Red Mosquito

Bi_3 wrote:

Green Habit wrote:So I wake up and I see that there's a real chance that Clinton could still win the popular vote. If that happens, which would mean the conflict against the electoral vote went against the Democrats two out of the last five elections, I have to imagine that abolishing the Electoral College will be a prominent plank of their next platform.

I don't know the arguments either way... but isn't that essentially disenfranchising voters in flyover states?

Not if they're competitive states. And big states like California and Texas don't get any attention either because the outcome is well known.

Without the EC, there would likely be focus on competitive cities and neighborhoods within almost all states. Manhattan and Bumblefuck would get ignored, but as I said they get ignored already in the status quo.

tragabigzanda wrote: I honestly believe there's a serious threat of thousands, if not millions, of people dying.

From what? Trump ovens? Do you think soldiers will be dragging illegals from their homes and throwing them back across the fence? Do you think any first world state actor would use a nuke again?

Bi_3 wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:I honestly believe there's a serious threat of thousands, if not millions, of people dying.

From what? Trump ovens? Do you think soldiers will be dragging illegals from their homes and throwing them back across the fence? Do you think any first world state actor would use a nuke again?

ACA supporters will definitely make the same argument trag did if it gets repealed.

Bi_3 wrote:Do you think soldiers will be dragging illegals from their homes and throwing them back across the fence?

Yes, I do.

Bi_3 wrote:Do you think any first world state actor would use a nuke again?

Yes, I do.

I also think Trump will try to use his newfound success to use the power of the State to "vanquish" his enemies. It will no longer be a Twitter war. You piss him off now, and there'll be a knock at the door. And he'll have the power of Congress and the Supreme Court to back him. It's gonna get really, REALLY bad.

wease wrote:I also think Trump will try to use his newfound success to use the power of the State to "vanquish" his enemies. It will no longer be a Twitter war. You piss him off now, and there'll be a knock at the door. And he'll have the power of Congress and the Supreme Court to back him. It's gonna get really, REALLY bad.

I have some faint hope that Kennedy and even Thomas will push against some of Trump's most authoritarian impulses. Unfortunately, the Grim Reaper will likely be in charge of just how much the texture of SCOTUS changes.

Well, with this election, we've taught our children that it's ok to be a bully, a racist, a sexist, a homophobe, a xenophobe, a sexual assaulter, a liar, to mock disabled people, to admire Suddam Hussein for getting things done...

What did I leave out?

Bi_3 wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote: I honestly believe there's a serious threat of thousands, if not millions, of people dying.

From what? Trump ovens? Do you think soldiers will be dragging illegals from their homes and throwing them back across the fence? Do you think any first world state actor would use a nuke again?

From Donald Trump'a inability to handle disagreement or conflict.

From Donald Trump's unwillingness to be allowed to lose anything, which will be fed by even greater blind confidence now.

From a country of shrinking influence and a strong military adopting the bully method of diplomacy.

From whatever America does with its internal frustrations and anger, as the economy contracts and a single party government enters office that has won in part by being ferociously anti-immigration, anti-marriage equality, and anti-choice.

From whatever Donald Trump thinks should be done in the Middle East, and its impact on terrorism support and recruitment.

From the feeling of power and acceptance that America's most racist and xenophobic lunatics are feeling right now.

From climate change being a hoax.

From more nukes.

Because Russia is ambitious about Eastern Europe and other things, and now faces what I'm sure they know is the best lack of organized western checks that they can hope for.

Or perhaps other things.

The only logical way I can imagine someone thinking "Trump's expressed approach to this country's needs has the potential to create dangerous circumstances...ones that do not need to happen, and should not happen," is if they also naively think, "the Republicans will keep him in check."

It is stunning to me to think that, as pessimistic and negative as I am about it, I have still been giving this country way too much credit.

Meaningless silver lining, but it appears that the Democrats will actually gain a little ground in Congress. (+1 or +2 Senate seats and maybe around +7 House seats)

Green Habit wrote:

wease wrote:I also think Trump will try to use his newfound success to use the power of the State to "vanquish" his enemies. It will no longer be a Twitter war. You piss him off now, and there'll be a knock at the door. And he'll have the power of Congress and the Supreme Court to back him. It's gonna get really, REALLY bad.

I have some faint hope that Kennedy and even Thomas will push against some of Trump's most authoritarian impulses.

