USA elections 2020 - 2021

[Love Mountain]

This is pure projection on your part, and relies on willful ignorance of the conversation. So-called progressives can keep telling themselves they are the majority, and they can keep lashing out at “corporate Democrats” when reality fails to validate their expectations.

The argument wasn't that, "So-called progressives can keep telling themselves they are the majority". It was that, "In competitive districts, Democrats were hurt by the radicalism of the DNC’s national brand. In safe districts, pandering to the radicals can help boost turnout since Democrats don’t need to worry as much about losing moderate votes.".

This is false. Democrats got to run a moderate platform all across the country, from Senate races to competitive districts. Blaming progressives is just your opinion, not based on any data point or fact available or relevant at this point.

Iran still isn't developing nuclear weapons regardless of the deal. I couldn't care less if they did either. Iranian interests are the problem. Their influences destabilizes countries around them from Lebanon, to Iraq, to Yemen, and Syria of course.

Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon as a direct result of JCPOA's dissolution, and it does matter. Nuclear proliferation is the single greatest threat as far as I, and many others, are concerned. Especially in a region as irresponsible and trigger happy as the Middle East. Iran's activities in the region are an entirely different issue, and one I have far less interest in. If we are concerned about Israel's security, I'm more than happy to support selling weapons to Israel, but I don't consider Israel to be under serious threat. It's a powerful country. Terrorism and other interior concerns are the responsibility of Israel, not United States.

Moreover, I have far less sympathy for countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and U.A.E., than I do for Iran. I have absolutely no interest in supporting countries that are continuing the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, and are continuing to fund extremists that threaten the Western world, rather than the squabbles in Middle East. Iran is not the problem. It is one of the problems. Alongside Pakistan, KSA, and U.A.E. In fact, Iran is on the bottom of that list as far as I'm concerned, as Iran's activities are limited to their immediate neighborhood rather than to places like Afghanistan or extremist groups like ISIS.

[Love Mountain]

He's not a fortune teller or an expert in pharma industry. It's people who listen to his words, or the words of any public figures, should apologize to themselves, whether they agree with him or not.

Why can't people just see him as someone doing his job in a public office?

Because he does his job extremely poorly.

[Lord Thesaurian]

The argument wasn't that, "So-called progressives can keep telling themselves they are the majority". It was that, "In competitive districts, Democrats were hurt by the radicalism of the DNC’s national brand. In safe districts, pandering to the radicals can help boost turnout since Democrats don’t need to worry as much about losing moderate votes.".

This is false. Democrats got to run a moderate platform all across the country, from Senate races to competitive districts. Blaming progressives is just your opinion, not based on any data point or fact available or relevant at this point.

Your gainsaying isn’t an argument, especially when it relies on willful ignorance of cited facts.

[Love Mountain]

Your gainsaying isn’t an argument, especially when it relies on willful ignorance of cited facts.

You haven't cited anything, and you can keep repeating yourself, it's not an argument.

[Lord Thesaurian]

You haven't cited anything, and you can keep repeating yourself, it's not an argument.

Not true. I provided factual analysis backed up by source material. Your attempt at rebuttal, as you put it, was “idc talk to the hand.” A projection of your own emotional, unfalsifiable opinions isn’t an argument.

[Love Mountain]

Not true. I provided factual analysis backed up by source material. Your attempt at rebuttal, as you put it, was “idc talk to the hand.” A projection of your own emotional, unfalsifiable opinions isn’t an argument.

Your "factual" analysis, has absolutely no relevance to how progressives "hurt" mainstream Democrats in elections. Highlighting that your opinions aren't "facts" isn't an opinion. It's simply pointing out the obvious. And there are no "facts" that you brought up, to support the assertion that progressives are responsible for DNC losses in this election.

[Vanoi]

Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon as a direct result of JCPOA's dissolution, and it does matter. Nuclear proliferation is the single greatest threat as far as I, and many others, are concerned.

Its not for me and as your own source indicates Iran is still far off from the capability to build a bomb. Still no evidence Iran actively is developing a nuclear weapon.

Especially in a region as irresponsible and trigger happy as the Middle East. Iran's activities in the region are an entirely different issue, and one I have far less interest in.

