Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand / A mighty woman
August 3, 2016 11:01 AM Subscribe
The 2016 US general election is fully underway now. In 96 days, Americans will go to the polls. Current opinion polls show a significant bump for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton coming out of the major party conventions, and according to most polling aggregators she is currently on track to win the election.
Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of an American soldier who was killed in Iraq, continued to condemn Republican nominee Donald Trump in a back-and-forth that's dominated coverage since the Khans spoke at the Democratic National Convention last week.
Donald Trump himself warned that "[if] the election is rigged, [he] would not be surprised" as the international press pondered the meaning and future of democratic legitimacy in the US.
President Obama declared Donald Trump to be unfit for the Presidency, and questioned why GOP leaders did not withdraw their personal support from their nominee. Meanwhile, Republicans struggled to navigate the increasing tension between their nominee and many of their elected officials and party leaders.
Please be kind to one another, and to the mods.
Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of an American soldier who was killed in Iraq, continued to condemn Republican nominee Donald Trump in a back-and-forth that's dominated coverage since the Khans spoke at the Democratic National Convention last week.
Donald Trump himself warned that "[if] the election is rigged, [he] would not be surprised" as the international press pondered the meaning and future of democratic legitimacy in the US.
President Obama declared Donald Trump to be unfit for the Presidency, and questioned why GOP leaders did not withdraw their personal support from their nominee. Meanwhile, Republicans struggled to navigate the increasing tension between their nominee and many of their elected officials and party leaders.
Please be kind to one another, and to the mods.
So, this article from The American Conservative is well worth a read:
Trump: Tribune of Poor White People
It's an interview with J.D. Vance, author of the book Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and a Culture in Crisis (which I haven't read, but just ordered). It's an inquiry into why, exactly, the white working class would vote for Trump. I found it illuminating.
Note that, although the white working class certainly comprises part of Trump's base, the full story is more complicated:
The Mythology of Trump's 'Working Class' Support
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:03 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Trump: Tribune of Poor White People
It's an interview with J.D. Vance, author of the book Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and a Culture in Crisis (which I haven't read, but just ordered). It's an inquiry into why, exactly, the white working class would vote for Trump. I found it illuminating.
Note that, although the white working class certainly comprises part of Trump's base, the full story is more complicated:
The Mythology of Trump's 'Working Class' Support
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:03 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Shouldn't the garbagefire tag be the dumpsterfire tag?
posted by charred husk at 11:03 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by charred husk at 11:03 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I'm still reading about efforts within the Trump campaign and the the GOP to get Donald to do a "hard reset" and get back "on message".
Guys. You still don't get it, do you? Donald has no message to get on. The entirety of his campaign is about getting eyeballs on himself, about controlling and dominating the media and the public's attention. Saying sane, reasonable things does not accomplish that. Saying outrageous, offensive, erratic things does.
He's an addict, and attention is his drug, and he's been on an epic bender for months. He's not going to stop.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:05 AM on August 3, 2016 [151 favorites]
Guys. You still don't get it, do you? Donald has no message to get on. The entirety of his campaign is about getting eyeballs on himself, about controlling and dominating the media and the public's attention. Saying sane, reasonable things does not accomplish that. Saying outrageous, offensive, erratic things does.
He's an addict, and attention is his drug, and he's been on an epic bender for months. He's not going to stop.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:05 AM on August 3, 2016 [151 favorites]
Shouldn't the garbagefire tag be the dumpsterfire tag?
This current situation calls for both, really.
posted by mochapickle at 11:05 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
This current situation calls for both, really.
posted by mochapickle at 11:05 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Yay new post! You guys are getting me through this election, seriously.
posted by corb at 11:05 AM on August 3, 2016 [71 favorites]
posted by corb at 11:05 AM on August 3, 2016 [71 favorites]
My addiction to these threads is troubling
posted by R.F.Simpson at 11:06 AM on August 3, 2016 [145 favorites]
posted by R.F.Simpson at 11:06 AM on August 3, 2016 [145 favorites]
Clusterdumpster
posted by Artw at 11:07 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:07 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
They haven't slept in a week
Things were bleak, but we're awake
You never seen a moderator
More in need of a break
Longing for November
Missing my life
That’s when Reince's intervention cut Trump like a knife.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:07 AM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
Things were bleak, but we're awake
You never seen a moderator
More in need of a break
Longing for November
Missing my life
That’s when Reince's intervention cut Trump like a knife.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:07 AM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
I love this title. Despite her diminutive size, I do think HRC is a mighty woman.
posted by bearwife at 11:07 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 11:07 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
I should point out that there's a separate post currently on the front page about the Vance interview: http://www.metafilter.com/161377/Americans-call-themwhite-trash-I-call-them-friends-and-family. Good discussion, as always.
posted by tippiedog at 11:07 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by tippiedog at 11:07 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
OK, but seriously, would any hypothetical person that Trump was replaced by on the Republican party ticket just replace him on the ballots in all states automatically?
posted by Sophie1 at 11:08 AM on August 3, 2016
posted by Sophie1 at 11:08 AM on August 3, 2016
I don't know what is wrong with me, but I cannot stop reading these threads. I will have like 100 comments to catch up on in the previous thread.
Help
posted by rtha at 11:08 AM on August 3, 2016 [42 favorites]
Help
posted by rtha at 11:08 AM on August 3, 2016 [42 favorites]
I was watching 30 Rock the other night and heard Kenneth Parcells drop a "clusterwhoops."
"Trumpsterwhoops?"
I don't know, nothing is real anymore.
posted by Tevin at 11:09 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
"Trumpsterwhoops?"
I don't know, nothing is real anymore.
posted by Tevin at 11:09 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Orange crack.
posted by Don Pepino at 11:09 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Don Pepino at 11:09 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
The worst part of This Week In Trump (TWIT) is how the Republican Party is going along with him in casting the legitimacy of the political and electoral systems in doubt.
It's not surprising by any means: birtherism against Obama and the Clinton impeachment proceedings were nothing more than the right wing of the USA refusing to accept the rightful rule of a different party and viewpoint. Trump is merely more explicit and blunt in how he puts it.
But seriously, it's playing with fire. Reince Preibus said the RNC will back Trump's protest over the debates, even though they must KNOW he's just being a shitty whiny baby and trying to duck out of it. Sean Hannity is sending out Twitter q's about the November outcome being rigged.
Authority to govern only comes from the consent of the governed. I'm afraid of what could happen after 45% of the governed, the most aggrieved reactionary element of the governed, thinks they have grounds to withdraw that consent.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 11:09 AM on August 3, 2016 [37 favorites]
It's not surprising by any means: birtherism against Obama and the Clinton impeachment proceedings were nothing more than the right wing of the USA refusing to accept the rightful rule of a different party and viewpoint. Trump is merely more explicit and blunt in how he puts it.
But seriously, it's playing with fire. Reince Preibus said the RNC will back Trump's protest over the debates, even though they must KNOW he's just being a shitty whiny baby and trying to duck out of it. Sean Hannity is sending out Twitter q's about the November outcome being rigged.
Authority to govern only comes from the consent of the governed. I'm afraid of what could happen after 45% of the governed, the most aggrieved reactionary element of the governed, thinks they have grounds to withdraw that consent.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 11:09 AM on August 3, 2016 [37 favorites]
Is it wrong to hope Ryan loses in the primary?
posted by drezdn at 11:09 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 11:09 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
This is not fine (I am fine with this)
(Just in case anyone missed it. Who needs a dumpsterfire when you've got a burning dog?)
Never pet a burning dog!
posted by chavenet at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
(Just in case anyone missed it. Who needs a dumpsterfire when you've got a burning dog?)
Never pet a burning dog!
posted by chavenet at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love this title. Despite her diminutive size, I do think HRC is a mighty woman.
I brought this up in an earlier thread: nobody really seems to know how tall HRC is.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I brought this up in an earlier thread: nobody really seems to know how tall HRC is.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Well, it DOES seem like the logjam of toe-the-line Republican support for Il Douche has cracked in the last 48 hours and a number of prominent mainstream and moderate Republicans have publicly declared their support for HRC. Hopefully more will come forward.
Jesus Christ, what a train wreck (and what an asshole).
posted by mosk at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Jesus Christ, what a train wreck (and what an asshole).
posted by mosk at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Khizr Khan mourning at Arlington cemetery – the story behind the picture
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:10 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Also, can we cut down the chat/snark filter so that this thread lasts a little longer!!?? Please!
posted by Sophie1 at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2016 [23 favorites]
prize bull octorok: "nobody really seems to know how tall HRC is."
Why should anyone care?
posted by Mitheral at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Why should anyone care?
posted by Mitheral at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Well, it DOES seem like the logjam of toe-the-line Republican support for Il Douche has cracked in the last 48 hours and a number of prominent mainstream and moderate Republicans have publicly declared their support for HRC. Hopefully more will come forward.
the real test will be when GOP pols who are up for re-election start jumping ship
posted by murphy slaw at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
the real test will be when GOP pols who are up for re-election start jumping ship
posted by murphy slaw at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
drezdn: Is it wrong to hope Ryan loses in the primary?
Depends. Who is he up against?
posted by SansPoint at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Depends. Who is he up against?
posted by SansPoint at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Guys. You still don't get it, do you? Donald has no message to get on. The entirety of his campaign is about getting eyeballs on himself, about controlling and dominating the media and the public's attention. Saying sane, reasonable things does not accomplish that. Saying outrageous, offensive, erratic things does.
Exactly. If he got back on message, he'd have to explain how he wants to both cut and raise taxes or how he plans to make good on his promise to literally end all crime. He'd have to explain how his budget plans wouldn't create a massive deficit or whether he wants to lower the minimum wage. He'd have to explain how he plans to round up and deport 11 million people and what he'd do with their US citizen family members, including children.
If those were the questions facing you if you got back on message, I bet you'd be inventing a conspiracy of fire marshals against you too.
posted by zachlipton at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Exactly. If he got back on message, he'd have to explain how he wants to both cut and raise taxes or how he plans to make good on his promise to literally end all crime. He'd have to explain how his budget plans wouldn't create a massive deficit or whether he wants to lower the minimum wage. He'd have to explain how he plans to round up and deport 11 million people and what he'd do with their US citizen family members, including children.
If those were the questions facing you if you got back on message, I bet you'd be inventing a conspiracy of fire marshals against you too.
posted by zachlipton at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
I don't know what is wrong with me, but I cannot stop reading these threads. I will have like 100 comments to catch up on in the previous thread.
In the past year or so, I've taken up the habit of actually reading a newspaper every morning (well, on Kindle, but still). It's a better way to ease into the day than the stream of email and social media I'd been jumping into first thing in the morning. And I learn more about what's going on in the world than I get from my Facebook/Metafilter bubble.
But the past few days, it's been like, "Man, this stuff is ancient. Where's that big Metafilter Trump thread?"
posted by roll truck roll at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
In the past year or so, I've taken up the habit of actually reading a newspaper every morning (well, on Kindle, but still). It's a better way to ease into the day than the stream of email and social media I'd been jumping into first thing in the morning. And I learn more about what's going on in the world than I get from my Facebook/Metafilter bubble.
But the past few days, it's been like, "Man, this stuff is ancient. Where's that big Metafilter Trump thread?"
posted by roll truck roll at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
Coming soon: Daniel 2:12.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.then, presumably, something from Revelation
posted by Spathe Cadet at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
My favorite Trump thing this week is how he sneeringly kicked a baby out of his rally (after sarcastically pretending that "it" (the baby was "it") didn't bother him).
I mean, the whole politicians kissing babies cliche is gross and fake (though Barack Obama interacting with toddlers is the best, obviously), and it's kind of refreshing to see a politician just flat out hate on babies as the loud and angry life disruptors that they are. But still. Such a dick.
posted by sparklemotion at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [29 favorites]
I mean, the whole politicians kissing babies cliche is gross and fake (though Barack Obama interacting with toddlers is the best, obviously), and it's kind of refreshing to see a politician just flat out hate on babies as the loud and angry life disruptors that they are. But still. Such a dick.
posted by sparklemotion at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [29 favorites]
Sophie1, I don't think there's really a mechanism for replacing Trump on the ballot, altough it's a party bylaws thing rather than a real laws thing so I guess they could make a way if they wanted to badly enough.
In any case, nobody's calling for that. Obama's just calling on Republicans to withdraw their support and hang him out to dry, not to actually remove him. IAnd it's just a rhetorical move; obviously they won't want to be seen as abandoning their party's candidate under orders from the other party's President.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
In any case, nobody's calling for that. Obama's just calling on Republicans to withdraw their support and hang him out to dry, not to actually remove him. IAnd it's just a rhetorical move; obviously they won't want to be seen as abandoning their party's candidate under orders from the other party's President.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Shouldn't the garbagefire tag be the dumpsterfire tag?
This current situation calls for both, really.
The garbage can is in the dumpster, and the dumpster is in a truck headed for the docks to offload onto a barge that will head out into the middle of the Atlantic where it will be scuttled by an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and every goddamn one of 'em is on fire.
posted by logicpunk at 11:12 AM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
Also, can we cut down the chat/snark filter so that this thread lasts a little longer!!?? Please!
Threads are a renewable resource; our sanity is not. Snark saves.
posted by Bookhouse at 11:13 AM on August 3, 2016 [66 favorites]
Threads are a renewable resource; our sanity is not. Snark saves.
posted by Bookhouse at 11:13 AM on August 3, 2016 [66 favorites]
We call him Il Douche, and Drumpf, and Tiny-Hands Don, and quite a variety of epithets, but are we just making fun of a sick man? (The article is a few months old, but I certainly haven't seen any evidence since that would counter it.)
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:14 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:14 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I assume this got posted or discussed in one of the other threads, but it is worth mentioning this here as well: Meg Whitman, Calling Donald Trump a ‘Demagogue,’ Will Support Hillary Clinton for President (NYT)
posted by mosk at 11:14 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by mosk at 11:14 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I guess it was probably easy to miss amid the reeling caused by the GOP capsizing, but the obvious messaging attempt for today was supposed to be the four million in cash we just sent to Iran. trump jumped on it like a raccoon on a soiled diaper. The only problem is that this is old, old news that is being dumped into the public eye by the WSJ in order to try and distract from trump's flailing. This is a repayment of a loan that was in the as-written Iran deal, not a new story. It was delivered in cash, because we do not have bank ties with the Iranian government, and that was the only way to deliver the money.
posted by codacorolla at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
The garbage can is in the dumpster, and the dumpster is in a truck headed for the docks to offload onto a barge that will head out into the middle of the Atlantic where it will be scuttled by an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and every goddamn one of 'em is on fire.
"...and politicians will look up and shout 'Save us!'... and I'll whisper 'no.'"
posted by entropicamericana at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
"...and politicians will look up and shout 'Save us!'... and I'll whisper 'no.'"
posted by entropicamericana at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Article explaining the RNC bylaws regarding replacing a candidate.
posted by kimdog at 11:16 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kimdog at 11:16 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Apparently HRC is 5'6" and weighs about 132. Or so says my top google hit.
posted by bearwife at 11:16 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bearwife at 11:16 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
We call him Il Douche, and Drumpf, and Tiny-Hands Don, and quite a variety of epithets, but are we just making fun of a sick man?
Feeling sympathy for an ill person or addict (and it is doubtful Trump is either in any definable sense) while they're merrily burning down my house is something I can't do and don't feel bad about not being able to do.
posted by winna at 11:16 AM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
Feeling sympathy for an ill person or addict (and it is doubtful Trump is either in any definable sense) while they're merrily burning down my house is something I can't do and don't feel bad about not being able to do.
posted by winna at 11:16 AM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
so mike pence just endorsed paul ryan, while his running mate refuses to do so
not enough popcorn in the world
posted by murphy slaw at 11:17 AM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
not enough popcorn in the world
posted by murphy slaw at 11:17 AM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
The pop culture podcast OVERINVESTED talked about the US election as if it was a TV show "I think it's cluttered cause this is the last season and they're using all thier ideas at once"
posted by The Whelk at 11:17 AM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:17 AM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
She's taller than James Madison, so she's tall enough.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 11:17 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 11:17 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
We call him Il Douche, and Drumpf, and Tiny-Hands Don, and quite a variety of epithets, but are we just making fun of a sick man?
We can't know whether or not he's sick.
We know with certainty that he's sickening. The mockery is deserved.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:17 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
We can't know whether or not he's sick.
We know with certainty that he's sickening. The mockery is deserved.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:17 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've enjoyed 5 days of really great post-DNC *airquote* celebrating *airquote* with my wife in Portland and I don't think I could be happier with how everything has developed since last week.
Trump is even more of a clusterfuck than I imagined.
posted by Annika Cicada at 11:18 AM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Trump is even more of a clusterfuck than I imagined.
posted by Annika Cicada at 11:18 AM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Trumpsterfire, obvs.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:18 AM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 11:18 AM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
Aaaah, I was just thinking this morning how a new election thread would be just the thing. I'm glad I'm not the only one addicted to these stupid threads. I promised myself I wouldn't obsess over this election (I have a history of issues with this) but I'm home on parental leave and it's so easy to focus on American democracy driving itself off a cliff
posted by town of cats at 11:18 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by town of cats at 11:18 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
I binged on the convention threads, and figured I could take the 2-week hit to my productivity, but this is seriously starting to look like I won't get anything done for the next 96 days at least.
posted by gofargogo at 11:20 AM on August 3, 2016 [44 favorites]
posted by gofargogo at 11:20 AM on August 3, 2016 [44 favorites]
I brought this up in an earlier thread: nobody really seems to know how tall HRC is.
And as I said at that time, Hillary Rodham Clinton is a shameless centrist panderer whose height changes to reflect the average height of her audience or interlocutor.
how young we were, then
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:21 AM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
And as I said at that time, Hillary Rodham Clinton is a shameless centrist panderer whose height changes to reflect the average height of her audience or interlocutor.
how young we were, then
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:21 AM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
Wouldn't it be fantastic if Trump opted out of the debates and, instead of cancelling them, just went ahead and had the debate without even changing the format?
So HRC goes up on stage and answers questions like normal in her allotted time. The camera then switches to the other, empty, podium and just sits there in silence for Trump's allotted time. Then they move on to the next question.
I really want HRC to take him to school at the debates but if he doesn't show up at the debates, that would be the next best thing.
posted by VTX at 11:22 AM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
So HRC goes up on stage and answers questions like normal in her allotted time. The camera then switches to the other, empty, podium and just sits there in silence for Trump's allotted time. Then they move on to the next question.
I really want HRC to take him to school at the debates but if he doesn't show up at the debates, that would be the next best thing.
posted by VTX at 11:22 AM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
This Joke Was Off-limits at Donald Trump’s Comedy Central Roast
Spoiler: Jokes about him not being as wealthy as he claims were not allowed. He was OK with incest jokes though
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:23 AM on August 3, 2016 [29 favorites]
Spoiler: Jokes about him not being as wealthy as he claims were not allowed. He was OK with incest jokes though
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:23 AM on August 3, 2016 [29 favorites]
but are we just making fun of a sick man?
You know what, I don't really care at this point if we're making fun of a sick man. The possibility that this guy could win the White House, or that Julian Fucking Assange could help him win the White House, is a global emergency. If we have to mock him into impotence, I don't see any problem with that. People are smart enough to differentiate between someone who's literally threatening the planet, on the one hand, and their depressed relative, on the other. This really isn't the circumstance to be lecturing people about being sensitive to the mentally ill.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 11:24 AM on August 3, 2016 [120 favorites]
You know what, I don't really care at this point if we're making fun of a sick man. The possibility that this guy could win the White House, or that Julian Fucking Assange could help him win the White House, is a global emergency. If we have to mock him into impotence, I don't see any problem with that. People are smart enough to differentiate between someone who's literally threatening the planet, on the one hand, and their depressed relative, on the other. This really isn't the circumstance to be lecturing people about being sensitive to the mentally ill.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 11:24 AM on August 3, 2016 [120 favorites]
...I binged on the convention threads, and figured I could take the 2-week hit to my productivity
For real y'all I love ya bunches but I got other shit to DO!
posted by Annika Cicada at 11:24 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
For real y'all I love ya bunches but I got other shit to DO!
posted by Annika Cicada at 11:24 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Voices From Donald Trump’s Rallies, Uncensored [cw: what the title says]
posted by zombieflanders at 11:24 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 11:24 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Interesting point, amidst 538's "Is Donald Trump Blowing It?" chat:
harry: [...]I’d argue that perhaps the most interesting speech of the convention was Michael Bloomberg’s. He basically said Trump was unfit for office — it was essentially the speech’s only argument against Trump. It mostly wasn’t about policy.posted by psoas at 11:25 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
[...]
nate: Right, and in general, the Democrats moved rhetorically to the center at their convention, even though the platform was actually pretty far left. So to some extent, they’re trying to have their cake and eat it too.
drezdn: Is it wrong to hope Ryan loses in the primary?
Depends. Who is he up against?
It doesn't matter who is running against him, it would be great if he lost. Ryan is dangerous precisely because, despite his radical right agenda, people, in the media, at least, take him seriously. They cover him as a "policy wonk" rather than as an ideologue. He's the GOPer I'm most concerned about mounting a credible run for President out of the House. It would be great on all fronts if he were gone, just like it was great when Cantor was defeated. Bratt, or whatever his name is, is arguably worse than Cantor, but he doesn't have any of Cantor's previous juice.
posted by OmieWise at 11:25 AM on August 3, 2016 [27 favorites]
Depends. Who is he up against?
It doesn't matter who is running against him, it would be great if he lost. Ryan is dangerous precisely because, despite his radical right agenda, people, in the media, at least, take him seriously. They cover him as a "policy wonk" rather than as an ideologue. He's the GOPer I'm most concerned about mounting a credible run for President out of the House. It would be great on all fronts if he were gone, just like it was great when Cantor was defeated. Bratt, or whatever his name is, is arguably worse than Cantor, but he doesn't have any of Cantor's previous juice.
posted by OmieWise at 11:25 AM on August 3, 2016 [27 favorites]
The worst part of This Week In Trump (TWIT) is how the Republican Party is going along with him in casting the legitimacy of the political and electoral systems in doubt.
Of course he has to start in with the "system is rigged" stuff; he's going to lose and he knows it. And he doesn't know it because the numbers say it, and he doesn't know it because Nate Silver told him, and he doesn't know it because he's listening to people from the Republican party... he knows it because he knows in his heart that he's a loser. All of his years of almost parodical self-aggrandizement, all of his wild lashing out, all of his behavior since forever all makes sense once you realize that Donald Trump is afraid that Donald Trump is worthless and meaningless.
And he's not that wrong. Really, think about it: Donald Trump came into this world with one of the biggest head starts a person can have, and he's lived his entire life on easy mode. And what does he have to show for it? Yeah, he's got money, but not due to anything he did, and in any case that will all be meaningless when he dies. What's his legacy? How has he changed the world? Say what you will about, for example, Bill Gates being a heartless shark during his coming-up-in-business days, but the guy was doing something that ended up having an effect on the world. If history remembers Donald Trump at all, it will remember him as a clown, and not even a good clown because there's not a single person anywhere who can honestly say that Donald Trump made them happier. Even the people he whips into a frenzy are only getting negative emotions from him.
After he loses the election he'll crow and make a big noise about how he never had a chance but boy he sure showed the establishment who's boss, and a lot of sycophants will be there to pat him on the back, but inside he'll know that he lost because he's a loser, and if he has even a little bit of self-awareness he'll know that he's only so because that's what he's made of himself.
posted by IAmUnaware at 11:25 AM on August 3, 2016 [72 favorites]
Of course he has to start in with the "system is rigged" stuff; he's going to lose and he knows it. And he doesn't know it because the numbers say it, and he doesn't know it because Nate Silver told him, and he doesn't know it because he's listening to people from the Republican party... he knows it because he knows in his heart that he's a loser. All of his years of almost parodical self-aggrandizement, all of his wild lashing out, all of his behavior since forever all makes sense once you realize that Donald Trump is afraid that Donald Trump is worthless and meaningless.
And he's not that wrong. Really, think about it: Donald Trump came into this world with one of the biggest head starts a person can have, and he's lived his entire life on easy mode. And what does he have to show for it? Yeah, he's got money, but not due to anything he did, and in any case that will all be meaningless when he dies. What's his legacy? How has he changed the world? Say what you will about, for example, Bill Gates being a heartless shark during his coming-up-in-business days, but the guy was doing something that ended up having an effect on the world. If history remembers Donald Trump at all, it will remember him as a clown, and not even a good clown because there's not a single person anywhere who can honestly say that Donald Trump made them happier. Even the people he whips into a frenzy are only getting negative emotions from him.
After he loses the election he'll crow and make a big noise about how he never had a chance but boy he sure showed the establishment who's boss, and a lot of sycophants will be there to pat him on the back, but inside he'll know that he lost because he's a loser, and if he has even a little bit of self-awareness he'll know that he's only so because that's what he's made of himself.
posted by IAmUnaware at 11:25 AM on August 3, 2016 [72 favorites]
It does definitely look like someone else has Trump's phone today. No tweets in hours.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:26 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:26 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
> I'm glad I'm not the only one addicted to these stupid threads.
The Trumpsterfire has plenty of parallels to the Rob Ford saga up here in Toronto, and this is one of them; at its heights/depths, it was all anyone here was talking about. I would imagine it cost the city billions in lost productivity. Every day there was something new, often multiple somethings, and you really couldn't fully discount any rumour you heard because the way things were going who the fuck knew what was real and what could happen? I was obsessed; if I'd had two laptops I would have had sixteen tabs open on each one, furiously tapping away on both.
In retrospect it seems like an off-Broadway rehearsal run before hitting the bright lights.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:26 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
The Trumpsterfire has plenty of parallels to the Rob Ford saga up here in Toronto, and this is one of them; at its heights/depths, it was all anyone here was talking about. I would imagine it cost the city billions in lost productivity. Every day there was something new, often multiple somethings, and you really couldn't fully discount any rumour you heard because the way things were going who the fuck knew what was real and what could happen? I was obsessed; if I'd had two laptops I would have had sixteen tabs open on each one, furiously tapping away on both.
In retrospect it seems like an off-Broadway rehearsal run before hitting the bright lights.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:26 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
I should also add that I don't think it diminishes the dignity of anyone with mental illness to take the position that someone who's actually showing signs of dementia or psychosis isn't fit to sit in the Oval Office.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 11:27 AM on August 3, 2016 [37 favorites]
posted by O Sock My Sock at 11:27 AM on August 3, 2016 [37 favorites]
pence and trump appear to be running two different campaigns
Pence to Meet With McCain, Who Trump Refuses to Endorse
posted by murphy slaw at 11:27 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Pence to Meet With McCain, Who Trump Refuses to Endorse
posted by murphy slaw at 11:27 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ryan's opposition in the primary is an unhinged tea-partier type.
posted by codacorolla at 11:27 AM on August 3, 2016
posted by codacorolla at 11:27 AM on August 3, 2016
IAmUnaware: Now I want to put a plaque on Trump Tower: "My name is Trump, Douche of Douches. Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair."
posted by SansPoint at 11:28 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by SansPoint at 11:28 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
I like the articles suggesting that Trump may be suffering from dementia, such as this one: "...At times it can be very hard to distinguish between extreme right-wing politics and symptoms of dementia."
posted by Melismata at 11:28 AM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 11:28 AM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
Guys; ixnay on the edictionspray! You'll jinx us for sure!
posted by TedW at 11:29 AM on August 3, 2016
posted by TedW at 11:29 AM on August 3, 2016
I don't think it has been linked to from here, but this is the MeTa post about the election threads.
I think it is definitely worth thinking about before you hit "Post Comment."
posted by Tevin at 11:29 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think it is definitely worth thinking about before you hit "Post Comment."
posted by Tevin at 11:29 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I have to assume that if Trump had an actual, verifiable, actually-not-mentally-competent breakdown (or even got arrested), that Pence could take over the ticket and name a new VP? Anyone who voted Trump/Pence would actually be voting Pence/Other Guy?
I mean, I don't know, but I assume every party has at least an "in case candidate is hit by bus" plan.
It would have to be an undeniable break with reality type thing, though, that happened in public with too many witnesses to hush up.
posted by emjaybee at 11:29 AM on August 3, 2016
I mean, I don't know, but I assume every party has at least an "in case candidate is hit by bus" plan.
It would have to be an undeniable break with reality type thing, though, that happened in public with too many witnesses to hush up.
posted by emjaybee at 11:29 AM on August 3, 2016
Trump is, in all seriousness, throwing the election.
He has no desire to be President; it's possibly the toughest job in the country (if not on Earth) and subjects the office-holder to all sort of restrictions, investigations, and examinations that are completely incompatible with Trump's priorities. (And have you seen how little it pays?)
He wants to lose, but lose his way, which is to be able to claim that he's the real winner. That's why you see attacks on Gold Star families combined with a preemptive "it's going to be a rigged election" excuse-making campaign.
posted by Zonker at 11:29 AM on August 3, 2016 [36 favorites]
He has no desire to be President; it's possibly the toughest job in the country (if not on Earth) and subjects the office-holder to all sort of restrictions, investigations, and examinations that are completely incompatible with Trump's priorities. (And have you seen how little it pays?)
He wants to lose, but lose his way, which is to be able to claim that he's the real winner. That's why you see attacks on Gold Star families combined with a preemptive "it's going to be a rigged election" excuse-making campaign.
posted by Zonker at 11:29 AM on August 3, 2016 [36 favorites]
Guys! Guys! Don't you realize that Trump never asked about nuclear weapons. He wouldn't do something like that!
Meanwhile, even W apparently just criticized him at a fundraiser?
The clown show continues.
posted by rp at 11:31 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Meanwhile, even W apparently just criticized him at a fundraiser?
The clown show continues.
posted by rp at 11:31 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump is, in all seriousness, throwing the election.
I honestly think this is giving him way, way more credit for rational thought than he deserves.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:31 AM on August 3, 2016 [55 favorites]
I honestly think this is giving him way, way more credit for rational thought than he deserves.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:31 AM on August 3, 2016 [55 favorites]
I am become Il Douche, the destroyer of campaigns.
posted by diogenes at 11:31 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 11:31 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I honestly think this is giving him way, way more credit for rational thought than he deserves.
Could be, but as a working hypothesis it fits the data pretty well, I think.
posted by Zonker at 11:32 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Could be, but as a working hypothesis it fits the data pretty well, I think.
posted by Zonker at 11:32 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I have gone back and forth on whether Trump really wants to be president and whether he's blowing it on purpose since, I dunno, when did the primaries start? Forty years ago?
One thing I know for sure: when this is over, if he loses, he will certainly affirm that I was right all along and he never really intended to win, if he wanted to win he would have won so big, he was just running to make a point and in that he was tremendously successful, blah blah fuckity blah.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:32 AM on August 3, 2016
One thing I know for sure: when this is over, if he loses, he will certainly affirm that I was right all along and he never really intended to win, if he wanted to win he would have won so big, he was just running to make a point and in that he was tremendously successful, blah blah fuckity blah.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:32 AM on August 3, 2016
Anyone who voted Trump/Pence would actually be voting Pence/Other Guy?
Pence/Shkreli 2016!
posted by ejs at 11:33 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Pence/Shkreli 2016!
posted by ejs at 11:33 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Email from the Clinton campaign:
It is only Wednesday, and already Trump has had a hell of a week. I want to make sure you know exactly what kind of chaos he’s causing this time -- so take a look at the rundown below.
Don’t need to read the list to know that Trump has been up to no good? Chip in $84 to become a campaign Partner and make sure he doesn’t get anywhere near the White House:
Trump has straight-up called Hillary Clinton “the devil.”
In an interview, Trump claimed that Putin would not invade Ukraine -- something Putin has already done. The explanation Trump’s co-chairman offered for his mixup is that Trump had been “thinking about something else.”
Trump and his son Eric claimed that Ivanka Trump would never “allow herself” to be sexually harassed on the job because she's "strong" -- but if she were, the solution would simply be for her to “find another career or another company.”
Trump adviser Al Baldasaro accused Khizr Khan of being connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, and his deceased son and Purple Heart recipient, U.S. Captain Khan, of being a radical jihadist. Just over two weeks ago, Baldasaro called for Hillary to be “shot for treason” -- yet wasn’t removed from the campaign.
Trump kicked a baby out of a rally. Seriously.
And in response to the fallout from this weekend, Trump is taking the ultimate coward’s route: He’s already claiming that the debate schedule and the election will be rigged, and that a Hillary win would be illegitimate.
[name], we have to stop him. This can’t be our new normal. We can’t get used to it. We can’t let him define the standards of what a political candidate (or a person!) can or can’t say. Don’t let him continue from the Oval Office. Donate now:
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016 [23 favorites]
It is only Wednesday, and already Trump has had a hell of a week. I want to make sure you know exactly what kind of chaos he’s causing this time -- so take a look at the rundown below.
Don’t need to read the list to know that Trump has been up to no good? Chip in $84 to become a campaign Partner and make sure he doesn’t get anywhere near the White House:
Trump has straight-up called Hillary Clinton “the devil.”
In an interview, Trump claimed that Putin would not invade Ukraine -- something Putin has already done. The explanation Trump’s co-chairman offered for his mixup is that Trump had been “thinking about something else.”
Trump and his son Eric claimed that Ivanka Trump would never “allow herself” to be sexually harassed on the job because she's "strong" -- but if she were, the solution would simply be for her to “find another career or another company.”
Trump adviser Al Baldasaro accused Khizr Khan of being connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, and his deceased son and Purple Heart recipient, U.S. Captain Khan, of being a radical jihadist. Just over two weeks ago, Baldasaro called for Hillary to be “shot for treason” -- yet wasn’t removed from the campaign.
Trump kicked a baby out of a rally. Seriously.
And in response to the fallout from this weekend, Trump is taking the ultimate coward’s route: He’s already claiming that the debate schedule and the election will be rigged, and that a Hillary win would be illegitimate.
[name], we have to stop him. This can’t be our new normal. We can’t get used to it. We can’t let him define the standards of what a political candidate (or a person!) can or can’t say. Don’t let him continue from the Oval Office. Donate now:
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016 [23 favorites]
prize bull octorok: nobody really seems to know how tall HRC is.
Mitheral: Why should anyone care?
Folk wisdom about the tallest person winning.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016
Mitheral: Why should anyone care?
Folk wisdom about the tallest person winning.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016
Have we ever had an actually crazy president? We've had plenty whose bulbs don't shine too brightly, but how about ones that actually could pose a problem? I'm thinking of the article somewhere that talked about how the Secret Service gave both candidates some security briefings, but "used discretion" about them, and Trump apparently babbled more than he should have anyway. (Can't find the link, argh.) How does that work when the leader is a nutcase? Has this ever happened before?
posted by Melismata at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016
posted by Melismata at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016
so, um, i never played WOW because i recognized myself as having the kind of brain that is incredibly susceptible to that kind of skinner box
but
right now there is the slightest temptation to sign up for an account and go into an orc-slaying fugue until election day.
:(
posted by murphy slaw at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
but
right now there is the slightest temptation to sign up for an account and go into an orc-slaying fugue until election day.
:(
posted by murphy slaw at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
I tried to bait my (very professional) shrink into commenting on Trump. His inner turmoil of wanting/not wanting to answer was clearly visible; the most he would spill was "he's very young" and "he's very insecure".
posted by Rumple at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Rumple at 11:34 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Could be, but as a working hypothesis it fits the data pretty well, I think.
The model of Trump's behavior that fits the data best is that he literally lacks the capacity to reflect on the possible ramifications of the things that he says in any way whatsoever.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:35 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
The model of Trump's behavior that fits the data best is that he literally lacks the capacity to reflect on the possible ramifications of the things that he says in any way whatsoever.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:35 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Yeah, you can pencil me in as being fine with Ryan getting booted in his primary. If he was actually acting as an effective speaker and standing up to the Freedom Caucus bozos it would be one thing, but he's not. If he was willing to drop the Hastert Child Molester Rule and bring things to the floor without majority republican support because they're necessary for the functioning of government, sure, I'd say it's important to keep him.
But he's just been an empty suit in the Speaker role and unable to control his caucus. So who needs him? The House as it is doesn't function and Ryan's doing nothing to change that. If we were looking at the rest of the tea party clowns getting tossed this cycle then I might be concerned about bringing a new one in. But they don't show any sign of changing quantity in a meaningful way. So if they're going to be there and Ryan as Speaker won't go around them, what difference does one more make? Jettison him and his false appearance of reasonable and his dangerous budgets.
tl;dr- if the House is going to be a nonfunctional entity then we may as well have people in it who look like the nutters they are rather than an ineffectual Speaker who is a granny-starver in reasonable clothing.
posted by phearlez at 11:35 AM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
But he's just been an empty suit in the Speaker role and unable to control his caucus. So who needs him? The House as it is doesn't function and Ryan's doing nothing to change that. If we were looking at the rest of the tea party clowns getting tossed this cycle then I might be concerned about bringing a new one in. But they don't show any sign of changing quantity in a meaningful way. So if they're going to be there and Ryan as Speaker won't go around them, what difference does one more make? Jettison him and his false appearance of reasonable and his dangerous budgets.
tl;dr- if the House is going to be a nonfunctional entity then we may as well have people in it who look like the nutters they are rather than an ineffectual Speaker who is a granny-starver in reasonable clothing.
posted by phearlez at 11:35 AM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
Rambling Clint Eastwood sort of condemns Trump but thinks he "says what's on everyone's minds", complains about politically correct "pussy generation".
posted by Artw at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016
posted by Artw at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016
I tried to bait my (very professional) shrink into commenting on Drumpf. His inner turmoil of wanting/not wanting to answer was clearly visible; the most he would spill was "he's very young" and "he's very insecure"
He's very young? Wha?
posted by O Sock My Sock at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
He's very young? Wha?
posted by O Sock My Sock at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Have we ever had an actually crazy president?
some people think that Reagan was visibly suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for some of his second term
posted by murphy slaw at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016 [19 favorites]
some people think that Reagan was visibly suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for some of his second term
posted by murphy slaw at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016 [19 favorites]
Thanks for posting this, tivalasvegas.
Hillary Clinton’s bid draws legions of female donors. Clinton has received a larger proportion of donations from women than any other presidential nominee in recent history. Clinton campaign says their internal figures through the end of June show 65% of donations were from women. That includes small donations not reported to the FEC. 70% of donors who contribute multiple times are also women.
Nearly 31% of donations to Trump are by women.
posted by zarq at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Hillary Clinton’s bid draws legions of female donors. Clinton has received a larger proportion of donations from women than any other presidential nominee in recent history. Clinton campaign says their internal figures through the end of June show 65% of donations were from women. That includes small donations not reported to the FEC. 70% of donors who contribute multiple times are also women.
Nearly 31% of donations to Trump are by women.
posted by zarq at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Zonker: Trump is, in all seriousness, throwing the election.
showbiz_liz: I honestly think this is giving him way, way more credit for rational thought than he deserves.
WaPo's (wonderfully annotated!!) interview with Trump makes me skeptical about his ability to hold onto a thread of thought while there's a TV in the room.
TRUMP: [Trump watches himself on TV] Lot of energy. We got a lot of energy.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
showbiz_liz: I honestly think this is giving him way, way more credit for rational thought than he deserves.
WaPo's (wonderfully annotated!!) interview with Trump makes me skeptical about his ability to hold onto a thread of thought while there's a TV in the room.
TRUMP: [Trump watches himself on TV] Lot of energy. We got a lot of energy.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:36 AM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Is it wrong to hope Ryan loses in the primary?
Ryan's opposition in the primary is an unhinged tea-partier type.
I was hoping Ryan would lose in the primary, until I thought about his opponent - endorsed by Palin and at least talked about positively by Trump - winning. I think that Ryan winning would show that Trump isn't as powerful as he wants to be.
I am finding myself in the very uncomfortable position of hoping Ryan wins.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 11:37 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Ryan's opposition in the primary is an unhinged tea-partier type.
I was hoping Ryan would lose in the primary, until I thought about his opponent - endorsed by Palin and at least talked about positively by Trump - winning. I think that Ryan winning would show that Trump isn't as powerful as he wants to be.
I am finding myself in the very uncomfortable position of hoping Ryan wins.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 11:37 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
ZOMG I've been trying to get my shrink to diagnose Trump for weeks.
posted by angrycat at 11:38 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by angrycat at 11:38 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have to assume that if Trump had an actual, verifiable, actually-not-mentally-competent breakdown (or even got arrested), that Pence could take over the ticket and name a new VP? Anyone who voted Trump/Pence would actually be voting Pence/Other Guy?
Seeing as how McGovern was slaughtered on Election Day in no small part because of Thomas Eagleton's past depression and treatment, I would be surprised if very many people would be voting Trump/Pence or Pence/Other Guy at all.
That said, there's gotta be a backup plan, right? Right..?
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:38 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seeing as how McGovern was slaughtered on Election Day in no small part because of Thomas Eagleton's past depression and treatment, I would be surprised if very many people would be voting Trump/Pence or Pence/Other Guy at all.
That said, there's gotta be a backup plan, right? Right..?
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:38 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
the most he would spill was "he's very young"
Hahaha he's 70
Oh your poor shrink
posted by schadenfrau at 11:38 AM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Hahaha he's 70
Oh your poor shrink
posted by schadenfrau at 11:38 AM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Artw: Rambling Clint Eastward sort of condemns Trump but thinks he "says what's on everyone's minds", complains about politically correct "pussy generation".
Let's refer to Clint Eastwood (Eastward? :)) as Clint the Chair-Debater in political discussions.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:39 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Let's refer to Clint Eastwood (Eastward? :)) as Clint the Chair-Debater in political discussions.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:39 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I apologize for this oversight, probably caused by political correctness on my part.
posted by Artw at 11:40 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:40 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Meanwhile, in Canada: Justin Trudeau Emerged Shirtless From A Cave Because Of Course He Did
Bonus: check out the URL.
posted by zombieflanders at 11:40 AM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
Bonus: check out the URL.
posted by zombieflanders at 11:40 AM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
Have we ever had an actually crazy president?
I think you could make a strong case that Andrew Jackson was, at best, unstable.
posted by ryanshepard at 11:40 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I think you could make a strong case that Andrew Jackson was, at best, unstable.
posted by ryanshepard at 11:40 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
WaPo's (wonderfully annotated!!) interview with Trump makes me skeptical about his ability to hold onto a thread of thought while there's a TV in the room.
I saw this posted a few places and have avoided reading it up until now, but oh my GOD you guys you have GOT to
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:41 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
I saw this posted a few places and have avoided reading it up until now, but oh my GOD you guys you have GOT to
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:41 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
I've heard all sorts of conspiracy theories about Trump's presidential bid, of varying plausibility. For example, the notion that it's a false-flag operation to help Clinton win (I wondered myself, early on, but it doesn't stand up to examination). Or the notion that he's deliberately throwing the election (this is within the realm of possibility, but is far from a given).
At the end of the day, I think his campaign is exactly what it looks like: an impulsive narcissist, addicted to power and attention, possibly suffering from drug addiction or dementia, speaking and acting without a trace of forethought or reflection.
Does he actually want to win, or not? The very question presumes that Trump is even thinking that far ahead. And I'm skeptical that he does. As long as he's getting a hit of attention, demonstrating his power by bullying someone, or being validated by being at the center of the conversation, I don't think tomorrow even enters his brain.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:41 AM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
At the end of the day, I think his campaign is exactly what it looks like: an impulsive narcissist, addicted to power and attention, possibly suffering from drug addiction or dementia, speaking and acting without a trace of forethought or reflection.
Does he actually want to win, or not? The very question presumes that Trump is even thinking that far ahead. And I'm skeptical that he does. As long as he's getting a hit of attention, demonstrating his power by bullying someone, or being validated by being at the center of the conversation, I don't think tomorrow even enters his brain.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:41 AM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
ABC News: Senior GOP Officials Exploring Options if Trump Drops Out
Raw Story: Republicans think Trump might quit — so they’re scrambling to find a replacement: ABC News
posted by zarq at 11:41 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Raw Story: Republicans think Trump might quit — so they’re scrambling to find a replacement: ABC News
posted by zarq at 11:41 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
murphy slaw: so, um, i never played WOW because i recognized myself as having the kind of brain that is incredibly susceptible to that kind of skinner box
but
right now there is the slightest temptation to sign up for an account and go into an orc-slaying fugue until election day.
:(
Make sure to give someone in your area your phone number, and maybe a key to your place, so they can check in with you once every few days. Coping techniques can be helpful, but don't fall too far into the fugue state that you don't come back.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:41 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
but
right now there is the slightest temptation to sign up for an account and go into an orc-slaying fugue until election day.
:(
Make sure to give someone in your area your phone number, and maybe a key to your place, so they can check in with you once every few days. Coping techniques can be helpful, but don't fall too far into the fugue state that you don't come back.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:41 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
HRC has scaled back her Colorado ad buy. Apparently she leads by 8 points.
posted by bearwife at 11:42 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 11:42 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Have we ever had an actually crazy president?
Andrew Jackson?
Ronald Reagan?
posted by davros42 at 11:42 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Andrew Jackson?
Ronald Reagan?
posted by davros42 at 11:42 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
zarq: Raw Story: Republicans think Trump might quit — so they’re scrambling to find a replacement: ABC News
I'm still skeptical about this possibility, but Palin bailed on her governorship, so why not Trump when he starts getting uncomfortable with all this personal scrutiny. Better than tell the world he's not really a billionaire, right?
posted by filthy light thief at 11:44 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm still skeptical about this possibility, but Palin bailed on her governorship, so why not Trump when he starts getting uncomfortable with all this personal scrutiny. Better than tell the world he's not really a billionaire, right?
posted by filthy light thief at 11:44 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Meanwhile, in Canada: Justin Trudeau Emerged Shirtless From A Cave Because Of Course He Did
damn! this wins the whole farking intarwebs like a boss!!!
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 11:44 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
damn! this wins the whole farking intarwebs like a boss!!!
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 11:44 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
murphy slaw, no joke, I think fatigue about negative/scary news in the past few months is a big reason why Pokemon Go got so popular so fast. You can't watch TV or read election news while you're playing it, and if you're doing it right you get enough exercise that you just fall dead asleep when you get home.
posted by town of cats at 11:45 AM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
posted by town of cats at 11:45 AM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
Popping in from the sidelines with this commentary from a little while back, turns out Scott Adams is still as horrible as he was when he visited us here. Cue my surprised face.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:45 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:45 AM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
So my dad is currently in treatment for throat cancer and had a feeding tube put in last week. Then my mom (his primary caregiver; the closest family member is me, four-and-a-half hours away) broker her arm and will be having surgery on Friday. My family and I were getting ready to leave for a road trip; that was canceled and I'm here with my parents providing care and trying to cobble together care for them because Tennessee doesn't have great elder care that is covered by insurance, and Medicare doesn't provide much.
All that background to say I've been freaked out about th election and I haven't really been paying attention to the news but I've been seein Trump yard signs and bumper stickers here in Tennessee and I've been scared. And I've been super depressed and stressed out about my parents (and my two teens at home).
I needed this thread. So much.
posted by cooker girl at 11:45 AM on August 3, 2016 [114 favorites]
All that background to say I've been freaked out about th election and I haven't really been paying attention to the news but I've been seein Trump yard signs and bumper stickers here in Tennessee and I've been scared. And I've been super depressed and stressed out about my parents (and my two teens at home).
I needed this thread. So much.
posted by cooker girl at 11:45 AM on August 3, 2016 [114 favorites]
Clinton now holds a 3 point lead over Trump in Arizona.
posted by bearwife at 11:46 AM on August 3, 2016 [68 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 11:46 AM on August 3, 2016 [68 favorites]
hugs cooker girl
posted by angrycat at 11:47 AM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 11:47 AM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
If Trump Drops Out Result Could Be Horrible Legal Quagmire
posted by emjaybee at 11:47 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 11:47 AM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
The part that really gets me is that a lot of prominent Republicans are denouncing the batshit crazy things Trump is saying, but no one of any import has pulled their endorsement. At some point, this is going to become a major liability. If McCain gets primaried in Arizona, and he's pitted against a moderate conservative, it's going to be really, really hard for him to explain why he still vouched for this man after it was clear (to him! John McCain!) he wasn't playing with a full deck.
posted by Mayor West at 11:47 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Mayor West at 11:47 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
zarq: Raw Story: Republicans think Trump might quit — so they’re scrambling to find a replacement: ABC News
This is the reason I asked the question above, if the Republican replacement candidate would just appear on the ballots in all 50 states or did something additional have to happen in order for this to occur?
(and in preview, the link that emjaybee provided above answers all of my questions.)
posted by Sophie1 at 11:48 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is the reason I asked the question above, if the Republican replacement candidate would just appear on the ballots in all 50 states or did something additional have to happen in order for this to occur?
(and in preview, the link that emjaybee provided above answers all of my questions.)
posted by Sophie1 at 11:48 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
This election is effecting my productivity, it's hard to write light historic comedy when you think the world is ending
posted by The Whelk at 11:48 AM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:48 AM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
This is from that WaPo transcript. I have bolded the times when Trump got distracted by the TV and changed the subject in this very brief exchange:
RUCKER: Do you want to work with [Paul Ryan]? Do you think you can work with him if elected?
TRUMP: Oh, I think so.
RUCKER: Even though on a couple of these instances he’s shone some daylight with you, like over the Khan —
[crosstalk]
TRUMP: [Trump watches himself on TV] Lot of energy. We got a lot of energy. She certainly doesn’t look presidential to me, Hillary. I don’t think you get to look less presidential actually than Hillary.
RUCKER: Let’s go back just a little bit to Pence. I’d love you to tell me what your relationship’s like.
TRUMP: I think it’s phenomenal.
RUCKER: How do you guys communicate during the day?
TRUMP: Beyond good. Beyond good.
RUCKER: Do you talk each day?
TRUMP: Oh, there look, can you believe that? Something, right?
RUCKER: Do you think he really gave you the Purple Heart?
TRUMP: Yeah, he did. He gave me the Purple Heart.
RUCKER: I can’t believe that.
TRUMP: Amazing.
[crosstalk]
RUCKER: Did you think about not taking it? Like insisting that he keep it himself?
TRUMP: I did. I said you can’t give me this. He said, “Mr. Trump you mean so much to me and my family.” You know we’re doing very well with the veterans. I know you guys do not like to say that.
RUCKER: Well, half the people in your rallies are veterans.
TRUMP: [Looks at the television again] Look at this. It’s all Trump all day long. That’s why their ratings are through the roof. I’d hate to say, Philip, if I wasn’t running, the television networks would be doing less than half the business.
RUCKER: You think so?
TRUMP: In fact the Hillary convention which did very well but not nearly as well as mine, in all fairness, would’ve gotten one-third the ratings they got if I weren’t.
TRUMP: You want me to give you an exact quote on the Paul Ryan? You were asking.
RUCKER: Yeah, please do.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:48 AM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
RUCKER: Do you want to work with [Paul Ryan]? Do you think you can work with him if elected?
TRUMP: Oh, I think so.
RUCKER: Even though on a couple of these instances he’s shone some daylight with you, like over the Khan —
[crosstalk]
TRUMP: [Trump watches himself on TV] Lot of energy. We got a lot of energy. She certainly doesn’t look presidential to me, Hillary. I don’t think you get to look less presidential actually than Hillary.
RUCKER: Let’s go back just a little bit to Pence. I’d love you to tell me what your relationship’s like.
TRUMP: I think it’s phenomenal.
RUCKER: How do you guys communicate during the day?
TRUMP: Beyond good. Beyond good.
RUCKER: Do you talk each day?
TRUMP: Oh, there look, can you believe that? Something, right?
RUCKER: Do you think he really gave you the Purple Heart?
TRUMP: Yeah, he did. He gave me the Purple Heart.
RUCKER: I can’t believe that.
TRUMP: Amazing.
[crosstalk]
RUCKER: Did you think about not taking it? Like insisting that he keep it himself?
TRUMP: I did. I said you can’t give me this. He said, “Mr. Trump you mean so much to me and my family.” You know we’re doing very well with the veterans. I know you guys do not like to say that.
RUCKER: Well, half the people in your rallies are veterans.
TRUMP: [Looks at the television again] Look at this. It’s all Trump all day long. That’s why their ratings are through the roof. I’d hate to say, Philip, if I wasn’t running, the television networks would be doing less than half the business.
RUCKER: You think so?
TRUMP: In fact the Hillary convention which did very well but not nearly as well as mine, in all fairness, would’ve gotten one-third the ratings they got if I weren’t.
TRUMP: You want me to give you an exact quote on the Paul Ryan? You were asking.
RUCKER: Yeah, please do.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:48 AM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
Take care of yourself, cooker girl.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:48 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:48 AM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Also I was really hoping it would grow legs of its own, but I think we can do better than Il Douche. The smart money is on...
Orange Julius Caesar.
posted by Mayor West at 11:49 AM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
Orange Julius Caesar.
posted by Mayor West at 11:49 AM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
“I have to say the frustration is especially deep because they believe that Hillary Clinton looks vulnerable, exactly as (ABC News political analyst) Matthew (Dowd) said, and had a bad few days, the DNC has gone through a whole shake-up,” Karl said. “She misstated what that director said about her emails."
LITERALLY TEN MILLION TIMES WORSE THAN EVERYTHING TRUMP HAS DONE COMBINED
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:49 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
LITERALLY TEN MILLION TIMES WORSE THAN EVERYTHING TRUMP HAS DONE COMBINED
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:49 AM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Voices From Donald Trump’s Rallies, Uncensored [cw: what the title says]
posted by zombieflanders at 1:24 PM on August 3
Oh my god. That NYT video. We've all been shocked before, but this is the first time my jaw dropped. The hatred and vulgarity. From people of all walks of lives. And all ages.
I've never been so convinced that this really is Facism. I used to think the rallies couldn't actually be thattt bad, but that video has chilled me to the core.
posted by andruwjones26 at 11:49 AM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 1:24 PM on August 3
Oh my god. That NYT video. We've all been shocked before, but this is the first time my jaw dropped. The hatred and vulgarity. From people of all walks of lives. And all ages.
I've never been so convinced that this really is Facism. I used to think the rallies couldn't actually be thattt bad, but that video has chilled me to the core.
posted by andruwjones26 at 11:49 AM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
“The current race is which of these two is the more unacceptable, because right now neither of them is acceptable,” Gingrich said in a Wednesday morning telephone interview. “Trump is helping her to win by proving he is more unacceptable than she is.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:49 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:49 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
drezdn: Is it wrong to hope Ryan loses in the primary?
Depends. Who is he up against?
For your edification and amusement
posted by klarck at 11:50 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Depends. Who is he up against?
For your edification and amusement
posted by klarck at 11:50 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Okay, some thoughts on the mental health thing that have crystalized for me over the course of these threads.
1) Of course someone's mental health is relevant to their fitness to hold the office of president, just like their physical health is. If he had a heart condition, we would also be discussing that as an issue. In any normal election year, we'd be discussing his age too. (But of course his opponent is only 2 years younger, and his age is the LEAST concerning them about him.)
2) But since Trump isn't diagnosed with anything as far as we know, there's not much we can say about how his specific condition would affect his ability to perform the duties of president. (If he did have a diagnosis and were getting treatment, he would probably perform better, actually.) Rather than speculating on a diagnosis, it makes a lot more sense to talk about the pattern of erratic behavior itself. In the end that is the real problem, regardless of the underlying cause.
3) Just as being mentally ill (diagnosed or not) shouldn't disqualify him from running for office, it also shouldn't get him a pass on the rigors of the campaign process. We should be able to criticize him without feeling bad for "making fun of a sick man." Being made fun of goes with the job. If he doesn't want to be made fun of or criticized, he shouldn't seek this role.
4) "Crazy" can be a generic term meaning "unpredictable and unusual," but if used in reference to mental illness, it's pejorative. Regardless of Trump's mental health or fitness for office, "Haha he's crazy; he might have Alzheimer's or something" is going to hurt innocent people unnecessarily. I think it's one thing to say "I think he may not be mentally healthy enough to serve as president" and other thing to say "He should be committed" or even "He shouldn't have been allowed to run." Those would have implications beyond this race and this man. A huge portion of the population (a majority I'm pretty sure, but I'm having trouble finding stats) goes through "mental illness" at some point in their life. Depression, anxiety, addiction, dementia, those four alone affect a huge, huge number of people. Just like most of us are physically ill at some point in our lives. So it's pretty stupid to stigmatize it.
Trump may or may not be mentally ill, but either way his pattern of behavior is deeply concerning with respect to his fitness to serve as president. I think we can all point to specific behaviors that are especially concerning, but I think that's really all we can reasonably say on the subject.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:50 AM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
1) Of course someone's mental health is relevant to their fitness to hold the office of president, just like their physical health is. If he had a heart condition, we would also be discussing that as an issue. In any normal election year, we'd be discussing his age too. (But of course his opponent is only 2 years younger, and his age is the LEAST concerning them about him.)
2) But since Trump isn't diagnosed with anything as far as we know, there's not much we can say about how his specific condition would affect his ability to perform the duties of president. (If he did have a diagnosis and were getting treatment, he would probably perform better, actually.) Rather than speculating on a diagnosis, it makes a lot more sense to talk about the pattern of erratic behavior itself. In the end that is the real problem, regardless of the underlying cause.
3) Just as being mentally ill (diagnosed or not) shouldn't disqualify him from running for office, it also shouldn't get him a pass on the rigors of the campaign process. We should be able to criticize him without feeling bad for "making fun of a sick man." Being made fun of goes with the job. If he doesn't want to be made fun of or criticized, he shouldn't seek this role.
4) "Crazy" can be a generic term meaning "unpredictable and unusual," but if used in reference to mental illness, it's pejorative. Regardless of Trump's mental health or fitness for office, "Haha he's crazy; he might have Alzheimer's or something" is going to hurt innocent people unnecessarily. I think it's one thing to say "I think he may not be mentally healthy enough to serve as president" and other thing to say "He should be committed" or even "He shouldn't have been allowed to run." Those would have implications beyond this race and this man. A huge portion of the population (a majority I'm pretty sure, but I'm having trouble finding stats) goes through "mental illness" at some point in their life. Depression, anxiety, addiction, dementia, those four alone affect a huge, huge number of people. Just like most of us are physically ill at some point in our lives. So it's pretty stupid to stigmatize it.
Trump may or may not be mentally ill, but either way his pattern of behavior is deeply concerning with respect to his fitness to serve as president. I think we can all point to specific behaviors that are especially concerning, but I think that's really all we can reasonably say on the subject.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:50 AM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
Sophie, the article I linked answers your question. The answer is "haha, no."
posted by emjaybee at 11:51 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by emjaybee at 11:51 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
*hugs* to you, cookergirl. So sorry you're all going through this. I hope your mom's surgery goes smoothly and that she heals quickly, and also that your dad's condition improves.
posted by zarq at 11:52 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by zarq at 11:52 AM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
One of my more apolitical cousins, that married a hardcore Republican, group texted me and a few other Democrat cousins to say she 'thinks she's becoming a Democrat...' and it was everything my youth pastor told me it be like when your friends at school ask you to tell them about this Jesus guy.
posted by DynamiteToast at 11:54 AM on August 3, 2016 [117 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 11:54 AM on August 3, 2016 [117 favorites]
O Sock My Sock: " He's very young? Wha?"
"Five Years Old" was the shrink's shorthand for this. (His internal state he means).
posted by Rumple at 11:54 AM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
"Five Years Old" was the shrink's shorthand for this. (His internal state he means).
posted by Rumple at 11:54 AM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
“The current race is which of these two is the more unacceptable, because right now neither of them is acceptable,” Gingrich said in a Wednesday morning telephone interview. “Trump is helping her to win by proving he is more unacceptable than she is.”
Gingrich said Trump has only a matter of weeks to reverse course. “Anybody who is horrified by Hillary should hope that Trump will take a deep breath and learn some new skills,” he said. “He cannot win the presidency operating the way he is now. She can’t be bad enough to elect him if he’s determined to make this many mistakes.”
Your former frontrunner for Trump VP, ladeez an gennulmin.
posted by penduluum at 11:55 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Gingrich said Trump has only a matter of weeks to reverse course. “Anybody who is horrified by Hillary should hope that Trump will take a deep breath and learn some new skills,” he said. “He cannot win the presidency operating the way he is now. She can’t be bad enough to elect him if he’s determined to make this many mistakes.”
Your former frontrunner for Trump VP, ladeez an gennulmin.
posted by penduluum at 11:55 AM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Newt Gingrich thinks there is a "residual possibility" that Trump can win.
posted by bearwife at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
God, this article. Just paragraph after paragraph of Republican poobahs crying and wringing their hands and whining some variation of "Oooh, if Trump would just be a BIG BOY and BEHAVE he'd DEFINITELY be beating that mean ol' Hillary Clinton!"
Maybe if you hadn't nominated a narcissistic, unstable man-child with fascist tendencies who needs to be supervised and mollified at all times like a four year-old at a funeral you wouldn't have this problem, gentlemen.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [46 favorites]
Maybe if you hadn't nominated a narcissistic, unstable man-child with fascist tendencies who needs to be supervised and mollified at all times like a four year-old at a funeral you wouldn't have this problem, gentlemen.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [46 favorites]
if I'd had two laptops I would have had sixteen tabs open on each one, furiously tapping away on both.
i didn't read that as a "t" at first, it was quite vulgar and hilarious
posted by numaner at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
i didn't read that as a "t" at first, it was quite vulgar and hilarious
posted by numaner at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
breaking: DC public transit reports bus shortage, since so many are being borrowed to throw trump under
posted by murphy slaw at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
-"A long (but good) essay about why so many poor white people support Trump and other racist causes"
-"Demographically, this election is shaping up to be 'non-college-educated white men vs everyone else' "
also btw...
John Noonan on nuclear deterrence and Donald Trump: "what really concerns me, as a former nuke guy, is the idea of a narcissist walking around with nuclear authenticators"
posted by kliuless at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
-"Demographically, this election is shaping up to be 'non-college-educated white men vs everyone else' "
also btw...
John Noonan on nuclear deterrence and Donald Trump: "what really concerns me, as a former nuke guy, is the idea of a narcissist walking around with nuclear authenticators"
posted by kliuless at 11:56 AM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
For your edification and amusement yt
For a video that has some shockingly expensive shots, the editing and sound work are weird and subpar.
posted by drezdn at 11:57 AM on August 3, 2016
For a video that has some shockingly expensive shots, the editing and sound work are weird and subpar.
posted by drezdn at 11:57 AM on August 3, 2016
I just realized something. Trump *will* drop out. He won't go to election if his poll numbers are bad, he'll drop out and say something about it being rigged, probably that the RNC & DNC are in cahoots. He can't let himself get into a situation where he will proved a loser. And the RNC knows this now and are trying to figure out how to be ready for it.
posted by gofargogo at 11:58 AM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by gofargogo at 11:58 AM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Hang in there, cookergirl. I'll be in Tennessee for a couple of weeks right before/during the election and I am already bracing myself. Best to your family.
posted by mochapickle at 11:59 AM on August 3, 2016
posted by mochapickle at 11:59 AM on August 3, 2016
breaking: DC public transit reports bus shortage, since so many are being borrowed to throw trump under
Sadly the WMATA bus drivers have a history of being willing to drive over folks so this may be a match made in heaven.
posted by phearlez at 11:59 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Sadly the WMATA bus drivers have a history of being willing to drive over folks so this may be a match made in heaven.
posted by phearlez at 11:59 AM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Newt Gingrich thinks there is a "residual possibility" that Trump can win.
And then he'll pivot, right?
posted by Artw at 12:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
And then he'll pivot, right?
posted by Artw at 12:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
If Trump is going to drop out, he needs a way of doing it where he can "exit a winner." The easiest would be to claim that he has developed a medical condition, or to protect his family. I don't think he drops out though.
posted by drezdn at 12:00 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by drezdn at 12:00 PM on August 3, 2016
Hillary Clinton's Made in America: A buyer’s guide For Donald Trump
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
The part that really gets me is that a lot of prominent Republicans are denouncing the batshit crazy things Trump is saying, but no one of any import has pulled their endorsement.
I think the Wall Street Journal's editorial board is about a big of a loss as a Republican candidate can have.
posted by msalt at 12:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Have we ever had an actually crazy president?
Despite the pejorative term, my interest in presidential mental illness was piqued. Then I found this:
Study: Half of All Presidents Suffered from Mental Illness
and it didn't surprise me at all.
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Despite the pejorative term, my interest in presidential mental illness was piqued. Then I found this:
Study: Half of All Presidents Suffered from Mental Illness
and it didn't surprise me at all.
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
From the trump rally in Daytona Beach: the MC announces something from the fire marshall, resulting in angry booing from the crowd, as the MC insists that what he's saying is serious. trump: first nominee to incorporate anti-fire-safety message into his platform.
posted by codacorolla at 12:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [49 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 12:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [49 favorites]
As soon as the Republican "leadership" comes out against him, he drops. Says they won't even support their own nominee over Crooked Hillary, that's how corrupt the system is. Sad.
posted by gofargogo at 12:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by gofargogo at 12:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
I carefully lifted out everyone in all my timelines who were trump heavy and/or election heavy sharers and put them in quarantine (a list) where I can see them if I choose but the information isn't in my face all day.
But I snuck back in here. Orange crack indeed - its the hypnotic addiction to the trainwreck
posted by infini at 12:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
But I snuck back in here. Orange crack indeed - its the hypnotic addiction to the trainwreck
posted by infini at 12:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
This election is effecting my productivity, it's hard to write light historic comedy when you think the world is ending.
I'm about 1/3 of the way through Jacques Yonnet's Rue des Maléfices, which chronicles the Nazi occupation of Paris from the street level*. We are in a bad spot on multiple fronts, but even if Trump does somehow pull this off - which seems highly unlikely - we aren't going to have death camps or corpses stacked like cordwood by the side of the road. The world is not ending.
Hannah Arendt nailed the real and ongoing threat here in 1964:
"If we look at the techniques of totalitarian government, it is obvious that the argument of 'the lesser evil'...is one of the mechanisms built into the machinery of terror and criminality. Acceptance of lesser evils is consciously used in conditioning the government officials as well as the population at large to the acceptance of evil as such...Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget very quickly that they chose evil."
We're so far from out of the woods if HRC wins. Still, however, no death camps.
* Interspersed with Yonnet's observations about the increase in seemingly supernatural events brought on by the ambient dread and fear of death - it's an eerie, sui generis book.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
I'm about 1/3 of the way through Jacques Yonnet's Rue des Maléfices, which chronicles the Nazi occupation of Paris from the street level*. We are in a bad spot on multiple fronts, but even if Trump does somehow pull this off - which seems highly unlikely - we aren't going to have death camps or corpses stacked like cordwood by the side of the road. The world is not ending.
Hannah Arendt nailed the real and ongoing threat here in 1964:
"If we look at the techniques of totalitarian government, it is obvious that the argument of 'the lesser evil'...is one of the mechanisms built into the machinery of terror and criminality. Acceptance of lesser evils is consciously used in conditioning the government officials as well as the population at large to the acceptance of evil as such...Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget very quickly that they chose evil."
We're so far from out of the woods if HRC wins. Still, however, no death camps.
* Interspersed with Yonnet's observations about the increase in seemingly supernatural events brought on by the ambient dread and fear of death - it's an eerie, sui generis book.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Study: Half of All Presidents Suffered from Mental Illness
Ugh retroactively diagnosing people in the past is garbage, almost as much garbage as trying to diagnose public figures you haven't actually treated (and if you had, you wouldn't be able to say). We can call Trump insane in a general pejorative sense, but we have no idea what kind of 'mental illness' he may or may not suffer from. He's reckless, callous, impulsive, reactionary, ignorant, self-centered, and so on, but we don't know anything about his mental health.
posted by dis_integration at 12:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Ugh retroactively diagnosing people in the past is garbage, almost as much garbage as trying to diagnose public figures you haven't actually treated (and if you had, you wouldn't be able to say). We can call Trump insane in a general pejorative sense, but we have no idea what kind of 'mental illness' he may or may not suffer from. He's reckless, callous, impulsive, reactionary, ignorant, self-centered, and so on, but we don't know anything about his mental health.
posted by dis_integration at 12:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
It seems to me that there is little chance of Trump being able to nuke anything or anyone on a whim. The US military is very professional. However, there is a big chance of him resorting to this in a full blown crisis such as North Korea invades South Korea, or India invades Pakistani Kashmir. The military may feel more constrained to follow orders in the midst of a genuine emergency.
posted by Rumple at 12:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Rumple at 12:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Study: Half of All Presidents Suffered from Mental Illness
What was the old joke -- that if you gave a box to someone, told them that in this box was a button they could push, and it would destroy the world, any sane person would give the box back and not want anything to do with it, but that each Presidential candidate is yelling "Gimmie the box!"
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
What was the old joke -- that if you gave a box to someone, told them that in this box was a button they could push, and it would destroy the world, any sane person would give the box back and not want anything to do with it, but that each Presidential candidate is yelling "Gimmie the box!"
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Trump is a facing a devastating loss. Right now the Senate is likely 50-50 but much more of a collapse by Trump could result in the Republicans losing house and Senate.
That would be massive especially if it can be followed by State level gains. 2020 should result in some fairly massive redistricting fights and having 5 SCOTUS justices could make a massive difference.
posted by vuron at 12:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
That would be massive especially if it can be followed by State level gains. 2020 should result in some fairly massive redistricting fights and having 5 SCOTUS justices could make a massive difference.
posted by vuron at 12:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
The Washington Post interview of Trump by Phil Rucker really is a must-read. Trump seems utterly unaware that he's being...well, not exactly condescended to, but certainly handled in a conscious and deliberate way. Rucker deftly avoids challenging or validating anything Trump says – or he lets Trump think he's validating him, leaving the obvious subtext unspoken (Trump: "There are those who will say [the debates] will be one of the highest-rated shows in television history, if not the highest." Rucker: "They’re probably right about that"). He just facilitates Trump's stream-of-consciousness rambling.
How about we just create a new symbolic office called Moon President, and award it to Donald? "Mr. Trump, you did it! This is truly historic! You are the very first Moon President in American history! Schoolchildren will read about you for centuries to come! You are the uncontested ruler of all the lunar globe!"
...and then just stick him in a room full of tacky gilded crap, surrounded by fake CNN and MSNBC cameras, with a PC hooked up to a fake Twitter page that just shows ever-climbing follower and favorite numbers.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 12:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [66 favorites]
How about we just create a new symbolic office called Moon President, and award it to Donald? "Mr. Trump, you did it! This is truly historic! You are the very first Moon President in American history! Schoolchildren will read about you for centuries to come! You are the uncontested ruler of all the lunar globe!"
...and then just stick him in a room full of tacky gilded crap, surrounded by fake CNN and MSNBC cameras, with a PC hooked up to a fake Twitter page that just shows ever-climbing follower and favorite numbers.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 12:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [66 favorites]
Now I'm curious if Trump drops out whether the the GOP could find some poor bastard named "Donald John Trump" to replace the Trump as the GOP presidential candidate on all those state ballots.
posted by Mitheral at 12:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 12:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
My brother-in-law is a white Southern Baptist Texas good-old-boy--and a cop.
This week his son told me he's Team Hillary.
posted by emjaybee at 12:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [79 favorites]
This week his son told me he's Team Hillary.
posted by emjaybee at 12:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [79 favorites]
WTH, ryanshepard? HRC is a pretty darned good person. Interesting story today about how she and Kaine both adhere to the social gospel, meaning there is a faith basis to their progressive politics. And have you been paying attention to her long history of working for social justice, for individuals as well as groups?
posted by bearwife at 12:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [26 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 12:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [26 favorites]
Study: Half of All Presidents Suffered from Mental Illness
Ugh retroactively diagnosing people in the past is garbage, almost as much garbage as trying to diagnose public figures you haven't actually treated (and if you had, you wouldn't be able to say). We can call Trump insane in a general pejorative sense, but we have no idea what kind of 'mental illness' he may or may not suffer from. He's reckless, callous, impulsive, reactionary, ignorant, self-centered, and so on, but we don't know anything about his mental health.
Yah, we already know everything we need to know without medicalising everything.
posted by Herodios at 12:10 PM on August 3, 2016
Ugh retroactively diagnosing people in the past is garbage, almost as much garbage as trying to diagnose public figures you haven't actually treated (and if you had, you wouldn't be able to say). We can call Trump insane in a general pejorative sense, but we have no idea what kind of 'mental illness' he may or may not suffer from. He's reckless, callous, impulsive, reactionary, ignorant, self-centered, and so on, but we don't know anything about his mental health.
Yah, we already know everything we need to know without medicalising everything.
posted by Herodios at 12:10 PM on August 3, 2016
His numbers in free-fall, now battling it out with Jill Stein for 3rd place, Trump makes a (relatively benign, actually) statement which is finally the straw that breaks the camel's back. Cristie snaps, physically tearing Trump's head from his body. Holding it aloft, he declares, "NOW I'M THE NOMINEE!" A weary RNC declares, "sure, whatever." For the few remaining elections until the Republican Party ceases to exist entirely all primaries are contested via Thunderdome.
posted by ckape at 12:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by ckape at 12:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
It seems to me that there is little chance of Trump being able to nuke anything or anyone on a whim.
There absolutely is a chance. The only requirement is that the president and the defense secretary agree. If the defense secretary disagrees, the president can fire the defense secretary and ask his deputy. If the deputy disagrees he can keep firing people until someone down the hierarchy does agree. Once the military receives orders from the president, nuclear weapons are launched. There are no additional hoops to jump through. In 1973, Harold Hering was discharged from the Air Force for asking how he could determine if an order to launch nukes came from a sane president.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 12:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [47 favorites]
There absolutely is a chance. The only requirement is that the president and the defense secretary agree. If the defense secretary disagrees, the president can fire the defense secretary and ask his deputy. If the deputy disagrees he can keep firing people until someone down the hierarchy does agree. Once the military receives orders from the president, nuclear weapons are launched. There are no additional hoops to jump through. In 1973, Harold Hering was discharged from the Air Force for asking how he could determine if an order to launch nukes came from a sane president.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 12:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [47 favorites]
The part that really gets me is that a lot of prominent Republicans are denouncing the batshit crazy things Trump is saying, but no one of any import has pulled their endorsement.
And Obama keyed in on that and made it worse for the right-wing yesterday.
By saying "you guys really need to stop denouncing his words and drop your endorsements if you mean it", they're now stuck between 1) Sticking with Trump until the end, or 2) Looking like they took Obama's advice which we all know is verboten.
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
And Obama keyed in on that and made it worse for the right-wing yesterday.
By saying "you guys really need to stop denouncing his words and drop your endorsements if you mean it", they're now stuck between 1) Sticking with Trump until the end, or 2) Looking like they took Obama's advice which we all know is verboten.
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
ryanshepard, perhaps you'd care to read Noam Chomsky on the topic of Lesser Evil Voting (though I don't agree with your premise - I don't believe Clinton to be the lesser evil and am proud to support her). Particularly I would note:
1) Voting should not be viewed as a form of personal self-expression or moral judgement directed in retaliation towards major party candidates who fail to reflect our values, or of a corrupt system designed to limit choices to those acceptable to corporate elites.
2) The exclusive consequence of the act of voting in 2016 will be (if in a contested “swing state”) to marginally increase or decrease the chance of one of the major party candidates winning.
posted by peacheater at 12:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
1) Voting should not be viewed as a form of personal self-expression or moral judgement directed in retaliation towards major party candidates who fail to reflect our values, or of a corrupt system designed to limit choices to those acceptable to corporate elites.
2) The exclusive consequence of the act of voting in 2016 will be (if in a contested “swing state”) to marginally increase or decrease the chance of one of the major party candidates winning.
posted by peacheater at 12:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
It seems to me that there is little chance of Trump being able to nuke anything or anyone on a whim. The US military is very professional.Former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden disagreed in that interview with Joe Scarborough that has been making the rounds all day.
Scarborough then asked a hypothetical question to Hayden about how quickly nuclear weapons could be deployed if a president were to give approval.posted by dfan at 12:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
"It's scenario dependent, but the system is designed for speed and decisiveness. It's not designed to debate the decision," Hayden said.
The military may feel more constrained to follow orders in the midst of a genuine emergency.
For sure. I've been very much beating the "BUT MUSHROOM CLOUDS!" drum and I hope people understand that I don't actually think the President can push The Button because @bigboivlad insulted him on Twitter. But it ain't for no reason that Kim Jong Un thinks a Trump presidency would be totes awesome. All the world crazies who are spoiling for global thermonuclear war and/or a religious apocalypse see the potential in Trump quite clearly. An administration allergic to negotiation and bellicose in the extreme could very well start a world war that ends in tactical nuclear weapons being deployed by someone. I'd rather not find out if I'm right about this.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
For sure. I've been very much beating the "BUT MUSHROOM CLOUDS!" drum and I hope people understand that I don't actually think the President can push The Button because @bigboivlad insulted him on Twitter. But it ain't for no reason that Kim Jong Un thinks a Trump presidency would be totes awesome. All the world crazies who are spoiling for global thermonuclear war and/or a religious apocalypse see the potential in Trump quite clearly. An administration allergic to negotiation and bellicose in the extreme could very well start a world war that ends in tactical nuclear weapons being deployed by someone. I'd rather not find out if I'm right about this.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
That's Trump's message: "Look at me, I'm on TV!"
"I'm ageneral president candidate -- wheeeee!"
posted by wildblueyonder at 12:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
"I'm a
posted by wildblueyonder at 12:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
And I'm sorry, if your morals compel you to act in an election in such a way as to increase the chances of a fascist becoming President, I question those morals.
posted by peacheater at 12:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [53 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 12:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [53 favorites]
I wonder how much of the Trump dropping out rumors is: just made up out of whole cloth; serious; or a deliberate leak by Priebus and the gang to publicly scare Trump as part of an intervention.
posted by zachlipton at 12:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 12:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I tried to bait my (very professional) shrink into commenting on Trump.
Not to worry! Extremely unprofessional TV quack Dr. Drew is more than willing to chime in on his guesses about the mental health of Trump and his supporters.
And thus Dr. Drew has put me in the extremely uncomfortable position of sticking up for Trump because you don't diagnose people based on what they do on TV!
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Not to worry! Extremely unprofessional TV quack Dr. Drew is more than willing to chime in on his guesses about the mental health of Trump and his supporters.
And thus Dr. Drew has put me in the extremely uncomfortable position of sticking up for Trump because you don't diagnose people based on what they do on TV!
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
My twitter feed is so full of US election chatter that I almost missed hearing that my Prime Minister popped out of a cave in the woods half-naked this weekend. Every other politico on earth has a free pass, they'd have to do something really incredible to break into the news this summer.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 12:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 12:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
ryanshepard, perhaps you'd care to read Noam Chomsky on the topic of Lesser Evil Voting.
I've read this piece, and agree with him on this point - which is the thrust of the thing, really:
Finally, it should be understood that the reigning doctrinal system recognizes the role presidential elections perform in diverting the left from actions which have the potential to be effective in advancing its agenda. These include developing organizations committed to extra-political means, most notably street protest, but also competing for office in potentially winnable races. The left should devote the minimum of time necessary to exercise the LEV choice then immediately return to pursuing goals which are not timed to the national electoral cycle.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
I've read this piece, and agree with him on this point - which is the thrust of the thing, really:
Finally, it should be understood that the reigning doctrinal system recognizes the role presidential elections perform in diverting the left from actions which have the potential to be effective in advancing its agenda. These include developing organizations committed to extra-political means, most notably street protest, but also competing for office in potentially winnable races. The left should devote the minimum of time necessary to exercise the LEV choice then immediately return to pursuing goals which are not timed to the national electoral cycle.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Republicans for Hillary Clinton website.
posted by Sublimity at 12:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Sublimity at 12:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Noam Chomsky is right (as usual), but Hannah Arendt articulates a really interesting problem and perspective as well. I don't think the two views actually conflict or disagree. Maybe a better synthesis is to utilize Lesser Evil or tactical voting, while learning to be more conscious of why you're doing it and the related issues and consequences.
For example (and not to criticize but because it's so illustrative of ideological habits), not immediately dismissing Hannah Arendt's argument while making an argument in support of tactical voting would be an example of being more mindful and conscious of these complexities. That's something individuals can learn to do.
posted by polymodus at 12:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
For example (and not to criticize but because it's so illustrative of ideological habits), not immediately dismissing Hannah Arendt's argument while making an argument in support of tactical voting would be an example of being more mindful and conscious of these complexities. That's something individuals can learn to do.
posted by polymodus at 12:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
For your edification and amusement
How did he change from biker clothes into a suit as he walked through a door? Is he Batman?
posted by kirkaracha at 12:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
How did you people already put a hundred and sixty damn comments into this thread
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
And thus Dr. Drew has put me in the extremely uncomfortable position of sticking up for Trump because you don't diagnose people based on what they do on TV!
True. But as someone who is licensed to diagnose mental disorders, I feel pretty confident in being able to offer a ballpark diagnosis at this point. Trump has overshared in many situations that make it very different from, say, diagnosing someone based on their policy choices or their morals. After all, diagnosis of mental disorders is always based on patient report.
posted by OmieWise at 12:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
True. But as someone who is licensed to diagnose mental disorders, I feel pretty confident in being able to offer a ballpark diagnosis at this point. Trump has overshared in many situations that make it very different from, say, diagnosing someone based on their policy choices or their morals. After all, diagnosis of mental disorders is always based on patient report.
posted by OmieWise at 12:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
They’re narcissists campaigning for a narcissist. At this point it’s a giant circlejerk of narcissism. People think we’re joking when we say narcissists cannot apologize or admit they’re wrong. No, we’re serious. It’s an actual, distinct symptom of narcissism. These people cannot apologize or even recognize when they’re wrong. They may say something as simple as “it’s raining outside” and 2 minutes later- when they realize it’s not actually raining outside- they’ll say “I never said it was raining. I never said that. You said that.” with a stone-cold straight face. Then they’ll go on to blame you for the rain. If you’ve ever argued with a true narcissist it’s as fascinating as it is godawfully frustrating. These people should be in labs, being studied by the best doctors and scientists in the world. The mental gymnastics they do to preserve their ego and pride are just incredible. Scary, frustrating, and incredible.
And not only that... Every day that passes, Every day that passes, this turns out to be more and more true:
And not only that... Every day that passes, Every day that passes, this turns out to be more and more true:
posted by DreamerFi at 12:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [26 favorites]
Over the weekend, I outlined my heuristic of Trumpian action which my high school classmate John Scalzi has now dubbed ‘Trump’s Razor‘ in honor of ‘Occam’s Razor’, the foundational mode of reasoning devised by the 14th century scholastic theologian William of Occam. According to Trump’s Razor: “ascertain the stupidest possible scenario that can be reconciled with the available facts” and that answer is likely correct. Last night ran very late at TPM thanks to the Melania/plagiarism debacle. As I was walking to my apartment well past midnight I started considering the implications of Trump’s Razor and I shuddered and recoiled at what it told me. To phrase the principle in Occam’s terms, it tells us ‘the stupidest scenario is always to be preferred’. And what was the stupidest possible scenario? Right: Melania wrote the speech herself.
Trump:
Clinton cannot be left alone to her devices
Indecisive, from crisis to crisis
The best she she can do for the United States
Is go back to Harlem while the FBI investigates
Clinton
Don't do a thing, November will prove him wrong
We have an election to win, so let's move along.
Feel free to add a Hamilton and Laurens part.
posted by vuron at 12:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Clinton cannot be left alone to her devices
Indecisive, from crisis to crisis
The best she she can do for the United States
Is go back to Harlem while the FBI investigates
Clinton
Don't do a thing, November will prove him wrong
We have an election to win, so let's move along.
Feel free to add a Hamilton and Laurens part.
posted by vuron at 12:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
for real though, is clinton doing anything right now except coordinating ad buys, keeping her mouth shut, and trying not to giggle? what else do you do when your opponent is his own counter-campaign?
posted by murphy slaw at 12:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
The Trump FLA town hall, if you care to watch. It's a third party trump supporter org that's running it, so you should obviously hide the chat. He has not yet begun speaking yet, but I think he's scheduled to soon.
posted by codacorolla at 12:24 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by codacorolla at 12:24 PM on August 3, 2016
OmieWise
Are there not ethical issues with diagnosing people without having treated them, and without their consent, and speaking about the diagnosis publicly?
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Are there not ethical issues with diagnosing people without having treated them, and without their consent, and speaking about the diagnosis publicly?
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Matt Mackowiak (GOP strategist) tweetstorm:
13/ The GOP has a drunk driver at the wheel, chugging vodka, and he's got other people's children in the car. He must be stopped.
(Sorry, couldn't figure out how to link the entire thing.)
posted by salix at 12:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
13/ The GOP has a drunk driver at the wheel, chugging vodka, and he's got other people's children in the car. He must be stopped.
(Sorry, couldn't figure out how to link the entire thing.)
posted by salix at 12:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
"If we look at the techniques of totalitarian government, it is obvious that the argument of 'the lesser evil'...is one of the mechanisms built into the machinery of terror and criminality. Acceptance of lesser evils is consciously used in conditioning the government officials as well as the population at large to the acceptance of evil as such...Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget very quickly that they chose evil."The context matters here. Arendt, if I remember, was talking about Jews who collaborated in WWII by supplying lists of jews to go to the camps, because they believed that by having control over the lists they could save some Jews, while if the Germans had control, everyone would die.
This a whole order of magnitude different a 'lesser evil' than voting for Clinton. I mean, unless you want to violently overthrow the US gov't, there are no viable alternatives within the existing political order to prevent the catastrophe of the GOP controlling all three branches of gov't besides a Clinton victory in November.
posted by dis_integration at 12:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
"Rudolph Giuliani now being rushed onto the field to try to control and advise Trump on the shipwreck he has made of the Republican party? Based on Rudy's convention screech, what exactly foes he have to offer Goldilocks? How to scream at the camera, fangs bared vampire style and frighten the kiddies?" -- Dick Cavett
Cavett is giving out some primo Bitter-Old-Man-With-No-Fucks-To-Give jabs on his Facebook page all throughout this. Highly recommended. He's not holding anything back. And it's the original Dick Cavett for crying out loud, in case you too were wondering where all the journalists or interviewers like Dick Cavett are these days.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
Cavett is giving out some primo Bitter-Old-Man-With-No-Fucks-To-Give jabs on his Facebook page all throughout this. Highly recommended. He's not holding anything back. And it's the original Dick Cavett for crying out loud, in case you too were wondering where all the journalists or interviewers like Dick Cavett are these days.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
So the other day I was in a restaurant and I overheard a woman who was a fifth grader when the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal erupted talking to her friends. She told them that that year, she dressed up as Monica Lewinsky for Halloween. She described how her mom helped her pick out her black wig, and her blue dress, and her knee pads. Another kid in her class dressed up in a Bill Clinton mask.
Fifth graders are ten to eleven years old.
I've been haunted by this ever since I heard it. (Eavesdropping kills, guys.) Not only was the sex scandal such big news that a fifth grader knew about it, but a little girl's parents bought into the narrative to the extent that they approved of and helped her wear that outfit. Which she wore to school. Which she wore to trick-or-treat.
Of all of the weird, horrible shit I have seen this year, for me this incident best encapsulates this endless, deeply insane election.
posted by mynameisluka at 12:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [49 favorites]
Fifth graders are ten to eleven years old.
I've been haunted by this ever since I heard it. (Eavesdropping kills, guys.) Not only was the sex scandal such big news that a fifth grader knew about it, but a little girl's parents bought into the narrative to the extent that they approved of and helped her wear that outfit. Which she wore to school. Which she wore to trick-or-treat.
Of all of the weird, horrible shit I have seen this year, for me this incident best encapsulates this endless, deeply insane election.
posted by mynameisluka at 12:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [49 favorites]
Is there a chance that we could do a trade of Kaine for Trudeau? After all they were each clearly born on the wrong side of the US-Canada borders.
Kaine would be adorbs doing a "Want to crack open a couple of Molsons ehh?"
And Trudeau would add some rock star appeal to the US election.
I could totally see him and Matt McConaughey having a bongo circle at a rally and going shirtless all the time.
"I'm sorry Hillary, polling has shown that if I keep campaigning in Austin for the next month we could totally get Texas to turn blue. BTW have you made it to Franklins yet? Matt and I keep going there everyday and they don't even make us stand in line!"
posted by vuron at 12:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Kaine would be adorbs doing a "Want to crack open a couple of Molsons ehh?"
And Trudeau would add some rock star appeal to the US election.
I could totally see him and Matt McConaughey having a bongo circle at a rally and going shirtless all the time.
"I'm sorry Hillary, polling has shown that if I keep campaigning in Austin for the next month we could totally get Texas to turn blue. BTW have you made it to Franklins yet? Matt and I keep going there everyday and they don't even make us stand in line!"
posted by vuron at 12:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm getting a little less afraid that Trump will win because I thing he'll be hanging from his own rope by the end of all of this. My biggest fear now is that after the election he won't go away.
posted by mudpuppie at 12:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by mudpuppie at 12:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
vuron: Is there a chance that we could do a trade of Kaine for Trudeau? After all they were each clearly born on the wrong side of the US-Canada borders.
Canada: No, eh!
posted by dripdripdrop at 12:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Canada: No, eh!
posted by dripdripdrop at 12:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
As an Internet user, I can issue psychiatric and psychological diagnoses however seems fit to me
posted by thelonius at 12:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 12:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah "it's bad but we don't have death camps" doesn't actually make me feel better.
I had a family member whom I'd never would've expected to drop a Trumpy racist line thinking she was in a safe space and I just ...hung up on them.
posted by The Whelk at 12:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [44 favorites]
I had a family member whom I'd never would've expected to drop a Trumpy racist line thinking she was in a safe space and I just ...hung up on them.
posted by The Whelk at 12:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [44 favorites]
Is there a chance that we could do a trade of Kaine for Trudeau?
Take off, eh? Do you know what we had to go through the last ten fucking years to get Kid Trudeau? DO YOU?
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [52 favorites]
Take off, eh? Do you know what we had to go through the last ten fucking years to get Kid Trudeau? DO YOU?
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [52 favorites]
for real though, is clinton doing anything right now except coordinating ad buys, keeping her mouth shut, and trying not to giggle? what else do you do when your opponent is his own counter-campaign?
"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
-Napoleon Bonaparte (probably)
posted by the painkiller at 12:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
-Napoleon Bonaparte (probably)
posted by the painkiller at 12:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
The dude on the livestream of the Trump debate is sending trolls to some other youtube channel 'if you feel like trolling'.
posted by winna at 12:33 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by winna at 12:33 PM on August 3, 2016
Remember, the bar is so low at this point, that all Trump has to do is act like a pre-teen and he'll be seen as maturing. Meanwhile Hillary can afford few mistakes.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
My fears are not that Trump will win because quite frankly his chances are horrible.
It's just that he's in theory legitimizing some crazy hate speech and white nationalist stuff that used to have to hide in the cracks and crevices of our democracy.
What Trump is showing is that not only does sunshine not act as a disinfectant but that there is pretty close to a critical mass of white nationalists that simply are unwilling to accept that there is a legitimate government possible without it being dominated and run by a White Male for the benefit of White Males.
posted by vuron at 12:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [53 favorites]
It's just that he's in theory legitimizing some crazy hate speech and white nationalist stuff that used to have to hide in the cracks and crevices of our democracy.
What Trump is showing is that not only does sunshine not act as a disinfectant but that there is pretty close to a critical mass of white nationalists that simply are unwilling to accept that there is a legitimate government possible without it being dominated and run by a White Male for the benefit of White Males.
posted by vuron at 12:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [53 favorites]
Yeah "it's bad but we don't have death camps" doesn't actually make me feel better.
It only kind of makes me feel better, but I also think it's the baseline stakes of human existence. We're either slaughtering one another wholesale in your immediate neighborhood or not - and if not, it's a pretty good day. History seems to strongly suggest that this is the best we can hope for, collectively.
It's just that he's in theory legitimizing some crazy hate speech and white nationalist stuff that used to have to hide in the cracks and crevices of our democracy.
The Klan had something like 50,000 members in the mid-1960s, and have just a tiny fraction of that now. Whatever Trump does, he's going to have to do a hell of a lot of it to get us back to swamp of hate and violence that constituted even the recent past in the US.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
It only kind of makes me feel better, but I also think it's the baseline stakes of human existence. We're either slaughtering one another wholesale in your immediate neighborhood or not - and if not, it's a pretty good day. History seems to strongly suggest that this is the best we can hope for, collectively.
It's just that he's in theory legitimizing some crazy hate speech and white nationalist stuff that used to have to hide in the cracks and crevices of our democracy.
The Klan had something like 50,000 members in the mid-1960s, and have just a tiny fraction of that now. Whatever Trump does, he's going to have to do a hell of a lot of it to get us back to swamp of hate and violence that constituted even the recent past in the US.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Seriously, I didn't get to vote for Trudeau because I'm a PR here, but for serious, you cannot have him. Get your own hunky occasionally shirtless yoga-doing tousled hair world leader. Because right now, holy fuck, am I glad he is the one leading where I live right now.
posted by Kitteh at 12:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 12:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [27 favorites]
I had a family member whom I'd never would've expected to drop a Trumpy racist line thinking she was in a safe space and I just ...hung up on them.
Yeah this thanksgiving is going to be a disaster no matter who wins.
posted by dis_integration at 12:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Yeah this thanksgiving is going to be a disaster no matter who wins.
posted by dis_integration at 12:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
HRC is not just staying home and enjoying this. She has a packed schedule.
posted by bearwife at 12:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 12:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
vuron: "Is there a chance that we could do a trade of Kaine for Trudeau? After all they were each clearly born on the wrong side of the US-Canada borders."
What? No! We aren't your farm team.
posted by Mitheral at 12:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [31 favorites]
What? No! We aren't your farm team.
posted by Mitheral at 12:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [31 favorites]
What Trump is showing is that not only does sunshine not act as a disinfectant but that there is pretty close to a critical mass of white nationalists that simply are unwilling to accept that there is a legitimate government possible without it being dominated and run by a White Male for the benefit of White Males.
It's always worst right after you pull the fridge out and discover where the roaches have been coming from.
posted by emjaybee at 12:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
It's always worst right after you pull the fridge out and discover where the roaches have been coming from.
posted by emjaybee at 12:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
What Trump is showing is that not only does sunshine not act as a disinfectant but that there is pretty close to a critical mass of white nationalists that simply are unwilling to accept that there is a legitimate government possible without it being dominated and run by a White Male for the benefit of White Males.
And this is what is scaring the rest of the planet. Don't forget the nuke system is designed for quick action and no debate.
posted by infini at 12:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
And this is what is scaring the rest of the planet. Don't forget the nuke system is designed for quick action and no debate.
posted by infini at 12:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
I had a family member whom I'd never would've expected to drop a Trumpy racist line thinking she was in a safe space and I just ...hung up on them.
Pesach was a shit show and Mother's day wasn't any better. I'm terrified about what will happen on Rosh Hashanah because it is absolutely going to be discussed and I will throw everything down.
posted by Sophie1 at 12:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Pesach was a shit show and Mother's day wasn't any better. I'm terrified about what will happen on Rosh Hashanah because it is absolutely going to be discussed and I will throw everything down.
posted by Sophie1 at 12:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
What Trump is showing is that not only does sunshine not act as a disinfectant but that there is pretty close to a critical mass of white nationalists that simply are unwilling to accept that there is a legitimate government possible without it being dominated and run by a White Male for the benefit of White Males.
And those white nationalists are very, very well armed. That's what scares me the most.
posted by town of cats at 12:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
And those white nationalists are very, very well armed. That's what scares me the most.
posted by town of cats at 12:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Are there not ethical issues with diagnosing people without having treated them, and without their consent, and speaking about the diagnosis publicly?
In America specifically, this practice is prohibited by members of the American Psychiatric Association, as a result of the 1964 election. This article has the background. It also says:
Nonetheless, many mental health providers have challenged the Goldwater Rule. Psychologists (with Ph.D.s, as opposed to psychiatrists, with medical degrees) argue that this principle does not fully apply to them, and that offering diagnoses of public figures can be in the national interest.
I have been googling around to try and find out if other countries have an equivalent to the Goldwater Rule. So far I haven't found any info one way or the other.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
In America specifically, this practice is prohibited by members of the American Psychiatric Association, as a result of the 1964 election. This article has the background. It also says:
Nonetheless, many mental health providers have challenged the Goldwater Rule. Psychologists (with Ph.D.s, as opposed to psychiatrists, with medical degrees) argue that this principle does not fully apply to them, and that offering diagnoses of public figures can be in the national interest.
I have been googling around to try and find out if other countries have an equivalent to the Goldwater Rule. So far I haven't found any info one way or the other.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
What? No! We aren't your farm team.
