2020 USA Presidential Elections

[ZenGiraffe]

They need to teach populism in every school and university until they weed it out. It’s a poison. It’s always been there, but social media has given it a new lease of life.

This is simplistic though. There are strands of economic populism I agree with. Sanders for example would have had my vote (after Warren, who wasn't a million miles away either) and he could be described as populist. I initially supported Corbyn in large part due to his economic message.

 

[GNL]

I'm very much of the opinion that populism is not inherently bad. The movement for climate action, for example, is a populist movement. The Occupy Wall Street movement too.

There's a lot of scope for bad actors to use populism to sneak into power, but I'd argue that if more was done by those in power to address the very real challenges faced by the HEAVING MASSES it wouldn't be so easy for bad actors to do so.

 

[VoR]

God though, can you imagine the HORROR if this was a Trump vs Sanders election?

We'd be so much closer, probably with Trump leading by a significant margin.

 

[ZenGiraffe]

God though, can you imagine the HORROR if this was a Trump vs Sanders election?

We'd be so much closer, probably with Trump leading by a significant margin.

In normal times I'd have been terrified of that, but a healthcare and economy focused campaign from Sanders would have had it's best chance with the current unpleasantness as a backdrop

 

[VoR]

In normal times I'd have been terrified of that, but a healthcare and economy focused campaign from Sanders would have had it's best chance with the current unpleasantness as a backdrop

You think?

The fact that Trump has been able to make the socialist tag somewhat stick against career centrists Joe Biden and Kamala Harris makes me think that running against an ACTUAL socialist would turn vastly more swing voters in his favour.

Honestly, personally I like Sanders. But he was completely unelectable, much in the same way Corbyn was here (albiet less of a toxic prick)

 

[COB]

They always call EVERYONE a socialist, who gives a fuck?

 

[GNL]

Ideally, you'd have more SAFE PAIR OF HANDS establishment types willing to make moves to address the issues that are facing disenfranchised people.

When you have people like Obama sold as a human metaphor for CHANGE and HOPE delivering very little of that, it drives people in the opposite direction. If Biden/Harris don't make life materially better for people of all races who feel (and often have been) left behind, then there'll be plenty more Trumps waiting in the wings...

 

[VoR]

I would imagine that there are enough Americans who genuinely have the critical faculties to distinguish between a Biden and a Sanders to be democratically significant. Economically conservative Trump haters who can hold their noses and vote Biden would never, ever do so for Sanders.

Look at the 'Never Trump' breakaways who are getting so much press at the moment for trolling Eric Jr and Ivanka. Would they be campaigning as hard if there was a prospect of a Sanders presidency? Would they fuck!

 

[ZenGiraffe]

The fact that Trump has been able to make the socialist tag somewhat stick against career centrists Joe Biden and Kamala Harris makes me think that running against an ACTUAL socialist would turn vastly more swing voters in his favour.

I think, on balance, people would care enough about their jobs and their healthcare that the normal attacks would have been weakened by how of the moment his policies would have seemed. It would almost certainly be a closer race but I'd still think Sanders would have had a better than 50% chance of winning on Tuesday.

 

[Penelope]

The fact that Trump has been able to make the socialist tag somewhat stick against career centrists Joe Biden and Kamala Harris makes me think that running against an ACTUAL socialist would turn vastly more swing voters in his favour.

Has he? It's not like either has dwindled much in support since he's started saying it.

 

[Penelope]

Give it another generation and I think the 'socialist' tag (whether merited or not) will have lost all effect. Millennials don't give a shit, certainly, and it's only really boomers the attack still has much power with.

(obviously, presuming elections are still a THING in the US in a generation)

 

[Penelope]

Fairly important caveat from one of the pollsters about how bad things could end up looking during the results tomorrow in Pennsylvania while still being on track for a Biden win, due to the early/election day vote split

 

[Jark]

Pennsylvania's early voting turnout is much lower than other states though so I wouldn't expect Trump to be massively up based on election day voting results

 

[POP!]

I'm a bit confused, when are the early votes going to be counted if not the evening of the election? I know there is a big TO DO right now about whether they will stop counting mail in ballots if not received by day of the election but shouldn't early votes otherwise already be reflected in the live results tomorrow?

 

[RJN]

@Penelope I think you have pinpointed the exact thing that will give me a heart attack tomorrow

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

Oh God, what is it?

 

[Samanta TinAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAAaaaA]

God all the speculation online of the thousands of possible different scenarios are KILLING ME! I just want this election done now.
I woke up twice last night thinking about it, my brain just will not settle.

It's like when Eurovision has an interval that seems EXTRA EXTRA LONG!

 

[RJN]

I'm a bit confused, when are the early votes going to be counted if not the evening of the election? I know there is a big TO DO right now about whether they will stop counting mail in ballots if not received by day of the election but shouldn't early votes otherwise already be reflected in the live results tomorrow?

