American Politics IV: 1400 Reasons Why(A Stimulus Serial)

[Umeria]

Maybe that's their campaign message, but they're still very interventionist and whatnot in their governing. In terms of actual policy I wouldn't call any of them populist.

Populism: “A political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.“

Really look and listen to some of Trump’s speeches. Look at who he is appealing to in so many of his rallies and televised speeches/events. Conservative right-wing working class and impoverished people (to an extent), his messages entailing rhetoric like “elites”, “big government”,”they - the government”, “big tech”, “the politicians”, and etcetera. I would call him a nationalistic populist.

Populism is about more than just how you campaign; you actually have to do things that appeal to ordinary people. Sure, Trump had the populist rhetoric down, but once he got elected he gave the rich a massive tax cut, rolled back environmental regulations, and escalated the drone war. He's essentially a fake populist.

[Kazumazu]

Populism: “A political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.“

Really look and listen to some of Trump’s speeches. Look at who he is appealing to in so many of his rallies and televised speeches/events. Conservative right-wing working class and impoverished people (to an extent), his messages entailing rhetoric like “elites”, “big government”,”they - the government”, “big tech”, “the politicians”, and etcetera. I would call him a nationalistic populist.

Populism is about more than just how you campaign; you actually have to do things that appeal to ordinary people. Sure, Trump had the populist rhetoric down, but once he got elected he gave the rich a massive tax cut, rolled back environmental regulations, and escalated the drone war. He's essentially a fake populist.

Could you (or someone here) maybe provide links to the rich people tax cut? I’m asking out of honest curiosity because it was always a tit-for-tat about wether everyone got tax cuts or just the rich.

Same with his economy, I heard constant back and forth about the economy. (Which - if his economy was great for everyone - that might be a successful populist type thing.)

The environmental regulations were definitely dialed back, yes. And the COVID handling I’ll add by the entirety of the GOP - Trump included - was an oof-and-a-half.

[The Black Forrest]

"Welcome to Voting!"
"Oh! What's my first election?"
"Clinton v Trump"
"...Fuck"

Legit me in 2016, I regret everything.

Well? Ask yourselves this? Would H. have had a better response to covid?

[North Washington Republic]

Populism: “A political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.“

Really look and listen to some of Trump’s speeches. Look at who he is appealing to in so many of his rallies and televised speeches/events. Conservative right-wing working class and impoverished people (to an extent), his messages entailing rhetoric like “elites”, “big government”,”they - the government”, “big tech”, “the politicians”, and etcetera. I would call him a nationalistic populist.

Populism is about more than just how you campaign; you actually have to do things that appeal to ordinary people. Sure, Trump had the populist rhetoric down, but once he got elected he gave the rich a massive tax cut, rolled back environmental regulations, and escalated the drone war. He's essentially a fake populist.

There is such a thing as right-wing populism and I believe Donald Trump definitely fits that bill.

[The Black Forrest]

U.S. COVID response could have avoided hundreds of thousands of deaths: research

The United States squandered both money and lives in its response to the coronavirus pandemic, and it could have avoided nearly 400,000 deaths with a more effective health strategy and trimmed federal spending by hundreds of billions of dollars while still supporting those who needed it.

That is the conclusion of a group of research papers released at a Brookings Institution conference this week, offering an early and broad start to what will likely be an intense effort in coming years to assess the response to the worst pandemic in a century.

U.S. COVID-19 fatalities could have stayed under 300,000, versus a death toll of 540,000 and rising, if by last May the country had adopted widespread mask, social distancing, and testing protocols while awaiting a vaccine, estimated Andrew Atkeson, economics professor at University of California, Los Angeles.

He likened the state-by-state, patchwork response to a car’s cruise control. As the virus worsened people hunkered down, but when the situation improved restrictions were dropped and people were less careful, with the result that “the equilibrium level of daily deaths ... remains in a relatively narrow band” until the vaccine arrived.

Atkeson projected a final fatality level of around 670,000 as vaccines spread and the crisis subsides. The outcome, had no vaccine been developed, would have been a far-worse 1.27 million, Atkeson estimated.

