The Many Faces of US Politics...

[armaghniac]

What is the attraction of this plonker Vance to Trump? Obviously a total lack of principle is a good start, as even Mike Pence had some principles. But does he bring another cohort of voters?

[whitey]

What is the attraction of this plonker Vance to Trump? Obviously a total lack of principle is a good start, as even Mike Pence had some principles. But does he bring another cohort of voters?

Rags to riches upbringing (Hillbilly Elegy)

Combat Veteran (2 tours in Iraq I think)

Yale Law Graduate

Extremely Articulate

Sitting Senator

Married to a person of color (daughter of immigrants-who is also a Yale Educated Lawyer)

Essentially the type of person who would strongly appeal to the 5% of voters who are going to decide this election

[theskull1]

Democracy is nothing more than a façade at this stage (was it ever any different)

No one will ever get close to power (politics, banking, mainstream media etc) unless they kowtow to Zionism

[johnnycool]

Democracy is nothing more than a façade at this stage (was it ever any different)

No one will ever get close to power (politics, banking, mainstream media etc) unless they kowtow to Zionism

And the big money lobbyists polluting the democratic process.

[burdizzo]

Democracy is nothing more than a façade at this stage (was it ever any different)

No one will ever get close to power (politics, banking, mainstream media etc) unless they kowtow to Zionism

And the big money lobbyists polluting the democratic process.

They're tied together.

[Captain Obvious]

What is the attraction of this plonker Vance to Trump? Obviously a total lack of principle is a good start, as even Mike Pence had some principles. But does he bring another cohort of voters?

Rags to riches upbringing (Hillbilly Elegy)

Combat Veteran (2 tours in Iraq I think)

Yale Law Graduate

Extremely Articulate

Sitting Senator

Married to a person of color (daughter of immigrants-who is also a Yale Educated Lawyer)

Essentially the type of person who would strongly appeal to the 5% of voters who are going to decide this election

Going by his previous comments on Trump he certainly has some intelligence, the opposite of the majority of people that will be voting for Trump.

[Puckoon]

Vance will do what he is told, which is very important to DT - particularly when you examine his laundry list of hired and fired. He is intelligent, and has all the accreditations Whitey listed below. It's unfortunate then that he's had to realize that if you want any access or success as a Conservative - you need to row in behind Donald Trump and swim in the waters of MTG and Gaetz. You cannot be a serious conservative if you are not worshiping at the altar. Look at the recent careers of those who have rowed against.

Pence did everything Trump asked of him, right up until his cardinal sin date of Jan 6th.

I don't believe Donald picked Vance to win over the 5%> I think this 5% has shrunk considerably since the shooting on Saturday - and I fully believe that Donald believes he doesn't actually need a VP candidate to get himself over the line.

[Jell 0 Biafra]

I don't think this will make much if any difference.  Very few people vote out of a preference for the  VP.  Probably less so for the 5% (or whatever it is) are swing voters.  That group is reportedly the least invested in/aware of politics.

[theskull1]

Wifey found this on FB... It resonated


A long post but necessary

Yesterday, a monster armed with a gun shot former US president Donald Trump in the ear, leaving him bleeding and disproving the claim he has green blood. Thankfully, the rich white man is going to live long enough to regain the presidency from the guy who is indistinguishable from him, but the total opposite.

Poor Melania hasn't stopped crying since hearing the news that her husband is going to be okay. Her dream of starting a new life with the hot pool cleaner and a massive inheritance is going to have to wait.

The attack against Trump was so brutal that politicians who've spent nine months carpet-bombing Gaza agree this was the worst act of violence they've ever seen. Their advisors had to explain this is what "empathy", a common human emotion, feels like, and also what "fear", an emotion they often provoke in others, feels like.

Moments like this are great at unifying people by reminding them that people who look like them matter, regardless of their political differences. Politicians from both sides of the aisle, who love to send massive bombs to Israel, agree what they do to others should never be done to them. This is truly the message of Jesus ❤️

Democrats, who spent four years spreading Russiagate conspiracy theories and calling Trump the next Satan because of what he did to children at the border, agree the divisive rhetoric of the "radical left" has led to this moment. The US officials who were okay with Trump assassinating Iranian officials have insisted assassination attempts are always wrong.

Rich white Americans unanimously agree that violence against rich white Americans is never okay.

Even President Biden, who has resumed sending 500-lb bombs to Israel, and has been calling Trump a threat to US democracy all year, has condemned the violence. Benjamin Netanyahu, who is funding Trump's re-election campaign in exchange for even bigger US bombs, is hugely concerned his investment could be wasted. As you can see, this is an emotional time for everyone.

