2024

[KUTradition]

except this is about waaaay more than him predicating a “blood-bath”

it goes back further than j6, and is about more than calling those perpetrators hostages

this is just the latest in a long line of statements and actual actions (or lack thereof) that would sure seem to support the notion that at the very least they’re ok with political violence if it suits their end

[DCHawk1]

except this is about waaaay more than him predicating a “blood-bath”

it goes back further than j6, and is about more than calling those perpetrators hostages

this is just the latest in a long line of statements and actual actions (or lack thereof) that would sure seem to support the notion that at the very least they’re ok with political violence if it suits their end

this is about waaaay more than him predicating a “blood-bath”

To you it is.

But you're not a "persuadable."

[jfish26]

Weird hill to die on.

1. The lack of judgment alone in saying things that are charitably-described as political-violence-adjacent, when one is under indictment for (among other things) inciting political violence.

2. I don’t think it’s especially helpful to your point to call attention to the fact that partisan people hear what they want to hear when Trump says that defeat will result in a “bloodbath.” That’s sort of the whole problem here.

[jhawks99]

You understand how foolish this is, right?

Seriously, DC. I'm not sure that I understand how foolish this is. It seems to me that half of the country is ok with political violence to achieve their ends. I do look forward to you explaining what you really mean, however.

What I mean is that when the media takes a phrase from a Trump speech out of context and shits its pants about it, that only helps Trump. He says so many real horrifyingly stupid things that lose their potency/relevance when he has an inarguable case of gotcha bullshit to point to. He can -- and will -- say that they're ALL taken out of context.

You know that's bullshit. I know that's bullshit. But the people who are going to decide this election only see the media taking stuff out of context and playing gotcha.

It's sooooo self-defeatingly stoopid.

Now that makes sense and I have noticed that too. The media will take a clip and apply the worst possible context and run with it.
Why you gotta be so cryptic?

[japhy]

And if trumpty dumpty does win and did mean it, well; we can all take comfort in the thought that the damage he does can be repaired/reversed in four decades or so.

Yes, trumtpy likes to say outrageous things to rouse his base and to play it back to show how unfair the media is. But an over correction and the media is downplaying his threat.

But the only folks who cheer when trumpty "plays" the corrupt media song and dance are his rubes and his fascist wannabes. There is no swaying them.

This election comes down to "undecideds", whoever the fuck that is. Undecided as to whether or not they will vote, undecided as to whether or not their personal economy will get better if trumpty puts his finger on the scale, undecided as to whether or not democracy matters.

I am not so sure that trumpty owning the media plays that much into their selection process. Fear does, trumpty plays the fear card at every pep rally in his blatherpandering. Repeating the gist of that should scare everyone who isn't in his cult. It cuts both ways. We are a country of low information voters with a lack of critical thinking skills it seems. We will see how bit turns out in a few months.

And don't forget, it can probably all be fixed in a few decades after some suffering and societal and economic collapse.

[KUTradition]

We are a country of low information voters with a lack of critical thinking skills it seems.

and it’s infuriating to no end

[DCHawk1]

And if trumpty dumpty does win and did mean it, well; we can all take comfort in the thought that the damage he does can be repaired/reversed in four decades or so.

Did mean what?

[Sparko]

A little light sophistry in the morning.

[jfish26]

You understand how foolish this is, right?

Seriously, DC. I'm not sure that I understand how foolish this is. It seems to me that half of the country is ok with political violence to achieve their ends. I do look forward to you explaining what you really mean, however.

What I mean is that when the media takes a phrase from a Trump speech out of context and shits its pants about it, that only helps Trump. He says so many real horrifyingly stupid things that lose their potency/relevance when he has an inarguable case of gotcha bullshit to point to. He can -- and will -- say that they're ALL taken out of context.

You know that's bullshit. I know that's bullshit. But the people who are going to decide this election only see the media taking stuff out of context and playing gotcha.

It's sooooo self-defeatingly stoopid.

I just don't agree with this, fundamentally.

