2024 US Presidential Election

[Lisnaholic]

Thanks @Lisnaholic, much appreciated!  It was a great time, and over the course of two vacations, I made a total of 3 trips to different steakhouses 

^ Photos - or it didn't happen !

Actually, I just read about your evening at Buddy Guy's blues club in the vacation thread: https://scd.community/index.php?topic=487.0
That's a great story !

[SGR]

^ Photos - or it didn't happen !

Actually, I just read about your evening at Buddy Guy's blues club in the vacation thread: https://scd.community/index.php?topic=487.0
That's a great story !

Thanks Lisna! And yeah, it was awesome just to see him perform since he's semi-retired. It makes my regret at not going to see BB King when I had a chance (while he was still touring and before he died) sting a little less.

[SGR]

'Washington Post' won't endorse in White House race for first time since 1980s

https://x.com/redsteeze/status/1849843293607154074

[Trollheart]

@SGR are you going to be doing a live running commentary on the election? I was half-thinking of trying, but you'd be a lot better at it. Political commentary is a lot harder than match reports or music reviews!

I'd read it.

[SGR]

@SGR are you going to be doing a live running commentary on the election? I was half-thinking of trying, but you'd be a lot better at it. Political commentary is a lot harder than match reports or music reviews!

I'd read it.

Hey @Trollheart, I appreciate the compliment!

But I don't think I will be doing anything like that, as much as I might like to, for a couple of reasons. For one, I simply don't think I have the time (my current retirement plan as a late millennial is death, but if things change, maybe by 2074 I will have the time), and even if I did have the time, there wouldn't be much purpose for me to provide 'live' or constant commentary unless I either attempt some kind of fact-check or contextual enrichment on important news updates/stories (personally, that would be very boring for me - it's only interesting when it's done as part of a dialogue with another user), or I attempt to provide some levity to the election with sarcasm, humor and witticism. The latter would be my preferred approach, but honestly elections, especially the general, are always a very stressful and anxious time for Americans - especially now with how polarized everything and everyone has become - there are supporters of both parties who think the country is finished; done and dusted if the opposing party wins this election.

I don't blame people who think that either, by the way. How so many Americans got this way is a discussion for a different post. But regardless, other Americans here will attest, we are absolutely bombarded and swamped with election ads, both local, state and national right about now, and I don't want to attempt to monopolize the discussions or input - and more importantly, with how invested and concerned some people are in this election, I don't want to appear as if I'm making light of it or not treating it with the seriousness many believe it deserves.

In other words, I do plan to continue posting my thoughts on developments or stories in the election, or making jokes when I feel like it, but certainly not anything approaching 'live commentary'.

That being said - to every American here, make sure you vote early if you can, and if not, make sure you vote on election day! Don't make me shame you, it's your civic duty! And bring your friends and family too - drag their ass by the ear if you have to! Vote, vote, vote!

[Trollheart]

Sure I get it. I suppose I wasn't really thinking of it in those terms, just I'll be watching it on my own (no difference there - Karen was never interested but at least I could share the "glorious" Obama news with her and the "I don't believe these fucking Americans (present company excluded), voting Trump in"). This time, nothing of the sort, apart from muttering to myself in Crazy Old Man mode and having an increasingly animated conversation with the telly - bloody thing never replies, think it didn't have an opinion, honestly! 

But yeah, I was sort of looking on it as more a form of entertainment when it's of course something that will chill/relieve so many of you, depending on the result and/or personal political affiliations, and may have serious repercussions for the rest of us, so I suppose it wouldn't be right to treat it too lightly or humorously. I might throw some comments in here as they happen, but as a non-American it's probably not my place to be commenting on it, and anyway as I said, I don't have the background.

Maybe just stick to the footy, eh? 

[SGR]

Sure I get it. I suppose I wasn't really thinking of it in those terms, just I'll be watching it on my own (no difference there - Karen was never interested but at least I could share the "glorious" Obama news with her and the "I don't believe these fucking Americans (present company excluded), voting Trump in"). This time, nothing of the sort, apart from muttering to myself in Crazy Old Man mode and having an increasingly animated conversation with the telly - bloody thing never replies, think it didn't have an opinion, honestly! 

But yeah, I was sort of looking on it as more a form of entertainment when it's of course something that will chill/relieve so many of you, depending on the result and/or personal political affiliations, and may have serious repercussions for the rest of us, so I suppose it wouldn't be right to treat it too lightly or humorously. I might throw some comments in here as they happen, but as a non-American it's probably not my place to be commenting on it, and anyway as I said, I don't have the background.

Maybe just stick to the footy, eh? 

The footy?! Is that what you blokes over there call soccer? 

As for commenting on American politics as a non-American, I'd say just remember the golden rule. How would you feel if an American made your comment about your country/people/government/politicians? If you wouldn't be too bothered about it, it's probably fine.

[Lisnaholic]

Thanks for the insight into how Americans are feeling as the election draws near, SGR. I think that's a good decision about not doing the "live commentary" - I'm sure there will be enough of those available on the world's media as it is.

Yes, many former intelligence officers and government officials have publicly stated similar opinions as Kelly. It's all old-hat at this point, and we've been hearing these opinions and accusations for almost a decade now, and honestly, it reeks a bit of desperation. These kinds of accusations, being old-hat as they are, aren't going to persuade anyone who's undecided at this point, regardless of how much truth there is to them. For Democrats, winning this election is not going to come down to signal-boosting just one more former government official's opinions about Trump being a fascist. The people who would be persuaded by that are already voting for Kamala. As a result, I think, if the Democrats want to win, they should stop talking about Trump so much, and talk more about how they're going to improve the lives of average Americans - and better communicate their vision for the future.

