American Politics III: New President, Same Old Country

[Cannot think of a name]

https://www.adn.com/politics/2021/01/20/alaska-governor-recall-group-makes-final-push-for-signatures/

Organizers pushing for a recall of Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy need to get 22000 more signatures. There is no deadline for when they have to submit them.

Love a sexy recall.

Yeah but finding 22000 Alaskans takes soooo long. You can fit their biggest city in a small stadium.


I'm not looking that up to see if it's true...


...yes I am. That's not even remotely true. But Alaskans are spread out.

[San Lumen]

Secretary of State Blinken , Defense Secretary Austin and Treasury Secretary Yellen have already had confirmation hearings. Mayorkas has had a hearing as well.

Mayor Pete's hearing for Transportation is tomorrow.

[Shrillland]

The World Health Organization should be mature and not play politics. This is a HEALTH organization and not a military organization. Why don't they care about Taiwan citizens or value them as much? Tell the PRC in a polite way that you will admit the ROC and tell the ROC that the PRC will also be a member. Let both countries (yes-I think they are both countries) decide if they can accept those terms. Same goes for the UN.

Why should the USA support an organization that is so disrespectful to an ally?

Because the US recognized the PRC as the official governing body of China and as such the UN has to follow suit.

This is technically the US' fault.

Yeah, and now we're so economically dependent on China that cutting them off would mean economic collapse. Short-term because we could bring jobs back(and short term meaning five years), but collapse nonetheless.

[New haven america]

Because the US recognized the PRC as the official governing body of China and as such the UN has to follow suit.

This is technically the US' fault.

Yeah, and now we're so economically dependent on China that cutting them off would mean economic collapse. Short-term because we could bring jobs back(and short term meaning five years), but collapse nonetheless.

Thanks Reagan.

[Kowani]

WH to give a press briefing in a few minutes

[Kannap]

It's literally nothing to do with the WHO. They're an arm of the UN, and have no option but to follow UN recognitions, which are stuck at "pretend Taiwan doesn't exist", largely because of the US.

I've heard the person who is the current head of WHO isn';t a doctor.

You should at least do a simple Google search before spreading misinformation

Current Director-General of WHO has a Master of Science degree in Immunology of Infectious Diseases and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in community health.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

The World Health Organization should be mature and not play politics. This is a HEALTH organization and not a military organization. Why don't they care about Taiwan citizens or value them as much? Tell the PRC in a polite way that you will admit the ROC and tell the ROC that the PRC will also be a member. Let both countries (yes-I think they are both countries) decide if they can accept those terms. Same goes for the UN.

Why should the USA support an organization that is so disrespectful to an ally?

Because the US recognized the PRC as the official governing body of China and as such the UN has to follow suit.

This is technically the US' fault.

"Damn Americans, they ruined America!"

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Yeah, and now we're so economically dependent on China that cutting them off would mean economic collapse. Short-term because we could bring jobs back(and short term meaning five years), but collapse nonetheless.

Thanks Reagan.

Don't thank Ronnie, thank the pervading thought that free trade will free China.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

Yeah, and now we're so economically dependent on China that cutting them off would mean economic collapse. Short-term because we could bring jobs back(and short term meaning five years), but collapse nonetheless.

Thanks Reagan.

*Nixon, actually. Reagan gets some blame but Nixon was the one who started the thawing process.

[San Lumen]

Its quite possible we could have two gubernatorial recall elections this year. The other being California.

Love to see the people exercising their power.

Im opposed to recalls but if the law allows it and enough valid signatures are collected have at it.

[New haven america]

Thanks Reagan.

*Nixon, actually. Reagan gets some blame but Nixon was the one who started the thawing process.

I was blaming Reagan about shipping jobs over to China.

He didn't have to do it, but he happily did.

Because the US recognized the PRC as the official governing body of China and as such the UN has to follow suit.

This is technically the US' fault.

"Damn Americans, they ruined America!"

You're not wrong.

[Freiheit Reich]

Great comparison.

The USA still thinks that free trade will make the PRC become freer. It might mean people in China have more money (we see they have more cars, Starbucks cafes, and LV bags) but 1989 was a long time ago and we are still waiting for more political freedom to happen. There was hope that things would get better (some signs of progress existed) until Mr. Xi Jinping became leader. I don't see Mr. Xi Jinping giving up on the idea of making the ROC a province or giving his citizens the right to vote or even letting them freely criticize the government. Maybe I am wrong and Xi Jinping will change his ways in a couple of years. Maybe Biden will be able to talk him into loosening some restrictions. If Biden does that, I will be quite impressed.

There is no peaceful way to make China free. None. The only option is war, and that would be a world war waged with nuclear weapons with the US and EU and one side and Russia and China on the other. It is truly a MAD idea to think we can do much more than impose certain sanctions that China's allies will either circumvent or veto anyway.

I am fine with respecting national sovereignty. I would oppose an Operation Chinese Freedom to liberate the Chinese people (who probably don't even want to be liberated overall). It seems the USA only wants to liberate people in small nations (could just be a coincidence).

I just want the USA to stop disrespecting Taiwan. If the PRC wants to invade the USA if we recognize the ROC, let them attack. I think the PRC will just cut off trade with us and we can then help solve poverty in Central America by outsourcing production to Honduras and Guatemala (or heaven forbid actually build things in the USA). I doubt the PRC wants to go to war over a trivial matter as long as we keep our soldiers out of North Korea, things will be fine.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

*Nixon, actually. Reagan gets some blame but Nixon was the one who started the thawing process.

