The Many Faces of US Politics...

[omochain]

So let me get this straight... if there was an investigation it would delay the process to after the midterms which would mean that the Republicans would loose their majority and the Dems wouldnt vote him in? So the Reps obiviously dont want that?

But the investigation would likely find the same as we saw yesterday... a he said/she said scenario, and the nomination would have proceeded, which is why the Dems held back off this until this point.

Unfortunately everyone loses out of this:
Reps look their forcing thru a person of possible dubious character
Dems look like they have been playing for time
Cavanagh has his personal reputation in tatters
Dr Ford has her personal life and history thrust into public domain and is abused and threatened

The closer to the midterms we get with this circus, the better it is for Dems who can rightly argue that the GOP is stacking the courts as part of an ongoing coup. The GOP will drag on this era of minority rule for as long as they can in order to stuff the pockets of themselves and their rich donors.

The left has no one to blame but themselves.

What "left" would you be talking about now. If there is a left that is to be found in the US you should more "rightly" call it the center. The Dems ain't no left party but as the Republican Party pushes it's center further to the right and is successful at normalizing it; continues to demonize helping poor people as that terrible socialist thing. The only thing the "left" has to blame itself for is not being as effective at propaganda as the Right. How many people do they get to vote against their economic and social self interest.

As you say its all relative but you must also recognise that your idea of the left is based on what your believe to be left most likely from a European perspective

The "left/liberal" side of American politics is more progressive than true left.

The idea of "making it" thru opportunity and social mobility is deeply ingrained into American pysche in a way that Irish people would have difficulty in understanding. To have this you need a free market, a majority of Americans from all sides of the political spectrum would be loathe to give this up.

You make a very valid point... unfortunately for most Americans.. the American dream is the fallacy they are sold to get them to vote against their own economic self interest. Remember, Joe the plumber.. he was earning a pittance but thought he was capable of earning millions and voted for tax cuts on his perceived earnings potential. In truth he would have been better of with an increase in the minimum wage. But your are correct, a lot of us buy into the idea of "making it"

[seafoid]

Like everything else, this isn't actually going anywhere. It seems like the democrats and their friends in the media like to tell each other what they want to hear and talk each other up get their readers and supporters in a frenzy and then it all falls apart and comes to nothing in the end.

It's all a charade. They publish some self referential articles and tweet each other's tweets but it's only their to stir up the base because ultimately Kavanaugh is going to get the nomination because there was nothing to back up these allegations. Just like Trump isn't going to be impeached because there is nothing to the Russia collusion allegations.

Trump will win 2020 because the Democrats have no serious candidates or even a message that might bring enough people over.

Sorry, by all means keep banging those drums if it makes you feel better but just don't kid yourself that you're doing anything other than preaching to the choir.

I don't agree. We are not operating under normal conditions. Between 2016 and 2020 $24 trillion in debt will be pumped into the global economy. For growth of maybe $10 trillion. The US deficit is now $1 trillion. Fiscal rectitude used to be GOP policy. Let's see how voters like « who gives a f**k about fiscal policy « .Trump won by a couple of thousand votes in 3 States. The public everywhere is volatile and nowhere is it being served.
Nobody is in charge. Nobody knows what will happen.

[thejuice]

Because GOP voters have got tired of losing and getting hung by their own principles. Hence you got a bastard like Trump in the office. He's there to win. He defied every standard set in previous elections. The base didn't care in the slightest despite all the jumping up and down by the media and opposition in the GOP itself. He's there to build a wall, drain the swamp and deport illegals etc etc. The old Movement conservatism and neoconservativism are falling by the wayside for a new type of populist right that traded losing with principles for winning by hook or by crook. Hence you don't get support for wars in Syria or people moaning about the deficit (libertarians excepted). You are right. It's not "normal conditions" anymore.

There is a battle going on within the Democrats too between the establishment liberal democrats and social democracy types further to the left. That might not have played out by the time the election comes around.

It may well prove to be relatively easy for some "Russian bots" to sow divisions among the increasingly diverse Democratic voter base when it comes to choosing a candidate.

[J70]

How have they been "losing and getting hung by their own principles"?

They've controlled the House for 20 of the past 24 years. The Senate 14 of the last 24 years. They've won three of the past five presidential elections, two on a minority of the vote. We never stop hearing about the state and local election victories they've been piling up since 2010. The control most of the rural states where the value of a vote is inflated relative to the populous states.

And the "moaning about the deficit" and the national debt will return as a concern the second a Democrat wins the White House back, just like it has done every time before.