It may surprise you to know that I'm not normally contentious, but once again, I don't really agree with your take on how to treat Kelly's statements. Yes, they are a variation on something we all more or less know already, but that shouldn't mean that they should be downplayed. Trump's stated admiration for Hitler, Putin, Kim Jung Un is so fundamentally opposed to America's long-standing support for democracy that I think it's a point that has to be driven home again and again, exactly because it doesn't seem to have deterred as many Trump voters as some of us would hope. It's a mistake, imo, to normalize Trump's pro-autocrat leanings.
Yes, voters' #1 priority is the economy, but luckily K Harris can walk and chew gum at the same time: she's talked about the economy (more lucidly than Trump) and may return to it again.

Instead, what do Americans see when they tune in to the race the last couple of days? Democrats talking about Trump's admiration for Hitler's generals, while Trump, on the other hand, talks about his admiration for the size of Arnold Palmer's genitals. 

LOL

The great irony, and the story that might be told if Democrats lose is: the party that hollered and clamored about Trump's threat to democracy lost an election to him because they themselves circumvented democracy by being dishonest and incurious about their sitting president's health and mental fitness - and as a result, they (the party elites) decided to coronate their eventual nominee by committee, instead of by the vetting will of their electorate. In other words, it won't be the Democrat voters faults, blame would rest squarely on the shoulders of the party bigwigs and the media who ran cover for them for the open and fair primary the Democrat voter was ultimately denied.

^ Is this an issue, I wonder? In Britain we have routinely done something similar, I think - not just for a presidential candidate, but for our Prime Ministers: we, the electorate, vote a party and their candidate into power, but then the "party bigwigs" as you rightly call them, sometimes swaps out one PM for another, with no new voting from the electorate. I'm not aware that people in the UK call that "circumventing democracy",but I couldn't say for sure.
________________________________________

Me and Trollheart watching the US election coverage on tv:-

[jimmy jazz]

I'm not aware that people in the UK call that "circumventing democracy",but I couldn't say for sure.

Plenty said so during the previous government.

May
Johnson (the cunt)
Truss
Sunak

All got to be PM without winning an election.

Three of them went on to win one as PMs but it's not the same.

[Trollheart]

The footy?! Is that what you blokes over there call soccer? 

As for commenting on American politics as a non-American, I'd say just remember the golden rule. How would you feel if an American made your comment about your country/people/government/politicians? If you wouldn't be too bothered about it, it's probably fine.

Yeah, footy: short for football. We don't call it soccer, as we consider you guys robbed our term so we call yours American football (or, as JJ would have it, hand egg).

As far as people outside commenting on my country/insert as appropriate - couldn't be any more critical about it than I would, so yeah. Basically, Ireland's a wind-up country and we all have to take a go at turning the key every so often. It's hard, backbreaking work, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

[Trollheart]

Plenty said so during the previous government.

May
Johnson (the cunt)
Truss
Sunak

All got to be PM without winning an election.

Three of them went on to win one as PMs but it's not the same.

Do you realise that's a sentence? May Johnson (the cunt) Truss Sunak.

[jimmy jazz]

Do you realise that's a sentence? May Johnson (the cunt) Truss Sunak.

I hope Johnson gets a fucking sentence tbh. Preferably in Belmarsh. 

[SGR]

It may surprise you to know that I'm not normally contentious, but once again, I don't really agree with your take on how to treat Kelly's statements. Yes, they are a variation on something we all more or less know already, but that shouldn't mean that they should be downplayed. Trump's stated admiration for Hitler, Putin, Kim Jung Un is so fundamentally opposed to America's long-standing support for democracy that I think it's a point that has to be driven home again and again, exactly because it doesn't seem to have deterred as many Trump voters as some of us would hope. It's a mistake, imo, to normalize Trump's pro-autocrat leanings.

I don't think I said it should be downplayed - what I did say is that if the Democrats continue to signal boost the message, it won't ultimately help them - and in fact it might damage them (just my opinion). There's been several recent articles/opinion pieces that argue much in the same vein - which admittedly, doesn't mean I'm right - just saying my opinion is by no means unique. If you think the Democrats should continue to make that the focal point of their messaging with less than 2 weeks to the election, and that somehow, this strategy of theirs that they've employed since the 2016 election cycle will somehow make the difference between their defeat and their victory, that not enough voters have heard messaging comparing Trump to Hitler and/or fascists, then we simply disagree, and that's fine.

Reductio ad Hitlerum: 60 years of Democrats falsely calling the Republican nominee a fascist

To win, Harris should talk more about working-class needs and less about Trump

Despite the media caterwauling, voters aren't buying that Trump is a 'threat to democracy'

Yes, voters' #1 priority is the economy, but luckily K Harris can walk and chew gum at the same time: she's talked about the economy (more lucidly than Trump) and may return to it again.

If she wants to win, she better return to the economy again, because voters seem to trust Republicans and Trump more on the economy at the moment.

Harris Vs. Trump On The Economy

[SGR]

So Trump did his interview with Joe Rogan for anyone interested in listening with a few hours on their hand...I'm sure the clips will circulate shortly if they haven't already.

[SGR]

Also, for those looking for some levity and fun, the new (and now traditional) Epic Rap Battles of History video of Trump v. Kamala will be dropping soon! I'll post it as soon as it's dropped! 



The previous two, for those curious: