Probs best in the UK politics threads, but yes. Anything left of centre is so out of fashion that no major party will subscribe to it
USA Politics
- Thread starter Genghis Khan
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Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
I've mentioned this before, but there have been countless polls where people in the US were asked their opinion on various policies. The left wing policies were popular across the board, regardless of political affiliation.
Once the interviewers explained which politicians or party was behind which policy the conservatives immediately did an 180 and suddenly hated the very same policies they enthusiastically cheered on a minute ago. It's not about policies and hasn't been for a long time. For many people it's purely team sports. While other countries aren't necessarily as bad about this as the US currently is, many of them are moving towards a similar situation.
Once the interviewers explained which politicians or party was behind which policy the conservatives immediately did an 180 and suddenly hated the very same policies they enthusiastically cheered on a minute ago. It's not about policies and hasn't been for a long time. For many people it's purely team sports. While other countries aren't necessarily as bad about this as the US currently is, many of them are moving towards a similar situation.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
Rural clinic in Trump district shuts down as CEO cites Medicaid cuts
A rural clinic in a district Trump won by more than 50 points has been forced to shut down, with the CEO citing "cuts to Medicaid."
www.newsweek.com
We're going to see stuff like this a lot. A clinic will close down due to medicaid cuts, as per the CEO. This is in a district that Trump won by over 50 points.
Aggelos
Ancient Mariner
Rural clinic in Trump district shuts down as CEO cites Medicaid cuts
A rural clinic in a district Trump won by more than 50 points has been forced to shut down, with the CEO citing "cuts to Medicaid."
We're going to see stuff like this a lot. A clinic will close down due to medicaid cuts, as per the CEO. This is in a district that Trump won by over 50 points.
good. i am actually happy about this. i know it will affect others as well, but it is especially rewarding when it happens to those who voted for it.
Aggelos
Ancient Mariner
that is an interesting take. hadn't thought of it that way, but can't say it sounds wrong.
Jer
'Til Tomorrow
All he’s done is won a ranked choice Democratic primary in an extremely blue city. When someone like him wins a statewide race in a purple state, then we can talk about what actually “wins back voters”. I can pretty much guarantee you it won’t be someone with his message.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
Some fair points, but I disagree with your last sentence. Mamdani ran a campaign laser focused on what works for NY, what the voters and people living in that city were telling him. He asked the people what their most pressing issues were, listened and built a campaign around that. The Dems have been accused time and time again of not listening to voters and just doing whatever the hell they want, looking down at the common folk. Mamdani enacted the change people have been clamoring for and the type of campaign he ran can be easily tailored to any other location of the US, with a massive potential of winning back lost voters.
Hell, there have been conservatives and moderates in NY who liked Mamdani for being a disruptive candidate who goes against the establishment (in their view). The "painting him as an anti-semite" smear campaign doesn't seem to be working. Painting him as a communist doesn't seem to affect the support he's gaining. He went from a nobody to winning the primary and likely becoming the mayor of New York City (Adams and Cuomo are both unpopular).
TL;DR: People shouldn't continue underestimating Mamdani.
I am also cautious about the lessons taken from Mamdani's win. I think he is very likely to win the general election, mind you, but what works in a Democratic primary in NYC may not work for everyone.
It may be very instructive of what we see in the primary cycles next year, though.
Also, ranked choice ballots rock and I wish they were the norm everywhere that still uses first past the post.
It may be very instructive of what we see in the primary cycles next year, though.
Also, ranked choice ballots rock and I wish they were the norm everywhere that still uses first past the post.
Diesel 11
As you scream into the web of silence...
I think this is the crucial thing. Too often in American elections, voters feel like they’re voting between the better of two evils, neither of whom actually represent them. This needs to change.
Aggelos
Ancient Mariner
I think the republicans have managed to pass to the public the idea that they are the only "american" choise. The crazy left rhetoric is definitely helping.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
If Mamdani wins, manages to enact (most) of his promises and people feel the positive outcomes of his candidacy? That could help rehabilitate he image of the left and could help build up the momentum for a progressive wing.
