Mega-Thread: 2020 United States General Election

[Felya]

Aww, you are correct. So the state has caucuses, mail in voting, and second set primaries held months later? What a confusing state.

No... we just have a primary vote in March and local voting yesterday. All of it is mail in... The caucus are the delegates...

[cubby]

Agreed, but you'll note I didn't actually get a response. This is something I'm considering lately. There's a lot of lefties who want to rage at the system, but not a lot of them can actually be bothered to do anything about it.

There is definitely that phenomenon - but then there are people who would like to help, but either can't or are unable, because of circumstances - I'm not justifying their lethargy, I'm just saying that not all raging leftists are the lazy do-nothings we know some of them to be. It's easy to think about getting involved, it's harder to actually do it.

What this tells me is most are just looking for excuses to act in a partisan fashion. They're not actually interested in dealing with real issues. Or, more generously, they assume these issues can be fixed if they capture power in the federal government, and that is hopelessly naive and dangerous.

You have touched on a very interesting subject, the notion of affecting local government through control of the federal government, something the Democrats have dramatically failed to recognize the fallacy of over the past few decades.

I don't know how far back you go, but in the mid 1980's-'90's the GOP was continuing to get their asses kicked in the House - the Democrats had owned the House of Representatives for years. And the GOP couldn't break the stranglehold. So they started working on local politics and elections - taking over school boards, winning State House/Senate spots, etc. And it worked. The House flipped in 1994, and the Democrats have been on the ropes since (at least it seems that way).

[Nurasu]

You have touched on a very interesting subject, the notion of affecting local government through control of the federal government, something the Democrats have dramatically failed to recognize the fallacy of over the past few decades.

I don't know how far back you go, but in the mid 1980's-'90's the GOP was continuing to get their asses kicked in the House - the Democrats had owned the House of Representatives for years. And the GOP couldn't break the stranglehold. So they started working on local politics and elections - taking over school boards, winning State House/Senate spots, etc. And it worked. The House flipped in 1994, and the Democrats have been on the ropes since (at least it seems that way).

We definitely need to approach strategy with Virginia as a model - flip the state houses and enact voting reforms, ensuring the state stays blue by eliminating GOP voter suppression.

[cubby]

We definitely need to approach strategy with Virginia as a model - flip the state houses and enact voting reforms, ensuring the state stays blue by eliminating GOP voter suppression.

Agreed. I hope the DNC, somewhere in the background while they deal with all the horror that Trump has unleashed upon this country, is sending that model to other purple states. It could make a huge impact down the road.

[Thelxi]

The Biden camp has leaked for one last time, and the VP race finalists are.. Kamala and Rice! Bass is generously trailing in third, and Warren is cut from the shortlist altogether.

I'm happy with both tbh. Rice was my second pick after Warren, so I'm happy with this development. Kamala is not someone I'm particularly impressed with or offended by, but I can see many reasons why she is probably the smartest choice to win this shit and get Trump tfo.

Basically my money is still on Kamala, but I'd be elated if it is Rice. We will know soon enough!

Btw, the last minute push for Bass confused me. It was weird, but clearly unsuccessful. I have my (conspiracy) theories about it, but I'll keep them to myself lol.

[cubby]

The Biden camp has leaked for one last time, and the VP race finalists are.. Kamala and Rice! Bass is generously trailing in third, and Warren is cut from the shortlist altogether.

I'm happy with both tbh. Rice was my second pick after Warren, so I'm happy with this development. Kamala is not someone I'm particularly impressed with or offended by, but I can see many reasons why she is probably the smartest choice to win this shit and get Trump tfo.

Basically my money is still on Kamala, but I'd be elated if it is Rice. We will know soon enough!

Btw, the last minute push for Bass confused me. It was weird, but clearly unsuccessful. I have my (conspiracy) theories about it, but I'll keep them to myself lol.

Are we sure that leak is legit? I mean, I understand the inherent uncertainty in any "leak" - but seriously, Rice is still a contender?

[AntiFascistVoter]

Are we sure that leak is legit? I mean, I understand the inherent uncertainty in any "leak" - but seriously, Rice is still a contender?

Nope, it's mostly a bored journalist making shit up. There's some mention of a Biden confidant and no direct quotes...

Most of the VP speculation is being driven by beltway pundits stuck in quarantine.

