2020 US General Election Thread IV: The Battle Begins

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I'm also from a Midwestern rural town and I'd describe most of the people here as economically on the left wing but socially on the right wing. Which is another reason I see Sanders doing better here. His campaign focuses on economic issues and especially in the Midwest that means a lot.

That falls more in line with what I've heard. Populism being rather strong in rural areas. Not to say there aren't many other positions rural voters have, all over the spectrum, but that being a more frequent than not belief of theirs.

I’d love it if things were more diverse politically down here. But people in my neck of the woods down South are staunchly conservative and that often means they’re Republican.

[Cisairse]

Canada is Canada, Lumen. Just because something works there doesn’t mean it’ll work here.

Why wouldn’t expanding the house work here?

FPTP, widespread gerrymandering, no room for the new reps to sit in the House chamber, etc.

Canada also has 0.1x the population of the U.S.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Okay wait this is also hilarious

In the Bloomberg article about Bloomberg's campaign, it says the campaign didn't response to Bloomberg's request for comment

Bloomberg didn't respond to Bloomberg. We're reaching levels of absurdity that shouldn't even be possible.

[Sougra]

Okay wait this is also hilarious

In the Bloomberg article about Bloomberg's campaign, it says the campaign didn't response to Bloomberg's request for comment

Oh my. Read that in Takei's voice all you want, because this is all too much. This man has more holes in his candidacy than I think Trump or Hillary did. And that's saying something.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Canada is Canada, Lumen. Just because something works there doesn’t mean it’ll work here.

Why wouldn’t expanding the house work here?

Because you guys are always dead set against it. Also, do you think states would gladly give up representation in order to make room for a new state?

[Kargintina the Third]

There have been a few states added since it was capped at 435 and the population has more than doubled since then but they show no signs of changing the number of reps.

It should be changed. Canada adds to its lower house after every census I believe

Fun fact: China’s parliament has almost 3,000 members

[Cisairse]

Okay wait this is also hilarious

In the Bloomberg article about Bloomberg's campaign, it says the campaign didn't response to Bloomberg's request for comment

Bloomberg didn't respond to Bloomberg. We're reaching levels of absurdity that shouldn't even be possible.

Mike Quixote.

Okay wait this is also hilarious

In the Bloomberg article about Bloomberg's campaign, it says the campaign didn't response to Bloomberg's request for comment

Oh my. Read that in Takei's voice all you want, because this is all too much. This man has more holes in his candidacy than I think Trump or Hillary did. And that's saying something.

This has been by far the funniest election in the history of my life, and we're not even at Super Tuesday yet.

[Cisairse]

It should be changed. Canada adds to its lower house after every census I believe

Fun fact: China’s parliament has almost 3,000 members

And yet none of those seats matter!

What a wild reverse from the U.S. Senate, which has only 100 members and yet the seats matter enough that we spent $1 gagillion on electing members to it last cycle.

[Kruiven]

I'm also from a Midwestern rural town and I'd describe most of the people here as economically on the left wing but socially on the right wing. Which is another reason I see Sanders doing better here. His campaign focuses on economic issues and especially in the Midwest that means a lot.

That falls more in line with what I've heard. Populism being rather strong in rural areas. Not to say there aren't many other positions rural voters have, all over the spectrum, but that being a more frequent than not belief of theirs.

We saw some of that even before the 2016 general election. Hillary up double digits in the Michigan polls, then the debate happened and trade was brought up and it's an issue where the Midwest loves the Bernie position and hated the Hillary position, and you saw him win Michigan in an upset. Which the Clinton campaign clearly didn't learn much from since they didn't campaign much in the blue wall.

[Sougra]

That falls more in line with what I've heard. Populism being rather strong in rural areas. Not to say there aren't many other positions rural voters have, all over the spectrum, but that being a more frequent than not belief of theirs.

I said in 2016 that Bernie Sanders was a 21st century William Jennings Bryan, who rode poor, rural-focused populism to the Democratic nomination for president three times with his exceptional oration skills and hyper-focus on casting the elections as battles between the rich and poor.

