Current Affairs General US politics (ie, not POTUS related)

[BlueTX]

The rioters wouldn't be able to pick most of the members out of a lineup.


This is not at all how I remember the early nineties. There was something of an void in identity on both sides after the Soviet Union collapsed, which is part of why the 1992 presidential election was so weird.

We then had a few years of real struggle over actual policy stuff (BRAC, balanced budget, the crime bill) with sideshows during Clinton's first Congress about the appropriate use of government force (Waco, Ruby Ridge) and failed health care reform. Being informed matters when you're trying to debate meaningful policy outcomes.

Then Clinton got caught banging an intern in the Oval Office, at which point I would say our modern, divisive political discourse devoid of substance began. There were certainly partisan voices on both sides prior to that point, but that whole year was the first time I can remember domestic politics being dominated by an "us vs. them" debate where compromise was literally impossible since convict/acquit is a binary choice.

Now, pretty much everything is falsely framed that way on both sides of the divide.

The '92 election was a Reagan-recycle Bush v Clinton and a whack conspiracy devotee and all-around loon, Ross Perot (a LOT of those folks became Ron Paul devotees who eventually moved to Trump here in Texas). I get your point that Congressional action was more likely to be a serious pursuit but I was largely referring to GOP Presidential campaigns and administration. There wasn't much difference between Reagan, Bush, Bush and Romney - in policy, style or who ran their campaigns.

But this is the forum for non-POTUS. Shall we return to our regularly scheduled programming? ?

 

[LinekersLegs]

Nepotism isn’t a great start for the NY mayor

 

[LinekersLegs]

 

[BlueTX]

 

[Huyton Layne]

At this point they've gone full incel

 

[verreauxi]

 

[verreauxi]

This is from a blog by PZ Myers, and he is correct:​

​

The face of the Democratic party is tired and useless​

I refused to pay any attention to the news yesterday, the first anniversary of the MAGA riot and insurrection. I was just so sure that the Democrats would be taking the event very seriously and working hard to bring justice to the criminals (one of whom is still preparing to run for president in 2024), so, as they assure me, nothing would happen because they’re so earnestly and quietly working behind the scenes.
Nope. It’s hard to believe the Democrats can be this tone-deaf.

Following a solemn discussion of imperiled American democracy between the Librarian of Congress and historians, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) chose to commemorate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by inviting the cast of Hamilton to give a virtual performance with the production value of a tinny Zoom call. The musical’s creator Lin-Manuel Miranda said to his C-SPAN audience, “We should never take our rights and liberties for granted. That’s what I wrote about in the song ‘Dear Theodosia’ from Hamilton.” Cast members, all in separate locations and out of costume, appeared via videoconference on a projector screen in the Capitol. They sang the earnest song straight into the camera, some via visible headphones in their ears. The disconnect between the musical and the severity of the Capitol riot called to mind the celebrity coalition that produced the reviled “Imagine” pandemic video. As one Twitter user quipped, “This is worse than the insurrection.” New York Times reporter Astead Wesley wrote, “We owe Gal Gadot an apology.”

I get so much spam email from Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer because I once donated a small sum to the Democratic party, and I am totally sick of them and their histrionic headlines and pointless posturing. Sit down and shut up, because they’re just driving me away from ever supporting that party any further. Local candidates, yes; the occasional progressive candidate elsewhere, sure; Democrats as a party, nope.

 

[LinekersLegs]

 

[RAFUH]

 

[LinekersLegs]

 

[RAFUH]

 

[verreauxi]

Need to click on the link to see the top of the photo...

 

[riddick]

Awesome of Sinema to kill any chance to get a voting rights bill. This is it right here. Not like our literal democracy is at stake.

 

[TN Toffee]

 

[TN Toffee]