Orange Duce

[Typical Lax Dad]

Can America be saved from Donald Trump's black hole of lies?

Interesting discussion with Eric Altermann about the state of our public discourse. he by NO MEANS blames this entirely on one side or the other...but it is indisputable that Donald Trump and the Trumpublicons of 2020 have taken lying in the political arena to levels never seen before...

There are many disincentives to tell the truth about Donald Trump. The most obvious one is that he's the President of the United States and people consider it disrespectful to use certain words about the president, like "liar" and "racist" and "conman" and "conspiracy nut," even when they're true. It is worse in Washington D.C. to call someone a liar than for them to actually be a liar.

In Washington, that rule is part of how a person makes a living. Therefore, people in the news media have to show respect for the office of the presidency. The second reason is that the ideology of "journalistic objectivity" does not have a framework for determining what the truth is. It has no bias for truth. "Journalistic objectivity" says on the one hand, so-and-so said this; on the other hand, his opposition said that, and you, the reader, you, the viewer, you, the listener, it is up to you to decide what's true.

Donald Trump is an idiot in many ways, but he is a genius when it comes to media manipulation.

[snip]

Donald Trump might get reelected and destroy our democracy because so many in the mainstream news media are treating Donald Trump's lies and delusions as though it is all somehow normal.

They do not know how to do their job any other way. Their job is defined as getting whatever information is available at the White House. So even if it's lies, even if it's daily humiliation, the press corps has to go back the next day. Those reporters need to be on good terms with the people who are giving out the information — even if they're not giving out real or otherwise substantive information. It would be nice if the job of the White House press corps was to actually go out and find news, but that's not what they're there for. They're there as conduits for the White House.

[snip]

Trump followers say that, "Why all the fuss about Donald Trump lying? Why don't you explain that Obama lied too?" The New York Times looked at the entire eight-year record of Obama's presidency and they found 12 false claims over eight years, none of which he repeated, all of which he then corrected when he found out that what he had said was not true. Trump can tell 12 falsehoods in 10 minutes. He does it all the time. There is no comparison between Trump and Obama. Some presidents lied a lot. Trump is in his own category. Trump lies about absolutely everything, and he gives his cabinet and his advisors permission in doing so to lie about everything as well.

Too many Americans have had a full meal of bullshirt and now they have no way to judge good and bad, right and wrong. I'm very angry at the people who support Donald Trump because they are destroying my country. They are responsible for putting people in cages and separating families. A lot of Trump's supporters do not know any better. Some of them are just terrible people. I do not really care why people think what they think anymore, I just want to beat them. Trump's supporters are on the wrong side.

..

I look at the hyper-partisan line. Which media outlet on both sides that straddles that line has the greatest reach? Look at the delta to that category.....Fox News TV is shameful.

[Brooklyn]

tRUMP mindlessness in full display:


Trump Promotes Baseless, QAnon-Endorsed Conspiracy Theory Alleging Obama Staged Bin Laden’s Killing


On Tuesday afternoon, Trump retweeted an article from an account with a history of promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory alleging “Biden and Obama may have had Seal Team 6 killed” and that Bin Laden may still be alive.

The conspiracy theory also alleged that Obama had killed Bin Laden’s body double.


https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewst ... a8377f5b16



What's worse is when his fellow radical right wingers believe in that mindless garbage.

[cradleandshoot]

Can America be saved from Donald Trump's black hole of lies?

Interesting discussion with Eric Altermann about the state of our public discourse. he by NO MEANS blames this entirely on one side or the other...but it is indisputable that Donald Trump and the Trumpublicons of 2020 have taken lying in the political arena to levels never seen before...

There are many disincentives to tell the truth about Donald Trump. The most obvious one is that he's the President of the United States and people consider it disrespectful to use certain words about the president, like "liar" and "racist" and "conman" and "conspiracy nut," even when they're true. It is worse in Washington D.C. to call someone a liar than for them to actually be a liar.

In Washington, that rule is part of how a person makes a living. Therefore, people in the news media have to show respect for the office of the presidency. The second reason is that the ideology of "journalistic objectivity" does not have a framework for determining what the truth is. It has no bias for truth. "Journalistic objectivity" says on the one hand, so-and-so said this; on the other hand, his opposition said that, and you, the reader, you, the viewer, you, the listener, it is up to you to decide what's true.

Donald Trump is an idiot in many ways, but he is a genius when it comes to media manipulation.

[snip]

Donald Trump might get reelected and destroy our democracy because so many in the mainstream news media are treating Donald Trump's lies and delusions as though it is all somehow normal.

They do not know how to do their job any other way. Their job is defined as getting whatever information is available at the White House. So even if it's lies, even if it's daily humiliation, the press corps has to go back the next day. Those reporters need to be on good terms with the people who are giving out the information — even if they're not giving out real or otherwise substantive information. It would be nice if the job of the White House press corps was to actually go out and find news, but that's not what they're there for. They're there as conduits for the White House.