[cubby]

Nope, it's mostly a bored journalist making shit up. There's some mention of a Biden confidant and no direct quotes...

Most of the VP speculation is being driven by beltway pundits stuck in quarantine.

Ok, whew - don't get me wrong, I really like Rice, but she is a power keg for the GOP. Harris would be great. Bass is...fine. I'm still on Abrams for some reason, but she seems to have not even made the short list cut.

[Thelxi]

Are we sure that leak is legit? I mean, I understand the inherent uncertainty in any "leak" - but seriously, Rice is still a contender?

All three reporters in the articles I linked have credible sources and track records. Biden people very high up absolutely blabbed to reporters. Don't take the word "leak" too literally; these are entirely intentional, often strategic, leaks.

The only variable that is cause for uncertainty here is Biden himself. It will be Biden and Biden alone that will make the ultimate decision, so if he wants to shock the world and pick Whitmer, he absolutely can. He won't though, it'll be one of these two. Most likely Kamala, but maaybe he has a strong personal preference for Rice. That's about as shocking as I can imagine him being.

[beanman12345]

Okay now this is just embarrassing for Biden. Bernie hasn't been campaigning for months now, and Biden won by less than 2% in Washington with no actual challenger.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...ington-results

ROFL

And once again, like all the other posts if yours in this thread, your willful ignorance makes you look bad instead of Biden. Well done.

[cubby]

All three reporters in the articles I linked have credible sources and track records. Biden people very high up absolutely blabbed to reporters. Don't take the word "leak" too literally; these are entirely intentional, often strategic, leaks.

The only variable that is cause for uncertainty here is Biden himself. It will be Biden and Biden alone that will make the ultimate decision, so if he wants to shock the world and pick Whitmer, he absolutely can. He won't though, it'll be one of these two. Most likely Kamala, but maaybe he has a strong personal preference for Rice. That's about as shocking as I can imagine him being.

Nope, it's mostly a bored journalist making shit up. There's some mention of a Biden confidant and no direct quotes...

Most of the VP speculation is being driven by beltway pundits stuck in quarantine.

I think you two need to get together and talk. Legit or not, the one thing I know is that we don't know.

[Thelxi]

Nope, it's mostly a bored journalist making shit up. There's some mention of a Biden confidant and no direct quotes...

Most of the VP speculation is being driven by beltway pundits stuck in quarantine.

VP speculation has been driven by great reporting that is easy to cross-reference if you put half an ounce of effort into it.

The desire to discredit and conveniently skip over all journalism is a luxurious vulnerability that Trump exploited like nothing else. It is one of the things I hope to see dead in the grave next his political corpse, whenever that is.

[Nurasu]

Biden does have a working relationship with Rice obviously, but I hope it's not her. Adding any perceived authenticity to "Obamagate" or even ripping off the scab by naming someone allegedly involved would fire up Republicans a lot more than her nomination would fire up Democrats I think. Normally I would say "who cares?" about batshit conspiracy theories, but she adds absolutely nothing to ticket for Democrats while bringing that baggage, imo. Harris has baggage in the current ACAB climate too though.

[Felya]

Biden does have a working relationship with Rice obviously, but I hope it's not her. Adding any perceived authenticity to "Obamagate" or even ripping off the scab by naming someone allegedly involved would fire up Republicans a lot more than her nomination would fire up Democrats I think. Normally I would say "who cares?" about batshit conspiracy theories, but she adds absolutely nothing to ticket for Democrats while bringing that baggage, imo. Harris has baggage in the current ACAB climate too though.

What is everyone talking about? I did google... but...

Declassified Susan Rice email reveals FBI concern about Flynn, further debunks Trump’s ‘Obamagate’ accusations
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/pol...lti-story.html

‘She is absolutely our No. 1 draft pick’: GOP pines for Rice as Biden VP
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/0...esident-391480

Is this it?

[beanman12345]

Biden does have a working relationship with Rice obviously, but I hope it's not her. Adding any perceived authenticity to "Obamagate" or even ripping off the scab by naming someone allegedly involved would fire up Republicans a lot more than her nomination would fire up Democrats I think. Normally I would say "who cares?" about batshit conspiracy theories, but she adds absolutely nothing to ticket for Democrats while bringing that baggage, imo. Harris has baggage in the current ACAB climate too though.