[seafoid]

The GOP purged a lot of moderates after the Tea Party or during it and now you can see the result in the Senate. Even after Trump had that presser with Putin the party is filled with loyalist drones. Collins , Murkowski and Flake are the only exceptions.
Flake said he would not have held up the confirmation if he was seeking re-election. He also said reaching across the aisle is dying.
The US has gone through this before. The answer is institutions that bring people together.
Most of the stuff happening now is a waste of time until we get fundamental change.

But the man's too strong

https://youtu.be/BOrXTZyXWLg

[seafoid]

Because GOP voters have got tired of losing and getting hung by their own principles. Hence you got a b**tard like Trump in the office. He's there to win. He defied every standard set in previous elections. The base didn't care in the slightest despite all the jumping up and down by the media and opposition in the GOP itself. He's there to build a wall, drain the swamp and deport illegals etc etc. The old Movement conservatism and neoconservativism are falling by the wayside for a new type of populist right that traded losing with principles for winning by hook or by crook. Hence you don't get support for wars in Syria or people moaning about the deficit (libertarians excepted). You are right. It's not "normal conditions" anymore.

There is a battle going on within the Democrats too between the establishment liberal democrats and social democracy types further to the left. That might not have played out by the time the election comes around.

It may well prove to be relatively easy for some "Russian bots" to sow divisions among the increasingly diverse Democratic voter base when it comes to choosing a candidate.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/09/republican-party-conservative/571747/

[heganboy]

Wonder if Trump will sue the NY times for the article on his actual wealth and what his father left him while peddling the $1M loan story as fact. Or as usual will he threaten to and do nothing...

[seafoid]

Wonder if Trump will sue the NY times for the article on his actual wealth and what his father left him while peddling the $1M loan story as fact. Or as usual will he threaten to and do nothing...

If he sues for defamation wouldn't he have to reveal his tax returns?
I think this is why he wants to get rid of Rosenstein and to have Kavanaugh confirmed. He would then be untouchable.

[whitey]

Seemingly Dr Fords ex boyfriend has signed a sworn affadavit stating that he witnessed her coaching a friend on how to pass a polygraph.

[RedHand88]

Like everything else, this isn't actually going anywhere. It seems like the democrats and their friends in the media like to tell each other what they want to hear and talk each other up get their readers and supporters in a frenzy and then it all falls apart and comes to nothing in the end.

It's all a charade. They publish some self referential articles and tweet each other's tweets but it's only their to stir up the base because ultimately Kavanaugh is going to get the nomination because there was nothing to back up these allegations. Just like Trump isn't going to be impeached because there is nothing to the Russia collusion allegations.

Trump will win 2020 because the Democrats have no serious candidates or even a message that might bring enough people over.

Sorry, by all means keep banging those drums if it makes you feel better but just don't kid yourself that you're doing anything other than preaching to the choir.

+1

+2.

Watched 10 minutes of Bill Maher the other night and it was like him talking to himself in the mirror. Audience clapping like seals on cue.

[Gabriel_Hurl]

Seemingly Dr Fords ex boyfriend has signed a sworn affadavit stating that he witnessed her coaching a friend on how to pass a polygraph.

And?

[RedHand88]

Seemingly Dr Fords ex boyfriend has signed a sworn affadavit stating that he witnessed her coaching a friend on how to pass a polygraph.

And?

And... cheated on him, ran up bills on his credit cards and lied about it. Only when he threatened fraud action did she confess. Not to mention the whole plane thing.

[seafoid]

It will come down to Murkowski, Collins and Flake and whether they think he lied.

[Gabriel_Hurl]

Seemingly Dr Fords ex boyfriend has signed a sworn affadavit stating that he witnessed her coaching a friend on how to pass a polygraph.

And?

And... cheated on him, ran up bills on his credit cards and lied about it. Only when he threatened fraud action did she confess. Not to mention the whole plane thing.

And?

[J70]

Like everything else, this isn't actually going anywhere. It seems like the democrats and their friends in the media like to tell each other what they want to hear and talk each other up get their readers and supporters in a frenzy and then it all falls apart and comes to nothing in the end.

It's all a charade. They publish some self referential articles and tweet each other's tweets but it's only their to stir up the base because ultimately Kavanaugh is going to get the nomination because there was nothing to back up these allegations. Just like Trump isn't going to be impeached because there is nothing to the Russia collusion allegations.

Trump will win 2020 because the Democrats have no serious candidates or even a message that might bring enough people over.

Sorry, by all means keep banging those drums if it makes you feel better but just don't kid yourself that you're doing anything other than preaching to the choir.

+1

+2.

Watched 10 minutes of Bill Maher the other night and it was like him talking to himself in the mirror. Audience clapping like seals on cue.

Maher gives his own audience shit from time to time for that. He acknowledges its a partisan audience and indeed complements his conservative guests on having the balls to come on in spite of it.

But... so what?

Are you suggesting that the exact same thing DOESN'T happen on the right?