On Politicians

[viscousmemories]

Like many people I grew up believing that all politicians are morally bankrupt and untrustworthy, regardless of their party or policy positions. Learning that the vast majority of Congresspeople are millionaires didn't help, it just made me add "completely out of touch with, and probably unsympathetic toward, working class people" to my negative view of them.

I also believed, prior to this administration, that there was very little difference between the two major parties.

This is why I have never identified as a Democrat despite being much more aligned with their stated positions and values, and why I didn't pay any attention to politics for the first 30-ish years of my life. Of course the few times I have voted have been for Democrats because I usually agree with what they say they will do, regardless of whether I expect them to follow through.

My viewpoint is much different now, but I still don't trust the vast majority of politicians. I do trust Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, though, and almost entirely because she was a working class person a couple years ago. When she speaks I hear a human being sharing her actual views, not someone reciting some watered-down version of what a focus group determined their views should be to appeal to the broadest segment of the voters.

That got me wondering, are there other trustworthy politicians? I'm not being facetious, there literally isn't another one who comes across to me as a sincere, honest, and compassionate servant of the people instead of someone who will compromise anything to retain their position. Who else do I need to know about?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Not Understood For...

[LarsMac]

I think Senator Duckworth of Illinois shows promise.
But I can see that the game is getting to her.

[viscousmemories]

I should add that Andrew Cuomo seems very genuine to me, but I only know him through his daily Covid briefings and I've heard that he has not been a great champion of the people in the past for various reasons. I don't live in NY and I haven't dug into his record.

[Ensign Steve]

Is it cheating to pick from my state and local governments? Cuz I like my State Assemblymember Evan Low. His voting record is not perfect, and he's got some of that Silicon Valley stank on him, but for the most part I think he's p cool. Chinese American, public school and community college educated, gay, all that good stuff.

[JoeP]

I am pretty OK with my MP Wes Streeting. I suspect like all MPs he dreams of being Prime Minister one day, and if he gets close to high office that will be the real test, but he's shown good consistency and integrity so far (and tends to side with my opinions which doesn't hurt).

In scanning his wikipage I see that he's gay, which I didn't know. This might not be a coincidence.

[slimshady2357]

I saw this tweet from Ilhan Omar and it reminded me that I really like her and that I meant to post about her in this thread.

Legalize marijuana nationwide and expunge records for cannabis-related offenses.

— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) July 28, 2020

I can't remember anything she's posted that I disagreed with and every time I've seen her attacked it's been bullshit strawman type stuff.

She's a member of The Squad along with AOC in case anyone didn't know.

[specious_reasons]

You know, the more I learn about Barack Obama, the more I think he's just a really intelligent, nice, cool guy who has the gift of being amenable to most anybody he meets.

For most of his failed policies, the problem was always that he too cautious, too kind, and too willing to see the best in his political opponents. The fact that he got anything done with the right-wing exploding into crazed hatred of him is a testament to how effective he was - imagine him working with an opposition that actually cared about America.

There's every indication he treated the people in his administration with consideration and respect. But what gets me every time is how much he adores children, and how much they like him. All the pictures of him interacting with children, especially young children are just so fucking precious. It's clear he's not even playing to the camera.

The Obama administration was not half the success I wanted it to be, but he was probably one of the better human beings we've had as President.

[viscousmemories]

I completely agree. I watched his eulogy of John Lewis yesterday and it was an absolute masterclass in how a President can and should be in times of extraordinary upheaval like what we're experiencing now. I'm still really pissed he didn't use his mandate in 2008 to pull the administration further left but of course not having a fascist in office was pretty great.

[slimshady2357]

This is so depressing.

The Dems have these passionate, brilliant women in congress and they try to primary them.

Ilhan Omar Faces a Primary Tuesday Because She Speaks Truth to Power | The Nation

I mean I understand that Wall Street doesn't like these ladies, they should fear them. But come on Dems... don't run people against them.

[vremya]

Does the national Democratic party have any clue what is happening in this country? Kamala Harris is such a bad choice - she has a terrible track record as a prosecutor. We don't need a prosecutor as VP.

[LarsMac]

Originally Posted by vremya

Does the national Democratic party have any clue what is happening in this country? ...

Ummm, that was a rhetorical question.
right?

The Dems have developed the art of shooting themselves in the foot with astounding accuracy over the last several decades.

[viscousmemories]

I think she's a pretty safe choice from the perspective of appealing to the "conservatives" though, and definitely not the worst they could have done Susan Rice

That said, I'm over this two party system.

[vremya]

My mom doesn't like Harris, and she's a lifelong centrist Democrat, probably exactly who Biden was hoping to appeal to. If my Mom won't vote for you, you're sunk!

And my dad was fond of saying that the Democrats could screw up a one car funeral. The more things change, the more they stay the same....

[vremya]

Originally Posted by slimshady2357

This is so depressing.

The Dems have these passionate, brilliant women in congress and they try to primary them.

Ilhan Omar Faces a Primary Tuesday Because She Speaks Truth to Power | The Nation

I mean I understand that Wall Street doesn't like these ladies, they should fear them. But come on Dems... don't run people against them.

It looks like she's going to pull it out over the tool she's running against. We were getting bombarded with campaign lit from him, all very slick attack ads paid for by someone with deep pockets.

[LarsMac]

Difference between Democrats and Republicans:
Republicans- Rich people, appealing to the Corporate Lackeys.
Democrats- Rich people appealing to the Huddled Masses.

[JoeP]

Trump - not actually rich people appealing the huddled masses who think they are corporate lords.

[Sock Puppet]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Trump - not actually rich people appealing to the huddled masses who think they are temporarily embarrassed corporate lords.

No joke, more than once I've overheard in conversations among random neckbeards, "My rich friends all say ..."

[LarsMac]

Originally Posted by Sock Puppet

No joke, more than once I've overheard in conversations among random neckbeards, "My rich friends all say ..."

Ever wonder where all the rich guys who used to run the GOP have gone?
They're still out there, sitting back waiting to pick up the pieces.

[JoeP]

[slimshady2357]

I will never get tired of watching AOC dunk on these total losers.

Nice tweet Sen. Cruz! Quick question: do you also believe the Geneva Convention was about the views of the citizens of Geneva?

Asking for everyone who believes US Senators should be competent and not undermine our elections to incite insurrection against the United States https://t.co/mMf8iDo72G

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 21, 2021

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

I wonder if Trump would let Cruz run as VP in 2024 if Cruz changed his legal name to Cuck.

And if Cruz would take him up on it.

[BrotherMan]

Asking for everyone who believes US Senators should be competent and not undermine our elections to incite insurrection against the United States

This should be in every reply to Raphael Cruz.

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Spoiler because annoying gif.

show spoiler

Also: Ted Cruz.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by Kamilah Hauptmann

Spoiler because annoying gif.
Also: Ted Cruz.