It's kinda what we already knew, right? Well, it comes just in time for That Guy to go speak again:
Trump on Dr. Fauci: "I didn't really listen to him too much because I was doing the opposite of what he was saying".

This is not news. Trump has always been a moron. He lacks empathy. Add that with what his sister said “He has always been a cruel and vindictive person” (Not exact. The cruel and vindictive is however), you have a receipt for disaster.

Personally? I think he didn’t want to move on much as that was money which would have been better served given to his personal business.

[North Washington Republic]

U.S. COVID response could have avoided hundreds of thousands of deaths: research

The United States squandered both money and lives in its response to the coronavirus pandemic, and it could have avoided nearly 400,000 deaths with a more effective health strategy and trimmed federal spending by hundreds of billions of dollars while still supporting those who needed it.

That is the conclusion of a group of research papers released at a Brookings Institution conference this week, offering an early and broad start to what will likely be an intense effort in coming years to assess the response to the worst pandemic in a century.

U.S. COVID-19 fatalities could have stayed under 300,000, versus a death toll of 540,000 and rising, if by last May the country had adopted widespread mask, social distancing, and testing protocols while awaiting a vaccine, estimated Andrew Atkeson, economics professor at University of California, Los Angeles.

He likened the state-by-state, patchwork response to a car’s cruise control. As the virus worsened people hunkered down, but when the situation improved restrictions were dropped and people were less careful, with the result that “the equilibrium level of daily deaths ... remains in a relatively narrow band” until the vaccine arrived.

Atkeson projected a final fatality level of around 670,000 as vaccines spread and the crisis subsides. The outcome, had no vaccine been developed, would have been a far-worse 1.27 million, Atkeson estimated.

It's kinda what we already knew, right? Well, it comes just in time for That Guy to go speak again:
Trump on Dr. Fauci: "I didn't really listen to him too much because I was doing the opposite of what he was saying".

This is not news. Trump has always been a moron. He lacks empathy. Add that with what his sister said “He has always been a cruel and vindictive person” (Not exact. The cruel and vindictive is however), you have a receipt for disaster.

Personally? I think he didn’t want to move on much as that was money which would have been better served given to his personal business.

Trump doesn’t give a crap about anyone unless they’re personally beneficial to him.

[Umeria]

Could you (or someone here) maybe provide links to the rich people tax cut? I’m asking out of honest curiosity because it was always a tit-for-tat about wether everyone got tax cuts or just the rich.

Well one of the things his 2017 bill did was cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. (source)

Same with his economy, I heard constant back and forth about the economy. (Which - if his economy was great for everyone - that might be a successful populist type thing.)

I don't know much about the economy, but in my opinion it would be better to ensure people don't starve when the economy has a downturn than to boost it temporarily.

There is such a thing as right-wing populism and I believe Donald Trump definitely fits that bill.

I guess in terms of immigration? But Trump is not isolationist or protectionist; he continued to outsource jobs and do intervention overseas.

[Kowani]

Biden fires 30 members of the Homeland Security Advisory Council

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

https://www.michiganadvance.com/2021/03/26/state-gop-chair-calls-whitmer-nessel-benson-witches-to-be-burned-at-the-stake-jokes-about-meijer-upton-being-assassinated/

Michigan GOP chair calls Governor Whitmer, AG Nessel, Secretary of State Benson ‘witches’ to be ‘burn[ed] at the stake,’ jokes about Congressman Meijer, Upton being assassinated

Threats are not jokes.

[Postauthoritarian America]

Modern? Things have always been this way, the only thing that’s different now is who they’re saying it to.

Ohhh, I beg to differ. Because of one man, the GOP went from a largely center ride party that supported a free market economy, trade and a strong(interventionist) foreign policy to a populist, autarkist, isolationist and tariff loving party.

You left out authoritarian, anti-small-d-democratic and insurrectionist. Today's Republican party cares about one thing, getting and holding on to power, and it will use any means up to and including violence to do it.

But it's not because of just one man. Racism, xenophobia and misogyny have been part and parcel of the Republican message and strategy since Nixon's "war on drugs" which his own advisors have admitted was a deliberately planned war on Black people. Lie down with Republican dogs, get up with fleas.