If they did, there will be a knock on their door as well. I think checks and balances are largely an illusion here.

Bi_3 wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote: I honestly believe there's a serious threat of thousands, if not millions, of people dying.

From what? Trump ovens? Do you think soldiers will be dragging illegals from their homes and throwing them back across the fence? Do you think any first world state actor would use a nuke again?

Will every thing he said come to pass? No, of course not, but I don't think it's Pollyanna-ish to acknowledge this is a far different nominee from the norm.

time for the media and the Left to stop pretending its old white males vs everyone else. Your problems are so much larger than you know.

digster wrote:

Bi_3 wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote: I honestly believe there's a serious threat of thousands, if not millions, of people dying.

From what? Trump ovens? Do you think soldiers will be dragging illegals from their homes and throwing them back across the fence? Do you think any first world state actor would use a nuke again?

Will every thing he said come to pass? No, of course not, but I don't think it's Pollyanna-ish to acknowledge this is a far different nominee from the norm.

For sure, but the absurd overreaction hyperbole being thrown around right now is just silly, bordering on sad. Trump does not literally get to put his finger on the nuke button, it's an agreement between like a dozen people. For this other stuff; the thousands of people, regulations, and lawsuits one must overcome to do the things being suggested will prevent Trump from doing evil, just like it prevent every modern President before him (and prevented a lot of them from doing good). The federal government is not a bunch of mindless robots that only obey the whims of the executive (uhhh... remember Comey last week?) Plus, we have no idea who his cabinet is going to be. We have no idea the real level of support he will have in Congress should he do something that threatens one of the S&P 100. It's brexit hysteria all over again.

Bi_3 wrote:

digster wrote:

Bi_3 wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote: I honestly believe there's a serious threat of thousands, if not millions, of people dying.

From what? Trump ovens? Do you think soldiers will be dragging illegals from their homes and throwing them back across the fence? Do you think any first world state actor would use a nuke again?

Will every thing he said come to pass? No, of course not, but I don't think it's Pollyanna-ish to acknowledge this is a far different nominee from the norm.

For sure, but the absurd overreaction hyperbole being thrown around right now is just silly, bordering on sad. Trump does not literally get to put his finger on the nuke button, it's an agreement between like a dozen people. For this other stuff; the thousands of people, regulations, and lawsuits one must overcome to do the things being suggested will prevent Trump from doing evil, just like it prevent every modern President before him (and prevented a lot of them from doing good). The federal government is not a bunch of mindless robots that only obey the whims of the executive (uhhh... remember Comey last week?) Plus, we have no idea who his cabinet is going to be. We have no idea the real level of support he will have in Congress should he do something that threatens one of the S&P 100. It's brexit hysteria all over again.

Bi_3 wrote:

digster wrote:

Bi_3 wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote: I honestly believe there's a serious threat of thousands, if not millions, of people dying.

From what? Trump ovens? Do you think soldiers will be dragging illegals from their homes and throwing them back across the fence? Do you think any first world state actor would use a nuke again?

Will every thing he said come to pass? No, of course not, but I don't think it's Pollyanna-ish to acknowledge this is a far different nominee from the norm.

For sure, but the absurd overreaction hyperbole being thrown around right now is just silly, bordering on sad. Trump does not literally get to put his finger on the nuke button, it's an agreement between like a dozen people. For this other stuff; the thousands of people, regulations, and lawsuits one must overcome to do the things being suggested will prevent Trump from doing evil, just like it prevent every modern President before him (and prevented a lot of them from doing good). The federal government is not a bunch of mindless robots that only obey the whims of the executive (uhhh... remember Comey last week?) Plus, we have no idea who his cabinet is going to be. We have no idea the real level of support he will have in Congress should he do something that threatens one of the S&P 100. It's brexit hysteria all over again.

-1 for not making "Brexit hysteria" a hip portmanteau.

ABNorman wrote:
-1 for not making "Brexit hysteria" a hip portmanteau.

I thought about it, but Bresteria sounds a bit too much like a Cinemax "after dark" movie...

BurtReynolds wrote:time for the media and the Left to stop pretending its old white males vs everyone else. Your problems are so much larger than you know.

The rural shift is really stark. I could easily see the Dems/GOP have the greatest divide on urban/rural grounds.

The great irony; the party most responsible for Washington's dysfunction has been rewarded by the people frustrated by Washington's dysfunction.