this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2024
240 points (100.0% liked)

politics

19195 readers
2012 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Summary

Florida state Rep. Susan Valdes, a lifelong Democrat, abruptly switched to the Republican Party, citing frustration with being ignored in the Democratic caucus.

Valdes, who represents District 64 near Tampa, said she wants to focus on solving problems for her community rather than protesting.

Her defection bolsters the Florida GOP’s historic 86-34 House majority, drawing criticism from Democrats who called her move a betrayal of her constituents.

Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, welcomed Valdes, praising her as a strong community advocate and valuable addition to their party.

all 35 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 hours ago

Another asshole looking for an adjustment

[–] Ensign_Crab 2 points 9 hours ago

He's living the centrist dream.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 12 hours ago

The dems should all do this and just be honest for a change.

[–] Cintari 126 points 1 day ago
[–] FiremanEdsRevenge 120 points 1 day ago (5 children)

This should automatically disqualify you. Idk why the fuck these common sense rules aren't already in place.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 hours ago

Instant special election.

[–] someguy3 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

How it works is that you vote for the person. This was set up before parties existed so you vote for the person.

To address your other comment, the other guy is right. The party doesn't even matter, it's how the politician votes. They can and are supposed to vote for whatever they want. They are not beholden to vote for what the party says, that's not how it works and not how it's supposed to work. It's a vote by state legislators. And there is no recall election because of what we started with: how it works is you voted for the person.

[–] halcyoncmdr 20 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Agreed, however how do you word it to actually be effective? If you just make changing parties within X days/months of an election then they would just then not change parties. They'd stay registered as a Dem and vote with the GOP on everything. And what prevents them from just staying that way as a spoiler candidate in the future?

The only real effective prevention for this is an educated electorate. An educated electorate is what our system was designed for. It was not truly democratic or fair for all citizens, but everyone that could vote were expected to be educated on these matters just as part of society. Not quickly trying to learn about things right before an election, but educated about politics constantly because that's what their position in society already required. As voting rights have expanded, the systems have not been updated and voter education has dramatically fallen.

[–] FiremanEdsRevenge 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (4 children)

It's quite simple. If you win an election, you can't switch parties.

Edit: to add recall elections would help too.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The party makes no difference, honestly. Not in a "both sides are the same" way, but in the sense that if she's willing to change party after getting elected, she was already going to be voting the other way regardless.

She essentially lied about her beliefs to get elected, and then showed her real face immediately afterward. I'm honestly surprised it hasn't happened more often. Republicans have showed many times they're fine with breaking all the pre-established expectations just to fuck over the people.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 hours ago

It should be considered election fraud.

[–] frog_brawler 1 points 23 hours ago

I get where your perspective is coming from but I can assure you that the state legislature in FL 100% ignores anything presented by someone of the Democratic Party. If you want to make an actual impact, you need to have an R next to your name.

Best bet for now is to run as a Republican, and then just push socialist stuff hard till you get primaried; and after that run anti-deep state ads as an independent to get air time and try to raise money. You’ll probably still lose for a while after the Republican party primaries you, but eventually if you get enough crazy asshole support you can reshape the party…

Ah fuck, we already did this one…

[–] halcyoncmdr 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I literally just gave the example of them never switching parties and just voting opposite of their party all the time.

We already know that half of the electorate doesn't look past the letter next to a candidate's name. And a lot of elections have no challenger at all against the incumbent, even in areas where people complain about their representatives a lot.

That doesn't actually solve a single issue, it's just a lazy simple answer you think is some sort of gotcha, because you want a quick fix. That's why we have shit like vague abortion bans and doctors that don't know what is legal instead of specific guidelines they can follow, even if those guidelines are dogshit. Simple fixes are rarely good fixes, they're just feel good fixes that actually make the issue worse when the complexity of the real world goes against it.

[–] FiremanEdsRevenge 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Again, recall elections would help. Idk why you're getting so pissy.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

They could remain in the party and act / vote according to the other party lines. (This already happens)

There really is no remedy for certain levels of corruption / deception other than that other thing we're not allowed to talk about.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I don't understand what switching parties even really means in this context. The parties aren't written into the framework in the first place, is she just going to run Republican next time? Is she flipping on her positions? Do they all hang out at Republican county clubs? Is she compromising and kissing the ring to further her own policies? Is she just picking the most politically advantageous moves and actually has no strong beliefs? (Probably the last one)

[–] [email protected] 0 points 22 hours ago

Pretty much just the last two.... and her district will probably benefit greatly from her swap as she'll be able to pursue agendas she was previously unable to effectively push.

[–] someguy3 0 points 1 day ago

Yes to all.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

Like Manchin and ~~Cinema~~ Sinema? Fetterman

A pox on autocorrect

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Make it a sue-able offense and add recall elections

[–] frog_brawler 0 points 23 hours ago

You need to learn more about FL politics.

[–] TrickDacy -1 points 1 day ago

You didn't really think this one through.

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Lol can we have someone infiltrate maga and run in a red state as governor, then when you win, "Opps, I'm actually a Progressive Democrat, TROLLED!" Executive action: Protect minorities and LGBT+ communites, declare any abortion restrictions null and void, purge conservatives from the state government, install progressives, order investigation into corruption, purge republicans from voter rolls... etc...

😎

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 day ago

Deny Defend Depose

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Add Eric Adams to that list. Piece of shit Republican

[–] thesohoriots 20 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Same as that asshat in NC. May they eat every tortilla chip vertically.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

Coated in carolina reaper chili extract.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Another one in Texas this week too. I guess a Democrat's campaign money and resources are acceptable just not the policy priorities they set out, which these buttholes know in advance because they are not lliterate and do not live with their heads permanently jammed up their own assholes.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

May their socks be forever wet.

[–] Goodmorningsunshine 11 points 1 day ago

This shit should immediately trigger a new election. America is shit.

[–] frog_brawler 5 points 23 hours ago

Mixed opinions… as someone that lived in FL for 30 years and just got out in October, my observation of the previous 8 years has been that the FL DNC was just the JV team of the FL GOP. You’d legitimately have zero support to accomplish anything at all as a member of the DNC in FL.

If you want to be an effective politician in FL, my opinion is that It’s best to just join the GOP and then turncoat into a socialist (but still keep the R tag next to your name). Being a member of the Democratic Party in FL is akin to a death sentence, or simply being ignored into irrelevancy.

[–] Xanis 8 points 1 day ago

About six years ago on Reddit I asked "Why can we not do this thing??" and the response was "because the money will not like you".

I dunno, guys, seems like we should start wielding the old chaos flames.