# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=191 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 192 --- ## [Hypothetical: The Electoral College overturns election, says Clinton won](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-electoral-college-overturns-election-says-clinton-won/772973)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-the-electoral-college-overturns-election-says-clinton-won/772973 "2016-12-13T21:26:23Z")
Let’s skip over the arguments of what is or isn’t probable-this is a hypothetical situation. Enough of the Electoral College, for various reasons, has switched votes and the results are in: Hillary Clinton wins. What … --- ## [Will Trump hold press conference about his financial affairs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-hold-press-conference-about-his-financial-affairs/774501)
**Author:** [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2016, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-hold-press-conference-about-his-financial-affairs/774501 "2016-12-13T04:47:04Z")
Remember how, long ago, Trump reported that he had sent private investigators to Hawaii to find out the real truth about Obama’s citizenship? Those investigators, he said, had found out some amazing things and he’d hold… --- ## [Another recount circus? Florida.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-recount-circus-florida/773638)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-recount-circus-florida/773638 "2016-12-12T22:04:44Z")
A group is trying to raise money to file a suit contesting Florida’s results. They say they need $50,000 to file the suit by the deadline, which is today. It appears that they’ve raised the necessary funds. https://prot… --- ## [Our "part time" POTUS.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-part-time-potus/774306)
**Author:** [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-part-time-potus/774306 "2016-12-12T16:58:03Z")
This is probably good news. Trump is planning to work another job in his spare time. The less time he sits in the oval office, the better it is for the country. Conway on Trump ‘Apprentice’ role: He’ll do it in his … --- ## [National Popular Vote Interstate Compact and "faithless" electors?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-popular-vote-interstate-compact-and-faithless-electors/774499)
**Author:** [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-popular-vote-interstate-compact-and-faithless-electors/774499 "2016-12-12T14:43:16Z")
I see the idea of that Compact promoted as the way to go around the Electoral College thing. But it doesn’t get rid of it. As per the Constitution, the electors still have to meet and vote. Keeping that in mind, and als… --- ## [Why do people really, really, really care about the POTUS anyway?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-really-really-really-care-about-the-potus-anyway/774148)
**Author:** [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-really-really-really-care-about-the-potus-anyway/774148 "2016-12-12T07:10:50Z")
I have been reading a lot of the threads on here, and I just don’t get it. People are acting like Trump is going to move into their spare bedroom and molest the family dog, or he is going to single handedly save the nat… --- ## [Why were the 2016 Democratic & GOP Candidate slates so weak?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-2016-democratic-gop-candidate-slates-so-weak/774323)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-2016-democratic-gop-candidate-slates-so-weak/774323 "2016-12-12T00:17:28Z")
In retrospect HRC wasn’t much of a natural campaigner but in looking at the competition I’m struck by (on average) what a collection of non-entities the rest of the Democratic slate was. You’d think there would be just a… --- ## [What voting mechanism would you like/prefer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-mechanism-would-you-like-prefer/774254)
**Author:** [@ultimate11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultimate11)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-mechanism-would-you-like-prefer/774254 "2016-12-11T20:35:24Z")
Assume you had the option of changing the electoral system in the United States, how would you change it? Poll options above with potential voting mechanism. The “Other” option is also in this poll in case I missed somet… --- ## [Louisiana Senate run-off goes to the GOP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/louisiana-senate-run-off-goes-to-the-gop/774415)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/louisiana-senate-run-off-goes-to-the-gop/774415 "2016-12-11T19:32:28Z")
Good. The confusingly-named John Kennedy, a Republican and the state treasurer in Louisiana has won the run-off over Democrat Foster Campbell, the chairman of the Public Service Commission. The seat was held by the reti… --- ## [Anybody Notice What Happened to David Duke?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-notice-what-happened-to-david-duke/774299)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-notice-what-happened-to-david-duke/774299 "2016-12-11T17:25:04Z")
Perhaps another thread discussed this topic already, but I didn’t see it. Many Trump haters (I number myself among them, but from the other side of the political spectrum) see his election as proof that open racism and … --- ## [Why don't Federal politicans just give people what they want?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-federal-politicans-just-give-people-what-they-want/774285)
