this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
181 points (95.9% liked)

politics

24934 readers
2321 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

• Register To Vote

• Citizenship Resource Center

• Congressional Awards Program

• Federal Government Agencies

• Library of Congress Legislative Resources

• The White House

• U.S. House of Representatives

• U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

• News

• World News

• Business News

• Political Discussion

• Ask Politics

• Military News

• Global Politics

• Moderate Politics

• Progressive Politics

• UK Politics

• Canadian Politics

• Australian Politics

• New Zealand Politics

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
outrageousmatter@lemmy.world
aidan@lemmy.world
jordanlund@lemmy.world
little_cow@lemmy.world
Theonetheycall1845@lemmy.world
JuBe@lemmy.world
Lasherz12@lemmy.world
181
Why do Republicans even bother with this whole farce? (www.salon.com)
submitted 2 years ago by YoBuckStopsHere@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world
37 comments fedilink hide all child comments
all 45 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 58 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Its both useful and pretty obvious to me. The primary function of these debates is to get a temperature check on 'what the party is all about', and through this lense, we can see that they haven't moved in from misogyny, racism, and neo/facsist ideologies. They have an accountability to their voters to do so, and engagement will drive turnout. It's in their benefit to show they have some kind of value to their voters.

Frankly, I'm annoyed we're not also having a farse of a primary and debate season for Biden. It's a chance to ask questions and be critical, and anyone who says it's not the time for that is antidemocratic. Debates are one of the very few times we can hold the parties at least some what accountable for the bile they soew forth, even if only in a comedically produced and frankly, offensive to the definition of the word debate, debate structure.

We already have so few entry points into democracy in the US. Writing off this one seems ludicrous.

[–] YoBuckStopsHere@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Sitting Presidents are rarely challenged within the party.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That's obviously not the point.

[–] HWK_290@lemmy.world 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

True, but the Biden administration is definitely using the debate to put forward their own talking points ("watch it jack, we're bringing roe back," a new plan to cap student loan debt, new climate investments) so it's not like we're getting no taste of what the administration's priorities will be in the next 4 years

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

True, but the Biden administration is definitely using the debate to put forward their own talking points (“watch it jack, we’re bringing roe back,” a new plan to cap student loan debt, new climate investments) so it’s not like we’re getting no taste of what the administration’s priorities will be in the next 4 years

Good, and they should be. I'd like to see some Democratic with the candidates who obviously won't be getting the nod, simply because its an opportunity to hold people accountable. How about the failure by the Biden administration on student loans? How about we have some debate questions about the supreme court and how its basically been captured by the conservative movement, and apparently, open to bribery? We have so few opportunities to actually engage in politics. We can't give up the debates simply because of decorum or that the contenders won't win. Its literally the only time we ever get the chance to drive the party in the direction of the will of the people.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What is Biden supposed to do about the Supreme Court except nominate new justices? The problem is that you need Congress to do something.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Lets here what he proposes as a solution. Its his answer to have not mine, and as President, he sure as fucking shit better have a plan, or he's not qualified for the job. The argument here is in support of debates. Without debates, we don't get answers to these kinds of questions.

I sure as shit want to know what Biden's plan is to deal with a congress that wont play ball. He needs to have one.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Lets here what he proposes as a solution. Its his answer to have not mine

It isn't his job, unless you make the Supreme Court a Presidential appointment alone and that they can fire justices on their own whim.

The power to deal with a corrupt Supreme Court has been clearly vested in Congress, not the President.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It isn’t his job, unless you make the Supreme Court a Presidential appointment alone and that they can fire justices on their own whim.

It sure as fuck is the Presidents job to navigate the halls of power and deliver on things they campaign on.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

To a point, but the President has not been given the power to be a dictator.

If the President's agenda doesn't get past Congress, what is the President supposed to do? Do you expect the President to start arresting members of Congress until the Presidents' bills get passed?

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

To a point, but the President has not been given the power to be a dictator.

No one is asking them to be, but if you don't understand that the ability to get an agenda past Congress is there job, I don't know what to tell you. The job of a President isn't to accept defeat for their constituents, is to find a way through.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 0 points 2 years ago

That isn't the President's job to wrangle Congress. Perception over time has made people think that, but the Presidency was never set to lead the legislative branch. If that were the case, the President would be more like a Prime Minister in other countries.

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Props to the graphic designer who got the asterisk in “Democracy* 24”

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Democracy is for illustration purposes only, actual political system may differ.

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Terms and conditions apply. See coup for details.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago

It’s a pep rally to rile up the base and reinforce party talking points. Participants are also using the stage to further their political influence even when they know they can’t win the nomination. There are other jobs, and the “show” gives them name recognition.

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago

Republicans are like school on Saturday: No class!

[–] matchphoenix@feddit.uk 13 points 2 years ago

Most of them seemed to be competing to be vice president, or just trying to ride the free publicity and up their celebrity profile for future book and tv deals.

[–] zephyreks@programming.dev 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Because FPTP is a farce of a system, so building a farce on a farce doesn't really increase the farce-ness very much?

[–] quindraco@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago

Woa, you can't just say that out loud. You have to pretend the system is functional. Did you skip social studies in public school?

[–] TheJims@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Everything Republicans do is performance art for trump. His personality disorders demand constant attention and they have to oblige at the risk of becoming part of the out crowd.

[–] Project_Straylight@lemmy.villa-straylight.social 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

They should have gone for the format where Donald sits on a throne and interrogates the others about their loyalty

[–] UsernameIsTooLon@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago

A lot of white Christian conservatives grew up living in a bubble, so anything that exists beyond that is scary/different and needs to be rejected/shunned for simply just existing sometimes.

[–] Heresy_generator@kbin.social 6 points 2 years ago

Because the spectacle of the farce is all they have to offer their base.

[–] kucuva@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

dolla dolla bill yall...

[–] elouboub@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago

US politics doesn't need a "TV adaptation". It's not even "made for TV". It is TV.