Politics Thread

[Lloyd Braun]

Wait... Mrs. Garrett is a man? What’s the next revelation, Lamont Sanford is white?

[boozehound]

This "Front Line Doctors" thing is another example of how F-ed up everything is.

Group of Doctors: "We have data to show that HCQ, zinc and azithromyocin are effective in treating COVID-19."
Trump: "Woo hoo! I'm going to blindly retweet this!"
Mainstream Media: "OK, how can dismiss this one? Should we question their data? Should we ask about how they conducted their studies? Maybe ask for the data to be published? No, wait, look! One of the doctors has some crazy-ass beliefs!!! Let's just use that to blanket dismiss the everything. Yeah!"
"Fact Check" sites: these doctors have varying degrees of qualifications, are all politically conservative, and one is bat-shit crazy. Ergo, false!"
Social Media: we're removing this content because it's false.
Trump & supporters: "The truth is being silenced, all in a conspiracy against Trump!"

Reality: this is a group of conservative doctors of varying qualifications, one of which has some bat-shit crazy beliefs. But there has been no vetting of their claimed studies and data. It may be total bullshit - hell they may not have any data at all. But we still don't know, and that's a problem.

This is perfectly stated, IMO. At the end of the day whether or not HCQ was effective, or worth the risk, should have been a medical issue not a political one. Like all things Trump, this began getting politicized when he started tweeting about it. I'm not really sure what to do about Trump's tweeting, other than vote him out of office. I don't think he can/should be silenced (although I would say fact checking is fair game), but this behavior is problematic coming from the President.

It's an issue we haven't really had before - an idiot President coupled with social media - and I'm not sure we really know what to do about it.

[paulxu]

Here's a good example of the situation your describe:

In a briefing Tuesday, when asked about doctor whose video was removed by several social media companies for spreading misinformation, Trump said Immanuel’s was a “very important voice” and called her “very impressive.”

In an ABC interview Tuesday, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said that he is in agreement with the FDA, who recently revoked the emergency use authorization for the drug as treatment.

“The overwhelming, prevailing clinical trials that have looked at the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine have indicated that it is not effective in coronavirus disease,” Fauci said.

If a politician is supporting a person with that doctor's views, and your top disease guy isn't...what are you suppose to do?

Gomhert is going with Immanuel.

[boozehound]

Here's a good example of the situation your describe:



If a politician is supporting a person with that doctor's views, and your top disease guy isn't...what are you suppose to do?

Gomhert is going with Immanuel.

Right. Now we take a (further) turn for the F'd up. Trump could have just said that he regrets giving credence to that particular Doctor but stands by the statement and the other Doctors that has supported it.

Instead he doubles down on the sex demon Doctor and her (as of yet) unproven claims that she is some sort of COVID healer. It's like we have literally erased 100 years of medical advances.

I don't understand how people can see this as anything other than stupid.

[XU 87]

Again: Not a liberal.

Just because you're not rioting in Portland doesn't mean you're not a liberal. It's ok- admit it- you're a liberal.

I'll admit similar- I'm a conservative.

[boozehound]

Just because you're not rioting in Portland doesn't mean you're not a liberal. It's ok- admit it- you're a liberal.

I'll admit similar- I'm a conservative.

I don't really think I am liberal though, and I hate the idea of identifying with either party (and always have). I don't understand people's need to bucket themselves in one (of only two!) ideological frameworks and then tirelessly defend the entirety of their beliefs and actions as though there are only two ways to think.

[Smails]

I don't really think I am liberal though

There's a scene in Bohemian Rhapsody where Freddie Mercury looks at his his girlfriend and says "I think I might be bisexual" his girlfriend looks at him and says "freddie, you're gay." Booze...you're a liberal.

This is mostly a joke, but it made me chuckle. It's pouring rain and I'm working at home so I'm doing my best to entertain myself :)

[boozehound]

There's a scene in Bohemian Rhapsody where Freddie Mercury looks at his his girlfriend and says "I think I might be bisexual" his girlfriend looks at him and says "freddie, you're gay." Booze...you're a liberal.

This is mostly a joke, but it made me chuckle. It's pouring rain and I'm working at home so I'm doing my best to entertain myself :)

Not having a belief system that directly aligns with either party, my voting practices have changed based on the specific issues that I weight as most important at a given time. Typically I voted conservatively because I prioritize the economy highly in my 'pecking order' of what is important. I now find that my belief system seems more aligned with the Democrats, but I haven't really changed my belief system. I think it's more a function of the current environment. My distaste for Trump is probably heavily influencing that as well. I really think that Trump is a bad, bad President in a way that no President before him can even approach. That is a personal statement about his fitness for the role and overall character. Not intended as a political one.

[paulxu]

Apparently the co-founder of the Federalist Society (responsible for putting forth all the conservative judges approved in the last 3 years) has decided that the president is a fascist. And perhaps should be impeached.

But, Calabresi wrote, “I am frankly appalled by the president’s recent tweet seeking to postpone the November election.”

“Until recently, I had taken as political hyperbole the Democrats’ assertion that President Trump is a fascist,” he said. “But this latest tweet is fascistic and is itself grounds for the president’s immediate impeachment again by the House of Representatives and his removal from office by the Senate.”

[Mrs. Garrett]

Listen here wiseguy, As a result of this post, I plan to sue you some day, get a judgment, and then seize all of your assets. I will give them back only after you apologize.

What do you have against Holiday Inn Express? Maybe their corporate lawyers will back me.

Just in case you do sue me, I plan on purchasing DePaul season tickets for your taking.