American Politics I: It's All Applesauce

[CoraSpia]

No he didn’t. He always sucked. His dad managed to both be awful and occasionally not, but Rand always sucked.

I have no respect for him because he’s so wishy-washy. He tries to play at being a centrist but in truth he literally just jumps the gap, not stand on the bridge.

I remember thinking 'This guy might actually be a libertarian' but obvs I was proven wrong very quick.

[Picairn]

Agree to disagree on that second part. I mean sure the mob elements don’t hold any sort of office or committee, but also remember that you have to appease your voter base.

That’s actually one thing that made me lean more right in years past. The left has a growing violent element in their ranks that’s just gaining more power. Just look at the squad for example and their firebrand tactics and their supporter base. That said, after today... yeesh... looks like I’m camping in the direct middle again for a while.

Funnily enough, the Squad was destroyed on Twitter by other leftists for joining the establishment to confirm Pelosi as Speaker and not #ForceTheVote on Medicare4All.

The left is best at circular firing squads.

[Esternial]

The Democratic Party are, as a whole, milquetoast leftists. They don't let their radical wing anywhere near the real levers of power.

Agree to disagree on that second part. I mean sure the mob elements don’t hold any sort of office or committee, but also remember that you have to appease your voter base.

That’s actually one thing that made me lean more right in years past. The left has a growing violent element in their ranks that’s just gaining more power. Just look at the squad for example and their firebrand tactics and their supporter base. That said, after today... yeesh... looks like I’m camping in the direct middle again for a while.

That'll teach you for trying to get off that fence.

[Valrifell]

Dude, you just witnessed a freaking MAGA coup attempt and you still on about the violence of the left?
Good to know you care more about things that might hypothetically happen then things that are actually happening in the real world.

In the last year both sides have exhibited violence. ‘Thing is, the left did it all summer, fall, and winter. The right started day one today. I mean as far as violent type shenanigans.

The right did not just start today jfc.

You've literally been lying via omission to yourself to justify your slide rightward.

[Ameriganastan]

So did Biden win? Are we finally done with this?

[Page]

Agree to disagree on that second part. I mean sure the mob elements don’t hold any sort of office or committee, but also remember that you have to appease your voter base.

That’s actually one thing that made me lean more right in years past. The left has a growing violent element in their ranks that’s just gaining more power. Just look at the squad for example and their firebrand tactics and their supporter base. That said, after today... yeesh... looks like I’m camping in the direct middle again for a while.

Both political extremes have a problem with the idea of free speech, although I'd say the left slightly more than the right. Not a fan of either extreme.

It's always been the right who have tried to prosecute and imprison people for speech. What's the worst from the left? That if you deliberately misgender people you're a dick and should be publicly shamed?

[The Orson Empire]

Dude, you just witnessed a freaking MAGA coup attempt and you still on about the violence of the left?
Good to know you care more about things that might hypothetically happen then things that are actually happening in the real world.

In the last year both sides have exhibited violence. ‘Thing is, the left did it all summer, fall, and winter. The right started day one today. I mean as far as violent type shenanigans.

I assume by violence during the protests, you mean the cops beating protestors to smithereens or outright shooting them up?

[Valrifell]

So did Biden win? Are we finally done with this?

Trump supporters will never get over losing.

[Punished UMN]

So did Biden win? Are we finally done with this?

We had the answer to that question in November.

[Picairn]

The right started day one today.

do you actually believe this ohmygod-

[Nekostan-e Gharbi]

Agree to disagree on that second part. I mean sure the mob elements don’t hold any sort of office or committee, but also remember that you have to appease your voter base.

That’s actually one thing that made me lean more right in years past. The left has a growing violent element in their ranks that’s just gaining more power. Just look at the squad for example and their firebrand tactics and their supporter base. That said, after today... yeesh... looks like I’m camping in the direct middle again for a while.

Both political extremes have a problem with the idea of free speech, although I'd say the left slightly more than the right. Not a fan of either extreme.

