***Official Political Discussion Thread***

I supported President Biden and VP Harris this election. But it isn't difficult to see that expanding the Dems' reach is better served by not alienating half of the electorate. Sure, there are some MAGA types that are out of reach. But lumping every person who appears to show support for Trump into that group results in people rage-voting against the Dems or staying at home. Slam dunking on people on-line is great for e-cred. But in the real world it strengthens and helps to expand Trump's base.
I understand moderates, I have family that vote as moderates for both sides depending on the candidate but in a time where our democracy is under threat from a former President that refused to relinquish his seat, used his executive powers to attempt to overturn the election, used military force on protestors and fueled an insurrection...it's hard to defend moderates who still consciously leaned right this time around.

Moderates should be the voice of reason for the far left and far right...they chose to go right this time. Casting a vote in response to being "turned off" by the rhetoric of one side or because of personal grievances feels, like a failure to see the bigger picture. They deserve to be called out on that.

Being “put off” by the left’s messaging or by progressive movements is an understandable feeling. But it shouldn’t carry the same weight as these existential threats to democracy. Why aren’t those same moderates not put off by a political movement that has shown a willingness to dismantle the very foundations of our democratic process?

If being turned off by Democrats' approach to issues like social justice or climate change is enough to push moderates right, why isn’t an attempt to subvert democracy enough to turn them away from the Republican Party? At what point does principle override preference? It seems like the bar for what’s acceptable behavior on the right has been lowered to an alarming degree, while the left is held to an impossibly high standard like what many have been saying in here too.

There shouldn't be different standards for different parties. If you lean one way, don't be mad when you're labeled or bunched with the direction you chose. Getting called a snowflake, soy boy, commie liberal doesn't affect me one bit...getting called a bigot, racist, uneducated hillbilly shouldn't affect someone in the Republican camp if they’re confident in their beliefs. If you choose to align with a particular ideology, it comes with the territory of being associated with certain labels fair or not. You can’t embrace the benefits of a political identity without accepting the criticisms that come with it.
 
I understand moderates, I have family that vote as moderates for both sides depending on the candidate but in a time where our democracy is under threat from a former President that refused to relinquish his seat, used his executive powers to attempt to overturn the election, used military force on protestors and fueled an insurrection...it's hard to defend moderates who still consciously leaned right this time around.

Moderates should be the voice of reason for the far left and far right...they chose to go right this time. Casting a vote in response to being "turned off" by the rhetoric of one side or because of personal grievances feels, like a failure to see the bigger picture. They deserve to be called out on that.

Being “put off” by the left’s messaging or by progressive movements is an understandable feeling. But it shouldn’t carry the same weight as these existential threats to democracy. Why aren’t those same moderates not put off by a political movement that has shown a willingness to dismantle the very foundations of our democratic process?

If being turned off by Democrats' approach to issues like social justice or climate change is enough to push moderates right, why isn’t an attempt to subvert democracy enough to turn them away from the Republican Party? At what point does principle override preference? It seems like the bar for what’s acceptable behavior on the right has been lowered to an alarming degree, while the left is held to an impossibly high standard like what many have been saying in here too.

There shouldn't be different standards for different parties. If you lean one way, don't be mad when you're labeled or bunched with the direction you chose. Getting called a snowflake, soy boy, commie liberal doesn't affect me one bit...getting called a bigot, racist, uneducated hillbilly shouldn't affect someone in the Republican camp if they’re confident in their beliefs. If you choose to align with a particular ideology, it comes with the territory of being associated with certain labels fair or not. You can’t embrace the benefits of a political identity without accepting the criticisms that come with it.

This is actually a fair response and I understand your position. Whether it makes sense that some moderates choose to react that way, or whether it is right for them to do so, misses the point. Dems still need to play to them. And refusing to do that, especially after these results, isn’t good strategy.

Campaigns (and the rhetoric of their supporters) have consequences.
 
Nonsense. It's basically the evolution of "seems like a guy you could have a beer with". Nonsense.
Oh, absolutely. It’s like going out to dinner with your boss and their colleagues and everyones friendly but then they leave you stuck with the check. That’s how Trump operates, he presents himself as a relatable, down-to-earth guy who understands the common person, but when it’s time to take responsibility, he leaves others to deal with the fallout. People are drawn in by his charm and his ability to connect on a superficial level, but they don’t realize they’ve been left holding the bag until it’s too late.
 
although it does seem like we are in a somewhat less racially polarized partisan environment compared to past election cycles, we also should read too much into exit polls.