Ergo, Democrats would lose nothing from blowing up the filibuster today. Republicans have proven they will let nothing stand between them and political power; in the majority (which what ever gods may be forbid), the filibuster would mean nothing to them.

[Kazumazu]

But it's not because of just one man. Racism, xenophobia and misogyny have been part and parcel of the Republican message and strategy since Nixon's "war on drugs" which his own advisors have admitted was a deliberately planned war on Black people.

What I underlined isn't exclusive to the Republican Party. FDR was a Democrat with a number of racist actions in his portfolio. Joe Biden and his clumsy appeals to black Americans result in enough awkward and racist stories and pronouns to make anyone cringe. Hillary Clinton had her moments too. Both parties regarding race have had their hands muddy and even bloody at times.

Misogyny? That too can be found on both political isles, and the Republican party isn't "structured" on it. It's infected by it yes, but not heavily pillared on it.

Regarding the xenophobia, I'm assuming that point is hinged around their typical border policies and foreign relations, yes?

[Tyunmen]

You implied it, saying "people who don't vote shouldn't complain" is literally the dumbest thing you have said.

"Shouldn't" isn't at all the same as "shouldn't be allowed to". There are lots of things I consider people shouldn't do - such as following a religion, smoking or drinking alcohol, reading Ayn Rand, or considering Star Wars episodes I-III to be canon. But I don't want to make any of those illegal.

ATTENTION CIVILIAN, FOR HIGH-TREASON AGAINST GEORGE WALTON LUCAS JR I THE HOLY-GOD OF THE CULT OF LUCAS I SENTENCE YOU TO DEATH BY KICK TO THE FACE.

[Omniabstracta]

Modern? Things have always been this way, the only thing that’s different now is who they’re saying it to.

Ohhh, I beg to differ. Because of one man, the GOP went from a largely center ride party that supported a free market economy, trade and a strong(interventionist) foreign policy to a populist, autarkist, isolationist and tariff loving party.

Shifts like this do not just happen out of the blue in a few years because of one guy. The link between American conservatism and, say, isolationism, is not a new one. In fact, the New Right’s fascination with interventionism is a relatively novel and brief stint in a conservative political landscape that has been far more often infatuated with isolationism and its own brand of populist coalition-building, stretching from the first half of the 20th century back to the antebellum era.

That’s a bit of a digression from the main point though. Speaking of populism in particular, that bit never really went away. The man who the Republican Party has modeled itself on for the past 40 years, Reagan, was undoubtedly a populist, and he owed his success to that. Maybe it was a more austere and less internally focused form of populism than one generally thinks of, primed as it was by a particular moment in time where Keynesian economics was perceived to be failing. But it was populism nonetheless, with all the tell-tale signs of anti-intellectualism, anti-elitism, prior rhetoric about a “silent majority” and the success of the Southern Strategy, and a voter base that was feeling guilt about a certain disgraced President, alongside a new candidate who invited them to not feel guilty.

Now, primed by a perceived failure of neoliberalism—not the buzzword meaning of neoliberalism, the actual, Reaganite neoliberalism—we have another group of angry voters, perceiving themselves to shamed about racism or ignorance or whatever by the “”elite left””, with a candidate again promising that they need not feel ashamed or be ignored. And the Republican Party, which never forgot Reagan, jumped on his message hook, line, and sinker when the time came to test their loyalty.

Trump did not make the Republican Party into any of those things you listed. The GOP base was ready for those things, a readiness brought about by deindustrialization, brought about by the failure to bring material change for the rural interior, minorities, and the poor in the rust belt, brought about by rhetoric from their politicians surrounding things like NAFTA and immigration and underlying racial tensions, brought about by everything. And Trump was there to give that base exactly what they wanted, or at least, to say he was going to. He didn’t create anything, he was just a channel for what was already there.

[Kowani]

Baltimore will no longer prosecute drug possession, prostitution, or or various other low-level crimes

A year ago, as the coronavirus began to spread across Maryland, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby stopped prosecuting drug possession, prostitution, minor traffic violations and other low-level offenses, a move aimed at curbing Covid-19's spread behind bars.

