US Politics Thread

[Dax777]

Great chat with my niece and her husband on St.Stephen’s night, both academics in Philadelphia currently.
Well, when I say currently, she lost her job and he’s about to be out of contract and it won’t be renewed as his position will go to a minority representative and both colleges they work for have already had promises of funding cuts.

Both my niece and her high profile husband who is American, are highly intelligent, highly qualified people.
They fear what Trump is about to embark on, and not particularly for their class.
They feel they are insulated from the worst effects of what will come, but the 60% working class will suffer. A high percentage of that 60% voted for this not knowing the difference between Obamacare and social/public health care/insurance etc.

The only consultation they feel is, that because of the American system, he basically has only the first two years to do as much damage as he can before becoming a lame duck ( like Biden is), in which time it is likely his ego will see him falling out with Musk and perhaps s few others.

Ok. There was a considerable amount of alcohol consumed over the course of the night, but I got the distinct impression that, they didn’t like Trump much and thought ( not surprisingly) that there is a misrepresentation or perhaps an over estimation in the media of how strong the majority vote was.
Because of the electoral college seats by population, in key states Pennsylvania the swing vote was merely circa 7k votes.

Great night by the way.

Same niece and husband that were confident Trump wouldn't win Pennsylvania or the race, right?

They are right about being insulated though. Everything else is take with a pinch of salt.

 

[Frank the Yank]

Let’s see how you view Musk when he turns on Trump, the guy is dangerous.

Turns on Trump? What does that mean?? What exactly will that look like?? Is your narrative that Musk leads Trump around by the nose? There’s no evidence for that.

Thankfully we have had strong, decisive, take charge leadership in the Oval Office the past four years?? SARCASM ALERT!!

 

[Frank the Yank]

In other news Biden has for years vehemently denied meeting/interacting with corrupt first son Hunter Biden business associates.

Newly released photos suggest otherwise. Perhaps it AI generated conspiracy nonsense.

After all I saw it reported in the NY post and they got Hunters laptop story all wrong. Fifty intelligence experts said so. Oh wait a minute!!!

 

[Dax777]

Let’s see how you view Musk when he turns on Trump, the guy is dangerous.

Personally, I like Musk far more than I do Trump. It'd be a stretch to say I like Trump. Musk I do.

If they fall out, and they probably will. I'd still like Musk just fine. One of the finest entrepreneurs of this generation.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

In 1948 the UK was branded a communist state by several speakers in Congress. The reason? The launch of the NHS.

That’s funny, because we also have an NHS system here. It’s called the VA and it’s where America services the medical needs of its military veterans! Service personnel also have their own ongoing medical system for military personnel called Tricare.

The irony, huh?! The MAIN SOCIALIST SYSTEM IN THE USA is the military and their socialized medical system!

 

[Blue Maverick]

Turns on Trump? What does that mean?? What exactly will that look like?? Is your narrative that Musk leads Trump around by the nose? There’s no evidence for that.

Thankfully we have had strong, decisive, take charge leadership in the Oval Office the past four years?? SARCASM ALERT!!

When Trump fucks him off he will see his arse and then use his platform to go against Trump.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

When Trump fucks him off he will see his arse and then use his platform to go against Trump.

It’ll be the biggest snowflake off in the history of mankind.

 

[KS55]

One man’s “decent” is another man’s “non-partisan.”

That was my point.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Both in academia you say?? Really since they are both highly qualified then they shouldn’t have any issues landing other gigs.

As for 60% of the working class getting hurt the next four years, in reality they have been getting pummeled the last four. Real wages down. During Trumps four years real wages up and minority unemployment at all time lows. Inflation low under Trump while it has been raging the last four years.

Regarding the closeness of the election. Basically the same could be said in 2016 and 2020. The US electorate is totally divided.

BTW you said her husband was high profile. What does the exactly mean??

I assume your niece is British. Have they thought about returning to the UK??

High profile would be that his family name would be well known. He comes from a long line of academics/scientists. He told me he has submitted about 80 applications to other universities/jobs. He has been called back for personal interviews on a couple
He didn’t come across as stressed about it.
He feels the right job will come along, but they may have to move again with two young kids.
My niece is Irish as am I. They’ll be dropping out to our place before they return in January so I’m sure I’ll take up the conversation again.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Same niece and husband that were confident Trump wouldn't win Pennsylvania or the race, right?

They are right about being insulated though. Everything else is take with a pinch of salt.

Haha! That was the first point I made to them when I met them in my sister’s.
I said ‘Come’ere you. I’ve a bone to pick with you both’.
My niece, said, ‘I bet I know exactly what that is.’

I got a good feel for life in Philadelphia from them Dax and I put a lot of what I find discussed in here to them and particularly to him. I put it to them that the system as it is, is being abused by both sides and they conceded that it was.

Something else that was advocated in here although I couldn’t see the point of it, was the voting for independents.
I got some interesting insights into this too.
All politics is local in the end.
It is here too, but I was given a better understanding of local, state and federal government in the US.

In short they both were quite objective and somewhat philosophical about the election result and the next 4 years. And yes… the democratic campaign was poor.
Call it praise if you want but they basically labelled Trump as an excellent salesman.
I personally from the outside looking in would probably get more riled about what that means to the truth than they seemed.
They basically conceded that Trump has shown how to win an election and that is all that matters.
If you are not in(power) you can’t win (effect policy).
Tell people anything that gets you elected, don’t get bogged down on policy pre-election. Seems counter intuitive to me but it seems that’s where politics are now.

They didn’t become apocalyptic about what’s to come but did feel it’ll mean educational budget cuts.
Great conversation and fun as well. The little I’ve learned in here came across well.
At least I could hold my own and pose some interesting food for thought items into their shopping cart.