A lot of assumptions of course, but hey: It's the 4th of July. Might as well dream big!
A lot of assumptions of course, but hey: It's the 4th of July. Might as well dream big!
Jer
'Til Tomorrow
It sure seemed like that’s what you were saying. If you’re truly just saying “listen to the voters and build your campaign around what they want”, that’s an entirely different story, and it will probably result in many Democratic candidates utterly failing your policy litmus tests, but having a much better chance of winning their general elections.
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
Eh, you can read whatever you want into my comment.
Acknowledging economic anxiety and addressing that with left wing policies is not only not mutually exclusive, it's perfectly compatible.
But it's still months away, so we'll have to wait and see either way. All I'm saying is that people underestimated Mamdani and he was sabotaged at multiple steps along the way, yet still managed to win the primary as someone who came out of nowhere. It seems a lot of the typical and usual tactics aren't working against him.
The early demographic voting data I’ve seen suggests that there are voters who, for example, voted for Trump and AOC in 2024 and Mamdani in 2025. This might be a unique to NYC situation, but the diversity of Trump's coalition in 2024 is a big piece of the story of his victory, so I do think it is worth looking at candidates who are able to bring back similar coalitions. I'm not just talking about racial diversity but also working class voters and in particular service industry employees/gig workers. On the other hand, I found it really interesting that in Brooklyn, Cuomo actually did better among lower income and black/hispanic voters. This is all to say that there are a lot of question marks in Mamdani's victory. I'll be curious how the general shakes out.
Also, all that being said, Mamdani greatly defied expectations. It was supposed to be a close race and we were supposed to know the winner a week later when 2nd place ranked candidates were added to the tally. For Andrew Cuomo to concede the race within hours of vote counting on election night is absolutely insane. NYC might be an ultra blue city (having spent quite a bit of time there, I disagree with this framing), but it is a big city that serves a lot of demographics and interests so there are definitely some micro stats that are at least worth looking at.
There's a lot of stuff I disagree with Mamdani on, I'm not sure I would even call him an ideal candidate, but if I were a New Yorker I probably would have voted for him anyway because I'm tired of Democrats running candidates who refuse to have big ideas or stake out strong positions on the issues. It also seems like Democrats are afraid of making affordability a central part of their campaigns and, well, thanks to congressional Republicans and voters like @DJ James and @Detective Beauregard (I hope you get what you voted for btw), things are going to be a heck of a lot less affordable than they already were when it's time to vote in a new government. Mamdani seems laser focused on this issue in particular and that has been the biggest strength of his candidacy imo, although the specifics of how to solve the problem almost certainly aren't going to translate to middle America.
Also, all that being said, Mamdani greatly defied expectations. It was supposed to be a close race and we were supposed to know the winner a week later when 2nd place ranked candidates were added to the tally. For Andrew Cuomo to concede the race within hours of vote counting on election night is absolutely insane. NYC might be an ultra blue city (having spent quite a bit of time there, I disagree with this framing), but it is a big city that serves a lot of demographics and interests so there are definitely some micro stats that are at least worth looking at.
There's a lot of stuff I disagree with Mamdani on, I'm not sure I would even call him an ideal candidate, but if I were a New Yorker I probably would have voted for him anyway because I'm tired of Democrats running candidates who refuse to have big ideas or stake out strong positions on the issues. It also seems like Democrats are afraid of making affordability a central part of their campaigns and, well, thanks to congressional Republicans and voters like @DJ James and @Detective Beauregard (I hope you get what you voted for btw), things are going to be a heck of a lot less affordable than they already were when it's time to vote in a new government. Mamdani seems laser focused on this issue in particular and that has been the biggest strength of his candidacy imo, although the specifics of how to solve the problem almost certainly aren't going to translate to middle America.