Israel just attempted a targeted assassination of a Hamas leader near Khan Younis, and blew up a few hundred civilians in a refugee camp. If one of the victims owned Trump Towers, this would have been a crime against humanity, but thankfully, the victims were living in tents so it's no biggie. We totally have our priorities in order.

One prominent US commentator broke down when she heard of the injury to Trump's ear and wailed: "This is not the American way!" and "What are we, Hamas?" because America, the country that has carried out targeted assassinations in Japan, Vietnam, Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, China, and Afghanistan, among others, is totally above this kind of behaviour, as is Israel, the country which has 292 assassination attempts listed on Wikipedia.

If you thought this was all just white people caring about other white people, you would be wrong because Barack Obama, who once ordered the drone-bombing of a teenage boy and his family in Yemen, thinks nicking Trump's ear is much worse than what he did. If Obama apologised for one civilian that he drone-bombed every day, it would take him only three years to get through them all. Thankfully, drone-bombing counts as non-political violence.

The British politicians who didn't care when the British army was shooting pictures of Jeremy Corbyn's face are distraught now that someone with similar politics to them has become the target. Sir Keir Starmer, who spent four years treating Jeremy Corbyn as a racist and a threat to national security, is appalled that a man he is much more closely aligned with was almost killed.

Kate Andrews, the UK's most beloved private healthcare lobbyist, was so emotional she wrote an article entitled: "Today, we are all MAGA". Somehow, I can't imagine a similar headline reading: "We are all Corbynistas" if the worst had happened to the former Labour leader, can you?

It's not just political types who've been distraught by what has happened to Trump, it's decent ordinary folks too. For example, the Metropolitan Police officer who punched a pro-Palestinian protester in the face explained what separates us from them is that we behave like civilised human beings. I think it's great that we're standing in solidarity with American fascists in a way we never do with the regular people America kills.

Political violence and targeted assassinations might be America's national sports, but only the NATO countries and Israel are allowed to play these games. If anyone else tries to play, we suddenly remember how to feel the human emotions that you feel every time a brown child is reduced to tomato puree. I can't believe you lot feel this emotion every single day. How do you even cope? x

[Rossfan]

Sad but true....

[trueblue1234]

How wide spread is the self loathing in the US? And I mean that as a genuine question. I'm seeing and hearing a lot of content on social media from American citizens, hating on the country and really giving it both barrels about their politics and gun laws.
Obviously there is also a huge amount of pro USA stuff there as well. Mostly coming from the Republican side and the God loves the US of A.
What is the split like over there at the minute? I know social media gives the nutjobs more air time. So would be interested to hear if everyone is as polarised as it seems or is there still that group in the middle that is drowned out.

[whitey]

How wide spread is the self loathing in the US? And I mean that as a genuine question. I'm seeing and hearing a lot of content on social media from American citizens, hating on the country and really giving it both barrels about their politics and gun laws.
Obviously there is also a huge amount of pro USA stuff there as well. Mostly coming from the Republican side and the God loves the US of A.
What is the split like over there at the minute? I know social media gives the nutjobs more air time. So would be interested to hear if everyone is as polarised as it seems or is there still that group in the middle that is drowned out.

How long do you have?

People are fed up with politics and politicians in general but for a variety of different reasons

I would say that I have experienced zero self loathing in my travels (and I'm all over the place due to my job).

Democrats are all fried up about abortion, gun control and the Supreme Court (to name a few issues)

Republicans are all fired up about the border, taxes and government overreach/spending (to name a few issues)

Believe it or not.....(some)people are doing quite well right now .  The stock market is at an all time high, the value of your house is at an all time high, the country is not at war etc.

The rich have gotten richer and the poor have gotten poorer in the past 10 years.

[Puckoon]

How wide spread is the self loathing in the US? And I mean that as a genuine question. I'm seeing and hearing a lot of content on social media from American citizens, hating on the country and really giving it both barrels about their politics and gun laws.
Obviously there is also a huge amount of pro USA stuff there as well. Mostly coming from the Republican side and the God loves the US of A.
What is the split like over there at the minute? I know social media gives the nutjobs more air time. So would be interested to hear if everyone is as polarised as it seems or is there still that group in the middle that is drowned out.

Interesting question - I wonder if you're confusing true self loathing (which would require objectivity and deep understanding of the complex nature of the USA and it's role in the world) with general griping about the issues that bother the average republican or democratic leaning American.

