2020 US General Election Thread VIII: Cs, Ds, and Es

[Borderlands of Rojava]

I hope Kennedy does not win. I'm honestly tired of the Kennedy family and view them as the descendants of 1960s Barack Obama. If you dont think Kennedy was alot like Obama, consider the fact that:

•He was the first Irish catholic president.
•He actually liked war
•People romanticize his presidency when in reality he was actually kind of a sleazebag
•Liberal boomers talk about John Kennedy every 5 minutes

Kennedy singlehandedly managed to stop the Cold War going nuclear on not one but two occasions…

Kruschev actually

[Shrillland]

Another call to make:

Dem MA-4(Brookline-Fall River-again, I got my names and numbers mixed up last week): Jesse Mermell
GOP MA-4(Brookline-Fall River): Julie Hall

And that's the night. So, for the Progressives, it's 2 for 3, not a bad run.

[Major-Tom]

I hope Kennedy does not win. I'm honestly tired of the Kennedy family and view them as the descendants of 1960s Barack Obama. If you dont think Kennedy was alot like Obama, consider the fact that:

•He was the first Irish catholic president.
•He actually liked war
•People romanticize his presidency when in reality he was actually kind of a sleazebag
•Liberal boomers talk about John Kennedy every 5 minutes

Kennedy singlehandedly managed to stop the Cold War going nuclear on not one but two occasions…

He did a great job in the missile crisis, he didn't singlehandedly stop it from going nuclear.

JFK was a decent President, probably a bit overrated, but still worthy of recognition. RFK was an excellent man as well. But the rest of the Kennedy breed? I think there's a reason they're cursed, from Ted Kennedy's car incident and constant philandering and alleged assaults to the drug-addled sex antics of the rest of the family, really, they've been a bunch spoiled by wealth and prestige, the names are endless.

Joe Kennedy III seems like a nice guy, he just got overzealous and forgot the golden rule in Mass, which is "wait your damn turn." Glad Markey prevailed.

[San Lumen]

Another call to make:

Dem MA-4(Brookline-Fall River-again, I got my names and numbers mixed up last week): Jesse Mermell
GOP MA-4(Brookline-Fall River): Julie Hall

And that's the night. So, for the Progressives, it's 2 for 3, not a bad run.

Glad she won but what’s your basis for that call

[Major-Tom]

I hope Kennedy does not win. I'm honestly tired of the Kennedy family and view them as the descendants of 1960s Barack Obama. If you dont think Kennedy was alot like Obama, consider the fact that:

•He was the first Irish catholic president.
•He actually liked war
•People romanticize his presidency when in reality he was actually kind of a sleazebag
•Liberal boomers talk about John Kennedy every 5 minutes

I'm not one to romanticize the Kennedys, but he was the standard-bearer of effective Democratic wins post-New Deal. After humiliating defeats in the 50s, Kennedy likely single-handedly saved the party for the next decade to come. It's why so many people have tried, some successfully, others not, to emulate his style.

It used to work better in the past (see Bill in '92, Obama in '08), not so much anymore.

[South Odreria 2]

It’s time to consider treason charges against joe kennedy

[San Lumen]

It’s time to consider treason charges against joe kennedy

For what?

[Ngelmish]

I hope Kennedy does not win. I'm honestly tired of the Kennedy family and view them as the descendants of 1960s Barack Obama. If you dont think Kennedy was alot like Obama, consider the fact that:

•He was the first Irish catholic president.
•He actually liked war
•People romanticize his presidency when in reality he was actually kind of a sleazebag
•Liberal boomers talk about John Kennedy every 5 minutes

I'm not one to romanticize the Kennedys, but he was the standard-bearer of effective Democratic wins post-New Deal. After humiliating defeats in the 50s, Kennedy likely single-handedly saved the party for the next decade to come. It's why so many people have tried, some successfully, others not, to emulate his style.

It used to work better in the past (see Bill in '92, Obama in '08), not so much anymore.

I wouldn't be so quick to throw it out. It didn't work in '16 or last year because those were primaries with de facto incumbent candidates running for the nomination, among other things. Kennedy didn't get on a national ticket his first time either, because knocking off the party's anointed is an almost impossible feat for anyone.