I do think authoritarianism has rapidly increased. Not sure what even caused that. Where exactly are hipsters and Randians any more?

[Page]

So did Biden win? Are we finally done with this?

Yes, the final state was counted an hour ago and Pence adjourned the session.

[Valrifell]

So did Biden win? Are we finally done with this?

We had the answer to that question in November.

This is at least the fourth time Joe Biden won the election. I'm so tired of winning.

[Nejii]

Agree to disagree on that second part. I mean sure the mob elements don’t hold any sort of office or committee, but also remember that you have to appease your voter base.

That’s actually one thing that made me lean more right in years past. The left has a growing violent element in their ranks that’s just gaining more power. Just look at the squad for example and their firebrand tactics and their supporter base. That said, after today... yeesh... looks like I’m camping in the direct middle again for a while.

Funnily enough, the Squad was destroyed on Twitter by other leftists for joining the establishment to confirm Pelosi as Speaker and not #ForceTheVote on Medicare4All.

The left is best at circular firing squads.

Lately, they have admittedly eased up on their rhetoric and have been taking more fair stances lately. And I do respect AOC on calling out Pelosi on her sandbagging with the COVID relief bill.

[Ameriganastan]

So did Biden win? Are we finally done with this?

We had the answer to that question in November.

Yes, I know that. But are they done with the count thingy?

[Esternial]

Agree to disagree on that second part. I mean sure the mob elements don’t hold any sort of office or committee, but also remember that you have to appease your voter base.

That’s actually one thing that made me lean more right in years past. The left has a growing violent element in their ranks that’s just gaining more power. Just look at the squad for example and their firebrand tactics and their supporter base. That said, after today... yeesh... looks like I’m camping in the direct middle again for a while.

Funnily enough, the Squad was destroyed on Twitter by other leftists for joining the establishment to confirm Pelosi as Speaker and not #ForceTheVote on Medicare4All.

The left is best at circular firing squads.

Better than a circlejerk.

Possibly a good sign when folks are (self-)critical of groups within their own ranks.

[Nekostan-e Gharbi]

Both political extremes have a problem with the idea of free speech, although I'd say the left slightly more than the right. Not a fan of either extreme.

It's always been the right who have tried to prosecute and imprison people for speech. What's the worst from the left? That if you deliberately misgender people you're a dick and should be publicly shamed?

It’s always about strong vs weak, not left vs right. I’m cynical enough to know that the nicer side is always the weaker. In fact proclaimed libertarianism signals weakness.

[Ameriganastan]

So did Biden win? Are we finally done with this?

Yes, the final state was counted an hour ago and Pence adjourned the session.

Hooray.

[CoraSpia]

Both political extremes have a problem with the idea of free speech, although I'd say the left slightly more than the right. Not a fan of either extreme.

It's always been the right who have tried to prosecute and imprison people for speech. What's the worst from the left? That if you deliberately misgender people you're a dick and should be publicly shamed?

I'm thinking now, rather than 40 years ago. It's the mob-like mentality forcing people who say something objectionable to be 'cancelled' that I don't like. Those forms of leftists are similar to the moralists that they used to hate.

[Baltenstein]

Both political extremes have a problem with the idea of free speech, although I'd say the left slightly more than the right. Not a fan of either extreme.

I do think authoritarianism has rapidly increased. Not sure what even caused that. Where exactly are hipsters and Randians any more?

Personally, I blame the rise of social media and safe space bubbles for that. The less you engage in dialogue with other opinions, the less you understand that pluralism is something that matters.

[Nekostan-e Gharbi]

It's always been the right who have tried to prosecute and imprison people for speech. What's the worst from the left? That if you deliberately misgender people you're a dick and should be publicly shamed?

I'm thinking now, rather than 40 years ago. It's the mob-like mentality forcing people who say something objectionable to be 'cancelled' that I don't like. Those forms of leftists are similar to the moralists that they used to hate.

Because they are as moralistic as social rightists.

[Nejii]

The right started day one today.

do you actually believe this ohmygod-

Yes.