I think they're pressing their luck because they just got PK Subban off of us. Forget it, America. NO DICE.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
I think they're pressing their luck because they just got PK Subban off of us. Forget it, America. NO DICE.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
How many people are watching this upcoming rally speech, either via stream, or on television? Maybe try to load the newest comments so we're not all repeating the same quotes.
posted by cashman at 12:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by cashman at 12:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I tell you what, "The powerful are terrifying and completely unrelatable to me" is a tough row to hoe in an election year.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 12:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 12:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm terrified about what will happen on Rosh Hashanah
The many Holocaust victims in my family would roll in their unmarked, non existent graves at the thought of Jews supporting Trump. Under all that orange he is a would be Fuehrer.
posted by bearwife at 12:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
The many Holocaust victims in my family would roll in their unmarked, non existent graves at the thought of Jews supporting Trump. Under all that orange he is a would be Fuehrer.
posted by bearwife at 12:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
Here is the full thread for the below, which makes it clear that the real problem the Mackowiak has with this is that it impacts the future of his garbage party.
13/ The GOP has a drunk driver at the wheel, chugging vodka, and he's got other people's children in the car. He must be stopped.
posted by winna at 12:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
13/ The GOP has a drunk driver at the wheel, chugging vodka, and he's got other people's children in the car. He must be stopped.
posted by winna at 12:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you're going to call Hillary Clinton evil, implicitly or explicitly, I'm going to demand some goddamn evidence. And it had better be something that is actually true, not some bullshit dank meme turned into an unverifiable rant. Like actual reporting. Facts.
I am so fucking tired of this shit.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [134 favorites]
I am so fucking tired of this shit.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [134 favorites]
Wait we don't have death camps? But the Republicans promised me that Obamacare would result in death camps.
Next you are going to tell me that Obama isn't planning to seize control of the US through some "national emergency" in January that is hidden behind some sort of CDC-FEMA NWO operation.
Wake up America, quit being sheeple!
posted by vuron at 12:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Next you are going to tell me that Obama isn't planning to seize control of the US through some "national emergency" in January that is hidden behind some sort of CDC-FEMA NWO operation.
Wake up America, quit being sheeple!
posted by vuron at 12:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm watching CNN, and they've just been yammering on about Trump and all that - with a small window in the bottom right to alert the viewer Trump will be on soon. Meanwhile Hillary Clinton is actually speaking. So instead of actually covering her live, they don't, and only now are they running video of Hillary speaking, with a "Moments ago in Denver" tag in the upper right. Jesus.
posted by cashman at 12:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by cashman at 12:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Forget it, America. NO DICE.
*whispers* You could have the Stanley Cup back.
posted by drezdn at 12:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [27 favorites]
*whispers* You could have the Stanley Cup back.
posted by drezdn at 12:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [27 favorites]
We're so far from out of the woods if HRC wins. Still, however, no death camps.
This is a bullshit rhetorical stunt, implying Clinton is close to death camps. Worthy of the Trump campaign, even. Stop it.
posted by aught at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [43 favorites]
This is a bullshit rhetorical stunt, implying Clinton is close to death camps. Worthy of the Trump campaign, even. Stop it.
posted by aught at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [43 favorites]
My great-grandmother came to the US when she was 16, by herself, from Austria. Her parents and eleven siblings died in a concentration camp. I can't imagine what she would be thinking now.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
bearwife: The many Holocaust victims in my family would roll in their graves at the thought of Jews supporting Trump. Under all that orange he is a would be Fuehrer.
Oh, but his daughter converted to Judaism! He can't possibly be anti-Semitic with a Jewish son-in-law, and a daughter who converted!
(This is an actual argument my boss made. I don't think he's gonna vote Trump anyway, but ugh.)
posted by SansPoint at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, but his daughter converted to Judaism! He can't possibly be anti-Semitic with a Jewish son-in-law, and a daughter who converted!
(This is an actual argument my boss made. I don't think he's gonna vote Trump anyway, but ugh.)
posted by SansPoint at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
A Turkish friend of mine who lives in the US commented the other day that she sees people unfriending each other on social media over differences political views. That's exactly what she saw in Turkey 4-5 years ago. That tear in society never healed. Let's hope the US isn't heading the same way as Turkey...
posted by Triplanetary at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Triplanetary at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Are Trump's hands in fact, comically small? Find out for yourself!
(Smaller than mine, and I'm a 5'9" woman, but well-known as a long-fingered sophisticate...)
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
(Smaller than mine, and I'm a 5'9" woman, but well-known as a long-fingered sophisticate...)
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
*whispers* You could have the Stanley Cup back.
GET THEEE BEHIND ME SATAN
posted by saturday_morning at 12:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
GET THEEE BEHIND ME SATAN
posted by saturday_morning at 12:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
"Donald Trump measures your value by what's in your heart" says an incredibly white man I don't recognize.
posted by winna at 12:44 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by winna at 12:44 PM on August 3, 2016
Tony Schwartz, who ghost-wrote Trump's "auto"-biography and followed him around for 18 months to do so, has some excellent insight (perhaps the best, really) on who and what Trump actually is in this New Yorker article
posted by nonspecialist at 12:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by nonspecialist at 12:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of an American soldier who was killed in Iraq, continued to condemn Republican nominee Donald Trump in a back-and-forth that's dominated coverage since the Khans spoke at the Democratic National Convention last week.
I'm sure many have pointed out Trump's obvious lack of empathy, and how troubling that is, in basic terms of this person potentially having access to nuclear weapons.
But it also shows his lack of political or even intellectual savvy — he could have easily mentioned his feelings for his own children and how he would not want his or any children to die in a war that he opposed, one which Hillary voted for, which was the same war that caused the death of Cpt. Humayun Khan. That would have been a perfectly valid and policy-based response that would draw the two in important contrast, especially for issue-based voters who have concerns about the constant state of war the United States seems to be in.
Instead, his strategy continues to be to attack the victims of the war, instead of his political opponent, who was one of its original perpetrators. It's such an easy response that it is kind of baffling he ignores it.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm sure many have pointed out Trump's obvious lack of empathy, and how troubling that is, in basic terms of this person potentially having access to nuclear weapons.
But it also shows his lack of political or even intellectual savvy — he could have easily mentioned his feelings for his own children and how he would not want his or any children to die in a war that he opposed, one which Hillary voted for, which was the same war that caused the death of Cpt. Humayun Khan. That would have been a perfectly valid and policy-based response that would draw the two in important contrast, especially for issue-based voters who have concerns about the constant state of war the United States seems to be in.
Instead, his strategy continues to be to attack the victims of the war, instead of his political opponent, who was one of its original perpetrators. It's such an easy response that it is kind of baffling he ignores it.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Let's hope the US isn't heading the same way as Turkey...
Turkey headed that way because their leader is a would be dictator/strongman. Exactly as Trump wants to be. Not because of social media behavior.
posted by bearwife at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Turkey headed that way because their leader is a would be dictator/strongman. Exactly as Trump wants to be. Not because of social media behavior.
posted by bearwife at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
drezdn: "Forget it, America. NO DICE.
*whispers* You could have the Stanley Cup back."
Now you've gone too far.
posted by octothorpe at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
*whispers* You could have the Stanley Cup back."
Now you've gone too far.
posted by octothorpe at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
OmieWise
Are there not ethical issues with diagnosing people without having treated them, and without their consent, and speaking about the diagnosis publicly?
Of course there are. Dr. Drew is a shill anyway, with no ethics at all. You'll notice that I did not offer my diagnosis. Consent is not a factor, regardless. People get remanded for psych evals all the time who do not consent to it.
The main point here, though, is that while in most cases it really is unethical in the "I should not do it because I have so little information I am likely to be very wrong" sense, in this case I do not think that is operative. I think anyone with basic psychological assessment skills, and a passing familiarity with the diagnostic nosology most current in the US, can make a diagnosis with some confidence.
posted by OmieWise at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Are there not ethical issues with diagnosing people without having treated them, and without their consent, and speaking about the diagnosis publicly?
Of course there are. Dr. Drew is a shill anyway, with no ethics at all. You'll notice that I did not offer my diagnosis. Consent is not a factor, regardless. People get remanded for psych evals all the time who do not consent to it.
The main point here, though, is that while in most cases it really is unethical in the "I should not do it because I have so little information I am likely to be very wrong" sense, in this case I do not think that is operative. I think anyone with basic psychological assessment skills, and a passing familiarity with the diagnostic nosology most current in the US, can make a diagnosis with some confidence.
posted by OmieWise at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Canadians please think about the good of the entire world.
In Canada Trudeau is a big fish in a small pond. He can come to the US and have fun and actually do important things other than go Kayaking off of Baffin Island or whatever action adventure activity he's doing now because he's bored stiff.
And you can go back to that nice man Stephen Harper so he can work more of his plan of turning Canada into the Arizona of the North.
posted by vuron at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
In Canada Trudeau is a big fish in a small pond. He can come to the US and have fun and actually do important things other than go Kayaking off of Baffin Island or whatever action adventure activity he's doing now because he's bored stiff.
And you can go back to that nice man Stephen Harper so he can work more of his plan of turning Canada into the Arizona of the North.
posted by vuron at 12:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
This is a bullshit rhetorical stunt, implying Clinton is close to death camps. Worthy of the Trump campaign, even. Stop it.
Complete misreading - my point is that, as awful for average working people as I think a Clinton presidency will be (and as deadly as it will be for those on the receiving end of her policies in the Mideast), there are vastly more awful political possibilities than any outcome of the current US race in even our recent past.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Complete misreading - my point is that, as awful for average working people as I think a Clinton presidency will be (and as deadly as it will be for those on the receiving end of her policies in the Mideast), there are vastly more awful political possibilities than any outcome of the current US race in even our recent past.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Except in the "I don't want anyone, even an asshole, to suffer from untreated mental illness" sense, I don't care if Trump is actually ill or just drunk on his privilege. He is too dangerously unstable to be near so much power, whatever the reasons for that instability. Whatever is wrong with Trump, being President will make it worse.
posted by emjaybee at 12:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 12:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Someone needs to bring up Romney and goad Trump into talking shit about Mormons.
posted by bongo_x at 12:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 12:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Giving Canada the Cup would be a temporary gift at best considering inevitably they'd lose it in the next season.
What we should do instead is offer to trade 2 decent US teams for the Maple Leafs and Canadiens so that perhaps Canadians could rediscover pride in their national game once again.
posted by vuron at 12:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
What we should do instead is offer to trade 2 decent US teams for the Maple Leafs and Canadiens so that perhaps Canadians could rediscover pride in their national game once again.
posted by vuron at 12:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Oh, but his daughter converted to Judaism! He can't possibly be anti-Semitic with a Jewish son-in-law, and a daughter who converted!
Are people accusing Trump himself of being anti-Semitic, or just his Twitter troll followers? There's definitely a cloud of people who seem to revel in being offensive hovering around his social media presence. Trump himself seems to have gone through the usual pro-Jewish / pro-Israel motions that one would expect from a GOP candidate.
posted by theorique at 12:50 PM on August 3, 2016
Are people accusing Trump himself of being anti-Semitic, or just his Twitter troll followers? There's definitely a cloud of people who seem to revel in being offensive hovering around his social media presence. Trump himself seems to have gone through the usual pro-Jewish / pro-Israel motions that one would expect from a GOP candidate.
posted by theorique at 12:50 PM on August 3, 2016
What we should do instead is offer to trade 2 decent US teams for the Maple Leafs and Canadiens so that perhaps Canadians could rediscover pride in their national game once again.
You already sent us Auston Matthews, so, thanks but gonna have to try harder
posted by saturday_morning at 12:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
You already sent us Auston Matthews, so, thanks but gonna have to try harder
posted by saturday_morning at 12:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
For your edification and amusement
For a video that has some shockingly expensive shots, the editing and sound work are weird and subpar.
I don't really see anything in that video that couldn't be accomplished with a drone and a go pro -- am I missing something?
Besides, of course, the assumption that said drone cameraman would be taking appropriate safety measures while say, flying the thing through regular highway traffic, which I don't think is an assumption that can fairly be made.
posted by sparklemotion at 12:51 PM on August 3, 2016
For a video that has some shockingly expensive shots, the editing and sound work are weird and subpar.
I don't really see anything in that video that couldn't be accomplished with a drone and a go pro -- am I missing something?
Besides, of course, the assumption that said drone cameraman would be taking appropriate safety measures while say, flying the thing through regular highway traffic, which I don't think is an assumption that can fairly be made.
posted by sparklemotion at 12:51 PM on August 3, 2016
Someone needs to bring up Romney and goad Trump into talking shit about Mormons.
Gary Johnson already did. Too bad, he might have won Utah.
posted by My Dad at 12:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Gary Johnson already did. Too bad, he might have won Utah.
posted by My Dad at 12:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Another white dude I don't recognize is up talking about All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter because our country is under siege. This livestream is cutting off the intros so I have no idea who anyone is.
posted by winna at 12:52 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by winna at 12:52 PM on August 3, 2016
My current bad dream. Trump will drop out, saying the parties are in cahoots in scuttling his campaign and he will be right and many many people will be pissed.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 12:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 12:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Are people accusing Trump himself of being anti-Semitic, or just his Twitter troll followers? There's definitely a cloud of people who seem to revel in being offensive hovering around his social media presence. Trump himself seems to have gone through the usual pro-Jewish / pro-Israel motions that one would expect from a GOP candidate.
He's definitely made some comments about 'Jewish bankers' and so forth. It seems to be the "vastly ignorant sweeping statements" type of racism rather than the "I am frothing with rage" type of racism, but still.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
He's definitely made some comments about 'Jewish bankers' and so forth. It seems to be the "vastly ignorant sweeping statements" type of racism rather than the "I am frothing with rage" type of racism, but still.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Livestream of what?
posted by agregoli at 12:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by agregoli at 12:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
"The two biggest problems in this country are Washington DC and Hollywood."
posted by winna at 12:53 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by winna at 12:53 PM on August 3, 2016
There are many flavors of anti-Semitism, most of which stop far short of active frothing hatred and would not preclude being okay with having a Jewish son-in-law.
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
What we should do instead is offer to trade 2 decent US teams for the Maple Leafs and Canadiens...
Leave Jesus Price out of this. He's not going anywhere.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:54 PM on August 3, 2016
Leave Jesus Price out of this. He's not going anywhere.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:54 PM on August 3, 2016
So apparently Trump is currently almost an hour late to appear onstage at his rally in Florida, and they keep having to send random talking heads up on stage
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
The guy talking right now Michael Flynn, the one former military guy that supports Trump.
posted by airish at 12:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by airish at 12:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
as awful for average working people as I think a Clinton presidency will be
Why do you think it will be awful? 10 years ago, as a senator, she introduced a bill to raise minimum wage, and has made helping the working class a key component of her rhetoric since the beginning of her campaign. Affordable child care has been one of her key concerns, she has a proposal to cap costs at 10% which would make a HUGE difference in the lives of average working people.
Which of her specific actions or policies makes you think she, personally, will be "awful" for the working class?
posted by pocketfullofrye at 12:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [78 favorites]
Why do you think it will be awful? 10 years ago, as a senator, she introduced a bill to raise minimum wage, and has made helping the working class a key component of her rhetoric since the beginning of her campaign. Affordable child care has been one of her key concerns, she has a proposal to cap costs at 10% which would make a HUGE difference in the lives of average working people.
Which of her specific actions or policies makes you think she, personally, will be "awful" for the working class?
posted by pocketfullofrye at 12:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [78 favorites]
"Something else I like to talk about from my experience in the military is the enemy camp, and the enemy camp in this case is Hillary Rodham Clinton."
posted by winna at 12:55 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by winna at 12:55 PM on August 3, 2016
Crowd chanting "Lock her up" after Flynn brought up Benghazi.
posted by airish at 12:55 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by airish at 12:55 PM on August 3, 2016
I'm the one who said I can't fathom Jews supporting Trump. Not because he is anti-Semitic, although his repeated remarks about Jews being great with money are very much in that mode and offensive. I think Trump's hatreds (for example toward Muslims, immigrants, people of color) are aimed at different folks.
But he is indeed a hater, a person who has no respect for democracy or the rule of law or treaties, a man who is reckless beyond belief about the use of force and torture, and a would be dictator. And I think people with recent experience of a Holocaust should get why these things are so bad.
posted by bearwife at 12:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
But he is indeed a hater, a person who has no respect for democracy or the rule of law or treaties, a man who is reckless beyond belief about the use of force and torture, and a would be dictator. And I think people with recent experience of a Holocaust should get why these things are so bad.
posted by bearwife at 12:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump is totally anti-semitic. Not in the typical Neo-Nazi let's finish what Hitler started but in the standard WASP way where you reduce a race to stereotypes. So in his mind he totally trusts Jewish people in yarmulkes to be his accountants.
He might like Jewish Delis and be fine with having a Jewish son-in-law but still he is reducing people to a two-dimensional narrative all the time.
It's part and parcel of his world view, people are condensed down to stereotypes and people that somehow differ from that stereotype are the exception that proves the rule.
posted by vuron at 12:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
He might like Jewish Delis and be fine with having a Jewish son-in-law but still he is reducing people to a two-dimensional narrative all the time.
It's part and parcel of his world view, people are condensed down to stereotypes and people that somehow differ from that stereotype are the exception that proves the rule.
posted by vuron at 12:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Demographically, this election is shaping up to be 'non-college-educated white men vs everyone else
I dunno. Maybe from a top-level overview standpoint, but the only Trump yard signs I've seen so far were in the wealthiest suburb of Indianapolis, where people are most definitely college-educated. It's also traditionally a very, very red suburb, though.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I dunno. Maybe from a top-level overview standpoint, but the only Trump yard signs I've seen so far were in the wealthiest suburb of Indianapolis, where people are most definitely college-educated. It's also traditionally a very, very red suburb, though.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I see Trump as a malignant cancer and I'm afraid it's going to be a Buffy situation where we think we've got the cancer and then there will be a "Mom. . . mommy?" moment where some fanatic enabled by his bullshit will blow up a grade school.
So my snark is powered by a dread regardless of how quickly the Orange Julius Caesar is decompensating.
posted by angrycat at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
So my snark is powered by a dread regardless of how quickly the Orange Julius Caesar is decompensating.
posted by angrycat at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
This guy is stalling
posted by R.F.Simpson at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by R.F.Simpson at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ah, the creepy speaker is Retired Army Lt. General Michael Flynn.
posted by winna at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by winna at 12:57 PM on August 3, 2016
Orange Julius Caesar
Is this original because it rules
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
Is this original because it rules
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
We need Trump to hang on for 3-4 more weeks. Once we get to September it is too late to replace him. Come on Trumpster, you can do it.
posted by Justinian at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
You can tell this is one of my good days. Once we get another bad poll I'll go back to existential despair.
posted by Justinian at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Are people accusing Trump himself of being anti-Semitic?
Remember Trump's infamous Star of David tweet?
posted by zakur at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Remember Trump's infamous Star of David tweet?
posted by zakur at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Southern Trump voters I know are not poor. They are well-off white families. (My sister, a Democrat, has married into one of them and is horrified.)
posted by Kitteh at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Okay, so I just turned on that live stream and ARE THEY SERIOUSLY PLAYING RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES?
posted by uosuaq at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 12:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Hillary (Video) - I really would like [Trump] to explain why he paid Chinese workers to make Trump ties ... instead of deciding to make those ties right here in Colorado with a company like Knotty. But it's not just his ties. He makes his suits in Mexico..."
posted by cashman at 1:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by cashman at 1:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
(That's the one I always confuse with Night On Bald Mountain and I thought to myself, Really?)
posted by mochapickle at 1:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 1:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Donald is saying the campaign has never been so united.
posted by winna at 1:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by winna at 1:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
It was scary speedmetal the first time I tried it... had to turn it off.
posted by rp at 1:00 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by rp at 1:00 PM on August 3, 2016
for real though, is clinton doing anything right now except coordinating ad buys, keeping her mouth shut, and trying not to giggle? what else do you do when your opponent is his own counter-campaign?
Yes she is. Where she's scheduled to be is online. What she's mostly doing right now is "organising events" which basically means travelling to the battleground states, connecting with the volunteers and firing them up, and getting her ground game organized and inspired.
Which of course is staying in the background building things while not interrupting Donald Trump while he's making oh so many mistakes.
posted by Francis at 1:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Yes she is. Where she's scheduled to be is online. What she's mostly doing right now is "organising events" which basically means travelling to the battleground states, connecting with the volunteers and firing them up, and getting her ground game organized and inspired.
Which of course is staying in the background building things while not interrupting Donald Trump while he's making oh so many mistakes.
posted by Francis at 1:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Donald is saying the campaign has never been so united.
Well, he's probably right. 90-plus percent of the campaign is united. In existential despair.
posted by Etrigan at 1:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
Well, he's probably right. 90-plus percent of the campaign is united. In existential despair.
posted by Etrigan at 1:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
...Dr. Drew is a shill anyway, with no ethics at all...
Thank you for clearing that up,Omniewise. Many people have been using pop-psychology/armchair-psychiatry in these threads related to Trump, and while he's an awful person, I think legitimizing the stigmatizing of people with mental illness by comparing Trump to the mentally ill is NOT HELPING. Many, many, many people have many different forms of mental illness that they are coping with, and comparing them to Trump because he's an outrageous asshole is very hurtful.
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Thank you for clearing that up,Omniewise. Many people have been using pop-psychology/armchair-psychiatry in these threads related to Trump, and while he's an awful person, I think legitimizing the stigmatizing of people with mental illness by comparing Trump to the mentally ill is NOT HELPING. Many, many, many people have many different forms of mental illness that they are coping with, and comparing them to Trump because he's an outrageous asshole is very hurtful.
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
did he say bigly?
posted by R.F.Simpson at 1:02 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by R.F.Simpson at 1:02 PM on August 3, 2016
Trump raised $80M last month, more than Hilary Clinton, although she ended up netting more money in July.
I read that one donor contributed about 30% of that $80M total. Did anyone else see that?
posted by My Dad at 1:02 PM on August 3, 2016
I read that one donor contributed about 30% of that $80M total. Did anyone else see that?
posted by My Dad at 1:02 PM on August 3, 2016
Just got this email from Bernie:
Election days come and go, but the struggle for economic, social, racial and environmental justice continues. Together, we built something special and unprecedented through our presidential campaign. Now, we are going to take the next steps for our political revolution.
We are building a new organization called Our Revolution. Our goal will be the same as in our campaign: we must work to transform American society by making our political and economic systems work for all of us, not just the 1 percent.
Can you make a $3 contribution to Our Revolution so that we can continue our critical work to take back our country from the billionaire class? Make your contribution here.
On the very first day of our campaign, I wrote to my supporters and said, "This campaign is not about Bernie Sanders. It's about a grassroots movement of Americans standing up and saying: 'Enough is enough. This country and our government belong to all of us, not just a handful of billionaires.'"
That is as true today as it was then. That is why Our Revolution will focus on three distinct areas of work:
Revitalizing American democracy by bringing millions of working people and young people into the political system.
Empowering the next generation of progressive leaders by inspiring, recruiting and supporting progressive candidates across the entire spectrum of government - from school board to the U.S. Senate.
Doing what the corporate media does not do: elevating political consciousness by educating the public about the most pressing issues confronting our nation and the bold solutions needed to address them.
Together we can revitalize our democracy, empower new progressive leaders, and educate the public about the critical issues facing our country. To get started, I need your help, [Name]. Will you join me?
Add a $3 contribution to Our Revolution and be one of the first to join this next phase of our movement.
We have a lot to do together, [Name], and I'm glad you're with me.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders
You know, I may be unpopular for saying this, but I wish he wouldn't do this right now. The election is not yet won, we still have Trump to beat. At this moment, we need left/liberals to stand together. Once Bernie endorsed, I expected him to take that endorsement seriously, and actually stump for Hillary, not try to spin off his own separate thing before we've even got a new President. This just gives Bernie-or-Busters more ammunition for thinking that Bernie agrees with them regarding not voting for Hillary.
posted by peacheater at 1:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [42 favorites]
Election days come and go, but the struggle for economic, social, racial and environmental justice continues. Together, we built something special and unprecedented through our presidential campaign. Now, we are going to take the next steps for our political revolution.
We are building a new organization called Our Revolution. Our goal will be the same as in our campaign: we must work to transform American society by making our political and economic systems work for all of us, not just the 1 percent.
Can you make a $3 contribution to Our Revolution so that we can continue our critical work to take back our country from the billionaire class? Make your contribution here.
On the very first day of our campaign, I wrote to my supporters and said, "This campaign is not about Bernie Sanders. It's about a grassroots movement of Americans standing up and saying: 'Enough is enough. This country and our government belong to all of us, not just a handful of billionaires.'"
That is as true today as it was then. That is why Our Revolution will focus on three distinct areas of work:
Revitalizing American democracy by bringing millions of working people and young people into the political system.
Empowering the next generation of progressive leaders by inspiring, recruiting and supporting progressive candidates across the entire spectrum of government - from school board to the U.S. Senate.
Doing what the corporate media does not do: elevating political consciousness by educating the public about the most pressing issues confronting our nation and the bold solutions needed to address them.
Together we can revitalize our democracy, empower new progressive leaders, and educate the public about the critical issues facing our country. To get started, I need your help, [Name]. Will you join me?
Add a $3 contribution to Our Revolution and be one of the first to join this next phase of our movement.
We have a lot to do together, [Name], and I'm glad you're with me.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders
You know, I may be unpopular for saying this, but I wish he wouldn't do this right now. The election is not yet won, we still have Trump to beat. At this moment, we need left/liberals to stand together. Once Bernie endorsed, I expected him to take that endorsement seriously, and actually stump for Hillary, not try to spin off his own separate thing before we've even got a new President. This just gives Bernie-or-Busters more ammunition for thinking that Bernie agrees with them regarding not voting for Hillary.
posted by peacheater at 1:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [42 favorites]
He says it a lot. Some people claim he is saying "big league" but I don't buy it. It's "bigly".
posted by Justinian at 1:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Could we link to her talks, too? Otherwise, I feel like we're part of the problem.
posted by kyrademon at 1:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by kyrademon at 1:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Here he goes with the big plant-builder friend in Mexico again.
posted by mochapickle at 1:03 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by mochapickle at 1:03 PM on August 3, 2016
Eastwood said that Trump says things we are all thinking? No, just no. I have never had those thoughts. From the NY Tiims:
Paul Ryan being primaried by a crazy teabagger? I got no problem with that. Ryan is the golden boy because there is so little competition. Without a soap box there isn't as much golden boy can say. A freshman Congressman who is Far Right? Phftphhhh. He won't have Ryan's power and influence just because he takes the seat. Plus there is the bonus that they will have to find some poor sod to take on the mantle of Speaker of the House-- that is if they still have a majority after the election.
Follow the money. So here is my theory as to what is happening with Trump and what will follow. He loaned his campaign $50 million and entered the race because he thought he could make his name more valuable and himself more famous. And I do believe he thought he could make money out of this run. He tried. Turns out it isn't as easy as it looks. Policy is HARD. Campaigning is HARD. Memorizing facts is HARD. And on top of everything else getting money out of people when you claim to be a billionaire is very, very HARD.
So Yeah he won the nomination. But looking at his fundraising it has been torturous and even though he has run a "tightship" turns out there are still a lot of bills to pay and by the way a tightship in an American Presidential campaign means losing. Think about it. He has no ground game. He has no money for ads-- and while he is on TV a lot that is not the same. And the RNC was a shit show.
So here we are. I don't think he is doing any fund raising at this point. He can't make money on this campaign and his name is getting tarnished. Turns out it is fun to be in front of crowds and receive cheers but the people coming to his rallies are not the type of investors he needs to attract. Also they won't be buying condos from him.
As to anyone who follows, they will have to hit the ground running and have money in the bank. They would be so behind at this point there would be no possibility of catching up. Meanwhile Clinton has $50 million or more in the bank to start rolling out negative ads just as soon as someone puts themselves forward. Cruz is too smart to jump in this late in the game. Pence? Nobody voted for him and he is a hard right Christian noted for his extreme views on women's reproductive choice. Kasich is maybe their best chance but he doesn't have a big war chest and thanks to Trump neither does the RNC. They are fucked as far as the Presidency. The question is only can they get to Trump to quit so they can salvage some of their seats in Congress.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
But what struck us was the frequency with which some Trump supporters use coarse, vitriolic, even violent language — in the epithets they shout and chant, the signs they carry, the T-shirts they wear — a pattern not seen in connection with any other recent political candidate, in any party.Asking people to be PC is not the ruination of our country. Teaching people that they can say anything they like outloud could be very bad indeed.
Paul Ryan being primaried by a crazy teabagger? I got no problem with that. Ryan is the golden boy because there is so little competition. Without a soap box there isn't as much golden boy can say. A freshman Congressman who is Far Right? Phftphhhh. He won't have Ryan's power and influence just because he takes the seat. Plus there is the bonus that they will have to find some poor sod to take on the mantle of Speaker of the House-- that is if they still have a majority after the election.
Follow the money. So here is my theory as to what is happening with Trump and what will follow. He loaned his campaign $50 million and entered the race because he thought he could make his name more valuable and himself more famous. And I do believe he thought he could make money out of this run. He tried. Turns out it isn't as easy as it looks. Policy is HARD. Campaigning is HARD. Memorizing facts is HARD. And on top of everything else getting money out of people when you claim to be a billionaire is very, very HARD.
So Yeah he won the nomination. But looking at his fundraising it has been torturous and even though he has run a "tightship" turns out there are still a lot of bills to pay and by the way a tightship in an American Presidential campaign means losing. Think about it. He has no ground game. He has no money for ads-- and while he is on TV a lot that is not the same. And the RNC was a shit show.
So here we are. I don't think he is doing any fund raising at this point. He can't make money on this campaign and his name is getting tarnished. Turns out it is fun to be in front of crowds and receive cheers but the people coming to his rallies are not the type of investors he needs to attract. Also they won't be buying condos from him.
As to anyone who follows, they will have to hit the ground running and have money in the bank. They would be so behind at this point there would be no possibility of catching up. Meanwhile Clinton has $50 million or more in the bank to start rolling out negative ads just as soon as someone puts themselves forward. Cruz is too smart to jump in this late in the game. Pence? Nobody voted for him and he is a hard right Christian noted for his extreme views on women's reproductive choice. Kasich is maybe their best chance but he doesn't have a big war chest and thanks to Trump neither does the RNC. They are fucked as far as the Presidency. The question is only can they get to Trump to quit so they can salvage some of their seats in Congress.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Did he just call Hillary Clinton "the founder of ISIS"
Then have a break for a "lock her up" chant
Did that really just happen
posted by schadenfrau at 1:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Then have a break for a "lock her up" chant
Did that really just happen
posted by schadenfrau at 1:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's already too late to replace him short of a medical emergency forcing him to drop out.
Even if they threw up some sacrificial lamb who could bring in some massive Super PAC dollars like Romney or Jeb they'd still get crushed in the general election for no reason and you'd still have to deal with the right wing white nationalists that are currently feeling their oats.
The Republican party absolutely know that Trump has to lose in November or they are fucking done because it will be White Nationalist Demogogues from now on otherwise.
Of course if they act too blatantly to stop Trump they also risk pissing off a lot of their base because Trump will almost certainly sell a stab in the back narrative in the most crass and racist way possible and we'll see this critical mass of crazies willing to do all sorts of shit like sign on to Sovereign Citizen movements and other sorts of right wing fringe movements.
posted by vuron at 1:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Even if they threw up some sacrificial lamb who could bring in some massive Super PAC dollars like Romney or Jeb they'd still get crushed in the general election for no reason and you'd still have to deal with the right wing white nationalists that are currently feeling their oats.
The Republican party absolutely know that Trump has to lose in November or they are fucking done because it will be White Nationalist Demogogues from now on otherwise.
Of course if they act too blatantly to stop Trump they also risk pissing off a lot of their base because Trump will almost certainly sell a stab in the back narrative in the most crass and racist way possible and we'll see this critical mass of crazies willing to do all sorts of shit like sign on to Sovereign Citizen movements and other sorts of right wing fringe movements.
posted by vuron at 1:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump raised $80M last month
Where did you get that? His campaing said 36M. That's quite a difference in numbers.
posted by DreamerFi at 1:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Where did you get that? His campaing said 36M. That's quite a difference in numbers.
posted by DreamerFi at 1:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Many, many, many people have many different forms of mental illness that they are coping with, and comparing them to Trump because he's an outrageous asshole is very hurtful.
That's not what people are doing – but more to the point, the matter was already discussed extensively in the previous thread. The mods suggested leaving it where it is. MetaTalk is there if you need it.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
That's not what people are doing – but more to the point, the matter was already discussed extensively in the previous thread. The mods suggested leaving it where it is. MetaTalk is there if you need it.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Are people accusing Trump himself of being anti-Semitic, or just his Twitter troll followers? There's definitely a cloud of people who seem to revel in being offensive hovering around his social media presence. Trump himself seems to have gone through the usual pro-Jewish / pro-Israel motions that one would expect from a GOP candidate.
Apart from the regular retweeting of neo-Nazis and use of their propoganda, there's stuff like this:
Apart from the regular retweeting of neo-Nazis and use of their propoganda, there's stuff like this:
“Stupidly, you want to give me money,” he began. But he added that “you’re not going to support me because I don’t want your money,” suggesting that Jews are unwilling to back people whose purse-strings they can’t control, a classic anti-Semitic trope.and this:
[...]
“I’m a negotiator, like you folks,” he said while discussing what he considers to be the failures of the recent nuclear deal struck with Iran.
In a 1991 book, one of Trump's former colleagues recalled him saying, "Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are little short guys that wear yarmulkes every day." (Trump called the things written about him in the book "probably true.")or this incredible indifference to the anti-Semitism of his followers:
[Wolf] Blitzer pressed Trump, “But the anti-Semitic death threats that have followed...” Trump interrupted, “Oh, I don't know about that. I don't know anything about that. You mean fans of mine?”posted by zombieflanders at 1:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Blitzer responded, “Supposed fans of posting these very angry—but your message to these fans is?”
This is the moment at which Trump should’ve clearly condemned the anti-Semitic comments. And if Trump were a true leader, he would’ve encouraged his “fans” to stop spewing such hate.
But he didn’t. Instead Trump responded: “I don’t have a message to the fans.” And then, astoundingly, he attacked Ioffe again. “A woman wrote an article that’s inaccurate.”
In Trump’s first day after effectively wrapping up the GOP nomination, he has again failed to make it clear that there’s no place for bigotry and hate on his behalf.
(and H got 63M. The DNC pulled in another $26 million, making the total almost $90 million, still a larger number than "80")
posted by DreamerFi at 1:06 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by DreamerFi at 1:06 PM on August 3, 2016
okay who here is wrestling with the urge to punch the dude bro with dark widely gesticulating behind el trumpo
posted by angrycat at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by angrycat at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016
Donald is saying the campaign has never been so united.
Yes, well, that's obvious from the fact that Pence has now endorsed Paul Ryan.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Yes, well, that's obvious from the fact that Pence has now endorsed Paul Ryan.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Once Bernie endorsed, I expected him to take that endorsement seriously, and actually stump for Hillary, not try to spin off his own separate thing before we've even got a new President
You thought better of him than I did.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
You thought better of him than I did.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
I don't care if it's a horrifying loss in November, as long as it's not Trump. I don't care if you put a Republican show salesman in his place. Just get the clown out of here!
posted by corb at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by corb at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
I meant shoe salesman but actually still appropriate.
posted by corb at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by corb at 1:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
Donald is saying the campaign has never been so united.
why does he think this is a brag? it's like the fucking bare minimum for any political org.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
why does he think this is a brag? it's like the fucking bare minimum for any political org.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Where did you get that? His campaing said 36M. That's quite a difference in numbers.
The NYT is reporting that Drumpf raised $82MM in July.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 1:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
The NYT is reporting that Drumpf raised $82MM in July.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 1:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
what the flying fuck is he talking about I really haven't been able to follow this. Iran? Tapes? All this cash? What is the narrative thread here?
posted by angrycat at 1:09 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by angrycat at 1:09 PM on August 3, 2016
I'm truly terrified of what he's inciting with the way he talks about Hillary.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 1:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Rambles about Yemen; senses the crowd is getting bored; comments on how many people are in the audience. Big cheers!
posted by mochapickle at 1:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mochapickle at 1:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
He's not having a good speech, is he? Seems even more rambling and worn-out than usual. Can't make head or tail of what he's on about.
posted by Devonian at 1:10 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Devonian at 1:10 PM on August 3, 2016
Of note, CNN (after about 5 minutes) and MSNBC have now both broken away from covering Trump rambling on.
posted by cashman at 1:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by cashman at 1:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
It's kind of a shame for Republicans that Ed O'Neil basically plays Republicans in almost all his roles but is actually a big Democrat.
Because you could actually have Al Bundy for President Corb if you could convince him to switch parties.
posted by vuron at 1:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Because you could actually have Al Bundy for President Corb if you could convince him to switch parties.
posted by vuron at 1:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
He loves protestors (they just threw somebody out) because without them you can't see his yuuuuge crowds. "But when you have protesters, the cameras, they turn like pretzels. They turn like pretzels."
posted by Don Pepino at 1:13 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Don Pepino at 1:13 PM on August 3, 2016
"Wouldn't it be embarrassing to lose to crooked Hillary Clinton? That'd be terrible!"
There's your election-night soundbite right there.
posted by Imperfect at 1:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
There's your election-night soundbite right there.
posted by Imperfect at 1:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
"Wouldn't that be embarrassing to lose to Crooked Hillary Clinton? That would be terrible."
posted by zachlipton at 1:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 1:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I feel like it's really telling that Trump says Hillary "shouldn't be allowed to run." Like, if "we" had our way, we could still tell women (and minorities) what they are allowed to do.
posted by snofoam at 1:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 1:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Trump is reiterating that this will have been a waste of time if they don't make it all the way.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016
Ha!!! The Rucker doing the interview/on the video is Philip Rucker, who I went to high school with. Nice job, dude!
posted by phunniemee at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump raised $80M last month, more than Hilary Clinton, although she ended up netting more money in July.
Not really. Broken out, Trump raised $64m in direct donations and $16m (which must be shared between the Trump campaign, the RNC, and states) in fundraising, versus Clinton's $63m and $26m, respectively. More importantly, as of Monday, Clinton had $58m cash on hand compared to Trump's $37m.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Not really. Broken out, Trump raised $64m in direct donations and $16m (which must be shared between the Trump campaign, the RNC, and states) in fundraising, versus Clinton's $63m and $26m, respectively. More importantly, as of Monday, Clinton had $58m cash on hand compared to Trump's $37m.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
He's laying the groundwork to drop out!
posted by R.F.Simpson at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by R.F.Simpson at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
You know, I may be unpopular for saying this, but I wish he wouldn't do this right now. The election is not yet won, we still have Trump to beat. At this moment, we need left/liberals to stand together. Once Bernie endorsed, I expected him to take that endorsement seriously, and actually stump for Hillary, not try to spin off his own separate thing before we've even got a new President. This just gives Bernie-or-Busters more ammunition for thinking that Bernie agrees with them regarding not voting for Hillary.
I suspect that people who are serious about Bernie's platform are actually going to feel better if there's something they can do during the run-up to the election. Seeing Bernie do nothing but stump for Hillary would make the whole thing feel like a sham. "I really care about this cause, my candidate isn't the nominee but here is a channel through which I can work - a channel which pretty much requires a Democratic victory because we won't get a damn thing out of Trump" seems like it's designed to keep people engaged. "My candidate lost, there was some impropriety even though it did not cause that loss and now I am expected to turn on a dime and go With Her" would really make me want to drop out, frankly.
posted by Frowner at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [35 favorites]
I suspect that people who are serious about Bernie's platform are actually going to feel better if there's something they can do during the run-up to the election. Seeing Bernie do nothing but stump for Hillary would make the whole thing feel like a sham. "I really care about this cause, my candidate isn't the nominee but here is a channel through which I can work - a channel which pretty much requires a Democratic victory because we won't get a damn thing out of Trump" seems like it's designed to keep people engaged. "My candidate lost, there was some impropriety even though it did not cause that loss and now I am expected to turn on a dime and go With Her" would really make me want to drop out, frankly.
posted by Frowner at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [35 favorites]
And while you might assume like I did, that Fox News is covering it, they aren't. Of course they have Pat Buchanan on right now, so..
posted by cashman at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by cashman at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016
Cameras turn like pretzels, apparently. Something to do with Bernie supporters. He's saying a lot of Bernie.
And he's going to get rid of Obama. Should have checked that constitution.
posted by Devonian at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
And he's going to get rid of Obama. Should have checked that constitution.
posted by Devonian at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Orange Julius Caesar
I gotta object to this one, as it gives Trump too much credit. No way he could keep a triumvirate together for any amount of time.
posted by EatTheWeek at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
I gotta object to this one, as it gives Trump too much credit. No way he could keep a triumvirate together for any amount of time.
posted by EatTheWeek at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Because you could actually have Al Bundy for President Corb if you could convince him to switch parties.
I'm now imagining NO MA'AM's thoughts on this election and it is actually quite easy to do.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
I'm now imagining NO MA'AM's thoughts on this election and it is actually quite easy to do.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
You mean MSNBC and CNN are actually realizing that giving Trump free airtime every day is a bad business model?
If Trump wants to run daily political Ads he should have to pay for commercials like everyone else instead of just scheduling a daily rally and getting like 10x the time in free unpaid coverage.
At a certain point in time the cable news networks need to realize that while Trump might be good for ratings he's undermining their whole business model of actually getting people to pay for advertising.
posted by vuron at 1:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
If Trump wants to run daily political Ads he should have to pay for commercials like everyone else instead of just scheduling a daily rally and getting like 10x the time in free unpaid coverage.
At a certain point in time the cable news networks need to realize that while Trump might be good for ratings he's undermining their whole business model of actually getting people to pay for advertising.
posted by vuron at 1:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
some sacrificial lamb who could bring in some massive Super PAC dollars like Romney or Jeb
I recognize this is one of my broken record things, but I question the idea that either of these two failed candidates can command massive dollars. Both lost. Romney in the final contest and Jeb barely made it out of the gate. Big money like the Kochs aren't backing Trump because he's toxic and because he can't be trusted to advocate their interests. But they're no more interested in throwing dollars at someone who is ideologically in line with them but completely unable to make anything happen on their behalf. Whether you think of them as purely financially motivated or true believers, big donors are in it for the results. Romney and Jeb Bush have a proven track record of not getting them.
posted by phearlez at 1:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I recognize this is one of my broken record things, but I question the idea that either of these two failed candidates can command massive dollars. Both lost. Romney in the final contest and Jeb barely made it out of the gate. Big money like the Kochs aren't backing Trump because he's toxic and because he can't be trusted to advocate their interests. But they're no more interested in throwing dollars at someone who is ideologically in line with them but completely unable to make anything happen on their behalf. Whether you think of them as purely financially motivated or true believers, big donors are in it for the results. Romney and Jeb Bush have a proven track record of not getting them.
posted by phearlez at 1:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
"Donald Trump measures your value by what's in your heart" says an incredibly white man I don't recognize.
Pretty sure that Trump would measure my value by looking at my legs, my boobs, my butt, and my face in that order.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
Pretty sure that Trump would measure my value by looking at my legs, my boobs, my butt, and my face in that order.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
The thing about Bernie is that he could point out just how much he stands to gain if they flip the Senate. Ranking majority member of the Senate Budget Committee. Seven target states and they need to flip four?
posted by Francis at 1:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Francis at 1:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Cameras turn like pretzels, apparently.
what the holy hell
posted by murphy slaw at 1:17 PM on August 3, 2016
what the holy hell
posted by murphy slaw at 1:17 PM on August 3, 2016
"You have airports in the Middle East the likes of which you've never seen in our country."
This is a man obsessed with airports.
"You'll see trains that go hundreds of miles an hour. Clump, Clump, Clump."
posted by winna at 1:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is a man obsessed with airports.
"You'll see trains that go hundreds of miles an hour. Clump, Clump, Clump."
posted by winna at 1:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Live Stream Rules:
"X. Be respectful to woman"
Like they have to be told. Yikes.
posted by Yowser at 1:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
"X. Be respectful to woman"
Like they have to be told. Yikes.
posted by Yowser at 1:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
He's not having a good speech, is he? Seems even more rambling and worn-out than usual. Can't make head or tail of what he's on about.
Honestly, this is just about exactly as rambling as usual for his rally speeches. He consistently wanders, mid-sentence, from topic to topic, gets distracted by another thought or the desire for some applause, takes strange winding detours between the setup and the landing line of a given talking point. It's a reactive, stumbling mush of greatest hits and the daily updates that works to the extent that it does mostly on the strength of his unwavering self-assurance. It's the same show every time.
I'm deep enough into the same quadrennial election madness cycle I get into every time that I have to fight the urge to watch a livestream Because It's There, but at this point with Trump rallies I've seen enough already that I've been surprised by everything of overarching substance and character that I'm going to be; the weird specific details of any given one I can catch up on in highlights later. I don't really need the daily grief, so I've turned this off and will try harder not to turn on the next one.
posted by cortex at 1:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
Honestly, this is just about exactly as rambling as usual for his rally speeches. He consistently wanders, mid-sentence, from topic to topic, gets distracted by another thought or the desire for some applause, takes strange winding detours between the setup and the landing line of a given talking point. It's a reactive, stumbling mush of greatest hits and the daily updates that works to the extent that it does mostly on the strength of his unwavering self-assurance. It's the same show every time.
I'm deep enough into the same quadrennial election madness cycle I get into every time that I have to fight the urge to watch a livestream Because It's There, but at this point with Trump rallies I've seen enough already that I've been surprised by everything of overarching substance and character that I'm going to be; the weird specific details of any given one I can catch up on in highlights later. I don't really need the daily grief, so I've turned this off and will try harder not to turn on the next one.
posted by cortex at 1:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
Trump is telling us our fighter jets are old because he "watched a documentary" the other day.
posted by zachlipton at 1:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 1:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm the one who said I can't fathom Jews supporting Trump. Not because he is anti-Semitic, although his repeated remarks about Jews being great with money are very much in that mode and offensive. I think Trump's hatreds (for example toward Muslims, immigrants, people of color) are aimed at different folks.
But he is indeed a hater, a person who has no respect for democracy or the rule of law or treaties, a man who is reckless beyond belief about the use of force and torture, and a would be dictator. And I think people with recent experience of a Holocaust should get why these things are so bad.
I have a few family members who are Republican who are having a real problem with this election cycle. They are convinced Hillary Clinton will be terrible for Israel. They point to the Iran nuclear deal, her statement while Secretary that she regretted that the US was not a signatory to the International Criminal Court treaty, President Obama's difficulties with Netanyahu and his position on the West Bank settlements. They think that only a Republican administration will support Israel unconditionally. Of course, only one President in the last 25 years has cut off loan guarantees to Israel: George H.W. Bush. And Dubya threatened to do the same while he was President. But they remain convinced.
But at the same time, they realize Trump is a thin-skinned, ignorant fascist who embraces hatred, racism and bigotry. And they look at his statements about Muslims and think, "We could be next." So they'll either vote for Clinton or stay home. I don't think any of them have decided which yet.
posted by zarq at 1:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
But he is indeed a hater, a person who has no respect for democracy or the rule of law or treaties, a man who is reckless beyond belief about the use of force and torture, and a would be dictator. And I think people with recent experience of a Holocaust should get why these things are so bad.
I have a few family members who are Republican who are having a real problem with this election cycle. They are convinced Hillary Clinton will be terrible for Israel. They point to the Iran nuclear deal, her statement while Secretary that she regretted that the US was not a signatory to the International Criminal Court treaty, President Obama's difficulties with Netanyahu and his position on the West Bank settlements. They think that only a Republican administration will support Israel unconditionally. Of course, only one President in the last 25 years has cut off loan guarantees to Israel: George H.W. Bush. And Dubya threatened to do the same while he was President. But they remain convinced.
But at the same time, they realize Trump is a thin-skinned, ignorant fascist who embraces hatred, racism and bigotry. And they look at his statements about Muslims and think, "We could be next." So they'll either vote for Clinton or stay home. I don't think any of them have decided which yet.
posted by zarq at 1:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
okay I can't listen anymore but this man is having too much fun to be actually invested in what is going on in the race. He's either high and/or only looking for attention. He really does not give a fucking shit, I think, whether he loses, as long as he can spin some sort of narrative that soothes his ego and gives him attention.
posted by angrycat at 1:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 1:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Certainly if Trump was a member of the triumvirate he'd be Crassus instead of Pompey or Gaius Julius.
Pompey and Caesar were actually competent which is giving way too much credit to Trump. Crassus on the other hand was powerful mainly based upon his wealth gained as a landlord.
posted by vuron at 1:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Pompey and Caesar were actually competent which is giving way too much credit to Trump. Crassus on the other hand was powerful mainly based upon his wealth gained as a landlord.
posted by vuron at 1:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Dude's tripping balls ...
posted by ZenMasterThis at 1:20 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by ZenMasterThis at 1:20 PM on August 3, 2016
Also, saying that the space program is like a third world nation. And the Middle East has trains that go at hundreds of miles an hour. Not sixty. And the space program again. Look at it. Look at it.
He's just spewing things out as they occur to him.
I'm completely lost.
posted by Devonian at 1:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
He's just spewing things out as they occur to him.
I'm completely lost.
posted by Devonian at 1:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
"He used to say 'There's no way we'll have a wall.' Now he's saying there's no way they'll pay for the wall! So that means he thinks it's going to happen!"
posted by winna at 1:21 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by winna at 1:21 PM on August 3, 2016
"... they said heroin ... they said heroin ... they said heroin ..."
posted by ZenMasterThis at 1:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 1:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
>Trump raised $80M last month
Where did you get that? His campaing said 36M. That's quite a difference in numbers.
$36M is cash on hand — what's left over after expenses were paid.
My main question was whether or not there was one big donation that helped make up that amount.
posted by My Dad at 1:21 PM on August 3, 2016
Where did you get that? His campaing said 36M. That's quite a difference in numbers.
$36M is cash on hand — what's left over after expenses were paid.
My main question was whether or not there was one big donation that helped make up that amount.
posted by My Dad at 1:21 PM on August 3, 2016
"We're going to have a real border. It's going to be a border you'll be proud of."
posted by winna at 1:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by winna at 1:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
"We've gotta stop being the stupid country run by very stupid people. We've gotta stop. We've gotta stop."
posted by Don Pepino at 1:23 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Don Pepino at 1:23 PM on August 3, 2016
"We can be politically correct. We can be really nice. [...] We've got to stop."
posted by winna at 1:23 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by winna at 1:23 PM on August 3, 2016
Is this the first time some of you guys have ever heard him give a rally speech? Because I agree that this is about as rambling as always, maybe better than average based on the ones I've seen, just bouncing between whatever topics occur to him. This one at least has semi-coherent sections and he's not getting quite as sidetracked as normal.
posted by zachlipton at 1:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Listening to the words coming out of his mouth, I'm finding it hard to guess what (if anything) is on the pieces of paper he keeps turning over.
posted by uosuaq at 1:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 1:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
He talks about how the media is lying about how his crowds are so great, asks the cameras to pan behind him. The camera doesn't budge.
posted by winna at 1:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by winna at 1:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, this is par for the course with his rally speeches.
posted by zarq at 1:24 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by zarq at 1:24 PM on August 3, 2016
"She will put people [on the Supreme Court] SO FAR LEFT it will be like Venezuela. Big Venezuela."
posted by winna at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by winna at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016
So when is Trump going to drop some top secret information in his wordpasta rallies? And would we even be able to tell? I mean he's dropping so much crazy shit that he could start revealing top secret intelligence briefing material and nobody would know other than the National Security briefers.
And what could Obama do? Prosecute him for revealing national secrets? That would totally play into the Trump campaign's rhetoric.
posted by vuron at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016
And what could Obama do? Prosecute him for revealing national secrets? That would totally play into the Trump campaign's rhetoric.
posted by vuron at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016
He's claiming we could have up to five Supreme Court Justices nominated during his term. I think the existing Justices better start having someone taste their food.
posted by zachlipton at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [52 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [52 favorites]
Is this the first time some of you guys have ever heard him give a rally speech? Because I agree that this is about as rambling as always
This right here is why I'm not worried about Trump's numbers going up as the general election ramps up - because most people still haven't actually heard his rambling whackadoodle speeches, and literally cannot believe what they are hearing when they finally do.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
This right here is why I'm not worried about Trump's numbers going up as the general election ramps up - because most people still haven't actually heard his rambling whackadoodle speeches, and literally cannot believe what they are hearing when they finally do.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
A long (but good) essay about why so many poor white people support Trump and other racist causes
Excellent articles like this makes me rage to no end. Everyone always scoff when I try to reason that corporations are the real reason we're in this shit, but research like this is rarely read by those who need to read it the most.
posted by numaner at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Excellent articles like this makes me rage to no end. Everyone always scoff when I try to reason that corporations are the real reason we're in this shit, but research like this is rarely read by those who need to read it the most.
posted by numaner at 1:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Ah. On message. Trump now litigating Megyn Kelly "blood" comments. And NYT reporter with disability.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 1:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
All right, the blood thing, the dancing thing, and the groveling thing will no doubt be next. But what about that baby yesterday, D.?
posted by Don Pepino at 1:28 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Don Pepino at 1:28 PM on August 3, 2016
Holy goodness, what is he even saying?
He sounds like he's having a stroke or something? The ends of his sentences don't match the start and...
Blood coming from Hillary's face, then disabled people, then reporters, then people dancing...
He's even more disjointed than he normally sounds, is he okay?
posted by Imperfect at 1:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
He sounds like he's having a stroke or something? The ends of his sentences don't match the start and...
Blood coming from Hillary's face, then disabled people, then reporters, then people dancing...
He's even more disjointed than he normally sounds, is he okay?
posted by Imperfect at 1:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
at this point he would probably lose by fewer percentage points if they just locked him in a hotel room without internet access until november
posted by murphy slaw at 1:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
is he okay?
The answer to that has never been 'yes'
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [30 favorites]
The answer to that has never been 'yes'
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [30 favorites]
This right here is why I'm not worried about Trump's numbers going up as the general election ramps up - because most people still haven't actually heard his rambling whackadoodle speeches, and literally cannot believe what they are hearing when they finally do.
There is a subset of people with whom this resonates though. Republicans have been doing the same schtick for years and Trump is just the latest who boasts that he's not scripted or polished and only says what's in his heart. His imperfect delivery makes him seem like an everyday guy. Not like those fake, lying politicians in Washington.
posted by zarq at 1:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
There is a subset of people with whom this resonates though. Republicans have been doing the same schtick for years and Trump is just the latest who boasts that he's not scripted or polished and only says what's in his heart. His imperfect delivery makes him seem like an everyday guy. Not like those fake, lying politicians in Washington.
posted by zarq at 1:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm not able to parse this at all. It's like a speech, where someone's randomly cut up the bits and spliced them together any old way.
Did he even say what the yuge lie Hillary said on nationwide TV at the weekend that the MSM ignored?
posted by Devonian at 1:30 PM on August 3, 2016
Did he even say what the yuge lie Hillary said on nationwide TV at the weekend that the MSM ignored?
posted by Devonian at 1:30 PM on August 3, 2016
I wonder if all the contractors he owes money to will ever get together to file a class action suit to gain said money owed.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's a reactive, stumbligh mush of greatest hits and the daily updates
It's a sign of my respect for cortex that instead of just reading over this as a typo, I opened up my Shorter OED app to look the word up. It's a sign of my general level of despair that I can barely handle that it was just a typo.
posted by OmieWise at 1:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
It's a sign of my respect for cortex that instead of just reading over this as a typo, I opened up my Shorter OED app to look the word up. It's a sign of my general level of despair that I can barely handle that it was just a typo.
posted by OmieWise at 1:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Sweet baby Jeebus, I've heard more coherent things out of the mouth of Courtney Love. This is nuts.
posted by teleri025 at 1:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by teleri025 at 1:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
There is a subset of people with whom this resonates though.
Yeah of course, I never said he'd get 0% of the votes, just that he's not gonna ADD voters to his constituency this way and will definitely lose at least SOME of them.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah of course, I never said he'd get 0% of the votes, just that he's not gonna ADD voters to his constituency this way and will definitely lose at least SOME of them.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Wow, did Trump not hear about Ailes getting shitcanned by Fox News? You do not fuck with Megyn Kelly.
Of course this is the same person that thinks it's okay to smear the grieving Muslim parents of a war hero so maybe he never learned not to touch fire.
Owww that burns, let me see if doing it again has the same result, ad infinitum.
posted by vuron at 1:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Of course this is the same person that thinks it's okay to smear the grieving Muslim parents of a war hero so maybe he never learned not to touch fire.
Owww that burns, let me see if doing it again has the same result, ad infinitum.
posted by vuron at 1:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Protestors should just start protesting by bringing babies to Trump rallies.
posted by drezdn at 1:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 1:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Orange Julius Caesar
I gotta object to this one, as it gives Trump too much credit. No way he could keep a triumvirate together for any amount of time.
Orange July Employee of the Month would still be giving him too much credit.
posted by DynamiteToast at 1:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I gotta object to this one, as it gives Trump too much credit. No way he could keep a triumvirate together for any amount of time.
Orange July Employee of the Month would still be giving him too much credit.
posted by DynamiteToast at 1:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I can not recommend enough the Twitter feed of Daniel Dale from the Toronto Star right now.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 1:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
This election is effecting my productivity, it's hard to write light historic comedy when you think the world is ending
Tell me about it. I'm so close to finishing my third urban fantasy comedy-smut novel, and yet every time I sit down in front of the computer it's a struggle between either turning off the wi-fi or falling down this dumpster fire rabbit hole.
But regardless of what it does for my productivity: Thank you, MeFi and MeFites, for these threads. You've kept me far better informed than any of my usual media habits ever could, and you've helped me keep sane.
...also this fucking year has proved to me that I will never, ever write anything as unrealistic as the reality of 2016.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
Tell me about it. I'm so close to finishing my third urban fantasy comedy-smut novel, and yet every time I sit down in front of the computer it's a struggle between either turning off the wi-fi or falling down this dumpster fire rabbit hole.
But regardless of what it does for my productivity: Thank you, MeFi and MeFites, for these threads. You've kept me far better informed than any of my usual media habits ever could, and you've helped me keep sane.
...also this fucking year has proved to me that I will never, ever write anything as unrealistic as the reality of 2016.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
This is malpractice. Mocking the disabled man is one of the very least popular things Trump has ever done, and he's retelling the story.
posted by saturday_morning at 1:33 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by saturday_morning at 1:33 PM on August 3, 2016
Not the Onion:
GOP Gubernatorial Candidate's Latest Ad Is Just Him Shooting a Machine Gun for 20 Seconds
posted by salix at 1:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
GOP Gubernatorial Candidate's Latest Ad Is Just Him Shooting a Machine Gun for 20 Seconds
posted by salix at 1:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
Hey - he keeps thinking he's running against Obama. It's weird.
I think he's trying to lie about Scotland, but it's so very hard to tell.
posted by Devonian at 1:34 PM on August 3, 2016
I think he's trying to lie about Scotland, but it's so very hard to tell.
posted by Devonian at 1:34 PM on August 3, 2016
> Instead, his strategy continues to be to attack the victims of the war, instead of his political opponent, who was one of its original perpetrators.
Rated "mostly false."
posted by biogeo at 1:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Rated "mostly false."
posted by biogeo at 1:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Why? Why is he talking about mocking the disabled reporter? This doesn't make sense. Even less sense than usual. Why?
posted by Justinian at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Justinian at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2016
Orange Julius Caesar Word Salad.
posted by notyou at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by notyou at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
The media is biased because he didn't hit a golf ball? That's what we've come to here.
posted by zachlipton at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by zachlipton at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2016
GOP Gubernatorial Candidate's Latest Ad Is Just Him Shooting a Machine Gun for 20 Seconds
i would very much like to be excluded from this narrative
posted by murphy slaw at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
i would very much like to be excluded from this narrative
posted by murphy slaw at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
I wonder how John Boehner is feeling right now. I picture him sitting out on the porch with a bourbon and a cigar, listening to the cicadas and feeling the warmth. A feeling of freedom because the Trumpsterfire is Somebody Else's Problem. Making a note that we are going to need some more bourbon.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 1:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [30 favorites]
posted by Midnight Skulker at 1:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [30 favorites]
I wonder why Trump just brings up old controversies. Why doesn't he ever mention HRC... ever? It's bizarre. It's like he's a malfunctioning android from a PDK novel.
posted by My Dad at 1:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 1:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
I wonder how John Boehner is feeling right now. I picture him sitting out on the porch with a bourbon and a cigar, listening to the cicadas and feeling the warmth.
No need to wonder! Boehner is indeed chilling. And you are spot on.
posted by Justinian at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
No need to wonder! Boehner is indeed chilling. And you are spot on.
posted by Justinian at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I wonder how John Boehner is feeling right now. I picture him sitting out on the porch with a bourbon and a cigar, listening to the cicadas and feeling the warmth. A feeling of freedom because the Trumpsterfire is Somebody Else's Problem. Making a note that we are going to need some more bourbon.
You are indeed very close.
posted by zachlipton at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
You are indeed very close.
posted by zachlipton at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Protestors should just start protesting by bringing babies to Trump rallies.
SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN
posted by rp at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016
Boehner is also probably glad that he's no longer the crazy orange Republican that people are always talking about.
posted by vuron at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by vuron at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [27 favorites]
Re: Jews and the Tangerine Tyrant
My dad and brother are gun nuts and misogynists. They also think it's hella funny when the women in the family bring up anything related to gun safety and they think Hillary is going to confiscate their arms. As I said in a previous thread though, my father's father, who he worshipped, escaped from the SS in Hamburg and would beat my father if he knew that he was voting for a fascist. I will be using that as a long pointy personalized weapon during Rosh Hashanah dinner.
posted by Sophie1 at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [69 favorites]
My dad and brother are gun nuts and misogynists. They also think it's hella funny when the women in the family bring up anything related to gun safety and they think Hillary is going to confiscate their arms. As I said in a previous thread though, my father's father, who he worshipped, escaped from the SS in Hamburg and would beat my father if he knew that he was voting for a fascist. I will be using that as a long pointy personalized weapon during Rosh Hashanah dinner.
posted by Sophie1 at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [69 favorites]
Yeah of course, I never said he'd get 0% of the votes, just that he's not gonna ADD voters to his constituency this way and will definitely lose at least SOME of them.
I sincerely hope you're right.
But I look at the comments sections of newspapers all the damn time and wonder if even despite all of this, if he could win.
posted by zarq at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I sincerely hope you're right.
But I look at the comments sections of newspapers all the damn time and wonder if even despite all of this, if he could win.
posted by zarq at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
i sincerely believe that he thinks that if he keeps bringing these issues up, eventually everyone involved will issue a heartfelt apology to him
posted by murphy slaw at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Eeic Grietens is straight out of Idiocracy.
posted by Yowser at 1:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 1:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Why? Why is he talking about mocking the disabled reporter? This doesn't make sense. Even less sense than usual. Why?
I know we're not supposed to speculate about Trump's mental state but I feel like you are making a pretty big assumption here, namely that Trump has a reason that you or I would perceive as 'rational' for saying any of this shit
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I know we're not supposed to speculate about Trump's mental state but I feel like you are making a pretty big assumption here, namely that Trump has a reason that you or I would perceive as 'rational' for saying any of this shit
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
"I would have picked a [video of a] bad looking [golf] swing, I have them too." Wow, Trump at the most self-effacing I've ever seen.
posted by glhaynes at 1:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by glhaynes at 1:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Comments sections vastly overrepresent a very tiny slice of the population, namely, those worked up enough to write comments online. The electorate is vastly larger and not as unhinged.
posted by argybarg at 1:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 1:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I had to dip out of the stream because my connection was stuttering, and because it was incomprehensible. But my overall impression is that trump is way off his game, and this whole thing is just him relitigating old grudges. No new slogans, no new policy, nothing to fire up his base beyond stoking their indignity. That's not news by any means, but I think after the week he's had he should be aiming for a little more.
Also, he seems doped. I know it's word salad on the best days, but I didn't catch a single complete sentence.
posted by codacorolla at 1:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, he seems doped. I know it's word salad on the best days, but I didn't catch a single complete sentence.
posted by codacorolla at 1:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
He just doubled down on his secret plan to fight inflation to win states "Republicans never win."
posted by zarq at 1:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zarq at 1:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
But I look at the comments sections of newspapers all the damn time and wonder if even despite all of this, if he could win.
And if you only looked at the comment sections here, you'd think he had literally zero support. Comment sections tell you squat about squat.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
And if you only looked at the comment sections here, you'd think he had literally zero support. Comment sections tell you squat about squat.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
That's not news by any means
and i think that news organizations are starting to realize that
posted by murphy slaw at 1:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
and i think that news organizations are starting to realize that
posted by murphy slaw at 1:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
We're making the wall out of peanuts now? What happened to the babies?
posted by vverse23 at 1:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by vverse23 at 1:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
"I'm glad John Boehner seems happy" is a thought I just had. I was worried earlier this week that 2016 had killed my empathy but it actually may have just broken me altogether.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [61 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [61 favorites]
Why is he pointing out that he's employed thousands and thousands of Mexican people over the years? Stay on message, dude!
posted by acidic at 1:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by acidic at 1:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Why is he pointing out that he's employed thousands and thousands of Mexican people over the years? Stay on message, dude!
he wants you to appreciate his sacrifice
posted by murphy slaw at 1:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
he wants you to appreciate his sacrifice
posted by murphy slaw at 1:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
Also, he seems doped. I know it's word salad on the best days, but I didn't catch a single complete sentence.
Ibogaine has reared its ugly head in our Presidential campaigns before.
posted by delfin at 1:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Ibogaine has reared its ugly head in our Presidential campaigns before.
posted by delfin at 1:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
widgets and gidgets and gadgets!
posted by acidic at 1:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by acidic at 1:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Why is he secretive about the identity of his plant-building friend?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:45 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:45 PM on August 3, 2016
Jumping ahead cuz I had to react to this:
I'm watching CNN, and they've just been yammering on about Trump and all that - with a small window in the bottom right to alert the viewer Trump will be on soon. Meanwhile Hillary Clinton is actually speaking.
UGH yes. This is the shit that's been driving me out of my mind. A few weeks ago there was some thing where Drumpy had said some insulting thing about Clinton. CNN went to show Hillary live at a speech, and they put a huge chyron headline below her: "CLINTON RESPONDS TO TRUMP CRITICISM." For the 15 minutes I watched, she did not mention him. Did not respond to anything he'd said. It was a standard campaign appearance speech, scheduled long in advance, but their coverage made HIM the focus.
posted by dnash at 1:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
I'm watching CNN, and they've just been yammering on about Trump and all that - with a small window in the bottom right to alert the viewer Trump will be on soon. Meanwhile Hillary Clinton is actually speaking.
UGH yes. This is the shit that's been driving me out of my mind. A few weeks ago there was some thing where Drumpy had said some insulting thing about Clinton. CNN went to show Hillary live at a speech, and they put a huge chyron headline below her: "CLINTON RESPONDS TO TRUMP CRITICISM." For the 15 minutes I watched, she did not mention him. Did not respond to anything he'd said. It was a standard campaign appearance speech, scheduled long in advance, but their coverage made HIM the focus.
posted by dnash at 1:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
So no one else makes the mistake of googling Ibogaine from their work machine, it's apparently in the same class of drugs as Ketamine.
posted by winna at 1:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by winna at 1:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
So people just cheered for a 35% tariff on air conditioners. I'm sure if he instead said "Hillary Clinton is going to raise your taxes; air conditioners will be 35% more expensive," the audience would be chanting "lock her up."
posted by zachlipton at 1:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
Ibogaine has reared its ugly head in our Presidential campaigns before.
Sometimes I try to imagine what Hunter S. Thompson's descriptions of this campaign season would be like. Then I remember that Trump being within single digits of winning the White House is probably the kind of thing he was thinking of when he killed himself.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
Sometimes I try to imagine what Hunter S. Thompson's descriptions of this campaign season would be like. Then I remember that Trump being within single digits of winning the White House is probably the kind of thing he was thinking of when he killed himself.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
Meanwhile, the mighty woman is organizing her transition team. How refreshingly presidential.
I'd add that I'm happy Bernie is moving ahead with his movement organizing. I think keeping engaged in that way will only help Ds, and help advance the D platform goals.
posted by bearwife at 1:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
I'd add that I'm happy Bernie is moving ahead with his movement organizing. I think keeping engaged in that way will only help Ds, and help advance the D platform goals.
posted by bearwife at 1:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
yeah, he's selling import tariffs by saying "we'll make a lot of money". Uh, the government will make a lot of revenue but that doesn't help regular people by default?
posted by murphy slaw at 1:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
the cameras, they turn like pretzels. They turn like pretzels.
oh so now he's abandoning the dog community too, I see how it is, I see how it is.
posted by sallybrown at 1:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
oh so now he's abandoning the dog community too, I see how it is, I see how it is.
posted by sallybrown at 1:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
This is malpractice. Mocking the disabled man is one of the very least popular things Trump has ever done, and he's retelling the story.
You know I like Trump's new stuff but once in a while you just want to hear the hits.
posted by Talez at 1:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [26 favorites]
You know I like Trump's new stuff but once in a while you just want to hear the hits.
posted by Talez at 1:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [26 favorites]
Donald Trump: The suicide rate for veterans is so high, "I'm not even going to tell you what it is."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
We're back to the trope of 'people will call me and tell me we're winning too much, but I won't stop winning no matter how much people beg.' It's one of his best hits I think.
posted by zachlipton at 1:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
We now return you to your regularly scheduled speed metal.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:51 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:51 PM on August 3, 2016
Every single thing Trump says makes me think of the moderator's response from Billy Madison.
posted by guiseroom at 1:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 1:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
I think in general it's smart to assume that most people on the right or the left don't actually have bad intentions they just have a particular perspective based upon their backgrounds and where they are in the world and based upon where they are at during that moment of their life they genuinely feel like one party or the other offers the best set of policies for them and theirs as well as the US as a whole.
I would say that even most politicians tend to operate along similar principles.
However there are other people like the Shouting Orange Dictator who clearly don't see the world in this way. For them the world is about people who either have something you want, or can help get you something you want or are in the way of you getting what you want.
Trump shows a startling lack of empathy, I'm used to sociopathic tendencies being well represented and increasingly well rewarded in the business arena (as well as other areas of life) but at the risk of armchair psychiatry Trump seems like he's a classic sociopath who is at this point so insulated by his own privilege that he doesn't even have to pretend to have the vaguest hint of empathy for the people he savages.
posted by vuron at 1:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
I would say that even most politicians tend to operate along similar principles.
However there are other people like the Shouting Orange Dictator who clearly don't see the world in this way. For them the world is about people who either have something you want, or can help get you something you want or are in the way of you getting what you want.
Trump shows a startling lack of empathy, I'm used to sociopathic tendencies being well represented and increasingly well rewarded in the business arena (as well as other areas of life) but at the risk of armchair psychiatry Trump seems like he's a classic sociopath who is at this point so insulated by his own privilege that he doesn't even have to pretend to have the vaguest hint of empathy for the people he savages.
posted by vuron at 1:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Trump Edges Close to Clinton With Flood of Donations
Donald J. Trump all but erased his enormous fund-raising deficit against Hillary Clinton in the span of just two months, according to figures released by his campaign on Tuesday, converting the passion of his core followers into a flood of small donations on a scale rarely seen in national politics.posted by zachlipton at 1:52 PM on August 3, 2016
Mr. Trump and the Republican National Committee raised $64 million through a joint digital and direct mail effort in July, according to his campaign, the bulk of it from small donations. All told, Mr. Trump and his party brought in $82 million last month, only slightly behind Mrs. Clinton, and ended with an enormous pool of $74 million in cash on hand, suggesting he might now have the resources to compete with Mrs. Clinton in the closing stretch of the campaign.
Now I want to go to a Trump rally, hold up a lighter and yell out "MEXICO ISN'T SENDING ITS BEST AND BRIGHTEST!" and see if he actually does it.
posted by Talez at 1:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Talez at 1:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Trump: "Stop looking at me, swan."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
"The lying started at 7:27 a.m. and did not stop until after dark. Even for Donald Trump, Monday, Aug. 1, was a banner day for bullshit."The first paragraph of the Make A Great American Novel.
— Olivia Nuzzi, 15 Hours of Donald Trump’s Lies
posted by octobersurprise at 1:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [30 favorites]
You know what I'm realizing... I actually find it much more disturbing to talk to someone who is relatively nonchalant and shrugging in response to this election, than I do talking to someone who is rabidly pro-Trump or rabidly anti-Clinton.
Just had a conversation of the former sort with an old college friend and out of everything in the last year this is the situation where I feel like I want to start screaming, when I'm talking to someone who I feel should know better than to be complacent and they're just, like, blah. Fortunately I didn't actually start screaming and maybe I'll have something more composed to say to her, rather than just rambling incredulousness, next time we talk.
posted by XMLicious at 1:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Just had a conversation of the former sort with an old college friend and out of everything in the last year this is the situation where I feel like I want to start screaming, when I'm talking to someone who I feel should know better than to be complacent and they're just, like, blah. Fortunately I didn't actually start screaming and maybe I'll have something more composed to say to her, rather than just rambling incredulousness, next time we talk.
posted by XMLicious at 1:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Bernie or Bust "rigged" rhetoric still being used to say that Clinton will rig the general election. Ugh.
posted by defenestration at 1:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by defenestration at 1:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
I have a few family members who are Republican who are having a real problem with this election cycle. They are convinced Hillary Clinton will be terrible for Israel. They point to the Iran nuclear deal, her statement while Secretary that she regretted that the US was not a signatory to the International Criminal Court treaty, President Obama's difficulties with Netanyahu and his position on the West Bank settlements. They think that only a Republican administration will support Israel unconditionally. Of course, only one President in the last 25 years has cut off loan guarantees to Israel: George H.W. Bush. And Dubya threatened to do the same while he was President. But they remain convinced.
It's not just this - a non-insignificant percentage of the left is embracing anti-semitism under the umbrella of pro-Palestinian politics. People burned an Israeli flag outside the DNC while praising the intifada. When HRC said she would not compromise Israel's security, there were people who booed. I come from a long, long tradition of religious Jewish lefties (Skokie representing!) and while everyone in my family is pro-Clinton, and see the threat that Trump is actively promising in not distancing himself at all from his anti-semitic supporters, and in his xenophobic spewing, there is also an underlying sense of building worry over the rhetoric I am hearing from fellow Democrats. Including here on Metafilter.
People can't just say "well, he's an anti-Semite, why can't the Jews just realize that?" He is. But anti-semitism is on the rise around the world, and it's also coming from inside the house.
I don't know how many of my right-leaning Jewish friends will vote for Trump in the end; I can't fathom how they possibly could in light of everything he has done and said. But I think they're more likely to stay home than vote for Hillary.
posted by Mchelly at 1:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
It's not just this - a non-insignificant percentage of the left is embracing anti-semitism under the umbrella of pro-Palestinian politics. People burned an Israeli flag outside the DNC while praising the intifada. When HRC said she would not compromise Israel's security, there were people who booed. I come from a long, long tradition of religious Jewish lefties (Skokie representing!) and while everyone in my family is pro-Clinton, and see the threat that Trump is actively promising in not distancing himself at all from his anti-semitic supporters, and in his xenophobic spewing, there is also an underlying sense of building worry over the rhetoric I am hearing from fellow Democrats. Including here on Metafilter.
People can't just say "well, he's an anti-Semite, why can't the Jews just realize that?" He is. But anti-semitism is on the rise around the world, and it's also coming from inside the house.
I don't know how many of my right-leaning Jewish friends will vote for Trump in the end; I can't fathom how they possibly could in light of everything he has done and said. But I think they're more likely to stay home than vote for Hillary.
posted by Mchelly at 1:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
Going with the Iran money thing... oh dear God, they are truly out of ideas, aren't they?
posted by codacorolla at 1:58 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by codacorolla at 1:58 PM on August 3, 2016
When HRC said she would not compromise Israel's security, there were people who booed.
Not supporting Israel unconditionally is not the same thing as being anti-Semitic.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [70 favorites]
Not supporting Israel unconditionally is not the same thing as being anti-Semitic.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [70 favorites]
It's not just this - a non-insignificant percentage of the left is embracing anti-semitism under the umbrella of pro-Palestinian politics. People burned an Israeli flag outside the DNC while praising the intifada.
That's not Antisemitism. That is anti-Israel. It is disingenuous to lump condemnation of the Israeli state with Antisemitism.
Trump is antisemitic, he generally refers to stereotypes about Jews and money.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
That's not Antisemitism. That is anti-Israel. It is disingenuous to lump condemnation of the Israeli state with Antisemitism.
Trump is antisemitic, he generally refers to stereotypes about Jews and money.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
Have we ever had an actually crazy president?
Nixon was (strategically?) irrational:
"I call it the Madman Theory, Bob. I want the North Vietnamese to believe I've reached the point where I might do anything to stop the war. We'll just slip the word to them that, "for God's sake, you know Nixon is obsessed about communism. We can't restrain him when he's angry—and he has his hand on the nuclear button" and Ho Chi Minh himself will be in Paris in two days begging for peace"
-- H.R. Haldeman, recalling a conversation between him and Nixon.
posted by Sauce Trough at 2:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Nixon was (strategically?) irrational:
"I call it the Madman Theory, Bob. I want the North Vietnamese to believe I've reached the point where I might do anything to stop the war. We'll just slip the word to them that, "for God's sake, you know Nixon is obsessed about communism. We can't restrain him when he's angry—and he has his hand on the nuclear button" and Ho Chi Minh himself will be in Paris in two days begging for peace"
-- H.R. Haldeman, recalling a conversation between him and Nixon.
posted by Sauce Trough at 2:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Going with the Iran money thing... oh dear God, they are truly out of ideas, aren't they?
Not really. He won't want to engage with the story, because it's not the narrative he wants, but he can get a lift from saying 'What's going on here?' at the same time as the news is showing pictures of American money being ladled out of a plane in Iran.
It doesn't matter that it's lies and misdirection, it matters that it makes an emotional impact. And that's all.
I'm living through Brexit. I know this shit.
posted by Devonian at 2:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Not really. He won't want to engage with the story, because it's not the narrative he wants, but he can get a lift from saying 'What's going on here?' at the same time as the news is showing pictures of American money being ladled out of a plane in Iran.
It doesn't matter that it's lies and misdirection, it matters that it makes an emotional impact. And that's all.
I'm living through Brexit. I know this shit.
posted by Devonian at 2:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Bernie himself never said "rigged" did he? And he didn't say anything about the vote not agreeing with the exit polls?
I think he made some comments about the DNC's hacked e-mails showing that the DNC really was biased, but not being surprised by that. But I don't think he's questioned the validity of the election process.
I feel like Bernie really needs to come out loud and clear and squash this stupid report published on some guy's google drive with no authors, because I hear people citing these bullshit exit poll percentages all the time on both sides of the aisle and it has the potential to really undermine the legitimacy of our democratic process if people on both sides of the aisle continue to run with it.
Relatedly, what universe do these people live in who believe Bernie would have won the election if not for vote tampering, when he never had any polling leads that would have been remotely consistent with that?
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
I think he made some comments about the DNC's hacked e-mails showing that the DNC really was biased, but not being surprised by that. But I don't think he's questioned the validity of the election process.
I feel like Bernie really needs to come out loud and clear and squash this stupid report published on some guy's google drive with no authors, because I hear people citing these bullshit exit poll percentages all the time on both sides of the aisle and it has the potential to really undermine the legitimacy of our democratic process if people on both sides of the aisle continue to run with it.
Relatedly, what universe do these people live in who believe Bernie would have won the election if not for vote tampering, when he never had any polling leads that would have been remotely consistent with that?
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
You guys are kind of proving my point. Not all anti-Israel sentiment is anti-Semitic. But insisting that none is, or shouting down people who point out that some is, is part of the problem.
posted by Mchelly at 2:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 2:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
but seriously can someone explain the pretzel thing
posted by murphy slaw at 2:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Repubs did an actual literal Seig Heil on stage, just saying.
posted by Artw at 2:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 2:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
You guys are kind of proving my point. Not all anti-Israel sentiment is anti-Semitic. But insisting that none is, or shouting down people who point out that some is, is part of the problem.
QFT. It's kind of amazing, and also kind of scary, how knee jerk that response is becoming.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 2:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
QFT. It's kind of amazing, and also kind of scary, how knee jerk that response is becoming.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 2:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Pretzel... cookers... rotate?
I got nothing.
posted by selfnoise at 2:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I got nothing.
posted by selfnoise at 2:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
You guys are kind of proving my point. Not all anti-Israel sentiment is anti-Semitic. But insisting that none is, or shouting down people who point out that some is, is part of the problem.
-You said "When HRC said she would not compromise Israel's security, there were people who booed" as an example of "embracing anti-semitism"
-I said "that is not anti-semitism"
-You replied "stop insisting that no anti-Israel sentiment could possibly be anti-semitic" and that I am "shouting you down."
I have no clue how anyone could possibly read my comment that way in good faith.
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [54 favorites]
-You said "When HRC said she would not compromise Israel's security, there were people who booed" as an example of "embracing anti-semitism"
-I said "that is not anti-semitism"
-You replied "stop insisting that no anti-Israel sentiment could possibly be anti-semitic" and that I am "shouting you down."
I have no clue how anyone could possibly read my comment that way in good faith.
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [54 favorites]
Y'all, if we attempt to re-litigate MeFi "I vs P" or "Is This Antisemitism?" in a 2016 Election Thread, the servers will melt, and then where will we be? Relegated to Twitter? Fark? The brooding ruins of Kuro5hin? Please comment with your conscience.
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [65 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [65 favorites]
Pretzels twist and turn. The cameras at the rallies are stationary and focused on just a few rows of people. Trump would like the cameras to twist and turn so viewers can see how big the crowds are (which he considers to be the true marker of his success).
posted by mochapickle at 2:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 2:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
You guys are kind of proving my point. Not all anti-Israel sentiment is anti-Semitic. But insisting that none is, or shouting down people who point out that some is, is part of the problem.
The things you cited are not Antisemitism. If they referred to the Jews specifically, then that would be Antisemitic.
One can think that Israel does not have a right to exist and not be antisemitic. One can think that the Intifata is is good and not be antisemitic.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
The things you cited are not Antisemitism. If they referred to the Jews specifically, then that would be Antisemitic.
One can think that Israel does not have a right to exist and not be antisemitic. One can think that the Intifata is is good and not be antisemitic.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Hillary has been a pretty much Israel-friendly politician her entire career. I'm not sure with this sudden doubt is coming from but it's unfounded.
posted by PenDevil at 2:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 2:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Lets definitely argue about Israel.
posted by Justinian at 2:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [67 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [67 favorites]
Anyway, in terms of Trump, his supporters are also often antisemitic with that whole ((())) crap on Twitter. Also, Wikileaks is antisemitic based on one of their tweets.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:10 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Ironmouth at 2:10 PM on August 3, 2016
you know if he really wants the crowd to look huge he can just jam 200 people into a banquet room at an IHOP
posted by murphy slaw at 2:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
I was Capt. Khan’s commander in Iraq. The Khan family is our family: "Blue Star families are those with a member deployed to combat in the service of our country. Gold Star families are families that have lost a loved one in a combat zone. In our military culture, we hold Blue Star families in the highest regard. But we have absolute reverence for our Gold Star families. I join all those who stand in support of the Khan family. This family is our family, and any attack on this wonderful American Gold Star family is an attack on all patriotic and loyal Americans who have sacrificed to make our country great. Any politically or racially motivated attack on the Khans is despicable and un-American.
Though I am a Republican, I have voted my conscience — for both Democrats and Republicans — for the past 32 years. I’m going to vote my conscience again this year. We live in a dangerous and complex world. We need leaders who are steady, patient and empathetic, especially at the national level, during this troubled time. We need somebody who has respect for our Gold Star families."
posted by acidic at 2:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [59 favorites]
Though I am a Republican, I have voted my conscience — for both Democrats and Republicans — for the past 32 years. I’m going to vote my conscience again this year. We live in a dangerous and complex world. We need leaders who are steady, patient and empathetic, especially at the national level, during this troubled time. We need somebody who has respect for our Gold Star families."
posted by acidic at 2:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [59 favorites]
Mod note: Boy gosh howdy does stumbling sideways into a general argument about antisemitism not feel like something that's going to go well or improve this thread. Please let's let that be at this point.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [60 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [60 favorites]
The brooding ruins of Kuro5hin?
K5 died. It's a domain parking page now.
Anyway, in terms of Trump, his supporters are also often antisemitic with that whole ((())) crap on Twitter. Also, Wikileaks is antisemitic based on one of their tweets.
FYI, when you see ((())) around the name of a person's Twitter handle it's a sign of solidarity.
posted by Talez at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
K5 died. It's a domain parking page now.
Anyway, in terms of Trump, his supporters are also often antisemitic with that whole ((())) crap on Twitter. Also, Wikileaks is antisemitic based on one of their tweets.
FYI, when you see ((())) around the name of a person's Twitter handle it's a sign of solidarity.
posted by Talez at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
What does Israel (a total red herring and derail here) have to do with whether or not Trump is Antisemitic? When Julia Ioffe profiled Melania Trump for GQ, for example, she was tormented by the most foul antisemitic crap. Antisemitism in the Trump campaign is a real problem. I'm really surprised anyone would doubt this.
posted by My Dad at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
but seriously can someone explain the pretzel thing
Pretzel... cookers... rotate? I got nothing.
Pretzel Logic.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2016
Pretzel... cookers... rotate? I got nothing.
Pretzel Logic.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2016
Pretzel... cookers... rotate?
When journalists see protestors, they turn their cameras and microphones around so quickly to get tape of them that they tie themselves up like pretzels. I thought it was kind of a clever image.
posted by roll truck roll at 2:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
When journalists see protestors, they turn their cameras and microphones around so quickly to get tape of them that they tie themselves up like pretzels. I thought it was kind of a clever image.
posted by roll truck roll at 2:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Pretzel... cookers... rotate?
I got nothing.
Oh, come on -- it makes at least as much sense as the "like a dog" thing.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 2:14 PM on August 3, 2016
I got nothing.
Oh, come on -- it makes at least as much sense as the "like a dog" thing.
posted by O Sock My Sock at 2:14 PM on August 3, 2016
"If we look at the techniques of totalitarian government, it is obvious that the argument of 'the lesser evil'...is one of the mechanisms built into the machinery of terror and criminality. Acceptance of lesser evils is consciously used in conditioning the government officials as well as the population at large to the acceptance of evil as such...Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget very quickly that they chose evil."
The context matters here. Arendt, if I remember, was talking about Jews who collaborated in WWII by supplying lists of jews to go to the camps, because they believed that by having control over the lists they could save some Jews, while if the Germans had control, everyone would die.
This a whole order of magnitude different a 'lesser evil' than voting for Clinton. I mean, unless you want to violently overthrow the US gov't, there are no viable alternatives within the existing political order to prevent the catastrophe of the GOP controlling all three branches of gov't besides a Clinton victory in November.
The problem with this argument is that it commits the same technical maneuver. To assert "This is a whole order of magnitude different" is literally the same rationalization: it's less of an issue now, therefore it's is justified. The lesser evil is much less, so let's dismiss the concern and the philosophical relevance.
The context "matters" (to whom?), but that's no logical reason to relegate Arendt's point to history. The psychological technique, the phenomenon, is not restricted: Arendt explicitly says, "If we look at the techniques of totalitarian government"; the only way to read this opening correctly is as a piece of political philosophy, making a general point of wisdom about how societies work. It is philosophically incorrect to construe Arendt's intent as only talking about this in the context of Jewish collaborators in a previous era, or that the stakes were totally different. If anything, Arendt's point was a critique of their choice, e.g. in their capacity as officials, in particular the ways their choice presented ideological risks for themselves and the population at large. It doesn't make sense to dismiss the critique; rather, the point is to account for it and incorporate it in strategy.
It is better, but much harder when we try to apply such criticism upon ourselves and our allies, not some Other, since human beings, understandably, have a tendency to not want to do that. Applying old philosophy is necessarily a creative process; that's why talking about this is hard. The salience of Arendt's quote is not the particularities of history, or totalitarianism per se, or the specific mechanisms of social manipulation. What's relevant to today is the psychological analysis in these lines: "Acceptance of lesser evils is consciously used in conditioning the government officials as well as the population at large to the acceptance of evil as such...Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget very quickly that they chose evil."
Chomsky wrote about manufactured consent almost 30 years ago, and that had conceptual similarities to Arendt's above. Some contemporary researchers do not reject Chomsky's idea, but adapt his arguments to the modern context. For example, some say that the problem of control of thought and information hasn't lessened but rather become internalized, due to and in parallel with the decentralization of communications infrastructure.
In the Jewish collaborators' shoes, the two evils were (simplistically) "harm some Jews" versus "harm all Jews/Holocaust". Arendt is saying, that, by itself, is the wrong framework. He's saying, that's buying into the framework of terror, because the distorted outcome is the conditioning, the reflexive acceptance of "it's okay to harm some Jews", a thought that serves the greater evil. Politically, those who chose the lesser evil quickly forget the little bit of evil that was there. That's why Arendt says it's a weak argument, an appeal to false choice.
The good news is there's a practical fix. Someone else already quoted Chomsky above: what may work well is doing the tactical vote, but then also necessarily returning efforts to and attention on the other leftist issues. That's something that leftists can and should do. Not doing this latter part is what exposes progressives to Arendt's critique. People who don't identify as leftists could try to understand this better.
posted by polymodus at 2:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
The context matters here. Arendt, if I remember, was talking about Jews who collaborated in WWII by supplying lists of jews to go to the camps, because they believed that by having control over the lists they could save some Jews, while if the Germans had control, everyone would die.
This a whole order of magnitude different a 'lesser evil' than voting for Clinton. I mean, unless you want to violently overthrow the US gov't, there are no viable alternatives within the existing political order to prevent the catastrophe of the GOP controlling all three branches of gov't besides a Clinton victory in November.
The problem with this argument is that it commits the same technical maneuver. To assert "This is a whole order of magnitude different" is literally the same rationalization: it's less of an issue now, therefore it's is justified. The lesser evil is much less, so let's dismiss the concern and the philosophical relevance.
The context "matters" (to whom?), but that's no logical reason to relegate Arendt's point to history. The psychological technique, the phenomenon, is not restricted: Arendt explicitly says, "If we look at the techniques of totalitarian government"; the only way to read this opening correctly is as a piece of political philosophy, making a general point of wisdom about how societies work. It is philosophically incorrect to construe Arendt's intent as only talking about this in the context of Jewish collaborators in a previous era, or that the stakes were totally different. If anything, Arendt's point was a critique of their choice, e.g. in their capacity as officials, in particular the ways their choice presented ideological risks for themselves and the population at large. It doesn't make sense to dismiss the critique; rather, the point is to account for it and incorporate it in strategy.
It is better, but much harder when we try to apply such criticism upon ourselves and our allies, not some Other, since human beings, understandably, have a tendency to not want to do that. Applying old philosophy is necessarily a creative process; that's why talking about this is hard. The salience of Arendt's quote is not the particularities of history, or totalitarianism per se, or the specific mechanisms of social manipulation. What's relevant to today is the psychological analysis in these lines: "Acceptance of lesser evils is consciously used in conditioning the government officials as well as the population at large to the acceptance of evil as such...Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget very quickly that they chose evil."
Chomsky wrote about manufactured consent almost 30 years ago, and that had conceptual similarities to Arendt's above. Some contemporary researchers do not reject Chomsky's idea, but adapt his arguments to the modern context. For example, some say that the problem of control of thought and information hasn't lessened but rather become internalized, due to and in parallel with the decentralization of communications infrastructure.
In the Jewish collaborators' shoes, the two evils were (simplistically) "harm some Jews" versus "harm all Jews/Holocaust". Arendt is saying, that, by itself, is the wrong framework. He's saying, that's buying into the framework of terror, because the distorted outcome is the conditioning, the reflexive acceptance of "it's okay to harm some Jews", a thought that serves the greater evil. Politically, those who chose the lesser evil quickly forget the little bit of evil that was there. That's why Arendt says it's a weak argument, an appeal to false choice.
The good news is there's a practical fix. Someone else already quoted Chomsky above: what may work well is doing the tactical vote, but then also necessarily returning efforts to and attention on the other leftist issues. That's something that leftists can and should do. Not doing this latter part is what exposes progressives to Arendt's critique. People who don't identify as leftists could try to understand this better.
posted by polymodus at 2:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
"I want to watch television. I want to watch Ivory Snow, I want to see cereal, something, Kellogg, something anything." -- is apparently something Trump just said. This, I believe.
posted by acidic at 2:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by acidic at 2:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
Haha I assume the ibogaine reference was actually intended to be a Iocane Princess Bride reference.
It was not.
posted by delfin at 2:15 PM on August 3, 2016
It was not.
posted by delfin at 2:15 PM on August 3, 2016
It seems to me that there is little chance of Trump being able to nuke anything or anyone on a whim.
There absolutely is a chance. The only requirement is that the president and the defense secretary agree.
This is incorrect. There is no requirement that the defense secretary agree with the President. The defense secretary's only role is to verify the identity and authenticity of the order from the President. It is not within the legal power of the secretary to question the order itself.
That is not to say that a secretary couldn't refuse, but then he would be violating his duty and would be removed and replaced.
posted by JackFlash at 2:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
There absolutely is a chance. The only requirement is that the president and the defense secretary agree.
This is incorrect. There is no requirement that the defense secretary agree with the President. The defense secretary's only role is to verify the identity and authenticity of the order from the President. It is not within the legal power of the secretary to question the order itself.
That is not to say that a secretary couldn't refuse, but then he would be violating his duty and would be removed and replaced.
posted by JackFlash at 2:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Did he just call Hillary Clinton "the founder of ISIS"
Yes, yes he did. The kind of thing that would have sunk a candidacy a year ago. What the fuck.
posted by sallybrown at 2:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
Yes, yes he did. The kind of thing that would have sunk a candidacy a year ago. What the fuck.
posted by sallybrown at 2:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
"I want to watch television. I want to watch Ivory Snow, I want to see cereal, something, Kellogg, something anything." -- is apparently something Trump just said. This, I believe.
[kissing fingers, Italian-chef-style]
posted by penduluum at 2:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
[kissing fingers, Italian-chef-style]
posted by penduluum at 2:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Tell me about it. I'm so close to finishing my third urban fantasy comedy-smut novel, and yet every time I sit down in front of the computer it's a struggle between either turning off the wi-fi or falling down this dumpster fire rabbit hole.
Okay well I bought the first one now so if I really love it and blaze through the second I'll be sending you prodding memails demanding you quit reading politics threads and get back to work. Now I just need someone to keep me on the straight and narrow for my dodged work, but it's making me so unhappy I'd find something different to screw off with if it wasn't this...
posted by phearlez at 2:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Okay well I bought the first one now so if I really love it and blaze through the second I'll be sending you prodding memails demanding you quit reading politics threads and get back to work. Now I just need someone to keep me on the straight and narrow for my dodged work, but it's making me so unhappy I'd find something different to screw off with if it wasn't this...
posted by phearlez at 2:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
That is not to say that a secretary couldn't refuse, but then he would be violating his duty and would be removed and replaced.
...which is exactly what Blue Jello Elf said in literally the next sentence:
If the defense secretary disagrees, the president can fire the defense secretary and ask his deputy...
posted by escape from the potato planet at 2:19 PM on August 3, 2016
...which is exactly what Blue Jello Elf said in literally the next sentence:
If the defense secretary disagrees, the president can fire the defense secretary and ask his deputy...
posted by escape from the potato planet at 2:19 PM on August 3, 2016
Has there even been an Ivory Snow ad on TV within the past 30 years?
posted by mochapickle at 2:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 2:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
"I want to watch television. I want to watch Ivory Snow, I want to see cereal, something, Kellogg, something anything."
I complained about this in the last thread - we need [Fake] tags. This can't possibly be happening. Has the world gone mad?
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
I complained about this in the last thread - we need [Fake] tags. This can't possibly be happening. Has the world gone mad?
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
"I want to watch television. I want to watch Ivory Snow, I want to see cereal, something, Kellogg, something anything." -- is apparently something Trump just said. This, I believe.
In fairness this actually makes some sense in context, he was complaining about all the anti-Trump ads in Florida and how they're overwhelming all the 'normal' ads. (Maybe he should have bought some ad time!)
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
In fairness this actually makes some sense in context, he was complaining about all the anti-Trump ads in Florida and how they're overwhelming all the 'normal' ads. (Maybe he should have bought some ad time!)
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
OMG it's real. I ...
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
okay i'm calling it, trump is one of the sizzler sisters
posted by murphy slaw at 2:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
That is not to say that a secretary couldn't refuse, but then he would be violating his duty and would be removed and replaced.
And during that time while Trump goes down the line of people willing to quit instead of start a nuclear war over a tweet, the VP and cabinet exercise section 4 of the 25th amendment.
posted by Talez at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
And during that time while Trump goes down the line of people willing to quit instead of start a nuclear war over a tweet, the VP and cabinet exercise section 4 of the 25th amendment.
posted by Talez at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Has there even been an Ivory Snow ad on TV within the past 30 years?
I'm guessing not. I'm a millennial and I have no idea what Ivory Snow is.
posted by joedan at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm guessing not. I'm a millennial and I have no idea what Ivory Snow is.
posted by joedan at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I complained about this in the last thread - we need [Fake] tags. This can't possibly be happening. Has the world gone mad?