Cool, Iran's nuclear activities are of no interest to me. Just its behavior in the Middle East.

If we are concerned about Israel's security, I'm more than happy to support selling weapons to Israel, but I don't consider Israel to be under serious threat. It's a powerful country. Terrorism and other interior concerns are the responsibility of Israel, not United States.

Terrorism and threats to a US ally are definitely the US's concern. I'll remind you Hezbollah alone possess hundreds of thousands of missiles are rockets. They are no small threat.

Moreover, I have far less sympathy for countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and U.A.E., than I do for Iran. I have absolutely no interest in supporting countries that are continuing the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, and are continuing to fund extremists that threaten the Western world, rather than the squabbles in Middle East. Iran is not the problem. It is one of the problems. Alongside Pakistan, KSA, and U.A.E. In fact, Iran is on the bottom of that list as far as I'm concerned, as Iran's activities are limited to their immediate neighborhood rather than to places like Afghanistan or extremist groups like ISIS.

Cool but i never once mentioned any of those countries. I mentioned Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Is Iraq destabilizing those countries not of your concern?

[Lord Thesaurian]

Your "factual" analysis, has absolutely no relevance to how progressives "hurt" mainstream Democrats in elections. Highlighting that your opinions aren't "facts" isn't an opinion. It's simply pointing out the obvious. And there are no "facts" that you brought up, to support the assertion that progressives are responsible for DNC losses in this election.

Again, not true. The observation that “as districts become safer for Democratic candidates, those incumbents can adopt more liberal positions. Meanwhile, other incumbents felt they needed to adopt more moderate positions because of the competitiveness of their districts. This would seem to support the moderates’ argument that the national party brand hurt their chances” is factual and backed up by statistical analysis. Any analysis can be written off as an opinion in the scientific sense, but any such analysis is de facto more valid than your unfalsifiable gainsaying.

[alhoon]

Republicans seem hellbent to not allow Biden govern. Not only they keep unsubstantial claims about voter fraud they cannot back up even the courts of their own making, they are also preparing to fight the confirmations of the incoming administration. That they lost the PotUS = they lost the executive branch. Using the half-of the judicial branch they control to defang the executive branch is a bad practice that will seriously harm them in Trump's second term in 2024.

Oh, yes BTW. I am pretty sure Trump will try to get the Republican nomination in 2024 and he will get it, unless he's in prison or there are special laws (the Silvio-effect) that block him from running again. However, with Biden not seeming too keen to go after Trump, I think we won't see Silvio-blocks.
And Trump in 2024 will probably not have the senate and perhaps not even the House. As such, whatever atrocity the Republican senate does now in his name, will come to haunt him in 2024 when he won't be able to confirm his cabinet.

[conon394]

Biden not seeming too keen to go after Trump, I think we won't see Silvio-blocks.

He does not need to really. The state cases are pardon proof. Also at least until the Georgia run offs are over and (when and if/until) Mitch goes full obstruction Biden has every reason to keep playing the reach across aisle thing. Healing and bipartisanship, etc. Collins is a good warning sign a lot of people were done with trump but not ready for a full ticket vote switch to the D side.

[Lord Thesaurian]

Warning: bad words.

[alhoon]

Actually, I keep my hopes up that from the 51 Republican senators that I expect Biden would have to deal with, there will be a few that, for whatever reason* would say "enough with the obstructionism, let the man govern and we will hit him IF he fails, not set him up to fail."

*whether it is because their seats are threatened by shifting demographics or the groups they want to win over are aligned with said policies or, for the very few naïve idiots, out of a sense of country above party / duty to the sheeple.

[dogukan]

In evaluating a different impact of the election;

The past week had been mind boggling in Turkey. There seems to be a sudden conflict within the factions that have taken over the state under Erdoğan's system. The coalition Erdoğan built through ultra-nationalists (murderous Gray Wolves who controls the lower ranks of the security as if it is a paramilitary faction as well as the underworld), Islamists and Eurasianists(pro-Russian military-juidiciary elite) who made their bets on a Trump win are at a massive breakdown.

In Turkey, we call this the Biden Effect. Just to give you an idea of how important the liberal American presence is to this word, just in this last week:

* AKP's Islamist deep state which we call the Pelikan faction, under the control of Erdoğan's son-in-law who had strong ties to Kushner has resigned.