That shift — repeated by prosecutors in many other cities — didn’t just reduce jail populations. In Baltimore, nearly all categories of crime have since declined, confirming to Mosby what she and criminal justice experts have argued for years: Crackdowns on quality-of-life crimes are not necessary for stopping more serious crime.

On Friday, Mosby announced that she was making her pandemic experiment permanent, saying Baltimore — for decades notorious for runaway violence and rough policing — had become a case study in criminal justice reform. In the 12 months since she ordered scaled-back enforcement, violent crime is down 20 percent and property crime has declined 36 percent, she said. Homicides inched down, though Baltimore still has one of the highest homicide rates among cities nationwide. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found sharp reductions in calls to police complaining about drugs and prostitution, she said.

“Clearly, the data suggest there is no public safety value in prosecuting low-level offenses,” Mosby said at a news conference.[...] She said the Baltimore Police Department will be a partner in this shift away from low-level prosecutions, in which officers and prosecutors will focus on violent crime and drug trafficking as courts begin holding criminal trials again.

“Our understanding is that the police are going to follow what they’ve been doing for the past year, which is not arresting people based on the offenses I mentioned,” Mosby said.

At the same time, law enforcement will work with a local nonprofit, Baltimore Crisis Response Inc., to provide services to people suffering from mental illness, homelessness and drug addiction.

[The Black Forrest]

Why would you compromise with someone who wants voter suppression?

I wouldn't. But Lumen is a big fan of compromise, supposedly.

Ohhhh. Well? There are some thing which there are no room for compromise.

https://www.michiganadvance.com/2021/03/26/state-gop-chair-calls-whitmer-nessel-benson-witches-to-be-burned-at-the-stake-jokes-about-meijer-upton-being-assassinated/

Michigan GOP chair calls Governor Whitmer, AG Nessel, Secretary of State Benson ‘witches’ to be ‘burn[ed] at the stake,’ jokes about Congressman Meijer, Upton being assassinated

At least they didn’t demand a recall election.

[Joohan]

Modern? Things have always been this way, the only thing that’s different now is who they’re saying it to.

Ohhh, I beg to differ. Because of one man, the GOP went from a largely center ride party that supported a free market economy, trade and a strong(interventionist) foreign policy to a populist, autarkist, isolationist and tariff loving party.

Kind of. I can only speak from personal experience, but your average working class republican voter has pretty much always been the, America first, kind of person. Things in the party started taking a decidedly more globalist approach round the Reagan years, and every GOP presidency after up until Trump. Your average republican wanted to bring industry back from China, was skeptical about NAFTA, and even about most foriegn entanglements like the UN or NATO. Just because it was the Romney and McConnell types who were in charge of the party for some forty years or so doesn't actually mean that they were representative of their based. Trump's become so popular because he was a break from the forty years of neocons and neolibs who ran the party, and at least tried raising populist concerns - though he turned out to be a pretty milquetoast and moderate president in that regard.

[Odreria]

Ohhh, I beg to differ. Because of one man, the GOP went from a largely center ride party that supported a free market economy, trade and a strong(interventionist) foreign policy to a populist, autarkist, isolationist and tariff loving party.

Kind of. I can only speak from personal experience, but your average working class republican voter has pretty much always been the, America first, kind of person. Things in the party started taking a decidedly more globalist approach round the Reagan years, and every GOP presidency after up until Trump. Your average republican wanted to bring industry back from China, was skeptical about NAFTA, and even about most foriegn entanglements like the UN or NATO. Just because it was the Romney and McConnell types who were in charge of the party for some forty years or so doesn't actually mean that they were representative of their based. Trump's become so popular because he was a break from the forty years of neocons and neolibs who ran the party, and at least tried raising populist concerns - though he turned out to be a pretty milquetoast and moderate president in that regard.

It doesn't really make sense to talk about a single "average republican." It's a big coalition that different groups have had more power in at different times.