Nothing like today happened all of last year. Actual peaceful protests not government coup attempts.

EDIT: In regards to storm tactics and mob rule.

[Punished UMN]

We had the answer to that question in November.

This is at least the fourth time Joe Biden won the election. I'm so tired of winning.

When Trump said "we're going to win so much you'll be sick of winning" he was actually prophesying as an oracle, the predictions of which are notoriously vague. Like Croesus of old, he attacked and caused the fall of himself, in hubris.

[Kowani]

"U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe has been in Congress 34 years and in politics more than 50. As mayor of Tulsa, he once had garbage dumped on his lawn by angry residents.

But it’s unlikely anything matched what he experienced Wednesday when the U.S. Capitol was stormed by people apparently intent on keeping President Donald Trump in office.

“I’d say there were at least 1,000 people in the building,” Inhofe said by telephone Wednesday evening.

Inhofe hedged on who he thought might be to blame for what happened, but he allowed that Trump did not do enough to stop it.

“He’s only put out one statement that I’m aware of,” Inhofe said. “This was really a riot. He should have shown more disdain for the rioters. I don’t want to say he should have apologized — that’s not exactly accurate — but he should have expressed more disdain.”

Instead, Trump directed his disdain toward Vice President Mike Pence, who refused to do what Trump wanted him to do — illegally refuse to accept the final election results in his role as Senate president.

By doing so, he may have alienated one of his most steadfast allies.

“I’ve known Mike Pence forever,” Inhofe said Tuesday night. “I’ve never seen Pence as angry as he was today.

“I had a long conversation with him,” said Inhofe. “He said, ‘After all the things I’ve done for (Trump).’”

Aside from Wednesday’s attempted takeover of the Capitol, the past few days have been difficult for Inhofe because he refused to go along with protesting the Electoral College results.

“We’ve had calls. We’ve had threats. … I have many very, very close friends mad at me, when all I’m doing is upholding my oath,” Inhofe said.

He and many other conservatives say the law and the Constitution do not give Congress the authority to challenge electoral votes certified by the various states and the District of Columbia.

He also doesn’t think it’s something Republicans should be doing.

“Republicans have always been for states’ rights,” Inhofe said. “Democrats are the ones who always tried to nationalize elections.”

Inhofe said he never felt in danger Wednesday, but he said he was irritated to see someone rifling through his desk while he watched on television.

“They broke in on the House side and were coming toward (the Senate)” when senators were led outside to a nearby office building — although Inhofe broke away to go to his own office.

“My daughter is in town,” he said. “I didn’t want to leave her alone.”

Isn’t this the dotard who brought a snowball into Congress to disprove climate change? Had no idea he was still around,

Yes

Agree to disagree on that second part. I mean sure the mob elements don’t hold any sort of office or committee, but also remember that you have to appease your voter base.

That’s actually one thing that made me lean more right in years past. The left has a growing violent element in their ranks that’s just gaining more power. Just look at the squad for example and their firebrand tactics and their supporter base. That said, after today... yeesh... looks like I’m camping in the direct middle again for a while.

Funnily enough, the Squad was destroyed on Twitter by other leftists for joining the establishment to confirm Pelosi as Speaker and not #ForceTheVote on Medicare4All.

The left is best at circular firing squads.

no
they were laughed at by Jimmy Dore stans
outside of that circlejerk, nobody cared
and nobody likes Jimmy Dore, for that matter, either
online left politics suck, yes, but you give it far too much credit

[Nekostan-e Gharbi]

I do think authoritarianism has rapidly increased. Not sure what even caused that. Where exactly are hipsters and Randians any more?

Personally, I blame the rise of social media and safe space bubbles for that. The less you engage in dialogue with other opinions, the less you understand that pluralism is something that matters.

I do agree. The main reason why I can almost never get angry at anything political is that I managed to survive in both several Telegram channels populated mostly by WNs and Islamists and at the same time several Discord servers full of liberal MtFs two years ago.

So I really don’t mind people believing in anything.