**Author:** [@Caldazar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caldazar)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2016, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-federal-politicans-just-give-people-what-they-want/774285 "2016-12-11T05:58:53Z")
Naive enough for you? In thinking about the recent elections at the Federal level, the thing that keeps coming back to me are the popularity numbers. The most and second most unpopular Presidential candidates. Congres… --- ## [Thoughts on nomination of Mattis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-nomination-of-mattis/773974)
**Author:** [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-nomination-of-mattis/773974 "2016-12-11T05:41:05Z")
Some people think Trump is either a buffoon or a shoot-from-the-hip kind of “decider”. From watching things recently (including the Taiwan kerfuffle that turned out to be planned way in advance) I don’t think so. The G… --- ## [Which 12/19 Electoral College voting outcome would you prefer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-12-19-electoral-college-voting-outcome-would-you-prefer/773083)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-12-19-electoral-college-voting-outcome-would-you-prefer/773083 "2016-12-10T22:08:06Z")
In this thread, we’ll sidestep for a moment the issues of legality or the sheer unlikelihood of anyone but Trump being elected POTUS when the ballots are cast on 12/19; instead I would like to ask what outcome Dopers wou… --- ## [Electors take anti-Trump battle to court](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electors-take-anti-trump-battle-to-court/774061)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electors-take-anti-trump-battle-to-court/774061 "2016-12-10T15:01:47Z")
Is there any legal merit to this? http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/presidential-electors-lawsuit-trump-232255 --- ## [Republicans: How would the base react to privatizing Social Security and Medicare?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-how-would-the-base-react-to-privatizing-social-security-and-medicare/772364)
**Author:** [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2016, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-how-would-the-base-react-to-privatizing-social-security-and-medicare/772364 "2016-12-10T11:32:43Z")
Let’s say Paul Ryan and some of the right get their wish and both Social Security and Medicare are slowly wound down and all privatized. We’re all on our own to provide for ourselves. How would the Base react to this? … --- ## [Money in Trump - Clinton election campaign](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-in-trump-clinton-election-campaign/774283)
**Author:** [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-in-trump-clinton-election-campaign/774283 "2016-12-10T00:21:53Z")
and What Trump and Hillary Spent vs Every General Election Candidate Since 1960 - Metrocosm Apparently Clinton outraised and outspent Trump by huge (yuge?) margins. About double. And that’s both in campaign funds and … --- ## [Trump's favorability rating is on the rise since election. Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-favorability-rating-is-on-the-rise-since-election-why/774057)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-favorability-rating-is-on-the-rise-since-election-why/774057 "2016-12-09T22:24:10Z")
Trump is now getting the best favorable ratings of his short political career. (see here & here) What do you think is causing it? Some ideas (in my own personal opinions order of likelihood): post-election victory boun… --- ## [Do the majority of your family/friends share your political views?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-majority-of-your-family-friends-share-your-political-views/772774)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-majority-of-your-family-friends-share-your-political-views/772774 "2016-12-09T14:40:28Z")
I was thinking about making this poll, “How many of your Facebook friends/contacts share your political views,” but that would rule out a lot of Dopers who don’t use Facebook. In my instance I’d guess that at least 2/3 … --- ## [How We Get From Here To Internment Camps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-we-get-from-here-to-internment-camps/772186)
**Author:** [@Neo-Calredic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neo-Calredic)\ **Replies:** 149\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-we-get-from-here-to-internment-camps/772186 "2016-12-09T01:04:36Z")
This was my chilling thought for the morning: Once Trump takes power, we are only a certain number of terrorist incidents away from Islamic people being forced into camps. Any act of terrorism that can be even tangenti… --- ## [Shouldn't the popular vote matter more to Presidence-Elect Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-the-popular-vote-matter-more-to-presidence-elect-trump/773632)
