United States Politics Thread 46

[zompist]

or is kamala not substantially somewhat to the left of joe ?

As a senator, she certainly was to his left.

That doesn't say much about what she'd do as President. A president doesn't magically turn everyone in Congress into the same political position as themselves... especially if they have a narrow majority, which they normally do these days. It can be argued that a Democratic administration is only as leftist as its most conservative Senator, and a Republican one is only as rightist as its most liberal Senator.

[Raphael]

or is kamala not substantially somewhat to the left of joe ?

As a senator, she certainly was to his left.

That doesn't say much about what she'd do as President. A president doesn't magically turn everyone in Congress into the same political position as themselves... especially if they have a narrow majority, which they normally do these days. It can be argued that a Democratic administration is only as leftist as its most conservative Senator, and a Republican one is only as rightist as its most liberal Senator.

I probably don't have to tell you this, one minor complication with this is that the Republicans are a lot more solidly right-wing these days than the Democrats are liberal, making it generally easier for Republican presidents to do what they want than for Democratic ones. The Republican Party is, by now, a Trump cult of personality; the Democratic Party is by no means a Harris cult of personality.

[keenir]

incidentally, isn't it kinda sexist that everyone calls dudes by last name, but chicks so often are just firstnamed?

I asked that back in the early days of Stargate SG1 (yes, before it was syndicated), and I think one person said they were trying to be more respectful to the women by lumping them in with everyone else with their name or rank (ie General West, Colonel O'Neill), but rather to show a willingness to be their friend or at least not their enemy by taking the time to learn their given name (ie Janet, aka Dr Fraiser)

yeah a bunch of us went "wha?"

though at least the enlisted personnel referred to the women by their titles and surnames (Dr Fraiser, Doc Fraiser; Major Carter)

...whereas the Jaffa tried to do the fullname addressing at all times (ie Major Carter, Daniel Jackson)

[Linguoboy]

incidentally, isn't it kinda sexist that everyone calls dudes by last name, but chicks so often are just firstnamed?

I really noticed this in 2016 and it stuck in my craw. I mean, I suppose you could have argued that "Clinton" was ambiguous given that her husband was also a politician, but that really doesn't wash given that anyone who knows anything about US presidential politics knew full well he wasn't eligible to run again. There's also the complication that "Trump" is not just a surname but a brand name (and the counterpoint that "the Donald" is a long-running nickname that I virtually never hear applied to him as a candidate).

In any case, I made of point of using "Clinton" consistently to refer to the Democratic nominee and no one ever seemed confused by it. This time around, I'm trying to be equal consistent about using "Harris". I'll feel differently once she's in office and familiarity can't be construed as disrespect.