US PoliERA 2018 |OT10| McConnell is "mule piss"

PinaColada · Oct 16, 2018

Am I wrong for saying Paul Allen is a piece of shit?

Pisses me off that even on his death bed he was still donating crazy money to the Republican Party.

Midnight Jon · Oct 16, 2018

bold move to shitpost about complacency in the thread where literally 75% of the regulars have been campaign operatives

pigeon · Oct 16, 2018

sangreal said:
Yes it's pertinent to that attack but that attack is baseless on its face. Nobody is pretending to be a minority to get ahead in this country. Why she did it is anyone's guess — she says she wanted to be included in events for people in similar situations. But she carried on a damaging (to actual minorities) charade for years and refuses to own up to it. She deflects all criticism back to that initial point — it wasn't used to get a job

This topic is frustrating because honestly I'm very sympathetic to Warren's actions on this pre-politics. Not to put too fine a point on it, white Americans often feel a sense of culturelessness. That's why everybody in Oklahoma has a story about being part Cherokee in the first place, to give them a sense of heritage — which, despite the posts in this thread, is more than a series of generic markers. Nor is there any reason for Warren to doubt a story she was told as a child. I fully believe she checked those boxes really thinking she was significantly Cherokee, and really did hope to meet others like her.

But the reality is that she isn't — and even if she had a higher blood quantum, she doesn't identify as Cherokee, she doesn't participate in their culture, and she doesn't generally have to deal with their problems. In that context, as a national figure, it was time for her to just say "okay, I'm not Cherokee, whether or not I have an ancestor back there somewhere." Not to do that is appropriative. To keep running ads about your Cherokee heritage is absolutely appropriative. The Cherokee Nation has said as much, repeatedly, over a long period of time. Warren has just chosen to ignore them and double down. That's disappointing.

Clowns · Oct 16, 2018

Fork said:
Yeah, since the blue wave is happening y'all shouldnt even vote, why bother

why bother
it's going to hurt me
it's going to kill when you desert me...

Clowns · Oct 16, 2018

Midnight Jon said:
bold move to shitpost about complacency in the thread where literally 75% of the regulars have been campaign operatives

For real, I'm probably the least politically active person here and since turning 18 I've voted in every presidential election, midterm, special, some primaries, and I even showed up for a caucus once.

adamsappel · Oct 16, 2018

That new Fire Ted Cruz is even better than the first!

I have to hope that Palin was only exploiting her kid because she had pictures of him crying, and wasn't making a "Protestors are [redacted]" joke.

sangreal said:
Yes it's pertinent to that attack but that attack is baseless on its face. Nobody is pretending to be a minority to get ahead in this country. Why she did it is anyone's guess — she says she wanted to be included in events for people in similar situations. But she carried on a damaging (to actual minorities) charade for years and refuses to own up to it. She deflects all criticism back to that initial point — it wasn't used to get a job. She actually put out documents on her website showing how she made these claims and then circled the dates with a note that it was after she got hired like that's all that matters

Isn't Obama being born in Kenya baseless on its face? Did that go away just because? She emphasizes it wasn't used to get a job or for advantage because that's the Republican criticism of Affirmative Action (which this has nothing to do with). She talked about having Native American heritage as was passed down by family stories. She took a DNA test; I can't think of any other way to better dispel the Republican lie. It's obviously flummoxed Trump; he made taking the test seem like a sex act. How does it damage Native Americans?

pigeon · Oct 16, 2018

adamsappel said:
Isn't Obama being born in Kenya baseless on its face?...She took a DNA test; I can't think of any other way to better dispel the Republican lie.

The comparison to birtherism is apt because no matter what Obama did birtherism never went away and then the guy who advanced birtherism more than anybody else became President. Releasing his birth certificate had zero impact on birtherism because it was always a nonsensical conspiracy theory that existed only to inflame right-wing racial animus. The exact same thing is true here. Trump literally just said he didn't care when they asked him about the test. Because he doesn't care! So from that perspective it's purely a waste of time.

adamsappel said:
How does it damage Native Americans?

Did you, uh, read the statements by the Cherokee Nation and other actual Native Americans?