One small-handed part of it, yes.
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
One small-handed part of it, yes.
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Drumpfsterfire 2016
posted by bstreep at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by bstreep at 2:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
> Remember, Trump has discussed shooting people who don't vote for him
That is a strange way to read that quote.
posted by savetheclocktower at 2:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
That is a strange way to read that quote.
posted by savetheclocktower at 2:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
I'm 39 and I have no idea what Ivory Snow is.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 2:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 2:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Hey what did Gongrich say about Trump? I'm at the gym and CNN is reporting something like Clinton is a better choice than Trump?!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:23 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:23 PM on August 3, 2016
Wouldn't it be great if Trump just used his ad buys for cereal spots?
posted by ckape at 2:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by ckape at 2:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I believe it's powdered Ivory soap used for washing machines?
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:25 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:25 PM on August 3, 2016
Ivory Snow was the first porno Marilyn Chambers was in
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
i uh think you might be stretching the text a bit there
posted by murphy slaw at 2:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
That is a strange way to read that quote.
I never thought of it this way but it's strictly implied by the quote. Because if he was shooting one of his voters he would lose a voter.
posted by dis_integration at 2:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
I never thought of it this way but it's strictly implied by the quote. Because if he was shooting one of his voters he would lose a voter.
posted by dis_integration at 2:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
If elected Mefi President for Life I promise to have the Stanley Cup do a tour of Canada so that our Canadian brothers and sisters would be given a chance to gaze upon their birthright which has been stolen by American interlopers for far too long.
In return I ask only that Canada provide proof that Justin Trudeau is actually a native Canadian with the release of a birth certificate. If Canada fails to offer legitimate proof of their possession of Trudeau we shall be forced to assume that he is a nationless person and thereby subject to involuntary naturalization procedures.
posted by vuron at 2:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
In return I ask only that Canada provide proof that Justin Trudeau is actually a native Canadian with the release of a birth certificate. If Canada fails to offer legitimate proof of their possession of Trudeau we shall be forced to assume that he is a nationless person and thereby subject to involuntary naturalization procedures.
posted by vuron at 2:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Trump also said in that speech that "those people that knocked down the World Trade Center most likely under the Trump policy wouldn't have been here to knock down the World Trade Center just so you understand."
This wasn't even a point he was making. He just threw that out there on his way to complaining that he wasn't trying to mock the reporter with disabilities.
posted by sallybrown at 2:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
This wasn't even a point he was making. He just threw that out there on his way to complaining that he wasn't trying to mock the reporter with disabilities.
posted by sallybrown at 2:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ivory Snow commercials on Youtube. There's one from 1987 but the vast majority are from the 50s and 60s, though that may say more about Youtube than about the actual prevalence of Ivory Snow ads through the decades.
Why am I even talking about this, the election has broken me
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
Why am I even talking about this, the election has broken me
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
Not at all. If Donald Trump kills someone, and he doesn't lose any voters, then the person he killed was not a Trump voter
Or, he could kill someone and people would still find him electable, I thought was his original point.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Or, he could kill someone and people would still find him electable, I thought was his original point.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I think the quote can also be read to indicate his extreme unpopularity in New York City. There are unlikely to be any Trump voters in the middle of 5th Ave.
posted by zachlipton at 2:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
oh god i just figured it out
he's not running for president
he's a spoken word jam band
posted by murphy slaw at 2:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
he's not running for president
he's a spoken word jam band
posted by murphy slaw at 2:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I'm starting to piece something together in my head but I'm not sure what.
1. Trump won't release his tax returns and there is rampant speculation he isn't worth what he says he is.
2. At his Comedy Central roast, jokes about the above were off limits.
3. Trump has claimed in interviews that the largest part of his net worth is the brand value of the "Trump" name, which he grossly overestimates.
So, could this all be an attempt to increase the Trump brand value through publicity by dominating the news cycles for the better part of a year? Is he headed for insolvency without it?
posted by rocket88 at 2:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
1. Trump won't release his tax returns and there is rampant speculation he isn't worth what he says he is.
2. At his Comedy Central roast, jokes about the above were off limits.
3. Trump has claimed in interviews that the largest part of his net worth is the brand value of the "Trump" name, which he grossly overestimates.
So, could this all be an attempt to increase the Trump brand value through publicity by dominating the news cycles for the better part of a year? Is he headed for insolvency without it?
posted by rocket88 at 2:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
"Listening to the words coming out of his mouth, I'm finding it hard to guess what (if anything) is on the pieces of paper he keeps turning over."
I suspect mostly pictures of himself.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
I suspect mostly pictures of himself.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
I can't even begin to wrap my head around a man that says incest jokes about his daughter are fine, but better not mock his net worth!
posted by corb at 2:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [55 favorites]
posted by corb at 2:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [55 favorites]
Keep in mind that the thing we just watched was billed as a town hall event. He showed up an hour late and answered no questions. Once again, something unremarked upon by the media which would typically at least grab headlines if not rule the narrative for a week.
posted by codacorolla at 2:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 2:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
I've been worried about the debates since Yam became the Republican front-runner. I worry that either he will refuse to debate, or that he will just be so off the wall that effective responses will be difficult for his opponent. It sounds like it will turn out to be a combination.
posted by zennie at 2:30 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by zennie at 2:30 PM on August 3, 2016
Or, he could kill someone and people would still find him electable, I thought was his original point.
well that's a much more charitable reading
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
well that's a much more charitable reading
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
So when is Trump going to drop some top secret information in his wordpasta rallies? And would we even be able to tell?
I'm increasingly convinced they probably haven't/won't tell him anything that's actually that sensitive in those meetings. What would be the point? Trump really won't ever know the difference, anyway. They could feed him stuff a second-year college student could dig up for a research paper and as long as they deliver it with enough gravitas, he'll think it's super secret stuff.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
I'm increasingly convinced they probably haven't/won't tell him anything that's actually that sensitive in those meetings. What would be the point? Trump really won't ever know the difference, anyway. They could feed him stuff a second-year college student could dig up for a research paper and as long as they deliver it with enough gravitas, he'll think it's super secret stuff.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Gingrich just said today that Trump is more unacceptable than Clinton. I just googled it but it's too hard to link while I'm biking. Seems shocking
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
member of the Frankfurt School
This is a narrow point but she's not even close to being a member of the Frankfurt school (she has some harsh words for Adorno, in fact).
My point wasn't that Arendt's remarks should be relegated to history, but that applying them to the current election is a category mistake made by way of the phrase 'lesser evil' being used in both situations but with much different meanings. Lesser Evil Voting is categorically different than Choosing Some Lesser Evil Under A Totalitarian Regime of Death. They're different categories and different lines of thought follow from them. Indeed, one uses the word evil figuratively, to mean "less in line with my political views", the other means evil. In the latter case Arendt's thinking counts.
posted by dis_integration at 2:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
This is a narrow point but she's not even close to being a member of the Frankfurt school (she has some harsh words for Adorno, in fact).
My point wasn't that Arendt's remarks should be relegated to history, but that applying them to the current election is a category mistake made by way of the phrase 'lesser evil' being used in both situations but with much different meanings. Lesser Evil Voting is categorically different than Choosing Some Lesser Evil Under A Totalitarian Regime of Death. They're different categories and different lines of thought follow from them. Indeed, one uses the word evil figuratively, to mean "less in line with my political views", the other means evil. In the latter case Arendt's thinking counts.
posted by dis_integration at 2:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
So, could this all be an attempt to increase the Trump brand value through publicity by dominating the news cycles for the better part of a year? Is he headed for insolvency without it?
It could be. Or it could be part-and-parcel of his apparently highly specific and personally unique acalculia that causes him to inflate the value of all numbers he speaks out loud by 50 to 50000%.
posted by penduluum at 2:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
It could be. Or it could be part-and-parcel of his apparently highly specific and personally unique acalculia that causes him to inflate the value of all numbers he speaks out loud by 50 to 50000%.
posted by penduluum at 2:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I can't even begin to wrap my head around a man that says incest jokes about his daughter are fine, but better not mock his net worth!
To be clear, that's not quite what he said. Vulture misrepresented the original article a bit. The off-limits part was questioning that he might not be worth as much as he says he is. The rest of the list, incest jokes included, wasn't explicitly allowed, it was simply the stuff they did say.
Of course, I still can't wrap my head around the actual stuff Donald has said about his daughter.
posted by zachlipton at 2:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
To be clear, that's not quite what he said. Vulture misrepresented the original article a bit. The off-limits part was questioning that he might not be worth as much as he says he is. The rest of the list, incest jokes included, wasn't explicitly allowed, it was simply the stuff they did say.
Of course, I still can't wrap my head around the actual stuff Donald has said about his daughter.
posted by zachlipton at 2:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
"Listen, the national security establishment, they trust me. They trust me so much. They said to me, Mr Trump, and I'm quoting here, Mr Trump, North Korea is a nation which occupies the north half of the Korean peninsula. That's straight from the CIA, that's how much they trust me. Tremendous."
posted by murphy slaw at 2:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
Mr Trump, please proceed.
posted by sfts2 at 2:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sfts2 at 2:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
[kissing fingers, Italian-chef-style]
Tangentially: this one line reminded me of the Poxy Boggards' song I Wear No Pants, which is proving a delightful distraction and palate cleanser for this thread. That is all.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Tangentially: this one line reminded me of the Poxy Boggards' song I Wear No Pants, which is proving a delightful distraction and palate cleanser for this thread. That is all.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Secret Life of Gravy: here. A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
posted by penduluum at 2:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by penduluum at 2:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
so was that livestream channel showing the rally an official Trump joint?
because the still image behind the "stream's over, thanks for watching" message is a picture of Trump flanked by half a dozen glammed-up models, one on each arm
it's very classy and presidential
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
because the still image behind the "stream's over, thanks for watching" message is a picture of Trump flanked by half a dozen glammed-up models, one on each arm
it's very classy and presidential
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
What has been truly entertaining over the past couple of days is to watch mainstream (e.g., moderates and neocons) conservatives come to the consensus that Trump is in a nose-dive right now, he's the only one that can pull out of it, and he doesn't want to.
posted by My Dad at 2:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by My Dad at 2:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Another request here to please tag your quotes as fake or satire, it's literally impossible to tell them apart from the things Trump has actually said.
posted by VTX at 2:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [51 favorites]
posted by VTX at 2:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [51 favorites]
Yeah, the stream I linked is a third party trump supporter, not an official mouthpiece of the campaign. I can see how you might be confused, however.
posted by codacorolla at 2:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by codacorolla at 2:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
OMG YOU GUYS HILLARY JUST PRAISED THE DENVER TRANSIT SYSTEM AND POINTED OUR HER SCARF WAS MADE IN COLORADO THIS ELECTION IS INSANE RIGHT?
posted by argybarg at 2:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 2:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
What WILL she say next?
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
because the still image behind the "stream's over, thanks for watching" message is a picture of Trump flanked by half a dozen glammed-up models, one on each arm
That's the new Great Seal of the United States.
posted by Artw at 2:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
That's the new Great Seal of the United States.
posted by Artw at 2:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Univision: Trump at 13% among Florida Latinos
posted by joedan at 2:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by joedan at 2:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
From Washington to state capitals around the country, a feeling of despair and despondence fell over the Republican establishment
From that Post article. This is the name of my new band.
posted by OmieWise at 2:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
From that Post article. This is the name of my new band.
posted by OmieWise at 2:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
This is a narrow point but she's not even close to being a member of the Frankfurt school (she has some harsh words for Adorno, in fact).
See now, back when I was reading Frankfurt School stuff, the standard narrative was to lump her in as the unacceptable one with the unacceptable politics. This was late-nineties Baffler-era, when Thomas Frank et al were big Adorno fans and more Benjamin was just getting published widely in English. I believe I have an old Baffler article somewhere which is a big critique of her in relation to Adorno, etc.
posted by Frowner at 2:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
See now, back when I was reading Frankfurt School stuff, the standard narrative was to lump her in as the unacceptable one with the unacceptable politics. This was late-nineties Baffler-era, when Thomas Frank et al were big Adorno fans and more Benjamin was just getting published widely in English. I believe I have an old Baffler article somewhere which is a big critique of her in relation to Adorno, etc.
posted by Frowner at 2:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
From Washington to state capitals around the country, a feeling of despair and despondence fell over the Republican establishment
From that Post article. This is the name of my new band.
A bit on the proggy side, but ok.
posted by saturday_morning at 2:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
From that Post article. This is the name of my new band.
A bit on the proggy side, but ok.
posted by saturday_morning at 2:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
fivethirtyeight must have gotten some new polling data in, polls-only forecast now has Clinton over 70.1%
posted by murphy slaw at 2:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Although it was a typical sTRump speech (see what I - 'cause it, he - okay) and it's fun to hear first-time reactions, I did think he was muttering quite a bit more than usual. Like the idling rumble of a leafblower before it goes off again.
"IRAN, WHATS GOING ON THEREtherewasawholelottacashoverthereIbetsomebodydidthe THE WALL IS PEANUTS WE'RE LOSERS I'mtotallygonnabringjobsbackfromMexicoIlovetheMexicolosertrade WE HAVE TO STOP BUT I'M NOT GONNA . . . "
posted by petebest at 2:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
"IRAN, WHATS GOING ON THEREtherewasawholelottacashoverthereIbetsomebodydidthe THE WALL IS PEANUTS WE'RE LOSERS I'mtotallygonnabringjobsbackfromMexicoIlovetheMexicolosertrade WE HAVE TO STOP BUT I'M NOT GONNA . . . "
posted by petebest at 2:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Hillary comes out, talks about a specific victory of public spending in relation to the space she is speaking: Colorado's mass transit. Relates this to her policy positions.
trump comes out and mumbles, "Nascar," and gives a perplexing shout-out to its CEO, Brian French.
posted by codacorolla at 2:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
trump comes out and mumbles, "Nascar," and gives a perplexing shout-out to its CEO, Brian French.
posted by codacorolla at 2:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
winna: "This is a man obsessed with airports."
He's been spending a lot of time in planes traveling home each night.
zachlipton: "Trump is telling us our fighter jets are old because he "watched a documentary" the other day."
Somewhat ironically since the F-35 just became combat ready.
murphy slaw: "yeah, he's selling import tariffs by saying "we'll make a lot of money". Uh, the government will make a lot of revenue but that doesn't help regular people by default?"
Maybe it'll work like the chicken tax and you just won't be able to buy them; that'll save consumers a lot of money on both capital and energy costs.
posted by Mitheral at 2:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
He's been spending a lot of time in planes traveling home each night.
zachlipton: "Trump is telling us our fighter jets are old because he "watched a documentary" the other day."
Somewhat ironically since the F-35 just became combat ready.
murphy slaw: "yeah, he's selling import tariffs by saying "we'll make a lot of money". Uh, the government will make a lot of revenue but that doesn't help regular people by default?"
Maybe it'll work like the chicken tax and you just won't be able to buy them; that'll save consumers a lot of money on both capital and energy costs.
posted by Mitheral at 2:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Meanwhile, shots fired over at PEC about Nate Silver's methodology.
God, I love these kind of fights.
posted by The Gaffer at 2:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
God, I love these kind of fights.
posted by The Gaffer at 2:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
It is well that Twitter war is heck, otherwise we would like it too well.
posted by The Gaffer at 2:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by The Gaffer at 2:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
My point wasn't that Arendt's remarks should be relegated to history, but that applying them to the current election is a category mistake made by way of the phrase 'lesser evil' being used in both situations but with much different meanings. Lesser Evil Voting is categorically different than Choosing Some Lesser Evil Under A Totalitarian Regime of Death. They're different categories and different lines of thought follow from them. Indeed, one uses the word evil figuratively, to mean "less in line with my political views", the other means evil. In the latter case Arendt's thinking counts.
Well yes, I think you want to compartmentalize the two cases in some way, be it history or categories. However, what I said further was that interpreting Arendt in terms of a terror framework and false choice is what yields some general insights, as well as makes connections to Chomsky's recent advice. I hope it helps more people understand the leftists' point of view, and their concerns. It wasn't really to criticize you, and I'm sorry if what I said previously came across as mainly that.
posted by polymodus at 2:47 PM on August 3, 2016
Well yes, I think you want to compartmentalize the two cases in some way, be it history or categories. However, what I said further was that interpreting Arendt in terms of a terror framework and false choice is what yields some general insights, as well as makes connections to Chomsky's recent advice. I hope it helps more people understand the leftists' point of view, and their concerns. It wasn't really to criticize you, and I'm sorry if what I said previously came across as mainly that.
posted by polymodus at 2:47 PM on August 3, 2016
the cameras, they turn like pretzels. They turn like pretzels
Jesus- now I'm starting to hear Trump's speeches in the same cadence as the "Rock Island" song from the start of The Music Man.
Whad'ya talk?
Whad'ya talk?
Whad'ya talk?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Jesus- now I'm starting to hear Trump's speeches in the same cadence as the "Rock Island" song from the start of The Music Man.
Whad'ya talk?
Whad'ya talk?
Whad'ya talk?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Meanwhile, shots fired over at PEC about Nate Silver's methodology.
I love it when Carl Diggler takes the piss out of Nate Silver. Nate Silver represents everything that is wrong with politics.
posted by My Dad at 2:48 PM on August 3, 2016
I love it when Carl Diggler takes the piss out of Nate Silver. Nate Silver represents everything that is wrong with politics.
posted by My Dad at 2:48 PM on August 3, 2016
I didn't check the viewing figures during Trump's livestream - my brain was maxed out trying to parse - but just just before he came on they were at around 3k. HRC is currently at around 400.
Which is not surprising - the chance of an actual carcrash is always higher at Daytona - but still, would rather it was the other way around.
posted by Devonian at 2:48 PM on August 3, 2016
Which is not surprising - the chance of an actual carcrash is always higher at Daytona - but still, would rather it was the other way around.
posted by Devonian at 2:48 PM on August 3, 2016
Nate Silver represents everything that is wrong with politics.
I mean, I can think of at least one other thing
posted by penduluum at 2:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [63 favorites]
I mean, I can think of at least one other thing
posted by penduluum at 2:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [63 favorites]
WSJ/NBC/Marist Poll: Trump at 0% among black voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
I wish Clinton would win on merits instead of by default over a nutjob, but I'll take the W.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 2:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Sweet baby Jeebus, I've heard more coherent things out of the mouth of Courtney Love.
That's it. I'm done. If you are honorable you will meet me at dawn tomorrow in Malibu where we will see whose vocals are the rawest. The winner will be declared A Significant Hot Mess and the loser gets to join the Indigo Girls. (You may bring a token-male guitarist as your witness.)
I actually think a Courtney Love presidency would be a hell of a lot more competent and definitely more likely to benefit the electorate than Trump's would. If the only choice was between those two, Love is a no-brainer.
posted by maxwelton at 2:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
That's it. I'm done. If you are honorable you will meet me at dawn tomorrow in Malibu where we will see whose vocals are the rawest. The winner will be declared A Significant Hot Mess and the loser gets to join the Indigo Girls. (You may bring a token-male guitarist as your witness.)
I actually think a Courtney Love presidency would be a hell of a lot more competent and definitely more likely to benefit the electorate than Trump's would. If the only choice was between those two, Love is a no-brainer.
posted by maxwelton at 2:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
Meanwhile, the mighty woman is organizing her transition team. How refreshingly presidential.
Trump tapped Chris Christie to lead his transition team in May.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump is in a nose-dive right now, he's the only one that can pull out of it, and he doesn't want to.
“The problem is that Trump watches TV every minute that he isn’t actually on his phone, either talking or tweeting,” said one [anonymous, obviously exasperated Trump] adviser [to the Huffington Post].
“And then he gets angry at what he sees on TV and reacts.”
So here we are, watching one candidate's presidential campaign being run entirely within the cable news cycle, in a death spiral of irrationality and wrath.
THIS IS NOT FINE!!
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
“The problem is that Trump watches TV every minute that he isn’t actually on his phone, either talking or tweeting,” said one [anonymous, obviously exasperated Trump] adviser [to the Huffington Post].
“And then he gets angry at what he sees on TV and reacts.”
So here we are, watching one candidate's presidential campaign being run entirely within the cable news cycle, in a death spiral of irrationality and wrath.
THIS IS NOT FINE!!
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Certainly if Trump was a member of the triumvirate he'd be Crassus
This I can get behind. Specifically, Trump is Crassus at that point in his career where he's strapping on armor at like seventy and marching to his asskicking at Carrhae while everyone else is like "dude, what are you dooooing?"
posted by EatTheWeek at 2:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
This I can get behind. Specifically, Trump is Crassus at that point in his career where he's strapping on armor at like seventy and marching to his asskicking at Carrhae while everyone else is like "dude, what are you dooooing?"
posted by EatTheWeek at 2:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Just in: New Fox News poll has Clinton +10.
-Clinton: 49%
-Trump: 39%
posted by zombieflanders at 2:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
-Clinton: 49%
-Trump: 39%
posted by zombieflanders at 2:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
If elected Mefi President for Life I promise to have the Stanley Cup do a tour of Canada so that our Canadian brothers and sisters would be given a chance to gaze upon their birthright which has been stolen by American interlopers for far too long.
OK but it stays in Canada all year at the Hockey Hall of Fame except for during the Finals and when the winning team's players get to spend a day with it (though many of them are also Canadian and bring it here on their days anyway). I mean, seeing it is not a problem. it's the whole part where we don't get to brag about our team winning it that's the problem.
So in short, to get my vote you need to make sure a Canadian team other than the Leafs or Flames wins it.
posted by Hoopo at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
OK but it stays in Canada all year at the Hockey Hall of Fame except for during the Finals and when the winning team's players get to spend a day with it (though many of them are also Canadian and bring it here on their days anyway). I mean, seeing it is not a problem. it's the whole part where we don't get to brag about our team winning it that's the problem.
So in short, to get my vote you need to make sure a Canadian team other than the Leafs or Flames wins it.
posted by Hoopo at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
... a picture of Trump flanked by half a dozen glammed-up models, one on each arm ...
Jebus, prize bull octorok, that seems like a lot of arms.
posted by Occula at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [35 favorites]
Jebus, prize bull octorok, that seems like a lot of arms.
posted by Occula at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [35 favorites]
So here we are, watching one candidate's presidential campaign being run entirely within the cable news cycle, in a death spiral of irrationality and wrath.
Like a toilet, where instead of draining into the sewer system, it just drops everything back into the bowl.
posted by codacorolla at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Like a toilet, where instead of draining into the sewer system, it just drops everything back into the bowl.
posted by codacorolla at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Fox News Poll 7/31-8/2 MOE 3 : Clinton 49% Trump 39% (Clinton +10)
posted by Justinian at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I mean, he's doing great, I guess, because that's twelve more percents than I expected.
No. There's a (thankfully very small) subset of the latino community who are all "I CAME HERE LEGALLY AND FUCK THOSE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME AS WELL!"
Never mind that to come here legally requires you to either be marrying a US citizen, be rich, or win the DV lottery.
posted by Talez at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
No. There's a (thankfully very small) subset of the latino community who are all "I CAME HERE LEGALLY AND FUCK THOSE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME AS WELL!"
Never mind that to come here legally requires you to either be marrying a US citizen, be rich, or win the DV lottery.
posted by Talez at 2:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump tapped Chris Christie to lead his transition team in May.
Considering even Trump seemingly believes he's not winning come November, isn't this the least important job in his campaign? Christie really is in full blown battered wife syndrome at this point.
posted by PenDevil at 2:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Considering even Trump seemingly believes he's not winning come November, isn't this the least important job in his campaign? Christie really is in full blown battered wife syndrome at this point.
posted by PenDevil at 2:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I wish Clinton would win on merits instead of by default over a nutjob, but I'll take the W.
Default? The "two sweetest words in the English language."
posted by drezdn at 2:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Default? The "two sweetest words in the English language."
posted by drezdn at 2:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
You can talk, you can bicker, but it's different than it was.
No it ain't, no it ain't.
But you gotta know the territory!
-Music Man "train"scene
Personal factoid: I was in my high school band and one of our more interesting tasks was playing when the Drama Department staged a musical. They did Music Man and needed a few extra bodies for that scene. Since it was a kinda-musical number that didn't need a backup band, guess who went up on stage chanting "No it ain't, no it ain't. But you gotta know the territory!". Among others, me. Good times. Now that's going to earworm me for days. Also the potential for comparing Dishonest Donnie to "Professor" Harold Hill is... irresistible.
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
No it ain't, no it ain't.
But you gotta know the territory!
-Music Man "train"scene
Personal factoid: I was in my high school band and one of our more interesting tasks was playing when the Drama Department staged a musical. They did Music Man and needed a few extra bodies for that scene. Since it was a kinda-musical number that didn't need a backup band, guess who went up on stage chanting "No it ain't, no it ain't. But you gotta know the territory!". Among others, me. Good times. Now that's going to earworm me for days. Also the potential for comparing Dishonest Donnie to "Professor" Harold Hill is... irresistible.
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
How, um...I can't believe I'm even asking this...
How reliable are FOX News polls?
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
How reliable are FOX News polls?
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
You guys and gals made me a shitty bartender today, trying to keep up with these threads. But I did hear a rumor- Newt Gingrich is going to be in the hotel I work at, tomorrow. Not sure what, if anything, I shall do with this info.
posted by vrakatar at 2:59 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by vrakatar at 2:59 PM on August 3, 2016
Jebus, prize bull octorok, that seems like a lot of arms.
What, six arms? That plus two legs is the correct number of limbs as far as my kind are concerned.
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
What, six arms? That plus two legs is the correct number of limbs as far as my kind are concerned.
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
Fox News Poll 7/31-8/2 MOE 3 : Clinton 49% Trump 39% (Clinton +10)
live footage from HRC campaign HQ
posted by entropicamericana at 3:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
live footage from HRC campaign HQ
posted by entropicamericana at 3:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Apoplectic is latin for "scared shitless", right?
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:02 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:02 PM on August 3, 2016
That plus two legs is the correct number of limbs as far as my kind are concerned.
*squints* ... oh, nevermind!
posted by Occula at 3:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
*squints* ... oh, nevermind!
posted by Occula at 3:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
How reliable are FOX News polls?
538 gives them a B with a +0.5R leaning. So they're okay.
posted by Justinian at 3:03 PM on August 3, 2016
538 gives them a B with a +0.5R leaning. So they're okay.
posted by Justinian at 3:03 PM on August 3, 2016
> How reliable are Fox News polls
He may or may not be everything that is wrong with politics, but for what it's worth Nate Silver gives them a B.
I am fairly sure the other big election forecasters don't do this pollster-weighting thing, so make of that what you will.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 3:05 PM on August 3, 2016
He may or may not be everything that is wrong with politics, but for what it's worth Nate Silver gives them a B.
I am fairly sure the other big election forecasters don't do this pollster-weighting thing, so make of that what you will.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 3:05 PM on August 3, 2016
I hope the DNC momentum can carry through even if Trump flakes out, so we can flip the house and senate. I'm afraid without the specter of Trumpism folks will stay home and not vote.
posted by mrzarquon at 3:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mrzarquon at 3:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Considering even Trump seemingly believes he's not winning come November, isn't this the least important job in his campaign?
If that changes I full expect Christie to be replaced.
posted by Artw at 3:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
If that changes I full expect Christie to be replaced.
posted by Artw at 3:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Speaking of Nate Silver, I'm not exactly sure what to make of Brad DeLong and Sam Wang claiming (respectively) that the 538 forecast isn't a forecast or that it's a forecast based on a single snapshot of recent polls.
I thought the 538 folks said that their forecasts were based on a LOESS regression of all the polls ever?
Did I misunderstand? Did somebody else misunderstand?
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 3:08 PM on August 3, 2016
I thought the 538 folks said that their forecasts were based on a LOESS regression of all the polls ever?
Did I misunderstand? Did somebody else misunderstand?
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 3:08 PM on August 3, 2016
i think the "single snapshot" refers to the now-cast?
posted by murphy slaw at 3:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 3:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sweet baby Jeebus, I've heard more coherent things out of the mouth of Courtney Love. This is nuts.
Make America ache like I ache again!
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 3:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Make America ache like I ache again!
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 3:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
This is what has been getting me through (gleaned from one of these threads, I'm sure). Repeated daily viewings of this: Khaleesi is coming to Westeros.
posted by lunasol at 3:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by lunasol at 3:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
the cameras, they turn like pretzels. They turn like pretzels
Jesus- now I'm starting to hear Trump's speeches in the same cadence as the "Rock Island" song from the start of The Music Man.
For me, I can't not-hear them in the voice of Frank Costanza.
posted by mudpuppie at 3:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Jesus- now I'm starting to hear Trump's speeches in the same cadence as the "Rock Island" song from the start of The Music Man.
For me, I can't not-hear them in the voice of Frank Costanza.
posted by mudpuppie at 3:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
> i think the "single snapshot" refers to the now-cast?
Oh, that would make sense.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 3:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, that would make sense.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 3:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
the servers will melt, and then where will we be?
posted by Celsius1414
Exactly how hot would that have to be?
posted by JackFlash at 3:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414
Exactly how hot would that have to be?
posted by JackFlash at 3:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Not supporting Israel unconditionally is not the same thing as being anti-Semitic.
Yeah, no shit. Was it not glaringly obvious that my comment was about what some Republican members of my family believe and not my own personal views?
posted by zarq at 3:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yeah, no shit. Was it not glaringly obvious that my comment was about what some Republican members of my family believe and not my own personal views?
posted by zarq at 3:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
This morning the news was all about Hillary out-raising Trump and now we get Trump's campaign saying they raised a lot more than they had before? Uh, is anyone besides me wondering if they literally just made that up?
posted by Andrhia at 3:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Andrhia at 3:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
We need a new post-convention Tingle release.
Pounded in the Butt by Relentless Polls?
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Pounded in the Butt by Relentless Polls?
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Right, Andrhia. And those "emergency fundraising " calls of the past few days...
posted by Sublimity at 3:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Sublimity at 3:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Clinton and Kaine are releasing a book September 6 called Stronger Together.
It "will present a wide range of proposals from the Democratic presidential nominee. Hillary Clinton and Kaine, a Virginia senator, contributed introductions, and the book also will draw upon speeches and position papers and contributions from other campaign officials."
posted by pocketfullofrye at 3:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
It "will present a wide range of proposals from the Democratic presidential nominee. Hillary Clinton and Kaine, a Virginia senator, contributed introductions, and the book also will draw upon speeches and position papers and contributions from other campaign officials."
posted by pocketfullofrye at 3:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
You know, no fooling, I'm now actually unable to watch Trump anymore in the raw format. He sent me screaming out of the Quicken Loans Arena, and now I compulsively switch the channel away. He's like some Lovecraftian horror that will destroy my mind if I let him.
posted by corb at 3:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [83 favorites]
posted by corb at 3:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [83 favorites]
Have we ever had an actually crazy president?
The thread's moved on, but there's a relatively common notion in Kennedy assassination subculture that Kennedy was addicted to amphetamines, and that therefore the Sinister Conspiracy that killed him was acting nobly in defense of the country.
posted by gerryblog at 3:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
The thread's moved on, but there's a relatively common notion in Kennedy assassination subculture that Kennedy was addicted to amphetamines, and that therefore the Sinister Conspiracy that killed him was acting nobly in defense of the country.
posted by gerryblog at 3:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
the servers will melt, and then where will we be?
posted by Celsius1414
Exactly how hot would that have to be?
THE SERVER ROOM WAS ANGRY THAT DAY, MY FRIENDS!
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414
Exactly how hot would that have to be?
THE SERVER ROOM WAS ANGRY THAT DAY, MY FRIENDS!
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Trump has to lose in November or they are fucking done because it will be White Nationalist Demogogues from now on otherwise.
The WhiND Party welcomes demagogues, gasbags, blowhards, mouth-breathers, and windbags of all sorts.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
The WhiND Party welcomes demagogues, gasbags, blowhards, mouth-breathers, and windbags of all sorts.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Pounded in the Butt by Relentless Polls?
You sure you spelled that right?
posted by tclark at 3:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
You sure you spelled that right?
posted by tclark at 3:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
The Lovecraftian horror that will destroy our minds is doing a double feature today in Florida. His next stop is Jacksonville. The other feed had sound issues and has gone offline, so here's an alternate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZKbI1mmrgg. The aggro metal has given way to a frightening woman (who is nevertheless 100% more articulate than Trump) speaking about Hillary Clinton's many faults.
posted by Don Pepino at 3:22 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Don Pepino at 3:22 PM on August 3, 2016
Did she just say, "we have been fed a bag of no-good?"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Why do our fathers like this man? My dad... weird. Must be his age
posted by infini at 3:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by infini at 3:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
"A politician that is truthful and loyal to the people is refreshing."
Well, I can certainly agree with that statement.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:25 PM on August 3, 2016
Well, I can certainly agree with that statement.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:25 PM on August 3, 2016
I'm really expecting Romney or maybe one of the Bushes to throw their weight behind Clinton.
Romney
Oh!) The people are asking to hear my voice
(Oh!) But the country is facing a difficult choice
(Oh!) And you were to ask me who I’d promote…
(Oh!) …Clinton has my vote
(Oh!) I have never agreed with Clinton once…
(Oh!) We have fought on like 75 different fronts
(Oh!) But when all said and all is done…
Clinton has beliefs; Trump has none
Clinton and Kaine-
Well I'll be damned, Well I'll Be Damned
Kaine
Romney is on your side
And you won in a land slide
posted by vuron at 3:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
Romney
Oh!) The people are asking to hear my voice
(Oh!) But the country is facing a difficult choice
(Oh!) And you were to ask me who I’d promote…
(Oh!) …Clinton has my vote
(Oh!) I have never agreed with Clinton once…
(Oh!) We have fought on like 75 different fronts
(Oh!) But when all said and all is done…
Clinton has beliefs; Trump has none
Clinton and Kaine-
Well I'll be damned, Well I'll Be Damned
Kaine
Romney is on your side
And you won in a land slide
posted by vuron at 3:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
Oh, no. The frightening woman has been supplanted by former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll. She says Yoho is next.
posted by Don Pepino at 3:25 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Don Pepino at 3:25 PM on August 3, 2016
LBJ had an ego that boadered on psychotic. Nixon was merely paranoid.
posted by clavdivs at 3:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 3:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Katy Tur outside Trump Tower saying that the party is done with Trump, citing:
-- Not endorsing McCain/Ryans
-- Khans
-- Keeping the purple heart
-- "fighting with a baby"
posted by zutalors! at 3:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
-- Not endorsing McCain/Ryans
-- Khans
-- Keeping the purple heart
-- "fighting with a baby"
posted by zutalors! at 3:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Now if it had been a Muslim baby...
posted by garius at 3:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by garius at 3:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
This 1996 New Yorker piece is a post-mortem of Bob Dole's campaign (and sits behind a paywall). It's either a tantalizing shred of hope or a quaint reminder of days gone by:
Every day, the campaign provided Dole with a positive, issues-oriented speech. The advance texts of these speeches were dutifully put up on the TelePrompTer and handed out to reporters. Sometimes Dole delivered the speeches, but more often he didn't. He said, it seemed, whatever he pleased, whatever popped into his mind. What pleased him most was to rail against Clinton, so that was what Dole was going to do, no matter what his advisers said... Dole's campaign for President was, in a sense, always a protest campaign: Dole's protest against everything--the culture of politics, the culture of his country, the values of a nation that appreciated a man like. Clinton more than a man like Dole... When political consultants talk about their favorite clients, their ideal campaigners, what they talk about are people who, as they say, take direction well. Nobody has ever taken political direction better than Clinton: he governs by it. Dole never took direction at all. As the campaign entered its last few days, it achieved, finally, a sort of Dolean purity-- a state of perfect antic formlessness.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Every day, the campaign provided Dole with a positive, issues-oriented speech. The advance texts of these speeches were dutifully put up on the TelePrompTer and handed out to reporters. Sometimes Dole delivered the speeches, but more often he didn't. He said, it seemed, whatever he pleased, whatever popped into his mind. What pleased him most was to rail against Clinton, so that was what Dole was going to do, no matter what his advisers said... Dole's campaign for President was, in a sense, always a protest campaign: Dole's protest against everything--the culture of politics, the culture of his country, the values of a nation that appreciated a man like. Clinton more than a man like Dole... When political consultants talk about their favorite clients, their ideal campaigners, what they talk about are people who, as they say, take direction well. Nobody has ever taken political direction better than Clinton: he governs by it. Dole never took direction at all. As the campaign entered its last few days, it achieved, finally, a sort of Dolean purity-- a state of perfect antic formlessness.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Katy Tur outside Trump Tower saying that the party is done with Trump
It's a bit late for that, isn't it?
posted by thelonius at 3:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
It's a bit late for that, isn't it?
posted by thelonius at 3:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Hrmm
apparently
-- being racist
-- being sexist
-- being homophobic (let's be honest this is basically a requirement)
are not reasons to cut ties with Trump but failing to endorse McCain and Ryan are major offenses.
Glad to see the Republican party upholding such high ethical standards.
posted by vuron at 3:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [51 favorites]
apparently
-- being racist
-- being sexist
-- being homophobic (let's be honest this is basically a requirement)
are not reasons to cut ties with Trump but failing to endorse McCain and Ryan are major offenses.
Glad to see the Republican party upholding such high ethical standards.
posted by vuron at 3:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [51 favorites]
It is amazing. Of all the horrible things Trump has said and done, all the harm he's already caused to Americans and around the world, all the kids using his own name to taunt their Muslim or Hispanic classmates, the thing that finally seems to have gotten the GOP to realize they can't stand for this was the fact that he refused to endorse Paul Ryan and John McCain.
posted by zachlipton at 3:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [42 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [42 favorites]
The best thing about the Fox poll, other than Clinton's sheer lead, is that it shows that people are *pissed* about Trump's treatment of the Khans. Two-thirds said they were very familiar or somewhat familiar with the incident, and two-thirds said that Trump's behavior was out of bounds (compared to 12% who said it was in bounds.) It makes me feel a little bit better about my fellow Americans.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [26 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [26 favorites]
"fighting with a baby"
I just want to mention that I was the person who put the baby fight in the public eye, thus bringing about Trump's downfall. You're welcome. Your favorites are thanks enough.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
I just want to mention that I was the person who put the baby fight in the public eye, thus bringing about Trump's downfall. You're welcome. Your favorites are thanks enough.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
I would feel even better about my fellow Americans if they thought that, say, calling Mexicans "rapists" and "murderers" was equally out of bounds as insulting a Gold Star family.
posted by zachlipton at 3:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [44 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [44 favorites]
theodolite was right there too, so toss a couple his way
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2016
Sorry: 69% said Trump's behavior was out of bounds, 19% said in bounds, and 12% don't know. How exactly can you not know? But whatever. The in-bounds people are below the 27% crazification factor.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Someone was looking for this in the old thread: trumpornot.com
posted by joeyh at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by joeyh at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
"fighting with a baby"
I just thought it was funny that that was a direct, straightfaced quote from Katy Tur.
posted by zutalors! at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I just thought it was funny that that was a direct, straightfaced quote from Katy Tur.
posted by zutalors! at 3:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
It is amazing. Of all the horrible things Trump has said and done, all the harm he's already caused to Americans and around the world, all the kids using his own name to taunt their Muslim or Hispanic classmates, the thing that finally seems to have gotten the GOP to realize they can't stand for this was the fact that he refused to endorse Paul Ryan and John McCain.
1. They couldn't have done it any other way because it would be too much like listening to Obama and that's a no no.
2. The GOP has jumped the shark, tipped the point, Corbyned itself into a REpublexit ?
posted by infini at 3:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
1. They couldn't have done it any other way because it would be too much like listening to Obama and that's a no no.
2. The GOP has jumped the shark, tipped the point, Corbyned itself into a REpublexit ?
posted by infini at 3:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm behind the times with Funny Memes but do people still do edits of the Hitler rant from Downfall? And has anyone done it from the standpoint of Trump ranting against Clinton and all the other enemies he has?
posted by vuron at 3:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by vuron at 3:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Democrats are losing to Republicans at the state level, and badly. Here's why.
posted by Artw at 3:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by Artw at 3:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
That is not to say that a secretary couldn't refuse, but then he would be violating his duty and would be removed and replaced.
...which is exactly what Blue Jello Elf said in literally the next sentence:
No, that is not what was said. It is not the case that "The only requirement is that the president and the defense secretary agree." There is no legal requirement that the president and secretary agree. The secretary's job is to authenticate the order, that is verify that it is the President indeed issuing the order, even if he disagrees with that order. A secretary who is doing his legally mandated job will authenticate the order even if he disagrees with it. And if the secretary refuses, then they will find somebody else to authenticate the order. They need not find anyone who agrees with the order.
It is simply incorrect to say "the only requirement is that the president and the defense secretary agree." That is not the legal requirement.
If a President wants to launch nukes, he can do so whether anyone agrees with him or not. He alone has the legal authority for that decision, not the secretary.
posted by JackFlash at 3:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
...which is exactly what Blue Jello Elf said in literally the next sentence:
No, that is not what was said. It is not the case that "The only requirement is that the president and the defense secretary agree." There is no legal requirement that the president and secretary agree. The secretary's job is to authenticate the order, that is verify that it is the President indeed issuing the order, even if he disagrees with that order. A secretary who is doing his legally mandated job will authenticate the order even if he disagrees with it. And if the secretary refuses, then they will find somebody else to authenticate the order. They need not find anyone who agrees with the order.
It is simply incorrect to say "the only requirement is that the president and the defense secretary agree." That is not the legal requirement.
If a President wants to launch nukes, he can do so whether anyone agrees with him or not. He alone has the legal authority for that decision, not the secretary.
posted by JackFlash at 3:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Certainly if Trump was a member of the triumvirate he'd be Crassus instead of Pompey or Gaius Julius.
i disagree - he'd be moe
posted by pyramid termite at 3:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
i disagree - he'd be moe
posted by pyramid termite at 3:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
the party is done with Trump
Trump is not done with the party and doesn't care about their feelings on the matter.
posted by Artw at 3:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Trump is not done with the party and doesn't care about their feelings on the matter.
posted by Artw at 3:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Meanwhile, the mighty woman is organizing her transition team. How refreshingly presidential.
Trump tapped Chris Christie to lead his transition team in May.
I hate to be all cynical and everything, but I think Trump saying Christie was doing this -- well before Trump was the nominee-- does not actually mean Christie is doing anything at all. For one thing, it has been 3 months now and no word on anyone who will be in a Trump administration. Maybe not even Christie now that he dared to criticize the Leader for the Khan kerfuffle.
I do, however, believe John Pedestal and his team are actually screening names for an HRC cabinet. It's the reality of the organization and planning that seems refreshingly presidential to me.
posted by bearwife at 3:41 PM on August 3, 2016
Trump tapped Chris Christie to lead his transition team in May.
I hate to be all cynical and everything, but I think Trump saying Christie was doing this -- well before Trump was the nominee-- does not actually mean Christie is doing anything at all. For one thing, it has been 3 months now and no word on anyone who will be in a Trump administration. Maybe not even Christie now that he dared to criticize the Leader for the Khan kerfuffle.
I do, however, believe John Pedestal and his team are actually screening names for an HRC cabinet. It's the reality of the organization and planning that seems refreshingly presidential to me.
posted by bearwife at 3:41 PM on August 3, 2016
If only someone, some group of Republicans, say, had warned Priebus and Ryan about this, while offering them a way to get this clown out of the nomination. If only this group had warned them that however Trump might seem at the moment, it was only going to get worse.
IF ONLY.
posted by corb at 3:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [120 favorites]
IF ONLY.
posted by corb at 3:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [120 favorites]
Since we're talking about the baby, let me point out here (with huge thanks to my excellent feminist friends who have pointed it out to me) that this is not actually about Trump fighting with a baby.
It's about Trump hating women.
Here's what Amadi Lovelace has to say, and it's exactly right and I can't possibly say it any better:
It's about Trump hating women.
Here's what Amadi Lovelace has to say, and it's exactly right and I can't possibly say it any better:
In talking about Trump and the baby, people seem to be focusing on the idea of "who yells at a baby?" And it is kind of in line with our questions about his temperament to frame this as Trump yelling at a baby.posted by The Bellman at 3:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [172 favorites]
But he didn't yell at a baby. He yelled at a woman who had a baby.
And more importantly, he didn't just yell at her, he gaslighted her, telling her at first that it was OK that her baby was fussing, and then acting like she was nuts for taking him at his word and should have somehow divined magically that he actually wanted her to leave.
This was an example of three horrible things all wrapped up in one. First, Trump's tendency toward doublespeak, saying one thing, meaning the exact opposite and acting like everyone else is bizarre and ignorant for taking his words at face value. Second, the aforementioned gaslighting, which is an always an abuse tactic, full out.
Third, and this is a little more nuanced, it's a prime example of the insidious way in which parenting forces women, especially, out of public life. When babies aren't welcome somewhere, when babies start crying, it is mothers who are expected to stay home, mothers who are expected to take the baby out, mothers whose lives are interrupted.
It's not "Trump yells at a baby."
It's "Trump uses abusive tactics and reinforces marginalization of women with children by yelling at mother of young baby."
Sometimes brevity is the enemy of an accurate picture of just how bad something is.
A great moment from the first debate. Trump breaks into singing Die Wacht am Rhein. Hillary counters with La Marseillaise. Soon she is joined by the entire audience. (sigh)
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Can panicked Republicans rid themselves of Trump? Here are 7 options. "Spoiler alert: None of those options are good."
posted by kirkaracha at 3:43 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by kirkaracha at 3:43 PM on August 3, 2016
Certainly if Trump was a member of the triumvirate he'd be Crassus instead of Pompey or Gaius Julius.
Privatize fire departments: check
posted by thelonius at 3:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Privatize fire departments: check
posted by thelonius at 3:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
I don't think the Repubs are done with Trump. There's almost nothing they can do about it but come out for Hillary, which they won't do.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:43 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:43 PM on August 3, 2016
LBJ had an ego that boadered on psychotic. Nixon was merely paranoid.
And yet Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act, whereas Nixon entrenched the Southern Strategy, soooo
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 3:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
And yet Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act, whereas Nixon entrenched the Southern Strategy, soooo
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 3:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Since we're talking about the baby, let me point out here (with huge thanks to my excellent feminist friends who have pointed it out to me) that this is not actually about Trump fighting with a baby.
It's about Trump hating women.
to be clear, I 100% agree with this, but it's still funny to hear a reporter use the phrase "fighting with a baby" and everyone knows exactly what it's about.
posted by zutalors! at 3:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
A great moment from the first debate. Trump breaks into singing Die Wacht am Rhein. Hillary counters with La Marseillaise. Soon she is joined by the entire audience. (sigh)
I'm pretty sure she would lose fewer voters if she took a pledge of allegiance to ISIS on stage than if she did anything remotely French.
posted by zachlipton at 3:45 PM on August 3, 2016
I'm pretty sure she would lose fewer voters if she took a pledge of allegiance to ISIS on stage than if she did anything remotely French.
posted by zachlipton at 3:45 PM on August 3, 2016
I know we've already seen several plugs for Owen Ellickson on Twitter in these threads, but just... god damn is this dude salty.
Regarding that Fox News poll:
RYAN: New poll: you're down 10.
TRUMP: CNN?
RYAN: Fox.
TRUMP: Wow. I guess their girls can't do the math without Ailes pawing at 'em?
RYAN:
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Regarding that Fox News poll:
RYAN: New poll: you're down 10.
TRUMP: CNN?
RYAN: Fox.
TRUMP: Wow. I guess their girls can't do the math without Ailes pawing at 'em?
RYAN:
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
In news from the old country, UKIP, the populist right-wing party led by a charismatic demagogue, has imploded in a shower of infighting, rules lawyering and collapsing public support (below 20 percent by some polls). Its major backer is talking about wrapping it up and starting again.
Of course, this is far too late for us. You may yet be able to save yourselves.
posted by Devonian at 3:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
Of course, this is far too late for us. You may yet be able to save yourselves.
posted by Devonian at 3:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
Hey is that CAPS-LOCK MAN PASTOR MARK BURNS? I've kind of been missing him.
posted by zachlipton at 3:47 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by zachlipton at 3:47 PM on August 3, 2016
HRC: And that one's...Charizard?
aide: [slams flashcard on table] IT'S MAGMAR DO YOU EVEN WANT TO WIN THIS RACE
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [46 favorites]
aide: [slams flashcard on table] IT'S MAGMAR DO YOU EVEN WANT TO WIN THIS RACE
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [46 favorites]
Ok he's shouting so loud and the audio is clipping so much that he's incomprehensible.
posted by zachlipton at 3:47 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by zachlipton at 3:47 PM on August 3, 2016
Buzzfeed: Republican Donors Panic As Trump Melts Down
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
“I don’t know what he’s doing — trying to commit suicide?” said Stan Hubbard, a Minnesota-based top donor to a pro-Trump super PAC. Hubbard has been trying to get other Republican donors, including Charles and David Koch, on board with Donald Trump for months.[...]There ya go, your next protest sign. "Johnson. Not loony."
Hubbard said he’s not jumping ship yet, but suggested that if Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson picked up significant momentum, he would be willing to switch over. “It will be interesting to see,” he said. “He was a good governor. He’s not over the top. He’s not loony. If there is some sort of effort, you’re darn right I could.”
He also acknowledged that any sort of intervention would likely be futile. “I don’t think anyone can control him. He should control himself.”
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump
The global warming we should be worried about is the global warming caused by NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the hands of crazy or incompetent leaders!
[tagged as REAL; OLD]
posted by acidic at 3:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
The global warming we should be worried about is the global warming caused by NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the hands of crazy or incompetent leaders!
[tagged as REAL; OLD]
posted by acidic at 3:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
The fight with the Khans really marked a change in how people on the right started to see Trump. The question is: is that story going to fade and the race returns to the pre-convention numbers of a +4 lead? Or does the Clinton campaign have more ways to bait and ruin Trump? I mean, Trump rebounded completely after Curiel, and he can rebound again after this. But my guess is that whenever there is the slightest bounce for him, the Clinton campaign will be ready with another damaging story to get him reeling again.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 3:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 3:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
jeezus if hilary makes a shuckle joke re: trump the internet might explode
posted by Tevin at 3:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Tevin at 3:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
so mike pence just endorsed paul ryan, while his running mate refuses to do so
The president can't fire the vice president. Can the presidential nominee fire the vice presidential nominee?
posted by kirkaracha at 3:56 PM on August 3, 2016
Oh dang, this thing is great:
BOEHNER: Eight glasses of Malbec and a needlepoint of a barn, THAT'S what I did today. How's life with Trump?
RYAN: Let's not talk about me
RYAN: We could ALL unendorse. Reince-
TRUMP: Priebus? I JUST found out he was real. Thought he was a computer helper, like Jeeves, or Clippy
posted by Don Pepino at 3:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [45 favorites]
BOEHNER: Eight glasses of Malbec and a needlepoint of a barn, THAT'S what I did today. How's life with Trump?
RYAN: Let's not talk about me
RYAN: We could ALL unendorse. Reince-
TRUMP: Priebus? I JUST found out he was real. Thought he was a computer helper, like Jeeves, or Clippy
posted by Don Pepino at 3:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [45 favorites]
I've just realized: at this point, Trump may be deliberately throwing the campaign. Realizing he can't win, but unable to back down out of pride, ego, and narcissism, he's going to make the campaign as horrible as possible until the RNC actually removes him.
That way, he never lost: he can blame the rigged system.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 3:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
That way, he never lost: he can blame the rigged system.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 3:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Donald Trump: The suicide rate for veterans is so high, "I'm not even going to tell you what it is."
This is so totally a kid who hasn't done his homework. "This book was so good I'm not even going to tell you how it ends. I don't want to spoil it for you."
CNN: Donald Trump's strange campaign gets stranger
This is so totally a kid who hasn't done his homework. "This book was so good I'm not even going to tell you how it ends. I don't want to spoil it for you."
CNN: Donald Trump's strange campaign gets stranger
He is so unorthodox that it is sometimes tough for those caught up in the maelstrom to judge what is happening against a credible political scale. His antics often beg the question of whether Trump has so skewed campaign logic that he has tapped into a connection with voters that normal politicians don't even recognize. That makes it far too early to write him off.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
But equally, it's possible America is currently watching the meltdown of the billionaire's campaign. Perhaps the most unorthodox, unpredictable candidate ever has hit limits of political convention that even he can't trump?
American political sages are not alone in trying to figure out the riotous election -- the world is watching too.
Realizing he can't win, but unable to back down out of pride, ego, and narcissism, he's going to make the campaign as horrible as possible until the RNC actually removes him.
What do you think it'll take? Dropping an n-word at a rally? Punching a lady?
posted by infinitywaltz at 4:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
What do you think it'll take? Dropping an n-word at a rally? Punching a lady?
posted by infinitywaltz at 4:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Illinois Republican Adam Kinzinger, who is running for re-election, and is a vet, says he won't support Trump.
posted by bearwife at 4:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [30 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 4:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [30 favorites]
Chris Matthews might as well call his show TeeBall right now
posted by zutalors! at 4:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 4:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think Trump is headed for a full-throttle nervous breakdown. I know cynics will say he is already there, but really he is just paranoid/hateful/irrational. The comments about Ivory Snow and Kellog's. That's full out blathering.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
That Vox article about the Koch Bros buying the state-level elections that ArtW linked to above is very depressing, though I guess the magic wore off a bit in Kansas. Is it as accurate as it is confident in its analysis?
posted by Devonian at 4:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Devonian at 4:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm not going to link Breitbart, so I'll just paste the super thin article in here wholesale and hopefully steal some ad revenue from them. In short, GOP continues full collapse as Hannity blames RNC leaders for trump's increasingly likely failure,
posted by codacorolla at 4:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
Wednesday on his syndicated radio show, conservative talker Sean Hannity criticized several high-ranking Republicans for how they have treated their party’s nominee Donald Trump.
According to Hannity, if Trump loses in November, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will be to blame for the loss because they have spent more time criticizing Trump than President Barack Obama.
“If in 96 days Trump loses this election, I am pointing the finger directly at people like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham and John McCain and John Kasich and Ted Cruz if he won’t endorse – and Jeb Bush and everybody else that made promises they’re not keeping,” Hannity said. “And because I have watched and witnessed to the point of incredible frustration – I have watched these Republicans be more harsh towards Donald Trump than they’ve ever been in standing up to Barack Obama and his radical agenda that had doubled the debt, that has resulted in a 51-year low in home ownership in this country, the percentage of homes that are owned by Americans, the lowest labor participation rate since the 70s and that has led to millions and millions of Americans in poverty and on food stamps and out of the labor force.”
“They did nothing, nothing – all these phony votes to repeal and replace ObamaCare, show votes so they can go back and keep their power and get reelected,” he added. “Sorry, you created Donald Trump, all of you because of your ineffectiveness, because of your weakness, your spinelessness, your lack of vision, your inability to fight Obama. Your fear of being blamed for a government shutdown and I’m getting a little sick and tired of all of you. Honestly I am tempted to just say I don’t support any of you people ever. You know what, Paul Ryan wants to play this game – I haven’t made up my mind either. He’s running against a guy in the primary. I haven’t made up mind who I’m going to support.”
he's going to make the campaign as horrible as possible until the RNC actually removes him
According to the rules, the candidate must step down voluntarily, they can't be removed.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:06 PM on August 3, 2016
According to the rules, the candidate must step down voluntarily, they can't be removed.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:06 PM on August 3, 2016
John Noonan, who was on Morning Joe this morning about the security briefing, will be with Chris Hayes tonight.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
who is owen ellickson that is beyond brilliant.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 4:08 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 4:08 PM on August 3, 2016
Please let that sink in. Sean Hannity admitted that the grandstanding on repealing Obamacare was a waste of time!
posted by codacorolla at 4:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [37 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 4:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [37 favorites]
Please let that sink in. Sean Hannity admitted that the grandstanding on repealing Obamacare was a waste of time!
In context, Hannity was actually pissed that nobody had the balls to attach defund Obamacare to a vital bill and force a government shutdown over it.
posted by Talez at 4:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
In context, Hannity was actually pissed that nobody had the balls to attach defund Obamacare to a vital bill and force a government shutdown over it.
posted by Talez at 4:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Trump has a very interesting follow list - I saved it to see how many of them he still follows in a month.
posted by winna at 4:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by winna at 4:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
GOP continues full collapse as Hannity blames RNC leaders for trump's increasingly likely failure
It would be an interesting turn of the worm if Republicans ultimately had to make Gary Johnson their own personal Nader, so as to evade responsibility for picking Trump.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:14 PM on August 3, 2016
It would be an interesting turn of the worm if Republicans ultimately had to make Gary Johnson their own personal Nader, so as to evade responsibility for picking Trump.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:14 PM on August 3, 2016
I previously linked to this BBC article about the Koch brothers
Koch has put their network’s budget at roughly $750m through the end of 2016. A significant portion was supposed to help elect a Republican to the White House but this weekend Mark Holden, general counsel and senior vice-president of Koch Industries, said it would instead go to helping GOP Senate candidates in at least five states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin and Florida.
That's 750 million dollars divided by five Senate races.
But then, the prospect of 'popular' right-wing wackos like Hannity turning against the Republican Establishment (such as it is) may help lead to the rabid (LITERALLY) Trumpists not voting for the Republican down-ticket. Now THAT would be good news for countering the Koch machine.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Koch has put their network’s budget at roughly $750m through the end of 2016. A significant portion was supposed to help elect a Republican to the White House but this weekend Mark Holden, general counsel and senior vice-president of Koch Industries, said it would instead go to helping GOP Senate candidates in at least five states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin and Florida.
That's 750 million dollars divided by five Senate races.
But then, the prospect of 'popular' right-wing wackos like Hannity turning against the Republican Establishment (such as it is) may help lead to the rabid (LITERALLY) Trumpists not voting for the Republican down-ticket. Now THAT would be good news for countering the Koch machine.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Sweet baby Jeebus, I've heard more coherent things out of the mouth of Courtney Love. This is nuts.
Love Trumps Hate.
posted by monospace at 4:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [75 favorites]
Love Trumps Hate.
posted by monospace at 4:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [75 favorites]
So I want to get back to this thing that Gingrich said,
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
“The current race is which of these two is the more unacceptable, because right now neither of them is acceptable,” Gingrich said in a Wednesday morning telephone interview. “Trump is helping her to win by proving he is more unacceptable than she is.”It is interesting to me because Gingrich, Giuliani, and Priebus are supposedly the intervention crew. The strategy of bad-mouthing Trump before the intervention starts is odd but I thought perhaps Gingrich has decided to slap Trump on the wrist and then threaten him in person with a full on spanking if he doesn't get his act together. I mean what else do they have to threaten him with? I don't think Trump is going to listen to anything they have to say. He is sure that he won the nomination because he has his finger on the pulse of America and everyone else is too stoopid to understand what Americans want to hear.
Gingrich said Trump has only a matter of weeks to reverse course. “Anybody who is horrified by Hillary should hope that Trump will take a deep breath and learn some new skills,” he said. “He cannot win the presidency operating the way he is now. She can’t be bad enough to elect him if he’s determined to make this many mistakes.”
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
If in 96 days Trump loses this election, I am pointing the finger directly at people like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham and John McCain and John Kasich and Ted Cruz if he won’t endorse – and Jeb Bush and everybody else that made promises they’re not keeping,
So, if Trump loses, it's because the entire core leadership of the party is useless and corrupt?
Okay, well, it is, which is why they couldn't field an actual candidate and instead got a walking comment meme. But damn, that's a lot of fingers to be pointing; who exactly does he think is clean in this?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
So, if Trump loses, it's because the entire core leadership of the party is useless and corrupt?
Okay, well, it is, which is why they couldn't field an actual candidate and instead got a walking comment meme. But damn, that's a lot of fingers to be pointing; who exactly does he think is clean in this?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:19 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Orange Julius Caesar
I gotta object to this one, as it gives Trump too much credit.
If you parse it as Orange (Julius Caesar) then yes, it gives trump way too much cred, but if you read it as (Orange Julius) Caesar then it's actually pretty apt.
posted by Bringer Tom at 4:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
I gotta object to this one, as it gives Trump too much credit.
If you parse it as Orange (Julius Caesar) then yes, it gives trump way too much cred, but if you read it as (Orange Julius) Caesar then it's actually pretty apt.
posted by Bringer Tom at 4:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
The comments about Ivory Snow and Kellogg's.
what's next? a confession that he dyes his hair with orange rit?
posted by pyramid termite at 4:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
what's next? a confession that he dyes his hair with orange rit?
posted by pyramid termite at 4:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Can the presidential nominee fire the vice presidential nominee?
Pence putting his boss on the spot is a pretty odd thing to do. Would he want to get fired, to further isolate Trump? He withdrew from his gubernatorial reelection campaign and can't go back, so its VP or more or less nothing (other than working for a lobbying firm, maybe). Or perhaps he is playing a longer game, pushing his boss to flame out. He then steps out of the ashes as the new GOP standard-bearer that the party faithful rally around.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Pence putting his boss on the spot is a pretty odd thing to do. Would he want to get fired, to further isolate Trump? He withdrew from his gubernatorial reelection campaign and can't go back, so its VP or more or less nothing (other than working for a lobbying firm, maybe). Or perhaps he is playing a longer game, pushing his boss to flame out. He then steps out of the ashes as the new GOP standard-bearer that the party faithful rally around.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump is having a bad day on politico.com, which is highlighting his "loose talk" about nuclear weapons.
posted by bearwife at 4:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 4:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump has clearly lost all Twitter access. Someone is standing up to Trump and working overtime to right that sinking ship, it seems.
posted by Yowser at 4:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Yowser at 4:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
GDI! He's late. I have a dinner engagement and must go. I'm pretty sure he can't do two of these in a row, especially given that he traveled from Daytona to Jax in 99-degrees-in-the-shade Florida, without descending into some serious Linda Blair hijinx about something, but he's late, so I'm going to miss the freakshow. Well. At least this proves he's not Hitler because Hitler had the goddamn trains running on time.
Dump! Trump! The late-showing-up-assed scrub.
(I will feel very slightly bad if it turns out he OD'd on his diet pills and had a seizure backstage. Very slightly.)
posted by Don Pepino at 4:23 PM on August 3, 2016
Dump! Trump! The late-showing-up-assed scrub.
(I will feel very slightly bad if it turns out he OD'd on his diet pills and had a seizure backstage. Very slightly.)
posted by Don Pepino at 4:23 PM on August 3, 2016
There are 96 days left in this election and 151 days left in 2016. My gut tells me year that took Bowie from me in January is just waiting until November to crotch punch me, so Imma be pessimistic as hell until the votes are counted and the court cases are decided and Hillary Clinton takes the oath and has a seat behind the Resolute Desk.
Pessimism seems to be working for me so far.
posted by Mooski at 4:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Pessimism seems to be working for me so far.
posted by Mooski at 4:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
One would think Manafort would have his hands full denying his ties to Putin and Russian organized crime.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
He then steps out of the ashes as the new GOP standard-bearer that the party faithful rally around.
Ummm no. Bland and unappealing with a heart of cold ice. Really horrible on women's reproductive choices. He is much too far to the Right to appeal to independents. Besides, Clinton can always say he wasn't anyone's choice and he received no votes.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:25 PM on August 3, 2016
Ummm no. Bland and unappealing with a heart of cold ice. Really horrible on women's reproductive choices. He is much too far to the Right to appeal to independents. Besides, Clinton can always say he wasn't anyone's choice and he received no votes.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:25 PM on August 3, 2016
Can the presidential nominee fire the vice presidential nominee?
I'm spitballing here, but my understanding would be that, no, the VP nominee was duly nominated by the RNC in a separate vote from the presidential nominee. So, Pence can't be removed involuntarily on Trump's say-so. He's the RNC's nominee, not Trump's, at the end of the day.
posted by saturday_morning at 4:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm spitballing here, but my understanding would be that, no, the VP nominee was duly nominated by the RNC in a separate vote from the presidential nominee. So, Pence can't be removed involuntarily on Trump's say-so. He's the RNC's nominee, not Trump's, at the end of the day.
posted by saturday_morning at 4:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
If by shenanigans Pence was somehow to become the GOP presidential nominee, Clinton should still send Kaine to debate him, on the grounds that he ain't even on her level and it is more fitting to let her homie ride on him
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
Hannity is... as much to blame for Trumpism as the GOP establishment.
Hannity and O'Reilly and Limbaugh and Coulter (Ann not Jonathan) and a few others. Trumpists listen to them and follow them into the gates of Hell... If they instruct their ditto-brained followers to abandon the Grand Old Party and not vote for the down-ticket Rs, it could have a very good result. That's why I, for one, DON'T want Deranged Donnie to totally self-destruct. Sorry if you find the process painful, but it might just result in something good.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hannity and O'Reilly and Limbaugh and Coulter (Ann not Jonathan) and a few others. Trumpists listen to them and follow them into the gates of Hell... If they instruct their ditto-brained followers to abandon the Grand Old Party and not vote for the down-ticket Rs, it could have a very good result. That's why I, for one, DON'T want Deranged Donnie to totally self-destruct. Sorry if you find the process painful, but it might just result in something good.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
The thing is, if Trump has lost his direct twitter feed to a more responsible handler, the optics of that are pretty bad for the very people Trump has been aiming those tweets at, who think they're getting the "straight dope" from an "ordinary guy." Now they'll be getting a "handled" message stream from a functionary, and they'll blame Trump for giving up his "honest" soapbox. (After all, if you don't think Twitter is useless, that's why you don't think Twitter is useless.)
posted by Bringer Tom at 4:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Bringer Tom at 4:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Manafort has already denied the intervention story
Oh honey, you are so naive. That is literally his job-- to manage the campaign and spin the truth. But I would not be surprised to hear that the intervention is off because Trump refused to meet with them.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Oh honey, you are so naive. That is literally his job-- to manage the campaign and spin the truth. But I would not be surprised to hear that the intervention is off because Trump refused to meet with them.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
> The comments about Ivory Snow and Kellogg's.
what's next? a confession that he dyes his hair with orange rit?
turns out he doesn't use nothing you buy at the store. but he likes his hair to be real orange.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
what's next? a confession that he dyes his hair with orange rit?
turns out he doesn't use nothing you buy at the store. but he likes his hair to be real orange.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
Chris Matthews has a Trump surrogate on now who is also denying the story, but admits what a horrible weekend Trump had.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:33 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:33 PM on August 3, 2016
he doesn't use anything you buy at the store
He has a yuuuuge facility somewhere in one of his towers full of endagered orangutans from which his hair is harvested.
posted by Bringer Tom at 4:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
He has a yuuuuge facility somewhere in one of his towers full of endagered orangutans from which his hair is harvested.
posted by Bringer Tom at 4:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
-- Not endorsing McCain/Ryans
-- Khans
-- Keeping the purple heart
-- "fighting with a baby"
you know if this weren't the country that elected GWB, I'd say this looks a lot like a false flag operation
posted by Hoopo at 4:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
-- Khans
-- Keeping the purple heart
-- "fighting with a baby"
you know if this weren't the country that elected GWB, I'd say this looks a lot like a false flag operation
posted by Hoopo at 4:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
So he's off Twitter, he's just tossed the word salad at Daytona and he's busy doing whatever he does when he's being late. Just one major foo-foo with the nuke story. Oh, and the polls. And more Repubs jumping ship. Not enough outrage. Sad!
(And I'm sure they've played this cockrock track before. The crowd are not looking very happy.)
posted by Devonian at 4:34 PM on August 3, 2016
(And I'm sure they've played this cockrock track before. The crowd are not looking very happy.)
posted by Devonian at 4:34 PM on August 3, 2016
Oh honey, you are so naive. That is literally his job-- to manage the campaign and spin the truth. But I would not be surprised to hear that the intervention is off because Trump refused to meet with them.
Excuse me? I didn't say I believed it - I linked a story indicating what he said. There's no need to call me condescending pet names.
posted by winna at 4:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [65 favorites]
Excuse me? I didn't say I believed it - I linked a story indicating what he said. There's no need to call me condescending pet names.
posted by winna at 4:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [65 favorites]
They've taken his Twitter away at least once before, and it lasted maybe a day. Donald Trump will Tweet again!
posted by kirkaracha at 4:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 4:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
> He has a yuuuuge facility somewhere in one of his towers full of endagered orangutans from which his hair is harvested.
that's right. he uses oraaaaaaaaaa-aaaaa-aaaangutans. oraaaaaa-aaaaa-aaaangutans...
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
that's right. he uses oraaaaaaaaaa-aaaaa-aaaangutans. oraaaaaa-aaaaa-aaaangutans...
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
Veteran and GOP Congressman Says He Can't Vote for Trump
Rep. Adam Kinzinger has long been skeptical of Donald Trump, but said that he "wanted to get" to a place where he could feel comfortable endorsing the GOP nominee.Billionaire Klarman slams Trump, vows to work for Clinton
But, as the Illinois congressman and Air Force pilot told Wolf Blitzer Wednesday evening, that window of support appears to be closed, saying "I don't see how I can get there anymore."
Billionaire hedge fund manager Seth Klarman said on Wednesday he would work to get Hillary Clinton elected president of the United States because he finds recent comments by Donald Trump "shockingly unacceptable."posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
"His words and actions over the last several days are so shockingly unacceptable in our diverse and democratic society that it is simply unthinkable that Donald Trump could become our president," Klarman said of the Republican presidential nominee.
The president and chief executive of The Baupost Group told Reuters in an emailed statement that Trump's suggestion "that the election will be rigged is particularly dangerous."
God, it was so bizarre to be on the convention floor and see Alex Jones breeze past. Like who let the clown in? Ohhhhhhhhh.
posted by corb at 4:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [40 favorites]
posted by corb at 4:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [40 favorites]
one if by land, two if by sea, three if by tweet
posted by pyramid termite at 4:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by pyramid termite at 4:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
On the topic of Trump nicknames - Trevor Noah on The Daily Show has taken to calling him "Cinnamon Hitler" which I confess makes me snort.
posted by hilaryjade at 4:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by hilaryjade at 4:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Excuse me? I didn't say I believed it - I linked a story indicating what he said. There's no need to call me condescending pet names.
Oh and I was so close to erasing that "honey" but I left it in as sort of being playful. I think I was mocking those people who would believe anything out of Manafort's mouth which would not include you of course. My bad, my apologies.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Oh and I was so close to erasing that "honey" but I left it in as sort of being playful. I think I was mocking those people who would believe anything out of Manafort's mouth which would not include you of course. My bad, my apologies.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
I love cinnamon hitler as a nickname, but I think the Donnie thing has legs. As in shut the fuck up Donnie. Is that a meme yet?
posted by vrakatar at 4:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 4:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
'It’s pretty small': Trump's right hand on display for all to judge in New York
posted by Artw at 4:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by Artw at 4:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
If the Twitter stops for an extended period, let's send his campaign a "personal and confidential" parcel containing a used iPhone with only the Twitter app installed, waiting for him to log in.
posted by infinitewindow at 4:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by infinitewindow at 4:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
As in shut the fuck up Donnie. Is that a meme yet?
Only in my Chianti-laced dreams.
posted by Mooski at 4:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Only in my Chianti-laced dreams.
posted by Mooski at 4:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
So here's a hot take. The insufferable, interminable, world-embarrassing length of the US election cycle is the only thing that saved us from a Trump presidency. If our season was shorter, he would have been able to keep up the act without losing his mask of comparative sanity, he would have stayed in the "novelty" honeymoon phase of the media blitz and stayed popular, and we would have had to vote before he had time to melt in the heat like an especially pissy snowman.
posted by penduluum at 4:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [67 favorites]
posted by penduluum at 4:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [67 favorites]
Flynn's up - "You'll hear about an intervention in the media. The intervention is by the American people on Washington DC. Ain't Hilary awful? Aren't cops and the military wonderful? Heeeeeere's Donnie!"
posted by Devonian at 4:43 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Devonian at 4:43 PM on August 3, 2016
That rug really ties his head together
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [50 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [50 favorites]
If the Twitter stops for an extended period, let's send his campaign a "personal and confidential" parcel containing a used iPhone with only the Twitter app installed, waiting for him to log in.
Ivanka probably changed his password.
Keep an eye out for a @REALrealDonaldTrump account in the next few days
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Ivanka probably changed his password.
Keep an eye out for a @REALrealDonaldTrump account in the next few days
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
I've just realized: at this point, Trump may be deliberately throwing the campaign. Realizing he can't win, but unable to back down out of pride, ego, and narcissism, he's going to make the campaign as horrible as possible until the RNC actually removes him.
Wishful thinking. Trump could feign physical illness for a pretext to drop out.
Then, he could run a fucking marathon the next day, and not a single person here would dare call out the lie.
posted by ocschwar at 4:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Have a tweetstorm about Trump's incredibly baffling inability to focus for even one second on literally anything
posted by showbiz_liz at 4:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 4:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
"[...] Ain't Hilary awful? Aren't cops and the military wonderful? Heeeeeere's Donnie!"
We need to figure out this hamburger-tag thing right now.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 4:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
We need to figure out this hamburger-tag thing right now.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 4:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Donald Trump headed to Detroit for Economic Club speech
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
It will be an interesting venue for the controversial politician. Even though he won Michigan's primary election with 36.5% of the vote to 24.7% for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and 24.2% for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the business crowd in Detroit heavily backed other presidential candidates during the primary and none of them have gotten on board with contributions yet to the Trump campaign.[...]Matt Marsden, a political consultant with RevSix Data of Pontiac, said despite what several pundits are saying, he doubts that Michigan, which has supported the Democrat for president in every election cycle since 1992, is in play this year.My bold just because I love it so much. Donald Trump: The more we hear from him the worse it gets.
"I'm sure he enjoys a strong base of support, but I think that Michigan has been a Democratic state for a very long time and I’m not sure he’s the candidate to push this into a neck-and-neck race," he said. "The more we hear from him, the worse it gets. This is the most bizarre election year I’ve seen in my 20 years in business."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
will no one rid us of these troublesome tweets
posted by poffin boffin at 4:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 4:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
You guise keep mocking tiny cabbage hands manbaby and, come election day, there will be hell toupée.
My autocorrect always changes Trump to Turnip.
posted by guiseroom at 4:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
My autocorrect always changes Trump to Turnip.
posted by guiseroom at 4:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Finally, There’s Proof That Donald Trump Has Small Hands:
It’s one thing to tease Trump about having small hands, but it’s another to prove he does.posted by kirkaracha at 4:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
However, The Hollywood Reporter has done just that. Editors have printed a life-size image of Trump’s hands, which they created based on a bronzed handprint hanging in the New York branch of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
The handprint has been there since 1997, after artists from the museum made impressions of Trump for a wax figure. You can find a full-sized, printable version here [PDF].
Show some respect people, Trump just received a Purple Heart for his sacrifices.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 4:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
posted by Foci for Analysis at 4:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
Now he's waving around that Purple Heart he didn't earn.
posted by zachlipton at 4:52 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by zachlipton at 4:52 PM on August 3, 2016
The Hollywood Reporter must be angling for the Pulitzer.
posted by wabbittwax at 4:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 4:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Is he literally waving it, or just metaphorically? I want to see the stolen valor crowd get in on this.
posted by neonrev at 4:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by neonrev at 4:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
nobody,not even the rain,has such small handsposted by kirkaracha at 4:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
Jenna Maroney + Donald Trump = Donald Maroney
posted by guiseroom at 4:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 4:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Now he's waving around that Purple Heart he didn't earn.
he has to wave it around, it's small
posted by pyramid termite at 4:54 PM on August 3, 2016
he has to wave it around, it's small
posted by pyramid termite at 4:54 PM on August 3, 2016
Now Trump is literally opening an envelope on stage with a donation check from a Gold Star family, telling us the man told him it was more money than they can afford.
posted by zachlipton at 4:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
So my wonderful dad was badly injured in Vietnam in 1970 (his fellow soldiers assumed he'd died) and he had some pretty deep scars all his life -- he was literally picking blue bits of shrapnel out of his skin for the next 40 years.
He never once bragged about his purple heart. He kept it in a drawer. I don't know what he'd make of this.
posted by mochapickle at 4:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [50 favorites]
He never once bragged about his purple heart. He kept it in a drawer. I don't know what he'd make of this.
posted by mochapickle at 4:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [50 favorites]
(i do not know what is is about your twitter feed that closes
and opens;only my pyloric sphincter understands
the voice of your wig is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands
posted by Sublimity at 4:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
and opens;only my pyloric sphincter understands
the voice of your wig is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands
posted by Sublimity at 4:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
It is lucky for Trump that RNC teamed with him to raise money and that there are deluded small donors willing to spend on him, because the significant money people are apparently really loath to fund his runaway train.
posted by bearwife at 4:55 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by bearwife at 4:55 PM on August 3, 2016
That check thing was disgusting
posted by vrakatar at 4:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 4:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
Many thanks to each of you who can listen to him and report back here. The sound of his voice makes the wine turn to vinegar in my stomach and causes my hand to twitch as I draw.
You are truly doing the MeFi's work.
posted by Mooski at 4:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
You are truly doing the MeFi's work.
posted by Mooski at 4:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Trump predicts the NYT (est. 18651) will fold within three years.
posted by mochapickle at 4:58 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by mochapickle at 4:58 PM on August 3, 2016
the NYT (est. 18651)
You're a timelord also? we should talk...
posted by vrakatar at 4:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
You're a timelord also? we should talk...
posted by vrakatar at 4:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
He sounds very drunk.
He doesn't drink and claims to have never had an alcoholic drink, ever.
posted by thelonius at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
He doesn't drink and claims to have never had an alcoholic drink, ever.
posted by thelonius at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sorry, vrakatar, I was so apoplectic re: the check and the purple heart I could barely hit the keypad.
posted by mochapickle at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
He's going on about it now. Having showed off his own six Gold Star families. How they're giving him more money than they can afford. And how the media cheapen things. He's banging on about this a lot.
And CNN covered anti-Trump stories more than two hundred times more than the Iran story. Disgusting!
And back on 35 percent tariffs. Keeo up at the back there!
posted by Devonian at 5:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
And CNN covered anti-Trump stories more than two hundred times more than the Iran story. Disgusting!
And back on 35 percent tariffs. Keeo up at the back there!
posted by Devonian at 5:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump predicts the NYT (est. 18651) will fold within three years.
it takes a long time to fold the NYT when you have small hands, right, donnie?
posted by pyramid termite at 5:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
it takes a long time to fold the NYT when you have small hands, right, donnie?
posted by pyramid termite at 5:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
Is he literally waving it, or just metaphorically? I want to see the stolen valor crowd get in on this.
This election is turning into a display of which veterans' groups are just chest-thumping blowhards and which ones actually give a damn about their stated causes. Rolling Thunder was fine with Trump showing up to speak at their event in DC and very clearly blew off his statements about McCain. Meanwhile a lot of other groups (VFW, IAVA, others) have been livid about Trump's attacks on the Khans.
An Iraq war vet friend of mine said on Facebook yesterday that he's on the mailing lists for six different veterans' groups, and normally they steer clear of this type of politics but they've all lit up about Trump in the last few days.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
This election is turning into a display of which veterans' groups are just chest-thumping blowhards and which ones actually give a damn about their stated causes. Rolling Thunder was fine with Trump showing up to speak at their event in DC and very clearly blew off his statements about McCain. Meanwhile a lot of other groups (VFW, IAVA, others) have been livid about Trump's attacks on the Khans.
An Iraq war vet friend of mine said on Facebook yesterday that he's on the mailing lists for six different veterans' groups, and normally they steer clear of this type of politics but they've all lit up about Trump in the last few days.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Our leaders are controlled by lobbyists. I've hired a few. They're very good.
posted by Devonian at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Clinton has been hammering him today on outsourcing jobs. I'll be interested to see what he thinks up to say about that. That issue should hit home with his (shrinking) base.
posted by bearwife at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by bearwife at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2016
>he has to wave it around, it's small
Aaaand that's most of what you need to know about Donald Trump.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Aaaand that's most of what you need to know about Donald Trump.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
I really can't understand the thought processes of someone who wouldn't find that disgusting.
posted by Artw at 5:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 5:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
re: Orange Julius Caesar, I could definitely see a victorious Donald establishing his surname as a title and ruling as Trump Donald I. Members of the various dynasties could compete in some combination of election and Ottoman-style succession bloodbath to become Trump Donald II, second of his dynasty, or Trump Chelsea I, third ruler and second Trump of her dynasty. All Trumps definitely would receive the ordinal I immediately upon their accession without waiting for a second ruler of that name.
Trump predicts the NYT (est. 18651) will fold within three years.
Carlos Slim could straight up pay all the operating expenses of his paper for at least a decade easy...
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 5:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump predicts the NYT (est. 18651) will fold within three years.
Carlos Slim could straight up pay all the operating expenses of his paper for at least a decade easy...
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 5:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I want Trump to keep harping on the gold star thing, because it's way more likely that his grinding disrespect for veterans might finally wear away the veneer of "Truly Supporting the Troops" the gop has managed to cling onto than years of open neglect and disrespect in the legislature has.
posted by neonrev at 5:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by neonrev at 5:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Kinzinger is the first GOP pol who's up for re-election to dump Trump, so that's a major breach in the wall.
the avalanche has started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote
posted by murphy slaw at 5:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
the avalanche has started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote
posted by murphy slaw at 5:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
This election has me finally reading Twitter, because it has the breakingest breaking news. But I still do not understand Twitter. If you're going to post three paragraphs of commentary, why would you do it on a platform that limits you to 140 characters? These 37-part tweetstorms that take half a mile of screen real estate for three paragraphs are ridiculous.
And don't even get me started on these kids, with their Marilyn Manson hippity-hop music and their pants!
posted by escape from the potato planet at 5:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
And don't even get me started on these kids, with their Marilyn Manson hippity-hop music and their pants!
posted by escape from the potato planet at 5:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [21 favorites]
why would you do it on a platform that limits you to 140 characters?
"I have a lot to say, but this is the only space where I have your attention, so I'll have to make do"
posted by prize bull octorok at 5:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
"I have a lot to say, but this is the only space where I have your attention, so I'll have to make do"
posted by prize bull octorok at 5:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
NYT (est. 18651)
Your using the Persian calendar for notation, aren't you?
posted by My Dad at 5:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Your using the Persian calendar for notation, aren't you?
posted by My Dad at 5:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I love the thirtysomething dude with the pink bow tie, checked shirt, khakis, and rolled-up shirtsleeves. He's one of Tucker Carlson's padawans.
He was yawning and then covered his mouth with his sign.
posted by zutalors! at 5:09 PM on August 3, 2016
He was yawning and then covered his mouth with his sign.
posted by zutalors! at 5:09 PM on August 3, 2016
Last speech he was all over the NRA's support; this time he says he'll stop cop killers. But police have got to stop making mistakes, because the media blow them up out of proportion (I paraphrase, with more syllables).
posted by Devonian at 5:10 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Devonian at 5:10 PM on August 3, 2016
Note the pretzel action on the cameras this time.
posted by mochapickle at 5:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 5:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wow, that Guardian article, really made my day. The quotes are so fantastic!
posted by snofoam at 5:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 5:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
The insufferable, interminable, world-embarrassing length of the US election cycle is the only thing that saved us from a Trump presidency.
(One thought, also, for the reason behind Brexit: short campaign; liars able to maintain facade for long enough.)
posted by Quagkapi at 5:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
(One thought, also, for the reason behind Brexit: short campaign; liars able to maintain facade for long enough.)
posted by Quagkapi at 5:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [17 favorites]
Actually, Trump trying to fire Pence would offer him a way out. "He's a loser. He failed to support me, which the VP's only job. You don't take a loser into an election." The RNC would refuse to let him "fire" Pence (I don't think there's any way for anyone to do that?) so Trump would either resign or go third-party.
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:12 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:12 PM on August 3, 2016
George W. Bush Delivers Critique of Donald Trumps Policies
From the Wall Street Journal:
Without naming Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, former President George W. Bush delivered an incisive critique of his policies of “isolationism, nativism and protectionism” at a private fundraiser in Cincinnati on Tuesday for Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, according to four people who attended.
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 5:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
From the Wall Street Journal:
Without naming Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, former President George W. Bush delivered an incisive critique of his policies of “isolationism, nativism and protectionism” at a private fundraiser in Cincinnati on Tuesday for Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, according to four people who attended.
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 5:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Orange Julius Caesar
Little hands Caesars
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 5:13 PM on August 3, 2016
Little hands Caesars
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 5:13 PM on August 3, 2016
OK but it stays in Canada all year at the Hockey Hall of Fame except for during the Finals...
How about the cup follows the ice. When you can play ice hockey outside on naturally frozen ice, you can host the cup. So if you win the finals, your team can't host/display the cup until it is cold enough outside to defend the title. Let's even say that it just has to get cold enough for 96-straight hours somewhere in the state/province in which the team is based.
This gives Canadian teams an obvious advantage and more incentive to win and it gives US hockey fans a HUGE incentive to combat climate change. If the Dallas Stars win the cup, they might not get to see it after the initial cuddle session. That'll be so sad for them. I miss the North Stars.
posted by VTX at 5:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
How about the cup follows the ice. When you can play ice hockey outside on naturally frozen ice, you can host the cup. So if you win the finals, your team can't host/display the cup until it is cold enough outside to defend the title. Let's even say that it just has to get cold enough for 96-straight hours somewhere in the state/province in which the team is based.
This gives Canadian teams an obvious advantage and more incentive to win and it gives US hockey fans a HUGE incentive to combat climate change. If the Dallas Stars win the cup, they might not get to see it after the initial cuddle session. That'll be so sad for them. I miss the North Stars.
posted by VTX at 5:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
When GWB is the voice of wisdom and reason, you know shit's gone through the guard rail.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [61 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [61 favorites]
Wait what, he's now pulling out his own Gold Star family supporters and saying that they are willing to give more than they can afford to make sure Trump is elected?
And he didn't say that he returned the check with a massive donation to help them out?
And he promised that he would quit accepting donations from veterans and families of veterans and self fund?
Hrmm I'm shocked by this turn of events...
posted by vuron at 5:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
And he didn't say that he returned the check with a massive donation to help them out?
And he promised that he would quit accepting donations from veterans and families of veterans and self fund?
Hrmm I'm shocked by this turn of events...
posted by vuron at 5:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Been thinking about him going third party. That could happen. Meanwhile, Sasha Obama is getting first hand experience on how real people work and live. Warning- link goes to Boston Herald, a right wing paper. Maybe Newt will wander in there and she can wait on him? That would be cool.
posted by vrakatar at 5:19 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by vrakatar at 5:19 PM on August 3, 2016
Wait what, he's now pulling out his own Gold Star family supporters and saying that they are willing to give more than they can afford to make sure Trump is elected?
Yes. That is what happened.
And he didn't say that he returned the check with a massive donation to help them out?
No.
And he promised that he would quit accepting donations from veterans and families of veterans and self fund?
No.
posted by zachlipton at 5:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Yes. That is what happened.
And he didn't say that he returned the check with a massive donation to help them out?
No.
And he promised that he would quit accepting donations from veterans and families of veterans and self fund?
No.
posted by zachlipton at 5:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Meanwhile, Sasha Obama is getting first hand experience on how real people work and live.
Yeah there's now a non-trivial chance she'll have to quit after this kind of article. It's really not ok to do this to her.
posted by zachlipton at 5:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
Yeah there's now a non-trivial chance she'll have to quit after this kind of article. It's really not ok to do this to her.
posted by zachlipton at 5:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
I'm a great negotiator, so I will settle this Trudeau trade:
Canada trades:
Justin Trudeau
the Toronto Maple Leafs
The USA trades:
the Colorado Avalanche, who will be immediately relocated to Quebec City and resume wearing their beautiful powder-blue uniforms
Peter Thiel's vampire tech, which will be used to rejuvenate the Stasny brothers and Michel Goulet.
USA, I know that taking the Leafs is a high price to pay but you probably won't be able to pry Trudeau out of Canada without taking a giant garbage contract along with him. That's just how business works in today's NHL.
posted by Sauce Trough at 5:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Canada trades:
Justin Trudeau
the Toronto Maple Leafs
The USA trades:
the Colorado Avalanche, who will be immediately relocated to Quebec City and resume wearing their beautiful powder-blue uniforms
Peter Thiel's vampire tech, which will be used to rejuvenate the Stasny brothers and Michel Goulet.
USA, I know that taking the Leafs is a high price to pay but you probably won't be able to pry Trudeau out of Canada without taking a giant garbage contract along with him. That's just how business works in today's NHL.
posted by Sauce Trough at 5:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
The audio feed has lost the audience noise, so it's just Trump speaking into virtual silence.
Bizarre experience. But whatever it is that kicked in has kicked in, because he's a lot more coherent than this morning, in the sense that the words join together.
Hm - now going on about new Obamacare charges (I think) going up by 60 percent on November 1st, though that might be in Texas- hard to say. "Election changing. Maybe I don't want the election changed, but it'll be election changing anyway."
Going to make Apple iPhones in this country, folks!
Countries are devaluing their currencies, and he won't allow it. That'c cheating!
(In Daytona, he said that he predicted Brexit and that it would devalue the currency, and that was a good thing. So I guess it depends, right?)
posted by Devonian at 5:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Bizarre experience. But whatever it is that kicked in has kicked in, because he's a lot more coherent than this morning, in the sense that the words join together.
Hm - now going on about new Obamacare charges (I think) going up by 60 percent on November 1st, though that might be in Texas- hard to say. "Election changing. Maybe I don't want the election changed, but it'll be election changing anyway."
Going to make Apple iPhones in this country, folks!
Countries are devaluing their currencies, and he won't allow it. That'c cheating!
(In Daytona, he said that he predicted Brexit and that it would devalue the currency, and that was a good thing. So I guess it depends, right?)
posted by Devonian at 5:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
When GWB is the voice of wisdom and reason, you know shit's gone through the guard rail.
when cheney doesn't have his hand up the back of W's shirt he can make the occasional utterance that sounds almost like a normal human
posted by murphy slaw at 5:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
when cheney doesn't have his hand up the back of W's shirt he can make the occasional utterance that sounds almost like a normal human
posted by murphy slaw at 5:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Been thinking about him going third party.
This has been discussed in one of the many megathreads, but just to reiterate -- he cannot go third party. Ballot deadlines have come and gone in nearly half the states already.
posted by saturday_morning at 5:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
This has been discussed in one of the many megathreads, but just to reiterate -- he cannot go third party. Ballot deadlines have come and gone in nearly half the states already.
posted by saturday_morning at 5:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
USA, I know that taking the Leafs is a high price to pay but you probably won't be able to pry Trudeau out of Canada without taking a giant garbage contract along with him.
If Canada kicks in a future draft pick, we have a deal.
posted by drezdn at 5:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
If Canada kicks in a future draft pick, we have a deal.
posted by drezdn at 5:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump supporters chant, "Lock her up." (Not "Put Hillary on Trial," no fascism here).
Seriously, is Hillary actually running for her freedom? Would Trump appoint an Attorney General who would charge Hillary for a crime? Shouldn't we take Trump at his word?
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Seriously, is Hillary actually running for her freedom? Would Trump appoint an Attorney General who would charge Hillary for a crime? Shouldn't we take Trump at his word?
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
This has been discussed in one of the many megathreads, but just to reiterate -- he cannot go third party. Ballot deadlines have come and gone in nearly half the states already.
Doesn't mean he can't DO it. Just means he can't compete in half the states.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Doesn't mean he can't DO it. Just means he can't compete in half the states.
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
You can pull somebody out of the insane asylum and staff him with the best people in the business, and he's still going to be in the parking lot screaming about the book of Revelations and there's nothing you can do about it. Hillary's the placekicker on the field. She's shanking every kick. And Trump's the guy pleasuring himself in the stands.
Why do I think this is pulled from a database of actual GOP candidate incidents, and isn't just a hypothetical example?
Of course, their solution would not be "quit tapping the insane asylum for candidates" but "make sure there are no stands."
posted by maxwelton at 5:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Why do I think this is pulled from a database of actual GOP candidate incidents, and isn't just a hypothetical example?
Of course, their solution would not be "quit tapping the insane asylum for candidates" but "make sure there are no stands."
posted by maxwelton at 5:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Shouldn't we take Trump at his word?
No. In fact, we shouldn't take him at all.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
No. In fact, we shouldn't take him at all.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
she'll have to quit after this kind of article
Pretty sure her end date was negotiated to coincide with the start of the Big Prezzy Vacay. But good on her, it is a freaking slamdance in the straunts here now. Happy August.
posted by vrakatar at 5:29 PM on August 3, 2016
Pretty sure her end date was negotiated to coincide with the start of the Big Prezzy Vacay. But good on her, it is a freaking slamdance in the straunts here now. Happy August.
posted by vrakatar at 5:29 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by lalex at 5:22 PM on August 3:
From John Noonan in US News:
" Hillary's the placekicker on the field. She's shanking every kick. And Trump's the guy pleasuring himself in the stands."
Can I get a definition of "shanking a kick"? Is that good? I'm picturing Lucy and Charlie Brown.
posted by mcduff at 5:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
From John Noonan in US News:
" Hillary's the placekicker on the field. She's shanking every kick. And Trump's the guy pleasuring himself in the stands."
Can I get a definition of "shanking a kick"? Is that good? I'm picturing Lucy and Charlie Brown.
posted by mcduff at 5:30 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seriously, is Hillary actually running for her freedom? Would Trump appoint an Attorney General who would charge Hillary for a crime? Shouldn't we take Trump at his word?
I would assume that yes, he would follow through on that threat if he were elected.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 5:32 PM on August 3, 2016
I would assume that yes, he would follow through on that threat if he were elected.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 5:32 PM on August 3, 2016
Also, don't a lot of states have sore loser laws where you can't run as an independent if you had previously run for a party nomination? I mean they're targeted at people who lost the nomination, but I'm not sure how specific the wording is.
posted by ckape at 5:32 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by ckape at 5:32 PM on August 3, 2016
Shanking means missing it off to the side.
posted by drezdn at 5:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by drezdn at 5:32 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
The only sports definition I see is from golf:
tr.v. shanked, shank·ing, shanks Sports
To hit (a golf ball) with the heel of the club, causing the ball to veer in the wrong direction.
posted by thelonius at 5:33 PM on August 3, 2016
tr.v. shanked, shank·ing, shanks Sports
To hit (a golf ball) with the heel of the club, causing the ball to veer in the wrong direction.
posted by thelonius at 5:33 PM on August 3, 2016
I thought shanking was what you did to somebody with a knife you made from a spoon in prison, but maybe I'm misinformed.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
It pains me to relive this, but here's a shanked kick.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 5:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump seems to be playing with a new line today, basically that people who "would never in a million years" vote for him still "have to" vote for Trump because of the Supreme Court, that Hillary would put "Bernie's people' on the Court and the country would be "like Venezuela." He kept saying "you have to" vote for him over and over like bullying people into voting for him is going to go over well.
posted by zachlipton at 5:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 5:34 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
thought shanking was what you did to somebody with a knife
Shivving. What one does with a shiv.
posted by vrakatar at 5:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Shivving. What one does with a shiv.
posted by vrakatar at 5:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
It pains me to relive this, but here's a shanked kick.
TOO SOON!
posted by chris24 at 5:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
TOO SOON!
posted by chris24 at 5:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Apparently religious leaders don't have the right to speak. He'll fix that.
And you can hate him as much as you like, say you'll never vote for him, but Supreme Court! We have a list of high-quality judges! The best! Or it'll be Venezuela.Got the list from the Federalist Society.
And whoever the next president is... (boos audible off-mike) [pause] I hope it's going to be me, [That really did sound as if he didn't expect or particularly want to be Prez. Odd.]
posted by Devonian at 5:37 PM on August 3, 2016
And you can hate him as much as you like, say you'll never vote for him, but Supreme Court! We have a list of high-quality judges! The best! Or it'll be Venezuela.Got the list from the Federalist Society.
And whoever the next president is... (boos audible off-mike) [pause] I hope it's going to be me, [That really did sound as if he didn't expect or particularly want to be Prez. Odd.]
posted by Devonian at 5:37 PM on August 3, 2016
I honestly thought a shiv was a small shank. A sharpened toothbrush = Shiv, a sharpened chunk of metal = shank.
posted by neonrev at 5:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by neonrev at 5:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Sorry chris24.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 5:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 83
Anthony Kennedy is 79
Stephen Breyer is 77
Clarence Thomas is 67
Samuel Alito is 66
John Roberts is 61
Sonia Sotomayor is also 61
Elena Kagan is 56
Trump delenda est.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Anthony Kennedy is 79
Stephen Breyer is 77
Clarence Thomas is 67
Samuel Alito is 66
John Roberts is 61
Sonia Sotomayor is also 61
Elena Kagan is 56
Trump delenda est.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
No, the knife is a shiv, but the correct verb is 'to shank'. Urban Dictionary's got my back on this one.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
I'm not a student of NATO. I just did deals, deals, deals, deals. Buildings, buildings, buildings. But I've got common sense. I said it was obsolete. And when they stopped laughing, four days later, they said I'm right. And four days later, they say NATO is opening an anti-terrorist unit. But I didn't get credit. (again, paraphrased)
posted by Devonian at 5:40 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by Devonian at 5:40 PM on August 3, 2016
The only sports definition I see is from golf
Definitely in golf. Here's some golf shanking highlights...