I was blaming Reagan about shipping jobs over to China.

He didn't have to do it, but he happily did.

"Damn Americans, they ruined America!"

You're not wrong.

Well, yeah, it's generally established that Reagan was a bastard and is probably in Hell waiting for Heaven to trickle down some salvation on him.

[Cannot think of a name]

WH to give a press briefing in a few minutes

If it doesn't come with a weird ass claim like "biggest attendance in history" are they even trying to president?


Also, seriously, what was that weird shape on the Mall? This will bug me forever.

Thing I've been sitting on: Kamala hogging firsts. First woman VP, first Black VP, first South Asian VP. Almost got the first mixed race VP too. If you use a lot of qualifiers she's the first non-white mixed race VP. Leave some first for others, VP Harris...

[Kowani]

The Trump Library now has an official website

[New haven america]

Thanks Reagan.

Don't thank Ronnie, thank the pervading thought that free trade will free China.

But I like blaming things on Ronnie.

[Shrillland]

There is no peaceful way to make China free. None. The only option is war, and that would be a world war waged with nuclear weapons with the US and EU and one side and Russia and China on the other. It is truly a MAD idea to think we can do much more than impose certain sanctions that China's allies will either circumvent or veto anyway.

I am fine with respecting national sovereignty. I would oppose an Operation Chinese Freedom to liberate the Chinese people (who probably don't even want to be liberated overall). It seems the USA only wants to liberate people in small nations (could just be a coincidence).

I just want the USA to stop disrespecting Taiwan. If the PRC wants to invade the USA if we recognize the ROC, let them attack. I think the PRC will just cut off trade with us and we can then help solve poverty in Central America by outsourcing production to Honduras and Guatemala (or heaven forbid actually build things in the USA). I doubt the PRC wants to go to war over a trivial matter as long as we keep our soldiers out of North Korea, things will be fine.

Alas, China isn't worthy of resect in that field, either. Committing genocide does make a good casus belli as long as you can be sure of victory. Our problem with China is simply we can't be sure of victory.

[Cannot think of a name]

Well, this press secretary doesn't look like the shittiest sorority sister showing up to tell the nerds they aren't cool.

[New haven america]

I was blaming Reagan about shipping jobs over to China.

He didn't have to do it, but he happily did.


You're not wrong.

Well, yeah, it's generally established that Reagan was a bastard and is probably in Hell waiting for Heaven to trickle down some salvation on him.

Actually, if we go by Boondocks logic he is currently in Hwite Heaven.

[Kowani]

WH to give a press briefing in a few minutes

and we're live

[San Lumen]

WH to give a press briefing in a few minutes

If it doesn't come with a weird ass claim like "biggest attendance in history" are they even trying to president?


Also, seriously, what was that weird shape on the Mall? This will bug me forever.

Thing I've been sitting on: Kamala hogging firsts. First woman VP, first Black VP, first South Asian VP. Almost got the first mixed race VP too. If you use a lot of qualifiers she's the first non-white mixed race VP. Leave some first for others, VP Harris...

It was truly an extraordinary moment to witness. I got emotional watching it.

https://www.insider.com/number-one-obse ... o-denyer-6

This is the house Kamala Harris will occupy in Washington DC. Number One Observatory Circle. Its been the official home of the Vice President since 1974. Carter's VP Walter Mondale was the first to occupy the home full time and every Vice President since has lived there.

[Picairn]

It's morning here, and I see that 17 EOs have already been signed.

We are off to a good start.

[Cannot think of a name]

The Trump Library now has an official website

I wanted to stencil all of his tweets in an abandoned mall and spraypaint "TRUMP LIBRARY" on the entrance.

[Nekostan-e Gharbi]

What shall America do about African Americans then? You know very well what assimilation takes: it is not only cultural but also inevitably biological.

No its not, race isn’t a real concept and is a social construct, a simple glance at history would tell you that. A racist would say a black American has more in common with a black African than a white American, which is absurd

That’s not how it works in practice. An ethnic group has imaginary shared ancestors. When people look sufficiently different from each other and self-segregate the myth of shared ancestry falls apart. This is why separate but equal does not actually help people get along. It’s either fully merging or eventually ethnonationalism is going to show its ugly head.

[Salandriagado]

It's literally nothing to do with the WHO. They're an arm of the UN, and have no option but to follow UN recognitions, which are stuck at "pretend Taiwan doesn't exist", largely because of the US.

I've heard the person who is the current head of WHO isn';t a doctor.

Why do you spout these things when you could fact-check them in literally seconds? He's a biologist with a PhD in community health and a Masters in Immunology of Infectious Diseases and former Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs whose previous jobs and achievements include dramatically reducing infant mortality in Ethiopia, leading the International Health Partnership, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, UNAIDS, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization,the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation and the Stop TB Partnership, being a member of the Aspen Institute, the Harvard School of Public Health and the High Level Taskforce on Innovative International Financing for Health Systems, being Vice President of the World Health Assembly, putting Ethiopia ahead of target on the TB MDGs, massively cutting down AIDS prevalence in Ethiopia, cutting a big chunk off Ethiopia's family planning shortfall, successfully organising major international cooperative efforts, chairing the Executive Council of the African Union and leading the response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

No, he's not literally an MD. But why the fuck would you want a random MD rather than someone with actual relevant experience? Sure, there are legitimate reasons to object to him (the main rival was also an excellent candidate), but lack of qualifications isn't one of them, especially such an inane demand for a basically-irrelevant qualification.