*The second arm of the AKP's government under Abdülhamid Gül made an announcement saying that Turkey will go into a period of reform as our juidiciary has turned into a place where politics decide the outcomes.

*A high ranking AKP official came out to a mainstream news channel, announced that freedom of speech in Turkey is in a terrible situation, that the reasons for Kurdish party's leader Selahattin Demirtaş being in jail for the past 4 years is beyond ridiculous and childish and that he can be released soon. He also said that the liberal philantrophist Osman Kavala whom the AKP government calls the "Red Soros" might be released.

Following these rapid change in tone, other factions of the party launched various debates through their groups in media and politics (they control it completely anyways). A mob-boss who has ties to Turkish deep state and Gray Wolves that was trained by the Turkish intelligence back in 1980s to murder and kidnap leftists was released 2 years ago. He openly threatened the opposition leader Kılıçdaroğlu to show the groups that appear to want reform that they will not allow a turn to the West!

* And finally today, Erdoğan came out and said that Turkey's future lies in Europe. İbrahim Kalın, the spokesman for AKP is all over Europe the past week and he announced that Europe is Turkey's strategic ally.

Anyone who has been following Turkish politics just a little, very little, can understand how crazy of a 180 degree turn this is...all in one week following the Democrat victory seeming certain.

I hope the people now understand better just how much of a menace Trump administration was. His harm was not only to the American democracy, the climate and pluralistic political ideologies dominating the world...he was one of the main reasons for whole world pluging into dictatorships that ruined the lives of many.
To me, it is obvious that we simply lost 4 years of progressive, liberal, democratic development and fell into radicalism, warfare, jihadism, ultranationalism all over the region because of this guy's stupidity. One phone call from Erdoğan that adressed his ego properly and he burned the 10 year work of Kurds in the middle east towards creating a democratic, secular political system...handed it to jihadis in a day.

I can't believe people still back this guy....

[Ludicus]

Moreover, I have far less sympathy for countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and U.A.E., than I do for Iran. I have absolutely no interest in supporting countries that are continuing the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, and are continuing to fund extremists that threaten the Western world, rather than the squabbles in Middle East.

Indeed. In fact, the US walks alone in Iran sanctions.But now Biden said he will return to 2015 deal.
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From the news, U.S.Death Penalty Criticized by U.N. Human Rights Council ...

The United States faced harsh criticism from the world community for its continued use of capital punishment during a United Nations review of its human rights record on November 9, 2020.

BUT, Joe Biden will work to end use of the death penalty in the US

Congratulations!
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The Cia didn’t give Chavez’s cancer but- according to Giuliani, his phantom is imbroiled in a conspiracy involving the democrats: Trump makes futile last stand to overturn results

Rudy Giuliani...accused Democrats of masterminding a “national conspiracy” to steal the election, referencing China, Cuba, the Clinton Foundation, billionaire George Soros and the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez.

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Populist parties, euphemistically described as "anti-system", are in their political essence, truly anti-democratic parties, with a strong predisposition to behave in an authoritarian way. National populism has also a strong impact on contemporary forms of racism/xenophobia and related intolerance.Eg.,Trump’s Party (ex-GOP), Orban’s Party, Bolsonaro’s Party.
In the words of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian Anne Applebaum , author of “Twilight of Democracy, The sedutive Lure of Autoritarianism”,page185,

...we may be doomed like glittering, multiethnic Habsburg, Vienna, or creative, decadent Weimar, Berlin, to be swept away into irrelevance,it is possible that we are already living through the twilight of democracy, that our civilization may be heading for anarchy or tyranny...
Or maybe the coronavirus will inspire a new sense of global solidarity. Maybe we will renew and modernize our institutions.

Hmm...and then, who knows, life reserves a lot of surprises.

Actually, I keep my hopes up that from the 51 Republican senators

Or 50?... from what I know, Republicans have historically performed well in runoffs, but runoffs tend to have lower turnouts.Let's wait and see.

[Love Mountain]

Its not for me and as your own source indicates Iran is still far off from the capability to build a bomb. Still no evidence Iran actively is developing a nuclear weapon.

What's not for you?