"That looked to be a shank."
"That [shank] was fortunate not to take someone's teeth out in the gallery."
Etc.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:41 PM on August 3, 2016
Definitely in golf. Here's some golf shanking highlights...
"That looked to be a shank."
"That [shank] was fortunate not to take someone's teeth out in the gallery."
Etc.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:41 PM on August 3, 2016
>Hillary would put "Bernie's people' on the Court and the country would be "like Venezuela."
Perhaps we are meant to imagine her as the titular character in the song Matilda, which warns us that she will "take me money and run a-Venezuela". Great, now I've got the chorus stuck in my head. Thanks, 3rd-Term Obama.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:43 PM on August 3, 2016
Perhaps we are meant to imagine her as the titular character in the song Matilda, which warns us that she will "take me money and run a-Venezuela". Great, now I've got the chorus stuck in my head. Thanks, 3rd-Term Obama.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:43 PM on August 3, 2016
The amount of anti-Semitic hate (for the avoidance of all doubt since it's necessary to say this, this is stuff about ovens and gas chambers, not criticism of the State of Israel) that scrolls by on the Trump YouTube live chat, despite its complete irrelevance to any topic at hand, is astonishing.
posted by zachlipton at 5:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:44 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Thanks for schooling (skooling?) me on the shanking issue.
posted by mcduff at 5:45 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by mcduff at 5:45 PM on August 3, 2016
I guess he forgot he was trying to court Bernie supporters over to his side.
posted by ckape at 5:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ckape at 5:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
OMG. Donald Jr. and Eric apparently just left for another overseas hunting trip (warning-- page full of idiots posing with dead animals). I guess they found the only activity more reprehensible than helping their dad get out of this mess.
posted by acidic at 5:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [26 favorites]
posted by acidic at 5:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [26 favorites]
Hillary would put "Bernie's people' on the Court
guess he's done courting the buster contingent…
posted by murphy slaw at 5:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
guess he's done courting the buster contingent…
posted by murphy slaw at 5:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
"I give you my solemn oath I will never ever be in a bicycle race during a major negotiation."
posted by zachlipton at 5:47 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by zachlipton at 5:47 PM on August 3, 2016
Again with the Ivory Soap. WTF.
posted by mochapickle at 5:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 5:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Remember when all the pundits were saying Trump was done saying outrageous things and would pivot to the center for the general election?
Remember that? Good times.
Nope not only is he not pivoting to the center he's going full out right wing loon.
And of course the Green candidate is going full WOO and FUD because homeopathy and wireless sensitivity are totes real.
Hell this election is making the Libertarians seem somewhat coherent in comparison.
posted by vuron at 5:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Remember that? Good times.
Nope not only is he not pivoting to the center he's going full out right wing loon.
And of course the Green candidate is going full WOO and FUD because homeopathy and wireless sensitivity are totes real.
Hell this election is making the Libertarians seem somewhat coherent in comparison.
posted by vuron at 5:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Clinton Library releases Merrick Garland files:
posted by kirkaracha at 5:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Clinton Library files released Wednesday on Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland provide more evidence of GOP support for Garland two decades ago when he was nominated to a federal appeals court in Washington.At this point they should just pull the nomination and say, "hey, you guys wanted to let the next president pick."
posted by kirkaracha at 5:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
From the Youtube chat:
MAKE US SMART AGAIN!!!
posted by Foci for Analysis at 5:50 PM on August 3, 2016
MAKE US SMART AGAIN!!!
posted by Foci for Analysis at 5:50 PM on August 3, 2016
(Long rant about NATO spending and why should we pay to protect Japan, and Kerry breaking his leg, and the Persians (!) being snarky and wanting Saudi,,, that petered out) and now it's Ivory Soap and Special K and knocking the hell out of ISIS and we're back in the Random Zone)
"And we're going to have millions of people come in, but they're going to come in legally."
So Donald just pledged for massive immigration. That's... that's... a soundbite I hope someone caught.
posted by Devonian at 5:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
"And we're going to have millions of people come in, but they're going to come in legally."
So Donald just pledged for massive immigration. That's... that's... a soundbite I hope someone caught.
posted by Devonian at 5:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
And we're back to "You Can't Always Get What You Want" as exit music. I'm going to apply Trump's Razor and conclude he simply has never listened to the lyrics.
posted by zachlipton at 5:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
If they build that wall, we'll be trapped in here with all those awful Trump voters.
posted by mochapickle at 5:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 5:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Donald Trump is for everything he is against.
posted by drezdn at 5:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 5:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
So Donald just pledged for massive immigration. That's... that's... a soundbite I hope someone caught.
Earlier today he bragged about how many Mexicans he's employed. I mean, you could parse it charitably, but we're talking Trump here.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Earlier today he bragged about how many Mexicans he's employed. I mean, you could parse it charitably, but we're talking Trump here.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
And we're back to "You Can't Always Get What You Want" as exit music. I'm going to apply Trump's Razor and conclude he simply has never listened to the lyrics.
He may have seen the polls and decided he was the hero Gotham needs.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:56 PM on August 3, 2016
He may have seen the polls and decided he was the hero Gotham needs.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:56 PM on August 3, 2016
CNN is airing a Libertarian party town hall at 9pm ET tonight. Should be interesting to see how they pitch themselves to sad republicans.
posted by gatorae at 5:57 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by gatorae at 5:57 PM on August 3, 2016
And we're back to 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' as exit music.
He should open with "Sympathy for the Devil":
Please allow me to introduce myselfposted by kirkaracha at 5:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul to waste
...
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
...
I shouted out,
Who killed the Kennedys?
When after all
It was Ted Cruz' dad
...
Just call me Lucifer
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
they'll be fine if they can avoid talking about seasteading
posted by murphy slaw at 5:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 5:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
So does anyone know who this mysterious plant-builder-in-Mexico friend is that Trump keeps bringing up? Does this person exist? I'm googling and finding nothing.
posted by mochapickle at 6:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 6:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I was thinking about how today at his rally, Trump revisited the story of how he mocked a reporter. I think he spends a lot of time revisiting stories until they reflect the world as he sees it, with himself as the hero, natch. He is going to keep telling that story until he gets the headline: Trump, true champion of the handicapped.
Can you imagine daily life with him? It must wear out his family to make sure they tell the stories the "right way." The (hypothetical) story "how he forgot all about Ivanka's big 16th birthday bash at the museum then went home, watched TV, had a few beers, and fell asleep" becomes "that time Daddy worked so hard he had to rush home and take a nap before the party and the stupid butler forgot to wake him up."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
Can you imagine daily life with him? It must wear out his family to make sure they tell the stories the "right way." The (hypothetical) story "how he forgot all about Ivanka's big 16th birthday bash at the museum then went home, watched TV, had a few beers, and fell asleep" becomes "that time Daddy worked so hard he had to rush home and take a nap before the party and the stupid butler forgot to wake him up."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [20 favorites]
His plant building buddy is married to Meredith McIver.
posted by Yowser at 6:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 6:02 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
"I want to watch television. I want to watch Ivory Snow, I want to see cereal, something, Kellogg, something anything."
This has a strange free-association ring to it. Trump signed an anti-pornography pledge. Marilyn Chambers was, before her porn career, a model for Ivory Snow. John Harvey Kellog was notoriously anti-masturbation.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
This has a strange free-association ring to it. Trump signed an anti-pornography pledge. Marilyn Chambers was, before her porn career, a model for Ivory Snow. John Harvey Kellog was notoriously anti-masturbation.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
I'm glad - in a way - I listened to both speeches. No surprises, a shit-ton of misdirection (at best) and you could spend all day picking apart the contradictions and the unsupported (and unsupportable) promises, and all that sort of thing, but:
There were two different Trumps. The first one was really incoherent, low-energy, looked shot, was clearly (as pilots say) well behind the aircraft. The second was revitalised, managed to hold themes for thirty seconds - or more! - got some jabs in (was genuinely funny at one point, and even had - for Trump - a couple of shots of self-deprecation, but they didn't last past a phase or two), and had clearly had his coffee. Or at least his nap. But the effect was definitely of someone who had to keep reminding himself that he wanted to be Prez, or at least had an expectation of it, and the crowd caught that and didn't like it - he picked up that part of his game at the end.
So, for him a remarkably gaffe-free day (although he's still misfiring on trying to patch up earlier cockups), but the inertia of the campaign is clearly against him.
posted by Devonian at 6:03 PM on August 3, 2016
There were two different Trumps. The first one was really incoherent, low-energy, looked shot, was clearly (as pilots say) well behind the aircraft. The second was revitalised, managed to hold themes for thirty seconds - or more! - got some jabs in (was genuinely funny at one point, and even had - for Trump - a couple of shots of self-deprecation, but they didn't last past a phase or two), and had clearly had his coffee. Or at least his nap. But the effect was definitely of someone who had to keep reminding himself that he wanted to be Prez, or at least had an expectation of it, and the crowd caught that and didn't like it - he picked up that part of his game at the end.
So, for him a remarkably gaffe-free day (although he's still misfiring on trying to patch up earlier cockups), but the inertia of the campaign is clearly against him.
posted by Devonian at 6:03 PM on August 3, 2016
So does anyone know who this mysterious plant-builder-in-Mexico friend is that Trump keeps bringing up?
John Baron.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm shocked that the only thug bad I can remember Trump doing today is getting fact-checked and people realising nuclear weapons would fly within about 18 minute of him assuming Presidency.
That's a good day for him.
posted by Yowser at 6:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
That's a good day for him.
posted by Yowser at 6:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
>"I want to watch television. I want to watch Ivory Snow, I want to see cereal, something, Kellogg, something anything."
The bad thing about this is, when they make a Bad Lip Reading of it, it'll be impossible to distinguish from the original.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
The bad thing about this is, when they make a Bad Lip Reading of it, it'll be impossible to distinguish from the original.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
Going back to waaaay earlier in the thread: I'm a short-term Sconnie, and I'm not in his district, but I'd love for Paul Ryan to get primaried out, even if his replacement is the most horrible person ever and actually gets elected, just because Ryan is currently the highest ranking Republican in government and despite the odiousness of his policy positions is fairly well respected. If Hillary wins, I'd expect that Ryan would run in 2020 and could quite well beat her, so I'd be quite happy with his political career getting kneecapped immediately. Heck, I even think Ryan is mostly a decent guy, just totally misguided in his thought in the same way that Mr. Burns thought the best way to clean up the oceans was to scrape the entire ocean floor clean and process the results into slurry.
posted by LionIndex at 6:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
posted by LionIndex at 6:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
Since Trump seems to believe everything he sees on TV I wonder how long it will be before he starts to complain about Obama's failures to defend NYC against the Chitauri.
If not for the Republican businessman Tony Stark, say why isn't he running for mayor or something?
Electing Hillary Clinton will probably leave us weak when Thanos or Darkseid invade
posted by vuron at 6:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
If not for the Republican businessman Tony Stark, say why isn't he running for mayor or something?
Electing Hillary Clinton will probably leave us weak when Thanos or Darkseid invade
posted by vuron at 6:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Bad Lip reading should just take their script straight from a transcript.
posted by drezdn at 6:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by drezdn at 6:10 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Reuters has another angle on the intervention idea.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Another Republican source said Trump's family members, who have played an influential role in his campaign, were aware that an intervention was needed to get Trump back on track. One idea being floated was to have a senior adviser travel with Trump to help him stay on message.A senior adviser? Who on earth would take the job of telling Trump what to do and say? Who could they possibly get that Trump would listen to? I honestly don't think he has any heroes or people he looks up to.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ivory Snow
Maybe he's getting big game hunting and memories of the 80s all jumbled up?
Like so:
Ivory Snow – Cocaine Accessories
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:11 PM on August 3, 2016
Maybe he's getting big game hunting and memories of the 80s all jumbled up?
Like so:
Ivory Snow – Cocaine Accessories
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:11 PM on August 3, 2016
Ivanka, probably, but I am just getting more and more creeped out by their relationship.
posted by corb at 6:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by corb at 6:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [14 favorites]
Yeah I don't think Tim wants that job.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Right. Now I know why I knew that was a thing: ivory cocaine straws previously on Metafilter.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:13 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:13 PM on August 3, 2016
You know, even Wormtongue would be a massive improvement.
posted by neonrev at 6:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by neonrev at 6:13 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
When's Meredith going to come apologize for this week?
posted by zutalors! at 6:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 6:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
His plant building buddy is married to Meredith McIver
But the marriage was never consummated, and Buddy fled to Essos after murdering his father. Meredith was transported to Trump Tower, where Reek Christie is about to effect a rescue.
I am assuming MeFi's Merideth fan fiction editorship.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
When Hillary (or any other presidential candidate, for that matter) talks about someone specific, she names them. It's not "some guy who builds plants," it's the actual name of the person. Often with a video package ready.
Trump never has names. He never has anybody on deck to be the person he's talking about. Those checks from Gold Star families? Prove it. Give us their names.
Media needs to call him out on that too.
posted by yesster at 6:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Trump never has names. He never has anybody on deck to be the person he's talking about. Those checks from Gold Star families? Prove it. Give us their names.
Media needs to call him out on that too.
posted by yesster at 6:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Holy shit, we're only through Wednesday. And with the way trump tweets, we're not even that. This is fucking exhausting.
posted by codacorolla at 6:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 6:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Ivanka, probably, but I am just getting more and more creeped out by their relationship.
I never saw this clip of Trump talking about his and Ivanka's mutual love of sex until yesterday, and I thought I'd seen everything. Seriously, how does this not destroy the man's campaign on the spot? It's just...unfathomable. (2:09, if the time signature does not work for you.)
posted by argybarg at 6:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [45 favorites]
I never saw this clip of Trump talking about his and Ivanka's mutual love of sex until yesterday, and I thought I'd seen everything. Seriously, how does this not destroy the man's campaign on the spot? It's just...unfathomable. (2:09, if the time signature does not work for you.)
posted by argybarg at 6:17 PM on August 3, 2016 [45 favorites]
How much can his family actually care about this when Don Jr and Draco Eric just flew abroad to murder exotic animals? Your dad is falling apart live on TV in front of the entire nation and you flee the country?
Unless Ivanka is behind this...
posted by sallybrown at 6:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Unless Ivanka is behind this...
posted by sallybrown at 6:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
How much can his family actually care about this when Don Jr and Draco Eric just flew abroad to murder exotic animals? Your dad is falling apart live on TV in front of the entire nation and you flee the country?
Especially if that U.S. News and World Report article has merit - they ARE the campaign staff at this point.
posted by codacorolla at 6:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Especially if that U.S. News and World Report article has merit - they ARE the campaign staff at this point.
posted by codacorolla at 6:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
I never saw this clip yt of Trump talking about his and Ivanka's mutual love of sex until yesterday, and I thought I'd seen everything. Seriously, how does this not destroy the man's campaign on the spot? It's just...unfathomable. (2:09, if the time signature does not work for you.)
holy fuckballs.
posted by sallybrown at 6:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
holy fuckballs.
posted by sallybrown at 6:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
Does anyone else track /r/Politics on Reddit? I had just about given up on it, and peeking just now it seems to have swung wildly against Trump.
I have had a gut feeling for a while that there is manipulation in the pro-Trump/anti-Hillary/Pro-Bernie direction, given a standard 5,000 or so upvotes for every single post attacking her and burying anything positive.
Now it looks like, if that was true, someone just said "Screw it" and pulled the plug on the effort. Almost every post looks like somethign straight out of Metafilter.
posted by msalt at 6:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
I have had a gut feeling for a while that there is manipulation in the pro-Trump/anti-Hillary/Pro-Bernie direction, given a standard 5,000 or so upvotes for every single post attacking her and burying anything positive.
Now it looks like, if that was true, someone just said "Screw it" and pulled the plug on the effort. Almost every post looks like somethign straight out of Metafilter.
posted by msalt at 6:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
Trump: ‘I don’t know why we’re not leading by a lot’:
posted by kirkaracha at 6:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Speaking to a large crowd at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Florida, Trump boasted about the turnout at his events, citing it as an indicator of his support.Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama are all red states, jagoff. Of course your crowds are bigger there.
“We go to Oklahoma, we had 25,000 people. We had 21,000 people in Dallas. We had 35,000 people in Mobile, Alabama. We have these massive crowds,” the Republican nominee said.
...
Trump then questioned how the attendance at his rallies hasn’t been reflected in the polls.
“I hear we’re leading Florida by a bit,” he said. “I don’t know why we’re not leading by a lot. Maybe crowds don’t make the difference.”
posted by kirkaracha at 6:21 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Huffington Post: Trump Silent On Zika Virus At 2 Florida Campaign Events
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Pressed how he thinks the federal government ― which is responsible for coordinating research to fight the virus, and which he is campaigning to lead ― ought to respond, Trump again deferred to Scott.Bet you dollars to donuts that Clinton talks about controlling the spread of zika when she is in Florida. I just think it is an issue that Trump is not interested in. One of those "domestic issues" he would leave for Pence to deal with while he, Trump is making America Great Again.
“I would say that it’s up to Rick Scott. It depends on what he’s looking to do, because he really seems to have it under control in Florida,” Trump said. Scott said last week the government “needs to do their part.”
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Let's be honest, if somebody told you that Eric and Don Jr were investment bankers at Pierce and Pierce and that they were close personal friends with Patrick Bateman and Paul Allen nobody would even blink right?
I mean when you get tired of hunting exotic game why not engage in hunting the most dangerous prey if all
posted by vuron at 6:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
I mean when you get tired of hunting exotic game why not engage in hunting the most dangerous prey if all
posted by vuron at 6:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Draw a circle for people in Mexico with the money to build plants. Another one for people in Mexico who are laundering cartel and/or bribe money. And a final circle for people in Mexico who would associate with Trump.
Now look at where the three circles intersect.
Sorry, I lost my train of thought, I just like telling people to draw circles.
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 6:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [29 favorites]
Now look at where the three circles intersect.
Sorry, I lost my train of thought, I just like telling people to draw circles.
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 6:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [29 favorites]
This is what has been getting me through (gleaned from one of these threads, I'm sure). Repeated daily viewings of this: Khaleesi is coming to Westeros.
Just watched that while John Parr's "Man in Motion" was playing in the background. It really helped. I recommend it.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 6:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Just watched that while John Parr's "Man in Motion" was playing in the background. It really helped. I recommend it.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 6:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Hell this election is making the Libertarians seem somewhat coherent in comparison.
So, Roommate From Brussels is here for one year more (she was originally going to be taking off right about now, but got another research fellowship here in the city that she's really stoked about). When she first found out about it, a couple months ago, I joked that 'Hey, this means that you'll be here for the election, and US politics is usually one of the better forms of entertainment around."
Now, back when I said that, this was when there was still a whole roster of GOP possibilities and everyone was still thinking "Trump? Come on....." Little did we know, at the time, that this particular election season was going to be quite this bonkers. She regularly skypes home, and I can only imagine what she must be telling the family (it's entirely in Flemish, but I've caught her saying "Trump" or "Hillary" now and then amid it all). She's recently asked me to explain the whole electoral college thing, and is currently bingewatching The West Wing.
--
Just today, while reading this thread, I was strangely reminded of an incident I saw in a club here in New York on St. Patrick's Day. An indie band who had a regular gig here in New York was having a U2 tribute concert at some club; the band invited a whole bunch of other artists to come and sing lead on various U2 songs while the band played backup. But a lucky person from the audience was going to get to come up and sing lead on "Pride In The Name Of Love" - and they were deciding who would get to do that by drawing names out of a hat.
The guy whose name they picked was both uproariously drunk and tone-deaf. When they saw how drunk he was, the band all sort of cringed slightly, but still gamely went on, and when he started singing they all cringed even more, but kept playing and singing backup, frozen smiles on all their faces. But he sucked. It was obvious he sucked.
And when he was done, he stayed put on stage and kept shouting 'WOOOOOO!" at the audience, who were snickering at the guy. "Okay, it's time to get off the stage now," our MC kept chirping at him, but he ignored her, continuing to shout "WOOOO!" into the mike. And then the audience dude hunched over the microphone and started to groan out another song - "All I want Is You," just as tone-deaf as his previous effort. The rest of the band had largely given up on talking him out of it and were pretty much working around him; but the bass player was standing there watching him. And finally, after the fourth or fifth line of the song, the bass player finally reached over and physically unplugged the cable from the guy's mike - and the guy never even noticed. He just finished singing that verse, oblivious to the fact that no one was listening, and finally shouted "WOOO!" one more time and left the stage.
....I am suddenly envisioning Trump as this guy and I'm expecting the bass player to come out and unplug his mike any minute now.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [49 favorites]
So, Roommate From Brussels is here for one year more (she was originally going to be taking off right about now, but got another research fellowship here in the city that she's really stoked about). When she first found out about it, a couple months ago, I joked that 'Hey, this means that you'll be here for the election, and US politics is usually one of the better forms of entertainment around."
Now, back when I said that, this was when there was still a whole roster of GOP possibilities and everyone was still thinking "Trump? Come on....." Little did we know, at the time, that this particular election season was going to be quite this bonkers. She regularly skypes home, and I can only imagine what she must be telling the family (it's entirely in Flemish, but I've caught her saying "Trump" or "Hillary" now and then amid it all). She's recently asked me to explain the whole electoral college thing, and is currently bingewatching The West Wing.
--
Just today, while reading this thread, I was strangely reminded of an incident I saw in a club here in New York on St. Patrick's Day. An indie band who had a regular gig here in New York was having a U2 tribute concert at some club; the band invited a whole bunch of other artists to come and sing lead on various U2 songs while the band played backup. But a lucky person from the audience was going to get to come up and sing lead on "Pride In The Name Of Love" - and they were deciding who would get to do that by drawing names out of a hat.
The guy whose name they picked was both uproariously drunk and tone-deaf. When they saw how drunk he was, the band all sort of cringed slightly, but still gamely went on, and when he started singing they all cringed even more, but kept playing and singing backup, frozen smiles on all their faces. But he sucked. It was obvious he sucked.
And when he was done, he stayed put on stage and kept shouting 'WOOOOOO!" at the audience, who were snickering at the guy. "Okay, it's time to get off the stage now," our MC kept chirping at him, but he ignored her, continuing to shout "WOOOO!" into the mike. And then the audience dude hunched over the microphone and started to groan out another song - "All I want Is You," just as tone-deaf as his previous effort. The rest of the band had largely given up on talking him out of it and were pretty much working around him; but the bass player was standing there watching him. And finally, after the fourth or fifth line of the song, the bass player finally reached over and physically unplugged the cable from the guy's mike - and the guy never even noticed. He just finished singing that verse, oblivious to the fact that no one was listening, and finally shouted "WOOO!" one more time and left the stage.
....I am suddenly envisioning Trump as this guy and I'm expecting the bass player to come out and unplug his mike any minute now.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [49 favorites]
After the last 72 hours every charge no matter how crazy sounds like it might be true about the man. Case in point this medium article.
posted by humanfont at 6:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 6:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh people haven't been exposed to Trump's incest fantasies before now? What rock have you been living under? The man wants to turn Trump Tower into Craster's Keep.
posted by vuron at 6:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by vuron at 6:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Trump says Rick Scott "probably already does" have Zika under control.
I just can't. Fuck this ignorant motherfucker.
posted by gatorae at 6:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
I just can't. Fuck this ignorant motherfucker.
posted by gatorae at 6:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
tivalasvegas tests Trump trolling tactics #3:
-Homeland Security official informs Mr. Trump that he'll need to produce proof of income including federal tax returns from the previous five years to be qualified to receive a security briefing
-Reporter: "Mr. Trump, what's your reaction to the recent CDC study concluding that each hour of airplane flight reduces a man's sperm count by 17.43 per cent?"
-trap Trump on elevator, cause him to blame fire inspectors
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
-Homeland Security official informs Mr. Trump that he'll need to produce proof of income including federal tax returns from the previous five years to be qualified to receive a security briefing
-Reporter: "Mr. Trump, what's your reaction to the recent CDC study concluding that each hour of airplane flight reduces a man's sperm count by 17.43 per cent?"
-
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Bet you dollars to donuts that Clinton talks about controlling the spread of zika when she is in Florida.
Better yet - Kaine's publicly pushing for a special session of Congress to deal with the matter.
posted by NoxAeternum at 6:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Better yet - Kaine's publicly pushing for a special session of Congress to deal with the matter.
posted by NoxAeternum at 6:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Oh people haven't been exposed to Trump's incest fantasies before now?
What could you be talking about?
posted by argybarg at 6:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
What could you be talking about?
posted by argybarg at 6:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Mother Jones: Donald Trump Roundup For Wednesday Evening
Nothing about Ivory Snow, Pretzel cameras, or checks from Gold Star families, but a round up of the main stories as reported by other papers such as the Daily Beast:
Nothing about Ivory Snow, Pretzel cameras, or checks from Gold Star families, but a round up of the main stories as reported by other papers such as the Daily Beast:
Manafort said on NBC’s Meet the Press this past weekend that the change in language on Ukraine “absolutely did not come from the Trump campaign.” But this account is contradicted by four sources in the room, both for and against the language.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
....Meanwhile, records for the meeting seem to have disappeared. A co-chair for the national security platform subcommittee told The Daily Beast that the minutes for the meeting have been discarded. The Republican National Committee had no comment when asked whether this was standard procedure for all the subcommittees.
Can you imagine daily life with him? It must wear out his family to make sure they tell the stories the "right way." The (hypothetical) story "how he forgot all about Ivanka's big 16th birthday bash at the museum then went home, watched TV, had a few beers, and fell asleep" becomes "that time Daddy worked so hard he had to rush home and take a nap before the party and the stupid butler forgot to wake him up."
Oh man you just gave a bunch of us flashbacks
Fuuuuuck gas lighting
posted by schadenfrau at 6:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [35 favorites]
Oh man you just gave a bunch of us flashbacks
Fuuuuuck gas lighting
posted by schadenfrau at 6:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [35 favorites]
And, in another corner of this fucked up landscape, Ben Carson says that the Khan family should apologize to Donald Trump.
posted by yesster at 6:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by yesster at 6:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Oh man you just gave a bunch of us flashbacks
Fuuuuuck gas lighting
Yup. This x1000
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 6:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Fuuuuuck gas lighting
Yup. This x1000
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 6:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Wait I don't understand Schandenfrau were you one of the Crawley family members on Downton Abbey?
posted by vuron at 6:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by vuron at 6:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I always feel like those of us who suffered as children at the hands of fucked-up adults make up a secret society. I never thought we'd be a voting coalition.
posted by argybarg at 6:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [54 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 6:42 PM on August 3, 2016 [54 favorites]
Ben Carson says that the Khan family should apologize to Donald Trump.
Yeah, guys, make sure you keep this Khan story going! Because eventually you'll WIN the argument and it will make Hillary Clinton look bad!
Also, in correcting her "It's all Time Traveling Obama's fault" statement, his spokesperson said:
Also, it's Hillary's fault, or something.
posted by mmoncur at 6:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yeah, guys, make sure you keep this Khan story going! Because eventually you'll WIN the argument and it will make Hillary Clinton look bad!
Also, in correcting her "It's all Time Traveling Obama's fault" statement, his spokesperson said:
“But Donald Trump wasn’t there,” Pierson said. “That is the only point. That’s the only point. Donald Trump is being blamed for something he had nothing to do with, and he did not attack this family.”So apparently now they think the issue is whether Trump personally caused the Khans' son's death? Because I don't think anyone was saying that...
Also, it's Hillary's fault, or something.
posted by mmoncur at 6:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Never mind I remembered the other usage of the term gas lighting after my comment.
All the throwbacks to Julius Caesar and Crassus have my poor brain confused.
posted by vuron at 6:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
All the throwbacks to Julius Caesar and Crassus have my poor brain confused.
posted by vuron at 6:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
That NAMBLA rumor seems to be entirely based on a single sarcastic Reddit post but given the amount of attention that Trump gives to every tiny slight against him, I am hoping he will bring it up himself in order to refute it
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
No publicly available video matches what Trump described. This raises the possibility that Trump was either fabricating the contents of a non-existent video, or he was disclosing information to which he has newly been granted access.
Interesting. Trump's a fantasist, but he's not good on details. Sure sounds like he saw an actual tape, and there's only one source for that.
Perhaps today will provide a nice juicy new scandal after all. He certainly didn't major on what he saw at the Jacksonville event.
posted by Devonian at 6:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Interesting. Trump's a fantasist, but he's not good on details. Sure sounds like he saw an actual tape, and there's only one source for that.
Perhaps today will provide a nice juicy new scandal after all. He certainly didn't major on what he saw at the Jacksonville event.
posted by Devonian at 6:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I guess Carson has decided to hook his grift campaign to Trump's grift campaign permanently.
I remember when people were spouting off all sorts of nonsense about Carson being a great man called to duty, a man of integrity and deep moral values. Nope, he's a huckster who has a remarkably grave case of engineer's disease or more precisely the doctor/dentist version of that disease.
posted by vuron at 6:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
I remember when people were spouting off all sorts of nonsense about Carson being a great man called to duty, a man of integrity and deep moral values. Nope, he's a huckster who has a remarkably grave case of engineer's disease or more precisely the doctor/dentist version of that disease.
posted by vuron at 6:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Donald Trump’s disastrous fortnight:
Mr Trump now trails Mrs Clinton with college-educated whites, a group that has voted Republican since polling began, by a five-point margin. If Mr Trump cannot close that gap, he will probably lose.posted by kirkaracha at 6:50 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
You might think this would have given a pragmatic tycoon, pursuing success with the focused greed of a truffle-hog, a moment’s pause. Yet the incontinence Mr Trump has displayed since the convention has been astounding.
Pretty sure my pathological narcissist father will be voting Trump, despite being Latino. How could he not? Trump's like a brother from another mother. They've even got "Ride of the Valkyries" in common.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 6:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 6:51 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I seriously think that the anti-porn pledge that Donnie signed really turned the techbro neckbeards against him.
Porn is pretty much the 3rd rail for those guys.
posted by yesster at 6:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Porn is pretty much the 3rd rail for those guys.
posted by yesster at 6:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Wait, I thought he was saying the tape was shot by the Iranian military, is he getting his secret intelligence briefings from Iran?
posted by ckape at 6:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ckape at 6:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
No publicly available video matches what Trump described.
I will bet you many dollars that what he actually saw was some stock footage of a cargo plane being unloaded that was running behind whatever cable news he had on today.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
I will bet you many dollars that what he actually saw was some stock footage of a cargo plane being unloaded that was running behind whatever cable news he had on today.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [18 favorites]
It was the footage in his head.
posted by argybarg at 6:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 6:54 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's called footage-in-mouth disease.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
I fear whoever the Republicans will replace Trump with.
That said, they're already in disarray, and -- unless the Republicans have a pretty solid conspiracy going -- they're far behind where they ought to be. The Clinton campaign probably has attack ads against Cruz and the others ready to go, just in case.
Or that's what I keep telling myself.
posted by steady-state strawberry at 6:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
That said, they're already in disarray, and -- unless the Republicans have a pretty solid conspiracy going -- they're far behind where they ought to be. The Clinton campaign probably has attack ads against Cruz and the others ready to go, just in case.
Or that's what I keep telling myself.
posted by steady-state strawberry at 6:56 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Or a coalmine canary they put in the briefing to fuck with him. (Less likely, but I can dream)
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:56 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:56 PM on August 3, 2016
Woohoo College-Educated White People actually getting on the right side of history. I knew that I wouldn't have to go "Don't look at me I didn't vote for the guy" anytime one of my various less privileged friends and acquaintances ask me to explain whatever regressive and offensive shit comes out of generic Republican X's mouth.
Because some of them will go "Ok sure" like they can't trust me not to go into the ballot box and secretly vote Republican.
I know it's totally "white people problems" but not every white guy is actively seeking to return us to antebellum times just most of us.
posted by vuron at 6:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Because some of them will go "Ok sure" like they can't trust me not to go into the ballot box and secretly vote Republican.
I know it's totally "white people problems" but not every white guy is actively seeking to return us to antebellum times just most of us.
posted by vuron at 6:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Hillary's the placekicker on the field. She's shanking every kick.
Wait I don't know football, do people stab the football at some point?
posted by emjaybee at 6:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Wait I don't know football, do people stab the football at some point?
posted by emjaybee at 6:58 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Only in BloodBowl!
posted by vrakatar at 6:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 6:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [19 favorites]
Wait Trump wants to ban porn? Just live-action porn right? He's going to leave anime alone right? Because if he messes with people's waifus all the alt-right trolls on The_Donald would go apeshit. They are totally expecting him to make anime real. That and they typically call pornstars 3DPD because they aren't pure like their moeblob harem fantasies. Yes the alt-right is really that psychologically damaged folks. People don't hang out on 8chan and wizardchan because they are healthy individuals.
posted by vuron at 7:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by vuron at 7:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Wait I don't know football, do people stab the football at some point?
Only if Tom Brady is playing
(I know nothing of deflategate, but I like to think it was done with a pin.)
posted by neonrev at 7:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Only if Tom Brady is playing
(I know nothing of deflategate, but I like to think it was done with a pin.)
posted by neonrev at 7:04 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Shanking the football is kicking it off to the side. An extremely errant kick is sometimes called a shankopotamus, at least by the Philly Voice's Jimmy Kempski.
posted by msalt at 7:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by msalt at 7:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I always feel like those of us who suffered as children at the hands of fucked-up adults make up a secret society. I never thought we'd be a voting coalition.
Um wait I want a secret society tho
posted by schadenfrau at 7:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Well, if you want to get Latinate on him...
Caligula was a nickname, after all, standing for 'Little Boot', after a soldier's hob-nailed boot called the caliga.
A soldier's glove, in Latin, is cestus - I don't know whether it forms the same diminutive, but Cestulus - or even Incestulus - might fit.
posted by Devonian at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [31 favorites]
Caligula was a nickname, after all, standing for 'Little Boot', after a soldier's hob-nailed boot called the caliga.
A soldier's glove, in Latin, is cestus - I don't know whether it forms the same diminutive, but Cestulus - or even Incestulus - might fit.
posted by Devonian at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [31 favorites]
[secret handshake]
posted by argybarg at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
I definitely feel sorry for anyone trying to follow these metafilter threads from a vantage point removed from the US and it's culture as well as geek culture and every other sort of out of left-field cultural or historical reference.
Blood bowl references
Roman Triumvirate references
the ever present Hamilton references
professional football references (handegg not actual civilized football)
lots and lots of dank memes
metafilter in-jokes
etc all at a rate of about a thousand posts a day. Cortex is probably sticking pins into a effigy of matthowie right about now and going "why have thou foresaken me!"
posted by vuron at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [39 favorites]
Blood bowl references
Roman Triumvirate references
the ever present Hamilton references
professional football references (handegg not actual civilized football)
lots and lots of dank memes
metafilter in-jokes
etc all at a rate of about a thousand posts a day. Cortex is probably sticking pins into a effigy of matthowie right about now and going "why have thou foresaken me!"
posted by vuron at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [39 favorites]
Hillary isn't shanking the kicks at all. She knocked it out of the park at the DNC. Since then she's realised Donald hasn't realised they swapped ends at half time. So she's given him the kickoff, and stood back as he dribbled the ball straight into his own net, didn't question why he got the next kickoff, and done it again.
posted by Francis at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [48 favorites]
posted by Francis at 7:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [48 favorites]
and every other sort of out of left-field cultural or historical reference.
I, for one, welcome our new pop-culture reference overlords!
posted by scaryblackdeath at 7:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I, for one, welcome our new pop-culture reference overlords!
posted by scaryblackdeath at 7:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
It pains me to relive this, but here's a shanked kick.
Nope, he hooked it. A shank would have missed wide right. /pedant
posted by zakur at 7:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Nope, he hooked it. A shank would have missed wide right. /pedant
posted by zakur at 7:20 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Why do our fathers like this man?
Post-stroke, speechless, my father lay in his bed and flipped off GWB every time he saw him on TV. I can only imagine the language he might've had for Trump.
As in shut the fuck up Donnie. Is that a meme yet?
He is definitely OUT OF HIS ELEMENT but I think this is hard on the memory of the late, lamented Donnie Kerabatsos.
Trump tapped Chris Christie to lead his transition team in May.
Lead them to where?
posted by octobersurprise at 7:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Post-stroke, speechless, my father lay in his bed and flipped off GWB every time he saw him on TV. I can only imagine the language he might've had for Trump.
As in shut the fuck up Donnie. Is that a meme yet?
He is definitely OUT OF HIS ELEMENT but I think this is hard on the memory of the late, lamented Donnie Kerabatsos.
Trump tapped Chris Christie to lead his transition team in May.
Lead them to where?
posted by octobersurprise at 7:23 PM on August 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
I don't get this term "shanked" when applied to golfing. Last I knew there only two things: "hook" to send the ball veering off to the left or "slice" which is to send the ball veering off to the right.
Is "shank" a new term for golf?
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 7:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Is "shank" a new term for golf?
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 7:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Shank is when you hit it on the shank of the club. I've heard it for decades.
posted by argybarg at 7:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 7:25 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump tapped Chris Christie to lead his transition team in May.
Lead them to where?
Across this bridge . . . . that has a gate on it.
posted by jamjam at 7:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Lead them to where?
Across this bridge . . . . that has a gate on it.
posted by jamjam at 7:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
To put the election in terms of "Are You Being Served?" Trump is young Mr. Grace. Hillary is Mr. Rumbold. Grace Brothers is America. Captain Peacock is Bill Clinton.
posted by drezdn at 7:35 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by drezdn at 7:35 PM on August 3, 2016
There's a weird pop culture references I see sometimes from Trump people on facebook, using Bane from DKR as a surrogate for Trump statements.
I don't know if they didn't notice that he was the villain, or that the rebellion in that movie (that scene where he stands on a car and yells to a crowd is the one they use) was one run by criminals and escapees from an asylum that would actually be forcing Trump to walk across a frozen river instead of choosing him as their leader.
Like, if they wanted to portray Trump as someone who's personally very successful at business and then uses that success to fight corruption and crime to save the ordinary person, those movies have that guy. It's motherfucking BATMAN. If Trump is Bane, who would be Batman in this analogy you dipshits? THINK.
posted by neonrev at 7:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
I don't know if they didn't notice that he was the villain, or that the rebellion in that movie (that scene where he stands on a car and yells to a crowd is the one they use) was one run by criminals and escapees from an asylum that would actually be forcing Trump to walk across a frozen river instead of choosing him as their leader.
Like, if they wanted to portray Trump as someone who's personally very successful at business and then uses that success to fight corruption and crime to save the ordinary person, those movies have that guy. It's motherfucking BATMAN. If Trump is Bane, who would be Batman in this analogy you dipshits? THINK.
posted by neonrev at 7:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
can we stop this shank derail please
posted by zutalors! at 7:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 7:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Cortex is probably sticking pins into a effigy of matthowie right about now and going "why have thou foresaken me!"
This being Metafilter, it is absolutely vital that I correct your quotation to "why hast thou forsaken me?"
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [38 favorites]
This being Metafilter, it is absolutely vital that I correct your quotation to "why hast thou forsaken me?"
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:35 PM on August 3, 2016 [38 favorites]
I will bet you many dollars that what he actually saw was some stock footage of a cargo plane being unloaded that was running behind whatever cable news he had on today.
What he's describing sounds exactly like the footage that accompanied the Today show's Iran report this morning
posted by prize bull octorok at 7:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
What he's describing sounds exactly like the footage that accompanied the Today show's Iran report this morning
posted by prize bull octorok at 7:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've started to think that nerdy derails in threads about Trump are our way of whistling past the graveyard and distracting ourselves.
Similarly jokes about tiny hands. They are delightful and make me stop thinking of the nonzero chance of this person becoming president. At least for a few seconds.
But really, I'm tired, you guys. I'm sick at heart that we've even come this close, even if we defeat him, how did we ever come to this? It's embarrassing, horrifying, enraging, dispiriting.
I guess many countries have this kind of brush with facism (or worse) happen at some point, but it's kind of fucking me up.
posted by emjaybee at 7:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [41 favorites]
Similarly jokes about tiny hands. They are delightful and make me stop thinking of the nonzero chance of this person becoming president. At least for a few seconds.
But really, I'm tired, you guys. I'm sick at heart that we've even come this close, even if we defeat him, how did we ever come to this? It's embarrassing, horrifying, enraging, dispiriting.
I guess many countries have this kind of brush with facism (or worse) happen at some point, but it's kind of fucking me up.
posted by emjaybee at 7:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [41 favorites]
As I watched Rachel Maddow devote the vast majority of her show to David Duke rather than the stunning establishment conservative victories over Tea Party incumbents in Kansas I had a sudden realization: in November I will have no access to cable news for election watching. My parents turn off their cable service for 6+ months of the year while they're in FL, I have no television service, and I know no one who will be interested enough in the election whose couch I can borrow on that fateful day. All of my plans for binging on junk food while sipping at giant glasses of wine while watching Wolf Blitzer step all over his own beard on CNN just disappeared in a poof of smoke. Sad!
Anyway, as I watched this evening's news coverage I was struck by how many analysts announced that Republicans were breathing sighs of relief today because Trump stayed on message for 11 whole minutes in FL. The other 40 minutes were spent re-litigating Megyn, disabled reporter controversies, n'thing down on Muslims celebrating in the streets after 9/11, etc. etc. etc. Seriously, if you're thrilled that your nominee can stay on message for 11 whole minutes, perhaps your bar for success is artificially low.
posted by xyzzy at 7:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Anyway, as I watched this evening's news coverage I was struck by how many analysts announced that Republicans were breathing sighs of relief today because Trump stayed on message for 11 whole minutes in FL. The other 40 minutes were spent re-litigating Megyn, disabled reporter controversies, n'thing down on Muslims celebrating in the streets after 9/11, etc. etc. etc. Seriously, if you're thrilled that your nominee can stay on message for 11 whole minutes, perhaps your bar for success is artificially low.
posted by xyzzy at 7:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
People use Bane (or the Joker) as a stand-in for Trump because they are perceived as badasses and are more entertaining than straight old Batman. The implications of this are not important to them.
That said, I think the number of people who want a deranged badass as their president is pretty small.
posted by argybarg at 7:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
That said, I think the number of people who want a deranged badass as their president is pretty small.
posted by argybarg at 7:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Cues up Rockefeller Shank.
can we stop this shank derail please
/record scratch.
posted by Artw at 7:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
can we stop this shank derail please
/record scratch.
posted by Artw at 7:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
I thought people were doing the CIA meme with Trump. Are they doing Trump as Bane now?
"Nobody cared who I was before I ran for president"
"If I took off that Toupee would you die?"
"It would be very painful... for you"
posted by vuron at 7:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
"Nobody cared who I was before I ran for president"
"If I took off that Toupee would you die?"
"It would be very painful... for you"
posted by vuron at 7:40 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
It's worse than that, Bane's fake populist uprising was just to run out the clock until everyone got nuked.
posted by ckape at 7:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by ckape at 7:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
To put the election in terms of "Are You Being Served?" Trump is young Mr. Grace. Hillary is Mr. Rumbold. Grace Brothers is America. Captain Peacock is Bill Clinton.
I really must know who Mrs. Slocombe's Pussy is.
posted by delfin at 7:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
I really must know who Mrs. Slocombe's Pussy is.
posted by delfin at 7:41 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Looks like the Republican Party is in for a long, long war:
Laura Ingraham:
Most impt to remember: economic nationalism, conservative populism is the future of the GOP, no matter what the Bushes &the donors want
posted by My Dad at 7:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Laura Ingraham:
Most impt to remember: economic nationalism, conservative populism is the future of the GOP, no matter what the Bushes &the donors want
posted by My Dad at 7:45 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I have such a hard time connecting the words "badass" and "Donald Trump". It's actually literally baffling me. I'm deeply hoping he does actually assault someone because it will absolutely be the weakest, most pathetic attempt ever, with flailing and an askew toupee, and probably end up with him on his ass with cameras on him every second, the other person not having needed to do anything. I expect a squeal, I'd love to see some embarrassment tears.
It's worse than that, Bane's fake populist uprising was just to run out the clock until everyone got nuked.
Oh god I forgot, that's right!
posted by neonrev at 7:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
It's worse than that, Bane's fake populist uprising was just to run out the clock until everyone got nuked.
Oh god I forgot, that's right!
posted by neonrev at 7:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
economic nationalism, conservative populism is the future of the GOP
Welp. At least she's honest about how much she loves fascism?
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Welp. At least she's honest about how much she loves fascism?
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:46 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
What @FoxNews did to me today is a total disgrace! No more interviews! I hereby revoke their press credentials! BAD
EDIT: this is a parody account, did not realize
posted by My Dad at 7:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
EDIT: this is a parody account, did not realize
posted by My Dad at 7:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Koch has put their network’s budget at roughly $750m through the end of 2016. A significant portion was supposed to help elect a Republican to the White House but this weekend Mark Holden, general counsel and senior vice-president of Koch Industries, said it would instead go to helping GOP Senate candidates in at least five states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin and Florida.
That's 750 million dollars divided by five Senate races.
I feel like the Kochs are playing with fire these past few election cycles. Since they're not willing to place bets against Obama or Hillary, they instead stack the House and Senate with Tea Partiers and shills, essentially investing in federal gridlock.
While preventing legislation they don't like, it also fuels the increasingly violent frustrations of society and sacrifices the stability of the nation's economy when congress cannot pass budgets or agree on anything. Do they really want a federal government with 5 supreme court justices left and no budget? Can't imagine it helps their business in the long run when other countries stop lending us money, there's no more infrastructure, and the economy tanks. Or is that when they just leave and start their own country on some remote island?
posted by p3t3 at 7:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
That's 750 million dollars divided by five Senate races.
I feel like the Kochs are playing with fire these past few election cycles. Since they're not willing to place bets against Obama or Hillary, they instead stack the House and Senate with Tea Partiers and shills, essentially investing in federal gridlock.
While preventing legislation they don't like, it also fuels the increasingly violent frustrations of society and sacrifices the stability of the nation's economy when congress cannot pass budgets or agree on anything. Do they really want a federal government with 5 supreme court justices left and no budget? Can't imagine it helps their business in the long run when other countries stop lending us money, there's no more infrastructure, and the economy tanks. Or is that when they just leave and start their own country on some remote island?
posted by p3t3 at 7:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
Okay I gots to keel over and I gots to focus at work tomorrow, see you at the 7 o'clock blues.
posted by vrakatar at 7:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 7:53 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
You had me until you implied Sephiroth wasn't the baddest ass ever gilrain.
You can't actually say that when "One Winged Angel" comes on you don't actually hope that Sephiroth kicks the shit out of Cloud.
Certainly if we are going to compare Trump to a FF BBEG he would be Kefka Palazzo, due to his sociopathic hatred of everything and his general maniacal behavior.
posted by vuron at 7:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
You can't actually say that when "One Winged Angel" comes on you don't actually hope that Sephiroth kicks the shit out of Cloud.
Certainly if we are going to compare Trump to a FF BBEG he would be Kefka Palazzo, due to his sociopathic hatred of everything and his general maniacal behavior.
posted by vuron at 7:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Repeated daily viewings of this: Khaleesi is coming to Westeros.
So if the polls continue to be firm for her and so on, sometime in September or October Clinton should totally start coming out at rallies to the tune of "The Rains of Castamere."
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
So if the polls continue to be firm for her and so on, sometime in September or October Clinton should totally start coming out at rallies to the tune of "The Rains of Castamere."
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:06 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
EDIT: this is a parody account, did not realize
Don't worry. It's not just you.
posted by schmod at 8:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Don't worry. It's not just you.
posted by schmod at 8:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I learned everything I need to know about shanking from P.G.Wodehouse golfing stories.
Tonight is the first night in a long while I can read my book because I have read all the comments and I am caught up with the thread.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Tonight is the first night in a long while I can read my book because I have read all the comments and I am caught up with the thread.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:09 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
No Democrat or Republican gets to make wedding massacre jokes.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 8:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 8:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Mark Holden, general counsel and senior vice-president of Koch Industries, said it would instead go to helping GOP Senate candidates in at least five states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin and Florida.
I know we all enjoy a good political freakout, so how come I'm not hearing that much about control of the Senate? PEC right now has D 49, R 51. Is it too early in the race to get a clear picture? Is there a lack of consistent polling? We're not going to get any Supreme Court justices with at least a 50/50 split. And a suspension of the filibuster.
posted by PlusDistance at 8:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
I know we all enjoy a good political freakout, so how come I'm not hearing that much about control of the Senate? PEC right now has D 49, R 51. Is it too early in the race to get a clear picture? Is there a lack of consistent polling? We're not going to get any Supreme Court justices with at least a 50/50 split. And a suspension of the filibuster.
posted by PlusDistance at 8:16 PM on August 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Our Senate race here in PA is a confirmed asshole Republican vs. a complete snoozer of a Democrat. I've donated to her campaign but she's unfortunately nothing much to get excited about. Pat Toomey is just such an unmitigated doucherocket, but the state Dems put their weight (imo) behind the wrong candidate in the primaries. No one is going to get fired up over Katie McGinty.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:22 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
When after all
It was Ted Cruz' dad
Legitimate lol
can we stop this shank derail please
there were no rails to begin with
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
It was Ted Cruz' dad
Legitimate lol
can we stop this shank derail please
there were no rails to begin with
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Comment on a Guardian story about prisoners rescuing deaf dogs from the Sand fire in California: "After 48 hours of reporting on the implosion of the Trump campaign, you would think the Guardian would be tired of writing heart-warming and uplifting stories. But nooo..."
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
I really wish people would stop talking about Supreme Court Justices right now - not you guys, but broadly, in the world. It's not that it's not important, it is, but every time it's talked about, Republicans hear that siren call too, and it fools people into acting like this is a normal Right vs Left election rather than a "the world may be on fire" election.
posted by corb at 8:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
posted by corb at 8:27 PM on August 3, 2016 [32 favorites]
This story about Trump bringing these alleged Gold Star families on stage and talking about how much they love him reminds me of all the other times he claims that he loves someone or someone loves him. Think about the thousands of times he's claimed to love China, or the infamous Taco Bowl Tweet where he said "I love Hispanics!" None of these statements are ever directed at the people he is talking about, but at the people he is talking to. And since the two groups of people are almost completely mutually exclusive, his audience has no evidence to judge these statements but the man's word itself. It's a sham affection, a cheap facsimile of love to dazzle unsophisticated buyers and distract them from the shabby reality. And now I'm reminded of another story, the one about how Trump's buildings have lots of expensive, flashy materials that are put together on the cheap and falling apart.
The contrast with Hillary couldn't be greater. I remember reading a Reddit comment way back in the primaries explaining why Bernie wasn't doing well with black voters. It boiled down to saying that politicians have been "promising the moon" to black voters and flaking out for decades, but Hillary has actually stuck with black communities and organizations throughout her career. That's a genuine investment of time and effort, and it paid off. Has Trump ever spent (or, one might say, sacrificed) that kind of time and effort for anyone in his life? Has he actually done anything to help his supporters? Because it seems the white resentment vote can be bought with little more than hot air. And that in turn makes me think about those poor whites in the article posted earlier, who feel that "no one cares about" them.
A lot of people, like the alt-right crowd, are only backing Trump because they're sick of being polite to people different from them. They can fuck themselves. But I hope to God that those poor whites find the honest advocates they need, who will really work for them and fight for their interests. I hope it's not too late.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 8:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
The contrast with Hillary couldn't be greater. I remember reading a Reddit comment way back in the primaries explaining why Bernie wasn't doing well with black voters. It boiled down to saying that politicians have been "promising the moon" to black voters and flaking out for decades, but Hillary has actually stuck with black communities and organizations throughout her career. That's a genuine investment of time and effort, and it paid off. Has Trump ever spent (or, one might say, sacrificed) that kind of time and effort for anyone in his life? Has he actually done anything to help his supporters? Because it seems the white resentment vote can be bought with little more than hot air. And that in turn makes me think about those poor whites in the article posted earlier, who feel that "no one cares about" them.
A lot of people, like the alt-right crowd, are only backing Trump because they're sick of being polite to people different from them. They can fuck themselves. But I hope to God that those poor whites find the honest advocates they need, who will really work for them and fight for their interests. I hope it's not too late.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 8:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
It's too early for credible Senate predictions because the main race, the one that will get people out to the polls in and of itself, is a Mongolian clusterfuck.
Also let's get real here -- 50/50 with a Dem President or 51D/49R would be nominally in the Democrats' favor but far from stable. One or two defections would be enough to shut down a lot of things, and certain Dems (cough MANCHIN cough) would be pressured to swing rightward on a lot of issues For The Good Of The Country[tm], if not pull an Arlen Specter and switch caucuses altogether.
posted by delfin at 8:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also let's get real here -- 50/50 with a Dem President or 51D/49R would be nominally in the Democrats' favor but far from stable. One or two defections would be enough to shut down a lot of things, and certain Dems (cough MANCHIN cough) would be pressured to swing rightward on a lot of issues For The Good Of The Country[tm], if not pull an Arlen Specter and switch caucuses altogether.
posted by delfin at 8:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Things that help poor black people also help poor white people. If Clinton is helping one group she is also helping the other.
posted by emjaybee at 8:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 8:37 PM on August 3, 2016 [34 favorites]
I really wish people would stop talking about Supreme Court Justices right now - not you guys, but broadly, in the world. It's not that it's not important, it is, but every time it's talked about, Republicans hear that siren call too, and it fools people into acting like this is a normal Right vs Left election rather than a "the world may be on fire" election.
Agreed.
When I was writing up this post, I tried to give a semblance of balance by documenting both sides, but I couldn't really find anything about what Hillary Clinton has been doing over the last few days. It's been suprisingly quiet on the Democratic front.
I think that she's trying -- quietly, unassumingly -- to build what in Europe is called a national unity government, the sort of thing this country hasn't seen since the Civil War (or, arguably, WWII). A coalition of the sane and anti-racist left, right and center.
First off, this genuinely needs to happen if this country is going to move forward.
Secondly: I hope that leftist who continue to remain worried or opposed to Hillary Clinton's candidacy consider the benefit to liberals and progressives. Of course, we would get left-of-center judicial nominees and even if we don't win back Congress, 4 or 8 more years of sane minds running the executive functions of the federal government.
At this point I think most honest conservatives will grant that this is at least a fair kind of penance. The right-wing party brought this on conservatism, and liberals do get a benefit from that. Sorrynotsorry.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
Agreed.
When I was writing up this post, I tried to give a semblance of balance by documenting both sides, but I couldn't really find anything about what Hillary Clinton has been doing over the last few days. It's been suprisingly quiet on the Democratic front.
I think that she's trying -- quietly, unassumingly -- to build what in Europe is called a national unity government, the sort of thing this country hasn't seen since the Civil War (or, arguably, WWII). A coalition of the sane and anti-racist left, right and center.
First off, this genuinely needs to happen if this country is going to move forward.
Secondly: I hope that leftist who continue to remain worried or opposed to Hillary Clinton's candidacy consider the benefit to liberals and progressives. Of course, we would get left-of-center judicial nominees and even if we don't win back Congress, 4 or 8 more years of sane minds running the executive functions of the federal government.
At this point I think most honest conservatives will grant that this is at least a fair kind of penance. The right-wing party brought this on conservatism, and liberals do get a benefit from that. Sorrynotsorry.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:47 PM on August 3, 2016 [25 favorites]
So many comments. Anyway, instead of making a comment about Trump, I want to remind you all if you care about the outcome, give money, give time. To Clinton's campaign and down ticket races. Trump and the Republican establishment support for him and his ways has already damaged how the country operates. Maybe it won't make it better for that little kid being villainized by their classmates for being one of way too many forms of different, but maybe getting some of the democratic platform implemented will help.
posted by R343L at 8:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by R343L at 8:48 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
mmoncur: "Also, in correcting her "It's all Time Traveling Obama's fault" statement, his spokesperson said:
“But Donald Trump wasn’t there,” Pierson said. “That is the only point. That’s the only point. Donald Trump is being blamed for something he had nothing to do with, and he did not attack this family.”"
Your daily reminder that Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson still has a tweet posted complaining about the lack of "pure breeds" in the 2012 presidential debates.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [66 favorites]
“But Donald Trump wasn’t there,” Pierson said. “That is the only point. That’s the only point. Donald Trump is being blamed for something he had nothing to do with, and he did not attack this family.”"
Your daily reminder that Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson still has a tweet posted complaining about the lack of "pure breeds" in the 2012 presidential debates.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:05 PM on August 3, 2016 [66 favorites]
When I was writing up this post, I tried to give a semblance of balance by documenting both sides, but I couldn't really find anything about what Hillary Clinton has been doing over the last few days.
I think it's that time tested strategy, and I'm paraphrasing: when your opponent is shooting himself in the foot, don't interrupt.
posted by msalt at 9:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think it's that time tested strategy, and I'm paraphrasing: when your opponent is shooting himself in the foot, don't interrupt.
posted by msalt at 9:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
God help me, I thought Rhaomi was paraphrasing.
posted by corb at 9:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
posted by corb at 9:11 PM on August 3, 2016 [28 favorites]
Wow. That tweet makes me wish I still had an active twitter acct, just so I could point it out to more people.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:12 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, for posterity (though it's been known for months, so she's clearly not ashamed enough to nix it), her tweet reads:
neonrev: "I have such a hard time connecting the words "badass" and "Donald Trump". It's actually literally baffling me."
Well, he is both bad and an ass.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Perfect Obama's dad born in Africa, Mitt Romney's dad born in Mexico. Any pure breeds left? #CNNDebate(Also, it was posted in January 2012 during the early primary debates, not the presidential one.)
neonrev: "I have such a hard time connecting the words "badass" and "Donald Trump". It's actually literally baffling me."
Well, he is both bad and an ass.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:15 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Your daily reminder that Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson still has a tweet posted complaining about the lack of "pure breeds" in the 2012 presidential debates.
Holy shit that's the grossest thing I've seen in a long time. My visceral reaction outdoes even Trump's waffling on the KKK. You know how Trump is banning certain periodicals and networks from his rallys, etc.? Ban this woman from the cable news channels. Pure breeds. I'm out of outrage. That depleted it.
I think it's that time tested strategy, and I'm paraphrasing: when your opponent is shooting himself in the foot, don't interrupt.
Still though, there's something about the way Trump dominates the news cycle that gives him a certain... tempo against his opponents. It's definitely how he won in the primary. She'll need to make news of some sort soon or people will only know her as the LOCK HER UP candidate. Problem is there's nothing about being a good, disciplined candidate with a positive message that can compete with the lunatic when it comes to eyeballs on the news. If we shut the news channels off for 96 days, Trump would wither into the dried, brown crust that is his heart.
posted by dis_integration at 9:17 PM on August 3, 2016
Holy shit that's the grossest thing I've seen in a long time. My visceral reaction outdoes even Trump's waffling on the KKK. You know how Trump is banning certain periodicals and networks from his rallys, etc.? Ban this woman from the cable news channels. Pure breeds. I'm out of outrage. That depleted it.
I think it's that time tested strategy, and I'm paraphrasing: when your opponent is shooting himself in the foot, don't interrupt.
Still though, there's something about the way Trump dominates the news cycle that gives him a certain... tempo against his opponents. It's definitely how he won in the primary. She'll need to make news of some sort soon or people will only know her as the LOCK HER UP candidate. Problem is there's nothing about being a good, disciplined candidate with a positive message that can compete with the lunatic when it comes to eyeballs on the news. If we shut the news channels off for 96 days, Trump would wither into the dried, brown crust that is his heart.
posted by dis_integration at 9:17 PM on August 3, 2016
I was in the midst of writing some old man conventional wisdom thing about how back in the day the line was that Republicans always get the executive branch because they're better managers while the legislative branch always goes to the Democrats because they're closer to the purse strings. And how this has been flipped in this new Bizzaro era.
But then I read Rhaomi's link on preview and, well, fuck. Game over, man. This is his spokesperson. How is this not check and mate?
posted by Fezboy! at 9:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
But then I read Rhaomi's link on preview and, well, fuck. Game over, man. This is his spokesperson. How is this not check and mate?
posted by Fezboy! at 9:18 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Katrina Pierson also said a couple of times in her 'correction' that 'tens of thousands' of soldiers died in Iraq which is a pretty big rounding error from the ~4500 deaths that actually occurred. I almost gave her the benefit of the doubt that she was talking about all deaths, including Iraquis but the other numbers she gave (~1M wounded, $6T cost) are US specific (although the $6T number included the next 40 years of veterans benefits which is a little bit shady math, IMO).
posted by macfly at 9:20 PM on August 3, 2016
posted by macfly at 9:20 PM on August 3, 2016
Oh, there's much more where that came from:
Trump Spokeswoman’s Twitter History Is a Goldmine of Embarrassment
Lowlights include 2012 election as "Mormon or Jihadi", a knock about "Jew stole his girlfriend," and Obama as "head Negro." That these fun facts are not on the chyron of her every media appearance is nauseating.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [37 favorites]
Trump Spokeswoman’s Twitter History Is a Goldmine of Embarrassment
Lowlights include 2012 election as "Mormon or Jihadi", a knock about "Jew stole his girlfriend," and Obama as "head Negro." That these fun facts are not on the chyron of her every media appearance is nauseating.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:24 PM on August 3, 2016 [37 favorites]
It is very telling that the Trump campaign has never, even once, denounced the white supremacists and white nationalists and neo-nazi's that support him.
such a simple thing. Such an obvious thing.
"We do not welcome those ideologies into our vision of America."
How hard is that to say?
But they haven't. And they won't.
posted by yesster at 9:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
such a simple thing. Such an obvious thing.
"We do not welcome those ideologies into our vision of America."
How hard is that to say?
But they haven't. And they won't.
posted by yesster at 9:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
engineer's disease or more precisely the doctor/dentist version of that disease
hey... wait... can MBAs get it too?
posted by Rat Spatula at 9:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
hey... wait... can MBAs get it too?
posted by Rat Spatula at 9:28 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Your daily reminder that Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson still has a tweet posted complaining about the lack of "pure breeds" in the 2012 presidential debates.
What's truly fucking dumb is that Romney isn't a half-breed. His bloodline is as white and pure as virgin snow. His grandparents fled the United States to Mexico for being polygamous mormons.
So not only is she a racist twit she's also completely fucking clueless and ignorant about the facts of the situation. Which describes the Trump campaign absolutely fucking perfectly.
posted by Talez at 9:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
What's truly fucking dumb is that Romney isn't a half-breed. His bloodline is as white and pure as virgin snow. His grandparents fled the United States to Mexico for being polygamous mormons.
So not only is she a racist twit she's also completely fucking clueless and ignorant about the facts of the situation. Which describes the Trump campaign absolutely fucking perfectly.
posted by Talez at 9:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [24 favorites]
how come I'm not hearing that much about control of the Senate? PEC right now has D 49, R 51
Some of the primaries are not even finished yet, and there isn't a lot of active polling.
It's pretty important that the Democrats get even a slim Senate majority because that gives them a majority on all of the committees. In particular it means that any Clinton Supreme Court nominee is guaranteed at least a public hearing and a Judiciary Committee approval. That puts a lot more political pressure on the Republicans in the event of a filibuster attempt.
posted by JackFlash at 9:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
Some of the primaries are not even finished yet, and there isn't a lot of active polling.
It's pretty important that the Democrats get even a slim Senate majority because that gives them a majority on all of the committees. In particular it means that any Clinton Supreme Court nominee is guaranteed at least a public hearing and a Judiciary Committee approval. That puts a lot more political pressure on the Republicans in the event of a filibuster attempt.
posted by JackFlash at 9:31 PM on August 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
It's so surreal to see these sorts of stories in an American presidential campaign. And some of the pathetic quotes in the stories from formerly powerful people are laugh-out-loud hilarious. Highly entertaining!
Donald Trump Pushes Republican Party to Its Breaking Point
GOP reaches ‘new level of panic’ over Trump’s candidacy
'A sense of panic is rising' among Republicans over Trump, including talk of what to do if he quits
It's just so... odd. Is this really happening?
posted by My Dad at 9:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Donald Trump Pushes Republican Party to Its Breaking Point
GOP reaches ‘new level of panic’ over Trump’s candidacy
'A sense of panic is rising' among Republicans over Trump, including talk of what to do if he quits
It's just so... odd. Is this really happening?
posted by My Dad at 9:33 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
More important than anything else:
Even if Trump were to pick up his fundraising pace, he faces stiff organizational challenges, particularly if he loses support from the RNC.
In “these critical battleground states, the states that absolutely Trump must win, they’re undermanned and outgunned in every way,” Wilson said, and he pointed to one of the most crucial battlegrounds, his home state of Florida.
Wilson said Clinton has more staff exclusively targeting Latino voters in Orlando alone than Trump has in the entire state.
“Even if they had $1 billion that walked in the door tomorrow,” he said, “these things can’t just happen.”
posted by My Dad at 9:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Even if Trump were to pick up his fundraising pace, he faces stiff organizational challenges, particularly if he loses support from the RNC.
In “these critical battleground states, the states that absolutely Trump must win, they’re undermanned and outgunned in every way,” Wilson said, and he pointed to one of the most crucial battlegrounds, his home state of Florida.
Wilson said Clinton has more staff exclusively targeting Latino voters in Orlando alone than Trump has in the entire state.
“Even if they had $1 billion that walked in the door tomorrow,” he said, “these things can’t just happen.”
posted by My Dad at 9:38 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
“Even if they had $1 billion that walked in the door tomorrow,” he said, “these things can’t just happen.”
Trump replied to these concerns with the following: "Nonsense! I've used 9 women to have a baby in a month before! I know all about man months! We have the best man months! Toward the end of the election we take some people, throw some money at them and bang, I'm up 10 points over Crooked Hillary!" [satire]
posted by Talez at 9:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Trump replied to these concerns with the following: "Nonsense! I've used 9 women to have a baby in a month before! I know all about man months! We have the best man months! Toward the end of the election we take some people, throw some money at them and bang, I'm up 10 points over Crooked Hillary!" [satire]
posted by Talez at 9:43 PM on August 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
Donald Trump’s Spokeswoman In 2012: Gay People Are ‘Not Normal’
posted by kirkaracha at 9:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 9:55 PM on August 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
that puts a lot more political pressure on the Republicans in the event of a filibuster attempt
There's not going to be any more fucking filibusters.
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 9:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
There's not going to be any more fucking filibusters.
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 9:57 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
“Even if they had $1 billion that walked in the door tomorrow,” he said, “these things can’t just happen.”
Clinton is running a Deeply Normal Campaign, which is why August for her and Kaine is going to be devoted to the organising events discussed upthread to show volunteers that they're valued for the hard slog ahead, particularly in battleground states, and to get as many names on sign-up sheets as soon as possible.
Even if this has become a test of whether one can win a presidential campaign without an actual campaign, local GOP stalwarts in mid-sized cities -- the people who show up and work on every campaign -- must be looking at their phones in between working on their state and local races and wondering why the call hasn't come from Trump HQ. That surely has to be demoralising, but it's also going to encourage Trump supporters who haven't been integrated into the campaign to act as freelancers, which isn't going to be great for message discipline.
posted by holgate at 9:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Clinton is running a Deeply Normal Campaign, which is why August for her and Kaine is going to be devoted to the organising events discussed upthread to show volunteers that they're valued for the hard slog ahead, particularly in battleground states, and to get as many names on sign-up sheets as soon as possible.
Even if this has become a test of whether one can win a presidential campaign without an actual campaign, local GOP stalwarts in mid-sized cities -- the people who show up and work on every campaign -- must be looking at their phones in between working on their state and local races and wondering why the call hasn't come from Trump HQ. That surely has to be demoralising, but it's also going to encourage Trump supporters who haven't been integrated into the campaign to act as freelancers, which isn't going to be great for message discipline.
posted by holgate at 9:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Holy fucking shit, I just saw Erick Eriksen: Donald Trump Is Going To Hell, And If You Defend This, So Are You.
These are allies. They are not vassal states. These are friends. Our promises do not require shakedowns. We are not the global bully demanding lunch money for protection. We are the shining city on the hill.posted by corb at 10:00 PM on August 3, 2016 [96 favorites]
You people reflect the evil character of your god. You should be ashamed, but you have no shame left. You all deserve to be defeated and annihilated. You disgust me in cheering him on. He disgusts me.
This Sean Hannity open thread is also pretty funny. On one hand there are people mocking Hannity for his decision to back and promote Trump's candidacy. On the other hand there are lunatic Trump supporters who actually think Trump is campaigning as a "socialist", and that the solution to his problems is to double-down on conservatism. Or something. I can't take three more months of this incredible weirdness. Between this and the Brexit, it's like having the playoffs of every major sport happening simultaneously for every minute over every day. Sensory overload!
posted by My Dad at 10:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 10:01 PM on August 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm just going to say, entirely and wholly sincerely, with no subtext of any kind: I hope that some day Katrina Pierson is remorseful for her behavior. Until that day comes, I hope that she has no position of power or influence over any human beings whatsoever.
posted by yesster at 10:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
posted by yesster at 10:03 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
The thing I didn't know was news has been overtaken by events.
Georgia Republican says he might withhold Electoral College vote from Donald Trump
Updates: Georgia GOP elector who balked on Donald Trump resigns
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Updates: Georgia GOP elector who balked on Donald Trump resigns
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:08 PM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
GOP Strategist to Anderson Cooper: Trump's "message" is being a loud-mouth dick
posted by murphy slaw at 10:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 10:14 PM on August 3, 2016 [15 favorites]
GOP Strategist to Anderson Cooper: Trump's "message" is being a loud-mouth dick
posted by murphy slaw at 10:14 PM
That was awesome. Thank you. That ranks right up there with Farheed Zakaria saying "bullshit artist."
Hah. "Loud mouthed dick."
Thank you.
posted by yesster at 10:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 10:14 PM
That was awesome. Thank you. That ranks right up there with Farheed Zakaria saying "bullshit artist."
Hah. "Loud mouthed dick."
Thank you.
posted by yesster at 10:26 PM on August 3, 2016 [7 favorites]
Sarah Kendzior is a good follow on Twitter right now; her latest piece in Foreign Policy is a summary of the mainstreaming of extremism over the course of the Trump campaign - nothing new if you've been watching the shitshow, but Kendzior follows it up with thoughts like this:
Whoever follows Trump will learn from his mistakes and try to retain his base. Successor will be slicker, more controlled. Watch for that.
That tweet is one of the most chilling things I've read this year.
posted by mediareport at 10:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [31 favorites]
Whoever follows Trump will learn from his mistakes and try to retain his base. Successor will be slicker, more controlled. Watch for that.
That tweet is one of the most chilling things I've read this year.
posted by mediareport at 10:29 PM on August 3, 2016 [31 favorites]
nobody really seems to know how tall HRC is
Ten feet tall if she's an inch, with arms like power shovels. Got a glint in her eye: cold, like the fires o' hell.
posted by um at 10:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [45 favorites]
Ten feet tall if she's an inch, with arms like power shovels. Got a glint in her eye: cold, like the fires o' hell.
posted by um at 10:39 PM on August 3, 2016 [45 favorites]
Whoever follows Trump will learn from his mistakes and try to retain his base. Successor will be slicker, more controlled. Watch for that.
That tweet is one of the most chilling things I've read this year.
Yeah, that's what I've thought for a while. The danger isn't Trump. It's the like-Trump-but-sane that will come after
posted by Mitrovarr at 10:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
That tweet is one of the most chilling things I've read this year.
Yeah, that's what I've thought for a while. The danger isn't Trump. It's the like-Trump-but-sane that will come after
posted by Mitrovarr at 10:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
I heard she's six foot thirty and rides a horse made of diamond.
posted by Justinian at 10:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [29 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 10:49 PM on August 3, 2016 [29 favorites]
Twelve foot two, with eyes that glow with the wisdom of the Amazons. And she can bench press a Buick.
posted by mochapickle at 10:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 10:59 PM on August 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
> That tweet is one of the most chilling things I've read this year.
THIS
This is why I'm for Hillary to have a landslide. For the RNC to be gutted and the earth where they stood salted as a reminder for future generations.
posted by mrzarquon at 11:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [57 favorites]
THIS
This is why I'm for Hillary to have a landslide. For the RNC to be gutted and the earth where they stood salted as a reminder for future generations.
posted by mrzarquon at 11:07 PM on August 3, 2016 [57 favorites]
Whoever follows Trump will learn from his mistakes and try to retain his base. Successor will be slicker, more controlled. Watch for that.
He goes by the name Ted Cruz.
posted by JackFlash at 11:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
He goes by the name Ted Cruz.
posted by JackFlash at 11:36 PM on August 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Your daily reminder that Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson still has a tweet posted complaining about the lack of "pure breeds" in the 2012 presidential debates.
I just, the use of the term "pure breeds" by a biracial woman is completely astounding to me. This is a woman who grew up in poverty with a teenaged mother that has a shoplifting record and also has collected unemployment while working on Ted Cruz's campaign in 2013. She bitches about her mother's "redistribution of wealth society" and is divorced and a single mother. NONE of those things alone or seperately make her a bad person, but all those things while tweeting hateful shit like this seems like she has zero self awareness or empathy.
Pssst, hey Katrina - that group of skinheads with the nazi flag that we had to walk through last week to get to the Hilary for America office will NEVER think you're one of them. No matter what you tweet or say on tv. Look up the one drop rule.
posted by hollygoheavy at 11:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
I just, the use of the term "pure breeds" by a biracial woman is completely astounding to me. This is a woman who grew up in poverty with a teenaged mother that has a shoplifting record and also has collected unemployment while working on Ted Cruz's campaign in 2013. She bitches about her mother's "redistribution of wealth society" and is divorced and a single mother. NONE of those things alone or seperately make her a bad person, but all those things while tweeting hateful shit like this seems like she has zero self awareness or empathy.
Pssst, hey Katrina - that group of skinheads with the nazi flag that we had to walk through last week to get to the Hilary for America office will NEVER think you're one of them. No matter what you tweet or say on tv. Look up the one drop rule.
posted by hollygoheavy at 11:52 PM on August 3, 2016 [22 favorites]
I hope that some day Katrina Pierson is remorseful for her behavior.
yes same except i hope it happens as she is being gruesomely devoured by a shark
posted by poffin boffin at 12:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
yes same except i hope it happens as she is being gruesomely devoured by a shark
posted by poffin boffin at 12:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
ironically the shark is not a great white
posted by poffin boffin at 12:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [79 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 12:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [79 favorites]
I want to clarify that Katrina Pierson was arrested for shoplifting in 1997, not her mother.
posted by hollygoheavy at 12:06 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by hollygoheavy at 12:06 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
nobody really seems to know how tall HRC is
Thirty feet tall, with skin of gleaming bronze, calligraphed exquisitely from head to toe with the texts that form the foundations of all human knowledge; eyes like slices of opal behind which, twin five-megawatt lasers glow. Hands strong enough to shred a Humvee, but skilled and delicate enough to help a fruit bat through a breach birth.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 12:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [61 favorites]
Thirty feet tall, with skin of gleaming bronze, calligraphed exquisitely from head to toe with the texts that form the foundations of all human knowledge; eyes like slices of opal behind which, twin five-megawatt lasers glow. Hands strong enough to shred a Humvee, but skilled and delicate enough to help a fruit bat through a breach birth.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 12:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [61 favorites]
This is why I'm for Hillary to have a landslide. For the RNC to be gutted and the earth where they stood salted as a reminder for future generations.
Just so we're clear, though... at this point we actually want (as in, it's in the best interest of humankind) for the Republican Party to be relatively weak, but still exist and be the obvious well-tread route to power for any right-wing rising leader, right? So that we'll already have the gauntlet that leader will need to run reconnoitered ahead of time. And have meurtrières in place to pour boiling oil and/or chamber pots on them.
In the post-Citizens-United era it seems like letting the GOP crumble into a power vacuum into which "Whoever follows Trump" could introduce a new party with all the same resources, but with no history to be held accountable to and a squeaky-clean brand crafted from scratch, would be the worse outcome.
Like obviously they're of no use whatsoever for actively stopping fascists on their own, and don't have the steel to dissolve themselves out of a sense of shame, but at least as cannon fodder / a speed bump / a tar pit they could be crucial in delaying and entangling an actual vital fascist demagogue who has developed momentum long enough to save civilization, and thus are worth keeping around in their self-gelded state. The devil you know, to some degree.
posted by XMLicious at 12:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
This is why I'm for Hillary to have a landslide. For the RNC to be gutted and the earth where they stood salted as a reminder for future generations.
I'm getting the feeling this is the DNC gameplan. I don't have it fully formed, but it feels like the dems smell blood in the water and want to sink high-level mainstream GOP leaders along with Trump. Just him isn't enough. The Obama comments about GOP leaders denouncing Trump are core to this. The (high level) safe move would be to quietly encourage them to either drop Trump softly or imply that it's cool to suggest that people not vote for him, allowing them to save some kind of face, but instead he tied them to Trump's anchor and stepped back laughing. If they do denounce Trump then they just took orders from the pres (scandalized face) and if they don't they tie themselves to him even more. The likely 2020 field now all stinks of Trump, and an embarrassing loss only makes that worse later.
I'm actually excited for this election. I honestly don't see a clear path to a Trump victory, and I can only see it getting worse from here. It's a matter of by how much we beat him, and how we deal with the aftermath of his loss now. We have a clear path, and we need to double down and fuck the idea of white supremacy and bigotry as hard as possible this time around. Overton windows shift, yeah, but a striking win here shoves that window back our way so much.
A fucking clear dem mandate and anything like a shift in the legislature sets us up for actually governing for a bit, which gives us a better case come 2020, which could give us a clear majority. The face of the dog-whistle racist pile of shit the GOP has descended into has been ripped off and their dedicated base revealed as the horrifying people they are. America has seen it in a general election for the first time in a long time, and it does not like what it sees.
I know a lot of you are scared of Trump as president, and so am I. It's apocalyptic. It's actually worse than anything Tom Clancy ever thought of.
I don't think he has much of a shot though, the GOP base is largely based around liking the status quo, and god-almighty does he not promise that. I'm watching freakouts amoung the non-politically inclined at how he's acting, they weren't paying attention before. The massive base of the GOP that is white parents of any economic stripe do not want nuclear war, they don't really want mass deportations, just the idea of them maybe, and they don't want someone who has never held office and acts so wildly. His shitty base is just so loud, and they are so quiet. They are scared totally shitless by him. It's been a week. We're more often wonks and political junkies here than in most communities, the comfortable rest of the country is just now noticing him. Strange, I know, but the nominee process is nothing like the general. It starts mattering more and more how they act as we lead up to it, and does anyone think he'll start acting more balanced and reasonable the closer the election gets? We've seen nothing yet.
Try taking that fear and turning it into hope. A clear win here changes things. The GOP would be fractured, maybe beyond repair. A clear refutation of that kind of bigotry. The youth and poc out and politically active in historic numbers. A real shift. He's on his back heel and reacting like a man losing a fight. Lets keep it going. Let's not allow him to scare us or make us sad, let's take his bullshit and feed it right back to him and demonstrate that that shit does not fly here, not like that at least. Let's keep the pressure on and make sure every low info voter knows exactly where he stands. Confidence in a victory only looks like complacency when you don't hate the opponent, and we do, and we can move others with our confidence.
A well played hand here spells death for the organized right, it means a weakened right this cycle and their big players crippled come 2020. I could mean a major shift in where we are headed, faster than we thought. My family is considering Clinton. Some still think Obama was the anti-christ and that Clinton might nuke someone because PMS. These are not mutually exclusive groups.
It's depressing as all hell that he still has such support, but we always knew that was a thing. Lets make them look silly. Lets discredit all of that bullshit. Let's fuck up his pride, and make him a symbol.
I wasn't a fan of Clinton, but I don't give a damn. Ending illegal warfare and gutting wall street wasn't going to happen anyway, but we can sure as shit make sure Trump loses and bad. That's the gameplan now. Nothing shifts us further left than Clinton winning right now, and big. Let's fucking do it. If the GOP comes back it's fragmented at best. The big tent just got a bunch of tears in it and we can rip them wide fucking open.
PS: Related. 'Pragmatists' don't really want far-leftists shutting up about how Clinton is too conservative for us, at least not to conservatives. I have found nothing more effective to moderate repubs than just being me, a hard-socialist leftist, telling them that Clinton is far too conservative for my tastes. I'm the political idea that they fear her to be, and my dislike but preference seems to comfort them. The enemy of my enemy who also hate my supposed but disliked leader is my friend in this case I guess. Real dems aren't going to leave her in real numbers, but boy can we flake off some conservatives this time around. I've done 3 personally in this manner.
posted by neonrev at 12:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [84 favorites]
I'm getting the feeling this is the DNC gameplan. I don't have it fully formed, but it feels like the dems smell blood in the water and want to sink high-level mainstream GOP leaders along with Trump. Just him isn't enough. The Obama comments about GOP leaders denouncing Trump are core to this. The (high level) safe move would be to quietly encourage them to either drop Trump softly or imply that it's cool to suggest that people not vote for him, allowing them to save some kind of face, but instead he tied them to Trump's anchor and stepped back laughing. If they do denounce Trump then they just took orders from the pres (scandalized face) and if they don't they tie themselves to him even more. The likely 2020 field now all stinks of Trump, and an embarrassing loss only makes that worse later.
I'm actually excited for this election. I honestly don't see a clear path to a Trump victory, and I can only see it getting worse from here. It's a matter of by how much we beat him, and how we deal with the aftermath of his loss now. We have a clear path, and we need to double down and fuck the idea of white supremacy and bigotry as hard as possible this time around. Overton windows shift, yeah, but a striking win here shoves that window back our way so much.
A fucking clear dem mandate and anything like a shift in the legislature sets us up for actually governing for a bit, which gives us a better case come 2020, which could give us a clear majority. The face of the dog-whistle racist pile of shit the GOP has descended into has been ripped off and their dedicated base revealed as the horrifying people they are. America has seen it in a general election for the first time in a long time, and it does not like what it sees.
I know a lot of you are scared of Trump as president, and so am I. It's apocalyptic. It's actually worse than anything Tom Clancy ever thought of.
I don't think he has much of a shot though, the GOP base is largely based around liking the status quo, and god-almighty does he not promise that. I'm watching freakouts amoung the non-politically inclined at how he's acting, they weren't paying attention before. The massive base of the GOP that is white parents of any economic stripe do not want nuclear war, they don't really want mass deportations, just the idea of them maybe, and they don't want someone who has never held office and acts so wildly. His shitty base is just so loud, and they are so quiet. They are scared totally shitless by him. It's been a week. We're more often wonks and political junkies here than in most communities, the comfortable rest of the country is just now noticing him. Strange, I know, but the nominee process is nothing like the general. It starts mattering more and more how they act as we lead up to it, and does anyone think he'll start acting more balanced and reasonable the closer the election gets? We've seen nothing yet.
Try taking that fear and turning it into hope. A clear win here changes things. The GOP would be fractured, maybe beyond repair. A clear refutation of that kind of bigotry. The youth and poc out and politically active in historic numbers. A real shift. He's on his back heel and reacting like a man losing a fight. Lets keep it going. Let's not allow him to scare us or make us sad, let's take his bullshit and feed it right back to him and demonstrate that that shit does not fly here, not like that at least. Let's keep the pressure on and make sure every low info voter knows exactly where he stands. Confidence in a victory only looks like complacency when you don't hate the opponent, and we do, and we can move others with our confidence.
A well played hand here spells death for the organized right, it means a weakened right this cycle and their big players crippled come 2020. I could mean a major shift in where we are headed, faster than we thought. My family is considering Clinton. Some still think Obama was the anti-christ and that Clinton might nuke someone because PMS. These are not mutually exclusive groups.
It's depressing as all hell that he still has such support, but we always knew that was a thing. Lets make them look silly. Lets discredit all of that bullshit. Let's fuck up his pride, and make him a symbol.
I wasn't a fan of Clinton, but I don't give a damn. Ending illegal warfare and gutting wall street wasn't going to happen anyway, but we can sure as shit make sure Trump loses and bad. That's the gameplan now. Nothing shifts us further left than Clinton winning right now, and big. Let's fucking do it. If the GOP comes back it's fragmented at best. The big tent just got a bunch of tears in it and we can rip them wide fucking open.
PS: Related. 'Pragmatists' don't really want far-leftists shutting up about how Clinton is too conservative for us, at least not to conservatives. I have found nothing more effective to moderate repubs than just being me, a hard-socialist leftist, telling them that Clinton is far too conservative for my tastes. I'm the political idea that they fear her to be, and my dislike but preference seems to comfort them. The enemy of my enemy who also hate my supposed but disliked leader is my friend in this case I guess. Real dems aren't going to leave her in real numbers, but boy can we flake off some conservatives this time around. I've done 3 personally in this manner.
posted by neonrev at 12:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [84 favorites]
it feels like the dems smell blood in the water and want to sink high-level mainstream GOP leaders along with Trump. Just him isn't enough. The Obama comments about GOP leaders denouncing Trump are core to this.
Unless the DNC has some magic formula for dealing with gerrymandering, to take back the House and Senate, all the blood in the water probably won't amount to much outside of the symbolism of the presidency. It is the leaders in the progressive movement (like, yes, Sanders) who seem to have been slowly figuring how to make down-ballot campaigns successful, to get the public interested in countering Republicans at a local level.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 12:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Unless the DNC has some magic formula for dealing with gerrymandering, to take back the House and Senate, all the blood in the water probably won't amount to much outside of the symbolism of the presidency. It is the leaders in the progressive movement (like, yes, Sanders) who seem to have been slowly figuring how to make down-ballot campaigns successful, to get the public interested in countering Republicans at a local level.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 12:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
The formula is that 2020 is the next census, and it's a presidential election. We will turn out, and hopefully will take some state houses in swing states.
posted by persona au gratin at 1:06 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by persona au gratin at 1:06 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Whoever follows Trump will learn from his mistakes and try to retain his base. Successor will be slicker, more controlled. Watch for that.
You know, I don't buy this. The GOP has traded in slick, coded media friendly intolerance and bigotry for years. What's getting people excited is the freedom to get rid of all that, to say what they REALLY MEAN, the giddy thrill of being as blunt and gross as they can imagine, the ethos of a soccer rigor mixed with race hate.
I don't see this getting slicker. Slick didn't work. I see this getting grosser. And that's going to retain his base.
(Slick maybe in a guy in a suit whi talks about "Race realism" but doesn't get into an argument with a baby, yes, maybe)
posted by The Whelk at 1:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
You know, I don't buy this. The GOP has traded in slick, coded media friendly intolerance and bigotry for years. What's getting people excited is the freedom to get rid of all that, to say what they REALLY MEAN, the giddy thrill of being as blunt and gross as they can imagine, the ethos of a soccer rigor mixed with race hate.
I don't see this getting slicker. Slick didn't work. I see this getting grosser. And that's going to retain his base.
(Slick maybe in a guy in a suit whi talks about "Race realism" but doesn't get into an argument with a baby, yes, maybe)
posted by The Whelk at 1:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Some still think Obama was the anti-christ and that Clinton might nuke someone because PMS. These are not mutually exclusive groups.
Do I need to point out that at 68 Clinton probably hasn't menstruated in over 20 years? I know that isn't something most people are comfortable talking about but I've seen this come up before. Let's be honest, the whole "PMS" argument is gross and misleading but if your family is concerned about mood swings, you can reassure them on that point. At this point I think we need to be more concerned about Trump's mood swings.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [39 favorites]
Do I need to point out that at 68 Clinton probably hasn't menstruated in over 20 years? I know that isn't something most people are comfortable talking about but I've seen this come up before. Let's be honest, the whole "PMS" argument is gross and misleading but if your family is concerned about mood swings, you can reassure them on that point. At this point I think we need to be more concerned about Trump's mood swings.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [39 favorites]
Do I need to point out that at 68 Clinton probably hasn't menstruated in over 20 years?
To the republican base, given their "sex education" curriculum and general level of interest in women as humans?
Yes?
posted by maxwelton at 1:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
To the republican base, given their "sex education" curriculum and general level of interest in women as humans?
Yes?
posted by maxwelton at 1:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
nobody really seems to know how tall HRC is
Twelve stories high, and made of radiation.
posted by biogeo at 3:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Twelve stories high, and made of radiation.
posted by biogeo at 3:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
HRC: And that one's...Charizard?
aide: [slams flashcard on table] IT'S MAGMAR DO YOU EVEN WANT TO WIN THIS RACE
HRC GB OG
posted by PenDevil at 3:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
aide: [slams flashcard on table] IT'S MAGMAR DO YOU EVEN WANT TO WIN THIS RACE
HRC GB OG
posted by PenDevil at 3:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
Do I need to point out that at 68 Clinton probably hasn't menstruated in over 20 years? I know that isn't something most people are comfortable talking about but I've seen this come up before. Let's be honest, the whole "PMS" argument is gross and misleading but if your family is concerned about mood swings, you can reassure them on that point.
Yewterday I briefly got into a Facebook argument with a frothing-mouthed guy who was slagging the Khans; he claimed that Khan was "exploiting his dead son" because he was appearing on talk shows to slag Trump. He also claimed that Khazir Khan was a lawyer who specialized in a specific type of visa suited to cater to "rich Middle East bastards", and that his law firm had assisted Saudis who had in turn made contributions to Clinton's campaign - and that therefore Khazir Khan's statements at the convention were mere political pandering and meant nothing.
For people who have already made up their minds to be closed-minded, facts won't mean anything.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yewterday I briefly got into a Facebook argument with a frothing-mouthed guy who was slagging the Khans; he claimed that Khan was "exploiting his dead son" because he was appearing on talk shows to slag Trump. He also claimed that Khazir Khan was a lawyer who specialized in a specific type of visa suited to cater to "rich Middle East bastards", and that his law firm had assisted Saudis who had in turn made contributions to Clinton's campaign - and that therefore Khazir Khan's statements at the convention were mere political pandering and meant nothing.
For people who have already made up their minds to be closed-minded, facts won't mean anything.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I thought this was well-said: Republican Party Burns Down One Last Institution: Itself
Francis Wilkinson in Bloomberg charges that the Republican Party's ongoing war on American institutions has included, among other things, the news media, academia, public schools, the courts, Hollywood, the US Congress, the US Presidency, the IRS, and voting itself, but that "Before Trump, two institutions were off limits to Republican attacks. The military was one. Ever since Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, Trump's forebear in scattershot, seat-of-the-pants demagogy, had tried and failed to damage the U.S. Army in the 1950s, Republicans could be counted on to rally around the troops and their leaders," and that while the military is likely to survive the assault, "the final institution on the Republican hit list, the one that had been immune to attack for decades, may not.
"The Republican Party is an institution, too -- an old and once respected one. Having devoted much of the past half century to undermining other American institutions in pursuit of its own power, the party has at last turned on itself. The ethos of destruction preceded Trump. But he is a natural conclusion of it."
posted by taz at 4:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [40 favorites]
Francis Wilkinson in Bloomberg charges that the Republican Party's ongoing war on American institutions has included, among other things, the news media, academia, public schools, the courts, Hollywood, the US Congress, the US Presidency, the IRS, and voting itself, but that "Before Trump, two institutions were off limits to Republican attacks. The military was one. Ever since Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, Trump's forebear in scattershot, seat-of-the-pants demagogy, had tried and failed to damage the U.S. Army in the 1950s, Republicans could be counted on to rally around the troops and their leaders," and that while the military is likely to survive the assault, "the final institution on the Republican hit list, the one that had been immune to attack for decades, may not.
"The Republican Party is an institution, too -- an old and once respected one. Having devoted much of the past half century to undermining other American institutions in pursuit of its own power, the party has at last turned on itself. The ethos of destruction preceded Trump. But he is a natural conclusion of it."
posted by taz at 4:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [40 favorites]
Just as a reminder: for all the back pedaling and the shift in tone from the Trump supporters you know, this isn't giving up. They've only just been pushed into a place where being vocal taints them. They will still pull the lever, check the box and press the button for Trump. Just because they won't speak about the latest gaffe on Facebook doesn't mean they are beaten. So keep pushing forward. Keep moving forward. Keep drawing people to reason and compassion. This isn't the time to let off the gas, this is the time to be stronger together.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 4:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by JakeEXTREME at 4:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Politico reports that Melania Trump may have been working in the US illegally. She was in the USA earlier than originally claimed and her travel is inconsistent with an H-1B visa which would have allowed her to work; travel patterns and her own statements suggest either a B-1 or B-2 Tourist Visa. That's visa fraud, and would invalidate her citizenship application.
Donald Trump: I married an illegal immigrant!
posted by Justinian at 4:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [43 favorites]
Donald Trump: I married an illegal immigrant!
posted by Justinian at 4:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [43 favorites]
But seriously, Trump isn't stupid enough to run for President when his wife committed visa fraud, is he? Don't answer that.
posted by Justinian at 4:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
State poll today...
Michigan:
Clinton 41%
Trump 32%
.
New Hampshire
Clinton 47%
Trump 32%
.
Pennsylvania:
Clinton 49%
Trump 38%
And he really means today, as in these three polls have come out in the last seven hours.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:21 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Michigan:
Clinton 41%
Trump 32%
.
New Hampshire
Clinton 47%
Trump 32%
.
Pennsylvania:
Clinton 49%
Trump 38%
And he really means today, as in these three polls have come out in the last seven hours.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:21 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
That won't stick, I don't think. Hardworking spokesmodels like Melina Trump aren't "illegal immigrants;" we know who the illegal immigrants are. That's just more evidence that the media and the government are persecuting Donald Trump.
Or in other words, for the most part I think he's fairly immune to hypocrisy dirt. Poor, that might work. If his tax returns came out and he's actually broke. Crazy seems to be working okay.
posted by maggiepolitt at 4:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Or in other words, for the most part I think he's fairly immune to hypocrisy dirt. Poor, that might work. If his tax returns came out and he's actually broke. Crazy seems to be working okay.
posted by maggiepolitt at 4:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Portland Maine is the unlucky recipient of a Trump visit today. In addition to a protest rally, Mainers have been reserving seats inside the Trump venue that they intend to leave empty.
posted by donnagirl at 4:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by donnagirl at 4:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
Given that Trump overbooks small venues in order to complainbrag about all of his supporters who can't get in, it is not likely that those seats will remain empty.
posted by yesster at 4:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by yesster at 4:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yeah, he's been here before. We know what it looks like. It's just something anyone can do and provides a little levity.
posted by donnagirl at 4:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by donnagirl at 4:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm getting the feeling this is the DNC gameplan.
I wish I felt like the DNC actually had a gameplan
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I wish I felt like the DNC actually had a gameplan
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Maine?
Really just because it's close enough to get back to your own bed does not make Maine a battle ground state.
posted by vuron at 5:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Really just because it's close enough to get back to your own bed does not make Maine a battle ground state.
posted by vuron at 5:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Campaigning in Maine is deeply strange. Even if you do manage to flip it, its four electoral votes aren't really the place to put your resources. Is there some kind of real world, non-Trump logic I'm missing?
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:20 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:20 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Whoever follows Trump will learn from his mistakes and try to retain his base.
While I agree they'll try, Trump is fairly sui generis given that most of his primary attractions to voters - outsider, rich enough to self-fund to least initially, TV famous, willing to say and offend anyone - are not easily reproducible. Pretty much anyone following him is going to be beholden to the party and/or donors, not as well-known, unable to generate the massive free media, and be less willing to say overtly the awful things the revanchist base has loved.
And that base is shrinking each year. The last time a Republican won the presidency, whites were 79% of the electorate. This year it's 69%. That number will continue to drop. I kind of think of this as the Battle of the Bulge of white, racist, bigoted, toxic masculinity America; if they don't win this, it's over. Beyond the demographic change, the Supreme Court justices HRC will select will give a liberal majority for the next 20 odd years that will lock in many of the social and political issue this rump end of hate conservatism is fighting against.
Could a proto-fascist take some elements of this movement and combine it with less Latino hate for example and create a winning coalition down the road? Possibly, but it won't be the white grievance/nationalism movement Trump has built.
(And in all this I'm talking about the national race for the presidency. On a state level and in off year elections, Democrats still need to get their shit together and compete, turn out and win.)
posted by chris24 at 5:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
While I agree they'll try, Trump is fairly sui generis given that most of his primary attractions to voters - outsider, rich enough to self-fund to least initially, TV famous, willing to say and offend anyone - are not easily reproducible. Pretty much anyone following him is going to be beholden to the party and/or donors, not as well-known, unable to generate the massive free media, and be less willing to say overtly the awful things the revanchist base has loved.
And that base is shrinking each year. The last time a Republican won the presidency, whites were 79% of the electorate. This year it's 69%. That number will continue to drop. I kind of think of this as the Battle of the Bulge of white, racist, bigoted, toxic masculinity America; if they don't win this, it's over. Beyond the demographic change, the Supreme Court justices HRC will select will give a liberal majority for the next 20 odd years that will lock in many of the social and political issue this rump end of hate conservatism is fighting against.
Could a proto-fascist take some elements of this movement and combine it with less Latino hate for example and create a winning coalition down the road? Possibly, but it won't be the white grievance/nationalism movement Trump has built.
(And in all this I'm talking about the national race for the presidency. On a state level and in off year elections, Democrats still need to get their shit together and compete, turn out and win.)
posted by chris24 at 5:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Is there some kind of real world, non-Trump logic I'm missing?
