US Politics Thread

[super_city_si]

Both the same-ers have gone quiet now?

They just got their arses handed to them. You'd think they might realize their agenda is turning voters away? Oh well, let them destroy themselves

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Harris has been massively handicapped by the 50/50 senate of the last 2 years, she's had to be in DC pretty much every single day to be available to decide votes.

If the Democrats can win Georgia, she'll be free to do a lot more around the country, have more policy initiatives, build up her profile for election.

However I'd be looking at the Gergia governor election demographics and be very weary of a Harris presidential campaign. There are demographics in the USA who just will not vote for a black woman to be in power over them.

I also think one of the reasons Biden has done so well is (in the words of Fox News) "There's just not that much hate for Joe Biden out there like there was for Obama or Hillary". I think there's a lot of right wing hate towards Harris and maybe an outsider who hasn't had 8 years of solid demonisation from Fox and OANN will have a better chance at pulling centrist republicans and independents to the democrats.

I think it's a fairly good summary. Biden was not the most dynamic option last time. But he was the safest option.

I don't think the US is going to elect a non white female POTUS any time soon. I'd like to be proved wrong but I can't see it. So on that basis I think sleepy Joe will run again.

Trump is in far more trouble than he knows. Many people involved last time are not any more, even Ivanka skipped his launch event. He has terrible people around him and huge legal trouble. It's possible his right to stand for election could be challenged in many states. His fundraising will be very telling. He ran unopposed last time so gop donors had no other choice. This time the big money might just hold off. And his base has been rinsed for years. He is the cult leader but it could all go to shit very quickly or very slowly.

 

[BayernMan]

Because "owning the libs" is their platform. Or was. I'm not sure it can be after the mid-terms. But if it is, fine, because them continuing down this path is party suicide. On the other hand though, it would be nice to heal some divisions and get some positive bipartisan work done.

Their idea of bipartisanship is leveraging the debt ceiling and a government shutdown to “reform” social security and Medicare to finance their tax cuts while Biden takes the blame for it. Frankly, “owning the libs” sounds pretty good when compared to that.

 

[BayernMan]

I think it's a fairly good summary. Biden was not the most dynamic option last time. But he was the safest option.

I don't think the US is going to elect a non white female POTUS any time soon. I'd like to be proved wrong but I can't see it. So on that basis I think sleepy Joe will run again.

Trump is in far more trouble than he knows. Many people involved last time are not any more, even Ivanka skipped his launch event. He has terrible people around him and huge legal trouble. It's possible his right to stand for election could be challenged in many states. His fundraising will be very telling. He ran unopposed last time so gop donors had no other choice. This time the big money might just hold off. And his base has been rinsed for years. He is the cult leader but it could all go to shit very quickly or very slowly.

As much I would like to see an Abrams or a Harris leading ticket I have to agree with you and @domalino. Even with all of Hillary’s baggage, even her own demographic voted for her in less numbers than Obama in the general election so I find it hard to see a woman of color doing better. The fact that the Biden admin have protected Harris so well is good on their part but watching Abrams lose again has really dented my hopes since from the exit polls it seems like folks were voting split ticket with Kemp/Warnock. Hopefully I’m wrong about Harris chances but unless otherwise it should be Biden all the way.

As for Trump I think he is gambling on public opinion changing over the course of two years. The general public tends to have short memories.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Their idea of bipartisanship is leveraging the debt ceiling and a government shutdown to “reform” social security and Medicare to finance their tax cuts while Biden takes the blame for it. Frankly, “owning the libs” sounds pretty good when compared to that.

The shut down of the government is nailed on. But strategically I think it helps the dems. It puts a spotlight on the issues each side wants to push and the GQP don't have anything popular.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

I respect your right to believe what you want, but in my view the data has changed, as I have laid out in several posts, which is what I base my belief on. This isn't 2015. Trump is running on his record now. The last time he did, he lost. The candidates who ran on his record in the mid-terms also lost. Republicans want to win, not lose. DeSantis just won. And not only won, annihilated his competition. While I am as cynical about the unshakeable faith of Trump cult members as anyone, it's clear that some members of it are wavering -- and that includes both big money donors and some Republican politicians. At least they say so now. But they have an alternative now that they didn't have before -- a winner who (in their minds) has the policies of Trump without all the specific douchebaggery of Trump. DeSantis may be a shiny object at the moment, but I think with good reason.

Sudden thought: Imagine DeSantis winning a few primaries, making it close, and Trump screaming "fraud"!

Trump's presidential run announcement is the earliest anyone has ever announced a run for the Whitehouse by a long way. It is no coincidence that he made the call just as former white house aide Cassidy Hutchinson testifies to the Atlanta Special Grand Jury over Trumps infamous attempt to overturn the election in the state of Georgia.

Almost as if he thinks that because he's a candidate that it gives him some form of protection from prosecution. In reality all it will give him is a pretty limp stick to try and beat DoJ with when claiming 'witch hunt' against a political opponent.

Desperate cnut!!!

 

[SWP's back]

He’s younger than Trump, so it’s really only an issue if DeSantis runs.

If it is DeSantis though Whitmer is my front runner, then Newsom, then Harris.

Klobuchar, Buttigieg and Warren might primary but I don’t see them winning.

Trump is 4 years younger bud. Biden is 80 on Sunday. Trump is 76.

 

[SWP's back]

No, he isn't.

Ah ok. He's close enough that the right wing can't make age an issue.

Ah hadn’t seen these when I replied above. Anyway, it’s not so much the GOP making it an issue as Joe slowing down a bit and who wants to die stood up and working 20 hours days.

Nothing against Biden, but I’d prefer a younger candidate in 2024.

 

[laserblue]

The MAGA idiots who've been crying 'rigged elections' again simply because some Dems won with late vote counts seem to have gone a bit quiet now that the GOP gained control of the House with late vote counts over a week after the election. It might have even dawned on a few of them that if the Dems could have rigged or did rig the vote their primary objective would have been to retain control of the House, the one thing they didn't do.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Ah hadn’t seen these when I replied above. Anyway, it’s not so much the GOP making it an issue as Joe slowing down a bit and who wants to die stood up and working 20 hours days.

Nothing against Biden, but I’d prefer a younger candidate in 2024.

Biden is an FOC. But it didn't hurt him last time. Trump may be younger but he is an angry old man and it doesn't come across well.

Shame someone like Beto didn't put a stronger CV together. I can't think of one good young candidate (after filtering all non straight/white/male as required by many us voters, even some dems).