**Author:** [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-the-popular-vote-matter-more-to-presidence-elect-trump/773632 "2016-12-08T17:07:22Z")
I accept that the electoral college selects the president and Trump won it handily, but shouldn’t he be more considerate of the fact that he did not win the popular vote. Not considerate as in denying it but considerate … --- ## [The Electoral College vs the Equal Protection Clause](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-electoral-college-vs-the-equal-protection-clause/774060)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2016, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-electoral-college-vs-the-equal-protection-clause/774060 "2016-12-08T06:26:16Z")
I ran into an interesting argument online (see the link below). IANAL, so I’m not sure how valid it is. Basically, as I understand it, the argument is this: \[ul\] \[li\]The Electoral College is constitutional, obviously.\[… --- ## [Hypothetical primary election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-primary-election/773025)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-primary-election/773025 "2016-12-07T13:55:16Z")
Not listing specific real world candidates in this one, just want to get an idea of what attributes posters think are a must, and what they can live without, since no one is perfect. So here’s the list of candidates: Ca… --- ## [What will be Trump's First Foreign Policy Crisis?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-trumps-first-foreign-policy-crisis/773702)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-trumps-first-foreign-policy-crisis/773702 "2016-12-07T00:30:14Z")
On another thread Little Nemo is suggesting China (I suppose because he called up the President of Taiwan to chat). Or will China just make some nasty speeches and then more or less ignore it–assuming Trump is too dumb t… --- ## [Bizarre recount laws in MI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-recount-laws-in-mi/773984)
**Author:** [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-recount-laws-in-mi/773984 "2016-12-06T22:39:52Z")
Ok let me get this straight. If the number of ballots recorded is off by 1 from the number of voters that were marked off, then the precinct is not allowed to be recounted? --- ## [Trump meets with Al Gore](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-meets-with-al-gore/773995)
**Author:** [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-meets-with-al-gore/773995 "2016-12-06T20:07:20Z")
I have not held back in my criticism of Trump, but fair is fair when it comes to reporting facts – I’m not saying this is particularly significant, but it did happen: Former vice-president Al Gore, a leading voice in th… --- ## [Why don't they do elections like Oregon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-do-elections-like-oregon/773417)
**Author:** [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-do-elections-like-oregon/773417 "2016-12-06T16:07:11Z")
I moved to Oregon about 3 years ago. It blew me away when I got my OR driver’s license, they automatically registered me to vote. Then they mailed me my ballot. It only cost me a postage stamp to vote, and I think I c… --- ## [Why have polls been so wrong lately, and why are they always underestimating the far right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-polls-been-so-wrong-lately-and-why-are-they-always-underestimating-the-far-right/773845)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-polls-been-so-wrong-lately-and-why-are-they-always-underestimating-the-far-right/773845 "2016-12-06T02:21:17Z")
Brexit in the UK wasn’t predicted by the polls. Trump in the US wasn’t predicted by the polls Fillon wasn’t predicted by the polls in France. So what gives? I remember when 538 used to give amazing accuracy. In 2008 n… --- ## [Election 2016 - what's still left to be decided](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-2016-whats-still-left-to-be-decided/771507)
**Author:** [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-2016-whats-still-left-to-be-decided/771507 "2016-12-06T01:11:26Z")
A few days after the elections and a few races seem to not have a definite winner declared as of yet. A couple races are slated for a run off. Perhaps some are just too close to call. President Though the overall win… --- ## [So apparently rural America (modern hunter gatherers) think city folk look down on them](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-rural-america-modern-hunter-gatherers-think-city-folk-look-down-on-them/772221)
**Author:** [@Salvor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salvor)\ **Replies:** 205\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-rural-america-modern-hunter-gatherers-think-city-folk-look-down-on-them/772221 "2016-12-05T19:17:51Z")
What have we EVER said to disparage such people ?!??!?!?!? All I’ve ever done is post hopeful posts about expanding cities so more rurals out in the dirt patches of this nation can move to civilization and have a bet… --- ## [An unexpected source of fake news in the US election... Macedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-unexpected-source-of-fake-news-in-the-us-election-macedonia/773909)
**Author:** [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-unexpected-source-of-fake-news-in-the-us-election-macedonia/773909 "2016-12-05T17:23:26Z")
From the BBC: The city getting rich from fake news Many of the fake news websites that sprang up during the US election campaign have been traced to a small city in Macedonia, where teenagers are pumping out sensati… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=190) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=192)