Well, it's prettty nice there in the summer
posted by thelonius at 5:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Well, it's prettty nice there in the summer
posted by thelonius at 5:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Assuming there's a strategy in there (I honestly have no idea) I think that Trump has realized he can pretty much be vile in any state in the union and Twitter and Facebook will share it far and wide. How that's going to win him an election is beyond me, but, it's like he thinks that if he can have his 27% angrier than the remaining 73% of the country their votes will be worth more or something.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I assume that any stops he makes in Maine are to repay Gov. Paul LePage for his support. LePage has an ongoing feud with his state legislature, and while his state's electoral votes aren't going to Trump, boosting GOP turnout could give the Republicans control of the state House of Representatives (and thus total control of the state government, since they already hold the senate).
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Politico reports that Melania Trump may have been working in the US illegally. She was in the USA earlier than originally claimed and her travel is inconsistent with an H-1B visa which would have allowed her to work; travel patterns and her own statements suggest either a B-1 or B-2 Tourist Visa. That's visa fraud, and would invalidate her citizenship application.
Donald Trump: I married an illegal immigrant!
It's a good catch, but when have rules ever applied to wealthy people in this country?
posted by winna at 5:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Donald Trump: I married an illegal immigrant!
It's a good catch, but when have rules ever applied to wealthy people in this country?
posted by winna at 5:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
America is weird. How does Maine elect a guy like LePage... twice?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Campaigning in Maine is deeply strange. Even if you do manage to flip it, its four electoral votes aren't really the place to put your resources. Is there some kind of real world, non-Trump logic I'm missing?
I'm straining to come up with anything beyond the fact that it LOOKS, at first glimpse, like it might be ripe for flipping: they elected a populist governor who says outrageous things about minorities and wants to repeal the state income tax. Paul LePage is probably Trump-mold Republican with the highest office in the country, and he's been untouchable even when he's doing insane things. Maine is a lot like most New England states, in that the rural part of the state is extremely right-leaning, with cities skewing blue enough to outnumber the (bitterly resentful) rural Republican votes. The difference in Maine is that the cities aren't big enough to create an insurmountable advantage like you see in MA and NY and CT, so it's theoretically possible to channel the white nativist rage there to flip it red.
Given the constant series of missteps by the campaign, it's possible that this is Trump's demented version of Howard Dean's 50-state plan. To which I say: godspeed, sir. Devote as much time to Maine and West Virginia as you think it's going to take.
posted by Mayor West at 5:35 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
I'm straining to come up with anything beyond the fact that it LOOKS, at first glimpse, like it might be ripe for flipping: they elected a populist governor who says outrageous things about minorities and wants to repeal the state income tax. Paul LePage is probably Trump-mold Republican with the highest office in the country, and he's been untouchable even when he's doing insane things. Maine is a lot like most New England states, in that the rural part of the state is extremely right-leaning, with cities skewing blue enough to outnumber the (bitterly resentful) rural Republican votes. The difference in Maine is that the cities aren't big enough to create an insurmountable advantage like you see in MA and NY and CT, so it's theoretically possible to channel the white nativist rage there to flip it red.
Given the constant series of missteps by the campaign, it's possible that this is Trump's demented version of Howard Dean's 50-state plan. To which I say: godspeed, sir. Devote as much time to Maine and West Virginia as you think it's going to take.
posted by Mayor West at 5:35 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Re: Orange Julius Caesar
This name becomes even more apt if you play Modest Mouse's "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" over YouTube footage of a Trump rally.
This name becomes even more apt if you play Modest Mouse's "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" over YouTube footage of a Trump rally.
Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshineposted by Mayor West at 5:38 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
He sparkles, shimmers, shines
Let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon-to-be ghost towns
So long, farewell, goodbye
emjaybee: "Things that help poor black people also help poor white people. If Clinton is helping one group she is also helping the other."
Yeah but there's this persistent myth that black people somehow get more benefits than white people do and that whites are getting ripped off by that system.
posted by octothorpe at 5:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Yeah but there's this persistent myth that black people somehow get more benefits than white people do and that whites are getting ripped off by that system.
posted by octothorpe at 5:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Manafort to @GMA on why Trump hasn't apologized to Khan family: "Well, I think Mr. Trump has paid the respect." (transcript at link)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:47 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:47 AM on August 4, 2016
Something I've been thinking about:
If Republicans come out to vote for Clinton instead of staying home, they are more likely to split their ticket and vote for Republican senators, unless the Dems really step up their efforts at tying down-ticket candidates to Trump.
Clinton + a GOP senate = more or less guaranteed failure to achieve any of the platform goals she laid out. Especially in 2 years when a lot of Dem senate seats are up for reelection.
There hasn't been a lot of polling in senate races (for good reason; many states have yet to pick their candidates), but the polls I've seen have left the GOP with a 1-2 seat majority.
posted by GameDesignerBen at 5:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
If Republicans come out to vote for Clinton instead of staying home, they are more likely to split their ticket and vote for Republican senators, unless the Dems really step up their efforts at tying down-ticket candidates to Trump.
Clinton + a GOP senate = more or less guaranteed failure to achieve any of the platform goals she laid out. Especially in 2 years when a lot of Dem senate seats are up for reelection.
There hasn't been a lot of polling in senate races (for good reason; many states have yet to pick their candidates), but the polls I've seen have left the GOP with a 1-2 seat majority.
posted by GameDesignerBen at 5:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Just saw a woman with an awesome tote on the Boston Red Line, printed with an image of young Hillary Clinton and Bossladies underneath.
posted by peacheater at 5:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 5:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Maine is one of only two states in the country that splits its electoral college votes. (The other one is Nebraska.) So it's theoretically possible that the state will go blue but one electoral college vote will go to Trump. I think that Maine sometimes gets more attention from Republicans than it would seem to merit because that one vote could be important in the (unlikely) event of an electoral college tie. But this isn't shaping up to be the kind of election where that would matter, and I wouldn't give the Trump campaign credit for that level of strategizing anyway.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I agree the Melania thing is not going to turn any rabid Trump fans but kudos to Politico for doing some old-fashioned journalism. What I am hoping for is that not only Trump loses but his name is tarnished forever and his family is exposed for the cheating, swindling, elephant-killing con artists they are. The New York Post this morning has an article about how business is down in Trumpland which gave me great pleasure to read.
On a more relevant note, 538 has an interesting analysis: The Political Process Isn’t Rigged — It Has Much Bigger Problems
It boils down to American politics is becoming more polarized and less open to compromise to due 5 things:
1) Geographic Sorting
2) Straight Ticket Voting
3) Primaries are the New General Election
4) Congress Grinds to a Halt
5) Anger at Politicians Grows
I thought point number 4 was the most interesting.
On a more relevant note, 538 has an interesting analysis: The Political Process Isn’t Rigged — It Has Much Bigger Problems
It boils down to American politics is becoming more polarized and less open to compromise to due 5 things:
1) Geographic Sorting
2) Straight Ticket Voting
3) Primaries are the New General Election
4) Congress Grinds to a Halt
5) Anger at Politicians Grows
I thought point number 4 was the most interesting.
The Cook Political Report currently rates just 37 of 435 House seats as competitive this fall, less than 9 percent of the House. As a result, primary elections have become tantamount to general elections in the vast majority of seats. Because primaries are held on many different dates, they tend to generate less national attention and attract disproportionate shares of hardcore, ideological party activists to the polls.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
In 2014, only 14.6 percent of eligible voters participated in congressional primaries — a record low, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate. That means a tiny fraction of voters who are the most hardened partisans are essentially electing more than 90 percent of members of Congress. And these low-turnout primaries are often easy prey for ideological interest groups who demand purity.
the melania immigration issue might have some legs but i really hope that nobody in the clinton campaign or their surrogates touches it with a ten foot pole. it will look petty
posted by murphy slaw at 6:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
From the Clint Eastwood interview:
"Everybody’s walking on eggshells. We see people accusing people of being racist and all kinds of stuff. When I grew up, those things weren’t called racist."
Perfect example of modern conservative racism. A white man thinks that things weren't called racist because when he was young white people didn't call things racist. This is the era that conservative racists want to go back to. When white people's opinions were all that was even heard. And, oh, us poor powerless white people are walking on eggshells now because we can't be openly racist anymore.
Fuck Clint Eastwood.
posted by Cookiebastard at 6:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [117 favorites]
"Everybody’s walking on eggshells. We see people accusing people of being racist and all kinds of stuff. When I grew up, those things weren’t called racist."
Perfect example of modern conservative racism. A white man thinks that things weren't called racist because when he was young white people didn't call things racist. This is the era that conservative racists want to go back to. When white people's opinions were all that was even heard. And, oh, us poor powerless white people are walking on eggshells now because we can't be openly racist anymore.
Fuck Clint Eastwood.
posted by Cookiebastard at 6:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [117 favorites]
‘Oh Good God’: Megyn Kelly Flips Out Over Trump Relitigating So Many Controversies
trigger warning: trump speaking
posted by murphy slaw at 6:10 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
trigger warning: trump speaking
posted by murphy slaw at 6:10 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Yeah but there's this persistent myth that black people somehow get more benefits than white people do and that whites are getting ripped off by that system.
It's way worse than that. Many poor and working class whites (read: people I am related to) don't think minorities should get any of the same benefits they do, because white people paid the taxes, and therefore white people should get the benefits.
I mean, I have had (painful) conversations with (poor white) relatives who *themselves* have been on public assistance for long periods of time, who complained bitterly about all the freeloaders and how we have to do something about lazy folks in the city (implied minority) cheating (that is, using) the system "we" had funded.
It's staggering the horrible things people think. It goes without saying these people are keen on Trump.
posted by aught at 6:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
It's way worse than that. Many poor and working class whites (read: people I am related to) don't think minorities should get any of the same benefits they do, because white people paid the taxes, and therefore white people should get the benefits.
I mean, I have had (painful) conversations with (poor white) relatives who *themselves* have been on public assistance for long periods of time, who complained bitterly about all the freeloaders and how we have to do something about lazy folks in the city (implied minority) cheating (that is, using) the system "we" had funded.
It's staggering the horrible things people think. It goes without saying these people are keen on Trump.
posted by aught at 6:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Clint Eastwood calls the current generation sensitive? It's worth reminding people that his generation of white people threw their toys out of the pram if a black person shared a drinking fountain with them.
posted by Francis at 6:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [69 favorites]
posted by Francis at 6:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [69 favorites]
Everyone has picked out the racism bit of the Clint Eastwood interview, but I thought this was quite telling as well:
“It’s a tough voice to listen to for four years,” he said of Hillary
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 6:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
“It’s a tough voice to listen to for four years,” he said of Hillary
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 6:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
“It’s a tough voice to listen to for four years,” he said of Hillary
Fuckin' men with their mommy issues.
posted by Floydd at 6:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [54 favorites]
Fuckin' men with their mommy issues.
posted by Floydd at 6:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [54 favorites]
The formula is that 2020 is the next census, and it's a presidential election. We will turn out, and hopefully will take some state houses in swing states.
The Republican establishment is planning for 2020. Even assuming a Clinton win, it's unprecedented in modern history that a party retains the White House for four consecutive terms, and obstructionism still seems to deliver results. The 2018 Senate election is much more favourable on paper for them, which makes winning the tight 2016 contests vital for Dems if they want any legislative progress.
Gerrymanders unwind somewhat over the course of a decade: people move in and out of districts, older people pass away, younger ones turn 18. 2018's going to feel less gerrymandered than 2016, especially if there's an actual turnout, but the impact is more likely to be on state legislatures than US House seats.
posted by holgate at 6:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
The Republican establishment is planning for 2020. Even assuming a Clinton win, it's unprecedented in modern history that a party retains the White House for four consecutive terms, and obstructionism still seems to deliver results. The 2018 Senate election is much more favourable on paper for them, which makes winning the tight 2016 contests vital for Dems if they want any legislative progress.
Gerrymanders unwind somewhat over the course of a decade: people move in and out of districts, older people pass away, younger ones turn 18. 2018's going to feel less gerrymandered than 2016, especially if there's an actual turnout, but the impact is more likely to be on state legislatures than US House seats.
posted by holgate at 6:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
When Clint Eastwood was a kid you could openly hate on all minority groups (Jews, Asians, Gays, Blacks, etc) if you were a member of the dominant subgroup. It was about making white people feel good about themselves by making everyone else feel shitty about themselves.
It's not a solid foundation to build a civil society around.
What's interesting is that Political Correctness came out of minority groups saying "Nope enough of that shit" and demanding that other people respect their identities. As groups succeeded in demanding respect from the dominant subgroup other groups saw their success and began running with it as well.
This is important because rather than the right of civility being something that white people granted to another group it's something that each individual group has demanded for itself. Want to quit being political correct go ask one of those minority groups that have always been harassed and made to feel subhuman if you are okay bringing back old school racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, etc taunts.
But no the conservatives turn to other white people and expect us to agree and say "yep those negroes sure are uppity!" like in out hearts we really want to go back to the good ole days when you could be a racist dillhole and nobody would try to shame you.
The truth is those days were great for bullies with no sense for making their attacks personal rather than group based. I'd rather not enable any bullies but I definitely don't want to enable the lazy bullies. Saying and doing harmful things is bad and people should feel bad for saying them and people should feel bad for wanting to normalize that behavior again.
Lord of the Flies is a cautionary tale not something we should be trying to cosplay.
posted by vuron at 6:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
It's not a solid foundation to build a civil society around.
What's interesting is that Political Correctness came out of minority groups saying "Nope enough of that shit" and demanding that other people respect their identities. As groups succeeded in demanding respect from the dominant subgroup other groups saw their success and began running with it as well.
This is important because rather than the right of civility being something that white people granted to another group it's something that each individual group has demanded for itself. Want to quit being political correct go ask one of those minority groups that have always been harassed and made to feel subhuman if you are okay bringing back old school racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, etc taunts.
But no the conservatives turn to other white people and expect us to agree and say "yep those negroes sure are uppity!" like in out hearts we really want to go back to the good ole days when you could be a racist dillhole and nobody would try to shame you.
The truth is those days were great for bullies with no sense for making their attacks personal rather than group based. I'd rather not enable any bullies but I definitely don't want to enable the lazy bullies. Saying and doing harmful things is bad and people should feel bad for saying them and people should feel bad for wanting to normalize that behavior again.
Lord of the Flies is a cautionary tale not something we should be trying to cosplay.
posted by vuron at 6:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
‘Oh Good God’: Megyn Kelly Flips Out Over Trump Relitigating So Many Controversies
Trump wanting to be considered an champion of people with disabilities because he followed ADA building codes is really... rich. (That was an angle I hand't heard him taking before.) The pathetic bastard must stay up all night turning shit ideas over and over in his head until he comes up with some kind of new rationalization to validate the bullshit he's already done and counter his critics. It's clear he can't let a single thing that's said about him go.
posted by aught at 6:21 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Trump wanting to be considered an champion of people with disabilities because he followed ADA building codes is really... rich. (That was an angle I hand't heard him taking before.) The pathetic bastard must stay up all night turning shit ideas over and over in his head until he comes up with some kind of new rationalization to validate the bullshit he's already done and counter his critics. It's clear he can't let a single thing that's said about him go.
posted by aught at 6:21 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Trump wanting to be considered an champion of people with disabilities because he followed ADA building codes is really... rich.
I should have said "because he *had to follow* ADA building codes" because it's the law, thought no doubt his people worked to cut corners and do the bare minimum at every possible turn.
posted by aught at 6:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I should have said "because he *had to follow* ADA building codes" because it's the law, thought no doubt his people worked to cut corners and do the bare minimum at every possible turn.
posted by aught at 6:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I love that the people who throw a fit over 'Happy Holidays' are pissed they can't say ni**er anymore. But we're the sensitive ones.
posted by chris24 at 6:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [39 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 6:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [39 favorites]
I thought this was well-said: Republican Party Burns Down One Last Institution: Itself
A very succinct, cogently-stated argument. I agree. And it's also where I split from my ideological cousins on the far left (armchair anarchist husband, who sniffily reminded me last night that he "doesn't believe in nation-states" included). I believe in institutions as engines for pro-social progress and I believe in improving those institutions continuously so that they bring the maximum benefit to the populous . Until homo sapiens sapiens evolves into a telekinetic hivemind, I don't think there's any getting away from the fact that if a group of people want something to be done, some institution somewhere is going to have to be the one doing it. You can't burn down the school and then ask why nobody's kids can read.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
A very succinct, cogently-stated argument. I agree. And it's also where I split from my ideological cousins on the far left (armchair anarchist husband, who sniffily reminded me last night that he "doesn't believe in nation-states" included). I believe in institutions as engines for pro-social progress and I believe in improving those institutions continuously so that they bring the maximum benefit to the populous . Until homo sapiens sapiens evolves into a telekinetic hivemind, I don't think there's any getting away from the fact that if a group of people want something to be done, some institution somewhere is going to have to be the one doing it. You can't burn down the school and then ask why nobody's kids can read.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
The Republican establishment is planning for 2020. Even assuming a Clinton win, it's unprecedented in modern history that a party retains the White House for four consecutive terms, and obstructionism still seems to deliver results. The 2018 Senate election is much more favourable on paper for them, which makes winning the tight 2016 contests vital for Dems if they want any legislative progress.
The Senate will probably not come back into Democratic control without a wholesale implosion of the Republican Party. There's just too many smaller red states and blue voters in California and New York.
posted by Talez at 6:30 AM on August 4, 2016
The Senate will probably not come back into Democratic control without a wholesale implosion of the Republican Party. There's just too many smaller red states and blue voters in California and New York.
posted by Talez at 6:30 AM on August 4, 2016
Yeah, hard to believe anyone's going to care about Melania Trump working in the U.S. illegally. As someone said somewhere on the internet sometime recently, imagine what people would have said if Obama stood up with his 5 kids from 3 different women at his convention in 2008. Very different standards apply to rich white people.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 6:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [40 favorites]
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 6:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [40 favorites]
I think this was linked up thread, but it bears repeating
NYT Unfiltered Voices
posted by Yowser at 6:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
NYT Unfiltered Voices
posted by Yowser at 6:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I should have said "because he *had to follow* ADA building codes" because it's the law, thought no doubt his people worked to cut corners and do the bare minimum at every possible turn.
Actually, Trump has a history of lawsuits over ADA noncompliance.
posted by murphy slaw at 6:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
Actually, Trump has a history of lawsuits over ADA noncompliance.
posted by murphy slaw at 6:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
The Senate will probably not come back into Democratic control without a wholesale implosion of the Republican Party.
So you're saying it's basically a coin flip.
posted by Etrigan at 6:33 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
So you're saying it's basically a coin flip.
posted by Etrigan at 6:33 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
The underlying reason why this election is absolutely critical and Trump deciding to basically throw the election is so funny is that it really does come down to the SCOTUS.
This last couple of weeks have resulted in no less than 3 cases where Courts have said that state laws have been enacted with the express reason of disenfranchising voters. In the last couple of years states could be relatively certain that an appeal to the SCOTUS would allow them to continue this behavior. However with the Roberts court now missing Scalia the ability to continue to roll back voter protections has gone out the window and it's not entirely clear that Kennedy would've been a secure vote anyway.
So now we have Republicans facing a major issue because their plans at neutralizing the Democratic advantage among certain minority groups are under severe pressure by the courts. There is also increasing evidence that some courts will seek to act more decisively to block heavily gerrymandered districts which could potentially put some Congresscritters at risk.
At the same time Trump is basically trying to piss off every person in the US that isn't melanin-challenged and a substantial number of us as well which means all of their Latino outreach programs basically got annihilated because it's hard to sell Latinos on the idea that the Republican party is the party of Latino values when Cinnamon Hitler is saying most Mexicans are thieves and rapists.
Best case scenario for Republicans right now:
Trump loses and loses decisively so that the party leaders can begin to cull the tea party and white nationalists from the base- they can vote Republican but they don't get to speak ever
Hold the Senate or achieve a tie - let's face it actually being in charge of the Senate sucks unless you have 60 solid seats. If you are willing to abuse the fillibuster and the Republicans are you can make do from a minority position
Hold the House - it's an ungovernable mess but Republicans can live with the status quo they just want to block further progressive initiatives.
Confirm Merrick Garland- seriously guys he's the absolute best you are going to get from the standpoint of being a centrist. Yeah he's not Scalia but you aren't going to get Scalia and there is a good chance you'll get someone way more progressive.
Pour infinite dollars into holding state legislatures - the fight from 2020-2024 will likely be about redistricting and you want to be in the best position possible or else there goes the house for 10 years.
posted by vuron at 6:35 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
This last couple of weeks have resulted in no less than 3 cases where Courts have said that state laws have been enacted with the express reason of disenfranchising voters. In the last couple of years states could be relatively certain that an appeal to the SCOTUS would allow them to continue this behavior. However with the Roberts court now missing Scalia the ability to continue to roll back voter protections has gone out the window and it's not entirely clear that Kennedy would've been a secure vote anyway.
So now we have Republicans facing a major issue because their plans at neutralizing the Democratic advantage among certain minority groups are under severe pressure by the courts. There is also increasing evidence that some courts will seek to act more decisively to block heavily gerrymandered districts which could potentially put some Congresscritters at risk.
At the same time Trump is basically trying to piss off every person in the US that isn't melanin-challenged and a substantial number of us as well which means all of their Latino outreach programs basically got annihilated because it's hard to sell Latinos on the idea that the Republican party is the party of Latino values when Cinnamon Hitler is saying most Mexicans are thieves and rapists.
Best case scenario for Republicans right now:
Trump loses and loses decisively so that the party leaders can begin to cull the tea party and white nationalists from the base- they can vote Republican but they don't get to speak ever
Hold the Senate or achieve a tie - let's face it actually being in charge of the Senate sucks unless you have 60 solid seats. If you are willing to abuse the fillibuster and the Republicans are you can make do from a minority position
Hold the House - it's an ungovernable mess but Republicans can live with the status quo they just want to block further progressive initiatives.
Confirm Merrick Garland- seriously guys he's the absolute best you are going to get from the standpoint of being a centrist. Yeah he's not Scalia but you aren't going to get Scalia and there is a good chance you'll get someone way more progressive.
Pour infinite dollars into holding state legislatures - the fight from 2020-2024 will likely be about redistricting and you want to be in the best position possible or else there goes the house for 10 years.
posted by vuron at 6:35 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
The Senate will probably not come back into Democratic control without a wholesale implosion of the Republican Party. There's just too many smaller red states and blue voters in California and New York.
Currently the Democratic Party is down four seats. This year there are ten toss-ups. Nine currently held by Republicans - if the Democratic party can win half of them and win the Presidency they get the Senate. Odds are looking good with the Trump millstone.
posted by Francis at 6:35 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Currently the Democratic Party is down four seats. This year there are ten toss-ups. Nine currently held by Republicans - if the Democratic party can win half of them and win the Presidency they get the Senate. Odds are looking good with the Trump millstone.
posted by Francis at 6:35 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump wanting to be considered an champion of people with disabilities because he followed ADA building codes is really... rich.
This is classic thinking from the "Job Creator" class though. There's an assumption that anytime you spend money that benefits anyone other yourself the grasping masses should be grateful. It's why employers expect loyalty for paying any sort of wages at all and why they expect credit for "creating jobs" as if running a business is a charitable endeavor and not how they get rich in the first place.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
This is classic thinking from the "Job Creator" class though. There's an assumption that anytime you spend money that benefits anyone other yourself the grasping masses should be grateful. It's why employers expect loyalty for paying any sort of wages at all and why they expect credit for "creating jobs" as if running a business is a charitable endeavor and not how they get rich in the first place.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
You know how everyone keeps saying that Trump is just running to prop up his brand?
Foursquare has some interesting data implying that there has been a notable drop-off in visits to Trump-branded properties since his campaign began.
posted by murphy slaw at 6:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Foursquare has some interesting data implying that there has been a notable drop-off in visits to Trump-branded properties since his campaign began.
posted by murphy slaw at 6:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
If Republicans come out to vote for Clinton instead of staying home, they are more likely to split their ticket and vote for Republican senators, unless the Dems really step up their efforts at tying down-ticket candidates to Trump.
I think this is true, but not likely true on a scale that will matter. There will also be Republicans so demoralized that they simply stay home, while the Democratic Party will likely have record turnout. I think if we take either (or both! It's *possible*!) houses of congress, it will be with a narrow margin than that with which we take the presidency.
But fuck that, a win's a win. And if HRC wins with a historic blowout, that tide might just be high enough.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I think this is true, but not likely true on a scale that will matter. There will also be Republicans so demoralized that they simply stay home, while the Democratic Party will likely have record turnout. I think if we take either (or both! It's *possible*!) houses of congress, it will be with a narrow margin than that with which we take the presidency.
But fuck that, a win's a win. And if HRC wins with a historic blowout, that tide might just be high enough.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Meeting the letter of the law doesn't make you a champion Donald. If you could point to evidence that your buildings consistently exceed the ADA requirements and you make accessibility a key feature of your buildings you might have a decent talking point.
But on the other hand you open mocked a journalist with a disability during a speech and you want to roll back ACA which many people with disabilities depend on so I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I guess we are just going to have to follow the NPR method and say that both sides have valid points.
posted by vuron at 6:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
But on the other hand you open mocked a journalist with a disability during a speech and you want to roll back ACA which many people with disabilities depend on so I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I guess we are just going to have to follow the NPR method and say that both sides have valid points.
posted by vuron at 6:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Foursquare has some interesting data implying that there has been a notable drop-off in visits to Trump-branded properties since his campaign began.
Yeah, but notice that bump from last summer around the time that he announced? That is what he was looking for -- get in the news, get a few favorable polling results, drop out for some bullshit reason, profit. Not even he realized he would end up here.
posted by Etrigan at 6:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah, but notice that bump from last summer around the time that he announced? That is what he was looking for -- get in the news, get a few favorable polling results, drop out for some bullshit reason, profit. Not even he realized he would end up here.
posted by Etrigan at 6:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
TRUMP: HEY AMERICA REMEMBER ME? I HAVE HOTELS
AMERICA: oh yeah
*time passes*
AMERICA: oh now we remember, you're terrible
posted by murphy slaw at 6:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
AMERICA: oh yeah
*time passes*
AMERICA: oh now we remember, you're terrible
posted by murphy slaw at 6:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
WaPo: Republicans nominate dangerously insane person to lead America, then panic when he proves he’s dangerously insane
posted by Floydd at 6:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
posted by Floydd at 6:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
The line between MSM and the Onion gets even more blurry.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
The Republican establishment is planning for 2020.
Seriously? They don't even have a plan for getting one person elected three months from now. How are they capable of organizing to get dozens of people elected across the country?
I mean, I hate to underestimate them. But they're letting an almost universally despised dolt represent them as their national leader right now.
posted by Cookiebastard at 6:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seriously? They don't even have a plan for getting one person elected three months from now. How are they capable of organizing to get dozens of people elected across the country?
I mean, I hate to underestimate them. But they're letting an almost universally despised dolt represent them as their national leader right now.
posted by Cookiebastard at 6:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
(eh...was thinking 2018. But my point remains...)
posted by Cookiebastard at 6:51 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by Cookiebastard at 6:51 AM on August 4, 2016
I wonder where Donald is at on his theoretical Trump Cable Channel.
There was chatter that his whole candidacy was about getting enough free publicity that he could successfully launch a Trump channel (which is both incredibly stupid and incredibly expensive in 2016) because he's upset that he feels like Comcast and NBC make a ton of money off of his brand and he doesn't get compensated fairly in return.
So the idea was get 10-15% grow the brand and then start up a new channel (or at least pretend to in order to shakedown Comcast). Olympics would be over so NBC would be feeling flush from their every 4 years infusion of cash and he could have maximum leverage in negotiations with NBC.
However he apparently accidentally touched into the darkest part of the Republican lizard brain and somehow managed to secure a massive lead and most of the credible challengers failed to launch. Now he's actually the nominee and he's beginning to actually believe his bullshit because he's a monumental narcissist and so he's going full speed ahead despite the seas getting icy and I'm pretty sure there are lots of icebergs named Khan and Clinton in those waters.
He'll probably do just fine because he'll be able to translate his infamy into a massive Fox News deal, if NBC is smart they'll permanently shelve the Apprentice because holy fuck Trump is toxic to advertisers and I don't think you could slide Ivanka into his place without difficulty.
posted by vuron at 6:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
There was chatter that his whole candidacy was about getting enough free publicity that he could successfully launch a Trump channel (which is both incredibly stupid and incredibly expensive in 2016) because he's upset that he feels like Comcast and NBC make a ton of money off of his brand and he doesn't get compensated fairly in return.
So the idea was get 10-15% grow the brand and then start up a new channel (or at least pretend to in order to shakedown Comcast). Olympics would be over so NBC would be feeling flush from their every 4 years infusion of cash and he could have maximum leverage in negotiations with NBC.
However he apparently accidentally touched into the darkest part of the Republican lizard brain and somehow managed to secure a massive lead and most of the credible challengers failed to launch. Now he's actually the nominee and he's beginning to actually believe his bullshit because he's a monumental narcissist and so he's going full speed ahead despite the seas getting icy and I'm pretty sure there are lots of icebergs named Khan and Clinton in those waters.
He'll probably do just fine because he'll be able to translate his infamy into a massive Fox News deal, if NBC is smart they'll permanently shelve the Apprentice because holy fuck Trump is toxic to advertisers and I don't think you could slide Ivanka into his place without difficulty.
posted by vuron at 6:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
North Korea says Trump isn't screwy at all, a wise choice for president
(Reuters or Onion?)
posted by sebastienbailard at 6:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
(Reuters or Onion?)
posted by sebastienbailard at 6:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
That foursquare article points out something I hadn't thought of.
[Trump's] hotels, casinos, and golf courses are mainly located in reliably “blue” Democratic states, and depend highly on guests and visitors who live in the region.posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:53 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
What's getting people excited is the freedom to get rid of all that, to say what they REALLY MEAN, the giddy thrill of being as blunt and gross as they can imagine
In other words, the 80s again.
I think the real answer Trump supporters feel for "When was America great?" is the Reagan years, when the bombing was to begin in 5 minutes, when trees polluted more than cars, when everyone hated liberals and political correctness and seatbelts and driving 55 and ridiculous SNAG/feminist therapist couples and all losers and pansies and nuance and thoughtfulness. The money was rolling in, white people were the majority. The war was cold, and the implacable foe, the USSR, was weak, then non-existent.
The W years were an attempt to reclaim that.. Reaganism sharpened, refined—but also, high on its own supply. It was Reaganism reforged in the flames of bottomless hatred and ultra-partisanship the GOP became in the Clinton years. The moderation and compromise were filtered out. It was all, "FYIGM, there is no truth but power." They wanted the Reagan era landslides (and pretended they got them even when they didn't). They talked of permanent majorities and did everything they could to implement them. They also wanted to move forward, they just had to capture the culturally conservative hispanic demographic, somehow, while not pissing off the white supremacist demographic. They failed. And the W years weren't as glorious as anybody wanted because all their policies were shit. They lost ground in the culture war, and never really were allowed to be as hateful, publicly, as they wanted to be. (Fox News echo chamber cutting both ways.) They overcommitted to an eternal war that was pointless and horrible. The holy and infallible free market screwed the country hard enough that even the conservative base felt it. Constitutional originalism had dissolved back into a pile of bullshit. They lost all the cover of legitimacy; the "adults in charge now" proved to be idiots.
The right wing dreamed of a thousand year reich and wound up with blue balls. And then...ZALGO Obama. Conservatives, smart and dumb alike, were confounded, demoralized, reeling. (Total coincidence that "cuckservative" enters the political conversation during the first black president's term.)
They've still got their Reagan-era fantasies and their Clinton-era hatreds, though. That remains pure. In the Bush era, things got too complicated and now they've snapped back to their base needs and hazy memories of the 80s.
Trump is the second echo of the Reagan years. The Bush way forward failed, so now the Republicans choose Trump, who repudiates GWB. Trump is a man of the 80s, a product and emblem of it, a greedy piggish uncomplicated clown of a man. Conservatives don't actually believe in government or policies or social structure or history, so they have no idea how to actually get back to the 80s, or what that moment in time was really about anyway. They just want to be simplistic winners again, dominating and destroying the people they hate.
posted by nom de poop at 6:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [43 favorites]
In other words, the 80s again.
I think the real answer Trump supporters feel for "When was America great?" is the Reagan years, when the bombing was to begin in 5 minutes, when trees polluted more than cars, when everyone hated liberals and political correctness and seatbelts and driving 55 and ridiculous SNAG/feminist therapist couples and all losers and pansies and nuance and thoughtfulness. The money was rolling in, white people were the majority. The war was cold, and the implacable foe, the USSR, was weak, then non-existent.
The W years were an attempt to reclaim that.. Reaganism sharpened, refined—but also, high on its own supply. It was Reaganism reforged in the flames of bottomless hatred and ultra-partisanship the GOP became in the Clinton years. The moderation and compromise were filtered out. It was all, "FYIGM, there is no truth but power." They wanted the Reagan era landslides (and pretended they got them even when they didn't). They talked of permanent majorities and did everything they could to implement them. They also wanted to move forward, they just had to capture the culturally conservative hispanic demographic, somehow, while not pissing off the white supremacist demographic. They failed. And the W years weren't as glorious as anybody wanted because all their policies were shit. They lost ground in the culture war, and never really were allowed to be as hateful, publicly, as they wanted to be. (Fox News echo chamber cutting both ways.) They overcommitted to an eternal war that was pointless and horrible. The holy and infallible free market screwed the country hard enough that even the conservative base felt it. Constitutional originalism had dissolved back into a pile of bullshit. They lost all the cover of legitimacy; the "adults in charge now" proved to be idiots.
The right wing dreamed of a thousand year reich and wound up with blue balls. And then...
They've still got their Reagan-era fantasies and their Clinton-era hatreds, though. That remains pure. In the Bush era, things got too complicated and now they've snapped back to their base needs and hazy memories of the 80s.
Trump is the second echo of the Reagan years. The Bush way forward failed, so now the Republicans choose Trump, who repudiates GWB. Trump is a man of the 80s, a product and emblem of it, a greedy piggish uncomplicated clown of a man. Conservatives don't actually believe in government or policies or social structure or history, so they have no idea how to actually get back to the 80s, or what that moment in time was really about anyway. They just want to be simplistic winners again, dominating and destroying the people they hate.
posted by nom de poop at 6:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [43 favorites]
As this election continues to get weirder, Trump appears to be harboring an improperly documented immigrant.
It appears that Melania Trump was repeatedly violating the conditions of her B-1 visas, having obtained them by fraud, in the 90s when she illegally worked as a model in New York. This fraud would put the validity of her past green card, current citizenship, and current residence in the United States at risk even though she is currently married to a US citizen.
posted by Blasdelb at 7:00 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
It appears that Melania Trump was repeatedly violating the conditions of her B-1 visas, having obtained them by fraud, in the 90s when she illegally worked as a model in New York. This fraud would put the validity of her past green card, current citizenship, and current residence in the United States at risk even though she is currently married to a US citizen.
posted by Blasdelb at 7:00 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I think the real answer Trump supporters feel for "When was America great?" is the Reagan years, when the bombing was to begin in 5 minutes, when trees polluted more than cars, when everyone hated liberals and political correctness and seatbelts and driving 55 and ridiculous SNAG/feminist therapist couples and all losers and pansies and nuance and thoughtfulness.
if trump wins i'm moving all of my investments into cocaine
posted by murphy slaw at 7:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
if trump wins i'm moving all of my investments into cocaine
posted by murphy slaw at 7:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
If Trump wins I'm reopening Studio 54 in the White House basement.
Which would actually be kind of fabulous but it would totally be a throw-back to the age of excess.
I wonder if Tom Wolfe would be willing to do a sequel to Bonfire of the Vanities, you know Bret Easton Ellis would be willing to do more things with Patrick Bateman
posted by vuron at 7:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Which would actually be kind of fabulous but it would totally be a throw-back to the age of excess.
I wonder if Tom Wolfe would be willing to do a sequel to Bonfire of the Vanities, you know Bret Easton Ellis would be willing to do more things with Patrick Bateman
posted by vuron at 7:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
[Trump's] hotels, casinos, and golf courses are mainly located in reliably “blue” Democratic states
Which is why he's convinced himself he has New York and California (the "secret" states) wrapped up.
"They love me there! All the rich people there spend money on my stuff there"
posted by yhbc at 7:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Which is why he's convinced himself he has New York and California (the "secret" states) wrapped up.
"They love me there! All the rich people there spend money on my stuff there"
posted by yhbc at 7:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I like to remind everyone in election threads: don't just show up every four years to vote for your preferred candidate. You have to show up for the less high profile elections in your area too, even your school board. A Democrat president needs a Democrat Senate and House.
posted by Kitteh at 7:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [40 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 7:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [40 favorites]
I have tickets to see John Oliver on New Year's Eve. If Trump wins, Oliver's routine will probably be reduced to 'gibbering with swears' so I'd prefer we not entertain that option.
posted by palindromic at 7:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by palindromic at 7:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's an assumption that anytime you spend money that benefits anyone other yourself the grasping masses should be grateful.
Yes, of course. It's right in line with DT saying a few days ago that employing people to work for him was one of his "sacrifices" (and therefore comparable to the Khan's losing their son). This shit makes the blood boil.
posted by aught at 7:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yes, of course. It's right in line with DT saying a few days ago that employing people to work for him was one of his "sacrifices" (and therefore comparable to the Khan's losing their son). This shit makes the blood boil.
posted by aught at 7:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've noticed that the Onion hasn't been hitting Trump hard since the RNC. There's no reason to gild the lily.
posted by Countess Elena at 7:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Countess Elena at 7:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mod note: Couple comments deleted. As ever, please don't say things in the voice of someone who's racist (etc), or say exaggeratedly racist (etc) stuff by way of showing how very bad you think it is to say -- it makes conversations harder and brings pretty gross stuff here needlessly.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
I like to remind everyone in election threads: don't just show up every four years to vote for your preferred candidate. You have to show up for the less high profile elections in your area too, even your school board. A Democrat president needs a Democrat Senate and House.
I live in the bluest district in the one of the bluest states in the union. I vote in every election but I'm not tipping anyone over into the win column. I work from home and sometimes I fantasize about moving to a swing state just so I can feel like I'm contributing materially to the de-crazification of the US. :-/
posted by murphy slaw at 7:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I live in the bluest district in the one of the bluest states in the union. I vote in every election but I'm not tipping anyone over into the win column. I work from home and sometimes I fantasize about moving to a swing state just so I can feel like I'm contributing materially to the de-crazification of the US. :-/
posted by murphy slaw at 7:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
The "secret" stuff really gets me. How can people listen to that and not think he's just full of shit? Everyone knows that person from grade school or middle school. Everyone knows that it's bullshit. Some of the other kooky stuff I can kind of understand how someone could believe it, but giving him a pass on the "secret" plans just boggles my mind.
posted by OmieWise at 7:16 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by OmieWise at 7:16 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Given the constant series of missteps by the campaign, it's possible that this is Trump's demented version of Howard Dean's 50-state plan.
Has anyone been napping what states he's been visiting? I'm not sure he's left the east coast at any point since his nomination.
posted by Artw at 7:16 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Has anyone been napping what states he's been visiting? I'm not sure he's left the east coast at any point since his nomination.
posted by Artw at 7:16 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump is a man of the 80s, a product and emblem of it, a greedy piggish uncomplicated clown of a man.
I'm an 80s guy. Friendship means to me that for two bucks I beat you with a pool cue until you have detached retinas.
posted by palindromic at 7:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm an 80s guy. Friendship means to me that for two bucks I beat you with a pool cue until you have detached retinas.
posted by palindromic at 7:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Everyone knows that person from grade school or middle school.
trump's uncle who works at nintendo is his first pick for commerce secretary
posted by murphy slaw at 7:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
trump's uncle who works at nintendo is his first pick for commerce secretary
posted by murphy slaw at 7:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Fair enough zutalors! I'm just reacting to the idea that somehow proving that Melania was an illegal immigrant is going to be a smoking gun to take down Trump.
It doesn't matter if he's hypocritical, Republicans are allowed to be hypocrites, nay they are verily expected to be hypocrites.
Having moral failings like cheating on your taxes, or cheating on your wife, or hiring an undocumented worker to clean your house, or doing any number of ethically compromised things is okay if you act contrite and you present the idea that you still believe the right things but the "flesh was weak".
Republicans seem to love that redeemed sinner cliche and so if you are capable of looking contrite for your trespasses you get a pass.
Trump is showing that now you don't even have to express contrite feelings of remorse or even profess much belief in moral or ethical virtues at all as long as you are willing to act like a Hellfire Preacher in condemning Goody Clinton of devilry and witchcraft!
posted by vuron at 7:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
It doesn't matter if he's hypocritical, Republicans are allowed to be hypocrites, nay they are verily expected to be hypocrites.
Having moral failings like cheating on your taxes, or cheating on your wife, or hiring an undocumented worker to clean your house, or doing any number of ethically compromised things is okay if you act contrite and you present the idea that you still believe the right things but the "flesh was weak".
Republicans seem to love that redeemed sinner cliche and so if you are capable of looking contrite for your trespasses you get a pass.
Trump is showing that now you don't even have to express contrite feelings of remorse or even profess much belief in moral or ethical virtues at all as long as you are willing to act like a Hellfire Preacher in condemning Goody Clinton of devilry and witchcraft!
posted by vuron at 7:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
if you act contrite and you present the idea that you still believe the right things but the "flesh was weak".
I think the evidence of the real winning strategy here is to either imply or outright say that laws and regulations just aren't faaaaaiiir and thus it isn't really your fault for disregarding them. Taxes are theft!!11! so it's okay to cheat on them. Regulations are bad, so it's okay to go around them. Wimmen be cray (and also they get old and ugly), so it's okay to cheat on them. The party of personal responsibility always has an excuse for why their fuck ups aren't really their fault.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think the evidence of the real winning strategy here is to either imply or outright say that laws and regulations just aren't faaaaaiiir and thus it isn't really your fault for disregarding them. Taxes are theft!!11! so it's okay to cheat on them. Regulations are bad, so it's okay to go around them. Wimmen be cray (and also they get old and ugly), so it's okay to cheat on them. The party of personal responsibility always has an excuse for why their fuck ups aren't really their fault.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm just reacting to the idea that somehow proving that Melania was an illegal immigrant is going to be a smoking gun to take down Trump.
It's not a smoking gun, but I bet it's something he could give unhinged voter-repelling pronouncements about for a couple of weeks!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 7:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
It's not a smoking gun, but I bet it's something he could give unhinged voter-repelling pronouncements about for a couple of weeks!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 7:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
As this election continues to get weirder, Trump appears to be harboring an improperly documented immigrant.
The most disturbing part of that story is several paragraphs toward the end which describe Melania Trump's work for a Parisian modeling agency:
The most disturbing part of that story is several paragraphs toward the end which describe Melania Trump's work for a Parisian modeling agency:
"Alé de Basseville, the photographer who shot the [nude] photos, told POLITICO that the shoot took place in a private studio near Manhattan’s Union Square. He declined to name the owner of the studio and said that he encountered Trump through Metropolitan Models, a Paris-based agency with a New York office that was then representing Trump.posted by octobersurprise at 7:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
To carry out the 1995 New York photo shoot legally, Trump would have required a working visa, likely an H-1B, even if she were not yet living in the United States, as her native Slovenia was not part of the State Department’s visa waiver program until 1997.
Paolo Zampolli, an Italian businessman who was then a partner in Metropolitan and is credited with sponsoring Trump’s entry into the United States and introducing her to her future husband, said that he did not recall that particular shoot or the exact timing of Trump’s first arrival in New York."
It appears that Melania Trump was repeatedly violating the conditions of her B-1 visas, having obtained them by fraud, in the 90s when she illegally worked as a model in New York. This fraud would put the validity of her past green card, current citizenship, and current residence in the United States at risk even though she is currently married to a US citizen.
Interestingly enough, Talking Points Memo was working separately on the same story earlier this year, but held it from publication because
posted by zarq at 7:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Interestingly enough, Talking Points Memo was working separately on the same story earlier this year, but held it from publication because
...there was at least one theoretically possible way she could have been legal that we couldn't definitively rule out since the Trump's of course were not going to answer any questions or provide any of her immigrants papers. The irony in all of this is that the evidence against Trump comes almost entirely from her own mouth, specifically a January interview she gave to Harper's Bazaar and a subsequent TV interview with Mika Brzezinski in which she explained that she was nothing like those awful 'illegals' her husband wants to expel en masse.
posted by zarq at 7:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump properties have seen a double-digit decrease in visits from women this year, with a gap that widened starting in March 2016.
posted by Artw at 7:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Another GOP representative, Charlie Dent, has jumped off the trumpwagon. He's running for re-election this year.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 7:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Bush National Security Adviser: It's Not As Simple As Just Dump Trump:
"It's a very difficult position that a lot of Republicans are in and it sounds easy so a number of my Republican friends have said, 'He does not have the temperament; therefore, I endorse Hillary Clinton.' And that is a legitimate approach," Hadley said. "The problem with that approach is that Republicans will then say, 'Well, you know, you really weren't a Republican anyway' and shelve them. And you then cleave yourself out of the debate within the Republican Party about what does the Republican Party stand for."posted by palindromic at 7:35 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Paolo Zampolli sounds like a piece of work. He's been involved in some lawsuits for non-payment of commissions and his Ambassadorship from Dominica is one of those titles sold to non-native businessmen.
Not surprised that he flies in the Grifter-in-Chief's circle in NYC of shady as fuck real estate developers.
posted by vuron at 7:35 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Not surprised that he flies in the Grifter-in-Chief's circle in NYC of shady as fuck real estate developers.
posted by vuron at 7:35 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I GIVE NO MORE FUCKS ABOUT MELANIA TRUMP'S VISA STATUS 20 YEARS AGO THAN I DO ABOUT ANYONE WHO CAME HERE AND WORKED "ILLEGALLY" WHETHER THEY WERE POSING FOR FUCKING MAXIM OR PICKING FUCKING TANGERINES JESUS FUCK PEOPLE CAN WE FOCUS ON HER SHITBAG FUCKING HUSBAND AND LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS PLEASE THANKS
posted by dersins at 7:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [79 favorites]
posted by dersins at 7:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [79 favorites]
I've noticed that the Onion hasn't been hitting Trump hard since the RNC. There's no reason to gild the lily.
Trump would totally approve of gilding lilies, just like everything!
The Onion: ‘Why Can I Never Seem To Say The Right Thing?’ Weeps Trump Into Pillow
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Trump would totally approve of gilding lilies, just like everything!
The Onion: ‘Why Can I Never Seem To Say The Right Thing?’ Weeps Trump Into Pillow
NEW YORK—Quickly running into his bedroom and slamming the door behind him after hearing public criticism of the statements he made regarding the family of a fallen Muslim-American U.S. Army captain, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reportedly threw himself on his bed Tuesday and asked himself “Why can I never seem to say the right thing?” while weeping into his pillow. “Every time I open my mouth, the words come out all wrong,” Trump reportedly said in between long, heaving sobs, his voice muffled by the pillow as he occasionally pounded a balled-up fist into the mattress. “I try so hard, but I just can’t talk right, and everyone gets so mad at me. I just wish I could talk nicely like everyone else.” At press time, an exhausted Trump had reportedly cried himself into a perfectly sound sleep.The Onion is rationing their ™rump coverage, but it's a steady drip-feed of premium satire, e.g. "Trump Sick and Tired of Mainstream Media Always Trying To Put His Words Into Some Sort of Context" and "Trump Campaign Ponders Going Negative".
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Trump properties have seen a double-digit decrease in visits from women this year, with a gap that widened starting in March 2016.
Anecdata: I had an abstract accepted at a meeting this year. By the time I found out, the host hotel and almost every surrounding hotel was completely booked. The only hotel where I wouldn't have had to rent a car, that still had availability, was a Trump property. I turned down the opportunity to go and will submit the abstract to a future conference.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [47 favorites]
Anecdata: I had an abstract accepted at a meeting this year. By the time I found out, the host hotel and almost every surrounding hotel was completely booked. The only hotel where I wouldn't have had to rent a car, that still had availability, was a Trump property. I turned down the opportunity to go and will submit the abstract to a future conference.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [47 favorites]
I GIVE NO MORE FUCKS ABOUT MELANIA TRUMP'S VISA STATUS 20 YEARS AGO THAN
Dude, the point isn't "Melania Trump did a bad thing, and therefore we shouldn't support Donald Trump". The point is "Donald Trump condemns other people for doing the same thing as his very own wife, and that makes him a hypocrite".
posted by escape from the potato planet at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [75 favorites]
Dude, the point isn't "Melania Trump did a bad thing, and therefore we shouldn't support Donald Trump". The point is "Donald Trump condemns other people for doing the same thing as his very own wife, and that makes him a hypocrite".
posted by escape from the potato planet at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [75 favorites]
So Republicans want to dump Trump but they are afraid of the consequences of doing so in public because then they might get off from the room were the debate about the future of the Republican party will be decided. Dare I say that they are afraid of being left out of the room where it happens?
Understandable but sometimes you just gotta go full Corb and say "Nope enough is enough" even if it means you aren't anywhere near the room where it happens.
At least you get some free drinks and get to speak to reporters for a few days.
posted by vuron at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Understandable but sometimes you just gotta go full Corb and say "Nope enough is enough" even if it means you aren't anywhere near the room where it happens.
At least you get some free drinks and get to speak to reporters for a few days.
posted by vuron at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Another GOP representative, Charlie Dent, has jumped off the trumpwagon. He's running for re-election this year.
From the article:
"officials" is such a handy vague term, but aren't these three the only sitting reps publically coming out against Trump?
posted by moody cow at 7:41 AM on August 4, 2016
From the article:
Dent joins a growing number of Republican officials who have confirmed that they won't be voting for Donald Trump, including Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).
"officials" is such a handy vague term, but aren't these three the only sitting reps publically coming out against Trump?
posted by moody cow at 7:41 AM on August 4, 2016
"officials" is such a handy vague term, but aren't these three the only sitting reps publically coming out against Trump?
Yes, and of them, Hanna is not running for re-election.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:43 AM on August 4, 2016
Yes, and of them, Hanna is not running for re-election.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:43 AM on August 4, 2016
That Onion article almost made me feel sorry for Donald for a moment Doktor Zed because I'm pretty sure young (and let's be honest older) vuron was totally the type of kid to do that and I'm pretty sure that my daughter has inherited that sort of self-shaming behavior.
So for a second Trump seemed human to me which is probably a good thing because despite looking like a complete caricature of a human being I guess he's still human but damn I didn't want to have any feels about Donald...
posted by vuron at 7:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
So for a second Trump seemed human to me which is probably a good thing because despite looking like a complete caricature of a human being I guess he's still human but damn I didn't want to have any feels about Donald...
posted by vuron at 7:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
vuron: Fair enough zutalors! I'm just reacting to the idea that somehow proving that Melania was an illegal immigrant is going to be a smoking gun to take down Trump.
The thing is, there's almost never a smoking gun. Sometimes there's a scandal, like with Anthony Weiner, which forces someone out of office. But very often politicians are targeted with low-level garbage over time, that erodes public trust and confidence.
This is one of my favorite stories, and that lesson in psychology applies in these circumstances as well. Repeat a lie often enough and to enough people, and folks will begin to believe it's true. It's why whisper campaigns are effective.
Look at Hillary Clinton. The number of conspiracy theories that conservatives with an axe to grind have thrown at her is astonishing. She's been attacked for over two decades, and now a decent number of people will say when polled that she's not trustworthy (evidence to the contrary notwithstanding).
So evidence suggests that Mrs. Trump lied. Will she face consequences for that? Most likely not. Over time though, it's yet another dent in the Trumps' integrity and reputation. Enough dents, and a pattern of hypocrisy and privilege emerges that becomes harder to ignore.
posted by zarq at 7:44 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
The thing is, there's almost never a smoking gun. Sometimes there's a scandal, like with Anthony Weiner, which forces someone out of office. But very often politicians are targeted with low-level garbage over time, that erodes public trust and confidence.
This is one of my favorite stories, and that lesson in psychology applies in these circumstances as well. Repeat a lie often enough and to enough people, and folks will begin to believe it's true. It's why whisper campaigns are effective.
Look at Hillary Clinton. The number of conspiracy theories that conservatives with an axe to grind have thrown at her is astonishing. She's been attacked for over two decades, and now a decent number of people will say when polled that she's not trustworthy (evidence to the contrary notwithstanding).
So evidence suggests that Mrs. Trump lied. Will she face consequences for that? Most likely not. Over time though, it's yet another dent in the Trumps' integrity and reputation. Enough dents, and a pattern of hypocrisy and privilege emerges that becomes harder to ignore.
posted by zarq at 7:44 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Dude, the point isn't "Melania Trump did a bad thing, and therefore we shouldn't support Donald Trump". The point is "Donald Trump condemns other people for doing the same thing as his very own wife, and that makes him a hypocrite".
Yes, but the list of things Trump is a hypocrite about is long, and the list of things about which Trump is simply a horrific fucking nightmare is even longer, and hypocrite does not crack the top ten. So it sort of seems like validating the bullshit premise ("'illegals' are bad and they should feel bad!") for no good reason.
I also do not give a flying fuck about Melania's immigration status, and would prefer to keep talking about the clownish fascist who is trying to burn down our country.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Yes, but the list of things Trump is a hypocrite about is long, and the list of things about which Trump is simply a horrific fucking nightmare is even longer, and hypocrite does not crack the top ten. So it sort of seems like validating the bullshit premise ("'illegals' are bad and they should feel bad!") for no good reason.
I also do not give a flying fuck about Melania's immigration status, and would prefer to keep talking about the clownish fascist who is trying to burn down our country.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Dude, the point isn't "Melania Trump did a bad thing, and therefore we shouldn't support Donald Trump". The point is "Donald Trump condemns other people for doing the same thing as his very own wife, and that makes him a hypocrite".
If "xenophobic misogynistic cryptofascist race-baiting toupeed canned ham" didn't put 40% of the country off of him already, I don't think "hypocrite" is going to be the magic bullet you're hoping for.
I'm with dersins: there's plenty to hate on Trump without dragging in Melania. Between the weird magazine cover with a 20-year-old nude photo, and now this, I don't think we need to add liberal misogyny to this tire fire.
posted by Mayor West at 7:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
If "xenophobic misogynistic cryptofascist race-baiting toupeed canned ham" didn't put 40% of the country off of him already, I don't think "hypocrite" is going to be the magic bullet you're hoping for.
I'm with dersins: there's plenty to hate on Trump without dragging in Melania. Between the weird magazine cover with a 20-year-old nude photo, and now this, I don't think we need to add liberal misogyny to this tire fire.
posted by Mayor West at 7:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Mod note: A few comments deleted; enough with the capslock and the debate thereon.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Breitbart Passes Off Photo of Cleveland Cavaliers Parade as Trump Rally:
Breitbart News posted a photo Wednesday alongside an article headlined "Trump's Jacksonville Rally Draws 15,000" that actually showed a crowd during a celebratory parade for the Cleveland Cavaliers winning the NBA finals this year.posted by kirkaracha at 7:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
The concern about Republicans coming out to vote for Hilary is really true for me here in Florida. I have a close friend who is deep into the 1% and I am probably her only friend who isn't. She texted me to tell me I'd be proud of her that she has decided that IF she votes, she's going to vote Hilary-because Rubio went back on his promise to not run for reelection and she wants to vote for him. She says nobody she knows is voting Trump and were probably going to sit out the whole election until he stayed in and they all want to make sure he retains his seat.
I'm super conflicted between encouraging her to vote and just staying quiet and hope she gets distracted on November 8th.
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm super conflicted between encouraging her to vote and just staying quiet and hope she gets distracted on November 8th.
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Dude, the point isn't "Melania Trump did a bad thing, and therefore we shouldn't support Donald Trump". The point is "Donald Trump condemns other people for doing the same thing as his very own wife, and that makes him a hypocrite".
We already know Trump is a scumbag and a hypocrite, though. Why do we need to shit on his wife just to prove a point that's not even up for debate?
posted by dersins at 7:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
We already know Trump is a scumbag and a hypocrite, though. Why do we need to shit on his wife just to prove a point that's not even up for debate?
posted by dersins at 7:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
there's plenty to hate on Trump without dragging in Melania.
She gave a speech at his convention. Nobody is dragging her anywhere.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
She gave a speech at his convention. Nobody is dragging her anywhere.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Although let's be honest CAPSLOCK is always cruise control for awesome but for the sake of the Mods we should probably wait to put the daily ElectionFilter thread into it's final form closer to the election.
However when we inevitably have an election thread that goes over 9000 posts I am definitely pulling out a Vegeta OVER 9000! meme post.
I also agree with the desire to drop this thread regarding Melania. There is more than enough stuff about Trump that is worth attacking him without drawing Melania into the fray. Yes technically she has agreed to a certain degree of scrutiny about her past by becoming a prospective FLOTUS but let's be honest Metafilter doesn't always have a great track record when it comes to shaming women.
posted by vuron at 7:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
However when we inevitably have an election thread that goes over 9000 posts I am definitely pulling out a Vegeta OVER 9000! meme post.
I also agree with the desire to drop this thread regarding Melania. There is more than enough stuff about Trump that is worth attacking him without drawing Melania into the fray. Yes technically she has agreed to a certain degree of scrutiny about her past by becoming a prospective FLOTUS but let's be honest Metafilter doesn't always have a great track record when it comes to shaming women.
posted by vuron at 7:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I will bet you many dollars that what he actually saw was some stock footage of a cargo plane being unloaded that was running behind whatever cable news he had on today.
Congrats soren_lorensen on calling this one last night at 8:53 PM:
WaPo: Donald Trump did not actually watch an Iranian recording of that controversial money transfer
Congrats soren_lorensen on calling this one last night at 8:53 PM:
WaPo: Donald Trump did not actually watch an Iranian recording of that controversial money transfer
The Washington Post asked Trump's staff to explain what Trump was talking about and emailed a link to a Fox News clip that showed the January footage from Geneva, asking if that was the video the nominee saw.posted by DynamiteToast at 7:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
"Yes," spokeswoman Hope Hicks responded in an email. "Merely the b-roll footage included in every broadcast."
As someone who's life has been affected by heavy-handed immigration, Melania's hypocrisy certainly does make a difference. She is the one who chooses to contrast her behavior with "illegals." She gave a speech at the RNC. She is not just a sideliner in this election story, she has made her experience part of the story.
For what it's worth, I believe her experiences point out how ridiculously difficult it is for anyone to follow the immigration guidelines to the letter. Schwarzenegger, it has been pointed out, was also illegal at one time. This is why we should have compassion (and a better policy). This is why Melania's lack of compassion is her own fault and not just the hypocrisy of her husband.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [61 favorites]
For what it's worth, I believe her experiences point out how ridiculously difficult it is for anyone to follow the immigration guidelines to the letter. Schwarzenegger, it has been pointed out, was also illegal at one time. This is why we should have compassion (and a better policy). This is why Melania's lack of compassion is her own fault and not just the hypocrisy of her husband.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [61 favorites]
Congrats soren_lorensen on calling this one last night at 8:53 PM:
Stand by for my PayPal link...
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Stand by for my PayPal link...
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Trump properties have seen a double-digit decrease in visits from women this year, with a gap that widened starting in March 2016.
I said it umpteen threads back, but this is not surprising at all and I suspect multi-year contracts - as are commonplace for conference-type event bookings - are helping slow the bleeding in the short term but will further pain Trump down the road. I was at an event at the Doral in Feb/Mar and the organizers weren't happy about it. They'd booked the location before Trump even officially joined the primaries and by the time the insanity was clear it was too late, financially and logistically, to change venues.
This is an organization that leans firmly right and represents a group that's solidly right as well (though Trump's positive tariff talk is anathema to them) but they were unhappy to have the association even then. Now? I am 99% confident that if they could withdraw from the the remaining two years of booking without penalty they'd have done it already.
I'm going to be very interested to see what their attendance is like next year and whether it diminishes sharply. Unfortunately it will be hard to know why - assuming it does - since Doral is kind of a shit location if you actually want to leave the property. It's firmly in the middle of a business/industrial area of town and far into the mainland for anyone interested in the beach.
posted by phearlez at 7:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I said it umpteen threads back, but this is not surprising at all and I suspect multi-year contracts - as are commonplace for conference-type event bookings - are helping slow the bleeding in the short term but will further pain Trump down the road. I was at an event at the Doral in Feb/Mar and the organizers weren't happy about it. They'd booked the location before Trump even officially joined the primaries and by the time the insanity was clear it was too late, financially and logistically, to change venues.
This is an organization that leans firmly right and represents a group that's solidly right as well (though Trump's positive tariff talk is anathema to them) but they were unhappy to have the association even then. Now? I am 99% confident that if they could withdraw from the the remaining two years of booking without penalty they'd have done it already.
I'm going to be very interested to see what their attendance is like next year and whether it diminishes sharply. Unfortunately it will be hard to know why - assuming it does - since Doral is kind of a shit location if you actually want to leave the property. It's firmly in the middle of a business/industrial area of town and far into the mainland for anyone interested in the beach.
posted by phearlez at 7:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
The thing is Trump probably isn't strictly a hypocrite here either. Chances are he had no idea, and didn't care (maybe that part is hypocrisy), what her immigration status was when he married her.
posted by dis_integration at 8:00 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by dis_integration at 8:00 AM on August 4, 2016
I don't get the anger over talking about Melania's immigration history. It seems like a relevant topic to me.
posted by diogenes at 8:00 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 8:00 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I feel like the pray-away-the-gay guy with a cigarette fixation is kind of a Checkov's gun for this particular kind of dilemma.
posted by Artw at 8:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 8:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Today's schedule: Trump is in Portland Maine at 3pm, Clinton in Las Vegas sometime between 12:30 and 3:00pm, local time.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:02 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:02 AM on August 4, 2016
Two things have me optimistic this morning:
1) This bounce for Hillary is not for strange or artificial reasons. It's because each party had their best chance to make their case, and one failed with its terrible message and the other succeeded with its well-reasoned message. As Josh Marshall wrote this morning:
...now it looks like gravity does work. Acting like a maniac on the public stage is making some people less likely to vote for Trump. Scott Baio wasn't as persuasive a messenger as Barack Obama or Bill Clinton. Trump is starting to look like as big a political loser as you'd expect - or at least hope.
2) Trump is almost guaranteed to reinforce any negative cycle he's in. The very rare condition in which Trump would be ahead would be one in which Trump was way ahead, lending genuine fear and a shadowy populace to his air of dominance. But Trump cannot run from behind. Being aggrieved makes him so determined to dominate anyway that he pitches self-destructive fits.
I cautiously expect that the rest of this campaign is going to look like the Poltergeist house imploding.
posted by argybarg at 8:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
1) This bounce for Hillary is not for strange or artificial reasons. It's because each party had their best chance to make their case, and one failed with its terrible message and the other succeeded with its well-reasoned message. As Josh Marshall wrote this morning:
...now it looks like gravity does work. Acting like a maniac on the public stage is making some people less likely to vote for Trump. Scott Baio wasn't as persuasive a messenger as Barack Obama or Bill Clinton. Trump is starting to look like as big a political loser as you'd expect - or at least hope.
2) Trump is almost guaranteed to reinforce any negative cycle he's in. The very rare condition in which Trump would be ahead would be one in which Trump was way ahead, lending genuine fear and a shadowy populace to his air of dominance. But Trump cannot run from behind. Being aggrieved makes him so determined to dominate anyway that he pitches self-destructive fits.
I cautiously expect that the rest of this campaign is going to look like the Poltergeist house imploding.
posted by argybarg at 8:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
The concern about Republicans coming out to vote for Hilary is really true for me here in Florida. I have a close friend who is deep into the 1% and I am probably her only friend who isn't. She texted me to tell me I'd be proud of her that she has decided that IF she votes, she's going to vote Hilary
This is the nucleus of my hope for this November. I think I've mentioned this before, but my parents are both hardcore GOP'ers, folks who haven't missed an election since Nixon. Every two years, they dutifully vote straight-ticket R, even knowing that they're in a state that hasn't gone red since McGovern's humiliation. If you ask them about it when they're in the same room, both will tell you that this year will be more of the same. Yet, in a private conversation about it, my mother has admitted to me that she can't bring herself to vote for an obviously misogynist narcissist. She'll still vote R down-ticket, but the presidential vote is going to be blank, or third-party. Even the GOP faithful are having a crisis of conscience that doesn't necessarily show up in polls.
posted by Mayor West at 8:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
This is the nucleus of my hope for this November. I think I've mentioned this before, but my parents are both hardcore GOP'ers, folks who haven't missed an election since Nixon. Every two years, they dutifully vote straight-ticket R, even knowing that they're in a state that hasn't gone red since McGovern's humiliation. If you ask them about it when they're in the same room, both will tell you that this year will be more of the same. Yet, in a private conversation about it, my mother has admitted to me that she can't bring herself to vote for an obviously misogynist narcissist. She'll still vote R down-ticket, but the presidential vote is going to be blank, or third-party. Even the GOP faithful are having a crisis of conscience that doesn't necessarily show up in polls.
posted by Mayor West at 8:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
I'm in the camp of Free Trade needs to come with Freedom of Movement which is why I got so frustrated with Brexit because I felt like the EU model was the right one and I don't want to see more of the NAFTA model where we are perfectly willing to use cheap Mexican labor working in bad conditions in maquiladoras in border areas of Mexico where they are fair game for corrupt cops and cartels but god forbid that some immigrants try to cross the border in order to achieve a better life in the US.
More power to Melania for seeking out her fame and fortune in the Greatest City in the World. Yes it's hypocritical for her to attack other immigrants for wanting good things for themselves and their families but let's be honest pulling up the drawbridge behind us has been a time honored strategy for new USians. She's a total hypocrite but so are most Americans.
Irish need not apply has morphed into hatred of Latinos.
posted by vuron at 8:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
More power to Melania for seeking out her fame and fortune in the Greatest City in the World. Yes it's hypocritical for her to attack other immigrants for wanting good things for themselves and their families but let's be honest pulling up the drawbridge behind us has been a time honored strategy for new USians. She's a total hypocrite but so are most Americans.
Irish need not apply has morphed into hatred of Latinos.
posted by vuron at 8:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Congrats soren_lorensen on calling this one last night at 8:53 PM:
Stand by for my PayPal link...
PayPal transfers No Prizes?
Scott Baio wasn't as persuasive a messenger as Barack Obama or Bill Clinton.
Whodathunk?
posted by phearlez at 8:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Stand by for my PayPal link...
PayPal transfers No Prizes?
Scott Baio wasn't as persuasive a messenger as Barack Obama or Bill Clinton.
Whodathunk?
posted by phearlez at 8:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think there's gonna be a lot of Republican women who pull the lever for Hillary this year who may never say so to a pollster, or their husband, or their friends.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:06 AM on August 4, 2016 [49 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:06 AM on August 4, 2016 [49 favorites]
The Washington Post asked Trump's staff to explain what Trump was talking about and emailed a link to a Fox News clip that showed the January footage from Geneva, asking if that was the video the nominee saw.
"Yes," spokeswoman Hope Hicks responded in an email. "Merely the b-roll footage included in every broadcast."
A spokesperson for a candidate for President of the United States has just insisted to a national newspaper that their candidate was merely not telling the truth.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 8:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
"Yes," spokeswoman Hope Hicks responded in an email. "Merely the b-roll footage included in every broadcast."
A spokesperson for a candidate for President of the United States has just insisted to a national newspaper that their candidate was merely not telling the truth.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 8:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
macfly: "although the $6T number included the next 40 years of veterans benefits which is a little bit shady math"
All war "costs" should be figured this way. That they aren't in an effort to sell imperialism is the shady part.
murphy slaw: "the melania immigration issue might have some legs but i really hope that nobody in the clinton campaign or their surrogates touches it with a ten foot pole. it will look petty"
Immigration services (whatever you all are calling it now) must have a tip line that could be flooded by interested parties. I'd feel sorry for the people responsible for investigations though.
However it could have the positive impact of getting part of the Trump clan to speak out against deep historical investigations of immigration fraud.
dis_integration: "The thing is Trump probably isn't strictly a hypocrite here either. Chances are he had no idea, and didn't care (maybe that part is hypocrisy), what her immigration status was when he married her."
Well true love will blind you to those sort of issues.
posted by Mitheral at 8:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
All war "costs" should be figured this way. That they aren't in an effort to sell imperialism is the shady part.
murphy slaw: "the melania immigration issue might have some legs but i really hope that nobody in the clinton campaign or their surrogates touches it with a ten foot pole. it will look petty"
Immigration services (whatever you all are calling it now) must have a tip line that could be flooded by interested parties. I'd feel sorry for the people responsible for investigations though.
However it could have the positive impact of getting part of the Trump clan to speak out against deep historical investigations of immigration fraud.
dis_integration: "The thing is Trump probably isn't strictly a hypocrite here either. Chances are he had no idea, and didn't care (maybe that part is hypocrisy), what her immigration status was when he married her."
Well true love will blind you to those sort of issues.
posted by Mitheral at 8:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
The "secret" stuff really gets me. How can people listen to that and not think he's just full of shit?
Well, going back to my Trumpist uncle, he knows Trump is full of shit. He thinks it's hilarious. It's just another signal that Trump is not a "politician".
posted by dirigibleman at 8:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Well, going back to my Trumpist uncle, he knows Trump is full of shit. He thinks it's hilarious. It's just another signal that Trump is not a "politician".
posted by dirigibleman at 8:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Some perspective on the Jacksonville rally last night:
The Veteran's Memorial Arena holds 15k and the only local news source that will define "thousands" says "over 10 thousand" people attended the rally.
The way the venue is built, you place the stage anywhere you want and block off the empty part of the arena behind you so it can look like you have a packed house when you might only have a couple thousand people there.
Rather than Breitbart's ridiculous picture that the had to take down, here is an arial photo from the local paper's website that shows the actual line to get in. Not impressive. Sad.
posted by hollygoheavy at 8:10 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Veteran's Memorial Arena holds 15k and the only local news source that will define "thousands" says "over 10 thousand" people attended the rally.
The way the venue is built, you place the stage anywhere you want and block off the empty part of the arena behind you so it can look like you have a packed house when you might only have a couple thousand people there.
Rather than Breitbart's ridiculous picture that the had to take down, here is an arial photo from the local paper's website that shows the actual line to get in. Not impressive. Sad.
posted by hollygoheavy at 8:10 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Scott Baio wasn't as persuasive a messenger as Barack Obama or Bill Clinton.
This will end up in the first paragraph of Baio's obituary.
posted by Etrigan at 8:10 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
This will end up in the first paragraph of Baio's obituary.
posted by Etrigan at 8:10 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
'he was a hypocrite...for the love of his wife' is not going to sway anyone who was planning to vote for Trump. That's exactly the kind of situation when you're supposed to bend the rules, right?
Except the issue is that he gets away with it. He was a hypocrite because he talks about the system keeping you down with "illegals," then he does it and gets away with it because he's rich and you're not. He says we're going to have all sorts of rules and walls but he's showing you that the people with means will ignore those rules, same as always.
That's the message you beat the drum about, not the details of the immigration. Trump wants rules, but not for him or his other rich buddies. It plays right next to the fact that he doesn't want any rules that inconvenience his rich mine and manufacturing plant buddies, like the ones that say they should have let you have proper safety gear.
If he's gathering followers because they are people who feel mistreated and ignored by the government it is absolutely on point to show that he's no different. You can't flip the Trump-loving true believers to vote HRC by any means. You can only turn them off so they don't want to vote for him anymore. Showing that he's horrible doesn't do that; many of them like that. Showing that he's full of shit and will continue to set rules for them and not him might.
posted by phearlez at 8:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Except the issue is that he gets away with it. He was a hypocrite because he talks about the system keeping you down with "illegals," then he does it and gets away with it because he's rich and you're not. He says we're going to have all sorts of rules and walls but he's showing you that the people with means will ignore those rules, same as always.
That's the message you beat the drum about, not the details of the immigration. Trump wants rules, but not for him or his other rich buddies. It plays right next to the fact that he doesn't want any rules that inconvenience his rich mine and manufacturing plant buddies, like the ones that say they should have let you have proper safety gear.
If he's gathering followers because they are people who feel mistreated and ignored by the government it is absolutely on point to show that he's no different. You can't flip the Trump-loving true believers to vote HRC by any means. You can only turn them off so they don't want to vote for him anymore. Showing that he's horrible doesn't do that; many of them like that. Showing that he's full of shit and will continue to set rules for them and not him might.
posted by phearlez at 8:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
I don't get the anger over talking about Melania's immigration history. It seems like a relevant topic to me.I think that a lot of people would be sympathetic to a young woman from Eastern Europe who played a bit fast and loose with immigration rules to get modeling work in the US. That reflects a lot of biases, but I think that's the case. Trump is doing so many things that totally push people's buttons and enrage them, and I don't think this is a winning thing to go with. I basically am in favor of leaving Melania alone and focusing on the candidate, who is plenty toxic on his own.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
This will end up in the first paragraph of Baio's obituary.
Obituaries only get written when someone notices & cares that someone died.
posted by phearlez at 8:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Obituaries only get written when someone notices & cares that someone died.
posted by phearlez at 8:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Epiphany: Trump makes more sense as a sentient being if you imagine three children stacked on top of each other inside a grown up costume a la Vincent Adultman.
posted by Tevin at 8:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Tevin at 8:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
What if he's several fish, and not a guy?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
via Peter Staley: Since the day Hillary Clinton made her "AIDS gaffe" at Nancy Reagan's funeral, I've put all the resulting emails in an Outlook folder as a coalition of 90+ AIDS advocates/groups launched our "lemons into lemonade" campaign. That folder now has 2,721 emails in it. Our efforts with Hillary's transition team will easily add another 1,000. I love this work.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think that a lot of people would be sympathetic to a young woman from Eastern Europe who played a bit fast and loose with immigration rules to get modeling work in the US.
Fair enough. I see it as another example of Trumps profound lack of empathy. I'm already sympathetic to many of the reasons that people end up here, but I like to think that if I wasn't, being married to someone who came here illegally would push me somewhat in that direction.
posted by diogenes at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2016
Fair enough. I see it as another example of Trumps profound lack of empathy. I'm already sympathetic to many of the reasons that people end up here, but I like to think that if I wasn't, being married to someone who came here illegally would push me somewhat in that direction.
posted by diogenes at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2016
Attacking Melania's immigration status will not be seen as trying to point out a hypocrite it will be seen by people in immigrant communities as Democrats being no better than Republicans.
If we are really the party of immigrants and I honestly hope that we are pointing out Melania's hypocrisy is pointless and self-defeating. Instead of attacking her we should say that there are tons of deserving men, women and children in the US that are working hard to make the US a better place everyday and every single one of them deserve the chances that Melania got.
That's how to make this minor embarassment into a powerful message.
posted by vuron at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
If we are really the party of immigrants and I honestly hope that we are pointing out Melania's hypocrisy is pointless and self-defeating. Instead of attacking her we should say that there are tons of deserving men, women and children in the US that are working hard to make the US a better place everyday and every single one of them deserve the chances that Melania got.
That's how to make this minor embarassment into a powerful message.
posted by vuron at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
That Katrina Pierson link is amazing.
"Why I always gotta be the genious behind the scenes? I belong out front!"
Mmm. Yes, yes. Now, I'm not a campaign strategist but I did glance at the cover of the West Wing Season 2 DVD once, and it occurred to me that the Dems may want to bring her out front in equal measure with The Hypocrite Loser.
Kinda yin/yang kaleidoscope of id-based media staining. Like "Vote for this. No, really. You love it. This is you. Own it."
posted by petebest at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
"Why I always gotta be the genious behind the scenes? I belong out front!"
Mmm. Yes, yes. Now, I'm not a campaign strategist but I did glance at the cover of the West Wing Season 2 DVD once, and it occurred to me that the Dems may want to bring her out front in equal measure with The Hypocrite Loser.
Kinda yin/yang kaleidoscope of id-based media staining. Like "Vote for this. No, really. You love it. This is you. Own it."
posted by petebest at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Well, going back to my Trumpist uncle, he knows Trump is full of shit. He thinks it's hilarious.
I really think it's like pro wrestling. Wrestling fans know it's bullshit, they just enjoy it. They also know the effects in horror movies are just effects and they probably understand that reality TV is kind of staged. It's the feeling of getting caught up in it that's fun. Someone going on and on about how it's all full of shit is missing the point.
I put Trump in with: horror movies, pro wrestling, monster trucks, reality TV. They're part of a culture, they're enjoyable bullshit, they make good trucker hats and T-shirts and they're a chance to roar along and feel powerful.
The problem is they're niche. Put them on the national stage and a whole lot of people are going to say "no thanks." Especially when the day of handing over actual power approaches.
posted by argybarg at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
I really think it's like pro wrestling. Wrestling fans know it's bullshit, they just enjoy it. They also know the effects in horror movies are just effects and they probably understand that reality TV is kind of staged. It's the feeling of getting caught up in it that's fun. Someone going on and on about how it's all full of shit is missing the point.
I put Trump in with: horror movies, pro wrestling, monster trucks, reality TV. They're part of a culture, they're enjoyable bullshit, they make good trucker hats and T-shirts and they're a chance to roar along and feel powerful.
The problem is they're niche. Put them on the national stage and a whole lot of people are going to say "no thanks." Especially when the day of handing over actual power approaches.
posted by argybarg at 8:19 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Fred Clark at Slacktivist draws some great parallels between what Republicans need to do re: Trump and what they had to do in Louisiana during the Edwin Edwards/David Duke 91 election.
Louisiana Republicans hated Edwin Edwards and they were fiercely determined to prevent him from retaking office for another term as governor. But unfortunately, GOP primary voters were split between Gov. Roemer and U.S. Rep. Clyde Holloway and Duke, with Duke coming out ahead.
And David Duke was a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, an outspoken white supremacist, and an ally of Neo-Nazi groups.
Although Duke won the Republican nomination, he was not endorsed by Republican officials in Louisiana. Instead, they condemned him as “unfit for office,” urging Louisiana voters to stop him by voting for Edwards. Louisiana Republicans famously distributed bumper stickers reading “Vote for the Crook. It’s important.”
posted by emjaybee at 8:20 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Louisiana Republicans hated Edwin Edwards and they were fiercely determined to prevent him from retaking office for another term as governor. But unfortunately, GOP primary voters were split between Gov. Roemer and U.S. Rep. Clyde Holloway and Duke, with Duke coming out ahead.
And David Duke was a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, an outspoken white supremacist, and an ally of Neo-Nazi groups.
Although Duke won the Republican nomination, he was not endorsed by Republican officials in Louisiana. Instead, they condemned him as “unfit for office,” urging Louisiana voters to stop him by voting for Edwards. Louisiana Republicans famously distributed bumper stickers reading “Vote for the Crook. It’s important.”
posted by emjaybee at 8:20 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Clinton's response to the AIDs gaffe is illustrative of the difference between how her campaign and Trump's respond to criticism.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:22 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:22 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
"When they go low, we go high." Or did you think Michelle Obama was only telling a story about her family's values? If that wasn't included as a reminder to try to avoid the mud and make a positive argument, I'd be surprised. It's pretty clear that kind of campaigning is the kind Barack Obama prefers - appeal to the best in people because the system does work and is made of people who largely want to make things better. So any discussion of Melania Trump should just emphasize that all immigrants deserve the same chances.
posted by R343L at 8:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
posted by R343L at 8:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
what's next? a confession that he dyes his hair with orange rit?
Nah. He uses TAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNGERINES! /flaming lips
You're welcome.
posted by notsnot at 8:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Nah. He uses TAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNGERINES! /flaming lips
You're welcome.
posted by notsnot at 8:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
"Let me set the record straight: I have at all times been in full compliance with the immigration laws of this country. Period."
posted by peeedro at 8:25 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by peeedro at 8:25 AM on August 4, 2016
Fred Clark at Slacktivist draws some great parallels between what Republicans need to do re: Trump and what they had to do in Louisiana during the Edwin Edwards/David Duke 91 election.
Except there's zero evidence today's Republican party will turn away from Trump no matter how bad he gets. They've all fully endorsed him to this point, thoughout the primary process and now into the general. They've gone so far as to engage in unprecedented obstruction of the sitting President's right to even appoint a Supreme Court Justice, in order to hold that appointment open for Donald Trump.
Today's Paul Ryan's and Mitch McConnell's would be doing the same for David Duke if he had managed to win the nomination, and there's a good possibility he could have if he had ran instead of Trump. I bet Duke is kicking himself for not running in the Presidential.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Except there's zero evidence today's Republican party will turn away from Trump no matter how bad he gets. They've all fully endorsed him to this point, thoughout the primary process and now into the general. They've gone so far as to engage in unprecedented obstruction of the sitting President's right to even appoint a Supreme Court Justice, in order to hold that appointment open for Donald Trump.
Today's Paul Ryan's and Mitch McConnell's would be doing the same for David Duke if he had managed to win the nomination, and there's a good possibility he could have if he had ran instead of Trump. I bet Duke is kicking himself for not running in the Presidential.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I really think it's like pro wrestling. Wrestling fans know it's bullshit, they just enjoy it.
This is what really terrifies me - we have built a culture where people are not capable of making a meaningful distinction between an appropriate response to entertainment and an appropriate response to their part in governing our country.
I keep trying to figure out how on earth you address this but short of going back in time, banning reality television and requiring significant mandatory hours in logic, history and ethics classes for all Americans starting in first grade and continuing through graduate school I can't see how it can be done.
posted by winna at 8:26 AM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
This is what really terrifies me - we have built a culture where people are not capable of making a meaningful distinction between an appropriate response to entertainment and an appropriate response to their part in governing our country.
I keep trying to figure out how on earth you address this but short of going back in time, banning reality television and requiring significant mandatory hours in logic, history and ethics classes for all Americans starting in first grade and continuing through graduate school I can't see how it can be done.
posted by winna at 8:26 AM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
Well, going back to my Trumpist uncle, he knows Trump is full of shit. He thinks it's hilarious. It's just another signal that Trump is not a "politician".
It seems clear to me that to many this election is - Do you want to vote for (A) a well-known politician , or vote (B) Fuck no!!! I hate politicians!!! Some people loathe 'politics' enough that they feel unable to vote for (A).
posted by puddledork at 8:26 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
It seems clear to me that to many this election is - Do you want to vote for (A) a well-known politician , or vote (B) Fuck no!!! I hate politicians!!! Some people loathe 'politics' enough that they feel unable to vote for (A).
posted by puddledork at 8:26 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
i just realized why the optics of hounding melania over her immigration status feel so gross.
it has the same structure as hounding obama over his birth certificate.
(i realize that they're not equivalent but the parallel is there)
posted by murphy slaw at 8:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
it has the same structure as hounding obama over his birth certificate.
(i realize that they're not equivalent but the parallel is there)
posted by murphy slaw at 8:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think that a lot of people would be sympathetic to a young woman from Eastern Europe who played a bit fast and loose with immigration rules to get modeling work in the US.
Well, I don't, but then I don't think she did that. She likely did not play fast and loose, she probably just went about her business and inadvertently violated a law or six because we have a complicated, hard-to-navigate system. I don't see a thing wrong with or interesting about Melania Trump immigrating here and working. But what I do find curious: why is "therrterrkerrjerrbs" okay in Melania's case and in the case of the eastern European guest workers Trump hires to staff his hotels, but we have to spend a kathrillion bucks to build a seventy-foot-high wall to keep out Mexican people who would like to do the same thing? Just exactly what accounts for that? What if Donald were to drop his GreaterWall plan and instead open his Trumphotel-jobs-for-guest-workers program to our neighbors to the south?
posted by Don Pepino at 8:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Well, I don't, but then I don't think she did that. She likely did not play fast and loose, she probably just went about her business and inadvertently violated a law or six because we have a complicated, hard-to-navigate system. I don't see a thing wrong with or interesting about Melania Trump immigrating here and working. But what I do find curious: why is "therrterrkerrjerrbs" okay in Melania's case and in the case of the eastern European guest workers Trump hires to staff his hotels, but we have to spend a kathrillion bucks to build a seventy-foot-high wall to keep out Mexican people who would like to do the same thing? Just exactly what accounts for that? What if Donald were to drop his GreaterWall plan and instead open his Trumphotel-jobs-for-guest-workers program to our neighbors to the south?
posted by Don Pepino at 8:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yes there are lots of people on the right and the alt-right that quietly concede that Trump is an awful candidate and he should lose in a landslide because he's an awful candidate. They don't like Hillary but they concede she's already got this won.
They like that despite Trump being an awful candidate that he's pushing the Overton window way way to the right so that they can go back to being racist assholes in public without fear of getting shamed. Well let's be honest most of them will just remain being racist assholes online via the cover of anonymity or pseudo-anonymity.
Like arbybarg says these are the Smarks (Smart Marks) who know that Trump is bullshit and is going to lose anyway but appreciate the effort and the style that he's putting into being a demagogue. They appreciate the effort and talent involved in staying outrageous enough to do a promo reel for the better part of a year already.
They actually don't care if Trump is playing a character and Cinnamon Hitler is kayfabe or if Trump is WYSIWYG because it really doesn't matter to them. They get to call people rude names and chant for the Heel character for a year (because Smarks love Heels).
posted by vuron at 8:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
They like that despite Trump being an awful candidate that he's pushing the Overton window way way to the right so that they can go back to being racist assholes in public without fear of getting shamed. Well let's be honest most of them will just remain being racist assholes online via the cover of anonymity or pseudo-anonymity.
Like arbybarg says these are the Smarks (Smart Marks) who know that Trump is bullshit and is going to lose anyway but appreciate the effort and the style that he's putting into being a demagogue. They appreciate the effort and talent involved in staying outrageous enough to do a promo reel for the better part of a year already.
They actually don't care if Trump is playing a character and Cinnamon Hitler is kayfabe or if Trump is WYSIWYG because it really doesn't matter to them. They get to call people rude names and chant for the Heel character for a year (because Smarks love Heels).
posted by vuron at 8:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Important point though:
Trump is flopping in the national spotlight. Most people dislike him and what he represents.
posted by argybarg at 8:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump is flopping in the national spotlight. Most people dislike him and what he represents.
posted by argybarg at 8:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Aren't people who think they're in on the con always the easiest to con?
posted by Artw at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
Ol' Trump is going to come out crazier than usual today if Melania had to address her immigration status. He's going birther again I bet.
posted by readery at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by readery at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think that a lot of people would be sympathetic to a young woman from Eastern Europe who played a bit fast and loose with immigration rules to get modeling work in the US.
NYC has lots of people who do cash-in-hand casual jobs on visitor visas, and there are definitely a lot of white out-of-status residents in the city. From 2007: "There are an estimated 50,000 Irish illegal immigrants in the U.S.; 30,000 of them are thought to live in New York City."
I'm not comfortable litigating Melania Trump's past. Some Gawker comment threads have included (unverifiable) accounts of her pre-Trump career in the US, and they're more a reflection on the inherent sketchiness of the modelling industry -- to speak euphemistically, that it's often a payment-in-kind business -- than on the models themselves.
posted by holgate at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
NYC has lots of people who do cash-in-hand casual jobs on visitor visas, and there are definitely a lot of white out-of-status residents in the city. From 2007: "There are an estimated 50,000 Irish illegal immigrants in the U.S.; 30,000 of them are thought to live in New York City."
I'm not comfortable litigating Melania Trump's past. Some Gawker comment threads have included (unverifiable) accounts of her pre-Trump career in the US, and they're more a reflection on the inherent sketchiness of the modelling industry -- to speak euphemistically, that it's often a payment-in-kind business -- than on the models themselves.
posted by holgate at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
"Kayfabe" is a new word for me, never heard or read it at all before these recent election posts. Had to look it up.
It is the portrayal of staged events as if they were real or true.
posted by yesster at 8:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
It is the portrayal of staged events as if they were real or true.
posted by yesster at 8:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I give no pass to Donald, his adult children or anyone who associates with him. All of them - while maybe not repudiating him – have now and have had the option to distance themselves from the ignorance of DT and his candidacy. I believe their continued appearance on the Trump Train is a willful act of deception & fraud. At this point, they are no better than the repugnant candidate and have long since passed the point where sympathy can be felt for them.
posted by lampshade at 8:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by lampshade at 8:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
appeal to the best in people because the system does work and is made of people who largely want to make things better.
This is almost but not quite right. The system works when it is made of people who largely want to make things better. With our current Congress, it's very clear what happens when people who do not want to make things better run the system.
posted by nonasuch at 8:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
This is almost but not quite right. The system works when it is made of people who largely want to make things better. With our current Congress, it's very clear what happens when people who do not want to make things better run the system.
posted by nonasuch at 8:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Paul Ryan's moral backbone, as ever, is something to behold: My Endorsements Are Not 'Blank Checks'
posted by argybarg at 8:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 8:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Most WWE fans like John Cena despite the smarks hating on him for the better part of a decade.
Because John Cena is cool.
It would be one thing if Trump was a brilliant heel like CM Punk who could go full heel but also impress with his quality of wrestling and his awesome promos but Trump seems more like a Miz (good at promos but horrible at wrestling) or Roman Reigns (horrible at both promos and wrestling).
On the other hand Clinton is maybe not the strongest at promos at least in comparison to Barack "The Rock" Obama and Bill "Stone Cold" Clinton but she's decent and she's basically like Daniel Bryan with a wrestling ability that simply cannot be denied despite how much the audience wants big bruisers for wrestlers.
Man I'm feeling really weird using WWE and wrasslin knowledge in a political thread but that's 2016 for ya!
posted by vuron at 8:40 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Because John Cena is cool.
It would be one thing if Trump was a brilliant heel like CM Punk who could go full heel but also impress with his quality of wrestling and his awesome promos but Trump seems more like a Miz (good at promos but horrible at wrestling) or Roman Reigns (horrible at both promos and wrestling).
On the other hand Clinton is maybe not the strongest at promos at least in comparison to Barack "The Rock" Obama and Bill "Stone Cold" Clinton but she's decent and she's basically like Daniel Bryan with a wrestling ability that simply cannot be denied despite how much the audience wants big bruisers for wrestlers.
Man I'm feeling really weird using WWE and wrasslin knowledge in a political thread but that's 2016 for ya!
posted by vuron at 8:40 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
"Kayfabe" is a new word for me, never heard or read it at all before these recent election posts. Had to look it up.
It is the portrayal of staged events as if they were real or true.
NY Times: Is Everything Wrestling?
It is the portrayal of staged events as if they were real or true.
NY Times: Is Everything Wrestling?
So when I think of how politics and pop culture are often compared to wrestling, this is the element that seems most transferable: not the outlandish characters or the jumbo-size threats, but the insistence on telling a great story with no regard for the facts. Donald Trump can claim there were thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheering when the World Trade Center came down. Bill Clinton can lend weight to the myth of pedantic Bernie Bros overwhelming our national political discourse. Michael Jordan can say he was cut from his varsity basketball team, but was driven enough to overcome the slight. Kim Kardashian can say she married Kris Humphries for love, not ratings. Chance the Rapper can brand himself as an independent, unsigned artist, even though his last two mixtapes were released exclusively through Apple, the 12th-largest corporation in the world. And the WWE can honor the recently deceased wrestling star Chyna as a trailblazer, even though it blacklisted her for an entire decade. Each of these doctored realities is close enough, a problem only for pedants.posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:40 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
You can be dismayed with all of this for reasons that go deeper than taste.
I'm enjoying the battle of the billionaire surrgates, with Bloomberg, Buffet, Cuban, Soros, and Whitman facing off against Adelson, Icahn and Theil. Meanwhile Bezos, Gates and Zuckerman signal their support for Hillary and the Koch brothers quit the T-ball team.
posted by carmicha at 8:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 8:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Paul Ryan's moral backbone, as ever, is something to behold: My Endorsements Are Not 'Blank Checks'
why do they think that this maddening legalese is going to protect them from the consequences of hitching their wagons to trump?
posted by murphy slaw at 8:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
why do they think that this maddening legalese is going to protect them from the consequences of hitching their wagons to trump?
posted by murphy slaw at 8:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
If we are really the party of immigrants and I honestly hope that we are pointing out Melania's hypocrisy is pointless and self-defeating. Instead of attacking her ...
No one is campaigning against Melania Trump and no one in their right mind would campaign against Melania Trump. And certainly no one should campaign against Melania Trump.
OTOH, being a candidate or even a candidate's partner inevitably results in a higher degree of attention to one's words and biography. And when the words and the biography start to look contradictory it's going to raise questions.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
No one is campaigning against Melania Trump and no one in their right mind would campaign against Melania Trump. And certainly no one should campaign against Melania Trump.
OTOH, being a candidate or even a candidate's partner inevitably results in a higher degree of attention to one's words and biography. And when the words and the biography start to look contradictory it's going to raise questions.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
You have to show up for the less high profile elections in your area too, even your school board.
For the first time, I left a section blank on my ballot earlier this year, and it was for school board. Of the three candidates, one was running on a badly spelled Facebook campaign that boiled down to "NO BOYS IN THE GIRL BATHROM GET REALL PEOPLE AND USE YOU COMMON SENSE," one was a Libertarian blowhard scumbag that I remembered from the city council growing up, and the third - the incumbent - was a long-serving and competent school board member. Unfortunately, he was endorsed by the Republican party. Sorry, Charlie; you won anyway, and that's fine, you'll probably continue to do a perfectly serviceable job, but not with my help.
posted by infinitywaltz at 8:44 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
For the first time, I left a section blank on my ballot earlier this year, and it was for school board. Of the three candidates, one was running on a badly spelled Facebook campaign that boiled down to "NO BOYS IN THE GIRL BATHROM GET REALL PEOPLE AND USE YOU COMMON SENSE," one was a Libertarian blowhard scumbag that I remembered from the city council growing up, and the third - the incumbent - was a long-serving and competent school board member. Unfortunately, he was endorsed by the Republican party. Sorry, Charlie; you won anyway, and that's fine, you'll probably continue to do a perfectly serviceable job, but not with my help.
posted by infinitywaltz at 8:44 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Wow, it's a wonder that Paul Ryan can do that totally awesome workout routine where he does a lotta free weights and cardio between pounding protein shakes because he's totally bulk ya know with a spine apparently made out of silly putty.
Ohh 2012 when all we had to make fun of for weeks at a time was Paul Ryan doing his bro-lifting vanity pictures. You were simpler times.
posted by vuron at 8:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Ohh 2012 when all we had to make fun of for weeks at a time was Paul Ryan doing his bro-lifting vanity pictures. You were simpler times.
posted by vuron at 8:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Can Archie make Betty AND Veronica happy?
posted by Artw at 8:48 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 8:48 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
omg now i'm imagining ryan in a sitcom farce where he has to keep running back and forth between two birthday parties
so much sad trombone
posted by murphy slaw at 8:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
so much sad trombone
posted by murphy slaw at 8:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Trump’s Love Affair with Nukes Is Actually a Threesome
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Paul Ryan, Scott Walker and Ron Johnson are all skipping Trump's Friday rally in Green Bay.
posted by carmicha at 8:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 8:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I put Trump in with: horror movies, pro wrestling, monster trucks, reality TV. They're part of a culture, they're enjoyable bullshit, they make good trucker hats and T-shirts and they're a chance to roar along and feel powerful.
and,
Well, going back to my Trumpist uncle, he knows Trump is full of shit. He thinks it's hilarious. It's just another signal that Trump is not a "politician".
and,
It seems clear to me that to many this election is - Do you want to vote for (A) a well-known politician , or vote (B) Fuck no!!! I hate politicians!!! Some people loathe 'politics' enough that they feel unable to vote for (A).
All of this seems intuitively sensible to me. I think a lot of Trump primary voters weren't voting for a presidential nominee – not really. They were voting for another year of crass entertainment; they were voting as a "fuck you" to (what they see as) out-of-touch elitists; they were voting for the lulz of watching the librul media and establishment politicians have a massive collective aneurysm.
I have been shocked over the past year, frankly, to learn just how much of that feeling is out there. And I don't understand what's behind it. Some of the recent conversation about Hillbilly Elegy has illuminated it somewhat, and I think lot of it can be understood as reactionary backlash against recent advances by progressives. But it remains strange and surprising and frightening. I knew there were plenty of, uh, colorful conservatives out there...but I didn't know they were so ready to chop off America's nose to spite its face. It seems to go beyond mere political disaffection, into straight-up nihilism. It's gonna fuck America up bad if we don't figure out what to do with it.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
and,
Well, going back to my Trumpist uncle, he knows Trump is full of shit. He thinks it's hilarious. It's just another signal that Trump is not a "politician".
and,
It seems clear to me that to many this election is - Do you want to vote for (A) a well-known politician , or vote (B) Fuck no!!! I hate politicians!!! Some people loathe 'politics' enough that they feel unable to vote for (A).
All of this seems intuitively sensible to me. I think a lot of Trump primary voters weren't voting for a presidential nominee – not really. They were voting for another year of crass entertainment; they were voting as a "fuck you" to (what they see as) out-of-touch elitists; they were voting for the lulz of watching the librul media and establishment politicians have a massive collective aneurysm.
