than just vote aganist Trump".

I am no expert on Whitmer, but she has experience, she is intelligent, she has a good record. I think we want someone who could put across a message along the lines of "Look, I will not be a Biden clone, but I do think Biden has done many good things. I will now go into detail about my thoughts".

People have been fretting about the choices. This could be a turn-around.

[hrothgar]

Few comments here

1. I agree that Biden's performance was disastrous on multiple levels. In particular, the optics were atrocious. If you read the transcript, Biden are some clear gaffes, but he did a whole lot better than Trump. However, TV is a visual medium and Biden looked old, weak, and feeble. He goal for this debate was to put these concerns to rest.

2. I have long claimed that the Democratic primary provided an option to go with Biden, but it should not be viewed as a necessity. Quite honestly, I think that Biden has been a great president and I think that the Biden administration could do a great job over the next four years. But, after last night I don't think that he is the best candidate.

3. A convention floor fight would be disastrous. Replacing Biden (and Harris) requires a whole lot of grace and maturity fro those two candidates

4. Personally, I'd like to see the democrats go with Whiter / Shapiro or Whitmer / Warnock

5. Regardless of what happens, the Democrats need to make Trump radioactive. The nextnfew months needs to be scorched earth attacks on multiple front

Rape
Fraud
Sedition
Conspiracy

hammer abortion constantly
have a never ending stream of True administration officials coming out and explain that he's a mouth breathing idioct

Any time that someone see's Trump, their first thoughts needs to be

He steals from charities
He rapes women
He tried to over thrown American democracy
The First Lady worked as a whore

[Al Phalpha]

I am compelled to ask: Assuming Biden is re-elected and subsequently becomes totally incapacitated, are you guys content with Kamala Harris as POTUS?