American Politics VII: Virginia Reel

[Kowani]

NPR calls it for Newsom

[Jeriga]

I'm really quite surprised that you guys are taking the position that if America launches an unprovoked attack, it's better to warn the enemy so they can repulse it rather than support your own country once the war starts.

Not wanting to support an unjust war...crazypants.

That's fine. End it politically. But warming the enemy? That's treason.

[Rusozak]

I'm really quite surprised that you guys are taking the position that if America launches an unprovoked attack, it's better to warn the enemy so they can repulse it rather than support your own country once the war starts.

Because we're not blinded by nationalism, and know that there is such a thing as our country being on the wrong side of a conflict.

[Cannot think of a name]

NPR calls it for Newsom

Ha! For once the thread is way ahead of you. Except maybe not specifically NPR...I can't remember all the 'called' posts.

The ABC stream continues to not give a fuck. They cut in for part of Newsom's speech and then went back to packages.

[Outer Sparta]

NPR calls it for Newsom

California Dems have the votes, but the recall would have succeed had they stayed home and the party didn't actively campaign against the recall. Getting them to turn out would mean the recall is essentially dead.

[Jeriga]

I'm really quite surprised that you guys are taking the position that if America launches an unprovoked attack, it's better to warn the enemy so they can repulse it rather than support your own country once the war starts.

Because we're not blinded by nationalism, and know that there is such a thing as our country being on the wrong side of a conflict.

The recourse is not to warn the enemy so that they kill more Americans

[Cannot think of a name]

Not wanting to support an unjust war...crazypants.

That's fine. End it politically. But warming the enemy? That's treason.

Merry go rounds aren't that fun in real life, metaphorical ones are even worse.

[Tarsonis]

Not wanting to support an unjust war...crazypants.

That's fine. End it politically. But warming the enemy? That's treason.

The difference between treason and patriotism is merely a matter of dates.

[Tarsonis]

Because we're not blinded by nationalism, and know that there is such a thing as our country being on the wrong side of a conflict.

The recourse is not to warn the enemy so that they kill more Americans

You're conflating nuclear war with conventional war. In a nuclear war everybody dies.

[Proctopeo]

Fair point.


The most likely outcome of an advanced warning is that the Chinese get their nukes out faster.

We have countermeasures and so do they.

One military man's misguided attempt at being a hero likely wouldn't impact the speed or efficacy of anti-ICBM infrastructure.

I'm really quite surprised that you guys are taking the position that if America launches an unprovoked attack, it's better to warn the enemy so they can repulse it rather than support your own country once the war starts.

Not wanting to support an unjust war...crazypants.

The most moral option in such a case is to not do anything. Aiding your countrymen in an unjust war is immoral, but so is aiding the enemy in killing your countrymen.

[Senkaku]

Not wanting to support an unjust war...crazypants.

That's fine. End it politically. But warming the enemy? That's treason.

I can’t believe the part of this situation you’re choosing to freak out about is the fact that we might’ve lost a nuclear war with China initiated by a psychotic Trump, rather than the fact that the Chinese government and people in the loop in capitals all over the world have spent the past few months reeling from the realization that America is now a country totally in the hands of its military and whose subsequently-resumed attempt at civilian government is hanging by a thread

[The Black Forrest]

Not wanting to support an unjust war...crazypants.

That's fine. End it politically. But warming the enemy? That's treason.

Ohhhh are you a time traveler? It’s 2021. You missed your mark by 70 years

[Cannot think of a name]

NPR calls it for Newsom

California Dems have the votes, but the recall would have succeed had they stayed home and the party didn't actively campaign against the recall. Getting them to turn out would mean the recall is essentially dead.

They were sleepwalking this thing until a poll came out suggesting it might succeed. Then they went full court press. Warren, Sanders, Obama, some weird cartoon...they went all in. And the pro-recall ads just looked unhinged, aimed entirely at boosting enthusiasm rather than making a case for new voters. Except one dude who claimed to be a Democrat but I don't know who the fuck he was or why I should give a shit that he was spazzing out.

[Washington Resistance Army]

That's fine. End it politically. But warming the enemy? That's treason.

I can’t believe the part of this situation you’re choosing to freak out about is the fact that we might’ve lost a nuclear war with China initiated by a psychotic Trump, rather than the fact that the Chinese government and people in the loop in capitals all over the world have spent the past few months reeling from the realization that America is now a country totally in the hands of its military and whose subsequently-resumed attempt at civilian government is hanging by a thread

Hey at least we know what it's like to live in late republican Rome now right lol

[Tarsonis]

We have countermeasures and so do they.

One military man's misguided attempt at being a hero likely wouldn't impact the speed or efficacy of anti-ICBM infrastructure.

Not wanting to support an unjust war...crazypants.

The most moral option in such a case is to not do anything. Aiding your countrymen in an unjust war is immoral, but so is aiding the enemy in killing your countrymen.

Again, nuclear war isn't the same as conventional war. If we launch, so will they. We know we cannot eliminate their capability before they counter launch, even with no warning.


Ffs didn't any of you watch wargames?

