"The August 2020 US Politics Thread is highly thought of, but nobody likes me. It can only be my personality. That's all."

In an era when we are used to having our exact tastes catered to by every supermarket brand, restaurant, and cable channel, the kind of coalition politics you're describing should feel familiar at least. It's been going on even longer than cable's been around. The Republicans will do the same, but with scarier branding.

Dan, if you came into the thread feeling pre-attacked because some people on the boards hold less idealistic opinions of senior Democrat folks, that's unfortunate. But all the aggression in this exchange has been instigated by you. When you said "fuck you all in advance," a few people teased lightly back as if you were joking about expecting disagreement, but you doubled down. You said you were "in favor of all strong women who make their voices heard," then accused the only woman who made her voice heard of being a man, because you didn't like what she said, and then said that her identity means nothing to you.

Hope you're just feeling emotional from optimism, and maybe a drink or two, tonight. Folks here will engage with your thoughts about the speeches if you actually want to articulate them.

sic otm

cute BLM letters on the toy shelves behind Warren.

Agree that Obama tonight was awesome. I've also found the parts of the convention moving and inspirational, and it's nice to feel that way.

Even if I can acknowledge (and agree with) many of the criticisms lobbed at the Democratic Party in this thread, I still want to feel hopeful. Maybe that's naive or sentimental given the state of things, but it's how I get through the day.

"then accused the only woman who made her voice heard of being a man, because you didn't like what she said, and then said that her identity means nothing to you."

sorry, didn't know this, my comments were rash

I’ve been moved by the virtual convention segments, Michelle Obama two nights ago, the states' roll call and AOC last night, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi Hillary Clinton tonight

haven't seen Kamala's speech yet

"170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.”

“But here’s the thing: no single American can fix this country alone. Not even a president. Democracy was never meant to be transactional – you give me your vote; I make everything better. It requires an active and informed citizenry.”

Yeah, I honestly can't fathom how anyone gets the warm and fuzzies from listening to these people.

Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever.

followed by completely avoiding politics for 3.5 years until stepping in to kneecap the candidate who promised incredibly mild European social democracy
but Obama'll give you a nice soundbite.

"followed by completely avoiding politics for 3.5 years until stepping in to kneecap the candidate who promised incredibly mild European social democracy" what?

Sanders' policies are extremely moderate in a non-USian context.

The states' roll call was cheesy in a good way, and, I'm inferring, greatly enriched by being forced to be a sequence of remote clips.

(I reckon it could have been even more effective if it played as a complement to some actually fiery speeches or policy declarations. Conversely, the lack of an audience probably exaggerated the bland marketingy approach there.)

I liked that the roll call felt like a journey across the states

Which were all stolen!

You were moved, Dan?

Were you moved by this footage?
https://youtu.be/WlLqm3eDYMg

What about by shots of federal officers shooting people with rubber bullets and siccing attack dogs on them for defending the little land that wasn't stolen from them?

Or the thousands of people deported and sent to die in gang violence in Central America?

Is all that moving?

What about the environmental leaders murdered by a government we backed in a coup thanks to Obama and Hillary?

Is that moving? The aforementioned looting of the lower classes to fill the coffers of the richest?

I'm moved to tears, Dan. I really am.

Your denialism and blue sky thinking are simply evidence that you don't care to know or understand the depravity and immorality of the US, or are a cheerleader for it. And in my opinion, either are unacceptable.

The convention is about as moving as a turd being flushed in the background of a Hallmark film

The Red Poos

Beautiful lies sure are somethin'

table do you think the US is uniquely unsalvageable as a project or would you agree that all nation states are more or less depraved and amoral?

I had no interest in Harris' speech; the only one I caught was Obama's, not bad as those things go. It took me a couple minutes to figure out why he sounded different to me: he adapted his cadences to one-on-one conversation, not arenas.

Which is yet another thing President Asshole has been unable to do. It's like he's permanently in the cheap seats shouting at the stage when he's the one up there.

El Tomboto, I do consider settler colonial (or conquistador colonial) projects such as the US, Australia, Canada, and Brazil to be uniquely unsalvageable, for a variety of reasons.

Insofar as borders have become methods of social control rather than social welfare, all nation-states are suspect.

Which is yet another thing President Asshole has been unable to do. It's like he's permanently in the cheap seats shouting at the stage when he's the one up there.

That's because getting them to do the wave would have meant getting up and down.

I feel like, whether or not you’re a no borders person/think the US and the nation state are unsalvageable, the obama administration did a lot of really questionable things. Tombot’s post was whataboutism.

BREAKING: Steve Bannon has just been indicted by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, @Tom_Winter reports.

— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) August 20, 2020

lol

It’s not like Obama ever offered a serious or robust defense of the drones to the American people, insisting that it was sadly the only way to achieve—whatever—he just kind of did it. Same with the form TARP took, which could have been an important opportunity for the downward distribution of wealth and instead was the opposite. Same with a lot of things.

And if this seems harsh, well, being president is a privilege and you are held to higher standards than average people.

huh wonder what for

It's illegal to look like cottage cheese left in the sunlight.

too many shirts xp

My post was an honest attempt to better understand table’s politics. There’s no pass-agg whataboutism to it.

Your denialism and blue sky thinking are simply evidence that you don't care to know or understand the depravity and immorality of the US, or are a cheerleader for it. And in my opinion, either are unacceptable.

― healthy cocaine off perfect butts (the table is the table), Thursday, August 20, 2020 6:27 AM (two hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

Jesus Christ.

i mean, idk. i prefer a lighter touch, but dan's support of "strong women who speak their mind" without further qualification was kind of cringe. women aren't a monolith.

also he just assumed everyone here was a straight male instead of what we actually are -- words on a blank screen

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/leaders-we-build-wall-online-fundraising-campaign-charged-defrauding-hundreds-thousands

https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/FLQ/METN/JGSG79P2/FLQMETNJGSG79P2.jpg?auto=webp&frame=1&crop=3:2&width=320&md=1525547429

Vote Monolith, 2024

so sorry to hear steve bannon once again getting the death penalty

How is the screen blank if it has words on it

haha i remember that incident, would not have guessed that was what he was indicted for

Good point

xp @Treeship: Sure, fine, but fuck the idea that being moved by any part of the convention is "unacceptable," and evidence of naivete at best and complicity at worst.

words on a screen
all we are is words on a screen

Lol simom—i forgot about louise mensch

Yeah fair enough jay, there are things i admire about obama, but i found the processions alienating because they seem disconnected from the change i would like to see, speaking here as a word-person

BANNON, through a non-profit organization under his control (“Non-Profit-1”), received over $1 million from We Build the Wall, at least some of which BANNON used to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in BANNON’s personal expenses.

Lol i wonder what he buys