Not to mention she's never been elected to any office, so she has no political experience in that area.

[Edge-]

Nope, it's mostly a bored journalist making shit up. There's some mention of a Biden confidant and no direct quotes...

Most of the VP speculation is being driven by beltway pundits stuck in quarantine.

Are we really going to start going down the, "AnoNyMouS SourcES doN'T eXisT" road?

[Blur4stuff]

If the VP has to be a woman of color with serious political experience and minimal negatives (comparatively) then it's a really small field.

The number of non white women holding any meaningful political office (non recent) is small to begin with.

[Gestopft]

Adding any perceived authenticity to "Obamagate" or even ripping off the scab by naming someone allegedly involved would fire up Republicans a lot more than her nomination would fire up Democrats I think. Normally I would say "who cares?" about batshit conspiracy theories, but she adds absolutely nothing to ticket for Democrats while bringing that baggage, imo. Harris has baggage in the current ACAB climate too though.

Yeah, I think Rice would surely trigger the right-wing hate boner more than Harris. And what is the right these days except a giant collective hate boner?

- - - Updated - - -

Welp, apparently Moscow Mitch currently has a 17-point lead over McGrath in Kentucky. If the most hated Senator in the US still looks to be reelected handily then I wouldn't hold my breath on turning the Senate blue anytime soon, which means at best the next four years will be a holding pattern of awful.

The thing about this: I heard McConnell asked about his dismal approval ratings, and his response was probably the most reasonable things I've heard him say. It was basically along the lines of "it's because I'm in leadership." He gets low approval from Democrats because of everything he is doing, and low approval from Republicans for everything he isn't doing. Most of the Republicans/Conservatives that don't like him are still going to pick him over his opponent, though.

[AntiFascistVoter]

VP speculation has been driven by great reporting that is easy to cross-reference if you put half an ounce of effort into it.

The desire to discredit and conveniently skip over all journalism is a luxurious vulnerability that Trump exploited like nothing else. It is one of the things I hope to see dead in the grave next his political corpse, whenever that is.

Great reporting, is the opposite of speculation...
What is luxurious vulnerability ...?
Hello brain worms!

Look, research 101:
Attributable quotes are the most reliable.
Unattributed quotes less so. Can they be verified by other independent sources? Foxnew.com copypasting the Axios article, is not verification.
No quotes, is very unreliable.
Unattributed quote fragments, see above.
Unattributed quote fragments from 2 weeks ago "Biden should announce by the first week of August.."

Pointing out that your axios article has no attributal quotes, or any quotes. feels bad.

Axios lucking into the Trump interview ... is just probability. Prior to that, they were just a more political version or VICE news. Or the more tabloidy version of Politico, whom they broke off from.

[Edge-]

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/0...e-probe-391479

Relevant here. Republicans are pushing hard on the Biden/Burisma nonsense, and Republican Senators are going at this especially hard and trying to rope the CIA into this.

The CIA ain't playing this bullshit and have ignored requests for a briefing about a nonexistent issue. This line especially amused me -

And while the motivations of the CIA are not certain, Johnson is considered “toxic” by some members of the intelligence community, according to people with direct knowledge of the dynamic.

- - - Updated - - -

Great reporting, is the opposite of speculation...
What is luxurious vulnerability ...?
Hello brain worms!

Look, research 101:
Attributable quotes are the most reliable.
Unattributed quotes less so. Can they be verified by other independent sources? Foxnew.com copypasting the Axios article, is not verification.
No quotes, is very unreliable.
Unattributed quote fragments, see above.
Unattributed quote fragments from 2 weeks ago "Biden should announce by the first week of August.."

Pointing out that your axios article has no attributal quotes, or any quotes. feels bad.

Axios lucking into the Trump interview ... is just probability. Prior to that, they were just a more political version or VICE news. Or the more tabloidy version of Politico, whom they broke off from.

Shit, I guess we can throw out a huge amount of the reporting on Trump and the inside machinations of the White House that have largely been anonymous or providing background that is not specifically quoted.

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/axios/

High factual reporting.

What is it about some political writers covering inside baseball on VP picks, especially given that Biden's VP pick is an extremely hot-button issue, has bothered you so much? I mean, I agree that it's kinda a pointless inside baseball that's largely meaningless to most people, but this is a fairly standard feature of political news coverage.