In 22 years of being immersed here I have found very few Americans (even the biggest and brightest) willing to deep dive into the hypocrisy that is the machine over here. Once in a while you'll find an enlightened soul who is prepared to dig into, and more importantly - acknowledge all of the tropes and rightful criticisms of the USA, including many of those not so eloquently espoused here. Those enlightened souls are often just yelling into the Abyss - the average citizen is mostly concerned with their side of the democratic aisle, generally issues as outlined by Whitey there above. The lack of self awareness of their actual role in the bigger picture of the global political machine is at times astounding. Just last night had to correct a very good human being, albeit a strong Trump leaning voter (not a trumper, per se) that Norway is not in fact a socialist country and that socialism (like many philosophies) is a graded, adjustable economic concept. You tend to get more honest reviews on the nation from newer citizens who have experienced life elsewhere.

[Look-Up!]

Wifey found this on FB... It resonated


A long post but necessary

Yesterday, a monster armed with a gun shot former US president Donald Trump in the ear, leaving him bleeding and disproving the claim he has green blood. Thankfully, the rich white man is going to live long enough to regain the presidency from the guy who is indistinguishable from him, but the total opposite.

Poor Melania hasn't stopped crying since hearing the news that her husband is going to be okay. Her dream of starting a new life with the hot pool cleaner and a massive inheritance is going to have to wait.

The attack against Trump was so brutal that politicians who've spent nine months carpet-bombing Gaza agree this was the worst act of violence they've ever seen. Their advisors had to explain this is what "empathy", a common human emotion, feels like, and also what "fear", an emotion they often provoke in others, feels like.

Moments like this are great at unifying people by reminding them that people who look like them matter, regardless of their political differences. Politicians from both sides of the aisle, who love to send massive bombs to Israel, agree what they do to others should never be done to them. This is truly the message of Jesus ❤️

Democrats, who spent four years spreading Russiagate conspiracy theories and calling Trump the next Satan because of what he did to children at the border, agree the divisive rhetoric of the "radical left" has led to this moment. The US officials who were okay with Trump assassinating Iranian officials have insisted assassination attempts are always wrong.

Rich white Americans unanimously agree that violence against rich white Americans is never okay.

Even President Biden, who has resumed sending 500-lb bombs to Israel, and has been calling Trump a threat to US democracy all year, has condemned the violence. Benjamin Netanyahu, who is funding Trump's re-election campaign in exchange for even bigger US bombs, is hugely concerned his investment could be wasted. As you can see, this is an emotional time for everyone.

Israel just attempted a targeted assassination of a Hamas leader near Khan Younis, and blew up a few hundred civilians in a refugee camp. If one of the victims owned Trump Towers, this would have been a crime against humanity, but thankfully, the victims were living in tents so it's no biggie. We totally have our priorities in order.

One prominent US commentator broke down when she heard of the injury to Trump's ear and wailed: "This is not the American way!" and "What are we, Hamas?" because America, the country that has carried out targeted assassinations in Japan, Vietnam, Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, China, and Afghanistan, among others, is totally above this kind of behaviour, as is Israel, the country which has 292 assassination attempts listed on Wikipedia.

If you thought this was all just white people caring about other white people, you would be wrong because Barack Obama, who once ordered the drone-bombing of a teenage boy and his family in Yemen, thinks nicking Trump's ear is much worse than what he did. If Obama apologised for one civilian that he drone-bombed every day, it would take him only three years to get through them all. Thankfully, drone-bombing counts as non-political violence.

The British politicians who didn't care when the British army was shooting pictures of Jeremy Corbyn's face are distraught now that someone with similar politics to them has become the target. Sir Keir Starmer, who spent four years treating Jeremy Corbyn as a racist and a threat to national security, is appalled that a man he is much more closely aligned with was almost killed.

Kate Andrews, the UK's most beloved private healthcare lobbyist, was so emotional she wrote an article entitled: "Today, we are all MAGA". Somehow, I can't imagine a similar headline reading: "We are all Corbynistas" if the worst had happened to the former Labour leader, can you?

It's not just political types who've been distraught by what has happened to Trump, it's decent ordinary folks too. For example, the Metropolitan Police officer who punched a pro-Palestinian protester in the face explained what separates us from them is that we behave like civilised human beings. I think it's great that we're standing in solidarity with American fascists in a way we never do with the regular people America kills.

Political violence and targeted assassinations might be America's national sports, but only the NATO countries and Israel are allowed to play these games. If anyone else tries to play, we suddenly remember how to feel the human emotions that you feel every time a brown child is reduced to tomato puree. I can't believe you lot feel this emotion every single day. How do you even cope? x

Amen

[armaghniac]

Going by his previous comments on Trump he certainly has some intelligence, the opposite of the majority of people that will be voting for Trump.

Nothing worse than a person of intelligence spouting mendacious crap for the benefit of stupid people.