They can start at 7 am on Election Day (in PA at least), but some counties have decided to start on Wednesday. But only counties that voted for Trump in 2016, so who knows what that will mean?

 

[SDF]

Not Sanders v Trump debate again

 

[SDF]

Biden is not winning this because of his campaign or even his policies, he is winning the polls nationally because Trump is just so off putting and has handled corona terribly

the end

 

[Penelope]

I'm a bit confused, when are the early votes going to be counted if not the evening of the election? I know there is a big TO DO right now about whether they will stop counting mail in ballots if not received by day of the election but shouldn't early votes otherwise already be reflected in the live results tomorrow?

Some states count early votes first, some count election day votes first.

 

[Penelope]

For anyone who needs more reassurance

 

[VoR]

Well I’m sure this is totally normal and nothing to worry about at all...

https://www.joemygod.com/2020/11/non-scalable-fence-to-go-up-around-white-house/

“Non-Scalable” Fence To Go Up Around White House

Federal authorities are expected to put back into place a “non-scalable” fence around the entire perimeter of the White House on Monday as law enforcement and other agencies prepare for possible protests surrounding the election, a source with knowledge of the matter confirmed to CNN.

The fence, the same type that was put up during protests this summer, will encompass the Ellipse and Lafayette Square. It will go down 15th Street to Constitution Avenue and then over to 17th Street. The fence will then run up to H Street and across by Lafayette, and then come down 15th Street, the source said.

The extra layer of security marks the most high-profile example to date of authorities preparing for unrest following this year’s election, particularly if there is no clear winner come November 4.

 

[Samanta TinAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAAaaaA]

^I wouldn't read TOO MUCH into that tbh. I'm sure protests from both sides are expected whatever the result, and particularly even more so if the result doesn't become super clear until a few days after. It makes logistic sense to me.

 

[SDF]

Build that wall

 

[Funky]

Some states count early votes first, some count election day votes first.

well that’s extremely helpful.

 

[RJN]

So 538 now gives Biden a 90% chance of winning, which is hopeful, but a 10% chance of a complete disaster is terrifying. 76% chance of the Democrats winning the Senate, which is IMO completely essential to America continuing to function.

 

[dUb]

Yeah, I saw Biden is now highly favoured for the first time I think, having been favoured or maybe strongly favoured according to their metrics up to this point

 

[RJN]

Yeah that was the 90% threshold, which I know is really the same as 89% but FEELS different

 

[octophone]

So 538 now gives Biden a 90% chance of winning, which is hopeful, but a 10% chance of a complete disaster is terrifying. 76% chance of the Democrats winning the Senate, which is IMO completely essential to America continuing to function.

This is properly scary. I'm more anxious about this than I was about the UK election last December, although the latter was alleviated slightly by the polls being decisive throughout and it only being the scale of the Tory victory that was a shock.

 

[octophone]

Build that wall

I wonder who's paying for it

 

[Diddy]

Yeah, I saw Biden is now highly favoured for the first time I think, having been favoured or maybe strongly favoured according to their metrics

blessed and highly favoured

 

[RJN]

This is properly scary. I'm more anxious about this than I was about the UK election last December, although the latter was alleviated slightly by the polls being decisive throughout and it only being the scale of the Tory victory that was a shock.

This is pretty similar with the polls being decisive, so maybe it'll be the same too with the scale of Biden's victory being a shock.

Having said that, I am extremely anxious and I could hardly sleep last night.

 

[dUb]

Having said that, I am extremely anxious and I could hardly sleep last night.

Yeah it's one thing for us to be commenting from afar, must be so much more intense when you're in/from the country

Pop Don't Forget About Us on repeat and have a nice long shower, babes

 

[Samanta TinAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAAaaaA]

This article is giving me SOME COMFORT TODAY particularly when remembering Trump didn't exactly knock it out of the park during the midterms.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/feature...ould-have-to-be-off-by-way-more-than-in-2016/

 

[KindaCool]

Wait, I thought the Democrats were UNLIKELY to win the Senate.

 

[RJN]

Yeah it's one thing for us to be commenting from afar, must be so much more intense when you're in/from the country

Pop Don't Forget About Us on repeat and have a nice long shower, babes

It's the only thing that will get me through tomorrow.

 

[RJN]

Wait, I thought the Democrats were UNLIKELY to win the Senate.

They started out as underdogs, but polling has been good and the Republican Senate candidates are having a hard time separating themselves from Trump, especially in states where he is unpopular (Colorado, Maine, Arizona etc.)

 

[Soldi]

I’m really hoping JON OSSOFF gets in

 

[rocketstail]

For anyone who needs more reassurance

This is great to see, but I still daren't get my hopes up at this stage.