Trump should get absolutely zero benefit of the doubt on being taken "out of context." Especially when there are - obviously - low-information people who will literally take up arms against the government on things he says that THEY take "out of context".

You are explicitly accepting the result of normalization, and I'm not in favor of that.

[Shirley]

And if trumpty dumpty does win and did mean it, well; we can all take comfort in the thought that the damage he does can be repaired/reversed in four decades or so.

Did mean what?

To continue his incessant 9 years and counting crusade to normalize political violence and dehumanize his opposition, key components from the Fascist Take-overs for Dummies handbook.

What do I win?

Trump's Ohio Rally Recap in 107 Seconds

[DCHawk1]

Seriously, DC. I'm not sure that I understand how foolish this is. It seems to me that half of the country is ok with political violence to achieve their ends. I do look forward to you explaining what you really mean, however.

What I mean is that when the media takes a phrase from a Trump speech out of context and shits its pants about it, that only helps Trump. He says so many real horrifyingly stupid things that lose their potency/relevance when he has an inarguable case of gotcha bullshit to point to. He can -- and will -- say that they're ALL taken out of context.

You know that's bullshit. I know that's bullshit. But the people who are going to decide this election only see the media taking stuff out of context and playing gotcha.

It's sooooo self-defeatingly stoopid.

I just don't agree with this, fundamentally.

Trump should get absolutely zero benefit of the doubt on being taken "out of context." Especially when there are - obviously - low-information people who will literally take up arms against the government on things he says that THEY take "out of context".

You are explicitly accepting the result of normalization, and I'm not in favor of that.

Again, this isn't about you -- or me.

[Shirley]

Some people say he's a nice guy.

[jfish26]

What I mean is that when the media takes a phrase from a Trump speech out of context and shits its pants about it, that only helps Trump. He says so many real horrifyingly stupid things that lose their potency/relevance when he has an inarguable case of gotcha bullshit to point to. He can -- and will -- say that they're ALL taken out of context.

You know that's bullshit. I know that's bullshit. But the people who are going to decide this election only see the media taking stuff out of context and playing gotcha.

It's sooooo self-defeatingly stoopid.

I just don't agree with this, fundamentally.

Trump should get absolutely zero benefit of the doubt on being taken "out of context." Especially when there are - obviously - low-information people who will literally take up arms against the government on things he says that THEY take "out of context".

You are explicitly accepting the result of normalization, and I'm not in favor of that.

Again, this isn't about you -- or me.

Yeah, maybe it's about the folks that bring gallows to the steps of the Capitol.

[DCHawk1]

I just don't agree with this, fundamentally.

Trump should get absolutely zero benefit of the doubt on being taken "out of context." Especially when there are - obviously - low-information people who will literally take up arms against the government on things he says that THEY take "out of context".

You are explicitly accepting the result of normalization, and I'm not in favor of that.

Again, this isn't about you -- or me.

Yeah, maybe it's about the folks that bring gallows to the steps of the Capitol.

sure, I guess

Still, I think you're radically underestimating how much average, largely independent, non-violent, non-Trumper undecideds hate the media and instinctively cringe at their deception.

[dolomite]

Whoever wins the U.S. presidency this fall will have their hands full regarding foreign policy. Taking into account everything that is currently going on, Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, Yemen, Taiwan, Haiti, Mexican border, and now Niger’s junta removing military agreement with U.S.(and moving closer to Russia).
It’s going to take someone with all their faculties intact, not a job I would envy.

[Shirley]

Can't believe I have to post this:

On his prediction of a "bloodbath" if he doesn't win in November. Why Donald Trump doesn't get the benefit of the doubt

[jfish26]

Again, this isn't about you -- or me.

Yeah, maybe it's about the folks that bring gallows to the steps of the Capitol.

sure, I guess

Still, I think you're radically underestimating how much average, largely independent, non-violent, non-Trumper undecideds hate the media and instinctively cringe at their deception.

You didn't need to say "non-violent" there, but in combination with "cringe at their deception" I suppose it checks out, taken as a whole.

From my vantage point, what's deceptive is "the media's" (whatever that means) predisposition to being a bookmaker of sorts; what matters isn't accurate, objective reporting, but occupying goldilocks zones.