[Joohan]

Kind of. I can only speak from personal experience, but your average working class republican voter has pretty much always been the, America first, kind of person. Things in the party started taking a decidedly more globalist approach round the Reagan years, and every GOP presidency after up until Trump. Your average republican wanted to bring industry back from China, was skeptical about NAFTA, and even about most foriegn entanglements like the UN or NATO. Just because it was the Romney and McConnell types who were in charge of the party for some forty years or so doesn't actually mean that they were representative of their based. Trump's become so popular because he was a break from the forty years of neocons and neolibs who ran the party, and at least tried raising populist concerns - though he turned out to be a pretty milquetoast and moderate president in that regard.

It doesn't really make sense to talk about a single "average republican." It's a big coalition that different groups have had more power in at different times.

I was speaking about my experience with other working class republicans - not me personally. The above mentioned were the typical opinions I've been met with among most Republicans i've met.

[Odreria]

It doesn't really make sense to talk about a single "average republican." It's a big coalition that different groups have had more power in at different times.

I was speaking about my experience with other working class republicans - not me personally. The above mentioned were the typical opinions I've been met with among most Republicans i've met.

Not all republicans are working class. The fact that you mostly know members of one group within the party doesn't mean there aren't multiple groups. I know a number of conservatives that are true believers in free trade and all that stuff.

[The Alma Mater]

Ohhh, I beg to differ. Because of one man, the GOP went from a largely center ride party that supported a free market economy, trade and a strong(interventionist) foreign policy to a populist, autarkist, isolationist and tariff loving party.

You left out authoritarian, anti-small-d-democratic and insurrectionist. Today's Republican party cares about one thing, getting and holding on to power, and it will use any means up to and including violence to do it.

But it's not because of just one man. Racism, xenophobia and misogyny have been part and parcel of the Republican message and strategy since Nixon's "war on drugs" which his .

And do not forget the whole "using the word socialism as a scare tactic" they have been doing all the way back to the 50s.
What is amazing is that Republicans still fall for it en masse. One would expect that if a party has been claiming voting for the others will "lead to socialism" for over 70 years and it never happening, people would stop believing it. But the opposite seems true.

[Kowani]

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) may have used her status as a Congresswoman to escape an encounter with the Capitol Police

It was Thursday afternoon before a Senate recess was about to begin, and senators were in a hurry -- especially Marsha Blackburn.

As senators bolted from the chamber after the week's final vote to catch their afternoon flights, the Tennessee Republican hopped in a waiting car along with an aide and made her way down Constitution Avenue. But the car was pulled over by US Capitol Police.
Blackburn then jumped out of the car, identified herself as a senator and showed the officer her congressional pin, according to a text message and a source familiar with the matter. The officer then let the car go.
US Capitol Police says it has no record of the incident, yet the senator's office later confirmed the account and said it was the police asking for her identification. Her office said she was a passenger when the car was pulled over. CNN's account of the incident is based on a text message from one of her aides and two other sources who have been told about the matter.
Leo Kowalski, an aide to Blackburn, told his friends that after being pulled over, the senator "hopped out, flashed her pin, hopped back in the car [and] said 'drive!'" "Officer didn't say a word, just shook his head," the aide said in a text message, which was reviewed by CNN.
One source familiar with the account told CNN that Blackburn identified herself as a senator and was allowed to leave. The source added it's unclear whether the responding officer made that call or was directed to let her go by a superior. Kowalski didn't respond to multiple messages about the incident, and neither did a spokesperson until after CNN's story published.
"While en-route to the airport to fly to Memphis for constituent meetings, Sen. Blackburn's driver was pulled over," a Blackburn spokesperson said in a statement. "The police officer asked the Senator for identification, which she provided, and then proceeded to the airport."
Yet the Capitol Police said it had no records of the incident -- and wouldn't explain why not.

Asked for comment on the decision to let Blackburn go after she flashed her pin, a US Capitol Police spokesperson said there was no record of the incident and declined to comment further.
"There's no record of USCP making a stop at the location on the day listed," a spokesperson said.
One Capitol Police source said Blackburn's behavior is not unusual for senators.
The Capitol Police has received criticism in the past for giving preferential treatment to members of Congress. In 2006, after then Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy crashed his Ford Mustang convertible into a traffic barrier on Capitol Hill, the police responding to the early-morning incident did not give him a sobriety test. He denied consuming alcohol prior to the incident but said he was taking sleeping medication.