[snip]

Trump followers say that, "Why all the fuss about Donald Trump lying? Why don't you explain that Obama lied too?" The New York Times looked at the entire eight-year record of Obama's presidency and they found 12 false claims over eight years, none of which he repeated, all of which he then corrected when he found out that what he had said was not true. Trump can tell 12 falsehoods in 10 minutes. He does it all the time. There is no comparison between Trump and Obama. Some presidents lied a lot. Trump is in his own category. Trump lies about absolutely everything, and he gives his cabinet and his advisors permission in doing so to lie about everything as well.

Too many Americans have had a full meal of bullshirt and now they have no way to judge good and bad, right and wrong. I'm very angry at the people who support Donald Trump because they are destroying my country. They are responsible for putting people in cages and separating families. A lot of Trump's supporters do not know any better. Some of them are just terrible people. I do not really care why people think what they think anymore, I just want to beat them. Trump's supporters are on the wrong side.

..

I look at the hyper-partisan line. Which media outlet on both sides that straddles that line has the greatest reach? Look at the delta to that category.....Fox News TV is shameful.

That graph looks like something cobbled together after a night of doing jack daniels depth charges chased down with tequila.

[seacoaster]

“Enemy of the people.”

https://mobile.twitter.com/atrupar/stat ... 2376938499

[seacoaster]

A cancer:

https://mobile.twitter.com/atrupar/stat ... 9849603072

Surgery scheduled for November 3.

[seacoaster]

Ben Sasse appears to think the President is a disgusting moron:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... ssion=true

[smoova]

Ben Sasse appears to think the President is a disgusting moron:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... ssion=true

Obvious TDS ...

[AOD]

Ben Sasse appears to think the President is a disgusting moron:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... ssion=true

Obvious TDS ...

He's not the only one - https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ ... ome-429527

[CU88]

Ben Sasse appears to think the President is a disgusting moron:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... ssion=true

Obvious TDS ...

He's not the only one - https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ ... ome-429527

LOL, that is a great article!

[seacoaster]

Actually a little hard to believe:

https://twitter.com/gtconway3d/status/1 ... 8362045442

[njbill]

Conway is back on Twitter? I thought he gave it up as part of his deal with Kellyanne when she quit the White House.

[seacoaster]

Conway is back on Twitter? I thought he gave it up as part of his deal with Kellyanne when she quit the White House.

Yes, he is back at about 75% of pre-family crisis.

[DMac]

Just wondering here, anyone know why we don't get this kind of stuff with this Prez.....cuz it's just beyond fantastic!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e2fJfiddx4

[Peter Brown]

Conway is back on Twitter? I thought he gave it up as part of his deal with Kellyanne when she quit the White House.

Not to state the obvious, but George Conway is one odd-looking guy.

I am trying to predict the newest level of TDS when Trump steps on the balcony of the White House the morning of 11-4. Is there even a color for nuclear?

Cuz the most accurate pollster the last 5 years, Trafalgar, just posted that Trump as of today will win the election.

I know you boys think I live and die with Trump's victory, but I don't. As long as we get Barrett on, I am mostly good...excepting we need to keep the Senate in the hands of the only sensible Party left, the Republicans.

Still, that morning will be so great!

[jhu72]

Ben Sasse appears to think the President is a disgusting moron:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... ssion=true

...Sasse gets NO credit for saying the obvious LONG AFTER IT COULD HAVE MATTERED. Just another POS.

[seacoaster]

Ben Sasse appears to think the President is a disgusting moron:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... ssion=true

...Sasse gets NO credit for saying the obvious LONG AFTER IT COULD HAVE MATTERED. Just another POS.

Agreed:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions ... ben-sasse/

"If Sasse is honest enough to make this harsh evaluation of Trump on all those grounds, he surely must have recognized that Trump committed impeachable acts in trying to extort our ally Ukraine in a hot war with Russia to concoct dirt on his opponent, former vice president Joe Biden. Nevertheless, Sasse voted with every other Republican, save Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah), to acquit Trump. As House impeachment manager and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) put it, “If you find that the House has proved its case, and still vote to acquit, your name will be tied to his with a cord of steel and for all of history.” And so it will be for Sasse.

Sasse has remained silent when his countrymen needed candor. Sasse has not publicly come to the defense of Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, in the face of Trump’s attacks. He has not warned governors not to follow Trump’s recommendations on the pandemic, or admonished the White House for eschewing masks and social distancing, or spoken out about Trump’s conduct once the president was infected, or leveled in any meaningful way with the American people about Trump’s racism and contempt for religion. One must conclude that sheer cowardice and a yen to remain in office (requiring he avoid the wrath of the MAGA crowd) account for his reticence. As with every other silent Republican in this era, personal ambition won out over obligation to the country and the Constitution.

I remain stunned that grown-ups run for the Senate only to become afraid of their own shadow, wasting the opportunity to make a real contribution and to show actual spine. Sasse had jobs before the Senate, including a stint as a university president. If he lost because he actually stood on principle, would his return to his pre-Senate life have been so onerous? The addiction to power, fame and attention must be so all-consuming that it prompts self-identified moralists and students of history to cower at a time when the country was desperately in need of strong, honest leadership.