And of course we see this over and over and over again.

Talking out loud about Biden's age (never you mind that Trump is slurring every fourth word and is dragging his right leg around like it needs to be plugged back in).

Talking out loud about specific things with stubborn prices (never you mind that persistent profiteering is much more to blame than general economic conditions).

Talking out loud about Israel/Hamas-related dissent within the Democratic party (literally burying something actually (to my knowledge) unprecedented, which is a former VP openly declining to support the candidacy of his former boss).

And so on.

Hell, there's an entire (brilliant) Twitter account for it: New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon).

[Shirley]

Cue the lamestream media to start with their totally false Russia Hoax lies, again?

Trump may enlist Manafort, whose Russia ties were called a grave threat

The former campaign manager was pardoned by Trump for bank and tax fraud convictions and accusations he hid millions he made consulting for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians...

The hiring of Manafort would likely revive discussion of Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election, which Mueller concluded was “sweeping and systemic.” Mueller also found that Manafort shared internal Trump campaign polling data with a longtime associate who the FBI assessed had ties to Russian intelligence.

A bipartisan Senate committee that investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election concluded that Manafort’s receptivity to Russian outreach was a “grave counterintelligence threat” that had made the 2016 campaign susceptible to “malign Russian influence.”

Trump has told advisers that he feels loyal to Manafort because he served prison time, and Manafort has continued to stay loyal and praise Trump in public and private appearances. The former president still often complains about the Mueller investigation, people close to Trump say, and contends the prosecution of Manafort was unfair...

[Shirley]

Today in: The Big Lie & Political violence normalization in action.

Or,

It's the media, what do you expect?

Pro-Trump disruptions in Arizona county elevate fears for the 2024 vote

A meeting in the state’s largest county, Maricopa, ended chaotically last month, raising concern that the former president’s supporters could try to undercut the election.

PHOENIX — As the board of supervisors for Arizona’s largest county abruptly ended a meeting late last month, a swarm of people rushed toward the dais, shouting that the members were illegitimate.

The Maricopa County leaders made a beeline for a side door and were swiftly escorted out of the chamber by security guards, who called for backup from the sheriff’s office. After the meeting’s live-feed went dead, a member of the crowd yelled that a “revolution” was underway.

“I’m here today to put you on public notice and to inform you that you are not our elected officials,” said Michelle Klann, co-founder of a pro-Trump group, from a podium she had commandeered. “This is an act of insurrection. Due to all the voter fraud, you have never been formally voted in.”

The scene at the Feb. 28 meeting terrified many Maricopa employees and others who were reminded of what happened after Joe Biden won the county — and, with it, Arizona — in the 2020 presidential race. Back then, Trump supporters used baseless fraud claims to try to pressure or scare elected leaders into changing the results for the metro Phoenix county, which is home to more than half of Arizona’s residents...

[jfish26]

Cue the lamestream media to start with their totally false Russia Hoax lies, again?

Trump may enlist Manafort, whose Russia ties were called a grave threat

The former campaign manager was pardoned by Trump for bank and tax fraud convictions and accusations he hid millions he made consulting for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians...

The hiring of Manafort would likely revive discussion of Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election, which Mueller concluded was “sweeping and systemic.” Mueller also found that Manafort shared internal Trump campaign polling data with a longtime associate who the FBI assessed had ties to Russian intelligence.

A bipartisan Senate committee that investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election concluded that Manafort’s receptivity to Russian outreach was a “grave counterintelligence threat” that had made the 2016 campaign susceptible to “malign Russian influence.”

Trump has told advisers that he feels loyal to Manafort because he served prison time, and Manafort has continued to stay loyal and praise Trump in public and private appearances. The former president still often complains about the Mueller investigation, people close to Trump say, and contends the prosecution of Manafort was unfair...

To be fair, I think Trump genuinely believes that Russia did not interfere (to his benefit) in the 2016 election.

Now, that is because he is a world-historical narcissist whose incuriosity is only matched in scale by his arrogance.

But, I do want to be fair.