Mega-Thread: 2020 United States General Election

[TexasRules]

Those numbers are insane. And don't let the source fool you - CNN is fine for information, it's the neo-con morons who try to say "liberal biased".

This is just what we wanted to see in getting the base excited. Long way to go - but we'll also see a black woman nominated for VP (no brainer, imo, that she will be black - Demmings or Abrams).

The numbers are insane. In a poll of (self admitted)oversampled black people at this time, also oversampled democrats , they overwhelmingly voted against Trump. Not for Biden, but against Trump. How can you figure that...it's astounding. Imagine what a black vp woman will do to make that even higher somehow? I hope it is abrams because most of the country will have no clue who she is. You can say her losing governor election and whining--it's amazing how you guys think she is glorious for fighting after losing but accuse Trump of not accepting losing(which he never said). All the conspiracy theories you guys throw around about Trump losing an election are first hand shown in Abrams. I hope he picks her.

- - - Updated - - -

If he loses he will spend the rest of his life at least in court fighting for his freedom.

Interesting side note - I think we're all at least tacitly aware of the notion that Trump and his team had no real intention of winning the Presidency. There is amble circumstantial evidence to promote this idea (Melaina crying at election night, no plan from Trump campaign team to transition in, no people ready to take the briefing books from the myriad of people that needed to be appointed, etc) - but that's not my point.

Trump was initially running for President because he wanted to launch a television network - which would have been an amazing source of income and notoriety. Winning the election blind sided him, and of course, caused him to abandon those efforts.

There has been talk recently that if Trump loses the 2020 election, he will be in court for the rest of his life, defending against myriad of crimes he's committed before and during the presidency (we can discuss the legality of those claims separately). But also, his desire for a television network will more than likely never happen as well - too many rules to follow that he won't be able to accommodate, now that we officially know what a criminal he truly embodies.

So at the end of the day, what will Trump do if he loses? Some people have spoken up about the idea that he might flee the country, not to Russia, despite his obvious and historical affiliation with Team Putin - but perhaps to one that does not have an extradition treaty....

Obvious and historical affiliation......That's some top level conspiracy theory about Putin. If I were a reporter here, I'd report it...but people who spew conspiracy after conspiracy about Trump are praised here, not reprimanded. Carry on the good work.

[Endus]

Statement from Biden campaign on the issue of “defunding police,” which he says he doesn’t support.

That's ridiculously clueless, to be utterly frank.

Things like community policing and diversity hiring have been pushed for 30+ years. It isn't changing things. The issue isn't that the police have insufficient funding. It's that their funding is spent on APCs and riot gear and lawyers to keep their boys out of prison on the occasion that they do get charged. Giving them more funding doesn't fix the problem.

You can't eliminate racism and abuse of force in police departments without first firing all the officers who engaged in or were complicit with said racism and abuse of force. They're the problem. Fire them. Clean that slate, then rebuild. Saying "we're gonna put these racists through some diversity training, again, for the eleventybillionth time" is not a fucking solution, and Biden's not an idiot and she should fucking know that.

He's confronted with "officers are bigoted and using abusive levels of force", and his answer is "we should tell them racism is bad, again". Rather than just firing the unethical abusers, which would be the standard in basically any other profession. Refusing to fire these racist abusers is why there is a fucking problem.

[draynay]

That's ridiculously clueless, to be utterly frank.

Things like community policing and diversity hiring have been pushed for 30+ years. It isn't changing things.

If people actually wanted to change things they wouldn't have voted for Biden.

[kaelleria]

That's ridiculously clueless, to be utterly frank.

Things like community policing and diversity hiring have been pushed for 30+ years. It isn't changing things. The issue isn't that the police have insufficient funding. It's that their funding is spent on APCs and riot gear and lawyers to keep their boys out of prison on the occasion that they do get charged. Giving them more funding doesn't fix the problem.

You can't eliminate racism and abuse of force in police departments without first firing all the officers who engaged in or were complicit with said racism and abuse of force. They're the problem. Fire them. Clean that slate, then rebuild. Saying "we're gonna put these racists through some diversity training, again, for the eleventybillionth time" is not a fucking solution, and Biden's not an idiot and she should fucking know that.

