US election 2020 thread

[two sheds]

Sima Qian was something of a terse recorder of events, as was the wont with these classical types. The anecdote's not really relevant either but it came to mind for some reason.

Mencius was once trying to explain to king Hsüan of Ch'î how bad his governing of the state was. After a couple of examples:

Mencius again said, 'If within the four borders of your kingdom there is not good government, what is to be done?' The king looked to the right and left, and spoke of other matters.

This one's not really relevant either but it always entertained me.

 

[ruffneck23]

Blimey I get on the tube for half an hour ( to get to work ) and the cunts started rage tweeting again , never a dull moment in 2020

Tbh I’m not actually that surprised, is he still taking time to reflect ?

 

[donkyboy]

Biden won. Dont know why the US election is still headline news on BBC website. It can be updated when further news develops.

 

[JimW]

Mencius was once trying to explain to king Hsüan of Ch'î how bad his governing of the state was. After a couple of examples:



This one's not really relevant either but it always entertained me.

" looked to the right and left, and spoke of other matters" is still a reasonably common current idiom you'll be pleased to hear， 顾左右而言他
ETA There is a school of thought that left and right should be translated as his courtiers, as it probably did mean the ministers stood to either side of the king. Present idiom means ducking the subject.

 

[two sheds]

" looked to the right and left, and spoke of other matters" is still a reasonably common current idiom you'll be pleased to hear， 顾左右而言他

nice - I remember it from a good 30 years ago when I read it, struck me how little human (kings') nature has changed in 2400 years

 

[JimW]

nice - I remember it from a good 30 years ago when I read it, struck me how little human (kings') nature has changed in 2400 years

On the other hand they're not having disputes on which precise configuration of stone chimes best reflects the highest virtue in court ritual BBC Four voice or in a way, perhaps they are...

 

[Wilf]

When the First Emperor of China died on a tour his courtiers wanted to keep it a secret until they could get back to the capital and manage the succession so they pulled carts of fish behind the corpse to hide the stench of rot.

Have vague memories of Tito laid out dead, but nobody sure what to do next. If you admit it publicly, somebody has to do something. Ditto Stalin. When Keir Starmer dies, it will be a case of 'how could you tell?'.

 

[SpookyFrank]

When Keir Starmer dies, it will be a case of 'how could you tell?'.

If his performance as leader of the opposition improved, that would be a sure sign that he was dead.

 

[Raheem]

When Keir Starmer dies, it will be a case of 'how could you tell?'.

Forensic examination.

 

[MickiQ]

Like everyone else, I'm still getting a massive high from getting rid of Trump but I've no doubt that nothing much of significance will come of the Biden presidency, I didn't have high expectations of it anyway except maybe for a bit of progress on green issues. If the Republicans manage to hold onto the Senate we probably won't get even that just four years of obstructionism.
The core issues and injustices in American society that led to the rise of Trumpism will remain since I doubt Biden is going to make any progress at all on healthcare, economic insecurity or social justice.

 

[teqniq]

Jeez.

 

[JimW]

His only lasting legacy will be a phrase when someone's lost it on social media, "Shame about Bob, he went full Trump on Instagram last night and now she's left him. The dog too"

 

[JimW]

See the cheating candidate of godless communism has started Sunday in church while Christ's vicar is hacking around one of his many golf courses in between tweeting bollocks

 

[Lord Camomile]

Yeah, that really. It is a bit of an emotional trick you end up playing on yourself though. I'm delighted to see the end of a narcissistic rapist and racist who managed to obliterate the basics of decency and truth, admittedly riding a wave of alt-right, populist, culture wars stuff that was independent of him. But you end up looking over your own psychological shoulder and thinking don't get sucked in. There's nothing good in the biographies of Biden and Harris or the wider politics of the Dem Presidency and split House/Senate. Ultimately, they too are the enemy.

Don't know how many watch SNL but in Weekend Update, Michael Che likened it to the scene in Shawshank Redemption when they have a beer on the roof. "They were still in prison, but for one day everything felt ok".

So yeah, as Che also said, "the problems are still there", but most people want just a day.

 

[belboid]

A longer, and Freedlandfree, version of that AOC interview:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Biden’s Win, House Losses, and What’s Next for the Left (Published 2020)

The congresswoman said Joe Biden’s relationship with progressives would hinge on his actions. And she dismissed criticism from House moderates, calling some candidates who lost their races “sitting ducks.”

www.nytimes.com

 

[JTG]

 

[Ax^]

Don't know how many watch SNL but in Weekend Update, Michael Che likened it to the scene in Shawshank Redemption when they have a beer on the roof. "They were still in prison, but for one day everything felt ok".

So yeah, as Che also said, "the problems are still there", but most people want just a day.

 

[mauvais]

 

[JTG]

Fair play to em for selling merch

 

[JTG]

 

[brogdale]

"...fine with their choices.." sounds like a massive reach, tbh.

Aware of the importance of actually contributing to the defeat of their detested opponent, maybe? Must be millions of Bernie diehards who voted Biden rather than writing in.

 

[bimble]

I don’t understand this can you do an idiot-proof translation? People didn’t tick the who do you want as President box he’s saying?

 

[Pickman's model]

Have vague memories of Tito laid out dead, but nobody sure what to do next. If you admit it publicly, somebody has to do something. Ditto Stalin. When Keir Starmer dies, it will be a case of 'how could you tell?'.

Not to mention why would you care?

 

[Pickman's model]

I don’t understand this can you do an idiot-proof translation? People didn’t tick the who do you want as President box he’s saying?

In the last election lots of people wrote in who they'd like to be president,eg bimble. This time far fewer. Yer man's guess is this means people happier with their choice of candidate. Me, I'm not so sure

 

[JTG]

"...fine with their choices.." sounds like a massive reach, tbh.

Aware of the importance of actually contributing to the defeat of their detested opponent, maybe? Must be millions of Bernie diehards who voted Biden rather than writing in.

I'm making no comment on his assertion, it's shared for what I considered to be another interesting set of numbers

 

[bimble]

Oh I see. Fewer spunking cocks / my labradoodle for president is what it means then, that’s not surprising at all.

 

[JTG]

I don’t understand this can you do an idiot-proof translation? People didn’t tick the who do you want as President box he’s saying?

In many states (not all), you can write in your own choice of candidate if you wish. Bernie Sanders received over 100,000 votes for President in 2016 for eg

 

[belboid]

In the last election lots of people wrote in who they'd like to be president,eg bimble. This time far fewer. Yer man's guess is this means people happier with their choice of candidate. Me, I'm not so sure

Yer man could have mentioned the drop in votes for 3rd party candidates too. Which does indicate his claim a little bit. But I believe you are essentially right in your cynicism.

 

[JTG]

Right now, Joe Biden has a 4.25m popular vote lead

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

In many states (not all), you can write in your own choice of candidate if you wish. Bernie Sanders received over 100,000 votes for President in 2016 for eg

Or to put it into easy to visualise context, 1.82 Kanyes.