"I demand that you explain how this thing is racist without me having to do any research or agree to anything" is a game I'm too old to play.

The Namekian · Oct 16, 2018

The way I see it he got the slur out there and she felt before she ran against him she had to take that card out of his deck. Any time he goes out there and says "she isn't a native American" she can say "yeah I technically am and where is the million dollars".

It might not work, but I understand the reasoning to get that out of his toolbox or to at least make it messy for him to use it.

Joeytj · Oct 16, 2018

pigeon said:
The comparison to birtherism is apt because no matter what Obama did birtherism never went away and then the guy who advanced birtherism more than anybody else became President. Releasing his birth certificate had zero impact on birtherism because it was always a nonsensical conspiracy theory that existed only to inflame right-wing racial animus. The exact same thing is true here. Trump literally just said he didn't care when they asked him about the test. Because he doesn't care! So from that perspective it's purely a waste of time.

Did you, uh, read the statements by the Cherokee Nation and other actual Native Americans?

"I demand that you explain how this thing is racist without me having to do any research or agree to anything" is a game I'm too old to play.

To be fair to the birthererism comparison, Obama would have had to run against Trump in order for it to be exact. And Obama would've certainly beaten Trump in 2012 by a landslide, right after he embarrassed Trump with the birth certificate showing and killing Osama Bin Laden.

By all accounts, Trump has wanted to run for president for years and seriously considered it in 2012 but knew he would lose badly to Obama, but not to Clinton in 2016.

So Warren might have the last cringey laugh after all and beat Trump thanks to this.

Soul Skater · Oct 16, 2018

Also Scott tried to stack the SCOTUS in Florida but the scotus shut him down and said the next governor will fill the three vacancies that open up right as his term ends.

So that's another reason why Gillum winning would be huge

And Nelson should bring up his fuckery

Madison · Oct 16, 2018

At least Nelson is looking more and more like a secure win

aspiegamer · Oct 16, 2018

Just wanted to remind everyone to keep a copy of all your shilling expense receipts these last few weeks. (((Soros))) demands a firm paper trail for reimbursements, as you know. If we do well enough, maybe he'll even give us the backpay owed from 2016!

RiPPn · Oct 16, 2018

At Least 90,000 Voters Purged From Nevada Voter Rolls, Voting Rights Group Claims

Autodidact · Oct 16, 2018

RiPPn said:
At Least 90,000 Voters Purged From Nevada Voter Rolls, Voting Rights Group Claims

Alarming, but the purge described happened in 2016 and '17.

It's a travesty and should be fought, but I don't want people to get the impression it happened last week or month in the run-up to this election.

Clowns · Oct 16, 2018

I was able to vote in the primary with no problem so I'm assuming I'm safe.

shinra-bansho · Oct 16, 2018

If you discover you have some genetic markers associated with black Americans and probably had an ancestor 8 generations ago that was black... but outwardly would not be identified as black and have no connections to the culture or community... would people be okay with the claim that you are "technically a black person"....

Takuhi · Oct 16, 2018

PinaColada said:
Am I wrong for saying Paul Allen is a piece of shit?

Pisses me off that even on his death bed he was still donating crazy money to the Republican Party.

You ARE wrong for saying that.

I believe Allen's given more to Democrats in his lifetime than Republicans, and he's given 10 times as much to pro-gun control groups than he has to either party. He's given billions to philanthropy and signed Gates' pledge which means giving charities $20+ billion to charity upon his death.

I'll be interested to see who gets that windfall. His philanthropy has tended to be focused more on rich-guy stuff (sponsoring public works, endowing colleges), which isn't as admirable as what, say, Gates is doing, but is still waaaay more than most billionaires do. And there's no denying that he inexplicably looked at the political situation in 2018 and decided to write his biggest political check to the Republican congressional committee. But I think he's been a net positive to the world and one of the most progressive members of the Fortune 500.

Edit: Here's him talking about his estate plans:

"I've planned for many years now that the majority of my estate will be left to philanthropy to continue the work of the foundation and to fund nonprofit scientific research like the groundbreaking work being done at the Allen Institute for Brain Science," Allen said. "As our philanthropy continues in the years ahead, we will look for new opportunities to make a difference in the lives of future generations."