He's confronted with "officers are bigoted and using abusive levels of force", and his answer is "we should tell them racism is bad, again". Rather than just firing the unethical abusers, which would be the standard in basically any other profession. Refusing to fire these racist abusers is why there is a fucking problem.

Defunding the police implies no law enforcement... You can't have a call to action that needs explaining for the masses.

Biden's statement isn't great, but Defund the Police isn't the answer either.

[segara82]

That's ridiculously clueless, to be utterly frank.

Things like community policing and diversity hiring have been pushed for 30+ years. It isn't changing things. The issue isn't that the police have insufficient funding. It's that their funding is spent on APCs and riot gear and lawyers to keep their boys out of prison on the occasion that they do get charged. Giving them more funding doesn't fix the problem.

Actually, funding is a problem. While the military pays large sums for an APC (500.000 $ is not strange) once they are 'obsolete' they get offered to law enforcement for just a fraction of that. One case in 2008 in Richland County, SC, was just 2.000 $ for a vehicle surpassing about everything else they could get. And for that price it was just too good to pass up. That is the reason they have so many military vehicles, they cost LESS than a new patrol car.

Another is pay for the officers themselves. 53.900$ on average per year is not that much for a job that comes with deadly risks every time you go outside. And since that is the average, expect the lower level grunts you meet on the streets to make even less.

That is not to excuse the racism, but 'pay peanuts, get monkeys' still holds true.

Edit:
The best/fastest way to change things would be to recruit like crazy in minority neighbourhoods. The more PoC join and rise through the ranks the faster the mindset in the Police changes.

[PfeffermintShake]

Biden is s a consensus politician, and he's good at this. It's fun to watch him befuddle boutique leftists online and abroad.

Biden's gift is that he doesn't care what online theorycrafters think, he cares what *voters* think, which is how you actually win elections. He can unveil the most robust police reform plan in history, and then say, "but don't worry, I'm not like those crazy defund the police people."

[Santti]

Defunding the police implies no law enforcement... You can't have a call to action that needs explaining for the masses.

Biden's statement isn't great, but Defund the Police isn't the answer either.

Not necessarily. Pretty sure defunding the police is just to allocate some of it's funding elsewhere.

Disbanding the police on the other hand, is something that has been done before. Successfully, too. In Camden, New Jersey.

[kaelleria]

Not necessarily. Pretty sure defunding the police is just to allocate some of it's funding elsewhere.

Disbanding the police on the other hand, is something that has been done before. Successfully, too.

Blow it up, just call it something different. Messaging is important.

[Endus]

Defunding the police implies no law enforcement... You can't have a call to action that needs explaining for the masses.

Only if you kneejerk before informing yourself as to what's being said. Which means you're reacting on willful ignorance, and your opinion is garbage and should be ignored.

And frankly, I expect a hell of a lot more from Biden than I do "the masses".

In particular, pretending "defund" is an synonym for "abolish" is not remotely honest.

[PfeffermintShake]

I'm loving the irony here.
Poster a few weeks ago: "Dems are really bad at messaging."
Same poster: "Let me explain what Defund askulhey means..."


Need a reboot? Get in line.

[cors8]

Only if you kneejerk before informing yourself as to what's being said. Which means you're reacting on willful ignorance, and your opinion is garbage and should be ignored.

And frankly, I expect a hell of a lot more from Biden than I do "the masses".

In particular, pretending "defund" is an synonym for "abolish" is not remotely honest.

Biden is basically trying to prevent the Trump attacks that are coming about "eliminating the police". Unfortunately, slogans and simple one-liners matter in politics. Hillary had plenty of plans but Trump's simple slogans carried the day.

The "left" should understand this game and understand what happens after getting elected is what matters more than word games right now.

[Edge-]

Only if you kneejerk before informing yourself as to what's being said.

You just described the majority of the US electorate so...I'd say Biden is on the "smart" path, not necessarily the morally righteous path, if he wants to win in November.

[kaelleria]

Only if you kneejerk before informing yourself as to what's being said. Which means you're reacting on willful ignorance, and your opinion is garbage and should be ignored.