I have been shocked over the past year, frankly, to learn just how much of that feeling is out there. And I don't understand what's behind it. Some of the recent conversation about Hillbilly Elegy has illuminated it somewhat, and I think lot of it can be understood as reactionary backlash against recent advances by progressives. But it remains strange and surprising and frightening. I knew there were plenty of, uh, colorful conservatives out there...but I didn't know they were so ready to chop off America's nose to spite its face. It seems to go beyond mere political disaffection, into straight-up nihilism. It's gonna fuck America up bad if we don't figure out what to do with it.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Meanwhile, as a tale of two campaigns:
Hillary Clinton's latest attack ad on Donald Trump
Donald Trump latest "attack ad" on Hillary Clinton
I seriously believe that Trump has hired some 12-year-old Redditors to do his campaign work.
posted by argybarg at 8:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
Hillary Clinton's latest attack ad on Donald Trump
Donald Trump latest "attack ad" on Hillary Clinton
I seriously believe that Trump has hired some 12-year-old Redditors to do his campaign work.
posted by argybarg at 8:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
Meanwhile Bezos, Gates and Zuckerman signal their support for Hillary
Bezos' ownership does make me look sideways at WaPo stories. Although I guess I never think too much about who owns other media outlets.
posted by My Dad at 8:55 AM on August 4, 2016
Bezos' ownership does make me look sideways at WaPo stories. Although I guess I never think too much about who owns other media outlets.
posted by My Dad at 8:55 AM on August 4, 2016
And I don't understand what's behind it.
Reaction against increasing global complexity?
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:55 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Reaction against increasing global complexity?
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:55 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
it has the same structure as hounding obama over his birth certificate.
It's not quite the same, though there are superficial resemblances. The immigration system is the bit of the US government to which born-in-the-USA citizens (or, if you like, Springsteen-Americans) are least exposed and know the least about. This is perpetuated by Hollywood Immigration Law (the green card marriage, etc.) but also by a political conversation that's light on detail. I'm sure a few actual immigrants raised eyebrows at "fly back every few months" which sounds more like a visitor visa (though not VWP, which Slovenia only joined in 1997) but seems plausible to non-immigrants.
posted by holgate at 8:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's not quite the same, though there are superficial resemblances. The immigration system is the bit of the US government to which born-in-the-USA citizens (or, if you like, Springsteen-Americans) are least exposed and know the least about. This is perpetuated by Hollywood Immigration Law (the green card marriage, etc.) but also by a political conversation that's light on detail. I'm sure a few actual immigrants raised eyebrows at "fly back every few months" which sounds more like a visitor visa (though not VWP, which Slovenia only joined in 1997) but seems plausible to non-immigrants.
posted by holgate at 8:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Donald Trump latest "attack ad" on Hillary Clinton
That ad is dumb but I kind of love the idea of Hilary as Ms. Pac Man because she too is superior to her husband who came first.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [45 favorites]
That ad is dumb but I kind of love the idea of Hilary as Ms. Pac Man because she too is superior to her husband who came first.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [45 favorites]
Hey conspiracy lovers! Paul Manafort says he will "support Ryan for Speaker, and after next week as candidate for President."
obviously just a gaffe
OR IS IT
DUN DUN DUN
posted by murphy slaw at 8:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
obviously just a gaffe
OR IS IT
DUN DUN DUN
posted by murphy slaw at 8:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
I think there's gonna be a lot of Republican women who pull the lever for Hillary this year who may never say so to a pollster, or their husband, or their friends.
I was worried about a Shy Trump Factor earlier in the year (and I'll probably worry about it again, because that's what I do), but a Shy Hillary Factor now looks plausible. Which means, of course, that a higher vote share for HRC than the polls predicted means that the election will have been rigged. *sigh*
(Shy Tory Factor, for those of you unfamiliar with that term.)
posted by maudlin at 8:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I was worried about a Shy Trump Factor earlier in the year (and I'll probably worry about it again, because that's what I do), but a Shy Hillary Factor now looks plausible. Which means, of course, that a higher vote share for HRC than the polls predicted means that the election will have been rigged. *sigh*
(Shy Tory Factor, for those of you unfamiliar with that term.)
posted by maudlin at 8:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Wow Pac-Man memes and 30,000 emails missing. When are they going to start running Vince Foster murder conspiracy ads?
Heck of a job there Trumpie.
posted by vuron at 8:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Heck of a job there Trumpie.
posted by vuron at 8:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Reaction against increasing global complexity?
Well, there certainly seems to be a correlation between this brand of conservatism, and a preference/need/desire for simple, unambiguous narratives.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:00 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, there certainly seems to be a correlation between this brand of conservatism, and a preference/need/desire for simple, unambiguous narratives.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:00 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
via Peter Staley: Since the day Hillary Clinton made her "AIDS gaffe" at Nancy Reagan's funeral, I've put all the resulting emails in an Outlook folder as a coalition of 90+ AIDS advocates/groups launched our "lemons into lemonade" campaign. That folder now has 2,721 emails in it. Our efforts with Hillary's transition team will easily add another 1,000. I love this work.
Awesome!
Georgia-based HIV/AIDS activist Daniel Driffin spoke at the DNC last month, a direct result of Mr. Staley's letter and meeting with Clinton. Transcript. Video.
That was the first time in 16 years that HIV/AIDS was addressed at a convention, since Jesse Milan Jr., spoke at the 2000 convention in Los Angeles. There have been no openly HIV-positive speakers since then.
Even though his message was important, the speech wasn't a barn-burner and didn't make many headlines. But his presence at the podium was significant and is hopefully a sign that Clinton's sticking to the promises she made this May to activists.
posted by zarq at 9:01 AM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Awesome!
Georgia-based HIV/AIDS activist Daniel Driffin spoke at the DNC last month, a direct result of Mr. Staley's letter and meeting with Clinton. Transcript. Video.
That was the first time in 16 years that HIV/AIDS was addressed at a convention, since Jesse Milan Jr., spoke at the 2000 convention in Los Angeles. There have been no openly HIV-positive speakers since then.
Even though his message was important, the speech wasn't a barn-burner and didn't make many headlines. But his presence at the podium was significant and is hopefully a sign that Clinton's sticking to the promises she made this May to activists.
posted by zarq at 9:01 AM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
It annoys me that that ad gets the scoring in Pac-Man wrong. Her score is continuously going up, not just when she eats the e-mails.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 9:01 AM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 9:01 AM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
Her score is continuously going up, not just when she eats the e-mails.
I noticed that, too. It's a little thing, but it underscores just how half-assed and phoned-in the ad is.
Man, someone out there is in the planning stages of an epic documentary about the clusterfuck that was 2016. I can't wait to watch it.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I noticed that, too. It's a little thing, but it underscores just how half-assed and phoned-in the ad is.
Man, someone out there is in the planning stages of an epic documentary about the clusterfuck that was 2016. I can't wait to watch it.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
it's probably overstating the case to call this an "ad". nobody is going to spend any money to get this on the air.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:04 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:04 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
It annoys me that that ad gets the scoring in Pac-Man wrong.
Oh, man, now Trump's alienating vintage arcade game pedants, too? Surely this...
posted by dersins at 9:04 AM on August 4, 2016 [39 favorites]
Oh, man, now Trump's alienating vintage arcade game pedants, too? Surely this...
posted by dersins at 9:04 AM on August 4, 2016 [39 favorites]
I wish everyone would vote in all Municipal, Township, County and School Board elections because as a wiser woman than I once said 'there's a vast right wing conspiracy out there' .
I work with attorneys that do local government work and the dregs of the Tea Party are out there FOIA'ing every document they can get to get info they can use to tear the system down and running people for office who deliberately throw a wrench in to the works. This is especially happening with community college boards.
I can't comment about this much because it's my employment, but damn I wish people would take more interest in the community colleges. The media does not have a clue and I think maybe are afraid of repercussions because dealing with these people can make you feel like they've released hellhounds on you.
posted by readery at 9:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
I work with attorneys that do local government work and the dregs of the Tea Party are out there FOIA'ing every document they can get to get info they can use to tear the system down and running people for office who deliberately throw a wrench in to the works. This is especially happening with community college boards.
I can't comment about this much because it's my employment, but damn I wish people would take more interest in the community colleges. The media does not have a clue and I think maybe are afraid of repercussions because dealing with these people can make you feel like they've released hellhounds on you.
posted by readery at 9:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
I kind of love the idea of Hilary as Ms. Pac Man because she too is superior to her husband who came first.
Not to mention that Ms. Pac Man is one of the few video games many women took a shine to.
Also, that ad sucks ass. It would be embarrassing as an ad for a state Senate campaign.
posted by argybarg at 9:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Not to mention that Ms. Pac Man is one of the few video games many women took a shine to.
Also, that ad sucks ass. It would be embarrassing as an ad for a state Senate campaign.
posted by argybarg at 9:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Wait, was the Pac-Man ad actually made by the Trump campaign? That seems really doubtful to me.
posted by roll truck roll at 9:06 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by roll truck roll at 9:06 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
And yes, it's not as much an ad as an attempt at a viral video. Still sucks.
posted by argybarg at 9:07 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by argybarg at 9:07 AM on August 4, 2016
You’re Fired! - "Trump’s understanding of all failure — failure to grow, to keep one’s plane aloft in anti-aircraft fire, to be rich — may well be rooted in a deep, and perhaps familial, belief that exploiting the economic and social shame of others is a necessary ingredient of success. "
Pundits Lament Loss of a Reasonable, Competent GOP That Never Was - "This is perhaps the ethic David Brooks wanted his party to aspire to, but certainly not at all what it achieved. “Graciousness” is not a word that comes to mind in describing a party that has worked for decades, long before the arrival of Trump, to cut resources for the poor and people of color. “Humility” is not a word one would use to describe eight years of invasions, bombing and “with us or against us” chest-pounding."
More at OMNIVORE
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Pundits Lament Loss of a Reasonable, Competent GOP That Never Was - "This is perhaps the ethic David Brooks wanted his party to aspire to, but certainly not at all what it achieved. “Graciousness” is not a word that comes to mind in describing a party that has worked for decades, long before the arrival of Trump, to cut resources for the poor and people of color. “Humility” is not a word one would use to describe eight years of invasions, bombing and “with us or against us” chest-pounding."
More at OMNIVORE
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Donald Trump trolls Hillary Clinton's email scandal with a bizarre "Pac-Mac" parody video
He posted it to his timeline. Hard to say who made it.
posted by argybarg at 9:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
He posted it to his timeline. Hard to say who made it.
posted by argybarg at 9:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Deadspin.com: Donald Trump Is A Frightened Coward And I Bet $100,000 He Won't Fight Me
tl;dr - examination of his personal history reveals an attention-seeking bully who hides and/or folds under sufficient pressure.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
tl;dr - examination of his personal history reveals an attention-seeking bully who hides and/or folds under sufficient pressure.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Certainly a better 80s video game to represent the hero myths of Trump would be Dragon's Lair
Trump the Daring braving the foul Wizard Obama's castle in order to rescue Princess Melania (or Ivanka if you want to brave his subconscious). On his way he is beset by Muslims and Mexicans and PC Liberals and when he gets to the center of the dungeon he is faced with the most horrible foe of all the dreaded Dragon Clintonia who is guarding the fair maiden while also sitting on a vast hoard of deleted emails.
Of course due to his quick wits and some clever swordsplay (forgive me if I don't remember the entire plot-line) he slays the dragon and rescues the princess and he Makes America Great Again.
10/10 would play again!
You too can put yourself in the action of Trump the Daring - All for the low - low price of a $100 donation.
PS- Because Trump couldn't stand to lose he's make the Trump the character sprite win no matter what you did with the controller because he's that awesome. Yeah it turns the game into a visual novel but quit complaining fanboy! MAGA!
posted by vuron at 9:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump the Daring braving the foul Wizard Obama's castle in order to rescue Princess Melania (or Ivanka if you want to brave his subconscious). On his way he is beset by Muslims and Mexicans and PC Liberals and when he gets to the center of the dungeon he is faced with the most horrible foe of all the dreaded Dragon Clintonia who is guarding the fair maiden while also sitting on a vast hoard of deleted emails.
Of course due to his quick wits and some clever swordsplay (forgive me if I don't remember the entire plot-line) he slays the dragon and rescues the princess and he Makes America Great Again.
10/10 would play again!
You too can put yourself in the action of Trump the Daring - All for the low - low price of a $100 donation.
PS- Because Trump couldn't stand to lose he's make the Trump the character sprite win no matter what you did with the controller because he's that awesome. Yeah it turns the game into a visual novel but quit complaining fanboy! MAGA!
posted by vuron at 9:11 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Polls Show the Trump-Era GOP Is Dangerously Fractured (cw: The Weekly Standard). Summary: post-convention polls by CBS, CNN, and Fox all show that the Dems are far more united around their candidate, and the issues, than the GOP.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
That ad is dumb but I kind of love the idea of Hilary as Ms. Pac Man because she too is superior to her husband who came first.
I expect the Clinton campaign to one-up this with a fully playable Missile Command browser ad highlighting Trump's dumb statements about nukes
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
I expect the Clinton campaign to one-up this with a fully playable Missile Command browser ad highlighting Trump's dumb statements about nukes
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
And I don't understand what's behind it.
Reaction against increasing global complexity?
There are ways to react to change that don't involve unrepentant assholery.
The assholery might be the pre-existing condition.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Reaction against increasing global complexity?
There are ways to react to change that don't involve unrepentant assholery.
The assholery might be the pre-existing condition.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
If we're going to build a video game around the Trump campaign I think it would have to be "Violence Fight," especially for its title screen:
‘Story:
In the early part of 1950’s in USA, a game called “Violence Fight” was in vogue among Mafia, reckless drivers and general businessmen.
The “Violence Fight” was the game to struggle for “No.1 Quarreler” with fighters who were gathered from all parts of the USA speaking boastingly of their strength.
And of course a lot of winning money as well as the honor were given to the “winner”.
Here in a downtown in L.A., a young fighter “Bat” and his manager “Blinks” seek for the winning money eagerly.
As a matter of fact, can Bad take the No.1 place of the USA?’
posted by argybarg at 9:16 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
‘Story:
In the early part of 1950’s in USA, a game called “Violence Fight” was in vogue among Mafia, reckless drivers and general businessmen.
The “Violence Fight” was the game to struggle for “No.1 Quarreler” with fighters who were gathered from all parts of the USA speaking boastingly of their strength.
And of course a lot of winning money as well as the honor were given to the “winner”.
Here in a downtown in L.A., a young fighter “Bat” and his manager “Blinks” seek for the winning money eagerly.
As a matter of fact, can Bad take the No.1 place of the USA?’
posted by argybarg at 9:16 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
a fully playable Missile Command browser ad highlighting Trump's dumb statements about nukes
Put Trump's head up at the top of the screen, spitting nukes at you out of his mouth in between lip-synced audio clips of dumb/crazy stuff he's said.
posted by EarBucket at 9:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Put Trump's head up at the top of the screen, spitting nukes at you out of his mouth in between lip-synced audio clips of dumb/crazy stuff he's said.
posted by EarBucket at 9:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
neonrev: A well played hand here spells death for the organized right
Except the organized right is more organized and better funded than the organized left. As long as the Koch Bros are alive and Americans for Prosperity, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN) all stay organized, the left still has a significant fight in the years ahead, especially with eight similar organizations trying to focus and coordinate the left.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:22 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Except the organized right is more organized and better funded than the organized left. As long as the Koch Bros are alive and Americans for Prosperity, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN) all stay organized, the left still has a significant fight in the years ahead, especially with eight similar organizations trying to focus and coordinate the left.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:22 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Tangentially, here's a charmingly crappy little Flash shooter game where you play as Trump, bullshitting your way through various opponents including Clinton, Mexico, ISIS, the Constitution, planet Earth, and (ultimately) God himself.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:22 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:22 AM on August 4, 2016
Filthy light thief, I've been sharing that article with all the Bernie supporters on my Facebook page and urging them to stay involved - and get more involved in local politics - even though they're not necessarily psyched about Hillary.
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:27 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:27 AM on August 4, 2016
The “Violence Fight” was the game to struggle for “No.1 Quarreler” with fighters who were gathered from all parts of the USA speaking boastingly of their strength.
Three days! Three acres! Three THOUSAND men!
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Three days! Three acres! Three THOUSAND men!
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Shouldn't the ghosts in that Ms. Pac-Man ad be wearing white sheets? Can they legally use Pac-Man sounds and music?
BTW I believe Kay Fabe is one of Trump's surrogates.
posted by guiseroom at 9:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
BTW I believe Kay Fabe is one of Trump's surrogates.
posted by guiseroom at 9:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
What makes me uncomfortable about the Melania discussion is a lot of people here seem to be taking the line dangerously close to "leave her alone, she's so pretty and helpless". She's a grown woman who put herself in this discussion.
posted by bongo_x at 9:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 9:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
The 538 Polls Only and Polls Plus are a beautiful sight to behold right now. I'm not getting complacent--just about to head over to hrc.com and order some merch, actually--but faith in humanity slowly being restored.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Put Trump's head up at the top of the screen, spitting nukes at you out of his mouth in between lip-synced audio clips of dumb/crazy stuff he's said.
I could see a remake of the obscure Japanese NES shmup Samurai Zombie Nation, which casts the player as a giant orange floating head that vomits fireballs at flying enemies. One of the end bosses is the Statue of Liberty turned into a gorgon with snakes in her hair. It's ripe for recontextualizing.
posted by Strange Interlude at 9:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I could see a remake of the obscure Japanese NES shmup Samurai Zombie Nation, which casts the player as a giant orange floating head that vomits fireballs at flying enemies. One of the end bosses is the Statue of Liberty turned into a gorgon with snakes in her hair. It's ripe for recontextualizing.
posted by Strange Interlude at 9:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
It annoys me that that ad gets the scoring in Pac-Man wrong. Her score is continuously going up, not just when she eats the e-mails.
Also, Hillary doesn't die when the FBI catches her. Wouldn't she need to eat a power pill consisting of political influence and then gobble up the FBI ghosts sending them back to HQ?
posted by Talez at 9:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Also, Hillary doesn't die when the FBI catches her. Wouldn't she need to eat a power pill consisting of political influence and then gobble up the FBI ghosts sending them back to HQ?
posted by Talez at 9:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
"Can they legally use Pac-Man sounds and music?"
I'm assuming if Namco/Midway ever showed up with a team of lawyers the Trump campaign would say, "We didn't make that! We just re-posted someone else's work, go find them, it wasn't us. Please, take the lifeless corpse of an intern with you when you go. We have more than we need. No, to your left, through the door marked 'Scapegoat Storage'."
posted by komara at 9:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
I'm assuming if Namco/Midway ever showed up with a team of lawyers the Trump campaign would say, "We didn't make that! We just re-posted someone else's work, go find them, it wasn't us. Please, take the lifeless corpse of an intern with you when you go. We have more than we need. No, to your left, through the door marked 'Scapegoat Storage'."
posted by komara at 9:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Please, take the lifeless corpse of an intern with you when you go. We have more than we need. No, to your left, through the door marked 'Scapegoat Storage'."
MEREDITH? BibleThump
posted by Talez at 9:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
MEREDITH? BibleThump
posted by Talez at 9:32 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
ARGHHHH. In 1996, I sat in the living room of my sister's house at Thanksgiving and watched my grown mother burst into tears when I matter-of-factly admitted to voting for Bill Clinton in the recent election.
Do not underestimate some Republicans' hatred for the Clintons. That they are willing to vote for their own/the country's complete spin-out in the form of Trump just for spite.
Because that will be happening with most of my extended family on Nov. 4th. Unfortunately. Trump would have to either 1) implode with hate into little bits or 2) take himself off of the ballot (And they would likely still write him in.)
Anyone want to hang out this Thanksgiving?
posted by jeanmari at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Do not underestimate some Republicans' hatred for the Clintons. That they are willing to vote for their own/the country's complete spin-out in the form of Trump just for spite.
Because that will be happening with most of my extended family on Nov. 4th. Unfortunately. Trump would have to either 1) implode with hate into little bits or 2) take himself off of the ballot (And they would likely still write him in.)
Anyone want to hang out this Thanksgiving?
posted by jeanmari at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
A tangent that may amuse:
I've got some down time at work, so I was cleaning out a long-neglected corner of the desk I'm at; one which was previously used by a whole shit-ton of people. There's been a file box sitting in the corner that was a catch-all for "we'll have to go through this eventually". Today I tackled it, and found a small collection of things that I presume were personal possessions of someone who was here about five years ago - mostly casino and gambling-related tie-ins (used scratch cards, loyalty cards for online poker games, etc.). And among those items was - a chip from Trump's Taj Mahal Casino.
I brought it in to one of my superiors, asking "would you like a moment to vent your frustration upon something?" And when I showed it to him, when he saw the name he physically recoiled like he was Dracula and I was holding garlic. But then he asked to borrow it - and he snuck into the office of someone with whom he's been having a lively rivalry lately, and he taped it to her screen "to see how long it will take her to notice". He ran out of her office when he was done, giggling.
So the Trump Brand is offering a bunch of office workers a moment of levity today. Although probably not in the way that Trump would hope.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [45 favorites]
I've got some down time at work, so I was cleaning out a long-neglected corner of the desk I'm at; one which was previously used by a whole shit-ton of people. There's been a file box sitting in the corner that was a catch-all for "we'll have to go through this eventually". Today I tackled it, and found a small collection of things that I presume were personal possessions of someone who was here about five years ago - mostly casino and gambling-related tie-ins (used scratch cards, loyalty cards for online poker games, etc.). And among those items was - a chip from Trump's Taj Mahal Casino.
I brought it in to one of my superiors, asking "would you like a moment to vent your frustration upon something?" And when I showed it to him, when he saw the name he physically recoiled like he was Dracula and I was holding garlic. But then he asked to borrow it - and he snuck into the office of someone with whom he's been having a lively rivalry lately, and he taped it to her screen "to see how long it will take her to notice". He ran out of her office when he was done, giggling.
So the Trump Brand is offering a bunch of office workers a moment of levity today. Although probably not in the way that Trump would hope.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [45 favorites]
What makes me uncomfortable about the Melania discussion is a lot of people here seem to be taking the line dangerously close to "leave her alone, she's so pretty and helpless".
The line I am taking is "I don't give a shit what someone's immigration status was 20 years ago."
My position on this is pretty goddam consistent no matter who we're talking about, and has fuck-all to do with gender, attractiveness, or even connection to Donald Trump.
posted by dersins at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
The line I am taking is "I don't give a shit what someone's immigration status was 20 years ago."
My position on this is pretty goddam consistent no matter who we're talking about, and has fuck-all to do with gender, attractiveness, or even connection to Donald Trump.
posted by dersins at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Yeah, Trump is done.
I'd really like Clinton to rack up 400+ EVs but it seems way too much to hope for. I think the best case scenario for Clinton is to somehow get North Carolina and Georgia to flip plus all of the current battleground states which would get her to 363 (assuming nothing weird like a split of Nebraska).
If you look at the pundit maps on 270towin just about every one of them is pretty much already indicating that Clinton has a solid 255-280 EVs more or less locked in which I think is pretty much confirmed by various state polls.
The task now is not to let up but to make this a brutal loss for Republicans that actually results in some deep soul searching. I don't think we'll see anything remotely close to the big massive blowouts that were common in the past (think 1980 and 1984) anymore the country is just too divided.
posted by vuron at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'd really like Clinton to rack up 400+ EVs but it seems way too much to hope for. I think the best case scenario for Clinton is to somehow get North Carolina and Georgia to flip plus all of the current battleground states which would get her to 363 (assuming nothing weird like a split of Nebraska).
If you look at the pundit maps on 270towin just about every one of them is pretty much already indicating that Clinton has a solid 255-280 EVs more or less locked in which I think is pretty much confirmed by various state polls.
The task now is not to let up but to make this a brutal loss for Republicans that actually results in some deep soul searching. I don't think we'll see anything remotely close to the big massive blowouts that were common in the past (think 1980 and 1984) anymore the country is just too divided.
posted by vuron at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Buzzfeed reports on official RNC plans for Latinx outreach that have fizzled with trump's mismanagement of his campaign:
Ileana Garcia is the type of true believer that campaigns love. The telegenic former radio personality created Latinas for Trump. She defends Donald Trump on Spanish-language networks, sets up events for like-minded women, and withstands harsh criticism on Facebook, where she has received death threats for her support of the Republican nominee, who many Latinos strongly dislike. ... A source with knowledge of Garcia’s communication with the campaign said her efforts were rebuffed, culminating in a tense exchange with her and a top Florida campaign official. (Garcia and the Trump campaign declined to comment for this story.) “Do whatever the fuck you want,” the official said to Garcia, according to the source. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you, anyway.”
Several efforts to reach out to right leaning Hispanic interest groups have been postponed indefinitely. This could permanently hobble RNC efforts to build votes among Lainx voters,
"'Anything that is an RNC effort unfortunately is not going to matter for the Trump campaign, considering that he has horrible poll numbers with Hispanics,' said Izzy Santa, the RNC’s former Hispanic media director. 'There’s no infrastructure and no plan because the Trump camp doesn’t want to take diverse voters into account.'"
I think that, even despite the Koch bro.s backing up the downticket, trump's campaign is going to leave a lasting mark on the republican party's ability to pivot towards a country that is getting increasingly diverse. I do believe that Republican intransigence on denouncing his hateful rhetoric has severely hobbled their ability to do outreach to minority populations for a generation.
posted by codacorolla at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
Ileana Garcia is the type of true believer that campaigns love. The telegenic former radio personality created Latinas for Trump. She defends Donald Trump on Spanish-language networks, sets up events for like-minded women, and withstands harsh criticism on Facebook, where she has received death threats for her support of the Republican nominee, who many Latinos strongly dislike. ... A source with knowledge of Garcia’s communication with the campaign said her efforts were rebuffed, culminating in a tense exchange with her and a top Florida campaign official. (Garcia and the Trump campaign declined to comment for this story.) “Do whatever the fuck you want,” the official said to Garcia, according to the source. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you, anyway.”
Several efforts to reach out to right leaning Hispanic interest groups have been postponed indefinitely. This could permanently hobble RNC efforts to build votes among Lainx voters,
"'Anything that is an RNC effort unfortunately is not going to matter for the Trump campaign, considering that he has horrible poll numbers with Hispanics,' said Izzy Santa, the RNC’s former Hispanic media director. 'There’s no infrastructure and no plan because the Trump camp doesn’t want to take diverse voters into account.'"
I think that, even despite the Koch bro.s backing up the downticket, trump's campaign is going to leave a lasting mark on the republican party's ability to pivot towards a country that is getting increasingly diverse. I do believe that Republican intransigence on denouncing his hateful rhetoric has severely hobbled their ability to do outreach to minority populations for a generation.
posted by codacorolla at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
Well, yeah, I guess, Bongo_x, in that she married Trump. But she couldn't have predicted this, surely, because who knew then he was going to run for president? I haven't been paying any attention to him until lately, but I've known of his existence since he was a national joke in the 80s, and if anyone had suggested he'd run for president ever, I'd've laaaaaughed and laughed. Also, famously, nobody can control or advise him, and everyone close to him seems to be under a nod-n-smile mandate no matter what ridiculous nonsense he gets up to. It's completely possible to pity Melania without thinking of her as without agency. She, like most of the republican party, is getting dragged along in his headlong rush to ignominy.
posted by Don Pepino at 9:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 9:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah, Trump is done.
3 months is a very long time.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:38 AM on August 4, 2016 [55 favorites]
3 months is a very long time.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:38 AM on August 4, 2016 [55 favorites]
3 months is a very long time. But we have one powerful ally in our desire to keep Donald Trump floundering: Donald Trump.
posted by argybarg at 9:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [36 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 9:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [36 favorites]
Amy Gannett: How Evangelicals are Losing an Entire Generation:
posted by palindromic at 9:40 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
I kept waiting for him to trail off, but he didn’t. In fact, he somehow, mysteriously to me, gained momentum and endorsements. Despite his racial generalizations and telling women they look good on their knees, he only grew in popularity. I moved from disappointed to shocked to disgusted as he garnered the approval of Republican and Evangelical leaders.Another addition to the growing genre of Evangelical anti-Trump voters.
Over the last several months, I have lost respect for the Republican party, and I honestly thought that would be the biggest tragedy of this election. But the disappointing truth is this: I’m losing faith in Evangelicals.
And this is frightening. I am an Evangelical. I hold to Evangelical theology. I have attended not one, but two Evangelical schools. But I fear that we’re going to lose an entire generation because of the actions, words, and teachings of some Evangelicals.
posted by palindromic at 9:40 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Dear Hillary,
Please step up your car magnet game. All of these are terrible, yet I do not want to stick shit to my car permanently.
Yours,
Soren Lorensen
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:40 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Please step up your car magnet game. All of these are terrible, yet I do not want to stick shit to my car permanently.
Yours,
Soren Lorensen
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:40 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Dear Hillary,
Please step up your car magnate game.
I see what you did there.
posted by Mayor West at 9:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
And this is frightening. I am an Evangelical. I hold to Evangelical theology. I have attended not one, but two Evangelical schools. But I fear that we’re going to lose an entire generation because of the actions, words, and teachings of some Evangelicals.
From your mouth to god's ear times forty.
Love,
Someone raised in a fundamentalist (oops, excuse me, evangelical) house
posted by winna at 9:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
From your mouth to god's ear times forty.
Love,
Someone raised in a fundamentalist (oops, excuse me, evangelical) house
posted by winna at 9:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
You know who could have given Hillary some tips on how to NOT use car magnets? (Please note byline. Daniel Dale is this generation's Job.)
posted by maudlin at 9:44 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 9:44 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I know it's typical American left behavior to snatch crushing hopelessness out of a seeming victory, but assuming Assange has more bombs to throw as the spoiler for trump, wouldn't it make sense to do that... presently? I think each week (maybe even day) that trump has to dig his hole deeper is a day where some October Surprise type messaging has less effect on the electorate.
posted by codacorolla at 9:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by codacorolla at 9:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
she married Trump. But she couldn't have predicted this, surely, because who knew then he was going to run for president?
I feel sorry for her for marrying Trump, we keep laughing at the fact that this surely wasn't what she signed up for. But you dance with the devil...
She made her immigration story the biggest part of her convention speech, and is one of the main things she's spoken about, condemning other immigrants for doing it wrong by implication.
posted by bongo_x at 9:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
I feel sorry for her for marrying Trump, we keep laughing at the fact that this surely wasn't what she signed up for. But you dance with the devil...
She made her immigration story the biggest part of her convention speech, and is one of the main things she's spoken about, condemning other immigrants for doing it wrong by implication.
posted by bongo_x at 9:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
If there's a sticker you like, you could put it on a cheap magnet from Michaels or Joanns. #Lifehack
posted by drezdn at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Dear Hillary,
Please step up your car magnet game. All of these are terrible, yet I do not want to stick shit to my car permanently.
Yours,
Soren Lorensen
Also keychains, for I am an eeeeeevil feeeeeemale with a nice purse that I don't want to stick buttons in. Please and thank you.
posted by sunset in snow country at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Please step up your car magnet game. All of these are terrible, yet I do not want to stick shit to my car permanently.
Yours,
Soren Lorensen
Also keychains, for I am an eeeeeevil feeeeeemale with a nice purse that I don't want to stick buttons in. Please and thank you.
posted by sunset in snow country at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
...assuming Assange has more bombs to throw as the spoiler for trump
Big assumption.
posted by argybarg at 9:48 AM on August 4, 2016
Big assumption.
posted by argybarg at 9:48 AM on August 4, 2016
"She made her immigration story the biggest part of her convention speech, and is one of the main things she's spoken about"
Yep, that's true, but if there was a failure to factcheck her statement that she did it all legally, sorry, but that's on Meredith.
posted by Don Pepino at 9:48 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Yep, that's true, but if there was a failure to factcheck her statement that she did it all legally, sorry, but that's on Meredith.
posted by Don Pepino at 9:48 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Melania may divorce Trump some day and I hope she gets half the money he SAYS he has.
posted by readery at 9:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
posted by readery at 9:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
What fascinates me most about Melania is the quality of her regard; it's the thousand yard stare of someone who has seen some shit. Or maybe it's her stillness, like she's hoping to escape unnoticed or fears giving the cameras any expression that might reveal her inner thoughts or be misinterpreted. But the stress of waiting for other shoes to drop--immigration issue, Donald's crazy pants behavior, whatever we can't yet imagine--would explain a lot. I picture her steeling herself for whatever he says upon arriving home after a day on the campaign trail and my heart goes out to her.
posted by carmicha at 9:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 9:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
but assuming Assange has more bombs to throw as the spoiler for trump, wouldn't it make sense to do that... presently?
This whole thing with Assange reminds me of the Gotcha! joke.
posted by PlusDistance at 9:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
This whole thing with Assange reminds me of the Gotcha! joke.
posted by PlusDistance at 9:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
now i'm imagining ryan in a sitcom farce
belated: the show would be called That's So Ryan!
posted by murphy slaw at 9:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
belated: the show would be called That's So Ryan!
posted by murphy slaw at 9:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
3 months is a very long time.
Plenty of time for a smart Democratic Party to turn a "Republican Presidential Campaign Disaster" into a "Total Republican Party Disaster". Also for a smart Libertarian Party to build itself beyond the Presidential candidate. Of course, assuming "smart" of either entity is probably too much to ask. Only the Republicans have real smarts (Evil Genius, yes, but did Lex Luthor ever let Bizzaro become his standard bearer?)
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Plenty of time for a smart Democratic Party to turn a "Republican Presidential Campaign Disaster" into a "Total Republican Party Disaster". Also for a smart Libertarian Party to build itself beyond the Presidential candidate. Of course, assuming "smart" of either entity is probably too much to ask. Only the Republicans have real smarts (Evil Genius, yes, but did Lex Luthor ever let Bizzaro become his standard bearer?)
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm sure Melania is handcuffed to a prenup, although if he misrepresented his assets to her ... Well, I don't know about that either. I don't doubt she bet with herself that she could outlive him before he traded her in for a younger model, and it must have looked like a decent bet at the time. I highly doubt she made this particular bed for herself.
posted by Countess Elena at 9:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 9:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
If you go on TV to talk about how you Did Immigration Right, it's fair to point out that you apparently didn't.
posted by EarBucket at 9:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by EarBucket at 9:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
Here's a picture of Trump at the RNC to haunt your nightmares forever
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:00 AM on August 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:00 AM on August 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
His prenup with Marla Maples basically said that if the marriage lasted under 5 years, she would only get a couple of million dollars. If it lasted over five years, she would have received a more meaningful percentage. So he divorced her a few months shy of 5 years. I'm guessing he has some sort of similar built-in end date with Melania.
posted by Mchelly at 10:01 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 10:01 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Former Republican Sen. Gordon Humphrey tells NBC News that he will vote for Hillary Clinton if that's what it takes to prevent his own party's nominee, Donald Trump, from winning the White House.
"I am ever more confirmed in my belief that Trump is a sociopath, without a conscience or feelings of guilt, shame or remorse. And he is pathologically insecure, recklessly attacking anyone who does not confirm him as the best there is," Humphrey said in an email to NBC News.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:04 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
"I am ever more confirmed in my belief that Trump is a sociopath, without a conscience or feelings of guilt, shame or remorse. And he is pathologically insecure, recklessly attacking anyone who does not confirm him as the best there is," Humphrey said in an email to NBC News.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:04 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
I think 10-11 years at this point, but she definitely signed a prenup.
posted by Mchelly at 10:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Mchelly at 10:05 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm not a fan of the idea of the Clinton campaign leaning on the issue of Melania Trump's immigration status.
I mean, logically speaking it is definitely possible to make an argument that Trump's stance on immigration is hypocritical without impugning Melania or other undocumented/incompletely documented immigrants.
But given the way political discourse works in this country, I don't think the soundbites will come across that way. The nature of televised news and social media is such that the nuances of this argument will be lost, and it'll end up looking petty and gross.
Besides, accusing your opponent of hypocrisy is basically a character attack, not a substantive criticism of policy. Trump makes his bad character evident all on his own; his unending stream of outrageous statements speak for themselves. I'd rather see the Democrats take the high ground and focus their attacks on concrete ways that a Trump presidency would make the country worse.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 10:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I mean, logically speaking it is definitely possible to make an argument that Trump's stance on immigration is hypocritical without impugning Melania or other undocumented/incompletely documented immigrants.
But given the way political discourse works in this country, I don't think the soundbites will come across that way. The nature of televised news and social media is such that the nuances of this argument will be lost, and it'll end up looking petty and gross.
Besides, accusing your opponent of hypocrisy is basically a character attack, not a substantive criticism of policy. Trump makes his bad character evident all on his own; his unending stream of outrageous statements speak for themselves. I'd rather see the Democrats take the high ground and focus their attacks on concrete ways that a Trump presidency would make the country worse.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 10:07 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
There's no chance the Clinton campaign will make Melania or her immigration status the focus of any part of their campaign.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [46 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [46 favorites]
jeanmari: Anyone want to hang out this Thanksgiving?
It looks like my really nice, kind, loving, supportive, Republican in-laws are on Team Hilary, and they like cooking. I'm not sure if they'll be around here come Thanksgiving or visiting other family members elsewhere. Either way, join us! We'll have room for a few more.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
It looks like my really nice, kind, loving, supportive, Republican in-laws are on Team Hilary, and they like cooking. I'm not sure if they'll be around here come Thanksgiving or visiting other family members elsewhere. Either way, join us! We'll have room for a few more.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
the Clinton campaign is not using it. Someone brought it up in this thread and there was an inexplicably massive pushback.
posted by zutalors! at 10:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 10:09 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I'm not expecting Clinton to actually use it.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2016
Based on his past patterns, Assange has already launched his most powerful stuff and now he's bullshitting about having more to keep his name in the news.
posted by humanfont at 10:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 10:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
‘Oh Good God’: Megyn Kelly Flips Out Over Trump Relitigating So Many Controversies
"This is as silly as going back to the same Pokestop over and over again expecting it to be something different."
posted by zachlipton at 10:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
"This is as silly as going back to the same Pokestop over and over again expecting it to be something different."
posted by zachlipton at 10:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Mod note: Couple comments deleted; sorry, we ask folks not to bring other people's profile page info (like location) over to the main part of the site. More info here.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I can't attest to the car magnets, but I honestly believe the Clinton campaign's graphic design game is on point -- really top-notch. The 10-pack of signs from the convention floor is really good.
posted by argybarg at 10:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 10:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
"This is as silly as going back to the same Pokestop over and over again expecting it to be something different."
The next BIG THING (for three weeks): TRUMPEMON GO!
I was considering calling it "POKE-TRUMP", but poking Trump will never lose its appeal.
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:26 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
The next BIG THING (for three weeks): TRUMPEMON GO!
I was considering calling it "POKE-TRUMP", but poking Trump will never lose its appeal.
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:26 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Someone brought it up in this thread and there was an inexplicably massive pushback.
I think the pushback has been explicated pretty thoroughly.
posted by biogeo at 10:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
I think the pushback has been explicated pretty thoroughly.
posted by biogeo at 10:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
I think that for understandable reasons, folks are hypervigilant about potentially anti-immigrant discourses right now.
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Yeah, Trump is done.
As I see it, once Trump became the nominee, we started playing Russian roulette. The gun is big and has many, many chambers but many of them are loaded. We pull the trigger in November and every time something happens that hurts Trump or helps Hillary, we take another bullet out of the gun.
I don't know about you, but I'm going to do everything I can to take every last bullet out of that gun. I won't stop until the PEC and Nate Silver both agree that Trump has ZERO change of getting even one electoral vote. To me, that's what an "unloaded gun" is in this scenario. It won't be anywhere close to that, but I'm going to do what I can force it closer and I hope everyone does the same.
My latest thing is that every time someone on Facebook posts some stupid, hateful thing in support of Trump, I'm donating $5 to the Clinton campaign and posting proof of that donation as a comment in that post.
posted by VTX at 10:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [79 favorites]
As I see it, once Trump became the nominee, we started playing Russian roulette. The gun is big and has many, many chambers but many of them are loaded. We pull the trigger in November and every time something happens that hurts Trump or helps Hillary, we take another bullet out of the gun.
I don't know about you, but I'm going to do everything I can to take every last bullet out of that gun. I won't stop until the PEC and Nate Silver both agree that Trump has ZERO change of getting even one electoral vote. To me, that's what an "unloaded gun" is in this scenario. It won't be anywhere close to that, but I'm going to do what I can force it closer and I hope everyone does the same.
My latest thing is that every time someone on Facebook posts some stupid, hateful thing in support of Trump, I'm donating $5 to the Clinton campaign and posting proof of that donation as a comment in that post.
posted by VTX at 10:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [79 favorites]
What fascinates me most about Melania is the quality of her regard; it's the thousand yard stare of someone who has seen some shit. Or maybe it's her stillness, like she's hoping to escape unnoticed or fears giving the cameras any expression that might reveal her inner thoughts or be misinterpreted.
Or she may just not be good at presenting herself in the public eye. Look: Melania Trump is a smart person, period. You have to give her credit, and also acknowledge her agency. She knows what she's doing, and she's in control of her own life. And therefore she bears responsibility for the incredible, destructive mess of the Trump campaign.
It's like Chris Christie: he wasn't signalling for help when he stood blankfaced behind Trump. That's his normal facial expression.
I mean, come on.
posted by My Dad at 10:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Or she may just not be good at presenting herself in the public eye. Look: Melania Trump is a smart person, period. You have to give her credit, and also acknowledge her agency. She knows what she's doing, and she's in control of her own life. And therefore she bears responsibility for the incredible, destructive mess of the Trump campaign.
It's like Chris Christie: he wasn't signalling for help when he stood blankfaced behind Trump. That's his normal facial expression.
I mean, come on.
posted by My Dad at 10:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Mod note: A few comments deleted; if you think a big derail was pointless before, don't reopen it so people feel compelled to defend why they were talking about it in the first place.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
@My Dad, who quoted me on Melania's affect. It was other posters who made disparaging comments about her intelligence and agency, not me. For the record.
posted by carmicha at 10:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by carmicha at 10:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you have to listen to Trump speaking regularly it's just good survival instincts to learn to tune him out.
posted by wabbittwax at 10:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 10:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Look: Melania Trump is a smart person, period.
If true, the conclusions are far sadder than if she's not. So it's understandable people don't want to believe it. It's the same reason people want to think that Trump's various awful statements are a strategy, or that it's all some sort of false flag effort. The alternative, that the only narrative is that he's actually this awful and people like him for just that, is a much more depressing window into the world.
Whether she's dumb or complicit, I don't see how either maligns her agency. She's chosen her lot in life.
posted by phearlez at 10:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
If true, the conclusions are far sadder than if she's not. So it's understandable people don't want to believe it. It's the same reason people want to think that Trump's various awful statements are a strategy, or that it's all some sort of false flag effort. The alternative, that the only narrative is that he's actually this awful and people like him for just that, is a much more depressing window into the world.
Whether she's dumb or complicit, I don't see how either maligns her agency. She's chosen her lot in life.
posted by phearlez at 10:50 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump Proves Republican Obama Hate Was Never About Obama’s Ideas
This week, largely drowned out on the stump by his succession of own goals, Donald Trump returned to a theme he has mentioned before in the campaign — his infrastructure plan, which would amount to either half a trillion dollars or a trillion dollars, depending on what day it is. Among the majority of Republicans who support Trump, this spending plan has provoked not a whimper of complaint. Among the minority who don’t like Trump, the irony is bitter. “If you ignore the rhetorical flourishes and stick to what he is actually advocating and how he proposes to pay for it you can call it by another name: stimulus,” writes anti-Trump conservative Jonathan Tobin. “So the question for Trump acolytes who now pose as the arbiters of what it means to be a conservative, what is it about Trump’s stimulus that [makes] it more acceptable to Republican voters than Obama’s?”posted by zachlipton at 10:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
Yeah, Trump is done.
Which still may or may not mean a lot about the final outcome of the election.
If the GOP figures out a loophole to jettison Trump (and you know they're scrambling to figure that out even as we type), remember that Clinton still has big unfavorables which, while currently insignificant against Trump's catastrophic performance, might come into play against a normal candidate. The GOP could regain a lot of ground with relieved conservatives, moderates, and former Sanders supporters with a more sympathetic replacement candidate -- a lot of Republicans would look much more appealing after the shock of Trump's performance. (Says the Democrat old enough to know the old mantra of "The Democratic Party, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.")
posted by aught at 10:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Which still may or may not mean a lot about the final outcome of the election.
If the GOP figures out a loophole to jettison Trump (and you know they're scrambling to figure that out even as we type), remember that Clinton still has big unfavorables which, while currently insignificant against Trump's catastrophic performance, might come into play against a normal candidate. The GOP could regain a lot of ground with relieved conservatives, moderates, and former Sanders supporters with a more sympathetic replacement candidate -- a lot of Republicans would look much more appealing after the shock of Trump's performance. (Says the Democrat old enough to know the old mantra of "The Democratic Party, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.")
posted by aught at 10:54 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Man, y'all can we puh-lease cool it with anything Melania related? It's just veering way too much into tabloid speculationism (and other gross sexist-ish and weirdly prejudiced things) I would really like to not see in this thread.
Just ... please think before you post yeah?
posted by Tevin at 10:55 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Just ... please think before you post yeah?
posted by Tevin at 10:55 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Mod note: Another couple comments deleted. The focus on Melania is already a little weird, let's not go to why she has an accent.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Well, yeah, I guess, Bongo_x, in that she married Trump. But she couldn't have predicted this, surely, because who knew then he was going to run for president?
For the record, Melania was dating Trump in 2000 when Trump was running for President under the Reform Party. They were married in 2005.
posted by JackFlash at 10:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
For the record, Melania was dating Trump in 2000 when Trump was running for President under the Reform Party. They were married in 2005.
posted by JackFlash at 10:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Why It's So Hard to Lose An Accent.
posted by waitingtoderail at 10:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by waitingtoderail at 10:57 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh good Clint's on the case this will heal America
posted by angrycat at 10:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 10:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Brief note about accents: if you move to a new country and learn a new language, or even a different dialect of your native language, you are almost certainly going to have an "accent" in this new place if you move there from the age of 16 on. (Some say 20 is the cutoff, but anecdotal evidence in my extended families runs counter to that.)
Adults who move to new countries are ALWAYS going to have an "accent". It's not that unusual.
posted by maudlin at 11:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Adults who move to new countries are ALWAYS going to have an "accent". It's not that unusual.
posted by maudlin at 11:02 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
If "xenophobic misogynistic cryptofascist race-baiting toupeed canned ham" didn't put 40% of the country off of him already, I don't think "hypocrite" is going to be the magic bullet you're hoping for.
I briefly got into it on Facebook with someone who said he was a Trump supporter; when challenged on why he (the guy on facebook) holds a xenophobic and sexist outlook, he took strong offense at the suggestion, and argued that no, he did NOT hold such opinions, and in fact he found them abhorrent in Trump as well. The sole reason he was supporting Trump, he said, was because of the Republican Party's platform position on Abortion, and that was all.
A large part of the Trump support base are thundering jerks, yeah. But some people have just one pet issue they support, and expect the presidential candidate to do everything.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I briefly got into it on Facebook with someone who said he was a Trump supporter; when challenged on why he (the guy on facebook) holds a xenophobic and sexist outlook, he took strong offense at the suggestion, and argued that no, he did NOT hold such opinions, and in fact he found them abhorrent in Trump as well. The sole reason he was supporting Trump, he said, was because of the Republican Party's platform position on Abortion, and that was all.
A large part of the Trump support base are thundering jerks, yeah. But some people have just one pet issue they support, and expect the presidential candidate to do everything.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
EmpressCallipygos, that guy sounds like a prime candidate for this article.
If he doesn't find anything in there compelling, it's a good sign he doesn't find Trump's other views quiiiite as abhorrent as he's leading you to believe.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
If he doesn't find anything in there compelling, it's a good sign he doesn't find Trump's other views quiiiite as abhorrent as he's leading you to believe.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
This is apropos of nothing, but I'm pretty sure my Facebook friends are tired of my political posts, so I'll get this off my chest here:
Paul Ryan is a spineless, amoral jelly-man with tiny hands, and history will not look upon him favorably. Eat a basket of assholes, Paul Ryan.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [35 favorites]
Paul Ryan is a spineless, amoral jelly-man with tiny hands, and history will not look upon him favorably. Eat a basket of assholes, Paul Ryan.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:13 AM on August 4, 2016 [35 favorites]
I definitely knew people who voted for Bush II because of the Republican platform against abortion. If you brought up ANYTHING else they would just shrug and say they were really against abortion. They just didn't care about anything else.
posted by zutalors! at 11:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 11:14 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
The sole reason he was supporting Trump, he said, was because of the Republican Party's platform position on Abortion, and that was all.
I don't think though that we can keep letting "one issue" voters get away with ignoring/dismissing all of the other problems with the candidate/platform.
EVEN if one believes that abortion is murder, to support a racist misogynistic cryptofacist is valuing the lives of a few unborn children more than the lives of immigrants, POC, women, and LGBT folks. Some of whom are actually dying already (and more will in the future) because of the policies that Trump and the Republicans support.
posted by sparklemotion at 11:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
I don't think though that we can keep letting "one issue" voters get away with ignoring/dismissing all of the other problems with the candidate/platform.
EVEN if one believes that abortion is murder, to support a racist misogynistic cryptofacist is valuing the lives of a few unborn children more than the lives of immigrants, POC, women, and LGBT folks. Some of whom are actually dying already (and more will in the future) because of the policies that Trump and the Republicans support.
posted by sparklemotion at 11:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
President Obama, today, on his birthday, in Glamour magazine:
Michelle and I have raised our daughters to speak up when they see a double standard or feel unfairly judged based on their gender or race—or when they notice that happening to someone else. It’s important for them to see role models out in the world who climb to the highest levels of whatever field they choose.posted by AceRock at 11:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [56 favorites]
And yes, it’s important that their dad is a feminist, because now that’s what they expect of all men.
Interesting minor aside - some NH GOP governor candidates are getting a bit nervous over accepting the Kosh dosh, because they say it would sign them up to fight to repeal Obamacare and associated Medicaid expansion without providing an alternative.
posted by Devonian at 11:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 11:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I have been shocked over the past year, frankly, to learn just how much of that feeling is out there. And I don't understand what's behind it.
They thing to read is Stealth Democracy and the takeaway is that by and large Americans don't actually like democracy very much.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:16 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
They thing to read is Stealth Democracy and the takeaway is that by and large Americans don't actually like democracy very much.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:16 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
The biggest Trump issue has yet to detonate - the tax returns. I think Clinton has yet to really ramp up on this because it's going to be the October focus. The man is a fraud - he's not a billionaire, and not even close. I don't know whether something will leak or they'll prove it by other means, but that's what's really going to be the nail in his coffin - the one thing that will make his little army of xenophobic racist sexist haterade-guzzling white dudes (whether the NASACR type or the middle manager boat shoe type or the keyboard warrior type) feel like THEY got swindled. "This guy lied to you; he thinks you're dumb; he thinks you can't tell the difference between fake rich and real rich."
posted by sallybrown at 11:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 11:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Abortion is the one issue that Republicans have an advantage over Democrats with when it comes to Christianity. Pretty much ever other issue in the gospels (help the poor, forgive, turn the other cheek, blessed are the peacemankers, etc.) is owned by the Democrats.
If I were a Democrat running for President, I would say that I am absolutely pro-life. I would court the fuck out of the Christian voters by focusing on my across-the-board Christian values (see above). I would not sign any legislation that was in direct contrast to the Constitution or Supreme Court decisions. I would express a preference that Roe v. Wade be overturned. Then I would appoint nothing but liberal justices and act disappointed every time they voted to protect abortion rights.
posted by flarbuse at 11:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
If I were a Democrat running for President, I would say that I am absolutely pro-life. I would court the fuck out of the Christian voters by focusing on my across-the-board Christian values (see above). I would not sign any legislation that was in direct contrast to the Constitution or Supreme Court decisions. I would express a preference that Roe v. Wade be overturned. Then I would appoint nothing but liberal justices and act disappointed every time they voted to protect abortion rights.
posted by flarbuse at 11:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Pretty much ever other issue in the gospels (help the poor, forgive, turn the other cheek, blessed are the peacemankers, etc.) is owned by the Democrats.
...have you seen American Christianity?
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:20 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
...have you seen American Christianity?
posted by escape from the potato planet at 11:20 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Also as of around 10:30 biscotti is a US citizen and registered to vote. Suck it, motherfucker. And choke on the likely votes from the other fifty something people taking the oath from Iraq and Iran and Yemen and the DR and Mexico and Burma and Tanzania and fucktons of other nations. I would bet you could count the Trump voters with one hand. One mutilated hand.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:22 AM on August 4, 2016 [97 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:22 AM on August 4, 2016 [97 favorites]
So, shoppers: a better selection of Hillary car magnets is here. Cafe press has a decent selection of keychains too. Don't get me wrong, I have bought from HRC's store but the selection is more limited and it takes a really ridiculous amount of time for them to mail anything.
Also, Reuters: In slap at Trump, some wealthy Republicans campaign for Clinton.
posted by bearwife at 11:22 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also, Reuters: In slap at Trump, some wealthy Republicans campaign for Clinton.
posted by bearwife at 11:22 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
hey, congrats to biscotti!
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
You would not run for president as a Democrat while calling for the overturning of Roe, because people like me value a woman's right to choose too much to let that happen.
posted by rikschell at 11:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 11:23 AM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
I got her a big Uncle Sam hat that says CITIZEN in glitter, LIKE YOU NEED TO VOTE, and a cake with Abe Lincoln riding a grizzly bear. AMERICA!
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [51 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [51 favorites]
In other news, a creepy clown with black balloons is wandering around Green Bay, WI.
"This person is not breaking the law," said Captain Kevin Warych of the Green Bay Police Department. "He can walk in a clown costume anywhere he wants."
(Asked if this was an effort to rally Trump voters in Wisconsin, Hope Hicks, the campaign's spokesperson, did not respond.)
posted by octobersurprise at 11:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
"This person is not breaking the law," said Captain Kevin Warych of the Green Bay Police Department. "He can walk in a clown costume anywhere he wants."
(Asked if this was an effort to rally Trump voters in Wisconsin, Hope Hicks, the campaign's spokesperson, did not respond.)
posted by octobersurprise at 11:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
sallybrown, at this point I don't think even that would sway his supporters. This is tribal now, this is about hating the other and Showing Them and feeling aggrieved and acting out. The billionaire part of it just got the ball rolling. Now it's a cult.
posted by PlusDistance at 11:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by PlusDistance at 11:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Also as of around 10:30 biscotti is a US citizen and registered to vote. Suck it, motherfucker. And choke on the likely votes from the other fifty something people taking the oath from Iraq and Iran and Yemen and the DR and Mexico and Burma and Tanzania and fucktons of other nations. I would bet you could count the Trump voters with one hand. One mutilated hand.
Yes!! Yay! Demographics FTW!
posted by zutalors! at 11:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Yes!! Yay! Demographics FTW!
posted by zutalors! at 11:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
The sole reason he was supporting Trump, he said, was because of the Republican Party's platform position on Abortion, and that was all.
Reproductive rights are incredibly, incredibly important to me, and to try to put myself in that Trump supporter's shoes, I imagined an alternate universe where he was the pro-choice candidate. (Sorry to give you nightmares.) I still can't imagine supporting him, let alone doing it publicly and getting upset when people call me out on being a racist. I identify too strongly with the people he is scapegoating. As a Japanese American, I know what that means. "I'm not racist but I support racist policies that come bundled with my single issue" is fucking weak sauce.
posted by sunset in snow country at 11:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
Reproductive rights are incredibly, incredibly important to me, and to try to put myself in that Trump supporter's shoes, I imagined an alternate universe where he was the pro-choice candidate. (Sorry to give you nightmares.) I still can't imagine supporting him, let alone doing it publicly and getting upset when people call me out on being a racist. I identify too strongly with the people he is scapegoating. As a Japanese American, I know what that means. "I'm not racist but I support racist policies that come bundled with my single issue" is fucking weak sauce.
posted by sunset in snow country at 11:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
I definitely knew people who voted for Bush II because of the Republican platform against abortion.
And then Bush, who supported a pro-life constitutional amendment in 2000, had sky-high post-9/11 approval ratings and both houses of Congress, didn't do anything about abortion. The Republicans play pro-life voters for suckers.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:25 AM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
"He can walk in a clown costume anywhere he wants."
Not bad, but I still prefer "Make America Great Again."
posted by PlusDistance at 11:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
Not bad, but I still prefer "Make America Great Again."
posted by PlusDistance at 11:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
I mean... wouldn't that situation at least provide cause for a LITTLE soul searching? No, because you don't give two shits what happens to marginalized people, but you also don't want to be called racist, because it hurts your feelings! Boo hoo.
posted by sunset in snow country at 11:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sunset in snow country at 11:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
If I were a Democrat running for President, I would say that I am absolutely pro-life. I would court the fuck out of the Christian voters by focusing on my across-the-board Christian values (see above). I would not sign any legislation that was in direct contrast to the Constitution or Supreme Court decisions. I would express a preference that Roe v. Wade be overturned.
No, no, a million times NO. Hillary Clinton's (and Tim Kaine's, and most pro-choice elected officials') position that they are personally pro-life but believe in a woman's choice is not only in line with Christian values, but also representative of mainstream American opinion. All this idea does is perpetuate the insulting, dangerous, and repugnant myth that "pro-life" is the opposite of "pro-choice" when the truth is that the two are not mutually exclusive at all.
Roe v. Wade is the bedrock foundation for women's reproductive health, and the idea of running on overturning it to fake people out is a direct threat to both those health concerns and American politics in general.
posted by zombieflanders at 11:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [77 favorites]
No, no, a million times NO. Hillary Clinton's (and Tim Kaine's, and most pro-choice elected officials') position that they are personally pro-life but believe in a woman's choice is not only in line with Christian values, but also representative of mainstream American opinion. All this idea does is perpetuate the insulting, dangerous, and repugnant myth that "pro-life" is the opposite of "pro-choice" when the truth is that the two are not mutually exclusive at all.
Roe v. Wade is the bedrock foundation for women's reproductive health, and the idea of running on overturning it to fake people out is a direct threat to both those health concerns and American politics in general.
posted by zombieflanders at 11:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [77 favorites]
Besides, even if he's only got 40 million, that's a lot more than I've got. Even if he's broke, if he's leveraged it into the lifestyle he has, that counts as rich to most people. Everyone's accepted at this point that he's lying about most stuff.
posted by rikschell at 11:28 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by rikschell at 11:28 AM on August 4, 2016
I don't think though that we can keep letting "one issue" voters get away with ignoring/dismissing all of the other problems with the candidate/platform.
Oh, that's exactly how everyone else on the thread responded to him. I am not making an excuse, I am merely depicting some of the nuance of the supporter base that I haven't previously seen addressed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh, that's exactly how everyone else on the thread responded to him. I am not making an excuse, I am merely depicting some of the nuance of the supporter base that I haven't previously seen addressed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:29 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I really wish people would stop talking about Supreme Court Justices right now - not you guys, but broadly, in the world. It's not that it's not important, it is, but every time it's talked about, Republicans hear that siren call too, and it fools people into acting like this is a normal Right vs Left election rather than a "the world may be on fire" election.
I understand the desire to not poke a sleeping bear, but it turns out the bear of GOP voters focusing on the courts never sleeps, or even gets sleepy. The right has successfully used SCOTUS as a focal point for voters with their "unelected activist judges" schtick for decades, whereas Democrats have tended to be timid about letting their ideological flag fly by pointing to the Court's role in issues such as protecting Roe, retaking the ground lost on voting rights in recent years, overturning Citizens United, protecting court challenges to the Affordable Care Act, etc.
Making the Supreme Court a voting issue allows many different ideological branches within the Democratic coalition to work toward a common cause -- maybe certain Democrats aren't on board with gun control, maybe some are pro-life, and maybe some are A-OK with how much money is in politics, and maybe there are even some (hello, Libertarian-leaning Trumpster fire refugees!) who don't like Obamacare -- but chances are anyone who's inside the Democratic tent now has some interest in one or more of those things being protected / expanded by having Donald Trump not selecting replacement judges.
To put it another way, I think it's precisely because of the way things for this election are realigning in unanticipated ways that creates an opportunity for the Supreme Court argument to be very effective in stopping Trump. It's a mistake to focus on the downside risk of conservatives / Republicans being inflamed by rhetoric about the Court without noting that there's positive value associated with it as well.
posted by tonycpsu at 11:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I understand the desire to not poke a sleeping bear, but it turns out the bear of GOP voters focusing on the courts never sleeps, or even gets sleepy. The right has successfully used SCOTUS as a focal point for voters with their "unelected activist judges" schtick for decades, whereas Democrats have tended to be timid about letting their ideological flag fly by pointing to the Court's role in issues such as protecting Roe, retaking the ground lost on voting rights in recent years, overturning Citizens United, protecting court challenges to the Affordable Care Act, etc.
Making the Supreme Court a voting issue allows many different ideological branches within the Democratic coalition to work toward a common cause -- maybe certain Democrats aren't on board with gun control, maybe some are pro-life, and maybe some are A-OK with how much money is in politics, and maybe there are even some (hello, Libertarian-leaning Trumpster fire refugees!) who don't like Obamacare -- but chances are anyone who's inside the Democratic tent now has some interest in one or more of those things being protected / expanded by having Donald Trump not selecting replacement judges.
To put it another way, I think it's precisely because of the way things for this election are realigning in unanticipated ways that creates an opportunity for the Supreme Court argument to be very effective in stopping Trump. It's a mistake to focus on the downside risk of conservatives / Republicans being inflamed by rhetoric about the Court without noting that there's positive value associated with it as well.
posted by tonycpsu at 11:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I don't think though that we can keep letting "one issue" voters get away with ignoring/dismissing all of the other problems with the candidate/platform.
Several pro-life voting-for-Hillary bloggers have pointed out abortion rates have gone down under Obama - that if you are actually against abortions, you will support the candidates and measures that have a proven history of reducing them.
Unfortunately, most of the "anti-abortion" crowd are actually "anti-guilt-free-sex" instead; they believe women who have sex should be forced to become mothers. They don't want sex ed; they don't want easy access to contraceptives; they don't want laws that support informed consent and penalize the lack of it. They want candidates who say "Abortion is evil and no damn slut is going to have one under my watch," rather than "abortion is a tragedy that we should prevent with education and resources, so that it's only used for the most extreme situations."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [60 favorites]
Several pro-life voting-for-Hillary bloggers have pointed out abortion rates have gone down under Obama - that if you are actually against abortions, you will support the candidates and measures that have a proven history of reducing them.
Unfortunately, most of the "anti-abortion" crowd are actually "anti-guilt-free-sex" instead; they believe women who have sex should be forced to become mothers. They don't want sex ed; they don't want easy access to contraceptives; they don't want laws that support informed consent and penalize the lack of it. They want candidates who say "Abortion is evil and no damn slut is going to have one under my watch," rather than "abortion is a tragedy that we should prevent with education and resources, so that it's only used for the most extreme situations."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [60 favorites]
even if he's only got 40 million
I think it's even less than that. Maybe I'm just blinded by Trump hatred. But I just think he is a total fraud. If you had that much money - would you go around acting like Trump? Not behaving badly in general, but acting like Trump?
posted by sallybrown at 11:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think it's even less than that. Maybe I'm just blinded by Trump hatred. But I just think he is a total fraud. If you had that much money - would you go around acting like Trump? Not behaving badly in general, but acting like Trump?
posted by sallybrown at 11:31 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Of course he has to start in with the "system is rigged" stuff; he's going to lose and he knows it
Ezekiel Kweku and Jane Coaston have a great piece on MTV.com about how "many of the political conspiracies that white people fear in America today have already happened — and continue to happen — to black people". The whole thing is worth a read, but here's a snippet:
Ezekiel Kweku and Jane Coaston have a great piece on MTV.com about how "many of the political conspiracies that white people fear in America today have already happened — and continue to happen — to black people". The whole thing is worth a read, but here's a snippet:
Trump is an absurd extremist, but fears that elections are being stolen through voter fraud are mainstream among Republicans and conservatives in general. This is despite the fact that there's no evidence of widespread fraud, much less anything pointing to it being used to swing elections. Incidentally, only a few days before Trump used his special pre-crime goggles to detect signs of rigging in an election that's still three months away, federal courts did find evidence of a systematic attempt to rig elections. The catch is that the targeted group wasn't Republicans: It was black people.posted by AceRock at 11:33 AM on August 4, 2016 [47 favorites]
...
Long before "they want to take our guns" became a conspiracy theorist trope and a potential cause for a second Civil War, for example, black Americans lost their right to bear arms. (In many cases, they never had that right in the first place.) In 1792, federal law mandated that every eligible man own and care properly for a military-style gun, but state laws forbade even free black men and women from owning so much as ammunition. Nearly 200 years later, the Mulford Act — which banned open carry in the state of California — was aimed squarely at the Black Panthers and heavily supported by both Republicans and the National Rifle Association, 33 years before actor and NRA president Charlton Heston told gun-control advocates that they could pry his weapons from his "cold, dead hands."
Everyone's accepted at this point that he's lying about most stuff.
Except the people so far gone that they just say everyone else is lying and he's being completely 100% truthful. LIke the dude on city-data who today told me that all the completely fact-based stuff I said about Trump (most banks won't lend to him, he's worked with Russian oligarchs as investors, he has a fraud case currently against him, he has a habit of not paying his bills) is "pure speculation." So I gave him links to WSJ, USA Today, WaPo, and NYT reporting all of the above. Which I'm sure he'll just tell me is "mainstream media out to get Trump." Facts don't work on these people. (I wouldn't have even bothered except these articles are so thick on the ground and easy to find, it took me like 5 minutes--and I was on my phone, even!)
He's also one of the "I don't care if what Trump said about bringing back steel was complete gibberish, I like that he said it!" Man, if only I could get this much traction from walking around spouting off impossible shit that I just like the sound of.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Except the people so far gone that they just say everyone else is lying and he's being completely 100% truthful. LIke the dude on city-data who today told me that all the completely fact-based stuff I said about Trump (most banks won't lend to him, he's worked with Russian oligarchs as investors, he has a fraud case currently against him, he has a habit of not paying his bills) is "pure speculation." So I gave him links to WSJ, USA Today, WaPo, and NYT reporting all of the above. Which I'm sure he'll just tell me is "mainstream media out to get Trump." Facts don't work on these people. (I wouldn't have even bothered except these articles are so thick on the ground and easy to find, it took me like 5 minutes--and I was on my phone, even!)
He's also one of the "I don't care if what Trump said about bringing back steel was complete gibberish, I like that he said it!" Man, if only I could get this much traction from walking around spouting off impossible shit that I just like the sound of.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Yes!! Yay! Demographics FTW!
Just to be clear, biscotti is a Canadian daughter of English immigrants and is almost as super-honkey as me. Well, now she's Canadian - American.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Just to be clear, biscotti is a Canadian daughter of English immigrants and is almost as super-honkey as me. Well, now she's Canadian - American.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
All of this seems intuitively sensible to me. I think a lot of Trump primary voters weren't voting for a presidential nominee – not really. They were voting for another year of crass entertainment; they were voting as a "fuck you" to (what they see as) out-of-touch elitists; they were voting for the lulz of watching the librul media and establishment politicians have a massive collective aneurysm.
This is very true. We see a lot of hand-wringing, "how could anybody vote for him?" articles and editorials in the news and even for those who oppose Trump, it gets a little much. There are only so many ways you can say "he's outrageous and bombastic and I disagree with his platform" before it gets old.
A few years ago I read this marketing proverb which went:
posted by theorique at 11:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
This is very true. We see a lot of hand-wringing, "how could anybody vote for him?" articles and editorials in the news and even for those who oppose Trump, it gets a little much. There are only so many ways you can say "he's outrageous and bombastic and I disagree with his platform" before it gets old.
A few years ago I read this marketing proverb which went:
People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions and help them throw rocks at their enemies.Trump is certainly doing all of these things - pressing these buttons in the minds of a broad spectrum of voters. So even if he looks absurd (even to many of them) they still want what he's saying to be true - they want to believe.
posted by theorique at 11:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
I'm kind of curious how Obama would be doing against Trump. Like, does the right hate Obama or Clinton more. My guess is Clinton.
posted by drezdn at 11:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by drezdn at 11:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
David Axelrod: Trump is Just Being Trump.
posted by bearwife at 11:38 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 11:38 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yes!! Yay! Demographics FTW!
Just to be clear, biscotti is a Canadian daughter of English immigrants and is almost as super-honkey as me. Well, now she's Canadian - American.
You also referenced Mexico/Burma/fucktons of nations...listen, just take my FTW. Don't boo, vote :)
posted by zutalors! at 11:39 AM on August 4, 2016
Just to be clear, biscotti is a Canadian daughter of English immigrants and is almost as super-honkey as me. Well, now she's Canadian - American.
You also referenced Mexico/Burma/fucktons of nations...listen, just take my FTW. Don't boo, vote :)
posted by zutalors! at 11:39 AM on August 4, 2016
Sean Hannity Goes Off On GOPers: I’m ‘Sick And Tired Of All Of You’
posted by zachlipton at 11:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
“I have watched these Republicans be more harsh towards Donald Trump than they’ve ever been in standing up to Barack Obama and his radical agenda,” he said. “They did nothing, nothing – all these phony votes to repeal and replace ObamaCare, show votes so they can go back and keep their power and get reelected.”To be clear, he's mad at them because they aren't supporting Trump enough.
"Sorry, you created Donald Trump, all of you because of your ineffectiveness, because of your weakness, your spinelessness, your lack of vision, your inability to fight Obama,” Hannity continued. “I’m getting a little sick and tired of all of you. Honestly, I am tempted to just say I don’t support any of you people ever.”
posted by zachlipton at 11:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Ezekiel Kweku and Jane Coaston have a great piece on MTV.com about how "many of the political conspiracies that white people fear in America today have already happened — and continue to happen — to black people"
God, it's just monstrous projection on a societal scale, isn't it?
posted by schadenfrau at 11:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
God, it's just monstrous projection on a societal scale, isn't it?
posted by schadenfrau at 11:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
Except the people so far gone that they just say everyone else is lying and he's being completely 100% truthful. LIke the dude on city-data who today told me that all the completely fact-based stuff I said about Trump (most banks won't lend to him, he's worked with Russian oligarchs as investors, he has a fraud case currently against him, he has a habit of not paying his bills) is "pure speculation." So I gave him links to WSJ, USA Today, WaPo, and NYT reporting all of the above. Which I'm sure he'll just tell me is "mainstream media out to get Trump." Facts don't work on these people. (I wouldn't have even bothered except these articles are so thick on the ground and easy to find, it took me like 5 minutes--and I was on my phone, even!)
Yep, when the conspiracy runs so deep and wide it's everywhere, man, there's no talking them down.
In any case, random jobs fact-bomb for use in such futile conversations here - Away from spotlight, U.S. manufacturers battle back from 'China shock':
The four-county Hickory metro area of 350,000 has added more than 2,800 manufacturing jobs since 2010, and furniture manufacturers nationally have added 30,000 jobs over the past five years. Nationwide, manufacturing added 800,000 jobs since 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is comparable to the number of jobs that economists estimate were lost due to Chinese imports through 2007, the eve of the U.S. financial crisis and recession. Recent research by Federal Reserve and private economists have put that number at between 800,000 and 1 million.
Thanks Obama!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
Yep, when the conspiracy runs so deep and wide it's everywhere, man, there's no talking them down.
In any case, random jobs fact-bomb for use in such futile conversations here - Away from spotlight, U.S. manufacturers battle back from 'China shock':
The four-county Hickory metro area of 350,000 has added more than 2,800 manufacturing jobs since 2010, and furniture manufacturers nationally have added 30,000 jobs over the past five years. Nationwide, manufacturing added 800,000 jobs since 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is comparable to the number of jobs that economists estimate were lost due to Chinese imports through 2007, the eve of the U.S. financial crisis and recession. Recent research by Federal Reserve and private economists have put that number at between 800,000 and 1 million.
Thanks Obama!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
On the voter fraud front, I say that if Trump is so afraid of it and so certain it is happening he should be calling for international observers. I would be more than happy to volunteer.
posted by nubs at 11:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by nubs at 11:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
OK, this is something everyone should see: a video of the behavior at Trump rallies. From the NYT.
posted by bearwife at 11:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 11:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sean Hannity Goes Off On GOPers: I’m ‘Sick And Tired Of All Of You’
Awwww. Sounds like someone needs a nap!
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Awwww. Sounds like someone needs a nap!
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
If anyone needs cheering up, this oughta do it.
posted by sallybrown at 11:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [50 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 11:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [50 favorites]
Sean Hannity Goes Off On GOPers: I’m ‘Sick And Tired Of All Of You’
I'd like to hear more Mr. Hannity, don't let them get away with this.
posted by bongo_x at 11:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'd like to hear more Mr. Hannity, don't let them get away with this.
posted by bongo_x at 11:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sorry, that was CNN's edited take. Here's the NYT video.
posted by bearwife at 11:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 11:45 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
How the Trumps Got Rich - "The Trump fortune was built off theft — from workers, from the state, and from the commons."
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
"Sorry, you created Donald Trump, all of you because of your ineffectiveness, because of your weakness, your spinelessness, your lack of vision, your inability to fight Obama,
One of the weirder phenomena of recent US politics is watching Obama and the Congressional Republicans wind up in a stalemate while people on either side declare defeat. I get how it happens, but it's like Metafilter and Sean Hannity are living in mirror universes from each other.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 11:48 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
One of the weirder phenomena of recent US politics is watching Obama and the Congressional Republicans wind up in a stalemate while people on either side declare defeat. I get how it happens, but it's like Metafilter and Sean Hannity are living in mirror universes from each other.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 11:48 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
How the Trumps Got Rich - "The Trump fortune was built off theft — from workers, from the state, and from the commons."
I mean, Jacobin is a neo-Marxist rag. In their view, that's how everyone got rich (and they're mostly right).
posted by dis_integration at 11:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I mean, Jacobin is a neo-Marxist rag. In their view, that's how everyone got rich (and they're mostly right).
posted by dis_integration at 11:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
If anyone needs cheering up, this oughta do it.
That's got to be the Bideniest thing that Biden has ever done.
posted by vverse23 at 11:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
That's got to be the Bideniest thing that Biden has ever done.
posted by vverse23 at 11:49 AM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
If anyone needs cheering up, this oughta do it.
Related.
posted by dersins at 11:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Related.
posted by dersins at 11:51 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
One of the weirder phenomena of recent US politics is watching Obama and the Congressional Republicans wind up in a stalemate while people on either side declare defeat. I get how it happens, but it's like Metafilter and Sean Hannity are living in mirror universes from each other.
But that's the point. The system is designed to lock up and create stalemates when there's disagreement, and when that happens, the people standing athwart history yelling stop are the ones who actually win.
posted by zachlipton at 11:51 AM on August 4, 2016
But that's the point. The system is designed to lock up and create stalemates when there's disagreement, and when that happens, the people standing athwart history yelling stop are the ones who actually win.
posted by zachlipton at 11:51 AM on August 4, 2016
Guys it's ok. Tim Kaine is currently working as hard as he can to make enough friendship bracelets so everybody can have one.
posted by zachlipton at 11:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [55 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [55 favorites]
That's got to be the Bideniest thing that Biden has ever done.
If only it was resting on the hood of a '78 Trans Am.
posted by chris24 at 11:53 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
If only it was resting on the hood of a '78 Trans Am.
posted by chris24 at 11:53 AM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
From AP's latest (scroll to 12:30pm):
At a town hall Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina, Pence, Donald Trump's running mate, took a question from a boy who identified himself as 11-year old Matthew.
Matthew said Pence has been "softening up on Mr. Trump's policies and words" and questioned whether that would be his role in a Trump administration.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:53 AM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
At a town hall Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina, Pence, Donald Trump's running mate, took a question from a boy who identified himself as 11-year old Matthew.
Matthew said Pence has been "softening up on Mr. Trump's policies and words" and questioned whether that would be his role in a Trump administration.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:53 AM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
From President Obama's set at the last White House Correspondents' Dinner (which was in April):
posted by AceRock at 11:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
All right, that’s probably enough. I mean, I've got more material -- (applause) -- no, no, I don’t want to spend too much time on The Donald. Following your lead, I want to show some restraint. (Laughter.) Because I think we can all agree that from the start, he’s gotten the appropriate amount of coverage, befitting the seriousness of his candidacy. (Laughter and applause.)The bit about giving his hotel business a boost is funny. Foursquare just released data showing that Trump properties have seen a double-digit decrease in visits from women this year.
I hope you all are proud of yourselves. (Laughter.) The guy wanted to give his hotel business a boost, and now we’re praying that Cleveland makes it through July. (Laughter.)
posted by AceRock at 11:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Mr Trump Goes to the Polls, a flashback to 2004.
posted by dis_integration at 11:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dis_integration at 11:59 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Man that McCain attack ad is absolutely brutal, as we all knew it was going to be when he kept getting asked about Trump after being smeared by him. Hate to say everyone in the world told you so John, but we told you so.
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
I have no idea why, but people wandering around dressed as creepy clowns is a thing in Wisconsin.
posted by carmicha at 12:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by carmicha at 12:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
They picked the clips where McCain looks like a very tired, sad old man who wants to die. It is, as you say, brutal.
posted by argybarg at 12:04 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 12:04 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I have no idea why, but people wandering around dressed as creepy clowns is a thing in Wisconsin.
Whoop Whoop!!!
posted by drezdn at 12:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Greg Sargent: Devastating video: John McCain, asked if he's okay w/Trump controlling nukes, stammers and refuses to say: http://wapo.st/2awWoAK
https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/761274558838140933
posted by guiseroom at 12:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/761274558838140933
posted by guiseroom at 12:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Just a reminder to please ctrl + F before posting an article to make sure it's not already been posted in this massive thread. The decline in Trump hotels thing was posted upthread (not trying to single you out! it's happened many times bc these are so fast moving).
posted by sallybrown at 12:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 12:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
McCain basically said he's okay with it if the American people vote Trump in. Way to be a fearless and patriotic leader, John.
posted by bearwife at 12:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 12:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
John McCain, a true American zero.
posted by tonycpsu at 12:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 12:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
HA! I've been searching all day for this, finally found it! Remember these? This is what I instantly thought of when he mentioned Ivory Snow. Ivory Snow Wacky card
posted by Melismata at 12:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 12:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
But that's the point. The system is designed to lock up and create stalemates when there's disagreement, and when that happens, the people standing athwart history yelling stop are the ones who actually win.
posted by zachlipton at 11:51 AM on 8/4
[+]
No, this is an illegal after market mod.
Does anyone more knowledgeable than I know if the Supreme Court could, with a non-shitbird majority, do something about the epic gerrymandering ratfucking that has been the GOPs bread and butter for the last decade or so?
posted by schadenfrau at 12:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:51 AM on 8/4
[+]
No, this is an illegal after market mod.
Does anyone more knowledgeable than I know if the Supreme Court could, with a non-shitbird majority, do something about the epic gerrymandering ratfucking that has been the GOPs bread and butter for the last decade or so?
posted by schadenfrau at 12:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
I have no idea why, but people wandering around dressed as creepy clowns is a thing in Wisconsin.
Whoop Whoop!!!
BRB! Heading to the lab to mix up some brats-and-cheese flavored Faygo!
posted by carmicha at 12:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Whoop Whoop!!!
BRB! Heading to the lab to mix up some brats-and-cheese flavored Faygo!
posted by carmicha at 12:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
McCain is gonna lose his seat isn't he? Wow.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:16 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 12:16 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
He’s 79 years old. I don’t get why he doesn’t just throw up the middle fingers and retire to one of his seven houses.
posted by savetheclocktower at 12:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [52 favorites]
posted by savetheclocktower at 12:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [52 favorites]
Live Stream starting for today's Trump rally for masochists (Trump supporter YouTube channel) link
Gov LePage... oh god, don't listen to this crap.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:19 PM on August 4, 2016
Gov LePage... oh god, don't listen to this crap.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:19 PM on August 4, 2016
Does anyone more knowledgeable than I know if the Supreme Court could, with a non-shitbird majority, do something about the epic gerrymandering ratfucking that has been the GOPs bread and butter for the last decade or so?
This happened recently.
Generally though, the supreme court can't do anything unless a case has worked its way up the courts onto its docket. Someone has to have grounds to bring suit against a gerrymandered state.
posted by dis_integration at 12:20 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
This happened recently.
Generally though, the supreme court can't do anything unless a case has worked its way up the courts onto its docket. Someone has to have grounds to bring suit against a gerrymandered state.
posted by dis_integration at 12:20 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I wonder when the Senate will suddenly decide it's appropriate to give Merritt Garland a hearing. That will be the clearest sign of the GOP throwing in the towel.
posted by argybarg at 12:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 12:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
I feel like McCain changed behavior drastically during the W years to the point that I wondered if someone had dirt on him or was otherwise extorting him.... Granted, I wasn't super politically aware before 1999 or so, but it seemed like there was a drastic shift in his statements and behavior. Am I wrong about that shift? I actually don't know....
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Harper's weekly review:
Donald Trump announced that he wouldn’t endorse Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan for reelection, kicked a crying baby out of a rally in Virginia, asked Russia to steal U.S. State Department emails, reportedly asked three times during a national-security briefing why the United States shouldn’t use nuclear weapons, and said he wanted to hit a “little guy” so hard “his head would spin.” Researchers in the United Kingdom discovered an orangutan that mimics human conversations.
Bonus: vintage image of rampaging elephant
posted by salix at 12:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Donald Trump announced that he wouldn’t endorse Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan for reelection, kicked a crying baby out of a rally in Virginia, asked Russia to steal U.S. State Department emails, reportedly asked three times during a national-security briefing why the United States shouldn’t use nuclear weapons, and said he wanted to hit a “little guy” so hard “his head would spin.” Researchers in the United Kingdom discovered an orangutan that mimics human conversations.
Bonus: vintage image of rampaging elephant
posted by salix at 12:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I feel like McCain changed behavior drastically during the W years to the point that I wondered if someone had dirt on him or was otherwise extorting him.... Granted, I wasn't super politically aware before 1999 or so, but it seemed like there was a drastic shift in his statements and behavior. Am I wrong about that shift? I actually don't know....
He wanted to be president. After W took office it became increasingly clear that you don't rise to the top of the modern GOP by being a statesman.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
He wanted to be president. After W took office it became increasingly clear that you don't rise to the top of the modern GOP by being a statesman.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wouldn't giving Garland a hearing mean they lose some of the hold-your-nose voters whose sole reason for voting Trump is to fill Scalia's seat with a conservative Justice?
posted by sallybrown at 12:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 12:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I wondered if someone had dirt on him or was otherwise extorting him
I think the 2000 primary ruined him. The Bush camp went after his adopted Bangladeshi daughter, race-baited, and won. I think he decided to play the same game as everyone else from now on and give up on standing upright for his own beliefs.
posted by dis_integration at 12:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
I think the 2000 primary ruined him. The Bush camp went after his adopted Bangladeshi daughter, race-baited, and won. I think he decided to play the same game as everyone else from now on and give up on standing upright for his own beliefs.
posted by dis_integration at 12:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
He’s 79 years old. I don’t get why he doesn’t just throw up the middle fingers and retire to one of his seven houses.
I think that McCain has turned into the ultimate utilitarian. He has a few core issues that he sees as being more important to the country that he advance then any damage the disgusting Republican base can do to him or to the country. It's why he pandered desperately with Palin, and why he's willing to put up with the indignity of trump. I'm just not sure what those issues are at this point, since trump would be a disaster for the thing he's ostensibly an expert on: defense and foreign policy.
posted by codacorolla at 12:25 PM on August 4, 2016
I think that McCain has turned into the ultimate utilitarian. He has a few core issues that he sees as being more important to the country that he advance then any damage the disgusting Republican base can do to him or to the country. It's why he pandered desperately with Palin, and why he's willing to put up with the indignity of trump. I'm just not sure what those issues are at this point, since trump would be a disaster for the thing he's ostensibly an expert on: defense and foreign policy.
posted by codacorolla at 12:25 PM on August 4, 2016
He’s 79 years old. I don’t get why he doesn’t just throw up the middle fingers and retire to one of his seven houses.
McCain is an engine that runs on petty vengeance, ego, and power. Retiring - particularly if it might look like it wasn't up to him - would not satisfy any of that.
posted by phearlez at 12:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
McCain is an engine that runs on petty vengeance, ego, and power. Retiring - particularly if it might look like it wasn't up to him - would not satisfy any of that.
posted by phearlez at 12:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Kids if you want some fun
Gov. LePage is your man
He's always laughing, having fun
Running the great state of Maine
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Gov. LePage is your man
He's always laughing, having fun
Running the great state of Maine
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
He’s 79 years old. I don’t get why he doesn’t just throw up the middle fingers and retire to one of his seven houses.
Because he's never done anything else. From childhood, he knew he was going to be an admiral like his father and his grandfather -- when that didn't happen, he immediately went into politics and has been there ever since. The guy's held four jobs in his life -- Naval officer, beer distributor (for a few months and expressly to help him make contacts for his House run), U.S. Representative, and U.S. Senator.
He's going to be one of those retirees who drops dead less than a year after he gets the gold watch.
posted by Etrigan at 12:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Because he's never done anything else. From childhood, he knew he was going to be an admiral like his father and his grandfather -- when that didn't happen, he immediately went into politics and has been there ever since. The guy's held four jobs in his life -- Naval officer, beer distributor (for a few months and expressly to help him make contacts for his House run), U.S. Representative, and U.S. Senator.
He's going to be one of those retirees who drops dead less than a year after he gets the gold watch.
posted by Etrigan at 12:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
After W took office it became increasingly clear that you don't rise to the top of the modern GOP by being a statesman.
And yet I understand those "Miss me yet" memes about W. I mean, no I don't miss him v Obama, but Trump/McCain/Scott/Walker/Cruz/IckIckIck yeah.
posted by zutalors! at 12:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
And yet I understand those "Miss me yet" memes about W. I mean, no I don't miss him v Obama, but Trump/McCain/Scott/Walker/Cruz/IckIckIck yeah.
posted by zutalors! at 12:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
$400 million dollars being flown to Iran. IN CASH. DIFFERENT CURRENCIES! They didn't want the dollar!
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
$400 million dollars being flown to Iran. IN CASH. DIFFERENT CURRENCIES! They didn't want the dollar!
It's not like we have laws or agreements or anything. Nah we just did this one for shits and giggles to piss of Republicans, right guys?
posted by Talez at 12:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's not like we have laws or agreements or anything. Nah we just did this one for shits and giggles to piss of Republicans, right guys?
posted by Talez at 12:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I don't think people actually realize that this shipment was originally Iran's money. We're not buying them off. This is literally money that's been frozen in the US since '79.
posted by Talez at 12:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
posted by Talez at 12:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
Yes, Talez, because Trump won't tell them that.
posted by zutalors! at 12:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 12:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Protesters leaving? being thrown out? holding up the Constitution booklet? Twice now.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Protestors stand silently and hold up pocket copies of the Constitution.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [38 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 12:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [38 favorites]
I wonder when the Senate will suddenly decide it's appropriate to give Merritt Garland a hearing. That will be the clearest sign of the GOP throwing in the towel.
I can't find it now, but last week I saw an interesting blog that argued a fun scenario. The author said that Obama likely thinks Garland is his best choice, but might withdraw him anyways (if it looked like Hillary would win) and just repeat the GOP's 'let the voters decide' line back at them. If the GOP thought this was possible, then whenever Trump's poll numbers get to some threshold of badness, it would be to their benefit to get a quorum and give him a hearing before Obama can withdraw him.
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I can't find it now, but last week I saw an interesting blog that argued a fun scenario. The author said that Obama likely thinks Garland is his best choice, but might withdraw him anyways (if it looked like Hillary would win) and just repeat the GOP's 'let the voters decide' line back at them. If the GOP thought this was possible, then whenever Trump's poll numbers get to some threshold of badness, it would be to their benefit to get a quorum and give him a hearing before Obama can withdraw him.
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
> I'm just not sure what those issues are at this point, since trump would be a disaster for the thing he's ostensibly an expert on: defense and foreign policy.
The fact that McCain is endorsing an enthusiastic supporter of torture — when torture was one of his few remaining red-line, not-gonna-budge issues from 2008 — is astonishing to me. I’d like to think in his situation I’d speak my mind, and any electorate that punished me for it is one I wouldn’t want to represent in the first place.
posted by savetheclocktower at 12:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
The fact that McCain is endorsing an enthusiastic supporter of torture — when torture was one of his few remaining red-line, not-gonna-budge issues from 2008 — is astonishing to me. I’d like to think in his situation I’d speak my mind, and any electorate that punished me for it is one I wouldn’t want to represent in the first place.
posted by savetheclocktower at 12:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
> "I don't think people actually realize that this shipment was originally Iran's money. We're not buying them off. This is literally money that's been frozen in the US since '79."
I'd say he's counting on a lot people being stupid and it will probably work, but at this point I am reasonably sure that he has no idea what the money is or what it's for either.
So I guess he's ... counting on a lot of people agreeing with him because they're as stupid as he is?
posted by kyrademon at 12:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
I'd say he's counting on a lot people being stupid and it will probably work, but at this point I am reasonably sure that he has no idea what the money is or what it's for either.
So I guess he's ... counting on a lot of people agreeing with him because they're as stupid as he is?
posted by kyrademon at 12:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Standard operating procedure. I'm actually suprised and pleased at the degree that it seems to be failing of late.
posted by Artw at 12:35 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by Artw at 12:35 PM on August 4, 2016
I don't think people actually realize that this shipment was originally Iran's money. We're not buying them off. This is literally money that's been frozen in the US since '79.
Not sure about most of Trump's followers but NOT giving people money that's rightfully theirs has been a big part of his Business Model for his entire professional life.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [36 favorites]
Not sure about most of Trump's followers but NOT giving people money that's rightfully theirs has been a big part of his Business Model for his entire professional life.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [36 favorites]
So I guess he's ... counting on a lot of people agreeing with him because they're as stupid as he is?
Well, that's a nice summation of his entire campaign strategy. I can't believe that he asserted he saw secret footage that his spokesperson confirmed was simply B-roll news footage. That's like senile-grampaw-level shit, there.
posted by Existential Dread at 12:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Well, that's a nice summation of his entire campaign strategy. I can't believe that he asserted he saw secret footage that his spokesperson confirmed was simply B-roll news footage. That's like senile-grampaw-level shit, there.
posted by Existential Dread at 12:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
More protesters, Stop Donald Trump. Looked like he was going to walk off, he turned around.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:38 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:38 PM on August 4, 2016
I'd say he's counting on a lot people being stupid and it will probably work
This was another windmill I tilted at online today. Someone was like, "I want to vote for the guy who will airlift me cash!" And I replied, "Sure, here's four easy steps: 1. Have a really, really old debt. 2. Be subject to a bunch of international sanctions such that you cannot receive wire transfers. 3. Be enough of a global security threat that your debtor finally throws you a bone in exchange for you being less of a threat. 4. Piles of cash shipped to your doorstep!"
No one responded, I am pretty sure because no one actually had any clue about steps 1-3 ever having been a thing.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
This was another windmill I tilted at online today. Someone was like, "I want to vote for the guy who will airlift me cash!" And I replied, "Sure, here's four easy steps: 1. Have a really, really old debt. 2. Be subject to a bunch of international sanctions such that you cannot receive wire transfers. 3. Be enough of a global security threat that your debtor finally throws you a bone in exchange for you being less of a threat. 4. Piles of cash shipped to your doorstep!"
No one responded, I am pretty sure because no one actually had any clue about steps 1-3 ever having been a thing.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
The 538 Polls Only and Polls Plus are a beautiful sight to behold right now.
Election Day is going to be a blood bath. Just like in 2012. This is how the night will probably unfold. The first polls to close will be the US territories like Guam, then red states Indiana and Kentucky at 6PM EST. Then the first "swing" states: Florida and Virginia at 7PM EST. Both are expected to go blue and if they do its over immediately (this NYT interactive is fun to play with). But even if Trump wins Florida (and Clinton wins Virginia), Clinton is still way ahead with the Northeast blue states already in the bag. Ohio and North Carolina are next. Clinton winning either seals it. But say Trump wins both. Next to close is New Mexico (Nevada and Iowa close late). It's expected to go blue and that would seal it. If not, then either Iowa or Nevada seals it. Trump has to win like 8 of the 10 swing states to even have a shot. Clinton only needs 2 or 3 big ones.
posted by AceRock at 12:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Election Day is going to be a blood bath. Just like in 2012. This is how the night will probably unfold. The first polls to close will be the US territories like Guam, then red states Indiana and Kentucky at 6PM EST. Then the first "swing" states: Florida and Virginia at 7PM EST. Both are expected to go blue and if they do its over immediately (this NYT interactive is fun to play with). But even if Trump wins Florida (and Clinton wins Virginia), Clinton is still way ahead with the Northeast blue states already in the bag. Ohio and North Carolina are next. Clinton winning either seals it. But say Trump wins both. Next to close is New Mexico (Nevada and Iowa close late). It's expected to go blue and that would seal it. If not, then either Iowa or Nevada seals it. Trump has to win like 8 of the 10 swing states to even have a shot. Clinton only needs 2 or 3 big ones.
posted by AceRock at 12:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
He literally just praised "medieval times"
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm beginning to wonder if this is all a blackmail scheme Trump is engaging in, or this is all just an elaborate revenge scheme. How can anyone be this bad?
posted by corb at 12:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by corb at 12:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
...why would you actually fly plane loads of cash, though? Wouldn't it be a transfer between accounts? It's just so stupid. People are eating it up.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:40 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:40 PM on August 4, 2016
He literally just praised "medieval times"
So many "eating chicken with knife and fork" jokes... can't handle the pressure... brain melting...
posted by Etrigan at 12:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
So many "eating chicken with knife and fork" jokes... can't handle the pressure... brain melting...
posted by Etrigan at 12:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
"Maine is a major destination of Somali refugees." Someone gave him liner notes!
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm beginning to wonder if this is all a blackmail scheme Trump is engaging in, or this is all just an elaborate revenge scheme. How can anyone be this bad?
Read the Axelrod piece I posted above. He says this is just Trump being Trump.
posted by bearwife at 12:41 PM on August 4, 2016
Read the Axelrod piece I posted above. He says this is just Trump being Trump.
posted by bearwife at 12:41 PM on August 4, 2016
Yes. Refugees do tend to come from dangerous places. That's why they're refugees, you demented fuck.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [46 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 12:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [46 favorites]
Oooooh shit. The "protestors stand silently with pocket Constitutions" thing could very easily catch on. Reinforces the narrative against Trump as demagogue trampling on rights, keeps Khan story in the news, riles Trump up, is a poetic form of non-violent protest. A+ politics, would like to see again.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 12:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [112 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 12:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [112 favorites]
Ray Walston, Iran is isolated from the global banking system. There's no way to wire money.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Election Day is going to be a blood bath. Just like in 2012.
So it'll be called before The Daily Show goes on air?
posted by Etrigan at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
So it'll be called before The Daily Show goes on air?
posted by Etrigan at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
He literally just praised "medieval times"
After his failed presidential bid, I can definitely see Donald cosplaying as King at a schlocky jousting attraction.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
After his failed presidential bid, I can definitely see Donald cosplaying as King at a schlocky jousting attraction.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
...why would you actually fly plane loads of cash, though? Wouldn't it be a transfer between accounts? It's just so stupid. People are eating it up.
The cash is because it's actually really hard to pay Iran money. The sanctions against them mean that you can't really do wire transfers as you normally would. India has this problem paying Iran for some oil it purchased as well.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
The cash is because it's actually really hard to pay Iran money. The sanctions against them mean that you can't really do wire transfers as you normally would. India has this problem paying Iran for some oil it purchased as well.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
...why would you actually fly plane loads of cash, though? Wouldn't it be a transfer between accounts? It's just so stupid. People are eating it up.
Umm what? The story is true. The lies are: A) He saw a video of the cash being unloaded, B) that the money was a ransom, C) that it went to ISIS or some other nefarious group
posted by acidic at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Umm what? The story is true. The lies are: A) He saw a video of the cash being unloaded, B) that the money was a ransom, C) that it went to ISIS or some other nefarious group
posted by acidic at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
...why would you actually fly plane loads of cash, though?
Iran's banking relationships are...complicated.
posted by Floydd at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Iran's banking relationships are...complicated.
posted by Floydd at 12:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Ray Walston, Iran is isolated from the global banking system. There's no way to wire money.