In recognition of its twentieth anniversary, the foundation awarded five special grants of $20,000 each to founders of nonprofits in the region it has supported. The recipients are Rachel Bristol, CEO of the Oregon Food Bank; Bridge Cooke, executive director of Adelante Mujeres, a grassroots organization that works to educate and empower Latina women and their families; Jeanne Harmon, executive director of the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession; Myra Platt and Jane Jones of the Book-It Repertory Theatre; and Ken Stuart, president of the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute.

I dunno that repertory theatre is a top priority in the world right now, but this is pretty good stuff.

Pixieking · Oct 16, 2018

shinra-bansho said:
If you discover you have some genetic markers associated with black Americans and probably had an ancestor 8 generations ago that was black... but outwardly would not be identified as black and have no connections to the culture or community... would people be okay with the claim that you are "technically a black person"....

Nope. It feels like part of the whole "I'm part Indigenous American" thing is the fetishization & romanticism of the people/culture/way-of-life - in a manner not unlike Victorian-era Orientalism - that has been so subsumed into the broader culture that it makes it okay to do this kind of thing. Black Culture has very-much pushed back against that fetishization, but Native American views/feelings seem to just be... I don't know... Disregarded? Not considered? Warren herself did this in the fact that she didn't think it worth her time/effort to contact the Cherokee Nation, because... Well, why would she? It feels like the 90s fad of Native American music CDs all over again, in the sense that their culture/way-of-life is automatically assumed to be for everyone, regardless of how appropriate that is.

Skelepuzzle · Oct 16, 2018

pigeon said:
This topic is frustrating because honestly I'm very sympathetic to Warren's actions on this pre-politics. Not to put too fine a point on it, white Americans often feel a sense of culturelessness. That's why everybody in Oklahoma has a story about being part Cherokee in the first place, to give them a sense of heritage — which, despite the posts in this thread, is more than a series of generic markers. Nor is there any reason for Warren to doubt a story she was told as a child. I fully believe she checked those boxes really thinking she was significantly Cherokee, and really did hope to meet others like her.

But the reality is that she isn't — and even if she had a higher blood quantum, she doesn't identify as Cherokee, she doesn't participate in their culture, and she doesn't generally have to deal with their problems. In that context, as a national figure, it was time for her to just say "okay, I'm not Cherokee, whether or not I have an ancestor back there somewhere." Not to do that is appropriative. To keep running ads about your Cherokee heritage is absolutely appropriative. The Cherokee Nation has said as much, repeatedly, over a long period of time. Warren has just chosen to ignore them and double down. That's disappointing.

shinra-bansho said:
If you discover you have some genetic markers associated with black Americans and probably had an ancestor 8 generations ago that was black... but outwardly would not be identified as black and have no connections to the culture or community... would people be okay with the claim that you are "technically a black person"....

Pixieking said:
Nope. It feels like part of the whole "I'm part Indigenous American" thing is the fetishization & romanticism of the people/culture/way-of-life - in a manner not unlike Victorian-era Orientalism - that has been so subsumed into the broader culture that it makes it okay to do this kind of thing. Black Culture has very-much pushed back against that fetishization, but Native American views/feelings seem to just be... I don't know... Disregarded? Not considered? Warren herself did this in the fact that she didn't think it worth her time/effort to contact the Cherokee Nation, because... Well, why would she? It feels like the 90s fad of Native American music CDs all over again, in the sense that their culture/way-of-life is automatically assumed to be for everyone, regardless of how appropriate that is.

Thank you folks, these are all spot on.

The terrible shit that happened to us (though I am not Cherokee) is felt today via the lineage of common abuse through your parental line. You don't just get to somehow be exterminated, "reeducated", and expect a group of severely beaten people to just somehow be okay. The effects of that will be felt for generations to come. "Normalcy" is rare in that environment, and I say that as someone who didn't even grow up on a res.

