US General Election Thread IV: The Beginning of the End

[The Romulan Republic]

Remember that its only been a couple days since the scandal to end all scandals broke. Probably not a lot of new polls have been done since then.

We should start to see a drop off next week at the latest.

If not, God help us all.

Tonight's debate, I believe, will likely have a negible effect on polls. I can't see Trump bouncing back, the scandal destroyed him.

Oh, I think the debate will have an effect: it'll send him even further down.

Or maybe not. Maybe everyone with a shred of shame, decency, or reason has jumped ship already, and only the hard core deplorable who will never abandon him are left.

[Major-Tom]

pussygate?

Isn't that redundant?

Jesus people, I was being slightly lighthearted but I asked a serious question all in all.

[Galloism]

I wonder if we'll get to hear on this debate something we've never heard from Donald Trump:

"Let's get back to the issues affecting America", or words to that effect.

[Gauthier]

I'm torn, what to watch, Packers or Hillary beating the shit out of trump, hmm Packers I wont have to hear the word pussy.

Oh shit I wouldn't miss this.

I know this is going to be must see television.

If this was a movie everyone would watch Trump screaming his head off before drawing a gun and aiming at Hillary.

[Ebliania]

I'm torn, what to watch, Packers or Hillary beating the shit out of trump, hmm Packers I wont have to hear the word pussy.

Drink every time someone says this.

For greater effect use the worst beer you can buy.

[Ashmoria]

Assuming the accusers are right she would basically be defending a criminal.

I thought Bill's sexual escapades where consensual.

some were consensual. some were crude come-ons. at least one was "wait a minute I don't think I consented to that"

[Valaran]

As long as such a system lets me in, I'll be all for it

On a serious point, sure, but I'm not sure how practical it might be. I'd argue that the best way to reduce migration is to simply encourage development within the home nations - that's arguably much more achievable in central-southern America than it is in the ME.

I agree that we should be going with which ever alternative provides the best chance of success. I'm sure if we were really serious about solving the problem, Uncle Sam could cook up some studies. I'd make my final choice of selection from those.

This might be where my moral stance conflicts. While I do view some of the issues immigration causes to be in need of policy solutions, and am aware of the political backlash it may create, I don't see it as a problem per se.

So, ideally, I'd encourage development in said nations and encourage high-value immigration, but also not mind the current levels of 'general' immigration. I'd probably accept the solution of prioritising high value migration as a compromise for amnesty and that stuff.

[Ifreann]

gods pls no

Legit thought nothing of that when I typed it, I had no idea it was going to get a single reaction cause it seemed so like benign and normal.

The -gate suffix for scandals is basically the worst thing ever, but somehow you've plumbed new and terrible depths. I bite my thumb at you.

[Farnhamia]

I'm torn, what to watch, Packers or Hillary beating the shit out of trump, hmm Packers I wont have to hear the word pussy.

Oh shit I wouldn't miss this.

I know this is going to be must see television.

Superbowl LXIX drew 114 million. The series finale of M*A*S*H drew 125 million.

[Tezeria]

I'm torn, what to watch, Packers or Hillary beating the shit out of trump, hmm Packers I wont have to hear the word pussy.

Oh shit I wouldn't miss this.

I know this is going to be must see television.

I would rather put forks in my eyes, pop them out of their sockets, and eat them like pickled onions than watch the debate. I value my sanity.

[Neutraligon]

How long ago did the questions for the debate get decided?

[New West Guiana]

Are people actually calling it that? Please tell me your joking.

Adding gate to these sort of things is so stupid; let's add water to the beginning instead.

Trumps cat got your tongue moment.

[Alien Space Bats]

Having consensual sex with someone you're not married to is not even remotely in the same league as sexual assault.

To be fair, Bill Clinton's record is every bit as disgusting as Donald Trump's (with the exception of the Howard Stern interviews; at least Bill had the decency to not boast about being a creep while on live radio). That's really not the issue.

The question is whether it's worse to be:

1. A disgusting, groping creep or...
   
   
2. The wife of a disgusting, groping creep, when said wife actively defends said disgusting groping creep, including by maligning the women that said disgusting, groping creep has groped.

Trump is hoping that it's the latter, combined with the apparent hypocrisy of Hillary attacking HIM for stuff Bill has done WITHOUT attacking her husband as well; and then, too, he's hoping to attack the entire idea that we should judge disgusting, groping creeps the way we do because such judgement constitutes "political correctness", and "political correctness" oppresses white males.