I vaguely remember hearing of this person's name in passing, but I'm honestly not sure that any Democrat can currently win the general election. Then again, we'll have to wait and see.

However, you do make an interesting argument there. I just don't think Sanders is campaigning as much in rural areas for that to be a large component of his path.

[Imperial Joseon]

Fun fact: China’s parliament has almost 3,000 members

And yet none of those seats matter!

What a wild reverse from the U.S. Senate, which has only 100 members and yet the seats matter enough that we spent $1 gagillion on electing members to it last cycle.

Don't worry; those 3,000 people can't even find a solution for the Wuhan pneumonia.

[Sougra]

That falls more in line with what I've heard. Populism being rather strong in rural areas. Not to say there aren't many other positions rural voters have, all over the spectrum, but that being a more frequent than not belief of theirs.

I’d love it if things were more diverse politically down here. But people in my neck of the woods down South are staunchly conservative and that often means they’re Republican.

My recommendation would be to get more viable parties if you want to solve that. I'm sure that there'll at least make things better in some cases. Of course, that likely won't happen unless someone like AOC decides to defect from the Democratic party and build her own party, although I don't see that happening unless something goes horribly wrong.

[Cisairse]

Oh my god it just gets worse

Bloomberg: Warren Vows to Take On Bloomberg at Debate

I said in 2016 that Bernie Sanders was a 21st century William Jennings Bryan, who rode poor, rural-focused populism to the Democratic nomination for president three times with his exceptional oration skills and hyper-focus on casting the elections as battles between the rich and poor.

I vaguely remember hearing of this person's name in passing, but I'm honestly not sure that any Democrat can currently win the general election. Then again, we'll have to wait and see.

However, you do make an interesting argument there. I just don't think Sanders is campaigning as much in rural areas for that to be a large component of his path.

WJB is a bit of a folk hero now, but when he was flesh and blood he was considered one of those people who probably should have been president at some point but just never won his election. Kinda like how Mitt Romney is viewed now, except in reverse.

WJB's "Cross of Gold" speech is still considered one of the greatest speeches in American history. Its major themes involved several concrete policies that Bryan felt would tilt the economy of the U.S. in favor of poor rural Americans and against wealthy coastal bankers (namely bimetalism), but its delivery and overall tone was the stuff of legend for decades after it was delivered.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I’d love it if things were more diverse politically down here. But people in my neck of the woods down South are staunchly conservative and that often means they’re Republican.

My recommendation would be to get more viable parties if you want to solve that. I'm sure that there'll at least make things better in some cases. Of course, that likely won't happen unless someone like AOC decides to defect from the Democratic party and build her own party, although I don't see that happening unless something goes horribly wrong.

That would be a nice start (and they exist) but most voters in this country are polarized between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party and these smaller parties have such a minuscule presence.

[Cisairse]

I’d love it if things were more diverse politically down here. But people in my neck of the woods down South are staunchly conservative and that often means they’re Republican.

My recommendation would be to get more viable parties if you want to solve that. I'm sure that there'll at least make things better in some cases. Of course, that likely won't happen unless someone like AOC decides to defect from the Democratic party and build her own party, although I don't see that happening unless something goes horribly wrong.

Impossible. The 2-party-system is actually enshrined in some laws. America cannot function with more than two parties on a federal level.

[Sougra]

Bloomberg didn't respond to Bloomberg. We're reaching levels of absurdity that shouldn't even be possible.

Mike Quixote.

Oh my. Read that in Takei's voice all you want, because this is all too much. This man has more holes in his candidacy than I think Trump or Hillary did. And that's saying something.

This has been by far the funniest election in the history of my life, and we're not even at Super Tuesday yet.

I'm not sure I'd call it funny, but I'll be damned if it isn't crazy. Man, politics are just going to be a mess all the time now, huh?

[Imperial Joseon]

Impossible. The 2-party-system is actually enshrined in some laws. America cannot function with more than two parties on a federal level.

Oh, I thought the Independents were a party?

[Kargintina the Third]

Impossible. The 2-party-system is actually enshrined in some laws. America cannot function with more than two parties on a federal level.