Aggelos
Ancient Mariner
How in the seven bloody hells can you vote for both? Are Americans so confused? Their policies couldn't be further apart!
DJ James
A coma stole my name.
You know, there's an old internet forum I lurk where one of the rules is to not ever show your true power level. I'd like to follow that, or atleast pretend I do a pretty good job. I don't know if anyone on here will ever be able to bead my politics, and I've seen many try. I sent in an ICE tip today because mexicans in the laundromat took up all the washers and were playing things off their phone too loud. I also hate israel with a burning passion. I don't like republicans because republicans aren't for me, and mostly all are funded by isreal. I also don't like democrats because of the identity politics and how anti-white and out of touch most of them are. But also some are ok in my book - that lady with the headscarf hates israel too and Bernie is a good guy in my book. When I voted for the big man last year I didn't realize I'd be getting illegal immigrants possibly eaten by alligators - which is badass. I'd vote for him extra hard had I had this knowledge. I also like that bill he pushed through that has no tax on overtime and also a bunch of money to ICE - that's nice.
Things I don't like about the big man - he, like every modern president except JFK, is israel's top guy. Oh also let let me get some buzzwords and virtue signaling out of the way so I can keep bashing israel. Palestine. Palestinian children blown to smithereens. Bombing hospitals with Palestinian children in them. Palestine. Hamas. Genocide. I hate israel so much it's almost unreal, but also as a white guy you know I have to live to not have hate in my heart and all that, try to help others where I can. When my brother and I go to shows and do the car pregame we usually pull an Oprah and give our remaining car beers to the homeless. Unironically we do more for the homeless than any politician or liberal ever has.
There's an infamous comedian that put out a viral video not long ago where he talks about the immediate talking points regarding politics need to be the immediate deportation of every illegal. And I agree with that one hundred percent. This country really could get cleaned up quick and return to glory. I see protests in other countries like Ireland where people are finally fed up and they're starting to show out. At the end of this little paragraph, I had a thing about the "culture war" typed up but deleted it but because it was flying a little close to the sun.
This whole thing, this whole culture war thing I am unwilling participant in, does happen to be funny for me. I can't help but laugh. Why did I have to born into this? Why do I have to fight? It's a little tragic when I think about it. Again, I also had a little culture war thing right here, but I'm a good boy!
I can ignore all this madness, and try to live a normal life, but one day I will return to my home to find no home left, and I'm gonna have to go to sleep forever.
Things I don't like about the big man - he, like every modern president except JFK, is israel's top guy. Oh also let let me get some buzzwords and virtue signaling out of the way so I can keep bashing israel. Palestine. Palestinian children blown to smithereens. Bombing hospitals with Palestinian children in them. Palestine. Hamas. Genocide. I hate israel so much it's almost unreal, but also as a white guy you know I have to live to not have hate in my heart and all that, try to help others where I can. When my brother and I go to shows and do the car pregame we usually pull an Oprah and give our remaining car beers to the homeless. Unironically we do more for the homeless than any politician or liberal ever has.
There's an infamous comedian that put out a viral video not long ago where he talks about the immediate talking points regarding politics need to be the immediate deportation of every illegal. And I agree with that one hundred percent. This country really could get cleaned up quick and return to glory. I see protests in other countries like Ireland where people are finally fed up and they're starting to show out. At the end of this little paragraph, I had a thing about the "culture war" typed up but deleted it but because it was flying a little close to the sun.
This whole thing, this whole culture war thing I am unwilling participant in, does happen to be funny for me. I can't help but laugh. Why did I have to born into this? Why do I have to fight? It's a little tragic when I think about it. Again, I also had a little culture war thing right here, but I'm a good boy!
I can ignore all this madness, and try to live a normal life, but one day I will return to my home to find no home left, and I'm gonna have to go to sleep forever.
The Garlon
Educated Fool
Go back to 4chan
Aggelos
Ancient Mariner
utter bollocks.
if you ain't a troll then you need professional help. And a good smacking.