[Zurkerx]

It seems the counting of votes is going well in Mass, a sign the State at least has its shit together. If I'm not mistaken, they did put additional ballot boxes across the State to reduce the burden on the Post Office. It seems to be paying off.

[Shrillland]

Well, folks, we're now approaching journey's end in primary terms. Only two more weeks and three more states to go, so here's my take on the penultimate week.

New Hampshire: The first Presidential Primary is also near the last of the Congressional Primaries, and it's actually fairly hectic. We start with the Senate race, where Incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen faces two strong Republican contenders. The first is Army Veteran and former corporate lawyer Corky Messner, who has Trump, Rand Paul, Tea Party Express, and the National Association for Gun Rights on his side as well as much of the state party led by Former State House Speaker Bill O'Brien. Against him is former Army Special Forces Brigadier General Don Bolduc. He has Tom Cotton, SEAL PAC, the Senate Conservatives Fund, former US Senator Bob Smith, and Jeb Bush on his side. Polls show a fairly close race, but I think Messner will win and lose to Shaheen in November.

On to the Governor's race. Incumbent Republican Chris Sununu is running for another term, and the Democrats have two contenders with a good chance. First, there's State Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes, who mostly has state legislators and the Laborers' Union on his side. Next, there's Executive Council Member Andre Volinsky, who has more money and a slight lead in the polls. If you're wondering, the New Hampshire Executive Council is effectively a body, more of a Presidium than a subordinate Cabinet, of five elected members every two years that can override the governor on things like pardons, appointments, and any contracts over $10,000. It also has significant control of the budget and can declare the Governor unfit. Anyway, I think Feltes will win and lose to Sununu in November.

Over to the House and the district of Manchester(1st). Incumbent Democrat Chris Pappas sits in a close seat, and two Republicans want him out. First, there's former state GOP Chairman and State Department Staffer Matt Mowers, who has Trump's backing as well as Kevin McCarthy and Tea Party Express. Against him is Army Vet and former Dover City Councillor Matt Mayberry, who has a lot of backing from people like Peter King, Mike Huckabee, Former Governors Craig Benson and Steve Merrill, and a lot of folks in the General Court. Even New Hampshire Republicans back Trump, so I think Mowers will win and then lose come November.

Rhode Island: Nothing here of import since the Senate race has no primaries on either side, so Jack Reed will be re-elected come November against Allen Waters.

[Shrillland]

Another call to make:

Dem MA-4(Brookline-Fall River-again, I got my names and numbers mixed up last week): Jesse Mermell
GOP MA-4(Brookline-Fall River): Julie Hall

And that's the night. So, for the Progressives, it's 2 for 3, not a bad run.

Glad she won but what’s your basis for that call

Well, we're at 33% and she's got 29% of the vote, she hasn't really changed all that much all night so far.

[The Black Forrest]

They are Americans. History like geography is unknown to them.

*** Warning for Trolling ***

Wow. Ok No State. Welcome to the ignore list.

[Outer Sparta]

Man, MA has some British town names.

I mean, it was settled by a bunch of British Puritans. Its part of the reason Massachusetts people have a reputation for being unfriendly in fact.

Don't do a Kennedy and spell it Worchester.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

Joe Biden's team brings official campaign signs to 'Animal Crossing'

The pandemic has forced the Biden-Harris campaign team to get creative, from live-streamed events to socially distanced interviews. But we didn’t see this coming. Beginning today, Animal Crossing: New Horizons players can add official Biden-Harris campaign signs to their island yards, The Verge reports.

At the moment, there are four sign designs -- the official Biden-Harris logo, the Team Joe logo, a “Joe” Pride logo and an image of red, white and blue aviators. To add the signs to their yards, players will scan QR codes through the Nintendo Switch Online app. The campaign has also sent the signs to a handful of gaming influencers, who will share them throughout the day tomorrow.

Interesting strategy. I doubt they'll pull in many new voters with this, as it looks like most players are not eligible to vote or are already on team D, but it's definitely a novel approach.

It is interesting. Advertising and even merch in games is not new. And advertising generally does work, even when directed at children with very little "buying power" of their own. Their preference for one unhealthy sugary treat over another strongly guides the parents to buy that one, and their preference is easily swayed by advertising.