I never believed she was malicious, it's such a common thing here. I didn't directly care that much (beyond Trump's fucking slurs) until I saw some weird defense forces built up around this.

Naijaboy · Oct 16, 2018

The Namekian said:

Hey, he actually listened to me! Especially after losing that state senate seat.

The Namekian · Oct 16, 2018

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...as-mismanaged-steven-mnuchin-was-on-its-board

Sooo Mnuchin was a part of Sears Executive board unti 2016 and now helps run/destroy our country.

As always only the best people......

cognizant · Oct 16, 2018

So in the last week of Reddit (politics subreddit) headlines I've read that Georgia, Texas and Nevada have had thousands of voters purged. Might be thread worthy for people to check if they've been purged or not. (I'm on my phone and don't have links handy alas, just wanted to worry out loud really. Ya'll are fucked)

adamsappel · Oct 16, 2018

pigeon said:
The comparison to birtherism is apt because no matter what Obama did birtherism never went away and then the guy who advanced birtherism more than anybody else became President. Releasing his birth certificate had zero impact on birtherism because it was always a nonsensical conspiracy theory that existed only to inflame right-wing racial animus. The exact same thing is true here. Trump literally just said he didn't care when they asked him about the test. Because he doesn't care! So from that perspective it's purely a waste of time.

You think releasing his birth certificate had zero impact? Do you think he shouldn't have done it?

pigeon said:
Did you, uh, read the statements by the Cherokee Nation and other actual Native Americans?

"I demand that you explain how this thing is racist without me having to do any research or agree to anything" is a game I'm too old to play.

Fair enough, though I find the DNA test to be compelling and necessary to combat Trump actively using slurs and racist chants at rallies. I was amused when our own DNA sample disproved a long-standing family myth.

shinra-bansho said:
If you discover you have some genetic markers associated with black Americans and probably had an ancestor 8 generations ago that was black... but outwardly would not be identified as black and have no connections to the culture or community... would people be okay with the claim that you are "technically a black person"....

No, but I bet we'd all be howling with laughter if Ron Desantis took a DNA test and he was 1/64 - 1/1024 percent black.

chainlinkspiral · Oct 16, 2018

We're all mutts. Purebloods claiming they are, aren't. The true genetic purity test is neanderthal. The higher the better. Homo sapiens was a cannibalistic mistake.

Also.

Skelepuzzle · Oct 16, 2018

adamsappel said:
You think releasing his birth certificate had zero impact? Do you think he shouldn't have done it?

Fair enough, though I find the DNA test to be compelling and necessary to combat Trump actively using slurs and racist chants at rallies. I was amused when our own DNA sample disproved a long-standing family myth.

No, but I bet we'd all be howling with laughter if Ron Desantis took a DNA test and he was 1/64 - 1/1024 percent black.

The test doesn't work (because quantum without culture means shit and republicans don't care) and it just pisses off the tribe. They'll crow racist slurs at her if she ever runs, that was inevitable. It's fucking depressing.

ThatWasAJoke · Oct 16, 2018

Massive own goal by Warren. Love her but wtf was she thinking

Psamtik · Oct 16, 2018

This whole farce reinforces my belief that Warren isn't, and likely never will be, ready for prime time. She's done a lot of good, and I bet she was a great professor, but there was no upside to any of this. Might as well scratch her off the list.

Ac30 · Oct 16, 2018

ThatWasAJoke said:
Massive own goal by Warren. Love her but wtf was she thinking

I hope we can stop talking about her, like, today.

BDS · Oct 16, 2018

Is anyone concerned about Sinema? I feel like 538 is overrating her chances, especially with this latest scandal.

aspiegamer · Oct 16, 2018

I don't even think I'd call the whole Warren thing "stupid" ... it was just 100% unnecessary and not thought out properly. Literally no one was asking for it. Okay, sure, it made Trump look bonus stupid and caught him lying outright against video evidence, but that happens every fucking day with no consequences so I'm not sure why she thought a "gotcha!" would for some reason stick this time. The timing is also inexplicable--this feels more like a stunt you'd pull when you were announcing you were running for some bonus press and not some random monday before midterms.