And frankly, I expect a hell of a lot more from Biden than I do "the masses".

In particular, pretending "defund" is an synonym for "abolish" is not remotely honest.

Politics is about framing nuance to people who don't want to bother to inform themselves. Those people make up the majority of the voting bloc.

[cubby]

The numbers are insane. In a poll of (self admitted)oversampled black people at this time, also oversampled democrats , they overwhelmingly voted against Trump. Not for Biden, but against Trump. How can you figure that...it's astounding. Imagine what a black vp woman will do to make that even higher somehow? I hope it is abrams because most of the country will have no clue who she is. You can say her losing governor election and whining--it's amazing how you guys think she is glorious for fighting after losing but accuse Trump of not accepting losing(which he never said). All the conspiracy theories you guys throw around about Trump losing an election are first hand shown in Abrams. I hope he picks her.

Still don't understand polls yet, eh? Even with all the people explaining them to you.... Just like a Trumpster.

I love that you think "most of the country" doesn't know who she is - any data on that? We'll wait while you rustle up the justification for us having to prove your point, as usual.

Obvious and historical affiliation......That's some top level conspiracy theory about Putin. If I were a reporter here, I'd report it...but people who spew conspiracy after conspiracy about Trump are praised here, not reprimanded.

So the Mueller Report is a conspiracy theory now? Or Trump chatting with people about the Moscow Trump Tower is a conspiracy theory. The people who get reported, correctly, around here are people like you, who think facts and reality are "conspiracy theories".

Carry on the good work.

We are indeed. Texas isn't looking so solid for Trump anymore...how does that make you feel?

Love that you [as usual] abandoned all your lies about the protests and tear gas.

[Seiklis]

We are indeed. Texas isn't looking so solid for Trump anymore...how does that make you feel?

Lubbock Texas is the key, if it starts breaking closer to even, Pubs have a major long term problem on their hands

Same with the city of Clemson in South Carolina

Those go and the canary in the coal mine isn't warning anymore, it's dead

[cubby]

Lubbock Texas is the key, if it starts breaking closer to even, Pubs have a major long term problem on their hands

Same with the city of Clemson in South Carolina

Those go and the canary in the coal mine isn't warning anymore, it's dead

Interesting about those two cities in those respective states. I'm guessing that those are strong[er?] GOP strongholds, and if the tide is turning there, then the majority of the state is probably as well?

[Seiklis]

Interesting about those two cities in those respective states. I'm guessing that those are strong[er?] GOP strongholds, and if the tide is turning there, then the majority of the state is probably as well?

They're two of the last right leaning college towns for a non-religious school (Texas Tech and Clemson respectively)

If they slip, that's where you'll see a blue Texas

Cruz beat Beto 64%-35% in Lubbock County, if that were to shift to 58-42...that's where Biden could have a chance

[downnola]

Only if you kneejerk before informing yourself as to what's being said. Which means you're reacting on willful ignorance, and your opinion is garbage and should be ignored.

And frankly, I expect a hell of a lot more from Biden than I do "the masses".

In particular, pretending "defund" is an synonym for "abolish" is not remotely honest.

We could avoid the problem altogether if we just used clear language to communicate ideas. Replace “defund” with “reform” and all of a sudden you have a clear message people can rally behind. With “defund” you have a perfect example of a term that is easy to Motte and Bailey. “Of course we don’t mean abolish the police, that’s just right-wing propaganda gobbledygook.”

[starlord]

We could avoid the problem altogether if we just used clear language to communicate ideas. Replace “defund” with “reform” and all of a sudden you have a clear message people can rally behind. With “defund” you have a perfect example of a term that is easy to Motte and Bailey. “Of course we don’t mean abolish the police, that’s just right-wing propaganda gobbledygook.”

we've seen time and time again that "but actually" doesn't work. talking down to people and calling them ignorant & irrational doesn't work.
clear & concise messaging is what speaks to the majority of people.
this is potentially a great opportunity for democrats to showcase what they're all about, protecting civil liberties, promoting social justice and social services. they shouldn't throw it away by letting the right wing muddy the waters.
Keep It Simple, Stupid.

[kaelleria]

Alternate slogans could be something like Communities Before Cops