General Politics XII World • Page 59

That Mehdi Hasan CNN clip was one of the harshest examples of the common online discourse this election cycle leaking into the mainstream and it completely falling apart outside of Twitter/Reddit/Twitch.

 

Harsh and common yes but also goes beyond this election. I’m sure those of us that outwardly support Palestine have all been called terrorists and antisemites for saying we oppose Israel or support Palestinians. And for me it’s been by liberals as much as it’s been conservatives.

 

Wish David would respond to my good post :\

 

starts and ends with g.... it'd be gangbanging.

 

I think a solid half of it was wrong/incorrect/misleading, and other parts of it are you just brushing off good points or good rhetoric because you know he said something good and, rightfully, want to see actual action on it. But you are smart enough to know why said action isn't happening right now and why it would be easier for Bernie Sanders or any senator or Rep to do so come January when the new session starts.

But I was sitting in a class reading about the debate in Parliament between Grenville and William Pitt about the Stamp Act last night when that Bernie post was made so getting into a long response was not in the cards lol

 

You can't just accuse me of lying and not actually say how. Please point out the half that is wrong/incorrect/misleading. As for "brushing off good points or rehetoric" there was none. None of it was good. No American politician except Tlaib has any good rhetoric on the conflict because none of them support the resistance.

I would also really like you to explain to me why it will be easier come January - do you think Kamala has signifcantly different positions on Israel than Biden? What has she said or done that would lead you to believe that? What can be done in January that can't be done now, under a Democrat?

 

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You accuse people of saying shit they haven't said all the time and don't thoroughly explain it lol. And yes in the post you literally just laughed off or wrote off good stuff he said with comments like "Good luck lmfao" and whatever else because you don't believe it's good enough to just say those things/think he's just saying it to say it or whatever.

And you know why, even though you don't like to admit to political realities because you find them to just be excuses or whatever. Whether you and I view it this way or not, a new presidential term and a new congressional term makes the elected pols feel like they have a 'fresh start' of sorts, it's why the first 100 days of a presidency are so hyped up and crucial to big accomplishments and why the first sessions of a new congress are always the busiest. I don't think this means something definitely will change, as I don't have enough evidence to think that based on what Harris has said. But I also think Harris has proven very reluctant to take nearly any position that differs with the current Biden Admin, on most every issue not just Israel, so I think the small possibility exists there that members of congress can push her a certain way in January when she is uhhhh no longer burdened by what has been. I do not think that possibility exists at all with Trump, and I think that's what Bernie's point is in that video. It's a lot easier to change policy at the start of a new presidency and new congressional term than it is during an election year. You know that, you don't like it, but you know it. Why pretend it isn't true just to try and score points? Because it's frustrating/sucks and we need something to happen now? Of course it is and of course we do. No one's arguing any differently there. But either you think Bernie is lying about what he's saying, or he really believes he has a better chance to help change things in the next session. Given how presidencies and congresses have worked historically, he's probably right that there's a better chance in January with a new president and congress. But not if Trump is that new president. And, again, I know this is all stuff you already know, you just wanted me to type it out once again so you can accuse me of being a lib or something lol.

 

if you're telling me, that a new or lets be honest, the same administration in office in 2025 will make things better regarding genocide amongst other things, you should be trying to do those things rn or well... for the past four years. then you'd have something to back that argument.

 

I think the "better chance" exists but is negligible enough that it might as well not exist

now what

 

If one is to accept that premise as true, a political system that makes it so that it can justify genocide for a year because “it’s just too hard to get things done right now/we’ll secretly fix it after the election” is indefensible and every moment of our political life should be about building something different and not ever running cover for the people who benefit from that system. If you feel like it’s just “political reality” (i dont, but i don’t feel like getting into all that) then isn’t completely upending that reality that forces people in need to suffer for basically like 75% of every decade - and hundreds of thousands dead specifically in this case - the only thing that really matters? That political reality forecloses on anything meaningful ever being by accomplished, and can be used to justify literally anything forever. One might even say it’s the largest threat we face, as it encompasses and encourages both Republicans and Democrats.

Beyond that, I maintain that Bernie and AOC are great examples of how marrying yourself to the Democratic Party causes you to get twisted into knots. I’ve not seen a campaign turn around and move to the left after they’ve been elected, really I’ve only ever seen the flip side of that. Especially on foreign policy issues. I think it’s wishful thinking to expect otherwise.

 

Did you really wish that though

 

i like to fight

 

wait so... since things can't be changed until the next administration, are you telling me all those stories of Biden being hard on Netanyahu trying to get him to a ceasefire was a lie?

 

We're back where we started because I disagree that it's "negligible enough that it might as well not exist", and of course when it comes to other issues, the chances of change are much larger and the differences between the two main candidates/parties stark enough, that I think it justifies voting. We will obviously not convince each other differently, but for lurkers, maybe they see why it's a good idea to vote or not vote from the discussion.

 

they been using redscare tactics. probably feds already doing things too.

 

Bernie’s response is shameful. It’s also shameful that he’s probably the best senator on Palestine rn