Oh, I thought the Independents were a party?

The Independence Party does exist but that’s not what independent means

[Sougra]

My recommendation would be to get more viable parties if you want to solve that. I'm sure that there'll at least make things better in some cases. Of course, that likely won't happen unless someone like AOC decides to defect from the Democratic party and build her own party, although I don't see that happening unless something goes horribly wrong.

Impossible. The 2-party-system is actually enshrined in some laws. America cannot function with more than two parties on a federal level.

Really? I've never heard of an explicit law stating that. What does the law say?

[Cisairse]

Mike Quixote.



This has been by far the funniest election in the history of my life, and we're not even at Super Tuesday yet.

I'm not sure I'd call it funny, but I'll be damned if it isn't crazy. Man, politics are just going to be a mess all the time now, huh?

Overturning Citizens United might help a little but, but in the age where you can follow candidates on Twitter just to watch them accidentally tweet the N word yeah I think it's going to be a mess all the time now.

Impossible. The 2-party-system is actually enshrined in some laws. America cannot function with more than two parties on a federal level.

Oh, I thought the Independents were a party?

They actually are, and they won five states in 1968. No relation to Sen. King and Sen. Sanders though, who are more accurately described as unaffiliated but members of the Democratic caucus.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Impossible. The 2-party-system is actually enshrined in some laws. America cannot function with more than two parties on a federal level.

Really? I've never heard of an explicit law stating that. What does the law say?

Other parties exist so I’m not sure about a law enshrining just two.

[Sougra]

My recommendation would be to get more viable parties if you want to solve that. I'm sure that there'll at least make things better in some cases. Of course, that likely won't happen unless someone like AOC decides to defect from the Democratic party and build her own party, although I don't see that happening unless something goes horribly wrong.

That would be a nice start (and they exist) but most voters in this country are polarized between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party and these smaller parties have such a minuscule presence.

Oh, I know they do. I believe Vermont has a progressive third party, as well as there being the Libertarians, Greens, Communists, Constitution, and the rest of the lot. But yeah, we'll have to see how polarization turns out. I can't imagine it getting better without some kind of threat worth fighting in some fashion, whether that be external, internal, or both.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

That would be a nice start (and they exist) but most voters in this country are polarized between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party and these smaller parties have such a minuscule presence.

Oh, I know they do. I believe Vermont has a progressive third party, as well as there being the Libertarians, Greens, Communists, Constitution, and the rest of the lot. But yeah, we'll have to see how polarization turns out. I can't imagine it getting better without some kind of threat worth fighting in some fashion, whether that be external, internal, or both.

Well, apparently the laws exist, as well as it’s customary.

There’s no getting better. And both parties know it. No major contenders from other parties to threaten them. They know voters are tied to vote for one or the other.

[Sougra]

Oh my god it just gets worse

Bloomberg: Warren Vows to Take On Bloomberg at Debate

I vaguely remember hearing of this person's name in passing, but I'm honestly not sure that any Democrat can currently win the general election. Then again, we'll have to wait and see.

However, you do make an interesting argument there. I just don't think Sanders is campaigning as much in rural areas for that to be a large component of his path.

WJB is a bit of a folk hero now, but when he was flesh and blood he was considered one of those people who probably should have been president at some point but just never won his election. Kinda like how Mitt Romney is viewed now, except in reverse.

WJB's "Cross of Gold" speech is still considered one of the greatest speeches in American history. Its major themes involved several concrete policies that Bryan felt would tilt the economy of the U.S. in favor of poor rural Americans and against wealthy coastal bankers (namely bimetalism), but its delivery and overall tone was the stuff of legend for decades after it was delivered.

Huh. You learn something new everyday. Thanks. I'll have to read that speech later. Sometimes the words of some dead guy can move you, you know?

[Kruiven]

Besides the two main parties, the Vermont Progressive Party has the highest number of seats among State and National offices for any organized party in the country.

7/30 members in the state Senate
13/150 members in the state House

Also the Lt. Gov is a member.