Other Republicans who clearly know better — Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio) and John Thune (S.D.) come to mind — are also afraid to break with the “tribe.“ Their spinelessness begets more spinelessness; their refuge in childish excuses (Didn’t see the tweet!) makes it easier for their colleagues to hide behind childish excuses. Trump can rightfully be blamed for running the party into a ditch and subverting virtually any value Sasse and his fellow Republicans ever lauded. But it would not have been possible to get away with impeachable conduct, to win renomination, and to run roughshod over democratic norms and the rule of law without the silence of the Sasses, the Portmans and the Thunes.

It is their complicity by both acts of commission and omission in Trump’s racism, xenophobia, national security debacles, covid-19 disaster, authoritarianism, moral relativism and deceit that warrant a full repudiation of Republicans up and down the ticket.

In some sense, one can excuse the dimmer and loonier Republicans and the money-grubbing conservative media personalities who lack the brains and character to defy Trump. The greater tragedy is the Republicans who once had promising careers and the respect of their fellow Americans but then sold their souls simply to remain a member of the Senate and of the right-wing tribe."

[cradleandshoot]

Ben Sasse appears to think the President is a disgusting moron:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... ssion=true

...Sasse gets NO credit for saying the obvious LONG AFTER IT COULD HAVE MATTERED. Just another POS.

72, good to see you back. You know if you ever need bail money your friends here will chip in.

[jhu72]

Ben Sasse appears to think the President is a disgusting moron:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... ssion=true

...Sasse gets NO credit for saying the obvious LONG AFTER IT COULD HAVE MATTERED. Just another POS.

72, good to see you back. You know if you ever need bail money your friends here will chip in.

... much appreciated

[jhu72]

Ben Sasse appears to think the President is a disgusting moron:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... ssion=true

...Sasse gets NO credit for saying the obvious LONG AFTER IT COULD HAVE MATTERED. Just another POS.

Agreed:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions ... ben-sasse/

"If Sasse is honest enough to make this harsh evaluation of Trump on all those grounds, he surely must have recognized that Trump committed impeachable acts in trying to extort our ally Ukraine in a hot war with Russia to concoct dirt on his opponent, former vice president Joe Biden. Nevertheless, Sasse voted with every other Republican, save Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah), to acquit Trump. As House impeachment manager and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) put it, “If you find that the House has proved its case, and still vote to acquit, your name will be tied to his with a cord of steel and for all of history.” And so it will be for Sasse.

Sasse has remained silent when his countrymen needed candor. Sasse has not publicly come to the defense of Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, in the face of Trump’s attacks. He has not warned governors not to follow Trump’s recommendations on the pandemic, or admonished the White House for eschewing masks and social distancing, or spoken out about Trump’s conduct once the president was infected, or leveled in any meaningful way with the American people about Trump’s racism and contempt for religion. One must conclude that sheer cowardice and a yen to remain in office (requiring he avoid the wrath of the MAGA crowd) account for his reticence. As with every other silent Republican in this era, personal ambition won out over obligation to the country and the Constitution.

I remain stunned that grown-ups run for the Senate only to become afraid of their own shadow, wasting the opportunity to make a real contribution and to show actual spine. Sasse had jobs before the Senate, including a stint as a university president. If he lost because he actually stood on principle, would his return to his pre-Senate life have been so onerous? The addiction to power, fame and attention must be so all-consuming that it prompts self-identified moralists and students of history to cower at a time when the country was desperately in need of strong, honest leadership.

Other Republicans who clearly know better — Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio) and John Thune (S.D.) come to mind — are also afraid to break with the “tribe.“ Their spinelessness begets more spinelessness; their refuge in childish excuses (Didn’t see the tweet!) makes it easier for their colleagues to hide behind childish excuses. Trump can rightfully be blamed for running the party into a ditch and subverting virtually any value Sasse and his fellow Republicans ever lauded. But it would not have been possible to get away with impeachable conduct, to win renomination, and to run roughshod over democratic norms and the rule of law without the silence of the Sasses, the Portmans and the Thunes.

It is their complicity by both acts of commission and omission in Trump’s racism, xenophobia, national security debacles, covid-19 disaster, authoritarianism, moral relativism and deceit that warrant a full repudiation of Republicans up and down the ticket.

In some sense, one can excuse the dimmer and loonier Republicans and the money-grubbing conservative media personalities who lack the brains and character to defy Trump. The greater tragedy is the Republicans who once had promising careers and the respect of their fellow Americans but then sold their souls simply to remain a member of the Senate and of the right-wing tribe."

+1 ... guys like Sasse are the worst.

[ggait]

Former WH Chief of Staff Gen. John Kelly:

"The depths of his dishonesty is just astounding to me. The dishonesty, the transactional nature of every relationship, though it's more pathetic than anything else. He is the most flawed person I have ever met in my life," the retired Marine general has told friends,

Seems like most people who work for Trump get infected with TDS and/or Covid.