[Cannot think of a name]

That's fine. End it politically. But warming the enemy? That's treason.

I can’t believe the part of this situation you’re choosing to freak out about is the fact that we might’ve lost a nuclear war with China initiated by a psychotic Trump, rather than the fact that the Chinese government and people in the loop in capitals all over the world have spent the past few months reeling from the realization that America is now a country totally in the hands of its military and whose subsequently-resumed attempt at civilian government is hanging by a thread

Yeah, draw the line between "Make sure we follow procedures" to the military setting the marginal tax rate or negotiating trade policy.

For fuck's sake. Most of these 'the military is going rogue' turn out to be 'the military refused to follow illegal orders even from the president'. Not really that panic inducing.

[Outer Sparta]

California Dems have the votes, but the recall would have succeed had they stayed home and the party didn't actively campaign against the recall. Getting them to turn out would mean the recall is essentially dead.

They were sleepwalking this thing until a poll came out suggesting it might succeed. Then they went full court press. Warren, Sanders, Obama, some weird cartoon...they went all in. And the pro-recall ads just looked unhinged, aimed entirely at boosting enthusiasm rather than making a case for new voters. Except one dude who claimed to be a Democrat but I don't know who the fuck he was or why I should give a shit that he was spazzing out.

The second ballot option to pick who to succeed as governor in the event of a recall basically had nobody even remotely qualified. You got a random splotch of candidates from both parties as well as independents and third party candidates who are either incompetent, crazy, both, or just flat-out unqualified.

[Picairn]

Hey at least we know what it's like to live in late republican Rome now right lol

The pieces are falling into place.

[Senkaku]

I can’t believe the part of this situation you’re choosing to freak out about is the fact that we might’ve lost a nuclear war with China initiated by a psychotic Trump, rather than the fact that the Chinese government and people in the loop in capitals all over the world have spent the past few months reeling from the realization that America is now a country totally in the hands of its military and whose subsequently-resumed attempt at civilian government is hanging by a thread

Hey at least we know what it's like to live in late republican Rome now right lol

I mean no, they really dialed the murder up pretty tastelessly back then, until the climate gets worse we’ll just be living in some sort of grimly scaled up sitcom parody about a profoundly dysfunctional and abusive workplace

[Senkaku]

I can’t believe the part of this situation you’re choosing to freak out about is the fact that we might’ve lost a nuclear war with China initiated by a psychotic Trump, rather than the fact that the Chinese government and people in the loop in capitals all over the world have spent the past few months reeling from the realization that America is now a country totally in the hands of its military and whose subsequently-resumed attempt at civilian government is hanging by a thread

Yeah, draw the line between "Make sure we follow procedures" to the military setting the marginal tax rate or negotiating trade policy.

For fuck's sake. Most of these 'the military is going rogue' turn out to be 'the military refused to follow illegal orders even from the president'. Not really that panic inducing.

The chief of the general staff was doing shadow foreign relations because the president had lost the confidence of the government and there were no civilians with a mandate to immediately take power. I’m not freaking out and predicting Sulla 2.0 imminently massacring people in the streets or anything, I don’t think we’re there yet, but to completely deny this is a strong indicator of the fragility of the American state is sticking your head in the sand. Certainly I don’t think you can argue that anyone in Zhongnanhai who got that call would see it any other way.

[Kowani]

NPR calls it for Newsom

Ha! For once the thread is way ahead of you. Except maybe not specifically NPR...I can't remember all the 'called' posts.

The ABC stream continues to not give a fuck. They cut in for part of Newsom's speech and then went back to packages.

I’ve been working at the polls
busy laughing at my ass off rn


I’m pretty sure this circus cost us like $300 million btw

[Cannot think of a name]

They were sleepwalking this thing until a poll came out suggesting it might succeed. Then they went full court press. Warren, Sanders, Obama, some weird cartoon...they went all in. And the pro-recall ads just looked unhinged, aimed entirely at boosting enthusiasm rather than making a case for new voters. Except one dude who claimed to be a Democrat but I don't know who the fuck he was or why I should give a shit that he was spazzing out.

The second ballot option to pick who to succeed as governor in the event of a recall basically had nobody even remotely qualified. You got a random splotch of candidates from both parties as well as independents and third party candidates who are either incompetent, crazy, both, or just flat-out unqualified.

I think I already in this thread posited the ideal 'oopsie' scenario where an actual 'far left' candidate benefits from the Republicans trying to do an end run around the normal election.

[Odreria]

Hey at least we know what it's like to live in late republican Rome now right lol

The pieces are falling into place.

the place is falling to pieces

[Odreria]

Ha! For once the thread is way ahead of you. Except maybe not specifically NPR...I can't remember all the 'called' posts.

The ABC stream continues to not give a fuck. They cut in for part of Newsom's speech and then went back to packages.

I’ve been working at the polls
busy laughing at my ass off rn


I’m pretty sure this circus cost us like $300 million btw

worth it for one shot at freedom

[Jeriga]

The recourse is not to warn the enemy so that they kill more Americans

You're conflating nuclear war with conventional war. In a nuclear war everybody dies.

The general mentioned conventional attacks