 
The internalized racism first generation Asian-Americans feel is a story that really no one outside of us really speaks about anyways so people don't even know it exists. We're subconsciously told that we don't belong and have never belonged in this country and historically have had policies and barriers created to represent those very ideas. Even with that said, I think the Asian American voting base has proven to be very consistent in turnout for the left. Even in the exit polls and voting discrepancies a few people have shared here, show that we shifted right far less compared to Latinos and African Americans.

Not sure if it is entirely a high class thing about hating Trump but low income and medium income Asians hate authoritarian figures the same, probably the only thing we can agree on regardless of income or ethnicity :lol Probably ingrained in our DNA somehow for all the infighting and power shifts in the continent throughout the centuries :lol

With poor voting turnout, I agree somewhat in general but I feel like it depends. The states with heavy Asian populations all traditionally vote one way so I think it is somewhat a factor into that "I'll just keep quiet and mind my business mentality". The West Coast will always lean left, and Texas/Florida all lean right. This may be why there is that general stigma of voting won't matter within the Asian community. It's somewhat true considering everyone knows these states are solidified for their respective parties, but there should more of a discussion in swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada with high Asian populations.

Sorry, maybe the terminology is different, but when my family and friends mention high class/low class, they’re talking about behavior rather than wealth. They hate people who behave obnoxiously in public with a passion and always talk about how people who behave poorly are embarrassing to all of us.

But agreed, no one really cares about Asian issues, so most Asians don’t bother voting in return. You say anything and people will just say “who cares, most of you have money anyway” say are you white adjacent and are all racist, or whatever nonsense is popular on Twitter these days.

Literally the only Trump supporting Asian I’ve personally met is some uncle down the street who claims he swims to Alcatraz at 4 AM every morning and swims under ships, fights off sea lions, etc. No one in the neighborhood takes him seriously at all , but of course people like him are the loudest and make us all look bad.
 


Follow up to the phenomenon of trads having to post pics of far left, New England towns.

If you want properly accurate and aesthetic antiquarianism, find a lefty. Preferably a queer lefty.
 
Literally the only Trump supporting Asian I’ve personally met is some uncle down the street who claims he swims to Alcatraz at 4 AM every morning and swims under ships, fights off sea lions, etc. No one in the neighborhood takes him seriously at all , but of course people like him are the loudest and make us all look bad.

He thinks he’s Beowulf?

 
This is actually a fair response and I understand your position. Whether it makes sense that some moderates choose to react that way, or whether it is right for them to do so, misses the point. Dems still need to play to them. And refusing to do that, especially after these results, isn’t good strategy.

Campaigns (and the rhetoric of their supporters) have consequences.
Sure Dems need to move a bit center right, but the other question is why can't the moderates do the same and move a little left? The question I raised was that even coddling to the middle has seemed to continually shift in an unfair way to the right, and maybe even far right. It's hard to continually shift the goal post and say why don't you meet us in the middle when the middle isn't even there. I also understand it goes both ways with trans issues and other things moderates don't agree with from the left.

The rhetoric, polarization is an issue for both sides, if I was in the middle I'd go with my own moral compass and align with the party that resembles my own beliefs. Consistency matters, if you're condemning the extreme rhetoric and actions on the left, you should be equally be critical of the other. Otherwise, it’s hard to take those criticisms seriously, and it just reinforces the very divisions you claim to be against.

I find the latter to be more accurate of most moderates I encounter, family included. Policies being overlooked because of personal opinions and not how it affects them or others. That's what frustrates me the most about the moderates because it's hard to please people in the middle that want a bit of everything. It's hard to create a stance where not everyone will be behind the message. Incredibly tough task for the Dems to do and why I feel it's unfair when the moderates say that they just don't like the policies from the left but then don't want to defend the policies on the right that they voted for.
 
Watch dems run joe Biden again in 2028. :lol
Biden 2028 baby!!!
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I think answer is just do more left wing programs because people don’t really complain about left wing programs and policies when they actually in action and working. To me it just seems like people have a problem with how it’s told to them and the reasons why.

Do it and just when explaining just say it’s about keeping prices down, economy, health care etc etc the basic stuff everyone understands. Stay on that message keep it simple and don’t let the convo get dragged into the details.

What aree xamples of this?

 
Ronald Regan won 49 out of 50 states when he ran for reelection in 1984. Can you imagine the doom and gloom if something like that happened today? I don't mean to downplay what Trump winning again means, but we will be okay in the long run.

Everybody just needs to hunker down and wait it out. We don't even have to wait four years, cause there will be political hell to pay in 2026 if things go bad these next two years. There's no blaming anything on the Dems now either.

I like a Beshear/Whitmer ticket in 2028 at the moment. We'll see who else stands out when the time comes.
 
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