Personally, I think he's going to nuke himself. But the fallout will certainly be carried far and wide.

[Ebliania]

How long ago did the questions for the debate get decided?

Clinton obviously put her shills in the audience

[The Romulan Republic]

Oh shit I wouldn't miss this.

I know this is going to be must see television.

If this was a movie everyone would watch Trump screaming his head off before drawing a gun and aiming at Hillary.

Considering that political violence is a very real concern, particularly in this election, that's not really funny.

And... I can actually almost see Trump doing that, if not for the fact that the Secret Service will be on hand.

Remember, this is the man who boasted that he could shoot someone and not lose any votes. And he's narcissistic enough that he might really think that.

[Ashmoria]

I thought Bill's sexual escapades where consensual.

Juanita Broaddrick claims Bill raped her in the late 70's. I'd be inclined to believe her or at least hear her out, but, in an affidavit from the late 90's, she swore under oath that no rape occurred.

I pretty much believe her story but there was no way in 1978 that she would have won a rape case where she willingly went up to a man's hotel room. why she denied it was rape in the 90s I don't know but it seems she's changed her mind.

[Farnhamia]

Legit thought nothing of that when I typed it, I had no idea it was going to get a single reaction cause it seemed so like benign and normal.

The -gate suffix for scandals is basically the worst thing ever, but somehow you've plumbed new and terrible depths. I bite my thumb at you.

ASB hath used "P*ssygate" in his Handicapping thread. Methinks we're undone already, sir.

[Major-Tom]

Legit thought nothing of that when I typed it, I had no idea it was going to get a single reaction cause it seemed so like benign and normal.

The -gate suffix for scandals is basically the worst thing ever, but somehow you've plumbed new and terrible depths. I bite my thumb at you.

Damn shame.

On the topic of the debates, I expect a weak performance from Trump, where he is on the defensive.

[Arlenton]

I thought Bill's sexual escapades where consensual.

some were consensual. some were crude come-ons. at least one was "wait a minute I don't think I consented to that"

Regardless of all this, Bill Clinton's popularity did not suffer. Bringing it up as attacks on Hillary will not accomplish much.

[Neutraligon]

The -gate suffix for scandals is basically the worst thing ever, but somehow you've plumbed new and terrible depths. I bite my thumb at you.

Damn shame.

On the topic of the debates, I expect a weak performance from Trump, where he is on the defensive.

I actually expect him to go on the attack so he can avoid questions about recent scandals.

[Ebliania]

The -gate suffix for scandals is basically the worst thing ever, but somehow you've plumbed new and terrible depths. I bite my thumb at you.

Damn shame.

On the topic of the debates, I expect a weak performance from Trump, where he is on the defensive.

He has nothing to lose, I'd imagine he'd relentlessly shake his fist at Clinton.

[New West Guiana]

Bringing it up as attacks on Hillary will not accomplish much.

It'll backfire and trump is doing a good job of all his attacks on Hillary backfiring.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

If your goal is to reduce illegal immigration to a negligible level, then your best bet would be working with Mexico for stronger border patrol on their side of the border as well as backing presidents who are not from the PRI.

Nieto has been slacking off on his commitments to the international community in regards of improving Mexico, which is typical of his party.

Interesting perspective and one I will take into account in the future.

No probs

To be fair, the PRI is a rather corrupt party in Mexican politics and positions of power. However, that's what happens when your party has dominated politics and pretty much engineered a way to make Mexico a single-party state in practice for half a century.

Not that the other parties haven't had some corruption going on, but the PRI is the most corrupt, and they honestly slack off overall on their commitments to improve the lives of Mexicans.

[The Romulan Republic]

Juanita Broaddrick claims Bill raped her in the late 70's. I'd be inclined to believe her or at least hear her out, but, in an affidavit from the late 90's, she swore under oath that no rape occurred.

I pretty much believe her story but there was no way in 1978 that she would have won a rape case where she willingly went up to a man's hotel room. why she denied it was rape in the 90s I don't know but it seems she's changed her mind.

Their are a lot of reasons why a rape victim might change their story. Pressure to recant the accusation (especially from a powerful figure like Bill Clinton), wanting it to be over with, self-doubt...

It doesn't necessarily mean that they weren't raped.

[Ashmoria]

some were consensual. some were crude come-ons. at least one was "wait a minute I don't think I consented to that"

Regardless of all this, Bill Clinton's popularity did not suffer. Bringing it up as attacks on Hillary will not accomplish much.

a woman isn't responsible for the actions of her husband. just ask ivana, marla or melania.