American Politics I: It's All Applesauce

[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.

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

It’s hard being a centrist. We try to be the bridging element but both opposing sides are too bunkered down and we get caught in the crossfire.

[Nekostan-e Gharbi]

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

It’s hard being a centrist. We try to be the bridging element but both opposing sides are too bunkered down and we get caught in the crossfire.

Now you know how hard it is to use reason. You will be torn alive by both sides.

[Kowani]

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.

Trump did keep one of his promises!
Ran the country and his party just like he did his businesses

[CoraSpia]

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

It’s hard being a centrist. We try to be the bridging element but both opposing sides are too bunkered down and we get caught in the crossfire.

Just be a libertarian. When you start from the position of 'government bad,' you instantly know what should be done to combat a given issue.

[Valrifell]

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.

Apollo back at it again, cursing folks with prophecy. Apparently he found the Cassandra gag really funny.

[The Huskar Social Union]

So whats currently happening? They still trying to get into the Capital Building or have they been pushed back?

[Nekostan-e Gharbi]

It’s hard being a centrist. We try to be the bridging element but both opposing sides are too bunkered down and we get caught in the crossfire.

Just be a libertarian. When you start from the position of 'government bad,' you instantly know what should be done to combat a given issue.

That’s my stance. Governments are bad. The main problem is that too many people proclaim fake libertarianism when they are weak. This is why free speech sites in free societies for example are predominantly ironically populated by anti-freedom people.

[Picairn]

Now you know how hard it is to use reason. You will be torn alive by both sides.

If you and Neiji are centrists then that fence must be as wide as the Amazon Tributary.

[Valrifell]

It’s hard being a centrist. We try to be the bridging element but both opposing sides are too bunkered down and we get caught in the crossfire.

Now you know how hard it is to use reason. You will be torn alive by both sides.

Neji is not a centrist, he just calls himself one. Quite nakedly he's associated himself more with the right and anti-leftism, this is even partially by his own admission a few posts earlier.

[CoraSpia]

So whats currently happening? They still trying to get into the Capital Building or have they been pushed back?

It's over now, put your popcorn away.

[Nejii]

It’s hard being a centrist. We try to be the bridging element but both opposing sides are too bunkered down and we get caught in the crossfire.

Just be a libertarian. When you start from the position of 'government bad,' you instantly know what should be done to combat a given issue.

I like to think of myself as a reasoning centrist libertarian. I actually used to be more left leaning but have tilted more right in recent years.

[Nejii]

So whats currently happening? They still trying to get into the Capital Building or have they been pushed back?

It's over now, put your popcorn away.

Day one anyway...

[Valrifell]

So whats currently happening? They still trying to get into the Capital Building or have they been pushed back?

The Capitol was secured 12 hours ago, they just finished certification of the Electoral College votes.

[Ameriganastan]

Just be a libertarian. When you start from the position of 'government bad,' you instantly know what should be done to combat a given issue.

That’s my stance. Governments are bad. The main problem is that too many people use fake libertarianism when they are weak.

I admit I only registered as Libertarian cause I like Ron Swanson...

[The Orson Empire]

So whats currently happening? They still trying to get into the Capital Building or have they been pushed back?

Virginia national guard and a ton of law enforcement was called in, people were arrested, crowds finally dispersed. Congress reconvened in the Capitol building and just confirmed Biden not that long ago.

[CoraSpia]

Just be a libertarian. When you start from the position of 'government bad,' you instantly know what should be done to combat a given issue.

That’s my stance. Governments are bad. The main problem is that too many people use fake libertarianism when they are weak.

The problem that many people who claim to be libertarians have is consistency. You've got to accept the people you don't like being as free as the people you do like.

[Page]

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.

Leftists aren't trying to use the force of the state. "Canceling" is nothing more than a bunch of people saying "you suck."

In America, the right has tried to criminalize BDS. The federal government even made people sign a statement that they don't support BDS if they wanted hurricane relief aid. They try to criminalize flag desecration. It's the right who try to enforce unconstitutional obscenity laws, and who think it's alright for cops to assault and arrest people who insult them.

Leftists aren't trying to put people in prison, we're just saying that if you are a bigot you will face the social consequences, you will be ostracized.

[The Free Joy State]

Can you post an excerpt/screenshot?

"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.”

Thanks for the quote.

That's nonsensical. Independence movements are about asserting the will of the people.

This is about overthrowing the stated will of the people and installing a would-be dictator -- one with no consideration of democracy and and no apparent beliefs besides "Donald Trump cannot be wrong" -- in its place.

They are not comparable in any way.

These fellas think they embody the will of the people, and it's not as if independence movements hold referendums to decide whether or not to revolt.

On the first point: I think I will win a million pounds. I am certainly mistaken, as evidence suggests they are -- the people have expressed their will (for Biden) and all claims of voter fraud have been found to lack foundation.

The second point is true. Though it's worth noting how movements are met by the people they claim they represent. Are the embraced, voted for, or are they viewed with embarrassment and deserted by their former supporters.

The response to this attempted coup has been pretty overwhelming and not in a positive way, so I still say it's not comparable.

[Xanthal]

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.

Thanks, I needed that laugh after today. ...yesterday. You know what I mean.

[Punished UMN]

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.

Trump did keep one of his promises!
Ran the country and his party just like he did his businesses

Hey, that's not fair, the US hasn't gone bankrupt yet, and our cuts of steak are the absolute best.

[Valrifell]

That’s my stance. Governments are bad. The main problem is that too many people use fake libertarianism when they are weak.

I admit I only registered as Libertarian cause I like Ron Swanson...

Not the worst reason to vote LP. Better than actually liking their policy.

[Nekostan-e Gharbi]

That’s my stance. Governments are bad. The main problem is that too many people use fake libertarianism when they are weak.

The problem that many people who claim to be libertarians have is consistency. You've got to accept the people you don't like being as free as the people you do like.

Exactly.

[CoraSpia]

Just be a libertarian. When you start from the position of 'government bad,' you instantly know what should be done to combat a given issue.

I like to think of myself as a reasoning centrist libertarian. I actually used to be more left leaning but have tilted more right in recent years.

I find it pretty easy for political events to take me from 'you should have free speech' libertarian to complete anarchist in 0.8 seconds.

[Cedoria]

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.

If you think the right just started violence as a means of political expression today, you’ve been sleeping under a rock.

[Nekostan-e Gharbi]

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.

Leftists aren't trying to use the force of the state. "Canceling" is nothing more than a bunch of people saying "you suck."

In America, the right has tried to criminalize BDS. The federal government even made people sign a statement that they don't support BDS if they wanted hurricane relief aid. They try to criminalize flag desecration. It's the right who try to enforce unconstitutional obscenity laws, and who think it's alright for cops to assault and arrest people who insult them.

Leftists aren't trying to put people in prison, we're just saying that if you are a bigot you will face the social consequences, you will be ostracized.

For now. One effect of growing up in China is that I do not believe in good will from many humans at all no matter what they call themselves. I don’t think most social leftists these days are hipsters who are mostly into polyamory, not restricting others’ behavior.