Deleted member 25712 · Oct 16, 2018

I'm up with a baby imagining a board room style meeting where the decision to release the results of this DNA test is being debated like the preemptive use of nuclear weapons and Lizzie making the dramatic call to DO IT and every attendee watches some status report which gradually shows how stupid this shit is and it's blowing up in their faces and the slow realization washes over everyone and we all give up because what's the point of anything anymore?

Hey baby is asleep

cartoon_soldier · Oct 16, 2018

BDS said:
Is anyone concerned about Sinema? I feel like 538 is overrating her chances, especially with this latest scandal.

AZ, NV will remain tossups till the end. Could go either way.

Both Rosen and Sinema will need to go negative.

Rilakkuma Fanatic · Oct 16, 2018

BDS said:
Is anyone concerned about Sinema? I feel like 538 is overrating her chances, especially with this latest scandal.

Um, no? McSally just bombed in the latest debate. And here's a secret - most of Sinema's 'scandals' are rehashed tripe from her previous House runs. If that's the best McSally can do, her odds aren't looking very good.

shadow_shogun · Oct 16, 2018

I commend
@ABCInvestigates
for this report on Mangiante. "I did happen to lie about my age," Mangiante said in a statement to ABC News. "I don't owe anyone an explanation about it."

Absent · Oct 16, 2018

shadow_shogun said:

"No," was her reply. "And I would like to make a point – if I am a spy I would be an Italian one. Why a Russian one? That's something I don't get it yet."

Lmao.

Y2Kev · Oct 16, 2018

Why are we raising so much money but it is still close? Is it b/c regular people HATE republican shitheels but PACs are keeping them afloat? Money generally = votes right? cmmonnnn

shinra-bansho · Oct 16, 2018

Democrats are poors. You need 2700 poors to max out donations, compared to one rich old fart.

ThLunarian · Oct 16, 2018

Y2Kev said:
Why are we raising so much money but it is still close? Is it b/c regular people HATE republican shitheels but PACs are keeping them afloat? Money generally = votes right? cmmonnnn

Donations factor in people who are newly engaged in politics. Voter models used for polling do not factor in people who are newly engaged in politics.

That and the special election results over the past year are what make me suspect that we will overperform relative to polling

Zeno · Oct 16, 2018

ThLunarian said:
That and the special election results over the past year are what make me suspect that we will overperform relative to polling

Isn't it normal for wave elections to overperform too?

ContractHolder · Oct 16, 2018

Kyra said:
Dont care! We dont got this! this is not in the bag at all! we have to pour everything we got to make it happen. Vote! Donate! and Vonate!

Wait, is Vonate donating votes or voting for donations?

Rilakkuma Fanatic · Oct 16, 2018

maabus1999 · Oct 16, 2018

Rilakkuma Fanatic said:

Dem-Surge and Low-Turn out have the same split???

Thats interesting....basically says GOP enthusiasm matches Dem Up or Down, 1 for 1. Not sure I fully buy it but hey...

Crocodile · Oct 16, 2018

A surprisingly close poll in NY-27:

Collins (R) at 46% vs McMurray (D) at 43%

Recall that Collins recently came afoul of an insider trading scandal. District is R+22.9 per 538

Linkura · Oct 16, 2018

Rilakkuma Fanatic said:

Still pretty close.

Greigor the FellHand · Oct 16, 2018

nov7. midnight gonna be spicy.

nature boy · Oct 16, 2018

Predictable.

Teggy · Oct 16, 2018

Rilakkuma Fanatic said:

The Ojeda numbers haven't changed much, so this looks more like undecided Republicans coming home.

Linkura · Oct 16, 2018

nature boy said:
Predictable.

(the bad version)

Uhhhhh you're using it as a slur no matter what asshole

louisacommie · Oct 16, 2018

nature boy said:
Predictable.

"Even they don't want him/her" is a phrase you use for a group you don't like rejecting a person.

Trump casually saying he hates native people

Plinko · Oct 16, 2018

"It's a bogus test!"

*Proceeds to use the test results in his complaint*

US PoliERA 2018 |OT10| McConnell is "mule piss"

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