All Purpose News and Politics Thread Part IV: The Center Cannot Hold

[Tendrin]

This is why I don't think we want to see Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders get the nomination. You can see the battle lines being drawn already with the GOP painting them as socialists.

https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1171538730621915136

I like Warren a lot and she's my favorite heading in. She's pretty good at breaking things down in ways that I think will appeal to the median voter. Really, any Democrat running is going to have unique challenges and they're going to need to be extremely adept, savvy and flexible to negotiate a hostile press. And the press /will/ be deeply hostile to any Democrat it can focus on in an attempt to appear to be even handed alongside Trump's cronyism, corruption, 'ship the homeless to FEMA camps' ass.
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[Tendrin]

Why does an immigration agency need a million dollar military simulator?

White ethno-nationalism stormtroopers gonna ethno-nationalist.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

2,500 People Are Reported Missing In The Bahamas After Hurricane Dorian

At least 50 people were killed by the storm, and the country’s prime minister said he expected that number to climb “significantly.”

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White House Wanted NOAA To Lie About Hurricane Forecast To Appease Trump: Report

The White House told Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to have NOAA disavow forecasters who challenged Trump’s storm path claim, says The New York Times. Yes, boys and girls, this stupid story STILL has legs!

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Trump Demands Fed Drop Rates To Zero. That Would Save Him $8 Million A Year.

The president called the Federal Reserve Board members “boneheads” as he pushed for a rate cut that would put money in his own pocket. The Grifter-in-Chief continues grifting. Meanwhile....

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Watergate Prosecutor Shows How A Donald Trump Indictment Could Still Happen

“They could indict a sitting president,” warned Nick Akerman. Will Democrats act? Probably not.

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Twitter Users Mock Trump’s Parenting Skills After He Says Melania ‘Has A Son’

“She’s got a son,” President Trump told reporters of his wife, Melania, apparently before remembering that he is the other parent. Trump is singlehandedly putting satirists like the Onion out of business because they can't dream up crazy **** like this!

[numberthirty]

This is why I don't think we want to see Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders get the nomination. You can see the battle lines being drawn already with the GOP painting them as socialists.

On this...

Let's say you don't want either of them to get the nomination.

Take a second to think about the percentage of the whole that is currently supporting them.

Looking at it realistically, I think that some of Sanders' supporters will be a tough get if anyone except him winds up with the nomination. That said, I don't see Warren's backers being in some big hurry to support a nominee who isn't her either.

If neither of them wind up with the nomination because you want to play it safe? Fine.

That said, what is the plan for trying to keep as many of their supporters as possible once they don't get the nomination? It's not like any of the current "Head To Head" match ups versus Trump have ten or fifteen percentage points to burn.

[ed2962]

This is why I don't think we want to see Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders get the nomination. You can see the battle lines being drawn already with the GOP painting them as socialists.

I dunno...swing voters don't always want safe, they want someone they can believe in. The GOP painted Obama as a socialist and he still won.

[ed2962]

Well, Tuckler Carlson already called Bolton a 'man of the left'.



https://theweek.com/speedreads/86417...n-since-Reagan

/Bolton/.

Tucker is having his "Ben Shaprio moment".

[Tami]

This is why I don't think we want to see Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders get the nomination. You can see the battle lines being drawn already with the GOP painting them as socialists.

Donald Trump is going to paint every Democratic Candidates, including Biden, as Socialists. Thing is, 'Socialism' to Republicans is a terrifying concept. To Independents, not so much so.

[Kirby101]

Democrats need to start using the "F" word for Republicans. "Fascists"

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Democrats need to start using the "F" word for Republicans. "Fascists"

I'm all for that. Problem is, Republicans might actually embrace the insult and wear it as a badge of honor. At this point, it's clear they don't give a **** about anything other than greed and power. The abominable actions of the North Carolina GOP yesterday was proof of the latter.

[Theleviathan]

I dunno...swing voters don't always want safe, they want someone they can believe in. The GOP painted Obama as a socialist and he still won.

Swing voters tend to swing because they want things to change. What we saw in 2018 would seem to indicate that we'll keep most of them anyway and they'll vote blue. What's important is to put a candidate forward that can win, whatever that means as we get closer.

But don't think "socialist" won't be an effective attack. The Democrats will have to have an effective counter-attack. My opinion? Have those Republican quotes about ripping away social security and medicaid ready to go EVERY TIME they use it.

[Michael Watkins]

Twitter Users Mock Trump’s Parenting Skills After He Says Melania ‘Has A Son’

“She’s got a son,” President Trump told reporters of his wife, Melania, apparently before remembering that he is the other parent. Trump is singlehandedly putting satirists like the Onion out of business because they can't dream up crazy **** like this!

maybe he knows something that we don't.

[Michael Watkins]

https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1171538730621915136

I like Warren a lot and she's my favorite heading in. She's pretty good at breaking things down in ways that I think will appeal to the median voter. Really, any Democrat running is going to have unique challenges and they're going to need to be extremely adept, savvy and flexible to negotiate a hostile press. And the press /will/ be deeply hostile to any Democrat it can focus on in an attempt to appear to be even handed alongside Trump's cronyism, corruption, 'ship the homeless to FEMA camps' ass.
]

i'm backing Warren until i'm give a reason not to. she's not as gaffe-prone as Biden and generally seems to know what she's talking about.

[Michael Watkins]

Well, Tuckler Carlson already called Bolton a 'man of the left'.



https://theweek.com/speedreads/86417...n-since-Reagan

/Bolton/.

Tucker is a slimy slimy man (not buying the playing dumb act). it's a sound tactic though. i've already heard someone at work repeat the lie.

[Theleviathan]

Matthew Yglesias on 'mobilizing the base' versus 'appealing to middle voters'.

https://www.vox.com/2019/9/11/208568...-2020-election



While there are some flaws I think it is worth a read.

What flaws do you see? This article is preaching to the choir with me, this is all the data that cuts through the left-wing narratives and exposes them. I get why people who are further progressive want to believe there is a treasure trove of progressive voters just waiting to be unleashed by the right candidate....but there just isn't evidence of that. The evidence is overwhelmingly to the contrary actually.

But I'm curious to hear what you think he had wrong.

[Tendrin]

What flaws do you see? This article is preaching to the choir with me, this is all the data that cuts through the left-wing narratives and exposes them. I get why people who are further progressive want to believe there is a treasure trove of progressive voters just waiting to be unleashed by the right candidate....but there just isn't evidence of that. The evidence is overwhelmingly to the contrary actually.

But I'm curious to hear what you think he had wrong.

Well, for one, its assumption about African Americans not voting. They didn't 'not vote'. They were /stopped from voting/, and that's not going to get any better so long as the GOP is in charge in a number of these states.