I imagine this could work, even on voting-age people who play the game, by peer-group pressure. Their best game-friend whose politics has never been mentioned before, puts out a lawn sign, and that influences the player who wasn't committed one way or the other, or perhaps wasn't going to vote at all. Here's a way I could be better friends, just put out a sign they will like. And rather brilliantly, the signs come in four grades of commitment. "Team Jo(e)" says "I'm with the people who are with Joe (doesn't mean I'm all in with Joe)" while the aviator sunglasses are nearly neutral.

The large number of children playing the game still worries me. Advertising to children is odious to me (here, TV advertising to children cannot promote unhealthy products: I support this completely and would go further) but as long as it is allowed for commercial products then why not politics? And this is going to get some children banned from playing the game. "Daddy, my best friend in Animal Crossing is going to vote for Joe, are you?" is going to get Daddy's attention in a bad way. Someone 18 or older is 'best friend' with their kid?? Now dad eventually works out the best friend is also a kid and 'voting' is part of their gameplay, but he's taken a long hard look at the game in the meantime. And dad's a Republican, he does not like that his kid is being indoctrinated into Democrat shit. "Your best friend has been brainwashed by Democrats, you can't see them any more ... and you can't play that game."

None of that would be helped by having Trump lawnsigns in the game too. Some people would be mollified that there is now "balance" but now there would be Democrat parents suspicious that their kid's 'best friend' is apparently going to vote for Trump.

The only clear upside I can see is that some otherwise non-voters will be politicized by friends in the game, or politicized by their own children, and turn out to vote after all. But overall I think this is a bad idea: they should keep real world politics out of the game to leave the option open for more idealized and positive politics in a future edition.

[South Odreria 2]

It’s time to consider treason charges against joe kennedy

For what?

Being a dum dum

[San Lumen]

For what?

Being a dum dum

Yeah ok

[South Odreria 2]

Being a dum dum

Yeah ok

I’m glad we could find common ground on this issue

[San Lumen]

Glad she won but what’s your basis for that call

Well, we're at 33% and she's got 29% of the vote, she hasn't really changed all that much all night so far.

I’m not saying your call is wrong but her lead has been dropping as we get more votes

[Nobel Hobos 2]

*** Warning for Trolling ***

Wow. Ok No State. Welcome to the ignore list.

This is a great precedent, which will make General a better place. Americans are now a protected class!

And since we foreigners are notorious for discriminating against Americans, we can with a clear conscience put all of them on our Ignore list!

Or maybe the mods could make it easy for everyone, and segregate the forum. US Americans Only Forum. And Foreigners Only Forum.



Seriously, appeal that. It's bullshit.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

Yeah ok

I’m glad we could find common ground on this issue

Treason is the same as being a dum dum. I think you have that ground all to yourself.

[San Lumen]

Yeah ok

I’m glad we could find common ground on this issue

Uh no. I have no idea where you getting the idea I agree with you on charging Kennedy with treason. I guess your just being humorous but I dont get the joke.

[Rusozak]

I don't know this Kennedy's qualities as a politician, and this may just be nonsense superstition, but do you really want to roll the dice with America's unluckiest family?

[The Black Forrest]

Wow. Ok No State. Welcome to the ignore list.

This is a great precedent, which will make General a better place. Americans are now a protected class!

And since we foreigners are notorious for discriminating against Americans, we can with a clear conscience put all of them on our Ignore list!

Or maybe the mods could make it easy for everyone, and segregate the forum. US Americans Only Forum. And Foreigners Only Forum.



Seriously, appeal that. It's bullshit.

I think I will as I have been here a long time and have such a reputation for trolling.

[Outer Sparta]

I don't know this Kennedy's qualities as a politician, and this may just be nonsense superstition, but do you really want to roll the dice with America's unluckiest family?

Joe Kennedy III primaried Ed Markey from the right. Of course I prefer an incumbent like Markey who has quite a progressive streak while Kennedy wanted more attention for his vanity project.

[United States of Devonta]

The owner of an old Kenosha camera shop refused to pose with Trump, saying Trump was using him and his shop for political gain. So Trump had the former owner of the shop pretend to be the current owner for a photo op.

So it looks like Trump didn't really give two-craps about the riots and it's all for political gains and photo ops. Im very, very, very, surprised.