Ah, ok
I am no longer able to tell stuff that actually happened from stuff that did not
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
Ah, ok
I am no longer able to tell stuff that actually happened from stuff that did not
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
He literally just praised "medieval times"
I don't think he's kidding.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 12:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I don't think he's kidding.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 12:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
The facts of the whole thing are totally above-board. Yes, we shipped them a large amount of money of various currencies. It was part of a settlement that has been litigated for years in international courts that got rolled up into the nuclear deal. There was nothing secret about any of it and it was already news back in January.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
can somebody please clarify if he's talking about Medieval Times the dinner show or actual medieval times
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
Trump campaign co-chair suggest Katrina Pierson may be next new CNN pundit.
posted by dirigibleman at 12:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by dirigibleman at 12:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Vox has a piece about the $400 million.
posted by fragmede at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by fragmede at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I mean if the Trump campaign was suddenly "HEALTHCARE POLICY: unregulated bloodletting LEGAL POLICY: public burnings" I wouldn't be entirely surprised
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
From the transcript of the McCain clip: [Silence, followed by unintelligible stammering.]
Let's just get this out of the way. MetaFilter: Silence, followed by unintelligible stammering.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Let's just get this out of the way. MetaFilter: Silence, followed by unintelligible stammering.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Pretty sure that $200m of that supposed payment actually went to the DNC, yep you heard it here first.
Ya got trouble, folks, right here in Washington,
Trouble with a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "C" and that stands for Clinton!
And that means the Clinton Foundation.
And that's where this money goes
Instead of rebuilding this great American Nation!
Don't be a chump
Vote for Trump
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
posted by vuron at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ya got trouble, folks, right here in Washington,
Trouble with a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "C" and that stands for Clinton!
And that means the Clinton Foundation.
And that's where this money goes
Instead of rebuilding this great American Nation!
Don't be a chump
Vote for Trump
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
posted by vuron at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
can somebody please clarify if he's talking about Medieval Times the dinner show or actual medieval times
He was not referring to dinner theater.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
He was not referring to dinner theater.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Oh, let the pocket constitution protests become a thing. What's Donnie going to do? Ban the constitution at his rallies? Throw people out for holding it up? Get his more energetic supporters to dash them roughly from the limp-wristed librul commies' (strangely large) hands?
You can't fight it. If you do, it will only get bigger.
Way to go.
posted by Devonian at 12:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
You can't fight it. If you do, it will only get bigger.
Way to go.
posted by Devonian at 12:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
Katrina Pierson (from a link way above) disliked Obama because he wouldn't wear a flag pin in his lapel and he was a "sitting Senator from Illinois" but he didn't do anything to overturn the state's abortion law.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:50 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:50 PM on August 4, 2016
He might actually think the dinner theater is an accurate representation of the historical period in question
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Oooooh shit. The "protestors stand silently with pocket Constitutions" thing could very easily catch on. Reinforces the narrative against Trump as demagogue trampling on rights, keeps Khan story in the news, riles Trump up, is a poetic form of non-violent protest. A+ politics, would like to see again.
Love it. Combine it with Dems consistently referring to Trump as either a millionaire or a 2nd rate businessman. Would destroy him. In 2011, Comedy Central did a Donald Trump roast. Here is the rundown of what kinds of jokes Trump allowed and did not allow:
Love it. Combine it with Dems consistently referring to Trump as either a millionaire or a 2nd rate businessman. Would destroy him. In 2011, Comedy Central did a Donald Trump roast. Here is the rundown of what kinds of jokes Trump allowed and did not allow:
ALLOWED: Jokes about Trump's hairposted by AceRock at 12:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
ALLOWED: Jokes about Trump's wife Melania (and his two previous marriages)
ALLOWED: Jokes about Trump having sex with models
ALLOWED: Jokes about the failure of Trump Steaks, Trump Water, Trump Cologne, and other Trump products
ALLOWED: Jokes about Trump's failed casinos
ALLOWED: Jokes about how Trump only became successful thanks to his wealthy father
ALLOWED: Jokes about Trump's weight
ALLOWED: Jokes about Trump being attracted to his daughter Ivanka
NOT ALLOWED: Any joke that suggests Trump is not actually as wealthy as he claims to be.
Trump probably read one of those things about how the average contemporary American enjoys a higher quality of life than medieval royalty and was like "well that's not right, that's not right at all"
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
...why would you actually fly plane loads of cash, though? Wouldn't it be a transfer between accounts? It's just so stupid. People are eating it up.
You do realise that once money gets wired the physical cash does actually need to be eventually sent, right? The only reason it doesn't appear to happen in the US anymore is because the Fed acts as a clearing house between banks allowing them to basically transfer money between vaults at the Fed and on the balance sheet as opposed to sending armored cars with cash between each other at the end of the business day.
But other countries you still need to actually send physical cash.
posted by Talez at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
You do realise that once money gets wired the physical cash does actually need to be eventually sent, right? The only reason it doesn't appear to happen in the US anymore is because the Fed acts as a clearing house between banks allowing them to basically transfer money between vaults at the Fed and on the balance sheet as opposed to sending armored cars with cash between each other at the end of the business day.
But other countries you still need to actually send physical cash.
posted by Talez at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
For the first time in 128 years, Harvard Republican Club refuses to endorse Republican candidate.
posted by davros42 at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
posted by davros42 at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
The "protestors stand silently with pocket Constitutions" thing could very easily catch on. Reinforces the narrative against Trump as demagogue trampling on rights, keeps Khan story in the news, riles Trump up, is a poetic form of non-violent protest.
And, when his brownshirts boo, threaten and scream obscenities, they are literally booing, threatening and screaming obscenities at the Constitution.
(Which, I mean, sure they're already doing that figuratively, but it's not exactly great optics to make it both explicit and literal.)
posted by dersins at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
And, when his brownshirts boo, threaten and scream obscenities, they are literally booing, threatening and screaming obscenities at the Constitution.
(Which, I mean, sure they're already doing that figuratively, but it's not exactly great optics to make it both explicit and literal.)
posted by dersins at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
If you haven't seen the Trump Roast, Snoop Dogg just laying into him for five minutes without even the slightest hint of affection or admiration is amazing.
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Countdown to Twitter meltdown against the constitution...
posted by Artw at 12:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 12:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, going back to my Trumpist uncle, he knows Trump is full of shit. He thinks it's hilarious. It's just another signal that Trump is not a "politician".
I have no problem with pro-wrestling type supporters for Trump, because fewer than 10% are ever going to get around to voting.
posted by msalt at 12:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have no problem with pro-wrestling type supporters for Trump, because fewer than 10% are ever going to get around to voting.
posted by msalt at 12:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
btw, Trump is speaking in an auditorium that holds 1,900 people. The Civic Center (nothing scheduled for today as far as I can tell) can do 6,700.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
The "protestors stand silently with pocket Constitutions" thing could very easily catch on. Reinforces the narrative against Trump as demagogue trampling on rights, keeps Khan story in the news, riles Trump up, is a poetic form of non-violent protest.
I suggested something similar in a long-ago thread: silently standing and removing shirts or sweaters to reveal black "American IS great!" t-shirts.
But this is even better. Attacking people for wielding the constitution is priceless.
posted by msalt at 12:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I suggested something similar in a long-ago thread: silently standing and removing shirts or sweaters to reveal black "American IS great!" t-shirts.
But this is even better. Attacking people for wielding the constitution is priceless.
posted by msalt at 12:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
You do realise that once money gets wired the physical cash does actually need to be eventually sent, right?
All I know is that money smells weird
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
All I know is that money smells weird
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
That's the cocaine
posted by vbfg at 12:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by vbfg at 12:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
"Maine is a major destination of Somali refugees."
Oh my fucking god.
I've taught Somali refugee kids in high schools around Seattle. I've taught a lot of them. Kids from Somalia are pretty much the sweetest kids I've ever met.
High schools are full of all the crap we associate with teenagers. Nobody needs examples. But the most glaring, consistent exception I've ever seen to that has been from Somali kids, because they know how good kids have it in America. They're glad to be here.
This is the first time I've been so angry at this campaign that it has literally put tears in my eyes.
Fuck Donald Trump. Fuck every little thing about Donald Trump and every single person propping him up.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:59 PM on August 4, 2016 [103 favorites]
Oh my fucking god.
I've taught Somali refugee kids in high schools around Seattle. I've taught a lot of them. Kids from Somalia are pretty much the sweetest kids I've ever met.
High schools are full of all the crap we associate with teenagers. Nobody needs examples. But the most glaring, consistent exception I've ever seen to that has been from Somali kids, because they know how good kids have it in America. They're glad to be here.
This is the first time I've been so angry at this campaign that it has literally put tears in my eyes.
Fuck Donald Trump. Fuck every little thing about Donald Trump and every single person propping him up.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:59 PM on August 4, 2016 [103 favorites]
The Republican intervention appears to be taking away his phone, Donnie hasn't tweeted since late yesterday. You can tell when Donny has the phone vs the interns.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
"I think we just won Virginia [when Clinton picked Tim Kaine]"
Clinton pauses ads in Virginia in sign of confidence
Tim Kaine so unpopular in Virginia he just won three straight statewide elections.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Clinton pauses ads in Virginia in sign of confidence
Tim Kaine so unpopular in Virginia he just won three straight statewide elections.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Hillary's speaking now, FYI: terrible quality but oh well
she just thanked the parking attendants lol. broadening her message!!
posted by acidic at 1:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
she just thanked the parking attendants lol. broadening her message!!
posted by acidic at 1:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I feel like that thing where people start liking Hillary once she wins the thing is kicking in already.
She did win the nomination.
posted by zutalors! at 1:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
She did win the nomination.
posted by zutalors! at 1:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Well, going back to my Trumpist uncle, he knows Trump is full of shit. He thinks it's hilarious. It's just another signal that Trump is not a "politician".
Neither Trump nor his supporters are Fascists. They're nihilists. Very peculiar when nihilism becomes a national movement.
posted by My Dad at 1:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Neither Trump nor his supporters are Fascists. They're nihilists. Very peculiar when nihilism becomes a national movement.
posted by My Dad at 1:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
"I'm going to cut your taxes IN HALF"
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:08 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:08 PM on August 4, 2016
Say what you will about nihilism, at least it's an -- oh, wait.
posted by kyrademon at 1:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [31 favorites]
posted by kyrademon at 1:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [31 favorites]
Backstage at the DNC (with bonus Barack rockin' out to Eminem).
Nothing about this strikes me as cold and calculating. I know it's edited to make you feel all warm and fuzzy, but it feels all warm and fuzzy, OK?
posted by Sophie1 at 1:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Nothing about this strikes me as cold and calculating. I know it's edited to make you feel all warm and fuzzy, but it feels all warm and fuzzy, OK?
posted by Sophie1 at 1:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Real sentence from a press release in my inbox: "Donald Trump lives, works, eats and employs people of all races and religions."
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [95 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [95 favorites]
I think we just won Virginia [when Clinton picked Tim Kaine]"
Kaine: Virginia is not for haters.
posted by bearwife at 1:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Kaine: Virginia is not for haters.
posted by bearwife at 1:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
And yet I understand those "Miss me yet" memes about W....
but Trump/McCain/Scott/Walker/Cruz/IckIckIck yeah.
Are you suggesting that GWB, the consummate lazy jackass preppy-raised faux-Texan president, is / was in a league above the current ilk of cynical GOP pols? Because, seriously, he wasn't.
posted by aught at 1:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
but Trump/McCain/Scott/Walker/Cruz/IckIckIck yeah.
Are you suggesting that GWB, the consummate lazy jackass preppy-raised faux-Texan president, is / was in a league above the current ilk of cynical GOP pols? Because, seriously, he wasn't.
posted by aught at 1:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Snoop Dogg at the Trump Roast!
he could totally do standup
posted by murphy slaw at 1:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
he could totally do standup
posted by murphy slaw at 1:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
So Trump is a cannibal, that explains so many things.
posted by vuron at 1:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by vuron at 1:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
In talking about Maine and what a wonderful place and how he loves it, he says there's "A smaller number of you know what."
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
So Trump is a cannibal, that explains so many things.
Pretty sure he's hunted man for sport, but probably cheated/had a servant do all the actual work.
posted by Artw at 1:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Pretty sure he's hunted man for sport, but probably cheated/had a servant do all the actual work.
posted by Artw at 1:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Real sentence from a press release in my inbox: "Donald Trump lives, works, eats and employs people of all races and religions."
Okay now I'm pretty sure his campaign staff are trying hard to lose as quickly as possible, so they can go home before dad closes the pool for the summer.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
Okay now I'm pretty sure his campaign staff are trying hard to lose as quickly as possible, so they can go home before dad closes the pool for the summer.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
In talking about Maine and what a wonderful place and how he loves it, he says there's "A smaller number of you know what."
I'm at work and can't watch and did this actually happen.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
I'm at work and can't watch and did this actually happen.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
In talking about Maine and what a wonderful place and how he loves it, he says there's "A smaller number of you know what."
*BLINKS HARD*
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
*BLINKS HARD*
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Wait. WHAT
posted by argybarg at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Next time Trump brags about the size of his rallies, someone should show him pics from Obama's rallies in late 2008. (IIRC, there was one in Madison with at least 500,000 people)
posted by drezdn at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have no idea why I'm still shocked by remarks like that, but I am. The guy has demonstrated over and over and over what a total fucking disaster of a human being he is and yet every time he says another shitbag thing I'm stunned all over again.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
For the first time in 128 years, Harvard Republican Club refuses to endorse Republican candidate.
Wow. That's a powerful, powerful statement — the full FB post is included at the end of the linked article. It's really worth reading in full, but here's a few highlights:
Wow. That's a powerful, powerful statement — the full FB post is included at the end of the linked article. It's really worth reading in full, but here's a few highlights:
"The last week should have made obvious to all what has been obvious to most for more than a year. In response to any slight –perceived or real– Donald Trump lashes out viciously and irresponsibly. In Trump’s eyes, disagreement with his actions or his policies warrants incessant name calling and derision: stupid, lying, fat, ugly, weak, failing, idiot –and that’s just his “fellow” Republicans.posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
He isn’t eschewing political correctness. He is eschewing basic human decency."
"Millions of people across the country are feeling despondent. Their hours have been cut, wages slashed, jobs even shipped overseas. But Donald Trump doesn’t have a plan to fix that. He has a plan to exploit that."
Yes, he was talking about the wonderful people of Maine. I can't believe it.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maybe he's better off with Twitter as an outlet.
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
he says there's "A smaller number of you know what."
This definitely needs a real or fake tag.
posted by diogenes at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
This definitely needs a real or fake tag.
posted by diogenes at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
"[Trump] wanted to give his hotel business a boost, and now we’re praying that Cleveland makes it through July."
-- Pres. Obama
Near's I've been able to determine, not only did Trump use a helicopter to travel* a distance of half a mile in while in Cleveland for the RNC, he never spent the night in town. I guess he didn't want to give the competition the business.
----------------
* The choreographed scene of Pence 'welcoming' Trump to Cleveland took place on the (green) roof of the parking garage of the Great Lakes Science Center (museum). Trump had just landed in his jet at Burke Lakefront Airport. That's about half a mile away, as the crow flies. There's no place closer to Quicken Loans Area to land a helo, so he definitely was never able to use it to travel from the airport to the Q -- about a mile and a half by car. So the whole purpose of even bringing a helo to Cleveland was to make this 1/2 mile flight, to be welcomed to a town he'd just visited and left the day before, by a man who didn't live there or represent the place -- and then two minutes later, get into a car and be driven a mile and half to the convention venue.
posted by Herodios at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
-- Pres. Obama
Near's I've been able to determine, not only did Trump use a helicopter to travel* a distance of half a mile in while in Cleveland for the RNC, he never spent the night in town. I guess he didn't want to give the competition the business.
----------------
* The choreographed scene of Pence 'welcoming' Trump to Cleveland took place on the (green) roof of the parking garage of the Great Lakes Science Center (museum). Trump had just landed in his jet at Burke Lakefront Airport. That's about half a mile away, as the crow flies. There's no place closer to Quicken Loans Area to land a helo, so he definitely was never able to use it to travel from the airport to the Q -- about a mile and a half by car. So the whole purpose of even bringing a helo to Cleveland was to make this 1/2 mile flight, to be welcomed to a town he'd just visited and left the day before, by a man who didn't live there or represent the place -- and then two minutes later, get into a car and be driven a mile and half to the convention venue.
posted by Herodios at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
So Trump is a cannibal, that explains so many things.
It's all a viral ploy for NBC secretly bringing back both The Apprentice and Hannibal.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
It's all a viral ploy for NBC secretly bringing back both The Apprentice and Hannibal.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
A smaller number of you know what
...is he talking about electoral votes?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:16 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
...is he talking about electoral votes?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:16 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
he says there's "A smaller number of you know what."
Vermonters!
posted by drezdn at 1:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Would really hope for some follow up questions from journalists on this.
posted by Artw at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
oooh a harshly worded facebook post!
posted by maggiemaggie at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by maggiemaggie at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
OK, this is something everyone should see: a video of the behavior at Trump rallies. From the NYT.
That article's been posted at least a couple of times now, and I have to ask, is anyone really shocked or surprised by that kind of behavior? Because the attitudes on display there are pretty typical of conservatives where I'm from.
I am so glad to be living on the other side of the state now.
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
That article's been posted at least a couple of times now, and I have to ask, is anyone really shocked or surprised by that kind of behavior? Because the attitudes on display there are pretty typical of conservatives where I'm from.
I am so glad to be living on the other side of the state now.
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wow, Paul Ryan's Republican challenger is really riding the Trump train.
posted by drezdn at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by drezdn at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Are these rallys recorded? He said it twice. I'm having an out-of-body experience.
**Just ended with the traditional Stones, You Can't Always Get What You Want.**
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
**Just ended with the traditional Stones, You Can't Always Get What You Want.**
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump logic: Germany, 1940, terrorist state. Therefore turn back Jewish refugees.
(Note: in trying to make this point, I realize I'm glossing over how many countries including the US did turn back Jewish refugees)
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
(Note: in trying to make this point, I realize I'm glossing over how many countries including the US did turn back Jewish refugees)
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
A smaller number of you know what.
Hodge-Podge: You know, themposted by murphy slaw at 1:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Milo: Rice-a-roni?
Hodge-Podge: No, THEM
Milo: Hills?
(from the article linked above - For the first time in 128 years, Harvard Republican Club refuses to endorse Republican candidate.)
posted by maggiemaggie at 1:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by maggiemaggie at 1:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Quick, someone who tweets start #youknowwhat with a long list of things Maine has fewer of.
(Fewer than where, though? Need clarification before maximum twitter effectiveness.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
(Fewer than where, though? Need clarification before maximum twitter effectiveness.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Dear God, the words "you people" sunk Perot and he thought he was trying to be nice. "Of you know what" is not a dog whistle, that's what a racist uncle says at Thanksgiving when his niece in college is giving him a Look and he's not drunk enough to start the argument yet.
He'll say he meant "liberals" or something, I know.
posted by Countess Elena at 1:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
He'll say he meant "liberals" or something, I know.
posted by Countess Elena at 1:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
Hang on, did he think he was at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? Did he mean Voldemort? I'm pretty sure Voldemort isn't in Maine, so we're good.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Mike Coffman, R-CO, says he "[doesn't] care for [Trump] much" and will "stand up" to Trump if he becomes President.
It's cynical and self-serving and weaksauce, of course – but every GOP politician who comes out publicly against Trump provides cover for others to do the same.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
It's cynical and self-serving and weaksauce, of course – but every GOP politician who comes out publicly against Trump provides cover for others to do the same.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Well, he just has to say he meant undocumented immigrants or muslims and he's back to safe territory that hasn't hurt him yet.
posted by dis_integration at 1:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dis_integration at 1:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Every time I try to start making popcorn at the latest Trumpfire, I remember that a majority of white people in this country are going to vote for Donald Trump for President in three months.
That's fucked up.
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
That's fucked up.
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
Forget it. Every human being on earth will know he meant black people and he'll say "liberals" or something. Can't win with evil crazy people, just have to boot them out of your life.
posted by argybarg at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Next time Trump brags about the size of his rallies, someone should show him pics from Obama's rallies in late 2008. (IIRC, there was one in Madison with at least 500,000 people)
I don't live in Chi, but for purely business reasons arranged far in advance, I happened to be in Chicago on election night 2008* and walked down to Grant Park with several hundred thousand of my close personal friends for Obama's victory speech.
It was yuuuge.
-------------------
* Yes I Did vote absentee before I left home.
posted by Herodios at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
I don't live in Chi, but for purely business reasons arranged far in advance, I happened to be in Chicago on election night 2008* and walked down to Grant Park with several hundred thousand of my close personal friends for Obama's victory speech.
It was yuuuge.
-------------------
* Yes I Did vote absentee before I left home.
posted by Herodios at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
At this point my biggest fear is that Trump backs out.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
Maybe he meant Canadians because you never know what might happen if Maine relaxes it's vigilance.
Hordes of Shirtless Canadians might cross over the border from Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
posted by vuron at 1:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Hordes of Shirtless Canadians might cross over the border from Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
posted by vuron at 1:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Every time I try to start making popcorn at the latest Trumpfire, I remember that a majority of white people in this country are going to vote for Donald Trump for President in three months.
Diverse demographics FTW though! And will continue to win as a trend over time!
posted by zutalors! at 1:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I appreciate that people mean well, but people being like "oh no what if Trump backs out and we have to run a real election without a hell-fascist" make me cry on the inside.
posted by corb at 1:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [41 favorites]
posted by corb at 1:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [41 favorites]
Hordes of Shirtless Canadians might cross over the border
as long as Justin Trudeau is leading the crowd.
He can wear as little clothing as he wants as far as I'm concerned
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
as long as Justin Trudeau is leading the crowd.
He can wear as little clothing as he wants as far as I'm concerned
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
OK, this is something everyone should see: a video of the behavior at Trump rallies. From the NYT.
That article's been posted at least a couple of times now,
Has it? The NYT just put it up yesterday. It is the result of a lengthy investigation they did, and I have to say it took some guts to capture these people on video. We all need to take a look if we haven't already.
posted by bearwife at 1:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
That article's been posted at least a couple of times now,
Has it? The NYT just put it up yesterday. It is the result of a lengthy investigation they did, and I have to say it took some guts to capture these people on video. We all need to take a look if we haven't already.
posted by bearwife at 1:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
No offense, corb, but Cruz is about as scary to me.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [55 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [55 favorites]
At this point my biggest fear is that Trump backs out.
Thatwould will just bring us back to: Cruz? Romney? Kasich? Pence??
Not a problem, there's no one that doesn't represent the same core values as the Trumpfire. The party is irrevocably broken in obvious ways, and a new candidate won't make us unsee what we've seen in the last few months.
posted by Dashy at 1:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
That
Not a problem, there's no one that doesn't represent the same core values as the Trumpfire. The party is irrevocably broken in obvious ways, and a new candidate won't make us unsee what we've seen in the last few months.
posted by Dashy at 1:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
More to the point, corb, what was the inside scoop on the balloon drop?
posted by argybarg at 1:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 1:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
It just feels like "I know minorities and immigrants of all kinds will feel safer and children will stop being affected by this and it won't be cool to be a racist anymore and the Overton window will stop shifting, but then it might just be a normal election and not a holocaust-averting one and we might actually lose!" It feels like it's coming from the privilege of not having to live with the consequences of being an outsider in Trump-candidate's America.
posted by corb at 1:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by corb at 1:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Did anyone get the exact quote about Maine? Seeing just a couple references to it on Twitter.
posted by waitingtoderail at 1:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by waitingtoderail at 1:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
CNN contributor (and Trump supporter) compares Trump's campaign to Chris Farley's final days.
“Look, Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich say they’re planning an intervention. Sign me up,” joked Phillips, a CNN contributor. "I’ll bring Dr. Drew, the burlap sack and the station wagon, because this guy needs to get back on track.”posted by maudlin at 1:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
For the first time in 128 years, Harvard Republican Club refuses to endorse Republican candidate.
Well, Old Money usually has a bit of a problem with the nouveau riche rabble anyhow.
posted by aught at 1:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Well, Old Money usually has a bit of a problem with the nouveau riche rabble anyhow.
posted by aught at 1:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Snoop Dogg is just plain horrible. One really disgusting sexist joke after another. I didn't last to the Trump part.
posted by bearwife at 1:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 1:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
A smaller number of you know what.
He clarified right after. He said he meant electoral votes. (Just like he meant out of her nose.)
posted by Don Pepino at 1:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
He clarified right after. He said he meant electoral votes. (Just like he meant out of her nose.)
posted by Don Pepino at 1:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I hope Trump backs out on Oct. 15.
Which happens to be National Grouch Day.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Which happens to be National Grouch Day.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
He clarified right after. He said he meant electoral votes.
But what would that have to do with him visiting Maine a lot?
posted by waitingtoderail at 1:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
But what would that have to do with him visiting Maine a lot?
posted by waitingtoderail at 1:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is as inappropos as can be, but this gif of Ms. Clinton hitting a bong before addressing the nation is cracking me up. https://66.media.tumblr.com/72ed38079f184ac341d00804ffb98983/tumblr_obaqkdV84i1s02vreo1_400.gif
posted by glhaynes at 1:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by glhaynes at 1:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Hillary, to some animal rights protestors: "Trump and his kids have killed a lot of animals."
Not an amazing zinger, but just juicy knowing Trump is going to needlessly detonate this into an inadvertent war on his own children.
posted by argybarg at 1:34 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Not an amazing zinger, but just juicy knowing Trump is going to needlessly detonate this into an inadvertent war on his own children.
posted by argybarg at 1:34 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
It feels like it's coming from the privilege of not having to live with the consequences of being an outsider in Trump-candidate's America.
The exact same people who are outsiders in "Trump-candidate's America" will be outsiders no matter who the GOP candidate is. He's only the symptom, not the disease. No matter who it is, they would stand by by normalizing voter suppression in the name of "voting rights" laws, attacking Obama as an anti-white radical Islamic socialist, portraying PoC as violent thugs, blaming poverty on the poor rather than the inequalities of the system, and many other vile acts.
It's time to face the fact that the problem isn't Trump, it's American conservatism, who have spent decades creating this monster only to realize that it's no longer under their control.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
The exact same people who are outsiders in "Trump-candidate's America" will be outsiders no matter who the GOP candidate is. He's only the symptom, not the disease. No matter who it is, they would stand by by normalizing voter suppression in the name of "voting rights" laws, attacking Obama as an anti-white radical Islamic socialist, portraying PoC as violent thugs, blaming poverty on the poor rather than the inequalities of the system, and many other vile acts.
It's time to face the fact that the problem isn't Trump, it's American conservatism, who have spent decades creating this monster only to realize that it's no longer under their control.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
Because you want less electoral votes
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
A smaller number of you know what.
I don't know what. What was being implied here?
posted by mazola at 1:37 PM on August 4, 2016
I don't know what. What was being implied here?
posted by mazola at 1:37 PM on August 4, 2016
Snoop Dogg is just plain horrible. One really disgusting sexist joke after another. I didn't last to the Trump part.
Yeah that is fucking gross. the first 4:40 of the 6-minute video is a nothing but a sick litany of fat-shaming, slut-shaming and homophobia. He literally doesn't mention Trump until less than 90 seconds from the end.
posted by dersins at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Yeah that is fucking gross. the first 4:40 of the 6-minute video is a nothing but a sick litany of fat-shaming, slut-shaming and homophobia. He literally doesn't mention Trump until less than 90 seconds from the end.
posted by dersins at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
I don't know what. What was being implied here?
Well, it has one of the lowest populations of African-Americans, so . . .
posted by waitingtoderail at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, it has one of the lowest populations of African-Americans, so . . .
posted by waitingtoderail at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maine is 95% white.
posted by theodolite at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by theodolite at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2016
What was being implied here?
Maine is one of the whitest states in the US.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maine is one of the whitest states in the US.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
At this point my biggest fear is that Trump backs out.
No one knows how this thing is going to play out, but my gut tells me that the GOP is screwed this year no matter what. If Trump does drop out, and they manage to find some other candidate – it's not like that suddenly fixes their problems. This entire fiasco has been an excruciating, highly public, year-long bed-shitting for the Republican brand, and a historic eleventh-hour departure by their standard-bearer is only going to cement the narrative that the party is imploding. People who voted for Trump in the primary will be furious, and will probably blame the party establishment even if Trump quits of his own accord. Those who backed Trump will face heavy fire – and so will those who didn't, and those who waffled.
Isn't it too late for them to get a replacement candidate on most states' ballots, anyway?
I don't know what. What was being implied here?
Minorities, although which minorities he was referring to depends on context. This is a standard plausibly-deniable way for racists to say racist things when they think they're in sympathetic company.
The best answer, should you find yourself hearing this, is to play dumb. "Sorry; I don't know what you mean. Which people are you referring to?" Force 'em to say it out loud.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
No one knows how this thing is going to play out, but my gut tells me that the GOP is screwed this year no matter what. If Trump does drop out, and they manage to find some other candidate – it's not like that suddenly fixes their problems. This entire fiasco has been an excruciating, highly public, year-long bed-shitting for the Republican brand, and a historic eleventh-hour departure by their standard-bearer is only going to cement the narrative that the party is imploding. People who voted for Trump in the primary will be furious, and will probably blame the party establishment even if Trump quits of his own accord. Those who backed Trump will face heavy fire – and so will those who didn't, and those who waffled.
Isn't it too late for them to get a replacement candidate on most states' ballots, anyway?
I don't know what. What was being implied here?
Minorities, although which minorities he was referring to depends on context. This is a standard plausibly-deniable way for racists to say racist things when they think they're in sympathetic company.
The best answer, should you find yourself hearing this, is to play dumb. "Sorry; I don't know what you mean. Which people are you referring to?" Force 'em to say it out loud.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
OK, this is something everyone should see: a video of the behavior at Trump rallies. From the NYT.
That article's been posted at least a couple of times now,
Has it? The NYT just put it up yesterday.''
Pretty sure. I saw it last night, and I'm almost positive it was linked from this very thread...
[Ctrl-F: NYT]
D'OH!
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 1:40 PM on August 4, 2016
That article's been posted at least a couple of times now,
Has it? The NYT just put it up yesterday.''
Pretty sure. I saw it last night, and I'm almost positive it was linked from this very thread...
[Ctrl-F: NYT]
D'OH!
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 1:40 PM on August 4, 2016
The bong gif is indeed very amusing.
posted by OmieWise at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by OmieWise at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
It just feels like "I know minorities and immigrants of all kinds will feel safer and children will stop being affected by this and it won't be cool to be a racist anymore and the Overton window will stop shifting, but then it might just be a normal election and not a holocaust-averting one and we might actually lose!" It feels like it's coming from the privilege of not having to live with the consequences of being an outsider in Trump-candidate's America.
Trump-candidate America is the America we live in now. Immigrants and minorities are absolutely going to be less safe even if Trump were to keel over tomorrow from a heart attack.
I appreciate what the NeverTrumpers (including those present) stood for within the GOP; but the Republican Party allowed this to happen, including those few who stood up to Trump this spring and summer. We minorities and immigrants are, for the foreseeable future, less safe as a result of the forces that party unleashed, and all Republicans own that.
Things have been broken and torn that will take a lot of time to heal. At this point, the best way to start that process is to have the biggest Democratic win possible. If that means Trump staying around for another three months -- that may be the best of a lot of very shitty options if it leads to a Hillary landslide.
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [32 favorites]
Trump-candidate America is the America we live in now. Immigrants and minorities are absolutely going to be less safe even if Trump were to keel over tomorrow from a heart attack.
I appreciate what the NeverTrumpers (including those present) stood for within the GOP; but the Republican Party allowed this to happen, including those few who stood up to Trump this spring and summer. We minorities and immigrants are, for the foreseeable future, less safe as a result of the forces that party unleashed, and all Republicans own that.
Things have been broken and torn that will take a lot of time to heal. At this point, the best way to start that process is to have the biggest Democratic win possible. If that means Trump staying around for another three months -- that may be the best of a lot of very shitty options if it leads to a Hillary landslide.
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [32 favorites]
Maybe he meant Canadians because you never know what might happen if Maine relaxes it's vigilance.
Hordes of Shirtless Canadians might cross over the border from Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Oh, I would like to sign up for that reality, please.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Hordes of Shirtless Canadians might cross over the border from Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Oh, I would like to sign up for that reality, please.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
State filing deadlines for ballot registration are nearly all past, I think, so wouldn't it be mostly impossible for the GOP to replace Trump with someone else? Republicans could push a write-in candidate, I guess, but that would probably be as much as disaster for them as a brand as continuing to let Trump run. "Please remember to pencil us in."
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2016
In talking about Maine and what a wonderful place and how he loves it, he says there's "A smaller number of you know what."
The sad thing is, there are so many minority groups that he could plausibly mean by "you-know-what."
posted by zarq at 1:42 PM on August 4, 2016
The sad thing is, there are so many minority groups that he could plausibly mean by "you-know-what."
posted by zarq at 1:42 PM on August 4, 2016
The really crazy thing, if Trump drops out, is that the third parties will suddenly be competing on equal footing with the Democrats. Johnson could attract plenty of votes from the fiscal-conservative wing of the GOP; I'd expect to see him with the strongest showing. I don't see any of them prevailing over Clinton, though – the vote would be too split.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:42 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:42 PM on August 4, 2016
I think the understanding is that early September is the absolute latest the GOP could switch Trump's name for someone else's. Not gonna happen though.
posted by argybarg at 1:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by argybarg at 1:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's time to face the fact that the problem isn't Trump, it's American conservatism
I can't remember a lot of elementary school kids -- legal citizens, some of them-- being driven to tears because they're terrified their families will be deported by the next president before Trump. Can't remember teenagers bringing big "border wall" signs to high school sports events. Can't remember overt racism being spewed by huge crowds at rallies before Trump. Not since before I was born, at least.
Yes, replacing Trump might help stop the bleeding for conservatives in this country. It might, in the end, make this election a little tighter. And yes, the dog whistles will probably continue.
It would also end a lot of the pain that Trump and the awful behavior he has unleashed is causing to real people right now. It would tell the ugliest of his supporters that this shit isn't even going to make it to the finish line.
Pulling Trump out of the running now would be a good thing all around, and if the Republican party sees some benefit from that, gosh, that's fucking tragic, but it's not nearly as tragic as what's happening to America right now.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
I can't remember a lot of elementary school kids -- legal citizens, some of them-- being driven to tears because they're terrified their families will be deported by the next president before Trump. Can't remember teenagers bringing big "border wall" signs to high school sports events. Can't remember overt racism being spewed by huge crowds at rallies before Trump. Not since before I was born, at least.
Yes, replacing Trump might help stop the bleeding for conservatives in this country. It might, in the end, make this election a little tighter. And yes, the dog whistles will probably continue.
It would also end a lot of the pain that Trump and the awful behavior he has unleashed is causing to real people right now. It would tell the ugliest of his supporters that this shit isn't even going to make it to the finish line.
Pulling Trump out of the running now would be a good thing all around, and if the Republican party sees some benefit from that, gosh, that's fucking tragic, but it's not nearly as tragic as what's happening to America right now.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
Tulsi Gabbard, previously a hero of the BoBers, has endorsed Clinton for President. I've stopped hate reading BoBer stuff so I don't know whether she is a traitor now.
posted by Justinian at 1:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
This is a standard plausibly-deniable way for racists to say racist things when they think they're in sympathetic company.
It's almost a shame that Hillary is beating Trump so handily with the "you know whats" (literally every plausible group), otherwise it would have made a great ad.
posted by acidic at 1:45 PM on August 4, 2016
It's almost a shame that Hillary is beating Trump so handily with the "you know whats" (literally every plausible group), otherwise it would have made a great ad.
posted by acidic at 1:45 PM on August 4, 2016
> Not a problem, there's no one that doesn't represent the same core values as the Trumpfire. The party is irrevocably broken in obvious ways, and a new candidate won't make us unsee what we've seen in the last few months.
So here's what I think. I think the RNC should double down on the pro-wrestling aesthetic that Trump has established/taken advantage of. As such, they should bring in Romney as face to Trump's heel. The production and stagecraft involved in the announcement is crucial, though.
As I see it, Romney must interrupt a Trump rally by riding a literal white horse up to the podium, Book of Mormon in one hand, U.S. Constitution in the other, surrounded by swirling clouds of dry ice fog, backlit such that it appears as though he has an actual halo.
And then the two men must wrestle.
The contest will end with Romney pinning Trump and taking his hair — and with it, the Republican nomination.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [57 favorites]
So here's what I think. I think the RNC should double down on the pro-wrestling aesthetic that Trump has established/taken advantage of. As such, they should bring in Romney as face to Trump's heel. The production and stagecraft involved in the announcement is crucial, though.
As I see it, Romney must interrupt a Trump rally by riding a literal white horse up to the podium, Book of Mormon in one hand, U.S. Constitution in the other, surrounded by swirling clouds of dry ice fog, backlit such that it appears as though he has an actual halo.
And then the two men must wrestle.
The contest will end with Romney pinning Trump and taking his hair — and with it, the Republican nomination.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [57 favorites]
Tulsi Gabbard, previously a hero of the BoBers, has endorsed Clinton for President. I've stopped hate reading BoBer stuff so I don't know whether she is a traitor now.
The entire r/Political_Revolution (new r/sfp) thread is about the "fact" that the words "I will be casting my vote for Hillary" doesn't equal an endorsement.
posted by acidic at 1:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
The entire r/Political_Revolution (new r/sfp) thread is about the "fact" that the words "I will be casting my vote for Hillary" doesn't equal an endorsement.
posted by acidic at 1:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Replacing Trump would alleviate a lot of the immediate fear and pain that his racist, mispgynist, fascist campaign has caused, but it wouldn't do anything about the underlying causes of that pain, all of which have to do with the Republican policies of the last thirty years.
When you break your leg, you need a pain killer. But that's not all you need. If you don't get it set, you're fucked anyway.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
When you break your leg, you need a pain killer. But that's not all you need. If you don't get it set, you're fucked anyway.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
I think the understanding is that early September is the absolute latest the GOP could switch Trump's name for someone else's.
Depends on the state. I believe GA's is tomorrow.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:48 PM on August 4, 2016
Depends on the state. I believe GA's is tomorrow.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:48 PM on August 4, 2016
And Trump ejects protestors displaying pocket Constitutions.
Yup. He went there.
posted by NoxAeternum at 1:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [31 favorites]
Yup. He went there.
posted by NoxAeternum at 1:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [31 favorites]
Speaking of mighty women, Emily's List just sent me an inspiring video highlighting (pro choice) woman Senators.
posted by bearwife at 1:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 1:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
CNN contributor (and Trump supporter) compares Trump's campaign to Chris Farley's final days.
God, that's chilling.
What are the odds that he's an addict, or having an honest-to-god mental breakdown?
posted by schmod at 1:52 PM on August 4, 2016
God, that's chilling.
What are the odds that he's an addict, or having an honest-to-god mental breakdown?
posted by schmod at 1:52 PM on August 4, 2016
Yeah, I missed the first part and I'm watching it, now. Lots of protest. Those Mainers are brave.
posted by Don Pepino at 1:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 1:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
> It would also end a lot of the pain that Trump and the awful behavior he has unleashed is causing to real people right now. It would tell the ugliest of his supporters that this shit isn't even going to make it to the finish line.
Okay, so, pro-wrestling aside, I don't think the Republicans ditching Trump would end any of this. The real tragedy of the rise of Trumpism in America is that it's a bell that can't exactly be un-rung; if the establishment arranged to swap out Trump for someone else obviously white supremacist and less obviously unhinged, Trump's base (which is small, but rabid and violent) would correctly interpret it as a screwjob and would (I suspect) abandon the ballot box and the soap box for the ammo box.
White supremacist Trumpism has to lose. But it has to lose decisively, and it has to lose by means that appear clean, transparent, and democratic — at least insofar as cleanness, transparency, and democracy are possible in this fallen world.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
Okay, so, pro-wrestling aside, I don't think the Republicans ditching Trump would end any of this. The real tragedy of the rise of Trumpism in America is that it's a bell that can't exactly be un-rung; if the establishment arranged to swap out Trump for someone else obviously white supremacist and less obviously unhinged, Trump's base (which is small, but rabid and violent) would correctly interpret it as a screwjob and would (I suspect) abandon the ballot box and the soap box for the ammo box.
White supremacist Trumpism has to lose. But it has to lose decisively, and it has to lose by means that appear clean, transparent, and democratic — at least insofar as cleanness, transparency, and democracy are possible in this fallen world.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
It's been talked about in these threads quite a bit, but there are rumors that Trump takes Phentermine, a stimulent diet drug. Here's some of the "less common" side effects:
Confusion
Depression
Dysphoria (extreme anger, also known as 'phen rage')
Irritability
Nervousness
Psychosis
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Confusion
Depression
Dysphoria (extreme anger, also known as 'phen rage')
Irritability
Nervousness
Psychosis
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm torn. On one hand: for months, even years, the media and the public have parroted whatever Trump says, so long as it made headlines. He got so much free coverage with no hard questions asked. He got support because "he tells the TRUTH".
It's only recently, the last month or two, that the media and the country have been stepping up. I've seen many direct corrections to his stupid errant wishful statements. People are really talking about immigration and trade and xenophobia and misogyny. The WaPo stepped up to investigate (read: check facts) whether he had actually made the donations to veteran's groups that he'd claimed (and been credited with, largely on his word). I'm looking forward to similar critical readings of his business dealings and what we know about his tax returns. We're getting past clickbait.
We need this to become ingrained. We need this to form habits. It can't be the one flash in the pan that was quickly whitewashed (no pun intended) with a new candidate. We need this to be more than the sum of its parts and moments.
On the other hand, I recognize that his candidacy alone has serious risks and damages to the lives, liberties and happiness of many, many people in this country. Those lives matter.
posted by Dashy at 1:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
It's only recently, the last month or two, that the media and the country have been stepping up. I've seen many direct corrections to his stupid errant wishful statements. People are really talking about immigration and trade and xenophobia and misogyny. The WaPo stepped up to investigate (read: check facts) whether he had actually made the donations to veteran's groups that he'd claimed (and been credited with, largely on his word). I'm looking forward to similar critical readings of his business dealings and what we know about his tax returns. We're getting past clickbait.
We need this to become ingrained. We need this to form habits. It can't be the one flash in the pan that was quickly whitewashed (no pun intended) with a new candidate. We need this to be more than the sum of its parts and moments.
On the other hand, I recognize that his candidacy alone has serious risks and damages to the lives, liberties and happiness of many, many people in this country. Those lives matter.
posted by Dashy at 1:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
yeah I used to sort of like Snoop because yay weed but that roast yuck
posted by angrycat at 1:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 1:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Trump can't be replaced because he'd look like a loser and he can't stomach that which is why he and some proxies like Hannity are already floating the betrayed by the party narrative because the movement cannot fail it can only be failed.
Even if the Republicans wanted to replace Trump at the eleventh hour how do you present that as anything other than the Republicans being weak and indecisive?
A lot of Trump's base can't abide losers which is why they are flocking to the false narrative of Trump being the biggest winner of all. Anything that attacks that image could undermine that and they are going to resist any attempt to replace the King Bully this election cycle because for the first time in a long time someone is going full White Male ID and they love it
posted by vuron at 1:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Even if the Republicans wanted to replace Trump at the eleventh hour how do you present that as anything other than the Republicans being weak and indecisive?
A lot of Trump's base can't abide losers which is why they are flocking to the false narrative of Trump being the biggest winner of all. Anything that attacks that image could undermine that and they are going to resist any attempt to replace the King Bully this election cycle because for the first time in a long time someone is going full White Male ID and they love it
posted by vuron at 1:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
"many of the political conspiracies that white people fear in America today have already happened — and continue to happen — to black people"
It's as though these white people believe they are categorically superior to blacks, and as they feel themselves sinking economically they want to push the people 'below' them down to keep their own heads above water. It reminds me of the part of Roots where it talks about poor whites feeling a deep and intense resentment because they were starving while slaves were often well fed. Like they get some security from believing there are classes of people 'below' them.
Inequality is their safety net.
posted by thetruthisjustalie at 1:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's as though these white people believe they are categorically superior to blacks, and as they feel themselves sinking economically they want to push the people 'below' them down to keep their own heads above water. It reminds me of the part of Roots where it talks about poor whites feeling a deep and intense resentment because they were starving while slaves were often well fed. Like they get some security from believing there are classes of people 'below' them.
Inequality is their safety net.
posted by thetruthisjustalie at 1:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I was clearly thinking of something else because what I'm seeing described here as the content of that roast is gross as hell. No idea what I was thinking of.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
ugh i only watched the trump part, sorry folks.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
the RNC should double down on the pro-wrestling aesthetic . . . Romney must interrupt a Trump rally by riding a literal white horse . . . And then the two men must wrestle. . . .
Oh, like Alan Bates and Oliver Reed in Ken Russell's Women In Love?
--------------------------------
[NSFW!] www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzHNyPwAIEo [NSFW!]
posted by Herodios at 2:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, like Alan Bates and Oliver Reed in Ken Russell's Women In Love?
--------------------------------
[NSFW!] www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzHNyPwAIEo [NSFW!]
posted by Herodios at 2:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ugh let's not imply that people taking phentermine are all prone to mania because that's simply not true.
It would be like implying that everyone who takes Adderall are speed freaks, not cool.
posted by vuron at 2:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
It would be like implying that everyone who takes Adderall are speed freaks, not cool.
posted by vuron at 2:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Nobody implied that.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 2:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 2:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
When and why did CNN become terrible? Anybody know?
posted by Spathe Cadet at 2:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 2:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
So here's the part where he says "you know what".
Pretty clear from the context that he's talking about electoral votes. (He follows up with "only four").
posted by murphy slaw at 2:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Pretty clear from the context that he's talking about electoral votes. (He follows up with "only four").
posted by murphy slaw at 2:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
It just feels like "I know minorities and immigrants of all kinds will feel safer and children will stop being affected by this and it won't be cool to be a racist anymore and the Overton window will stop shifting, but then it might just be a normal election and not a holocaust-averting one and we might actually lose!" It feels like it's coming from the privilege of not having to live with the consequences of being an outsider in Trump-candidate's America.
I think this assumes facts not in evidence. I don't see the hate fallout from Trump being some perishable item where if he stops showing up on the tv and saying things they'll dry up. He's - well, I started to say opened a door but that's not true. He's picked up the loaded gun that the GOP has been waving around for years, the last eight in particular with stuff like seekrt muslim and birth certificate and doesn't love america and has used it to rally people who have been feasting on the government is illegitimate and the courts are forcing depravity on you.
He's riled them all up with this talk and provided a focal point, but how much of this do we think is going to just go away if he stops being the nom? Maybe the incidents at the rallies, since they won't happen, but he's entered the zeitgeist here. Maybe if he drops out we dodge possible post-election violence/riots/whatever fed by this stolen election talk, but that also presumes we don't just get it right at the moment he drops/is forced out.
And if we're going to pie-in-the-sky here about what good comes from him being out before the election I think we need to give equal weight to what good might come from a loss. I am inclined to think there can be some value to a repudiation, be it small or large.
Trump candidate's America is America, whether he's the candidate or not.
posted by phearlez at 2:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
I think this assumes facts not in evidence. I don't see the hate fallout from Trump being some perishable item where if he stops showing up on the tv and saying things they'll dry up. He's - well, I started to say opened a door but that's not true. He's picked up the loaded gun that the GOP has been waving around for years, the last eight in particular with stuff like seekrt muslim and birth certificate and doesn't love america and has used it to rally people who have been feasting on the government is illegitimate and the courts are forcing depravity on you.
He's riled them all up with this talk and provided a focal point, but how much of this do we think is going to just go away if he stops being the nom? Maybe the incidents at the rallies, since they won't happen, but he's entered the zeitgeist here. Maybe if he drops out we dodge possible post-election violence/riots/whatever fed by this stolen election talk, but that also presumes we don't just get it right at the moment he drops/is forced out.
And if we're going to pie-in-the-sky here about what good comes from him being out before the election I think we need to give equal weight to what good might come from a loss. I am inclined to think there can be some value to a repudiation, be it small or large.
Trump candidate's America is America, whether he's the candidate or not.
posted by phearlez at 2:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Racism has been a tool used by white elites to keep down both the white underclass and minorities under control.
posted by vuron at 2:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by vuron at 2:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
CNN has been terrible for a really long time.
posted by palomar at 2:04 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by palomar at 2:04 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
> Pretty clear from the context that he's talking about electoral votes. (He follows up with "only four").
Maine might also have exactly four Muslims. It’s possible.
posted by savetheclocktower at 2:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Maine might also have exactly four Muslims. It’s possible.
posted by savetheclocktower at 2:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm not implying that all people who take any medication are all going to experience severe side-effects.
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:05 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:05 PM on August 4, 2016
Donald Trump lives, works, eats and employs people of all races and religions, archive.org link in case the original gets edited.
Some quotes deserve to be saved for posterity.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Some quotes deserve to be saved for posterity.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Nah, after that he starts talking about how people are saying he won't take the whole state - "not four, but maybe one".
I mean he might have started out with "you know what" as a dog whistle but his deniability is pretty plausible here.
posted by murphy slaw at 2:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I mean he might have started out with "you know what" as a dog whistle but his deniability is pretty plausible here.
posted by murphy slaw at 2:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Whenever I feel cranky about CNN it always cheers me up to watch Wolf Blitzer humiliate himself on Jeopardy
posted by theodolite at 2:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 2:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
This will make a pretty good Downfall video. Probably only have to change the names and places in the subtitles.
posted by Devonian at 2:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 2:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Same poll, last month: Clinton +3
posted by argybarg at 2:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 2:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
When and why did CNN become terrible? Anybody know?
posted by Spathe Cadet at 2:02 PM on August 4 [+] [!]
Probably the Gulf War. Though I may have just been too young to recognize their awfulness before then.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 2:02 PM on August 4 [+] [!]
Probably the Gulf War. Though I may have just been too young to recognize their awfulness before then.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also note:
From August thru November, no poll had Obama leading Romney by more than 9%.
Past 3 days: Clinton +9% (CNN), +10% (Fox), +15% (Marist).
posted by argybarg at 2:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
From August thru November, no poll had Obama leading Romney by more than 9%.
Past 3 days: Clinton +9% (CNN), +10% (Fox), +15% (Marist).
posted by argybarg at 2:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
It reminds me of the part of Roots where it talks about poor whites feeling a deep and intense resentment because they were starving while slaves were often well fed. Like they get some security from believing there are classes of people 'below' them.
I'm not sure this is accurate. (Roots is problematic as a social history source...)
I do know that poor whites in the South were consistently tied into the economic system of slavery (and later sharecropping, etc.); they got paid to oversee black laborers, to capture and punish resisters and runaways.
This does a couple things: it gives more people a financial stake in the system of white supremacy; it divides the working class by creating an intermediate class between the landed elite and the slave/ex-slave class; and it provides a self-perpetuating psychological boost to the white working class.
It is a deeply rooted thing.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm not sure this is accurate. (Roots is problematic as a social history source...)
I do know that poor whites in the South were consistently tied into the economic system of slavery (and later sharecropping, etc.); they got paid to oversee black laborers, to capture and punish resisters and runaways.
This does a couple things: it gives more people a financial stake in the system of white supremacy; it divides the working class by creating an intermediate class between the landed elite and the slave/ex-slave class; and it provides a self-perpetuating psychological boost to the white working class.
It is a deeply rooted thing.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
15 points!
And with the Dems deep bench pressing the advantage?
Goddamn I want me me an LBJ style national landslide.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
And with the Dems deep bench pressing the advantage?
Goddamn I want me me an LBJ style national landslide.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Well, Pence was willing to step up and endorse the Republican Speaker of the House, but apparently Senators McCain and Ayotte just aren't R enough. From ABC.
posted by bearwife at 2:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 2:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Potential Vice President Mike Pence Has Declined to Pardon an Innocent Man for 2 Years
Trumpian.
posted by Artw at 2:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Trumpian.
posted by Artw at 2:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
And none of the polls include the difference between a massive, state-of-the-art get-out-the-vote operation vs. the high-school-election job Trump has planned.
posted by argybarg at 2:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 2:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
also i had to watch way to much of that rally to find that, i'm gonna go walk my dog and try to wash it out of my brain
posted by murphy slaw at 2:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Well, Pence was willing to step up and endorse the Republican Speaker of the House, but apparently Senators McCain and Ayotte just aren't R enough. From ABC.
posted by bearwife at 2:10 PM on August 4
[1 favorite −] Favorite added! [!]
Sometimes I worry that after this GOP implosion I'll never be able to feel schadenfreude ever again.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 2:10 PM on August 4
[1 favorite −] Favorite added! [!]
Sometimes I worry that after this GOP implosion I'll never be able to feel schadenfreude ever again.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
It reminds me of the part of Roots where it talks about poor whites feeling a deep and intense resentment because they were starving while slaves were often well fed. Like they get some security from believing there are classes of people 'below' them.
"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you." ~posted by phearlez at 2:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
LYNDON B. JOHNSON, 1960, remark to Bill Moyers, "What a Real President Was Like," Washington Post, 13 November 1988
It's been talked about in these threads quite a bit, but there are rumors that Trump takes Phentermine, a stimulent diet drug. Here's some of the "less common" side effects:
Confusion
Depression
Dysphoria (extreme anger, also known as 'phen rage')
Irritability
Nervousness
Psychosis
Those are basically the side effects of abusing any stimulant. Could be cocaine, benzedrine, ephedra ("Mormon Tea"), meth, Adderall, bath salts. They aren't the normal effects of using stimulants properly. But taking stimulants long-term for energy is not proper use (except for my coffee abuse).
Trump talks a lot about his high-energy, which is startling for a guy of 70. I have no evidence but I don't see anything that would make this improbable.
posted by msalt at 2:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Confusion
Depression
Dysphoria (extreme anger, also known as 'phen rage')
Irritability
Nervousness
Psychosis
Those are basically the side effects of abusing any stimulant. Could be cocaine, benzedrine, ephedra ("Mormon Tea"), meth, Adderall, bath salts. They aren't the normal effects of using stimulants properly. But taking stimulants long-term for energy is not proper use (except for my coffee abuse).
Trump talks a lot about his high-energy, which is startling for a guy of 70. I have no evidence but I don't see anything that would make this improbable.
posted by msalt at 2:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
This will make a pretty good Downfall video. Probably only have to change the names and places in the subtitles.
I feel like you could just switch out the audio for Trump's standard stump speech and leave it at that.
posted by dersins at 2:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I feel like you could just switch out the audio for Trump's standard stump speech and leave it at that.
posted by dersins at 2:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
So here's the part where he says "you know what" yt .
Pretty clear from the context that he's talking about electoral votes. (He follows up with "only four").
I was perfectly prepared to believe that he was being super-racist (based on all his previous racism) but in this context I do think he's talking about electoral votes.
My sense is that he said "you know what" because he couldn't remember the words "electoral votes."
posted by pocketfullofrye at 2:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Pretty clear from the context that he's talking about electoral votes. (He follows up with "only four").
I was perfectly prepared to believe that he was being super-racist (based on all his previous racism) but in this context I do think he's talking about electoral votes.
My sense is that he said "you know what" because he couldn't remember the words "electoral votes."
posted by pocketfullofrye at 2:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
From the linked DailyKos article on the new poll:
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Clinton not only went up, but Trump went down. Clinton now has a 48-33 lead, a huge turnaround from her narrow 42-39 advantage last momth.Muphry's Law is inescapable.
and that word “momth” appears in original! In 4-way Clintom gets 45 percent, Trump 31, Johnson 10, and Stein 6.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
How Queen got Trump to stop using their music
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Oh FFS. Apparently the business owner who hosted Hillary earlier today, described as a Hillary supporting Republican, is now denying being either.
posted by acidic at 2:18 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by acidic at 2:18 PM on August 4, 2016
The internals on the poll are kind of shocking, too. Trump went from +14 to -8 among men.
We know he isn't, um, strong with non-white voters, but ye gods: She is far ahead with black voters, 93-2 percent, and with Latinos, 55-26 percent.
Has any national candidate for president polled at 2% with any major subgroup of voters?
posted by argybarg at 2:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
We know he isn't, um, strong with non-white voters, but ye gods: She is far ahead with black voters, 93-2 percent, and with Latinos, 55-26 percent.
Has any national candidate for president polled at 2% with any major subgroup of voters?
posted by argybarg at 2:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
We all know how accurate retail polling has been in recent years (Brexit comes to mind). It's still August. Polls are almost meaningless. Trump has until Labour Day to turn things around. Anything can happen. Likely he won't be able to turn around, but this is the silly season.
posted by My Dad at 2:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 2:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
What are the odds that he's an addict, or having an honest-to-god mental breakdown?
It really bothers me that anybody in a position of responsibility can be required to pass a drug test: pilot, bus driver, nurse, policeman, equipment operator, child care worker, teacher, etc. but not the guy interviewing for the job of Nuke Controller.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:20 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
It really bothers me that anybody in a position of responsibility can be required to pass a drug test: pilot, bus driver, nurse, policeman, equipment operator, child care worker, teacher, etc. but not the guy interviewing for the job of Nuke Controller.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:20 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
We all know how accurate retail polling has been in recent years (Brexit comes to mind).
The polls were pretty accurate actually.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 2:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
The polls were pretty accurate actually.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 2:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
Potential Vice President Mike Pence Has Declined to Pardon an Innocent Man for 2 Years
My Facebook feed filled up today with conservative middle-aged douchebro acquaintances from high school posting a graph something like this one showing that Obama has commuted more sentences than the nine previous presidents combined.
I kept commenting with things like "I know! Isn't it great that we have a president willing to push back at some small part of the racism baked into mandatory minimum sentences for minor drug offenses?"
Didn't go over great. Yelled at. Called names. Unfriended at least twice. Quel fucking dommage.
posted by dersins at 2:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [84 favorites]
My Facebook feed filled up today with conservative middle-aged douchebro acquaintances from high school posting a graph something like this one showing that Obama has commuted more sentences than the nine previous presidents combined.
I kept commenting with things like "I know! Isn't it great that we have a president willing to push back at some small part of the racism baked into mandatory minimum sentences for minor drug offenses?"
Didn't go over great. Yelled at. Called names. Unfriended at least twice. Quel fucking dommage.
posted by dersins at 2:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [84 favorites]
It really bothers me that anybody can be required to pass a drug test
posted by phearlez at 2:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 2:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
How Queen got Trump to stop using their music
Nice find, cheers.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 2:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Nice find, cheers.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 2:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
When and why did CNN become terrible? Anybody know?
When: Something like the early 90s, maybe?
Why: Because for-profit 24 hour news inevitably devolves into current events entertainment, but unlike other current events entertainment like The Daily Show they try to maintain a pretense that what they do is journalism.
posted by biogeo at 2:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
When: Something like the early 90s, maybe?
Why: Because for-profit 24 hour news inevitably devolves into current events entertainment, but unlike other current events entertainment like The Daily Show they try to maintain a pretense that what they do is journalism.
posted by biogeo at 2:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am having a hard time reconciling
Didn't go over great.
with
Unfriended at least twice.
posted by phearlez at 2:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Didn't go over great.
with
Unfriended at least twice.
posted by phearlez at 2:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
prize bull octorok: "Trump probably read one of those things "
i'm gonna have to stop you right there
posted by Rhaomi at 2:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
i'm gonna have to stop you right there
posted by Rhaomi at 2:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Obama giving a great press conference right now
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
"A Uz- Ubek... You know where that is? Do you know where it is? Huh? ...Ubek refugee living in Idaho was arrested and charged with providing support to a terrorist organization in the form of teaching terror, and this is what they do, teaching terror recruits how to build bombs. Oh, wonderful. Wonderful. I don't want 'em in this country. Wonderful. Wonderful. And by the way! You gotta turn these people in! You gotta turn, you know when you go to San Bernadino they had bombs all over the floor of the apartment. People saw those bombs, they didn't turn them in. Those people are guilty of a crime, believe me."
He can't pronounce the word Uzbek, clearly has not seen the word before this moment when he has to read it aloud to the state of Maine, and then before he feels any embarrassment over the gaffe, he turns it around on the audience. THEY'RE the dumb ones. "Do you know where it is? Huh?" Like he's talking to a small child. Then he forces out the "content" as well as he can through whatever it is that is causing his aphasia, and then he veers off into more how-stupid-are-you finger pointing. "You gotta turn 'em in or you're guilty of a crime."
"Do you know where it is?" What, do I know where Ubek is? No...? I know where Uzbeks are from, and since two seconds ago I know where Uzbekistan is because I just googled it, Donald, yes, I used the cyber. You know what, though? I want the POTUS to know where the hell it is. I for sure do want that. I want the POTUS to know where it is, and I want the POTUS to know how to say it, and I want the POTUS to know the difference between the word for the place and the word for the people from the place. CALL ME CRAZY.
posted by Don Pepino at 2:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [32 favorites]
He can't pronounce the word Uzbek, clearly has not seen the word before this moment when he has to read it aloud to the state of Maine, and then before he feels any embarrassment over the gaffe, he turns it around on the audience. THEY'RE the dumb ones. "Do you know where it is? Huh?" Like he's talking to a small child. Then he forces out the "content" as well as he can through whatever it is that is causing his aphasia, and then he veers off into more how-stupid-are-you finger pointing. "You gotta turn 'em in or you're guilty of a crime."
"Do you know where it is?" What, do I know where Ubek is? No...? I know where Uzbeks are from, and since two seconds ago I know where Uzbekistan is because I just googled it, Donald, yes, I used the cyber. You know what, though? I want the POTUS to know where the hell it is. I for sure do want that. I want the POTUS to know where it is, and I want the POTUS to know how to say it, and I want the POTUS to know the difference between the word for the place and the word for the people from the place. CALL ME CRAZY.
posted by Don Pepino at 2:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [32 favorites]
Apparently the business owner who hosted Hillary earlier today, described as a Hillary supporting Republican, is now denying being either.
Sounds like a) he is indeed a Republican though refusing to say so now and b) got cold feet at the last minute on an anticipated endorsement of HRC. That he said one thing to the campaign and then utterly wimped out is on him.
posted by bearwife at 2:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sounds like a) he is indeed a Republican though refusing to say so now and b) got cold feet at the last minute on an anticipated endorsement of HRC. That he said one thing to the campaign and then utterly wimped out is on him.
posted by bearwife at 2:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Those Ubiquistanis are *everywhere* these days, I tell you.
posted by uosuaq at 2:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [88 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 2:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [88 favorites]
e all know how accurate retail polling has been in recent years (Brexit comes to mind).
Why on earth would you equate British polling with American polling? British polls had trouble reaching older voters outside of cities. American polls have, for the past several years, been incredibly accurate (more so in presidential years).
American pollsters have their shit together. They get a lot of practice.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Why on earth would you equate British polling with American polling? British polls had trouble reaching older voters outside of cities. American polls have, for the past several years, been incredibly accurate (more so in presidential years).
American pollsters have their shit together. They get a lot of practice.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
It really bothers me that anybody in a position of responsibility can be required to pass a drug test: pilot, bus driver, nurse, policeman, equipment operator, child care worker, teacher, etc. but not the guy interviewing for the job of Nuke Controller.
The rest of those are not elected positions; I would not like a "pass this test or you can't run/can't be confirmed for political office" requirement.
However, I don't think I'd mind an expectation of "release a medical record with details XYZ so the public knows you're healthy enough to do the job" to start becoming the standard along with the tax records. Again: Not requirement.
I don't want laws that say a candidate must be X healthy to be president [/a senator/governor/state congressperson/school board official... that shit runs downhill fast]; that clashes hard with ADA requirements.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
The rest of those are not elected positions; I would not like a "pass this test or you can't run/can't be confirmed for political office" requirement.
However, I don't think I'd mind an expectation of "release a medical record with details XYZ so the public knows you're healthy enough to do the job" to start becoming the standard along with the tax records. Again: Not requirement.
I don't want laws that say a candidate must be X healthy to be president [/a senator/governor/state congressperson/school board official... that shit runs downhill fast]; that clashes hard with ADA requirements.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
corb is right.
With his talk of rigged elections, Trump is now literally an existential threat to democracy in the U.S. itself. That's even before you throw in the deleterious effects of himself and his campaign on civil discourse, respect for fact, the safety of minority populations, and the rule of law.
And that's just his campaign. The mere possibility of him in the White House has me near-paralyzed with terror. Whatever fraction of the vote he gets is too much. Whatever percent chance he has of winning is too high.
posted by kyrademon at 2:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
With his talk of rigged elections, Trump is now literally an existential threat to democracy in the U.S. itself. That's even before you throw in the deleterious effects of himself and his campaign on civil discourse, respect for fact, the safety of minority populations, and the rule of law.
And that's just his campaign. The mere possibility of him in the White House has me near-paralyzed with terror. Whatever fraction of the vote he gets is too much. Whatever percent chance he has of winning is too high.
posted by kyrademon at 2:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
Before we worry too much about Trump's "rigged elections" thing having any impact, remember he has to not be an utter laughingstock by election day. There's a good chance he'll have about the same galvanizing effect Cliven Bundy had on the general public.
posted by argybarg at 2:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 2:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
When and why did CNN become terrible? Anybody know?
January 20th, 1981.
posted by Herodios at 2:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
January 20th, 1981.
posted by Herodios at 2:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Is it possible he was saying Ubik? Because I have noticed recently that everything is disintegrating as we hurtle backwards in time to 1939
posted by theodolite at 2:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 2:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
The National Review is kind of amazing right now. I know they've been NeverTrump for a long time, but check out these headlines:
Obama is right about Trump
Dear Trump Apologists, Stop Whining About Elites When You're Worse
and best of all:
The Conservative Media Echo Chamber Is Making the Right Intellectually Deaf
posted by msalt at 2:34 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Obama is right about Trump
Dear Trump Apologists, Stop Whining About Elites When You're Worse
and best of all:
The Conservative Media Echo Chamber Is Making the Right Intellectually Deaf
posted by msalt at 2:34 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Is it possible he was saying Ubik? Because I have noticed recently that everything is disintegrating as we hurtle backwards in time to 1939
Honestly, at this point I'm somewhat convinced we are in fact living in a Dick novel.
posted by biogeo at 2:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Honestly, at this point I'm somewhat convinced we are in fact living in a Dick novel.
posted by biogeo at 2:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
From "Obama is right":
Eisenhower, Reagan, even poor overmatched George W. Bush, who really just wanted to be a school reformer and not go chasing fanatical desert savages all around the world...
Gee, thanks for making sure I don't develop any respect for you guys by accident, NR! Real thoughtful.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
Eisenhower, Reagan, even poor overmatched George W. Bush, who really just wanted to be a school reformer and not go chasing fanatical desert savages all around the world...
Gee, thanks for making sure I don't develop any respect for you guys by accident, NR! Real thoughtful.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
> "Before we worry too much about Trump's 'rigged elections' thing having any impact, remember he has to not be an utter laughingstock by election day. There's a good chance he'll have about the same galvanizing effect Cliven Bundy had on the general public."
Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I find one of the two major party candidates laying the groundwork for declaring the election illegitimate if he loses to be f*(&ing chilling.
posted by kyrademon at 2:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I find one of the two major party candidates laying the groundwork for declaring the election illegitimate if he loses to be f*(&ing chilling.
posted by kyrademon at 2:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Get Ready For The Trump Campaign’s Black Outreach Effort
The Trump Hispanic Engagement Effort Is Sputtering
posted by kirkaracha at 2:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Trump Hispanic Engagement Effort Is Sputtering
posted by kirkaracha at 2:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
You know you've gone off the deep end when such liberal stalwarts as Red State and the National Review are saying you've gone too far and they agree with Obama.
Where is the center of mass of the whackadoodle right these days? I would be tempted to say Stormfront but I don't think that's true yet but I don't really hang out on places like LGF and NRO to find out where Conservative thought is currently.
I guess we could ask Corb but I'm pretty sure she's been excommunicated from the Republican for heresy or apostasy. I can't ever remember which one is which.
posted by vuron at 2:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Where is the center of mass of the whackadoodle right these days? I would be tempted to say Stormfront but I don't think that's true yet but I don't really hang out on places like LGF and NRO to find out where Conservative thought is currently.
I guess we could ask Corb but I'm pretty sure she's been excommunicated from the Republican for heresy or apostasy. I can't ever remember which one is which.
posted by vuron at 2:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
> Honestly, at this point I'm somewhat convinced we are in fact living in a Dick novel.
posted by biogeo at 2:36 PM on August 4 [+] [!]
I for one was hoping we'd land in the one where space god zaps our heads with information-rich pink laser beams from a giant ancient satellite and then Brian Eno introduces us to his robot daughter, who is also god.
(the satellite is god too).
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by biogeo at 2:36 PM on August 4 [+] [!]
I for one was hoping we'd land in the one where space god zaps our heads with information-rich pink laser beams from a giant ancient satellite and then Brian Eno introduces us to his robot daughter, who is also god.
(the satellite is god too).
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
I guess we could ask Corb but I'm pretty sure she's been excommunicated from the Republican for heresy or apostasy. I can't ever remember which one is which.
Heresy is dissent, apostasy is abandoning the faith after having been a member.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Heresy is dissent, apostasy is abandoning the faith after having been a member.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
> Gee, thanks for making sure I don't develop any respect for you guys by accident, NR! Real thoughtful.
Yeah, but don't forget that 14 years ago they were writing about GWB like he was a cross between FDR, Churchill and Lincoln, only better.
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:40 PM on August 4, 2016
Yeah, but don't forget that 14 years ago they were writing about GWB like he was a cross between FDR, Churchill and Lincoln, only better.
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:40 PM on August 4, 2016
Oh wait, I misunderstood you. Carry on!
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:41 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:41 PM on August 4, 2016
Getting a clean bill of health is standard, although a psychological workup isn't. Trump got his physical back in December, although it had the usual Trumpisms.
posted by fragmede at 2:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by fragmede at 2:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ahh so Corb is a heretic and we are trying to convince her to become an apostate.
Join us Corb!
posted by vuron at 2:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Join us Corb!
posted by vuron at 2:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Heresy is dissent, apostasy is abandoning the faith after having been a member.
posted by Pope Guilty at 5:40 PM on August 4 [+] [!]
hrm
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 5:40 PM on August 4 [+] [!]
hrm
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
I guarantee you that if Trump was applying for the job of CEO of a Fortune 500 company the insurance company would require a full physical including testing for drugs. I'm going to drop this drug angle because I get that it is not popular but I would love to make it mandatory for anyone running for POTUS to pass a physical and to release their tax returns. I'm really uncomfortable with the idea that the Commander- in-Chief can be someone who abuses drugs.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
> There’s also an awareness that there’s no way Trump can do worse with black voters and any gains are a plus.
"No" way?
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
"No" way?
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Uzbeki-beki-stan is how I thought it was pronounced.
I miss Herman Caine
posted by waitangi at 2:45 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I miss Herman Caine
posted by waitangi at 2:45 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Tommy Chong would be a great President man!
Besides at this point I'm pretty sure he could float in one of those Guild Navigator spice tanks and be more or less exactly the same as he always is.
posted by vuron at 2:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Besides at this point I'm pretty sure he could float in one of those Guild Navigator spice tanks and be more or less exactly the same as he always is.
posted by vuron at 2:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I miss Herman Caine
Where is he now? And whatever happened to Alan Keyes?
posted by drezdn at 2:48 PM on August 4, 2016
Where is he now? And whatever happened to Alan Keyes?
posted by drezdn at 2:48 PM on August 4, 2016
"Join us Corb!"
I'd rather she didn't. As I mentioned in one of the 100 earlier election threads, I'm glad to know a sane and responsible Republican. Her flipping parties would just ruin it.
posted by komara at 2:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
I'd rather she didn't. As I mentioned in one of the 100 earlier election threads, I'm glad to know a sane and responsible Republican. Her flipping parties would just ruin it.
posted by komara at 2:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Well, his bus got bought by the Full Frontal crew.
(The Godfather's Pizza boxes gag was a nice touch.)
posted by NoxAeternum at 2:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
(The Godfather's Pizza boxes gag was a nice touch.)
posted by NoxAeternum at 2:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Dear Trump Apologists, Stop Whining About Elites When You're Worse
It's like a fucked up conservative version of MJ's Man in the Mirror.
posted by Talez at 2:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's like a fucked up conservative version of MJ's Man in the Mirror.
posted by Talez at 2:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Tommy Chong would be a great President man!
Tommy Chong is a Canadian and therefore sadly ineligible.
posted by Talez at 2:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Tommy Chong is a Canadian and therefore sadly ineligible.
posted by Talez at 2:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Justin Trudeau/ Tommy Chong 2020
Make American High Again
posted by vuron at 2:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Make American High Again
posted by vuron at 2:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
LOL at this list of things that Scott Walker will be doing instead of attending the Trump rally in WI:
- visiting a business that opened quickly after a storm
- visiting a park that opened quickly after a storm
- attending a bicycle race spaghetti dinner
posted by acidic at 2:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
- visiting a business that opened quickly after a storm
- visiting a park that opened quickly after a storm
- attending a bicycle race spaghetti dinner
posted by acidic at 2:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
There’s also an awareness that there’s no way Trump can do worse with black voters and any gains are a plus.
Ostensibly, this is basically true. With polling numbers for black voters running at 0%-2%, he can't get worse with them in an way that matters to the general election.
In practice, however, voter demographic pools are not neatly isolated communities that don't speak to each other. No matter how much Trump thinks his time spent at a Charlotte church is only going to be noticed by black voters... that's really not how any of this works.
More insensitivity, racist "jokes," and and self-aggrandizing lashouts against the audience can't notably lower his approval ratings among black voters--but he can lose other votes. He could even lose votes by not being harsh enough, if his racist core demographic decides he's being too "politically correct."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:59 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Ostensibly, this is basically true. With polling numbers for black voters running at 0%-2%, he can't get worse with them in an way that matters to the general election.
In practice, however, voter demographic pools are not neatly isolated communities that don't speak to each other. No matter how much Trump thinks his time spent at a Charlotte church is only going to be noticed by black voters... that's really not how any of this works.
More insensitivity, racist "jokes," and and self-aggrandizing lashouts against the audience can't notably lower his approval ratings among black voters--but he can lose other votes. He could even lose votes by not being harsh enough, if his racist core demographic decides he's being too "politically correct."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:59 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I am no longer able to tell stuff that actually happened from stuff that did not
Hey, that means you can run for president nowadays! Apparently.
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:59 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Hey, that means you can run for president nowadays! Apparently.
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:59 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I am no longer able to tell stuff that actually happened from stuff that did not
Hey, that means you can run for president nowadays! Apparently.
well to be fair, that's been true since 1980, at the very least.
posted by entropicamericana at 3:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Hey, that means you can run for president nowadays! Apparently.
well to be fair, that's been true since 1980, at the very least.
posted by entropicamericana at 3:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Apparently both Clinton and Trump had Secret Service interuption today:
https://twitter.com/digby56/status/761312955283673089
https://vine.co/v/5qqZ2Irrb2O
posted by guiseroom at 3:03 PM on August 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/digby56/status/761312955283673089
https://vine.co/v/5qqZ2Irrb2O
posted by guiseroom at 3:03 PM on August 4, 2016
> “Supporting Hillary is like being with an abusive ex, one that you already know left you broken and wounded,” reads a post on the church’s Facebook page from last month. “At this point, give the new guy a chance.”
"So far he's only emotionally and verbally abusive!"
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
"So far he's only emotionally and verbally abusive!"
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Story of PA: Trump blue collar gains wiped out by losses in white collar Philly burbs, where Obama was +9 in '12 & HRC is +40 in new poll
+40!
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [33 favorites]
+40!
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [33 favorites]
The National Review is kind of amazing right now. I know they've been NeverTrump for a long time, but check out these headlines:
Obama is right about Trump
Dear Trump Apologists, Stop Whining About Elites When You're Worse
and best of all:
The Conservative Media Echo Chamber Is Making the Right Intellectually Deaf
Fuck the National goddamn Review. They own this shit.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Obama is right about Trump
Dear Trump Apologists, Stop Whining About Elites When You're Worse
and best of all:
The Conservative Media Echo Chamber Is Making the Right Intellectually Deaf
Fuck the National goddamn Review. They own this shit.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Instead, his strategy continues to be to attack the victims of the war, instead of his political opponent, who was one of its original perpetrators.
This is from way, way upthread, but a segment in today's Here and Now on NPR (Metafilter's favorite radio station to hate for some reason) had an excellent discussion of Clinton's vote for the authorization of the use of force in Iraq, including a lengthy clip from the speech she gave in the Senate at the time. She was quite clear at the time that she was voting for the bill because the Bush administration had assured her that this was necessary leverage to make the case before the U.N. for diplomatic solutions to disarm Iraq's WMDs (which of course did not actually exist, but supposedly trustworthy individuals like Colin Powell had thrown their reputations behind the claim), and that a military solution would be used only as a last resort if the diplomatic avenues failed. Of course, that, like so much else, was a lie, and the Bush administration had no interest in a diplomatic solution through the U.N. I strongly recommend listening to Clinton's own words on the subject, though.
I think there is definitely room to criticize Clinton for her vote on the Iraq war, and some of her decisions as Secretary of State, but the idea that Clinton is/was a war hawk who actively supported the Iraq invasion is revisionist history.
posted by biogeo at 3:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [49 favorites]
This is from way, way upthread, but a segment in today's Here and Now on NPR (Metafilter's favorite radio station to hate for some reason) had an excellent discussion of Clinton's vote for the authorization of the use of force in Iraq, including a lengthy clip from the speech she gave in the Senate at the time. She was quite clear at the time that she was voting for the bill because the Bush administration had assured her that this was necessary leverage to make the case before the U.N. for diplomatic solutions to disarm Iraq's WMDs (which of course did not actually exist, but supposedly trustworthy individuals like Colin Powell had thrown their reputations behind the claim), and that a military solution would be used only as a last resort if the diplomatic avenues failed. Of course, that, like so much else, was a lie, and the Bush administration had no interest in a diplomatic solution through the U.N. I strongly recommend listening to Clinton's own words on the subject, though.
I think there is definitely room to criticize Clinton for her vote on the Iraq war, and some of her decisions as Secretary of State, but the idea that Clinton is/was a war hawk who actively supported the Iraq invasion is revisionist history.
posted by biogeo at 3:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [49 favorites]
What is Secret Service interception?
posted by suelac at 3:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by suelac at 3:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
President Obama today mocked Trump's suggestion the election could be "rigged."
posted by bearwife at 3:11 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by bearwife at 3:11 PM on August 4, 2016
What is Secret Service interception?
if only the link had explained it!
posted by entropicamericana at 3:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
if only the link had explained it!
posted by entropicamericana at 3:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
So Newt was at the hotel today to keynote a gathering of this private rich persons club. He spoke about the election, but I did not get to hear it, but we did exchange a "good morning" as I was walking to work. I was hoping to blow some smoke up his ass, tell him that while I was far left I respected his CIVILITY, and wish him luck in the intervention.
I've always sort of hated Newt, but with Trump on the rampage, I almost wanted to hug him. Newt I mean.
posted by vrakatar at 3:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've always sort of hated Newt, but with Trump on the rampage, I almost wanted to hug him. Newt I mean.
posted by vrakatar at 3:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Story of PA: Trump blue collar gains wiped out by losses in white collar Philly burbs, where Obama was +9 in '12 & HRC is +40 in new poll
Trumpthumping:
"I get knocked down but I get up again because my polls can't go further down!
I get knocked down but I get up again because my polls can't go further down!"
posted by Talez at 3:16 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trumpthumping:
"I get knocked down but I get up again because my polls can't go further down!
I get knocked down but I get up again because my polls can't go further down!"
posted by Talez at 3:16 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
The state polls today are something. I think we mentioned HRC is up 6 in Florida but also at least 15 in NH, 11 in Pennsylvania and 9 in Michigan.
posted by bearwife at 3:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 3:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
She was quite clear at the time that she was voting for the bill because the Bush administration had assured her that this was necessary leverage to make the case before the U.N. for diplomatic solutions to disarm Iraq's WMDs (which of course did not actually exist, but supposedly trustworthy individuals like Colin Powell had thrown their reputations behind the claim), and that a military solution would be used only as a last resort if the diplomatic avenues failed.
I'm voting for Hillary and all, but I remember that time very well, and it seemed pretty clear that the Bush administration were total liars. If she did indeed trust him, that's pretty bad too. My feeling at the time was that she voted in favor because there was such rabid war fever. It was also clear at the time that she had her eye on the presidency. Ironically, if she had voted no she might have been president already.
Only one senator voted no: Paul Wellstone, who was killed in a plane crash soon afterwards. Those were dark times.
posted by maggiemaggie at 3:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
I'm voting for Hillary and all, but I remember that time very well, and it seemed pretty clear that the Bush administration were total liars. If she did indeed trust him, that's pretty bad too. My feeling at the time was that she voted in favor because there was such rabid war fever. It was also clear at the time that she had her eye on the presidency. Ironically, if she had voted no she might have been president already.
Only one senator voted no: Paul Wellstone, who was killed in a plane crash soon afterwards. Those were dark times.
posted by maggiemaggie at 3:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Trump certainly lost a major opportunity to seek the African American vote today. And left Kaine on his own to point out Trump's history of racism.
posted by bearwife at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bearwife at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Even Colin Powell has said the speech at the UN was the lowest point of his career.
posted by maggiemaggie at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by maggiemaggie at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
As much as I really hate dredging up the history of the Iraq war vote, it was 77-23.
And congresscritters really do have to vote on the stated facts, not "it was pretty clear that they were liars" and the vote was, in fact, for the opposite.
posted by Dashy at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
And congresscritters really do have to vote on the stated facts, not "it was pretty clear that they were liars" and the vote was, in fact, for the opposite.
posted by Dashy at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Kind of hoping the Clinton campaign is going to start putting out pocket constitutions now.
posted by dilettante at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by dilettante at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Whenever we decry Trump for removing protesters I'm a little bit miffed because I also know more than one person removed from Clinton events too, none of them violent or even as aggressive as the BoB's at the convention.
These are not equal in cause or action of course, but it's pretty universal, you don't want messages you are not delivering in front of cameras that you want on you, regardless of what they say, and it's not unusual that both sides do it. It's just than when Trump people do it it's 'suppression of valid speech', but when Clinton people do it it's to 'remove disruptions'. I get why this is, Trump's people are far bigger assholes in the way they do it, but it's still standard operating procedure for everyone and Clinton seems to have as hair a trigger as anyone. Saying "Super-predator" at her can get you walked off by men in suits with guns so you don't ruin the shot of an adoring crowd with no dissenters.
I'm for Clinton, but lets not pretend to somehow be pure in this, and lets not pretend like holding a sign and chanting is a valid reason for a secret service member to physically protect either candidate. It's all to protect the image that is desired.
posted by neonrev at 3:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
These are not equal in cause or action of course, but it's pretty universal, you don't want messages you are not delivering in front of cameras that you want on you, regardless of what they say, and it's not unusual that both sides do it. It's just than when Trump people do it it's 'suppression of valid speech', but when Clinton people do it it's to 'remove disruptions'. I get why this is, Trump's people are far bigger assholes in the way they do it, but it's still standard operating procedure for everyone and Clinton seems to have as hair a trigger as anyone. Saying "Super-predator" at her can get you walked off by men in suits with guns so you don't ruin the shot of an adoring crowd with no dissenters.
I'm for Clinton, but lets not pretend to somehow be pure in this, and lets not pretend like holding a sign and chanting is a valid reason for a secret service member to physically protect either candidate. It's all to protect the image that is desired.
posted by neonrev at 3:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Holy mother of god the Nowcast has AZ and GA leaning blue.
Never in my lifetime did I ever think I'd see Georgia blue again.
posted by Talez at 3:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
Never in my lifetime did I ever think I'd see Georgia blue again.
posted by Talez at 3:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
The state polls today are something. I think we mentioned HRC is up 6 in Florida but also at least 15 in NH, 11 in Pennsylvania and 9 in Michigan.
posted by bearwife at 3:18 PM on 8/4
[1 favorite +] [!]
For real: how is it only 6 in Florida??
posted by schadenfrau at 3:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bearwife at 3:18 PM on 8/4
[1 favorite +] [!]
For real: how is it only 6 in Florida??
posted by schadenfrau at 3:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Tim Kaine's speech today in front of the National Urban League. You can skip to 9 minutes in.
posted by acidic at 3:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by acidic at 3:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
For real: how is it only 6 in Florida??
Pretty sure the crazification factor has a multiplier re: Florida.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
Pretty sure the crazification factor has a multiplier re: Florida.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [19 favorites]
If I were Trump - oh Lord, take me to your bosom before that day - I'd have big boxes of pocket constitutions and hand them out to everyone who came into an event, and get them to hold them up at appropriate points.
But I'm not, and he's not me, and I'm sure we're both happy with that.
posted by Devonian at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
But I'm not, and he's not me, and I'm sure we're both happy with that.
posted by Devonian at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
As much as I really hate dredging up the history of the Iraq war vote, it was 77-23.
Thanks for the clarification Dashy, I do get really angry remembering those days. I still don't forgive Clinton ( or Schumer) for voting yes.
posted by maggiemaggie at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thanks for the clarification Dashy, I do get really angry remembering those days. I still don't forgive Clinton ( or Schumer) for voting yes.
posted by maggiemaggie at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Pretty clear from the context that he's talking about electoral votes. (He follows up with "only four").
Okay, thanks for that. Sirens were going off in my head when he said that and I missed it as I was trying to write it down. It did come up in yesterday's? today's? thread that he made the trip in support of his mini-me, LePage despite Maine not being important electorally.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2016
Okay, thanks for that. Sirens were going off in my head when he said that and I missed it as I was trying to write it down. It did come up in yesterday's? today's? thread that he made the trip in support of his mini-me, LePage despite Maine not being important electorally.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2016
Holy mother of god the Nowcast has AZ and GA leaning blue.
Harry Reid seems to believe they are both in play -- and, maybe, Utah!
posted by bearwife at 3:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Harry Reid seems to believe they are both in play -- and, maybe, Utah!
posted by bearwife at 3:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
lets not pretend like holding a sign and chanting is a valid reason for a secret service member to physically protect either candidate
let's also not pretend that's what happened. the protester tried to jump over the barricade to get on stage.
posted by acidic at 3:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
let's also not pretend that's what happened. the protester tried to jump over the barricade to get on stage.
posted by acidic at 3:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump certainly lost a major opportunity to seek the African American vote today. And left Kaine on his own to point out Trump's history of racism.
posted by Talez at 3:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Aides to the Trump campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment on why campaign representatives didn’t attend the event.Katrina Pierson was probably petrified of running into half-breeds.
posted by Talez at 3:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Corb, do you see a Republican Reformation on the horizon?
posted by schadenfrau at 3:35 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by schadenfrau at 3:35 PM on August 4, 2016
That PA poll is hilarious because even though it's probably a high water mark for Clinton it means a crushing loss for Trump is basically a given. The fact that he's losing in Coal country as well makes it even more likely.
I feel like every 4 years a Republican candidate tries to make a run on the Blue Wall typically aiming at those sweet sweet 20 EVs in Pennsylvania and every 4 years they fail miserably to tackle that wall.
Earlier this year a lot of the BoBs were saying that Bernie's strength in places like Coal country vis-a-vis Clinton meant that Clinton could lose rust belt states to a right wing populist like Trump. However this recent polling in Pennsylvania means that the Blue Wall will probably remain unconquered yet again.
At the same time it seems quite likely the Democrats will make a move on traditional Republican strongholds like Georgia and North Carolina in attempt to deliver a crippling blow. I honestly wouldn't be shocked to see polling with Clinton ahead in North Carolina and Georgia now. The attacks on the Khans will not go over well with all the military families in both of those states.
posted by vuron at 3:35 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I feel like every 4 years a Republican candidate tries to make a run on the Blue Wall typically aiming at those sweet sweet 20 EVs in Pennsylvania and every 4 years they fail miserably to tackle that wall.
Earlier this year a lot of the BoBs were saying that Bernie's strength in places like Coal country vis-a-vis Clinton meant that Clinton could lose rust belt states to a right wing populist like Trump. However this recent polling in Pennsylvania means that the Blue Wall will probably remain unconquered yet again.
At the same time it seems quite likely the Democrats will make a move on traditional Republican strongholds like Georgia and North Carolina in attempt to deliver a crippling blow. I honestly wouldn't be shocked to see polling with Clinton ahead in North Carolina and Georgia now. The attacks on the Khans will not go over well with all the military families in both of those states.
posted by vuron at 3:35 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
if only the link had explained it!
Some of us are in workplaces that block those websites. Hence my question.
posted by suelac at 3:38 PM on August 4, 2016
Some of us are in workplaces that block those websites. Hence my question.
posted by suelac at 3:38 PM on August 4, 2016
Real sentence from a press release in my inbox: "Donald Trump lives, works, eats and employs people of all races and religions."
I am still trying to force this into some semblance of sense. If you add the word "with" it becomes: "Donald Trump lives with, works with, eats with and employs people of all races and religions." You know I can believe the employs part but lives and eats with? Who is he eating with? Melania? And why does that show he is such a great guy? It is such a strange press release that it feels like they were grasping at straws. [fake]"Remember that time that Hindu fellow came over for dinner? And the live-in maid, she is Filipino, isn't she?"
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am still trying to force this into some semblance of sense. If you add the word "with" it becomes: "Donald Trump lives with, works with, eats with and employs people of all races and religions." You know I can believe the employs part but lives and eats with? Who is he eating with? Melania? And why does that show he is such a great guy? It is such a strange press release that it feels like they were grasping at straws. [fake]"Remember that time that Hindu fellow came over for dinner? And the live-in maid, she is Filipino, isn't she?"
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Did anyone watch the Johnson and Weld townhall with Anderson Cooper yesterday or do you all have better things to do? They seemed pretty coherent and pleasant, although I was comparing them to Trump's most uncontrolled 48 hour period. They seemed to know what parts of their platform would seem extreme and they soft-pedaled those parts. Like they understand how other human beings think and feel and wanted to avoid being controversial. Such a departure from Trump. (And I feel a little weird praising Libertarians. Clearly we are in a low-bar year.)
posted by puddledork at 3:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by puddledork at 3:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
North Carolina is the one I'm worried about because the latest poll has Trump up by 4 points. (A small poll, but recent, and highly rated by 538.) Of course, Clinton doesn't need NC to win if the current polls hold, but I still keep telling my mother, "Please vote, you have to vote."
posted by Jeanne at 3:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Jeanne at 3:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
We know a guy with a binder, @realDonaldTrump. (He might not take your calls, though.)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Wait for the PPP poll of North Carolina. They're really reliable in their home state. My guess is they'll show a tie or a +1 for Clinton there.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 3:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 3:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I am still trying to force this into some semblance of sense.
Eh, don't bother.
Wait, I know this was addressed at some point... ah, yes:
Hearing coherent, meaningful ideas in a Trump speech is like seeing a cloud that looks like a dick. It's word pareidolia
posted by theodolite at 1:56 PM on June 13
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Eh, don't bother.
Wait, I know this was addressed at some point... ah, yes:
Hearing coherent, meaningful ideas in a Trump speech is like seeing a cloud that looks like a dick. It's word pareidolia
posted by theodolite at 1:56 PM on June 13
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Katrina Pierson was probably petrified of running into half-breeds
I cannot get over that she is the spokesperson for a Presidential candidate. To employ someone with such horrible views and so stupid to boot. It really says a lot about his campaign staff. Even if she is working for free, they never should have allowed her to be associated with their candidate. What on earth does she bring to the table?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I cannot get over that she is the spokesperson for a Presidential candidate. To employ someone with such horrible views and so stupid to boot. It really says a lot about his campaign staff. Even if she is working for free, they never should have allowed her to be associated with their candidate. What on earth does she bring to the table?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Can we, uh, agree not to use the expression "Congresscritters"? As a personal favor to me, if for no other reason. I find that very little makes me tune out of a conversation more quickly.
posted by adamgreenfield at 3:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by adamgreenfield at 3:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
That thing about Trump supporters booing the pocket Constitutions... It's like, part of the American Civil religion to revere and almost worship the Constitution, which has never sat very well with me. But... Trump supporters booing it, that means they revere Trump (and even worship him) more than the Constitution. Which is much, much more frightening. And mind-boggling.
Luckily, it seems like a lot of people find that scary and off putting, hence the nose dive in the polls. But still... So scary and surreal.
posted by overglow at 4:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Luckily, it seems like a lot of people find that scary and off putting, hence the nose dive in the polls. But still... So scary and surreal.
posted by overglow at 4:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
@GovMikeHuckabee
Hillary says Trump kids have killed animals because they hunt. Hey Hillary--ever had a steak? Hope someone killed it before you ate it
Oh noes, is this going to be a thing? Also, it just occurred to me that these aren't animal rights protesters, they were Harambe voters.
posted by acidic at 4:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Hillary says Trump kids have killed animals because they hunt. Hey Hillary--ever had a steak? Hope someone killed it before you ate it
Oh noes, is this going to be a thing? Also, it just occurred to me that these aren't animal rights protesters, they were Harambe voters.
posted by acidic at 4:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Wasserman Schultz’s Primary Challenger Petitions Joe Biden to Rescind Endorsement
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:06 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:06 PM on August 4, 2016
We know a guy with a binder, @realDonaldTrump. (He might not take your calls, though.)
Trump's answer here is the same as the debate question about the 10 dollar bill (what woman would they want to see on it), where every Republican said like their mom or wife or whatever (and Trump said Ivanka). Until Rubio said Rosa Parks and then Trump changed his answer to that.
posted by thefoxgod at 4:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump's answer here is the same as the debate question about the 10 dollar bill (what woman would they want to see on it), where every Republican said like their mom or wife or whatever (and Trump said Ivanka). Until Rubio said Rosa Parks and then Trump changed his answer to that.
posted by thefoxgod at 4:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I hope the hunting thing becomes a thing, because those images of the Patrick Bateman Trumps holding the tails of elephants are repulsive and need to be seen more.
posted by argybarg at 4:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 4:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
(And now that I look up exactly who said what, Jeb Bush said "Margaret Thatcher" which is a whole different WTF).
posted by thefoxgod at 4:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by thefoxgod at 4:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Go Home Huckabee, you're irrelevant.
posted by vuron at 4:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by vuron at 4:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
so uh, there's all this new polling with detailed internals
so uh
how's trump doing with the juggalo vote?
posted by murphy slaw at 4:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
so uh
how's trump doing with the juggalo vote?
posted by murphy slaw at 4:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
how's trump doing with the juggalo vote?
Competently run campaigns... how do they work?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 4:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Competently run campaigns... how do they work?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 4:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Jesus. The talking heads on MSNBC are already looking for reasons to give Trump an out, because otherwise they have nothing to talk about for three months.
I'm confident that Trump will take care of that though.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:16 PM on August 4, 2016
I'm confident that Trump will take care of that though.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:16 PM on August 4, 2016
I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets "holy shit these guys are probably serial killers" vibes from the Trump sons. Eric seems creepier both honestly both of them give me the heebie jeebies and all the exotic game hunting photos just intensify it.
I could totally see them driving around Manhattan looking for mudbloods to deliver the cruciatus and imperius curse to. I wonder if they have stopped short of using avada kedavra yet?
posted by vuron at 4:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
I could totally see them driving around Manhattan looking for mudbloods to deliver the cruciatus and imperius curse to. I wonder if they have stopped short of using avada kedavra yet?
posted by vuron at 4:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Mod note: In general, folks, if you're not quoting, please don't use quotes. These threads are huge and there's too much reference material for people to follow, and it leads to useless confusion. Thanks.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 4:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 4:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Wasserman Schultz’s Primary Challenger Petitions Joe Biden to Rescind Endorsement
While Trump himself wasn't able to stay on message in his attempt to court Sanders supporters, it looks like his son-in-law's newspaper, The Observer, has a little more discipline.
There's a piece up there on Bratton criticizing Trump, but the other articles in the Politics section are titled things like "Bernie Sanders' Finest Hour" "No Media, The Democratic Party is Not United" "WikiLeaks Demands More than Getting Rid of Wasserman Schulz" and "Ultimate Media Privilege Hillary's Crime Versus Trumps' Mouth" (the upshot of which is that Donald says bad things, but we should lock. Hillary. up).
None of which is related to the DWS race, exactly. I just thought it was interesting to see what Jared Kushner's paper is publishing among all this speculation that Ivanka is secretly for Hillary, or that he might be unhappy with Trump's antisemitism.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 4:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
While Trump himself wasn't able to stay on message in his attempt to court Sanders supporters, it looks like his son-in-law's newspaper, The Observer, has a little more discipline.
There's a piece up there on Bratton criticizing Trump, but the other articles in the Politics section are titled things like "Bernie Sanders' Finest Hour" "No Media, The Democratic Party is Not United" "WikiLeaks Demands More than Getting Rid of Wasserman Schulz" and "Ultimate Media Privilege Hillary's Crime Versus Trumps' Mouth" (the upshot of which is that Donald says bad things, but we should lock. Hillary. up).
None of which is related to the DWS race, exactly. I just thought it was interesting to see what Jared Kushner's paper is publishing among all this speculation that Ivanka is secretly for Hillary, or that he might be unhappy with Trump's antisemitism.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 4:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I could totally see them driving around Manhattan looking for mudbloods to deliver the cruciatus and imperius curse to. I wonder if they have stopped short of using avada kedavra yet?
I get more of a Patrick Bateman vibe.
posted by Justinian at 4:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I get more of a Patrick Bateman vibe.
posted by Justinian at 4:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
(and Trump said Ivanka)
She really is the be-all and end-all of Trump's ideal woman. It makes sense because as a narcissist he would most love the person who reflects his image of himself but I would be so unhappy if I was his wife. Melania does not seem very important to him. Also Tiffany. Poor Tiffany. She will never measure up.