[Diahon]

so i've been gone two weeks and apparently more people are dead, the suez canal's got a ship up its metaphorical ass, and the georgia gop is firmly behind authoritarianism now

cool

normal

i really fucking hate this timeline

Well? Ask yourselves this? Would H. have had a better response to covid?

yes

but apparently we must have one of the more awful timelines, because fuck it, trauma is one hell of a motivator

[Joohan]

You left out authoritarian, anti-small-d-democratic and insurrectionist. Today's Republican party cares about one thing, getting and holding on to power, and it will use any means up to and including violence to do it.

But it's not because of just one man. Racism, xenophobia and misogyny have been part and parcel of the Republican message and strategy since Nixon's "war on drugs" which his .

And do not forget the whole "using the word socialism as a scare tactic" they have been doing all the way back to the 50s.
What is amazing is that Republicans still fall for it en masse. One would expect that if a party has been claiming voting for the others will "lead to socialism" for over 70 years and it never happening, people would stop believing it. But the opposite seems true.

It doesnt help when you have socdem politicians call themselves socialist

[Cannot think of a name]

Baltimore will no longer prosecute drug possession, prostitution, or or various other low-level crimes

A year ago, as the coronavirus began to spread across Maryland, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby stopped prosecuting drug possession, prostitution, minor traffic violations and other low-level offenses, a move aimed at curbing Covid-19's spread behind bars.

That shift — repeated by prosecutors in many other cities — didn’t just reduce jail populations. In Baltimore, nearly all categories of crime have since declined, confirming to Mosby what she and criminal justice experts have argued for years: Crackdowns on quality-of-life crimes are not necessary for stopping more serious crime.

On Friday, Mosby announced that she was making her pandemic experiment permanent, saying Baltimore — for decades notorious for runaway violence and rough policing — had become a case study in criminal justice reform. In the 12 months since she ordered scaled-back enforcement, violent crime is down 20 percent and property crime has declined 36 percent, she said. Homicides inched down, though Baltimore still has one of the highest homicide rates among cities nationwide. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found sharp reductions in calls to police complaining about drugs and prostitution, she said.

“Clearly, the data suggest there is no public safety value in prosecuting low-level offenses,” Mosby said at a news conference.[...] She said the Baltimore Police Department will be a partner in this shift away from low-level prosecutions, in which officers and prosecutors will focus on violent crime and drug trafficking as courts begin holding criminal trials again.

“Our understanding is that the police are going to follow what they’ve been doing for the past year, which is not arresting people based on the offenses I mentioned,” Mosby said.

At the same time, law enforcement will work with a local nonprofit, Baltimore Crisis Response Inc., to provide services to people suffering from mental illness, homelessness and drug addiction.

Was that season two or three of The Wire?

[Kilobugya]

Ohhh, I beg to differ. Because of one man, the GOP went from a largely center ride party that supported a free market economy, trade and a strong(interventionist) foreign policy to a populist, autarkist, isolationist and tariff loving party.

On some issues, such as tariff, Trump did shift the stance of the GOP, yes. But all the dogwhistles and catering for white supremacists and toxic masculinity were present since at least Nixon. The "strong interventionist" (aka imperialist) foreign policy continued, just ask Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela or Ecuador. And so did the "free market" (aka pro-corporation, anti-people) stance with all the tax cuts, deregulation and attempt to strip people from healthcare in the midst of the pandemics.

Trump is more cult-like and more open about his racism, misogyny and anti-democratic stance, but except on a few issues like tariff, there is no fundamental difference between his GOP and the "traditional" GOP. Which is part of why there was so little resistance inside the GOP establishment against Trump.

Today's Republican party cares about one thing, getting and holding on to power, and it will use any means up to and including violence to do it.

I would say they care about two things, if we speak of GOP leaders (like McConnell): one is holding on to power at any cost, as you say. The other is giving tax cuts and deregulation to the wealthy/corporations. That one is in huge part what they want power for. All the rest comes next.