Cool, Iran's nuclear activities are of no interest to me. Just its behavior in the Middle East.

Why are Iran's nuclear capabilities of no concern for you?

Terrorism and threats to a US ally are definitely the US's concern. I'll remind you Hezbollah alone possess hundreds of thousands of missiles are rockets. They are no small threat.

Terrorism on us soil is of US concern. Terrorism in a country that oppresses a nation on a territory it controls is not. Perhaps if Israel solved the Palestine issues, it would face less terrorist threats.

Cool but i never once mentioned any of those countries. I mentioned Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Is Iraq destabilizing those countries not of your concern?

The countries you mentioned are already destabilized, Iran's attempts to shift the situation in its favor is much less concerning to me than the activities of the countries I mentioned.

Again, not true. The observation that “as districts become safer for Democratic candidates, those incumbents can adopt more liberal positions. Meanwhile, other incumbents felt they needed to adopt more moderate positions because of the competitiveness of their districts. This would seem to support the moderates’ argument that the national party brand hurt their chances” is factual and backed up by statistical analysis.

This observation is verifiably false by looking at the positions adopted by the candidates in competitive districts. Medicare-For-All and "Defund the Police" was not on the menu for any of the aforementioned Senate candidates that lost, and you can look at competitive districts to get the actual picture rather than one peddled by you. Democrats ran an overwhelmingly moderate platform designed to attract the moderate vote. Around the country, these candidates lost, highlighting the failure of mainstream Democrats to effectively sell their message. Instead of accepting the responsibility, some people prefer to blame others.

Any analysis can be written off as an opinion in the scientific sense, but any such analysis is de facto more valid than your unfalsifiable gainsaying.

You're giving your sentiments too much credit to classify it as an "analysis".

[Ludicus]

threats to a US ally are definitely the US's concern

I'm not quite sure.It depends on what you pay. Let's go back in time: Trump says US may not automatically defend Nato allies ...

Trump offered an equivocal reply when asked if the US military would automatically protect Baltic states against Russian aggression, saying that he would gauge their contribution to the alliance.

Lithuanians are not sure, either, Baltic security in the age of Trump - the Lithuania Tribune

It should, however, be mentioned that no US President before Trump has threatened to withdraw from NATO. Claims of this kind have a negative impact on transatlantic relations and call into question the reliability of transatlantic relationships, because political discourse is an important part of foreign and security policy
...After two years of Trump’s presidency, the question what is it that Trumpactually seeks to achieve - to break the rules underpinning transatlantic cooperation or to simply get more from such a relationship - remains open.

Kamala Harris on Palestine,

Joe and I also believe in the worth and value of every Palestinian and every Israeli and we will work to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, prosperity and democracy.
We are committed to a two-state solution, and we will oppose any unilateral steps that undermine that goal. We will also oppose annexation and settlement expansion.
Will take immediate steps to restore economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, reopen the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem and work to reopen the PLO mission in Washington.

[conon394]

Kamala Harris on Palestine,

Aside from restoring funding to the Palestinian authority and maybe emergency aid to get some vaccine distribution. I dearly hope They side step getting sucked into that hot steaming mess for their first two years. The economy and Covid has to the only real focus before the mid terms.

[Lord Thesaurian]

This observation is verifiably false by looking at the positions adopted by the candidates in competitive districts. Medicare-For-All and "Defund the Police" was not on the menu for any of the aforementioned Senate candidates that lost, and you can look at competitive districts to get the actual picture rather than one peddled by you. Democrats ran an overwhelmingly moderate platform designed to attract the moderate vote. Around the country, these candidates lost, highlighting the failure of mainstream Democrats to effectively sell their message. Instead of accepting the responsibility, some people prefer to blame others.

Your disagreement with factual analysis doesn’t falsify anything.

You're giving your sentiments too much credit to classify it as an "analysis".

It’s not sentiment. It was cited and quoted directly.

[B. W.]

FEC Chairman asserts there is evidence of election fraud:

https://justthenews.com/politics-pol...ing-legitimate

Also: Dominion has closed its offices in Denver and Toronto as well as failing to show up for a congressional hearing in Pennsylvania after promising to show. They lawyered up instead.

[Gaidin]

Pennsylvania? He's got two days.