Hillary says Trump kids have killed animals because they hunt. Hey Hillary--ever had a steak? Hope someone killed it before you ate it
Oh I'm sure he is patting himself on the back for being so clever. He has always thought very highly of himself when the truth is he is a mere backwoods Bible Thumper with little insight and less empathy.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
She really is the be-all and end-all of Trump's ideal woman. It makes sense because as a narcissist he would most love the person who reflects his image of himself but I would be so unhappy if I was his wife. Melania does not seem very important to him. Also Tiffany. Poor Tiffany. She will never measure up.
Hillary says Trump kids have killed animals because they hunt. Hey Hillary--ever had a steak? Hope someone killed it before you ate it
Oh I'm sure he is patting himself on the back for being so clever. He has always thought very highly of himself when the truth is he is a mere backwoods Bible Thumper with little insight and less empathy.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I have to admit that the first anchor on one of the cable news networks that says "Stick a fork in him guys because he's done" and since the election is a no brainer let's turn our attention to sports or weather instead will be my hero.
Of course it would be a one way ticket to the unemployment line but seriously the polling and the polling aggregator sites have basically already destroyed their normal "it's a real horserace out there" style punditry.
Once Clinton has double digit leads in most of the battleground states the chances Trump will recover are basically zero.
posted by vuron at 4:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Of course it would be a one way ticket to the unemployment line but seriously the polling and the polling aggregator sites have basically already destroyed their normal "it's a real horserace out there" style punditry.
Once Clinton has double digit leads in most of the battleground states the chances Trump will recover are basically zero.
posted by vuron at 4:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Tim Kaine's speech today in front of the National Urban League. You can skip to 9 minutes in.
Even better, skip to 11:20. Tim Kaine details the first professional case of his legal career. It was a Fair Housing Act case. From there he goes to describe engagement with black community leaders in his political runs and working with them and for them.
How does anyone from the Trump campaign come back from that? There isn't a single person that can measure up to Kaine's helping disadvantaged communities cred.
I'll do it without quotes this time sorry restless_nomad!
posted by Talez at 4:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Even better, skip to 11:20. Tim Kaine details the first professional case of his legal career. It was a Fair Housing Act case. From there he goes to describe engagement with black community leaders in his political runs and working with them and for them.
How does anyone from the Trump campaign come back from that? There isn't a single person that can measure up to Kaine's helping disadvantaged communities cred.
I'll do it without quotes this time sorry restless_nomad!
posted by Talez at 4:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Once Clinton has double digit leads in most of the battleground states the chances Trump will recover are basically zero.
Trump is already below 40% on the TPM polltracker average, which is a dangerous place to be.
posted by murphy slaw at 4:26 PM on August 4, 2016
Trump is already below 40% on the TPM polltracker average, which is a dangerous place to be.
posted by murphy slaw at 4:26 PM on August 4, 2016
I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets "holy shit these guys are probably serial killers" vibes from the Trump sons.
The article I saw about them going hunting had an affiliate ad right next to it that said "You won't believe what the Menendez brothers look like now!" Spoiler alert: they look like the Trump brothers.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
The article I saw about them going hunting had an affiliate ad right next to it that said "You won't believe what the Menendez brothers look like now!" Spoiler alert: they look like the Trump brothers.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Sorry Talez: I completely misunderstood your point!
So the Olympics: do they help Trump by making people pay less attention to him, or do they hurt him because he'll be so upset about people paying less attention to him that he'll do increasingly outrageous stuff to make the media focus on him?
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:30 PM on August 4, 2016
So the Olympics: do they help Trump by making people pay less attention to him, or do they hurt him because he'll be so upset about people paying less attention to him that he'll do increasingly outrageous stuff to make the media focus on him?
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:30 PM on August 4, 2016
One is a pair of clowns with face paint playing crappy music for gangs of crazy racist white people; the other is just a band.
thank you this was the exact joke i was looking for
posted by murphy slaw at 4:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
thank you this was the exact joke i was looking for
posted by murphy slaw at 4:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Yeah the both Trump sons have that vague predator stare thing going on just like the Menendez Brothers had during their trial. Like they are studying whether it would be possible to kill you and get away with it.
After all it's not like it would be that hard for an extremely rich set of psychopaths to use one of dad's helicopters to dispose of bodies into the atlantic ocean.
Hell I'm pretty sure I might've seen one or two Law & Orders that they could basically be the villains from.
posted by vuron at 4:34 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
After all it's not like it would be that hard for an extremely rich set of psychopaths to use one of dad's helicopters to dispose of bodies into the atlantic ocean.
Hell I'm pretty sure I might've seen one or two Law & Orders that they could basically be the villains from.
posted by vuron at 4:34 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
He is fundraising in Nissequogue. The article amused me to no end because it is written so tersely.
Well allrighty then. Don't go overboard with the details.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:35 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump was set to attend a $5,000-a-person fundraiser at the home of Steve and Carolyn Louro.
The Trump campaign says it collected over $80 million in donations last month.
Yesterday, Trump attended a rally in Jacksonville, Florida.
Trump is still under fire for his comments about a Muslim American Gold Star family.
Well allrighty then. Don't go overboard with the details.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:35 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Q: What would be the best deal you could negotiate as president of the United States?
A: Peace all over the world would be the best deal. And I think I would know how to do it better than anybody else, but peace all over the world.
[REAL] When you have no foreign policy experience but you owned Miss Universe for 20 years so....
posted by acidic at 4:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [38 favorites]
A: Peace all over the world would be the best deal. And I think I would know how to do it better than anybody else, but peace all over the world.
[REAL] When you have no foreign policy experience but you owned Miss Universe for 20 years so....
posted by acidic at 4:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [38 favorites]
Knowing Trump he'd probably go into the gathering of the Juggalos and insult Faygo and say how Moxie is the superior soda. And then shit would definitely go down
posted by vuron at 4:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by vuron at 4:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
So the Olympics: do they help Trump by making people pay less attention to him
I would think the best case scenario for Trump would be to go completely radio silent during the Olympics, focus on getting what passes for his shit together, fund-raise and mend fences with the party, before coming out with essentially a new campaign and candidacy after the Olympics.
So as long Trump keeps tweeting crazy shit and getting owned by babies on a daily basis, I'll be happy.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I would think the best case scenario for Trump would be to go completely radio silent during the Olympics, focus on getting what passes for his shit together, fund-raise and mend fences with the party, before coming out with essentially a new campaign and candidacy after the Olympics.
So as long Trump keeps tweeting crazy shit and getting owned by babies on a daily basis, I'll be happy.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I think we can count on Trump to continue to say outrageous things that lose him votes, Olympics or no Olympics.
I also think Kaine was an inspired choice for VP for HRC. That campaign seems solidly on track.
posted by bearwife at 4:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I also think Kaine was an inspired choice for VP for HRC. That campaign seems solidly on track.
posted by bearwife at 4:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Gathering of the Trumpalos? Comparing Insane Clown Posse with Donald Trump is a little unfair.
No kidding. Gathering of the Juggalos is basically burning man with better music and less corporate sponsorship.
posted by lkc at 4:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
No kidding. Gathering of the Juggalos is basically burning man with better music and less corporate sponsorship.
posted by lkc at 4:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
How's Trump doing with the Juggalo vote?
I'm just a Juggalo
Drinking my Faygo
"Whoop whoop" is all I'm saying
About if I like Trump
Think Hillary's a frump
It's fun, being dismaying
But there will come a day
When the spotlight goes away
What'll they say
about Don?
Even the sick clowns
Know when the lights die down
Life goes on, without him.
posted by carmicha at 4:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
I'm just a Juggalo
Drinking my Faygo
"Whoop whoop" is all I'm saying
About if I like Trump
Think Hillary's a frump
It's fun, being dismaying
But there will come a day
When the spotlight goes away
What'll they say
about Don?
Even the sick clowns
Know when the lights die down
Life goes on, without him.
posted by carmicha at 4:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
I would think the best case scenario for Trump would be to go completely radio silent during the Olympics, focus on getting what passes for his shit together,
ah, but there's a fatal flaw in that plan - when some people get their shit together, all they end up with is a pile of shit
posted by pyramid termite at 4:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
ah, but there's a fatal flaw in that plan - when some people get their shit together, all they end up with is a pile of shit
posted by pyramid termite at 4:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
He is fundraising in Nissequogue.
More details: Tight security for Trump’s LI fundraiser
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
More details: Tight security for Trump’s LI fundraiser
Some 200 guests were expected to attend the event, at which Republicans expect to raise $1 million for Trump’s presidential campaign, according to published reports. Among the attendees on the guest list are Reps. Peter King, R, Seaford and Lee Zeldin, R, Shirley, and State Sen. John Flanagan, R, East Northport.$5000 per person; police set up road blocks in advance to stop & question everyone about where they were going. It's set for 6pm eastern, so is presumably still going on right now.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
There is also this weird, unpleasant but very real fact that people look negatively on a woman who is seeking power. But the combination of the convention and the explosion in the polls make it feel as if she already has, if not the presidency, then some substantial acceptance and power. And doesn't the research show that people feel more comfortable with women who have power, rather than seeking it?
If she stays steady while people get used to that (and while Trump keeps tazing himself), then by election day people will be fine with the idea of her as president.
posted by argybarg at 4:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
If she stays steady while people get used to that (and while Trump keeps tazing himself), then by election day people will be fine with the idea of her as president.
posted by argybarg at 4:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
Charley Pierce spent the day at the Trump rally in Maine.
posted by octothorpe at 4:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 4:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Kaine is definitely an inspired pick as Veep.
Does the VP get to do any jokes at the White House Correspondent's Dinner? Because I'm looking forward to the next 4 years of Kaine telling total groaner Dad jokes to a room of increasingly annoyed journalists who have to sit there and politely clap.
He can recycle all the classics from the Borscht Belt comedians of yesteryear.
posted by vuron at 4:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
Does the VP get to do any jokes at the White House Correspondent's Dinner? Because I'm looking forward to the next 4 years of Kaine telling total groaner Dad jokes to a room of increasingly annoyed journalists who have to sit there and politely clap.
He can recycle all the classics from the Borscht Belt comedians of yesteryear.
posted by vuron at 4:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [22 favorites]
I would think the best case scenario for Trump would be to go completely radio silent during the Olympics, focus on getting what passes for his shit together, fund-raise and mend fences with the party, before coming out with essentially a new campaign and candidacy after the Olympics.
In related news, scientists announced at a press conference today that Dollhouse-style personality transplants have passed initial regulatory hurdles, and the first human trials will take place in August 2016.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 4:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
In related news, scientists announced at a press conference today that Dollhouse-style personality transplants have passed initial regulatory hurdles, and the first human trials will take place in August 2016.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 4:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Oooo $5,000 a person and you don't even get dinner. "Stephen Louro and his wife Carolyn, who are hosting the $5,000-per-person cocktail party scheduled for 6 p.m."
I wonder if Trump is offering the $10,000-to-take-a-picture-with-me deal he had at his fundraisers last month. It didn't seem like that really panned out for him.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:46 PM on August 4, 2016
I wonder if Trump is offering the $10,000-to-take-a-picture-with-me deal he had at his fundraisers last month. It didn't seem like that really panned out for him.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:46 PM on August 4, 2016
John Oliver on Tim Kaine when he was picked
John Oliver on Tim Kaine after his DNC speech, days later
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
John Oliver on Tim Kaine after his DNC speech, days later
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
$5,000-per-person cocktail party
damn, that's 100 bucks a drink!
yes, i would need at least 50 drinks to be there, why do you ask?
posted by pyramid termite at 4:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
damn, that's 100 bucks a drink!
yes, i would need at least 50 drinks to be there, why do you ask?
posted by pyramid termite at 4:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I just listened to Tim Kaine's entire speech from today and now I want him to narrate the new Harry Potter audiobook.
posted by guiseroom at 4:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 4:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Charley Pierce spent the day at the Trump rally in Maine.
He does live in Boston. I'd love to just have lunch with him.
posted by Talez at 4:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
He does live in Boston. I'd love to just have lunch with him.
posted by Talez at 4:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Charles Pierce (eavesdropping while in line for the rally) I heard a deep dive into the international conspiracy of liberal fire marshals.
Seriously? The Trumpistas are buying that bullshit? Man, there are no depths to their gullibility.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seriously? The Trumpistas are buying that bullshit? Man, there are no depths to their gullibility.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
No kidding. Gathering of the Juggalos is basically burning man with better music and less corporate sponsorship.
Burning Man is Gathering of the Juggalos for people who think they're better than people who go to Gathering of the Juggalos.
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [41 favorites]
Burning Man is Gathering of the Juggalos for people who think they're better than people who go to Gathering of the Juggalos.
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [41 favorites]
Daniel Dale: Some things Trump says are hard to fact-check because it is unclear what he is talking about.
Trump: Too incoherent to fact-check.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Trump: Too incoherent to fact-check.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Seriously? The Trumpistas are buying that bullshit? Man, there are no depths to their gullibility.
If we could actually track such things, I imagine every state that goes for Trump in the general election would soon see a sharp influx of con artists. It's clearly fertile ground.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
If we could actually track such things, I imagine every state that goes for Trump in the general election would soon see a sharp influx of con artists. It's clearly fertile ground.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:03 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Burning Man is Gathering of the Juggalos for people who think they're better than people who go to Gathering of the Juggalos.
To be fair Burning Man is also Gathering of Juggalos for people who think they're better than people who go to Burning Man.
posted by aubilenon at 5:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [21 favorites]
To be fair Burning Man is also Gathering of Juggalos for people who think they're better than people who go to Burning Man.
posted by aubilenon at 5:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [21 favorites]
So assuming that there is more than a surface connection between Putin and Trump which of the various shady Russian Oligarchs are inevitably laundering money from the Kremlin in an attempt to prop up the Trumpster Fire?
In the past I'd say Prokhorov would be the likely go between but it seems like Prokhorov is out of favor with the Kremlin recently.
Rybolovlev would seem to be other likely candidate because Trump has already made significant sums off of him in the past but Rybolovlev also seems to be out of favor.
posted by vuron at 5:05 PM on August 4, 2016
In the past I'd say Prokhorov would be the likely go between but it seems like Prokhorov is out of favor with the Kremlin recently.
Rybolovlev would seem to be other likely candidate because Trump has already made significant sums off of him in the past but Rybolovlev also seems to be out of favor.
posted by vuron at 5:05 PM on August 4, 2016
And none of the polls include the difference between a massive, state-of-the-art get-out-the-vote operation vs. the high-school-election job Trump has planned.
posted by argybarg at 5:11 PM on August 4 [7 favorites +] [!]
You ain't fuckin kidding.
I was a Field Organizer for Obama in Florida in '08. That campaign, in Florida in particular, was regarded later as one of the best organized voter contact efforts in American history.
So last night I went to put in a couple hours phone-banking for Hillary Clinton, for the first time.
The Obama '08 campaign seemed disorganized and amateurish in comparison to the ruthlessly efficient field operation for Hillary Clinton that I saw. In '08 we were rushing around to print up call-lists and train people to register voters on-the-fly. Last night there were a dozen people sitting in neat rows watching a voter-registration presentation done by an organizer who flawlessly answered questions about the process. There were tables set up, and filled, with another dozen people doing calls, the organizers and fellows replenishing call-lists as they ran out. It was a well-oiled machine, and the convention was just last fucking week.
I don't even live in one of the important districts in the state.
There is simply no way the Trump campaign can get something up and rolling, field-wise, that's going to compete with Clinton. When people ask you to canvass or phone-bank for Clinton, DO IT if you can! Your efforts will be maximized, I guaran-damn-tee it. These people are fuckin serious.
posted by Cookiebastard at 5:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [125 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 5:11 PM on August 4 [7 favorites +] [!]
You ain't fuckin kidding.
I was a Field Organizer for Obama in Florida in '08. That campaign, in Florida in particular, was regarded later as one of the best organized voter contact efforts in American history.
So last night I went to put in a couple hours phone-banking for Hillary Clinton, for the first time.
The Obama '08 campaign seemed disorganized and amateurish in comparison to the ruthlessly efficient field operation for Hillary Clinton that I saw. In '08 we were rushing around to print up call-lists and train people to register voters on-the-fly. Last night there were a dozen people sitting in neat rows watching a voter-registration presentation done by an organizer who flawlessly answered questions about the process. There were tables set up, and filled, with another dozen people doing calls, the organizers and fellows replenishing call-lists as they ran out. It was a well-oiled machine, and the convention was just last fucking week.
I don't even live in one of the important districts in the state.
There is simply no way the Trump campaign can get something up and rolling, field-wise, that's going to compete with Clinton. When people ask you to canvass or phone-bank for Clinton, DO IT if you can! Your efforts will be maximized, I guaran-damn-tee it. These people are fuckin serious.
posted by Cookiebastard at 5:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [125 favorites]
Trump: Too incoherent to fact-check.
It's the new "Unintelligible at any speed."
posted by snofoam at 5:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's the new "Unintelligible at any speed."
posted by snofoam at 5:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Just wait until they get you the autodialers. Those things are *the best*.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
One huge issue is that it won't be the Trump Campaign organizing the states. It's going to be the local parties because they know that Trump isn't going to do it for them. Don't underestimate what they can do.
posted by Francis at 5:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Francis at 5:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Okay, I have to air out my naiveté a little here.
How do these $5000-$10,000 fundraising events work when the maximum individual donation to a campaign is $2700?
posted by murphy slaw at 5:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
How do these $5000-$10,000 fundraising events work when the maximum individual donation to a campaign is $2700?
posted by murphy slaw at 5:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
One huge issue is that it won't be the Trump Campaign organizing the states. It's going to be the local parties because they know that Trump isn't going to do it for them. Don't underestimate what they can do.
Or white nationalist robocalls.
posted by Talez at 5:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Or white nationalist robocalls.
posted by Talez at 5:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Knowing Trump he'd probably go into the gathering of the Juggalos and insult Faygo and say how Moxie is the superior soda. And then shit would definitely go down
Don't you put that Trump/Moxie association out there. Moxie doesn't deserve that!
posted by jason_steakums at 5:16 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Don't you put that Trump/Moxie association out there. Moxie doesn't deserve that!
posted by jason_steakums at 5:16 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
It's going to be the local parties because they know that Trump isn't going to do it for them. Don't underestimate what they can do.On the one hand, sure. But on the other hand, local parties are heavily reliant on volunteers, and it's really hard to get volunteers to show up for unpopular candidates. I suspect that some of their regular people are going to sit this one out.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:16 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
How do these $5000-$10,000 fundraising events work when the maximum individual donation to a campaign is $2700?
$2700 Primary + $2700 General + $33,400 DNC General + 32x $10,000 State Parties + unlimited after that Super PAC.
posted by Talez at 5:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
$2700 Primary + $2700 General + $33,400 DNC General + 32x $10,000 State Parties + unlimited after that Super PAC.
posted by Talez at 5:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Well considering Hillary '16 is basically OFA '08 and '12 with the numbers scrapped off it's not really a surprise they know what the hell they are doing.
Between big data analytics for micro focusing their campaign and the organization and boots on the ground to run a GotV operation of incredible skill and agility I think even the best RNC and Republican candidate with a strong GotV strategy would struggle.
Trump seems to be trying to run his campaign on the cheap with virtually no staffers and basically depending on doing big rally after big rally.
I guess he can compare notes with Bernie Sanders to see exactly how well that strategy paid off in the Democratic primaries.
The Clinton Organization is a well oiled machine and it's basically operating in more or less idle right now because the Trump Campaign Jalopy is sputtering, backfiring and threatening to catch on fire at any given moment.
You can almost see the glimmer of anticipation in the eyes of some of Clinton's staff because they want to be released full throttle but seriously why bother when your opponent is killing himself?
And then you have Obama just shaking his head like "Damn Hillary how the fuck did you luck out enough to run against a clown. McCain and Romney at least offered a degree of challenge but this campaign against Trump is like playing Street Fighter and you are playing Akuma or Gill and the other guy is playing Dan Hibiki and he's just a random button smasher.
Yeah there is a chance you could lose but the reality is you are going to tear him apart.
posted by vuron at 5:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
Between big data analytics for micro focusing their campaign and the organization and boots on the ground to run a GotV operation of incredible skill and agility I think even the best RNC and Republican candidate with a strong GotV strategy would struggle.
Trump seems to be trying to run his campaign on the cheap with virtually no staffers and basically depending on doing big rally after big rally.
I guess he can compare notes with Bernie Sanders to see exactly how well that strategy paid off in the Democratic primaries.
The Clinton Organization is a well oiled machine and it's basically operating in more or less idle right now because the Trump Campaign Jalopy is sputtering, backfiring and threatening to catch on fire at any given moment.
You can almost see the glimmer of anticipation in the eyes of some of Clinton's staff because they want to be released full throttle but seriously why bother when your opponent is killing himself?
And then you have Obama just shaking his head like "Damn Hillary how the fuck did you luck out enough to run against a clown. McCain and Romney at least offered a degree of challenge but this campaign against Trump is like playing Street Fighter and you are playing Akuma or Gill and the other guy is playing Dan Hibiki and he's just a random button smasher.
Yeah there is a chance you could lose but the reality is you are going to tear him apart.
posted by vuron at 5:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
The Obama '08 campaign seemed disorganized and amateurish in comparison to the ruthlessly efficient field operation for Hillary Clinton that I saw.
This is a telling point.
Hillary spent 8 years as FLOTUS, 8 years as a senator, 8 years as Secretary of State... she has 24 years' experience with the White House. She knows who's in charge of what, and who's their backup if they're on vacation. She knows which situations are "call a plumber" vs which are "call security and have them call a plumber" vs "wait here while the Men In Black handle it." She knows which diplomatic calls are "this will need to be discussed with several department heads" vs "no, that treaty is done and no changes will be made; cope." She knows what kinds of situations are newsworthy, which are tweetstorm worthy, and which are "wait here while the Men In Black handle it."
She's been building a cabinet in her mind for over two decades... not that she's been planning this for that long, but hey, when your husband is president, you have to think, "well, if it were up to me, I'd want person X doing job Y." And she's had time to watch Person X for the next 20 years and think either, "yep, that's who should've been there; I need someone like them," or "wow, so glad I wasn't making that call! Now I know to look out for Trait Z and not give such a person that kind of job."
I am stunned at the amount of experience she brings to this job. At the connections she has, across political lines, in this country and others. At the awareness of what works and what doesn't, practiced and honed over so many years. At the knowledge of the difference between a minor newsblip and a major scandal, and how to ignore the former and mitigate the latter.
One of the weaknesses of the every-four-years election is that by the time a president really understand how the job works, they're either busy campaigning for another shot, or on their way out. We don't have that problem this time... we have someone who's poised to bypass all the transition shock and roll into the role of president at full-speed-ahead instead of "wait, I have to go through what security checkpoint?"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [195 favorites]
This is a telling point.
Hillary spent 8 years as FLOTUS, 8 years as a senator, 8 years as Secretary of State... she has 24 years' experience with the White House. She knows who's in charge of what, and who's their backup if they're on vacation. She knows which situations are "call a plumber" vs which are "call security and have them call a plumber" vs "wait here while the Men In Black handle it." She knows which diplomatic calls are "this will need to be discussed with several department heads" vs "no, that treaty is done and no changes will be made; cope." She knows what kinds of situations are newsworthy, which are tweetstorm worthy, and which are "wait here while the Men In Black handle it."
She's been building a cabinet in her mind for over two decades... not that she's been planning this for that long, but hey, when your husband is president, you have to think, "well, if it were up to me, I'd want person X doing job Y." And she's had time to watch Person X for the next 20 years and think either, "yep, that's who should've been there; I need someone like them," or "wow, so glad I wasn't making that call! Now I know to look out for Trait Z and not give such a person that kind of job."
I am stunned at the amount of experience she brings to this job. At the connections she has, across political lines, in this country and others. At the awareness of what works and what doesn't, practiced and honed over so many years. At the knowledge of the difference between a minor newsblip and a major scandal, and how to ignore the former and mitigate the latter.
One of the weaknesses of the every-four-years election is that by the time a president really understand how the job works, they're either busy campaigning for another shot, or on their way out. We don't have that problem this time... we have someone who's poised to bypass all the transition shock and roll into the role of president at full-speed-ahead instead of "wait, I have to go through what security checkpoint?"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:25 PM on August 4, 2016 [195 favorites]
So, let me once again flog a project by an acquaintance from another website:
What The Fuck Has Trump Done?
Improvements include a submission form, a list of sponsors, and the ability to link to specific pages. An omnibus page is in the works.
posted by NoxAeternum at 5:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
What The Fuck Has Trump Done?
Improvements include a submission form, a list of sponsors, and the ability to link to specific pages. An omnibus page is in the works.
posted by NoxAeternum at 5:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
And that's why she scares Republicans to death. She's going to get shit done.
posted by wabbittwax at 5:34 PM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 5:34 PM on August 4, 2016 [29 favorites]
I am so excite. All the MSNBC talking heads are grinning ear to ear.
posted by zutalors! at 5:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 5:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
[REAL] When you have no foreign policy experience but you owned Miss Universe for 20 years so....
Thank you for the [REAL] tag. It's just impossible to tell anymore.
posted by vverse23 at 5:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Thank you for the [REAL] tag. It's just impossible to tell anymore.
posted by vverse23 at 5:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
as long as Justin Trudeau is leading the crowd.
&
He can wear as little clothing as he wants as far as I'm concerned
Though I know that no disrespect is intended, would these kinds of comments be OK with everyone if the Canadian Prime Minister were an attractive female, rather than male, person? I have to admit that I am bothered by the consistent objectification of Justin Trudeau that seems to get a pass for some reason. Imagine the above comments gender flipped: certainly they would be called out.
posted by LooseFilter at 5:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
&
He can wear as little clothing as he wants as far as I'm concerned
Though I know that no disrespect is intended, would these kinds of comments be OK with everyone if the Canadian Prime Minister were an attractive female, rather than male, person? I have to admit that I am bothered by the consistent objectification of Justin Trudeau that seems to get a pass for some reason. Imagine the above comments gender flipped: certainly they would be called out.
posted by LooseFilter at 5:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [20 favorites]
I really don't think that anyone should be digging into Melania's past, and I don't think that Clinton should make it official as a talking point, but look at what a minor amount of digging reveals when you pose the question of "why does Melania get a pass," to alt-right MAGA drone shitheads,
"I'm pretty OK with western civilization."
Jesus Christ... that's the unvarnished truth if I've ever seen it for the alt-right.
posted by codacorolla at 5:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
"I'm pretty OK with western civilization."
Jesus Christ... that's the unvarnished truth if I've ever seen it for the alt-right.
posted by codacorolla at 5:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
One huge issue is that it won't be the Trump Campaign organizing the states. It's going to be the local parties because they know that Trump isn't going to do it for them. Don't underestimate what they can do.
I wonder how involved the local party will be in Ohio, lol
posted by maggiemaggie at 5:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
I wonder how involved the local party will be in Ohio, lol
posted by maggiemaggie at 5:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Imagine the above comments gender flipped: certainly they would be called out.
If women had been objectifying and oppressing men for millennia, I would be more worried about it. As you say, no disrespect has been intended.
posted by Celsius1414 at 5:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
If women had been objectifying and oppressing men for millennia, I would be more worried about it. As you say, no disrespect has been intended.
posted by Celsius1414 at 5:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
I believe you are going to see more things around voter intimidation than get out the vote campaigns.
People at polling stations arguing over someone of color’s right to vote. Or groups like the white nationalists telling specific communities they better not see any of them at the polling places, or there will be hell to pay, then having prominent folks there with video cameras recording who is entering the building (again shout out to mail in ballots for making this not a thing, much harder to intimidate someone who is just dropping a bunch of mail in a slot, once of which could be a ballot).
And I honestly think Trump has no idea how elections works - he thinks that stump speech after stump speech is how you get people showing up to vote.
The description of Clinton's speeches is significantly different (and even more different than what I've seen in previous election years) - the end of each stop includes setting up a group of people who are energized by the interaction and is equipping them to continue the conversation once Hillary leaves. While she may have only 400 people show up to one of her events, she leaves behind a group of people dedicated to keeping and to be tapped into the resources they need to feel like their time is worth it.
The more I read about Trumps "town halls" he is just bringing out all the casual couch racists, people who probably wont pickup the phone or go door to door to talk about Trump. They will just perpetuate their rumors and gossip among their friends, not noticing that circle becoming smaller and smaller - in many ways they are buying into Trumps narrative that all they need to do is vote for him. He's got it all under control, they shouldn't worry about GOTV effort at all.
posted by mrzarquon at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
People at polling stations arguing over someone of color’s right to vote. Or groups like the white nationalists telling specific communities they better not see any of them at the polling places, or there will be hell to pay, then having prominent folks there with video cameras recording who is entering the building (again shout out to mail in ballots for making this not a thing, much harder to intimidate someone who is just dropping a bunch of mail in a slot, once of which could be a ballot).
And I honestly think Trump has no idea how elections works - he thinks that stump speech after stump speech is how you get people showing up to vote.
The description of Clinton's speeches is significantly different (and even more different than what I've seen in previous election years) - the end of each stop includes setting up a group of people who are energized by the interaction and is equipping them to continue the conversation once Hillary leaves. While she may have only 400 people show up to one of her events, she leaves behind a group of people dedicated to keeping and to be tapped into the resources they need to feel like their time is worth it.
The more I read about Trumps "town halls" he is just bringing out all the casual couch racists, people who probably wont pickup the phone or go door to door to talk about Trump. They will just perpetuate their rumors and gossip among their friends, not noticing that circle becoming smaller and smaller - in many ways they are buying into Trumps narrative that all they need to do is vote for him. He's got it all under control, they shouldn't worry about GOTV effort at all.
posted by mrzarquon at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Jesus Christ... that's the unvarnished truth if I've ever seen it for the alt-right.
Usually it's only Western Europe. Slavs are typically sub-human scum on the alt-right. This is plain old hillbilly racism with no nuance.
posted by Talez at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Usually it's only Western Europe. Slavs are typically sub-human scum on the alt-right. This is plain old hillbilly racism with no nuance.
posted by Talez at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
> Though I know that no disrespect is intended, would these kinds of comments be OK with everyone if the Canadian Prime Minister were an attractive female, rather than male, person? I have to admit that I am bothered by the consistent objectification of Justin Trudeau that seems to get a pass for some reason. Imagine the above comments gender flipped: certainly they would be called out.
differential power relations make seemingly symmetrical statements not symmetrical at all.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [36 favorites]
differential power relations make seemingly symmetrical statements not symmetrical at all.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [36 favorites]
Respectfully, LooseFilter, the "if this were happening to a woman, everyone would be mad about it" objection is well-trod territory that rarely provides any insight, and it doesn't seem to me like your comment is much different. Generally, the answer to that objection is "there is a history and system of harmful objectification of women that does not exist to nearly comparable levels for men". It's fine to be bothered by objectification of men, but don't expect people to get up in arms about it the way they do (or, should) when it happens to women.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by J.K. Seazer at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Though I know that no disrespect is intended, would these kinds of comments be OK with everyone if the Canadian Prime Minister were an attractive female, rather than male, person? I have to admit that I am bothered by the consistent objectification of Justin Trudeau that seems to get a pass for some reason. Imagine the above comments gender flipped: certainly they would be called out.
Disrespect not withstanding, you do know this is different for women than it is for men, right? Because of sexism? That objectification necessarily hits women differently, affects them differently, particularly in the court of perception, because of sexism? That when the playing field is so tilted as to be a fucking steep grade climb, there is no such thing as direct comparisons like this?
Because it kind of seems like you don't know this. Whether people should be making those comments is a separate question, but your implication that "reversing the genders" would result in equivalent situations and is therefore somehow an insightful thought experiment is flat out wrong.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Disrespect not withstanding, you do know this is different for women than it is for men, right? Because of sexism? That objectification necessarily hits women differently, affects them differently, particularly in the court of perception, because of sexism? That when the playing field is so tilted as to be a fucking steep grade climb, there is no such thing as direct comparisons like this?
Because it kind of seems like you don't know this. Whether people should be making those comments is a separate question, but your implication that "reversing the genders" would result in equivalent situations and is therefore somehow an insightful thought experiment is flat out wrong.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
That Kaine speech speaking to the National Urban League is so great. It features a white man acknowledging his privilege; being thankful for getting the chance to serve as mayor of a majority African American city; naming structural racism and the problems we need to fight; specifically pointing out that white people need to do their part of the work; and doing all of it while demonstrating a refreshing comfort and familiarity with the language and concepts he discussed. If we had to have a "boring white guy" on the ticket, I'm increasingly glad it's Tim Kaine.
posted by misskaz at 5:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [72 favorites]
posted by misskaz at 5:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [72 favorites]
Whether people should be making those comments is a separate question, but your implication that "reversing the genders" would result in equivalent situations and is therefore somehow an insightful thought experiment is flat out wrong.
In summary, 1) Not the same, 2) Probably best not to do it either way. Hopefully thus ends the debate.
Jesus Christ... that's the unvarnished truth if I've ever seen it for the alt-right.
Yeah Chris Hayes played this on air during a bit about Melania.
posted by Justinian at 5:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
In summary, 1) Not the same, 2) Probably best not to do it either way. Hopefully thus ends the debate.
Jesus Christ... that's the unvarnished truth if I've ever seen it for the alt-right.
Yeah Chris Hayes played this on air during a bit about Melania.
posted by Justinian at 5:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Holy fucking shit, it just dawned on me that the DNC wrapped up almost exactly one week ago. ONE. WEEK. AGO. I don't know if I can keep up at this pace, it feels like I'm trying to run a marathon by sprinting 100 yards at a time as fast as I possibly can.
posted by the painkiller at 5:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by the painkiller at 5:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
Historical Trump: The history of the world according to Donald J. Trump
posted by guiseroom at 5:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by guiseroom at 5:56 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thing with just making up the Iranian airplane video is just too bizarre. They need to get this guy outta there.
posted by zutalors! at 5:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 5:58 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
(Mo's brother worked concessions at the second Ali-Liston fight, which is the only reason anyone ever has heard of Lewiston.)
Fuck you Charlie Pierce!, I've dated not one, but two! women who grew up in Lewiston. Of course both got as far away as possible as soon as possible. Last know addresses are in Denver and San Francisco.
posted by OmieWise at 6:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Fuck you Charlie Pierce!, I've dated not one, but two! women who grew up in Lewiston. Of course both got as far away as possible as soon as possible. Last know addresses are in Denver and San Francisco.
posted by OmieWise at 6:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Corb, do you see a Republican Reformation on the horizon?
posted by schadenfrau
Probably started with the nailing of the US Constitution to Mr. Trump's ego.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:04 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau
Probably started with the nailing of the US Constitution to Mr. Trump's ego.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:04 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Hillary doesn't take her top off in public much, but when she was in the Senate on a hot day she wore a top that dipped low enough to show the very top of her cleavage just a little, and there was kind of a big media splash about it. Just for comparison.
posted by puddledork at 6:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by puddledork at 6:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Historical Trump: The history of the world according to Donald J. Trump
I'd completely forgotten about the whole "schlonged" thing
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:05 PM on August 4, 2016
I'd completely forgotten about the whole "schlonged" thing
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:05 PM on August 4, 2016
You don't appear to know enough about how oppression works to really comment about this.
What's the endgame here? That everybody can objectify others or that no one can? If it's the latter, the original comment seems appropriate.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
What's the endgame here? That everybody can objectify others or that no one can? If it's the latter, the original comment seems appropriate.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I could totally see them driving around Manhattan looking for mudbloods to deliver the cruciatus and imperius curse to. I wonder if they have stopped short of using avada kedavra yet?
don't be ridiculous, they're the kids from the Purge
posted by poffin boffin at 6:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
don't be ridiculous, they're the kids from the Purge
posted by poffin boffin at 6:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
This is a really uncharitable take on that comment and a pretty unpleasant pile-on. I'd see the point of it if it was said in a "hey it should be okay to do this to women because Trudeau" but that was not at all the tone of the comment.
posted by phearlez at 6:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 6:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Oh please can we stop the derail about Trudeau's appearance?
I want to instead continue to wallow in horrified fascination at the ongoing trainwreck that is this election kthx
posted by forza at 6:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
I want to instead continue to wallow in horrified fascination at the ongoing trainwreck that is this election kthx
posted by forza at 6:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
Why are we fighting about Trudeau Rachel Maddow is SO HAPPY right now guys
posted by zutalors! at 6:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 6:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
What is she happy about?
posted by peacheater at 6:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 6:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I wonder how involved the local party will be in Ohio, lol
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:44 PM
I read this a couple of hours ago and thought it was too boring to post but if you are interested:
Donald Trump gets "all-star team" to run Ohio campaign
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:44 PM
I read this a couple of hours ago and thought it was too boring to post but if you are interested:
Donald Trump gets "all-star team" to run Ohio campaign
Barely three months before the general election, Donald Trump finally has a campaign team in Ohio.There are more names mentioned: Seth Unger, John Roscoe, and Clayton Henson
“We have assembled an all-star team that is building out our campaign’s ground game in every corner of the state," said Bob Paduchik, Trump’s Ohio state director, in a release.
"We are committed to taking Mr. Trump’s message to all Ohioans, and turning the enthusiasm of this grassroots movement into votes in November.”
The man who served as Trump's state director during the primary campaign, Rob Scott, will become Paduchik's deputy. Scott, an attorney, is the vice mayor of Kettering, a Dayton suburb.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
While Justin Trudeau gets points for changing the tone of Canadian politics (and for settling 25,000 Syrian refugees), his government is an incoherent mess so far. I anticipate things will get better over the coming year.
posted by My Dad at 6:14 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by My Dad at 6:14 PM on August 4, 2016
I'm watching Kaine's speech to the Urban League and I'm kind of objectifying him right now ngl
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
What is she happy about?
So many things I can't count, but, being a liberal commentator, she's pretty happy about the general implosion of the Trump campaign and the Republican Party, mostly.
"Trump has as much of a chance of winning Maine as I have of winning Miss Teen USA."
posted by zutalors! at 6:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
So many things I can't count, but, being a liberal commentator, she's pretty happy about the general implosion of the Trump campaign and the Republican Party, mostly.
"Trump has as much of a chance of winning Maine as I have of winning Miss Teen USA."
posted by zutalors! at 6:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Oh for fucks sake, Clinton is talking about emails and stuff again. WHY. STOP. STOP. FOR GODS SAKE. STOP.
"We've commented extensively on this matter in the past but now we are focused on improving the lives of all Americans by....".
STOP.
posted by Justinian at 6:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
"We've commented extensively on this matter in the past but now we are focused on improving the lives of all Americans by....".
STOP.
posted by Justinian at 6:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
So it looks like this is the time for me to let y'all know that one time, long ago in a land far away I, along with others I worked with dressed up as 'barbarians' for a party. One of these people was Justin. He and others did this face painted, Braveheart style, semi shirtless thing.
I was Xena.
It was awesome in so many ways.
posted by Jalliah at 6:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
I was Xena.
It was awesome in so many ways.
posted by Jalliah at 6:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
Mod note: Folks, the whole objectification derail needs to go in MetaTalk. Thanks.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 6:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 6:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
I'm listening to the Kaine talk at the Urban league and he is just awesome. I missed his talk at the DNC so this is the first time I've heard him talk. Super happy at this choice!
posted by Sublimity at 6:24 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by Sublimity at 6:24 PM on August 4, 2016
Just culled this from Twitter:
Age 18-29 voters in new @maristpoll:
Clinton: 41%
Johnson 23%
Stein 16%
Trump 9%
posted by Devonian at 6:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
Age 18-29 voters in new @maristpoll:
Clinton: 41%
Johnson 23%
Stein 16%
Trump 9%
posted by Devonian at 6:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
While I'd like to see that Clinton number higher seeing Trump in 4th place behind two minor minor party candidates is quite entertaining.
posted by Justinian at 6:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 6:28 PM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
Maybe this year the Libertarians break out and become the new conservative (not crazy) party?
As opposed to the less important of 2 crazy conservative party.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
As opposed to the less important of 2 crazy conservative party.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Nah, Libertarians are still crazy.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [37 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [37 favorites]
I want the Libertarians and the Republicans to split the GOP's votes and act as a living reminder of why first past the post means third parties are a bad idea.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Libertarians are totally crazy. Yes theoretically there are some left libertarians out there but the majority of libertarians I interact with are basically Republicans who also like smoking pot. Combine that with the typical Ron Paul Gold Bug + Objectivist nonsense and they are incredibly annoying. Fortunately they have basically zero power in most locales so when you encounter them always make sure that you have an escape route or a friend that you can sacrifice by saying "You know Dave here was saying something about the Fountainhead the other day but I need to go get another beer" at which point you run for your car.
posted by vuron at 6:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by vuron at 6:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Watch Hillary Clinton Answer Nearly 40 Years Of Sexism.
posted by Talez at 6:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by Talez at 6:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [27 favorites]
Third parties a bad idea? Without third parties where would all the pure souls go to be able to cast their protest votes all the while expecting those other poor compromised souls to do the real work and elect the sane people?
posted by gusottertrout at 6:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by gusottertrout at 6:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Not from The Onion: Joe Biden Wishes Barack Obama a Happy Birthday by Tweeting a Photo of Friendship Bracelets
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
The problem with the idea of the Libertarian party becoming the new Conservative party (there's little conservative about either the GOP or the Libertarians) is first, they are possibly more economically crazy. And second and more importantly the Libertarians are basically the GOP without the Evangelicals (i.e. about a third of the party). Neither more nor less. Which means either they'd need to make a play for the Evangelical votes or try and grab some segment of the Democratic coalition while fending off the GOP at the same time.
posted by Francis at 6:51 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by Francis at 6:51 PM on August 4, 2016
Of course it's not The Onion. If it were The Onion, Diamond Joe would be tweeting a picture of an indelicately placed tattoo.
posted by ckape at 6:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by ckape at 6:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
the first anchor on one of the cable news networks that says "Stick a fork in him guys because he's done" . . . Of course it would be a one way ticket to the unemployment line but seriously
THIS is both the why and the how of Trump. All the rest of this is just shiny stuff. And squirrels.
Journalism and corporate media have melted and the toxic fumes are making us see orange.
posted by petebest at 6:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
THIS is both the why and the how of Trump. All the rest of this is just shiny stuff. And squirrels.
Journalism and corporate media have melted and the toxic fumes are making us see orange.
posted by petebest at 6:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Way upthread: "I can't remember a lot of elementary school kids -- legal citizens, some of them-- being driven to tears because they're terrified their families will be deported by the next president before Trump. Can't remember teenagers bringing big "border wall" signs to high school sports events. Can't remember overt racism being spewed by huge crowds at rallies before Trump. Not since before I was born, at least."
I mean, it wasn't so loud, but I remember this. I remember this rhetoric in 2004. People definitely said Trump-level stuff out loud. They didn't scream it, because they didn't have to; the kids definitely cried, but mostly in private.
In 2005, Joe Arpaio hit the national stage. In 2006 there were a series of large immigration rights rallies (my first political action! I skipped school to go) in response to HR 4437. In response to the rallies, ICE amped up their raids, a whole bunch of racists came out of the woodwork, Arizona passed a copy of that bill - you get the gist - point is, the violence that is now explicit was always latent, waiting for some poke or prod to set it aflame, and I think it was actually triggered about ten or fifteen years ago.
Here's another point that's gonna sound really flip: the fact that it's so loud now is a mark of progress, and it's leading to good things. Mostly it was just unavoidable. This is an ugly issue for an ugly country and the path forward was never not going to be ugly. But, one, the immigration rights side has had a lot of success in advocating and shaping the national conversation. That's why the opposition is so loud and ugly; it's in response to good things. And two, the ugliness of the rhetoric has galvanized the Democratic Party into actually standing for something, and I think (hope) that immigrants are less vulnerable with the party on their side.
(On an unrelated note, can anyone vouch for a political organization that does good work for immigrants? I want to do some good work if I can.)
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 6:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
I mean, it wasn't so loud, but I remember this. I remember this rhetoric in 2004. People definitely said Trump-level stuff out loud. They didn't scream it, because they didn't have to; the kids definitely cried, but mostly in private.
In 2005, Joe Arpaio hit the national stage. In 2006 there were a series of large immigration rights rallies (my first political action! I skipped school to go) in response to HR 4437. In response to the rallies, ICE amped up their raids, a whole bunch of racists came out of the woodwork, Arizona passed a copy of that bill - you get the gist - point is, the violence that is now explicit was always latent, waiting for some poke or prod to set it aflame, and I think it was actually triggered about ten or fifteen years ago.
Here's another point that's gonna sound really flip: the fact that it's so loud now is a mark of progress, and it's leading to good things. Mostly it was just unavoidable. This is an ugly issue for an ugly country and the path forward was never not going to be ugly. But, one, the immigration rights side has had a lot of success in advocating and shaping the national conversation. That's why the opposition is so loud and ugly; it's in response to good things. And two, the ugliness of the rhetoric has galvanized the Democratic Party into actually standing for something, and I think (hope) that immigrants are less vulnerable with the party on their side.
(On an unrelated note, can anyone vouch for a political organization that does good work for immigrants? I want to do some good work if I can.)
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 6:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [11 favorites]
Even more adorably, Obama made that bracelet for Joe Biden. (at 0:30)
posted by current resident at 6:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by current resident at 6:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Story of PA: Trump blue collar gains wiped out by losses in white collar Philly burbs, where Obama was +9 in '12 & HRC is +40 in new poll
If she wins Pennsylvania, she has 491 ways to win (96% of paths) and Trump has 19 ways to win (3.7% of paths). That's without giving her Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, or Virginia (the other "competitive states" in the NYT predictor).
Combos of Florida and other competitive states:
Pennsylvania + Florida = she wins
Pennsylvania + Ohio + New Hampshire = she wins
Pennsylvania + North Carolina + New Hampshire = she wins
Pennsylvania + Virginia + New Hampshire + Iowa = she wins
Pennsylvania + Iowa + Nevada + New Hampshire + New Mexico = she wins
(All of those scenarios assume Trump gets all the other competitive states. Which he won't.)
If Trump wins Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and she wins the other competitive states, she wins.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:59 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Johnson and Weld are trying to be less odious than the average libertarian, which is nice to see, but the hardcore Libertarians aren't so happy. See, for instance, How Last Night's Gary Johnson/William Weld CNN Town Hall Was a Disappointment in Libertarian Terms.
They seem to basically be trying to build big tent libertarian, which seems to mean hand-waving over some of the more objectionable bits and not vowing to systematically dismantle the entire government on day 1. I didn't watch most of the CNN forum last night (I watched their previous CNN forum though) and it seems like they're trying to take a more pragmatic approach than the standard libertarian path, which is usually to start with the theory and then state why that theory must lead us to deregulating something or eliminating some government function and why nobody should look to them to help solve a problem.
So it's an interesting approach, though I wonder how much it pushes out their natural base in search of voters who just want a reasonably moderate conservative who won't attack fire marshals and seems to have a basic grasp on the effects of using nuclear weapons. And the thing is that even a lot of the more crazypants stuff in their agenda, like replacing taxes with a big national sales tax and ending Social Security, have been proposed by serious Republican candidates for years. Aside from a few key social issues, a good chunk of the modern GOP and the LP just aren't that different.
It's, more disturbingly, also an approach that ignores some of the hard choices that come with adopting the libertarian agenda and the ways in which those choices very often hurt the least privileged. Nobody feels more free in life if the subsidized bus service has been eliminated and they have to pay the full economic fare for a route that no longer serves their neighborhood because its unprofitable. Low wage workers don't feel more free in life when they have to pay an incredibly regressive national sales tax or what semblance of a social safety net we have is dismantled.
posted by zachlipton at 7:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
They seem to basically be trying to build big tent libertarian, which seems to mean hand-waving over some of the more objectionable bits and not vowing to systematically dismantle the entire government on day 1. I didn't watch most of the CNN forum last night (I watched their previous CNN forum though) and it seems like they're trying to take a more pragmatic approach than the standard libertarian path, which is usually to start with the theory and then state why that theory must lead us to deregulating something or eliminating some government function and why nobody should look to them to help solve a problem.
So it's an interesting approach, though I wonder how much it pushes out their natural base in search of voters who just want a reasonably moderate conservative who won't attack fire marshals and seems to have a basic grasp on the effects of using nuclear weapons. And the thing is that even a lot of the more crazypants stuff in their agenda, like replacing taxes with a big national sales tax and ending Social Security, have been proposed by serious Republican candidates for years. Aside from a few key social issues, a good chunk of the modern GOP and the LP just aren't that different.
It's, more disturbingly, also an approach that ignores some of the hard choices that come with adopting the libertarian agenda and the ways in which those choices very often hurt the least privileged. Nobody feels more free in life if the subsidized bus service has been eliminated and they have to pay the full economic fare for a route that no longer serves their neighborhood because its unprofitable. Low wage workers don't feel more free in life when they have to pay an incredibly regressive national sales tax or what semblance of a social safety net we have is dismantled.
posted by zachlipton at 7:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
I want to believe Obama was actually naming the GoT characters and not reciting the script. I WANT TO BELIEVE.
posted by Justinian at 7:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I remember this rhetoric in 2004.
To some of us that sounds like "I remember this from last week".
posted by bongo_x at 7:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
To some of us that sounds like "I remember this from last week".
posted by bongo_x at 7:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've been gawking at the car crash with the best of 'em, but I can't help but think it would really be to HRC's benefit if they do take his phone away so he can't tweet and everyone takes it down about 9 notches and just watches the Olympics for the next couple weeks. Because nobody can keep up this level of crazy for three months solid. We need a lull so everyone forgets for a minute --- HC's polls will get worse, everyone will panic, and then he can do something nutso again, and the collapse will teeter closer, and all the doubtfuls and the hesitant and the Hillary-haters will have their fear replenished. It's too early now. There's not time for him to be replaced, but there is time for him to back off, cram his fist in his mouth and hide the crazy a bit better. He was able to do it for a couple weeks before the convention, when he picked Pence.
posted by maggiepolitt at 7:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by maggiepolitt at 7:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
I mean, I was 14 in 2004 so that's kind of the earliest I can really vouch for and that was seriously more than ten years ago
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 7:02 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 7:02 PM on August 4, 2016
I mean, I was 14 in 2004 so that's kind of the earliest I can really vouch for
Yeah, I'm razzing you. But from my point of view this is all the same time period, from when Bush was elected to now. It's about to be the end of an era though. Thank God.
posted by bongo_x at 7:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yeah, I'm razzing you. But from my point of view this is all the same time period, from when Bush was elected to now. It's about to be the end of an era though. Thank God.
posted by bongo_x at 7:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm a little worried that because Clinton's negatives are still so high, and there are a lot of people saying they will vote for third party candidates, that when push comes to shove on election day, more people will break for Trump than we expect. This is really a strange election in many ways, I really hope we don't get too complacent.
posted by peacheater at 7:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 7:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
Via Portland Maine mayor Ethan Strimling's Facebook:
"Just received this:
"Just received this:
"Somalis have been part of Maine since the early 1990s. We are citizens of this country and members of this community. We are participants in all sectors of the economy. We are professionals, laborers, students, business owners, veterans and members of law enforcement. We care about our communities and we are here to stay. Trump's rhetoric at his rally in Portland on Thursday was very destructive. It is damaging to the psyche of our youth to hear a major party presidential nominee condemn our culture and religion, especially while standing next to the governor of our state. We condemn his name calling, scapegoating and the lies perpetrated by his campaign. We will be holding a press conference to discuss this issue further on Friday, August 5, at 2:30 on the steps of City Hall."posted by donnagirl at 7:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [63 favorites]
I live in Florida. I watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, which means I see a lot of political advertising. Tonight I saw an ad from a Republican running for US Rep which talked about how conservative she is but did not mention or show the word "Republican". I saw an ad from a Democrat running for US Rep which talked about how much he supports Democratic values and ended with the tagline "Send a Real Democrat to Congress". People are running away from the Republican brand and rushing toward the Democratic brand. This is huge.
posted by Daily Alice at 7:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [57 favorites]
posted by Daily Alice at 7:10 PM on August 4, 2016 [57 favorites]
There's not time for him to be replaced, but there is time for him to back off, cram his fist in his mouth and hide the crazy a bit better. He was able to do it for a couple weeks before the convention, when he picked Pence.
Maybe he was able to do it for a couple of weeks (although I don't remember it quite that way). I don't believe he will be able to do it for three months.
And even if he does, the Clinton campaign has already shows they have film of the puppy shitting all over the rug and will rub his nose in it until November.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm trying to remember that the Romney camp was pretty convinced they were going to win even up to the last day. I mean, that required ignoring a whole lot of evidence otherwise, but groupthink is always something to guard against.
posted by ctmf at 7:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 7:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
The truth is the chances of one of the current major parties ever relinquishing power to a third party are basically zero. They have too much inertia behind them and it's easier for them to pivot and swallow up a third party than to actually be overtaken.
The Republican Party is in no danger of being overtaken by the Libertarians because as others have said they are basically Republicans with even dumber economic policies so they more or less function as a protest party for free market purists.
The greens occupy the protest vote on the left since there really hasn't been much of a coherent socialist-communist party presence in ages.
The last major realignment (the theoretical sixth party system) was basically the realignment of conservative Southern Democrats into Republicans following 1968. This marked the end of the Democratic ruling coalition that dominated the US from the FDR New Deal period to the LBJ Great Society. Republicans could win national office but other than that they were largely a permanent opposition party in Congress.
The split of the New Deal-Great Society coalition into Labor in the Northeast and Midwest and the Southern Agrarian Democrats allowed traditional Republicans that were strong in the Northeast and West to align with conservative southern democrats at the same time that there were pretty significant internal migrations from the industrial NE and Midwest to the South and the Southwest. Republicans became the party of big business as southern states were intensely negative towards labor rights and deindustrialization of the Midwest and NE and relocation of industries to the South allowed for rapid growth (so Southern Conservatives were seen as economic geniuses).
Still we probably would've stablized into an equilibrium early but the evangelical movement finally quit regarding politics as sinful (or whatever) around the 80s and viola suddenly we had the Moral Majority which was a weird hybrid of Social Conservatives, Economic Conservatives and White Nationalists. The White Nationalists had to go into hiding but they still got most of what they wanted in the form of dog whistles and regressive policies towards communities of color. Economic conservatives got most of what they wanted in the form of reduced taxation and regulation even if they failed to roll back most of the new deal and great society advances.
Evangelicals basically got taken for a ride because it's easy to promise "Protect the Babies" and then never ever deliver and use it for a GotV strategy next election, rinse and repeat. Of course the fact that the evangelical leadership were in on the scam made it easier to pull one over on the rubes.
Finally though the white nationalists and the evangelicals have realized that they keep getting shit on by the economic conservatives and they got mad. So in comes someone with an incoherent set of economically populist positions but a ton of stuff for social conservatives and they went crazy for it.
posted by vuron at 7:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
The Republican Party is in no danger of being overtaken by the Libertarians because as others have said they are basically Republicans with even dumber economic policies so they more or less function as a protest party for free market purists.
The greens occupy the protest vote on the left since there really hasn't been much of a coherent socialist-communist party presence in ages.
The last major realignment (the theoretical sixth party system) was basically the realignment of conservative Southern Democrats into Republicans following 1968. This marked the end of the Democratic ruling coalition that dominated the US from the FDR New Deal period to the LBJ Great Society. Republicans could win national office but other than that they were largely a permanent opposition party in Congress.
The split of the New Deal-Great Society coalition into Labor in the Northeast and Midwest and the Southern Agrarian Democrats allowed traditional Republicans that were strong in the Northeast and West to align with conservative southern democrats at the same time that there were pretty significant internal migrations from the industrial NE and Midwest to the South and the Southwest. Republicans became the party of big business as southern states were intensely negative towards labor rights and deindustrialization of the Midwest and NE and relocation of industries to the South allowed for rapid growth (so Southern Conservatives were seen as economic geniuses).
Still we probably would've stablized into an equilibrium early but the evangelical movement finally quit regarding politics as sinful (or whatever) around the 80s and viola suddenly we had the Moral Majority which was a weird hybrid of Social Conservatives, Economic Conservatives and White Nationalists. The White Nationalists had to go into hiding but they still got most of what they wanted in the form of dog whistles and regressive policies towards communities of color. Economic conservatives got most of what they wanted in the form of reduced taxation and regulation even if they failed to roll back most of the new deal and great society advances.
Evangelicals basically got taken for a ride because it's easy to promise "Protect the Babies" and then never ever deliver and use it for a GotV strategy next election, rinse and repeat. Of course the fact that the evangelical leadership were in on the scam made it easier to pull one over on the rubes.
Finally though the white nationalists and the evangelicals have realized that they keep getting shit on by the economic conservatives and they got mad. So in comes someone with an incoherent set of economically populist positions but a ton of stuff for social conservatives and they went crazy for it.
posted by vuron at 7:17 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
I went to college in Lewiston, Maine from 1985 to 1989. The Somali immigrants started arriving in Lewiston roughly around 2001 so I don't have any first hand information about what that change meant. However, my friends who remained in Lewiston have been - to a person - very enthusiastic about what their arrival brought to the city in terms of culture, jobs opportunities and civic life.
Despite racist rhetoric from many people, crime is down since their arrival. This article describes all the ways the influx of refugees has benefited the state.
There's more out there, but despite Governor LaPig's racist bent, I believe in my heart Maine-ers are made of more generous stuff than what Trump thinks. Its worth remembering that he's been governor because Democrats split the vote twice now.
Perhaps that is why Trump likes going to Maine - it is a state that elected a majority-despised governor twice because his opponents couldn't get their shit together to defeat him.
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:20 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Despite racist rhetoric from many people, crime is down since their arrival. This article describes all the ways the influx of refugees has benefited the state.
There's more out there, but despite Governor LaPig's racist bent, I believe in my heart Maine-ers are made of more generous stuff than what Trump thinks. Its worth remembering that he's been governor because Democrats split the vote twice now.
Perhaps that is why Trump likes going to Maine - it is a state that elected a majority-despised governor twice because his opponents couldn't get their shit together to defeat him.
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:20 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
I want to believe Obama was actually naming the GoT characters and not reciting the script. I WANT TO BELIEVE.
Obama is not only a legit Game of Thrones fan, he is the only person outside HBO to receive advance episodes. It ranks right up there with the nuclear football in reasons Trump can't be trusted with the presidency, you know there's no way he'd be disciplined enough to avoid leaking spoilers on Twitter.
posted by strangely stunted trees at 7:20 PM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
Obama is not only a legit Game of Thrones fan, he is the only person outside HBO to receive advance episodes. It ranks right up there with the nuclear football in reasons Trump can't be trusted with the presidency, you know there's no way he'd be disciplined enough to avoid leaking spoilers on Twitter.
posted by strangely stunted trees at 7:20 PM on August 4, 2016 [42 favorites]
Obama is not only a legit Game of Thrones fan, he is the only person outside HBO to receive advance episodes. It ranks right up there with the nuclear football in reasons Trump can't be trusted with the presidency, you know there's no way he'd be disciplined enough to avoid leaking spoilers on Twitter.
Sneaky Stormborn, bringing in THOUSANDS of immigrants to rape and pillage Westerosi land. Dodges questions on where she got dragons. Sad! Night King will make her pay, Make Westeros Great Again!
posted by codacorolla at 7:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Sneaky Stormborn, bringing in THOUSANDS of immigrants to rape and pillage Westerosi land. Dodges questions on where she got dragons. Sad! Night King will make her pay, Make Westeros Great Again!
posted by codacorolla at 7:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
How Cerebus The Aardvark Explains Trump
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:29 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Even more adorably, Obama made that bracelet for Joe Biden. (at 0:30)
Even more adorably he's making two sets? In that video he already has a completed "Joe" bracelet and is working on a second.
posted by zutalors! at 7:29 PM on August 4, 2016
This is a tangent, but -
(On an unrelated note, can anyone vouch for a political organization that does good work for immigrants? I want to do some good work if I can.)
Issuing the disclaimer that I work there but the International Rescue Committee is kinda awesome. Granted they're an NGO and they don't operate only in the US, but their US branch is doing amazing work and they have a branch that does advocacy in Washington and at the UN. (Plus, any group that can inspire the GOT cast to campaign for them and Patrick Stewart to sing cowboy songs on their behalf has gotta be mighty.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
(On an unrelated note, can anyone vouch for a political organization that does good work for immigrants? I want to do some good work if I can.)
Issuing the disclaimer that I work there but the International Rescue Committee is kinda awesome. Granted they're an NGO and they don't operate only in the US, but their US branch is doing amazing work and they have a branch that does advocacy in Washington and at the UN. (Plus, any group that can inspire the GOT cast to campaign for them and Patrick Stewart to sing cowboy songs on their behalf has gotta be mighty.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
The quick cuts between sound bites in the "40 years of sexism" video really drive home the persistent level of crap she's endured.
Sustaining her level of restraint for decades borders on superhuman. I'd need a team of high energy physicists to figure out how to safely contain that level of frustration
posted by strange chain at 7:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
Sustaining her level of restraint for decades borders on superhuman. I'd need a team of high energy physicists to figure out how to safely contain that level of frustration
posted by strange chain at 7:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
Romney's groupthink required that you buy into the whole unskewing the polls bullshit that pops up every so often.
Yes individual polls can be bad and there are definitely some that have very sketchy methodologies and likely voter screens (Rasmussen and Gravis I'm looking at you) but you can typically look at the median values of state polls and see that the 2012 race was remarkably consistent.
Romney had a brief surge around the RNC and again around the awful Obama performance in the first debate but Obama kept righting the ship and the end result was remarkably consistent with the models.
A similar trend line with Clinton and Trump has been in place over the entire campaign (or at least since the two nominees were largely clear).
Clinton has maintained a solid but unspectacular lead over Trump for the most part of a year. Trump closed the gap some when he gained the nomination and there was still some doubt in the Democratic nomination process (no there really wasn't but the narrative was that there was). Once the Hillary nomination was certain there was a correction of the polls but still the basic trend line was largely the same.
Trump gained ground during the FUD olympics I mean the RNC and there was some warning signs about the DNC but then Clinton and company came through like gangbusters.
Now the BoB stuff has basically died down to nothing as pretty much the entire Democratic party has more or less embraced Clinton as their chosen one. So the inevitable bump happened.
What I expected was more or less a return to the previous pattern with a slight adjustment to represent the Bernie faction being added to the fold but then something really weird happened and Trump went apeshit over the Khans and he turned what should've been a minor slam into a multi-day tire fire. And he continues to do other stupid shit.
So it's still way to early to tell if this current Hillary bounce is just DNC related or if it also represents DNC bounce plus a collapse of Trump's support. I'm beginning to think it's the later because you can tell by the looks and the tweets coming from Republican strategists that the internal polling numbers are just as bad as the public polling.
It will be really interesting to see if someone can help Trump right the ship but right now it looks like he's taking on a lot of water and the sharks are circling. If too many Republicans jump ship publically you could see an implosion of his polling numbers.
posted by vuron at 7:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
Yes individual polls can be bad and there are definitely some that have very sketchy methodologies and likely voter screens (Rasmussen and Gravis I'm looking at you) but you can typically look at the median values of state polls and see that the 2012 race was remarkably consistent.
Romney had a brief surge around the RNC and again around the awful Obama performance in the first debate but Obama kept righting the ship and the end result was remarkably consistent with the models.
A similar trend line with Clinton and Trump has been in place over the entire campaign (or at least since the two nominees were largely clear).
Clinton has maintained a solid but unspectacular lead over Trump for the most part of a year. Trump closed the gap some when he gained the nomination and there was still some doubt in the Democratic nomination process (no there really wasn't but the narrative was that there was). Once the Hillary nomination was certain there was a correction of the polls but still the basic trend line was largely the same.
Trump gained ground during the FUD olympics I mean the RNC and there was some warning signs about the DNC but then Clinton and company came through like gangbusters.
Now the BoB stuff has basically died down to nothing as pretty much the entire Democratic party has more or less embraced Clinton as their chosen one. So the inevitable bump happened.
What I expected was more or less a return to the previous pattern with a slight adjustment to represent the Bernie faction being added to the fold but then something really weird happened and Trump went apeshit over the Khans and he turned what should've been a minor slam into a multi-day tire fire. And he continues to do other stupid shit.
So it's still way to early to tell if this current Hillary bounce is just DNC related or if it also represents DNC bounce plus a collapse of Trump's support. I'm beginning to think it's the later because you can tell by the looks and the tweets coming from Republican strategists that the internal polling numbers are just as bad as the public polling.
It will be really interesting to see if someone can help Trump right the ship but right now it looks like he's taking on a lot of water and the sharks are circling. If too many Republicans jump ship publically you could see an implosion of his polling numbers.
posted by vuron at 7:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [18 favorites]
Oh I'm sure he is patting himself on the back for being so clever. He has always thought very highly of himself when the truth is he is a mere backwoods Bible Thumper with little insight and less empathy.
One of Huckabee's sons killed a dog. I don't think he ate it. Anyway, Huckabee's a grifting irrelevance who shouldn't have tried being snarky, because rich fuckers who hunt endangered species are down there with the worst people on the planet, and I wish I believed in a punitive afterlife for them to spend an eternity in it.
posted by holgate at 7:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
One of Huckabee's sons killed a dog. I don't think he ate it. Anyway, Huckabee's a grifting irrelevance who shouldn't have tried being snarky, because rich fuckers who hunt endangered species are down there with the worst people on the planet, and I wish I believed in a punitive afterlife for them to spend an eternity in it.
posted by holgate at 7:37 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
The crosstabs in that Marist poll are insane. Trump is losing men by nearly ten points, women by twenty, Latinos by thirty, African-Americans by ninety. He's losing every region of the country including the South, every economic bracket and educational level, every age including the over-60 vote. He's only winning the military vote by eleven points. He's only winning the white vote by two points. These are hopeless, humiliating, and surely for Trump emasculating numbers. He is well and truly done, and he has to go out in public and be a loser for the next three months. It's going to be hell for him.
posted by EarBucket at 7:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [31 favorites]
posted by EarBucket at 7:39 PM on August 4, 2016 [31 favorites]
shit vuron, I get out of breath just reading your comments
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:41 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:41 PM on August 4, 2016
So the Olympics: do they help Trump by making people pay less attention to him, or do they hurt him because he'll be so upset about people paying less attention to him that he'll do increasingly outrageous stuff to make the media focus on him?
Unless Trump manages to do something truly positive and amazing between now and the start of the Opening Ceremony, even the best scenario (Olympics start and no one (except us, ha) pays attention to the election) is HORRIBLE for him. His image will freeze at the point people stop paying attention - "Trump the tire fire." When the Olympics end, it's halfway to September and people's last memory of what Trump did is still "oh yeah he insulted that Gold Star family and was going nuts!"
He really, really fucked this up.
posted by sallybrown at 7:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Unless Trump manages to do something truly positive and amazing between now and the start of the Opening Ceremony, even the best scenario (Olympics start and no one (except us, ha) pays attention to the election) is HORRIBLE for him. His image will freeze at the point people stop paying attention - "Trump the tire fire." When the Olympics end, it's halfway to September and people's last memory of what Trump did is still "oh yeah he insulted that Gold Star family and was going nuts!"
He really, really fucked this up.
posted by sallybrown at 7:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [14 favorites]
Looks like Paul Ryan has accepted the inevitable:
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) sent an urgent fundraising appeal Thursday evening that warned: “If we fail to protect our majority in Congress, we could be handing President Hillary Clinton a blank check.”posted by zakur at 7:45 PM on August 4, 2016 [41 favorites]
Ugh Dave Sim and Cerebus.
Shudder, the dude makes Scott Adams seem well adjusted.
posted by vuron at 7:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Shudder, the dude makes Scott Adams seem well adjusted.
posted by vuron at 7:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Given the margin of error, Trump's popularity among African Americans may be less than zero. Don't ask how this is possible, it's Trump.
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Looks like Paul Ryan has accepted the inevitable: House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) sent an urgent fundraising appeal Thursday evening that warned: “If we fail to protect our majority in Congress, we could be handing President Hillary Clinton a blank check.”
Wow I did not expect that level of burn.
Trump is going to go ballistic.
posted by sallybrown at 7:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
Wow I did not expect that level of burn.
Trump is going to go ballistic.
posted by sallybrown at 7:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [24 favorites]
Maybe he meant Canadians because you never know what might happen if Maine relaxes it's vigilance. Hordes of Shirtless Canadians might cross over the border from Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
For those who don't know the region, (apart from the shirtlessness), this has already happened... a hundred-plus years ago.
Growing up here in New Hampshire, there was still a French-language book store just off the main street in the nearest city in the 1990s, when ⅓ of the state's population was estimated to be of French-Canadian descent. Geographic features like mountains and rivers have names from Western Abenaki (an Algonquian language), cities and towns were given names by the earliest English-speaking settlers, but many of the streets and municipal parks and other things have French names thanks to the immigration at the end of the 19th century / beginning ot the 19th century. (Also, y'know, the names of states like "Maine" (probably) and "Vermont".)
So many of my fellow New Englanders who cheer for Trump's schtick about building a wall with Mexico and rail against illegal immigrants are probably descended from illegal French-Canadian immigrants, like I probably am.
posted by XMLicious at 7:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
The Olympic opening ceremonies are tomorrow, for what it's worth. I think that one byproduct of Trump's meltdown over the past week or so is that nobody in the US is paying any attention to the Olympics at all. I had forgotten that they were about to start.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:48 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Paul Ryan sure does like that blank check phrase. First his endorsement of Trump was not a blank check and now we are going to give Clinton a blank check.
Who is he doing his banking with and why does he keep giving people blank checks?
posted by vuron at 7:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Who is he doing his banking with and why does he keep giving people blank checks?
posted by vuron at 7:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Unless Trump manages to do something truly positive and amazing between now and the start of the Opening Ceremony, even the best scenario (Olympics start and no one (except us, ha) pays attention to the election) is HORRIBLE for him. His image will freeze at the point people stop paying attention - "Trump the tire fire." When the Olympics end, it's halfway to September and people's last memory of what Trump did is still "oh yeah he insulted that Gold Star family and was going nuts!"
That's assuming he doesn't get the phone back and call Gabby Douglas the N-word on night 3 because no one is paying attention to him. Odds on him insulting one or more American Olympians over the next 2 weeks are already off the board in Vegas.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
That's assuming he doesn't get the phone back and call Gabby Douglas the N-word on night 3 because no one is paying attention to him. Odds on him insulting one or more American Olympians over the next 2 weeks are already off the board in Vegas.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:49 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Well, those Trumpists who don't care about Melania's immigration status made it clear, they only care about nonwhite illegal immigrants.
posted by zutalors! at 7:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 7:50 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Who even uses checks any more?
posted by VTX at 7:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by VTX at 7:51 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
The only question about the Olympics is which happens first-- Trump tweets something horribly insensitive about a struggling but historically beloved American athlete (Gabby's not a bad guess tbh), or Trump causes an international incident by tweeting something horribly insensitive about Brazil and/or a foreign athlete.
posted by acidic at 7:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by acidic at 7:52 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ugh Dave Sim and Cerebus.
Shudder, the dude makes Scott Adams seem well adjusted.
The link discusses Church and State, which was about 100 issues before Sim went full on Mein Kampf of misogyny. Its an interesting parallel between despotic Pope Cerebus and despotic Silly-Putty Golem Trump
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Shudder, the dude makes Scott Adams seem well adjusted.
The link discusses Church and State, which was about 100 issues before Sim went full on Mein Kampf of misogyny. Its an interesting parallel between despotic Pope Cerebus and despotic Silly-Putty Golem Trump
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:53 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Paul Ryan sure does like that blank check phrase.
Can you blame him?
posted by sallybrown at 7:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Can you blame him?
posted by sallybrown at 7:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Who even uses checks any more?
Heck, if we're talking about Paul Ryan, who even uses balances either?
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [34 favorites]
Heck, if we're talking about Paul Ryan, who even uses balances either?
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [34 favorites]
I think that Dave Sim is a talented artist (unlike Adams). He understands toxic masculinity very well, his mistake is that he understands it as a desirable outcome for society instead of something we should try to eliminate. The arc that they're talking about there ends up with Cerebus using every dirty trick in the book to take control of both the Church and the State, and then ascending to meet an uncaring, asshole of a God. He winds up stranded on the moon, haunted by the terrible things he's done, ultimately alone and defeated from his quest to power. The only problem is that Sims keeps going from there. Otherwise, it's a pretty effective deconstruction of toxic masculinity.
posted by codacorolla at 7:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 7:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Who even uses checks any more?
Heck, if we're talking about Paul Ryan, who even uses balances either?
Hang it up, Joey Michaels wins.
posted by zutalors! at 7:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Wow. I almost feel bad for this "Graham Beckel" that CNN dredged up from somewhere to try to defend Clint Eastwood. That guy should be at home sleeping off whatever he's been drinking, not appearing on national television.
posted by yesster at 7:57 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by yesster at 7:57 PM on August 4, 2016
For those of you on the edges of your seats wondering whether my many links to reputable news organizations regarding the "pure speculation" that Trump is a crummy businessman, and a con-artist with definite past and unknown current investment from Russian oligarchs were able to convince someone on the internet that my allegations were not "pure speculation" the answer is "no, because I don't know how journalism works." (To be fair, we have had such vanishingly small amounts of real journalism in the US for so long, I can't entirely blame the dude for not knowing what it looks like.) See, apparently unless they literally quote verbatim and name all sources, articles in a newspaper are just totally made up by the writer out of thin air. Or something. The quotation marks and name of the source are like the gold fringe on the flag. (How I know he didn't really bother to really read any of the articles: there were named sources throughout most of them, and a quote from Donald Trump Jr. himself in one.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Chris Hayes talking so fast he makes up the word "famousedly"
posted by zutalors! at 8:02 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by zutalors! at 8:02 PM on August 4, 2016
Hahaha Fratbro Ryan never fails to get a laugh out of me. The "step back srs business going on" expression is just so classic. He'll be 90 years old and people will still be throwing shade on him about those pictures.
I also love that he's regarded as the scholar-sage of the Republican party, the one that they all turn to in their darkest hour to give some degree of plausibility to whatever bullshit snake-oil cure-all they are trying to sell to the public today.
I just see people like Clinton, Biden and Obama shaking their head in amazement.
Ryan trying to repeal Obamacare for the zillionth time
Obama and Biden- You don't have the votes, you don't have the votes
You are going to need congressional approval and you don't have the votes, ahahahaha
Obama- Such a blunder, it makes me wonder why I even bring the thunder.
Biden- Why he even brings the thunder...
posted by vuron at 8:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
I also love that he's regarded as the scholar-sage of the Republican party, the one that they all turn to in their darkest hour to give some degree of plausibility to whatever bullshit snake-oil cure-all they are trying to sell to the public today.
I just see people like Clinton, Biden and Obama shaking their head in amazement.
Ryan trying to repeal Obamacare for the zillionth time
Obama and Biden- You don't have the votes, you don't have the votes
You are going to need congressional approval and you don't have the votes, ahahahaha
Obama- Such a blunder, it makes me wonder why I even bring the thunder.
Biden- Why he even brings the thunder...
posted by vuron at 8:05 PM on August 4, 2016 [26 favorites]
I also don't think you can discount that any of that other stupid Trump shit would have sunk any other candidate on any other cycle, or at least needed frantic shovelling.
People are realising, I think, that yes, this man has somehow become a real presidential candidate - and the thought of him with nukes, or dealing with Russia, or running a coherent anti-terrorism strategy... isn't hypothetically frightening, it's actually don't-go-there territory.
Dems look at him and reach for the photon torpedos and Captain Hillary Janeway. The GOP looks at him and realises - hey, he just fucked the party. What would he do to the country?
In other words: shit just got serious, and there is so very much shit.
I know - early days. Three months. But assuming that a candidate with, what, twenty four years of experience at or near the very highest level of politics will probably not have a huge closet of skeletons in pantsuits and can operate at a competent level, that the Dems are looking as solid as you like, and that Trump won't have an actual brain refit - what is going to shake these dynamics?
I can think of ten things that could damage Trump furtherm down to glowing dust level. But what's the worst case plausible scenario for HRC?
posted by Devonian at 8:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
People are realising, I think, that yes, this man has somehow become a real presidential candidate - and the thought of him with nukes, or dealing with Russia, or running a coherent anti-terrorism strategy... isn't hypothetically frightening, it's actually don't-go-there territory.
Dems look at him and reach for the photon torpedos and Captain Hillary Janeway. The GOP looks at him and realises - hey, he just fucked the party. What would he do to the country?
In other words: shit just got serious, and there is so very much shit.
I know - early days. Three months. But assuming that a candidate with, what, twenty four years of experience at or near the very highest level of politics will probably not have a huge closet of skeletons in pantsuits and can operate at a competent level, that the Dems are looking as solid as you like, and that Trump won't have an actual brain refit - what is going to shake these dynamics?
I can think of ten things that could damage Trump furtherm down to glowing dust level. But what's the worst case plausible scenario for HRC?
posted by Devonian at 8:07 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
cashman: I'm watching CNN, and they've just been yammering on about Trump and all that - with a small window in the bottom right to alert the viewer Trump will be on soon. Meanwhile Hillary Clinton is actually speaking.
cashman: Of note, CNN (after about 5 minutes) and MSNBC have now both broken away from covering Trump rambling on.
vuron: You mean MSNBC and CNN are actually realizing that giving Trump free airtime every day is a bad business model?
Nope, it seems more like the Trump Train might be running a bit low on coal, and can only attract audiences for so long. As long as we don't have more press coverage of empty stages that may eventually have Trump on them.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:09 PM on August 4, 2016
cashman: Of note, CNN (after about 5 minutes) and MSNBC have now both broken away from covering Trump rambling on.
vuron: You mean MSNBC and CNN are actually realizing that giving Trump free airtime every day is a bad business model?
Nope, it seems more like the Trump Train might be running a bit low on coal, and can only attract audiences for so long. As long as we don't have more press coverage of empty stages that may eventually have Trump on them.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:09 PM on August 4, 2016
I'm not trying to be complacent but given that the Democrats are winning hard, we can at least take a page from the Romney playbook and be convinced of our winning? Given that we're right? While still not being complacent, volunteering, pushing hard...
I'm someone who's backed Hillary hard since February and every week it's like "how will Hillary fuck this up?" and it's like, that's FINALLY not happening in the narrative this week, I just want to take a breath and enjoy it.
posted by zutalors! at 8:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
I'm someone who's backed Hillary hard since February and every week it's like "how will Hillary fuck this up?" and it's like, that's FINALLY not happening in the narrative this week, I just want to take a breath and enjoy it.
posted by zutalors! at 8:11 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
For anyone not keeping track, OLIVER FUCKING NORTH just blasted Obama on the Iran non-story that the trump campaign is trying to run as an attack. Called it "ransom money" on Hannity. I... I don't fucking know any more.
posted by codacorolla at 8:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 8:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [25 favorites]
Dems look at him and reach for the photon torpedos and Captain Hillary Janeway
Not gonna lie; I would back this on Kickstarter.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Not gonna lie; I would back this on Kickstarter.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:12 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Can we somehow please get rid of Paul Ryan and the rest of the childish obstructionists? They're not doing their jobs. They're simply throwing wrenches into the works of the federal government. It's not helping the country. In fact, it's obviously harming it.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 8:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 8:13 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I don't think it's been linked yet, but the entire "Donald Trump lives, works, eats and employs people of all races and religions" press release is a treasure.
posted by kate blank at 8:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by kate blank at 8:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
I like that bet365 has Paul Ryan in 3rd place odds to win presidency.
posted by bongo_x at 8:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 8:14 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
And none of the polls include the difference between a massive, state-of-the-art get-out-the-vote operation vs. the high-school-election job Trump has planned.
Martin Prince will defeat Trump by a vote of two-to-zero.
Trump Pence 2016: More asbestos! More asbestos! More asbestos!
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 8:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Martin Prince will defeat Trump by a vote of two-to-zero.
Trump Pence 2016: More asbestos! More asbestos! More asbestos!
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 8:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Well he got his phone back. They should just get him a Galaxy Note, then his fingers wouldn't be able to reach to tweet.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
The only question about the Olympics is which happens first-- Trump tweets something horribly insensitive about a struggling but historically beloved American athlete
He's got a timely opportunity to say something super-offensive about gymnasts if he acts fast.
posted by ctmf at 8:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
He's got a timely opportunity to say something super-offensive about gymnasts if he acts fast.
posted by ctmf at 8:19 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ryan will try for 2020 but will have to battle against Ted Cruz, which means a huge rehash of this campaign (appeasement of Trump vs. "vote your conscience"), which means the constant reminder of the total failure of the Republican Party, coupled with huge blocs of people that would have voted for Greens and Libertarians before the GOP, and all the while a woman with years and years of White House / Executive experience is governing...you tell me.
posted by sallybrown at 8:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 8:21 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
I been loving these fpps, but I sure would like some metafilter wisdom on how to help get Congress blue.
posted by infinitewindow at 8:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by infinitewindow at 8:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Oh my god, the shitty photoshops continue.
posted by mrzarquon at 8:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mrzarquon at 8:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
If I'm elected Mefi President those people who don't have time to obsessively reload the electionfilter threads every 30 seconds will be given the opportunity to download an abridged copy of the current electionfilter thread narrated by your choice of Samuel L Jackson, Jim Dale or Morgan Freeman. Full Cast Audio unabridged recording will also be available at the close of the active thread.
Plus all science themed FPP will be narrated by Neil Degrasse Tyson. You are free to suggest narrators for other FPPs. I am nothing but your most benevolent servant.
posted by vuron at 8:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Plus all science themed FPP will be narrated by Neil Degrasse Tyson. You are free to suggest narrators for other FPPs. I am nothing but your most benevolent servant.
posted by vuron at 8:24 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Is it too late for him to pick a fight with Kevin Durant for not saying Trump was the real MVP? Sad!
posted by argybarg at 8:25 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by argybarg at 8:25 PM on August 4, 2016
[intense sarcasm] I personally don't buy this lame stream media polling. You have to adjust the skewing. That's why you should see the REAL story at LongRoom's Unbiased Polls, where you'll see that Trump is actually winning. You know it's true due to their deep methodology and success in predicting the last three elections! [/intense sarcasm]
According to /r/PoliticalDiscussion, this is probably from the same guys that "unskewed" the 2012 election for Romney. It's less "funny ha ha" and more "funny aww". And re: the last three elections, the website appeared in the last year.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
According to /r/PoliticalDiscussion, this is probably from the same guys that "unskewed" the 2012 election for Romney. It's less "funny ha ha" and more "funny aww". And re: the last three elections, the website appeared in the last year.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Um, has anyone pointed out to him that an incredibly obviously unqualified and wealthy candidate who won the primaries against the odds going around saying the process can be rigged.......nah, never mind.
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:30 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
But what's the worst case plausible scenario for HRC?
Something gets blown/shot up in a major way by Radical Islamic Terrorists[tm] in October, and enough otherwise well-meaning people respond to Trump's saber-rattling with knee-jerk xenophobia to shift things.
Or Bill gets caught nuts-deep in an animal or inanimate object.
posted by delfin at 8:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
Something gets blown/shot up in a major way by Radical Islamic Terrorists[tm] in October, and enough otherwise well-meaning people respond to Trump's saber-rattling with knee-jerk xenophobia to shift things.
Or Bill gets caught nuts-deep in an animal or inanimate object.
posted by delfin at 8:32 PM on August 4, 2016 [13 favorites]
will be given the opportunity to download an abridged copy of the current electionfilter thread narrated by
Kate McKinnon.
posted by rtha at 8:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
Kate McKinnon.
posted by rtha at 8:33 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
the fact that it's so loud now is a mark of progress, and it's leading to good things. Mostly it was just unavoidable. This is an ugly issue for an ugly country and the path forward was never not going to be ugly.
Yes yes YES.
One of the big problems with any kind of social justice or civil rights movement, is convincing the sensible, polite, common-sense people that there really are eedjit bigots who believe (1) people of color are genetically inclined to crime; (2) women have different brains that make them incapable of making mature adult decisions; (3) torturing innocent people is okay if one in ten tortures gets you some military info (and nevermind if you could've gotten that info some other way, without torturing the innocent - the point is, you got the info); (4) women who look sexy in public are sluts who deserve to be raped and probably wanted it anyway; (5) evil Jews control the media; (6) all taxes exist to rip off hardworking (white) folks and hand over their money to lazy welfare queens; (7) any religion that's not theirs is full of violent terrorists who just want to blow up the world; (8) every place outside of my home is full of criminals and perverts who must be held in check by threat of force. And more. And worse.
And normally, white-male-cis dude from upper-middle-class family in the burbs, attending a nice liberal-ish college, has heard of all those opinions, but shoved them aside as holdovers from our unenlightened past; nobody today believes those things. Or if they do, maybe it's a tiny number of whackos out there somewhere, but there's not any notable number of people who have those ... quaint ... opinions about how life and society work.
Having this brought forward means being able to say, YES, people still believe that; people are willing to elect politicians based on their support for those opinions.
We can't fix the problem if we can't convince our potential allies that there really is a problem, and it really is big. And it's wonderful that this is getting discussed, getting media time, getting twitter and Youtube time when mainstream media won't touch it, because it lets us fight the gaslighting: no, it's not in my head; I am not exaggerating how many guys say things like this; please stop telling me I must've misunderstood what they meant.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:35 PM on August 4, 2016 [39 favorites]
Yes yes YES.
One of the big problems with any kind of social justice or civil rights movement, is convincing the sensible, polite, common-sense people that there really are eedjit bigots who believe (1) people of color are genetically inclined to crime; (2) women have different brains that make them incapable of making mature adult decisions; (3) torturing innocent people is okay if one in ten tortures gets you some military info (and nevermind if you could've gotten that info some other way, without torturing the innocent - the point is, you got the info); (4) women who look sexy in public are sluts who deserve to be raped and probably wanted it anyway; (5) evil Jews control the media; (6) all taxes exist to rip off hardworking (white) folks and hand over their money to lazy welfare queens; (7) any religion that's not theirs is full of violent terrorists who just want to blow up the world; (8) every place outside of my home is full of criminals and perverts who must be held in check by threat of force. And more. And worse.
And normally, white-male-cis dude from upper-middle-class family in the burbs, attending a nice liberal-ish college, has heard of all those opinions, but shoved them aside as holdovers from our unenlightened past; nobody today believes those things. Or if they do, maybe it's a tiny number of whackos out there somewhere, but there's not any notable number of people who have those ... quaint ... opinions about how life and society work.
Having this brought forward means being able to say, YES, people still believe that; people are willing to elect politicians based on their support for those opinions.
We can't fix the problem if we can't convince our potential allies that there really is a problem, and it really is big. And it's wonderful that this is getting discussed, getting media time, getting twitter and Youtube time when mainstream media won't touch it, because it lets us fight the gaslighting: no, it's not in my head; I am not exaggerating how many guys say things like this; please stop telling me I must've misunderstood what they meant.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:35 PM on August 4, 2016 [39 favorites]
Oh my god, the shitty photoshops continue.
It's more fun if you imagine that's a regulation size flag and Trumpence has been shrunk down to the side of your thumb, rendered immediately squishable.
posted by mochapickle at 8:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's more fun if you imagine that's a regulation size flag and Trumpence has been shrunk down to the side of your thumb, rendered immediately squishable.
posted by mochapickle at 8:36 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ollie North is angry? Why? Does he think Obama is stealing his bit?
posted by ckape at 8:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by ckape at 8:38 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Something gets blown/shot up in a major way by Radical Islamic Terrorists[tm] in October
I wondered about that, but isn't the normal national response to that to unite around the President?
As for Bill, he'd have to ask Hillary whether she'll let him borrow his todger back from the deep-level long-duration containment facility she locked it in after last time. And she'd say no.
posted by Devonian at 8:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I wondered about that, but isn't the normal national response to that to unite around the President?
As for Bill, he'd have to ask Hillary whether she'll let him borrow his todger back from the deep-level long-duration containment facility she locked it in after last time. And she'd say no.
posted by Devonian at 8:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ollie North is angry? Why? Does he think Obama is stealing his bit?
Pretty much. His pitch is literally "I’ve been there, done that."
posted by zachlipton at 8:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Pretty much. His pitch is literally "I’ve been there, done that."
posted by zachlipton at 8:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ryan will try for 2020 but will have to battle against Ted Cruz, which means a huge rehash of this campaign (appeasement of Trump vs. "vote your conscience"), which means the constant reminder of the total failure of the Republican Party
Oh my God, I didn't even think about that.
That's FANTASTIC.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Oh my God, I didn't even think about that.
That's FANTASTIC.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Yeah Ryan and Cruz are picking opposite strategies for 2020 and it's still not clear to me which will win. I think it will be Ryan though only because he'll have a high profile the next four years.
posted by zutalors! at 8:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 8:46 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Pretty much. His pitch is literally "I’ve been there, done that."
"Look, I'm an actual legit traitor and should be the shame of my country, yet here I am inexplicably on TV and not in jail, let me tell you how that works..."
posted by Artw at 8:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [32 favorites]
"Look, I'm an actual legit traitor and should be the shame of my country, yet here I am inexplicably on TV and not in jail, let me tell you how that works..."
posted by Artw at 8:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [32 favorites]
I think it will be Ryan though only because he'll have a high profile the next four years.
Do House Minority Leaders really have that high of a profile, though?
posted by tonycpsu at 8:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [28 favorites]
Do House Minority Leaders really have that high of a profile, though?
posted by tonycpsu at 8:54 PM on August 4, 2016 [28 favorites]
Do House Minority Leaders really have that high of a profile, though?
I cannot keep up with all this glee and sick burns
posted by zutalors! at 8:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [15 favorites]
The Texas GOP is not feeling the Trump love, nosiree.
But they're warning their base not to vote for HRC, and they'll be working with Trump to make him a better candidate. Hopefully, he'll take advice from those who want to help him.
Both Texas senators make it clear that they’re done addressing Trump campaign controversies,:
Good luck, Senators.
posted by Devonian at 9:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
But they're warning their base not to vote for HRC, and they'll be working with Trump to make him a better candidate. Hopefully, he'll take advice from those who want to help him.
Both Texas senators make it clear that they’re done addressing Trump campaign controversies,:
Good luck, Senators.
posted by Devonian at 9:00 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
(And if you look at the Now-Cast numbers for TX, on the linear trajectory they're showing over the last week, they'll actually cross over in a couple of weeks. Which, of course, no they won't, but as an illustration why even Texas is feeling jittery it's quite an amusing little waveform.)
posted by Devonian at 9:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Devonian at 9:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I just watched Tim Kaine's speech at the Urban League. It is a thing of beauty. Watch it if you're able, it's 40 minutes. I couldn't be more pleased that he's Clinton's VP choice.
I really hope this gets some press, I'd hate to see it disappear in the ever-present Trump loonie tunes frenzy.
posted by wallabear at 9:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
I really hope this gets some press, I'd hate to see it disappear in the ever-present Trump loonie tunes frenzy.
posted by wallabear at 9:15 PM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Yeah Ryan and Cruz are picking opposite strategies for 2020 and it's still not clear to me which will win.
Please please please let them go with thinking they lost because they weren't conservative enough. With Clinton running on the most progressive Democratic platform ever, leading big, and likely winning.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
From the Marist poll, a good measure of party disunity is the percentage of people identified with a party who find it mostly/totally unacceptable if their party's candidate became President. 8% of Democrats find it unacceptable for Hillary Clinton to become President, but 20% of Republicans find it unacceptable for Donald Trump to become President.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 9:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by J.K. Seazer at 9:22 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Sean Hannity, just named "Fox News' dumbest anchor" by a WSJ columnist, is throwing an absolute tantrum right now blaming the establishment for trump and the current state of the GOP on Twitter. It's glorious.
posted by codacorolla at 9:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 9:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Trump's whole shtick is somehow convincing his rubes he's a winner. As it gets more and more obvious he isn't more and more people are going to realize he's not a tough guy, he's that dude who picks a fight and expects his friends to do the punching.
posted by aspo at 9:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by aspo at 9:27 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Ted Cruz is next cycle's Rick Santorum. Paul Ryan is damaged by the necessary compromises required by being Speaker. 2020 will bring a new crop including Ben Sasse, Tom Cotton and Nicki Hailey.
posted by humanfont at 9:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 9:31 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
R.F.Simpson: did he say bigly?
Justinian: He says it a lot. Some people claim he is saying "big league" but I don't buy it. It's "bigly".
@realDenaldTrump The RNC is totally biased against me! They want me to lose bigly & will rig election! Believe me!
Damnit, Denald!
posted by filthy light thief at 9:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Justinian: He says it a lot. Some people claim he is saying "big league" but I don't buy it. It's "bigly".
@realDenaldTrump The RNC is totally biased against me! They want me to lose bigly & will rig election! Believe me!
Damnit, Denald!
posted by filthy light thief at 9:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
"Donald Trump lives, works, eats and employs people of all races and religions."
Note: if Donald Trump invites you over for dinner, don't eat the rump roast.
posted by vverse23 at 9:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Note: if Donald Trump invites you over for dinner, don't eat the rump roast.
posted by vverse23 at 9:43 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
codacorolla: For anyone not keeping track, OLIVER FUCKING NORTH just blasted Obama on the Iran non-story that the trump campaign is trying to run as an attack. Called it "ransom money" on Hannity. I... I don't fucking know any more.
I think Ollie and Hannity are trying to add some noise to muffle the nonsense from Trump himself, and gin up more attention for themselves at the same time. It's a win-win, except for humanity at large.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think Ollie and Hannity are trying to add some noise to muffle the nonsense from Trump himself, and gin up more attention for themselves at the same time. It's a win-win, except for humanity at large.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:44 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
But what's the worst case plausible scenario for HRC?
Something gets blown/shot up in a major way by Radical Islamic Terrorists[tm] in October
Recall that Benghazi occurred almost four years ago (yes, its been four years) right before the first Obama/Romney debate in September.
posted by JackFlash at 9:47 PM on August 4, 2016
Something gets blown/shot up in a major way by Radical Islamic Terrorists[tm] in October
Recall that Benghazi occurred almost four years ago (yes, its been four years) right before the first Obama/Romney debate in September.
posted by JackFlash at 9:47 PM on August 4, 2016
@realDonaldTrump = real twitter account for Donald J Trump
@realDenaldTrump = parody twitter account
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
@realDenaldTrump = parody twitter account
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:47 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I sure would like some metafilter wisdom on how to help get Congress blue.
For the House? It's basically a tidal thing, because there are so few competitive races with high-profile campaigns. If Dem turnout is high across the board, or GOP turnout is low, or both, then there's potential for upsets. It's probably best to help the top of the ticket knowing that the Clinton campaign wants every single vote it can muster and will be supporting down-ballot races.
posted by holgate at 9:57 PM on August 4, 2016
For the House? It's basically a tidal thing, because there are so few competitive races with high-profile campaigns. If Dem turnout is high across the board, or GOP turnout is low, or both, then there's potential for upsets. It's probably best to help the top of the ticket knowing that the Clinton campaign wants every single vote it can muster and will be supporting down-ballot races.
posted by holgate at 9:57 PM on August 4, 2016
>> But what's the worst case plausible scenario for HRC?
Something gets blown/shot up in a major way by Radical Islamic Terrorists[tm] in October
The big shifts we're seeing in the polls aren't necessarily "Hillary has my favorite policies!", they're "Hillary is fundamentally capable of doing the job without getting us all killed, whereas Donald will assure mutual destruction five seconds after he's sworn in". I suspect a serious terrorist attack would make people even more nervous about Donald's total inability to do the job.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
Something gets blown/shot up in a major way by Radical Islamic Terrorists[tm] in October
The big shifts we're seeing in the polls aren't necessarily "Hillary has my favorite policies!", they're "Hillary is fundamentally capable of doing the job without getting us all killed, whereas Donald will assure mutual destruction five seconds after he's sworn in". I suspect a serious terrorist attack would make people even more nervous about Donald's total inability to do the job.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:57 PM on August 4, 2016 [7 favorites]
It's probably best to help the top of the ticket knowing that the Clinton campaign wants every single vote it can muster and will be supporting down-ballot races.
I would disagree that it's best to help the top and hope it trickles down to sharp local candidates from Hillary's campaign. Much better to identify nearby candidates yourself - in my case U.S. Senate candidate Deborah Ross, former head of the NC ACLU, running against one of the worst GOP judicial obstructionists, Richard Burr, in a race that many observers now consider competitive - and donate to/volunteer with their campaigns directly.
*Much* better.
posted by mediareport at 10:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
I would disagree that it's best to help the top and hope it trickles down to sharp local candidates from Hillary's campaign. Much better to identify nearby candidates yourself - in my case U.S. Senate candidate Deborah Ross, former head of the NC ACLU, running against one of the worst GOP judicial obstructionists, Richard Burr, in a race that many observers now consider competitive - and donate to/volunteer with their campaigns directly.
*Much* better.
posted by mediareport at 10:09 PM on August 4, 2016 [10 favorites]
she's been building a cabinet in her mind for over two decades... not that she's been planning this for that long
Yes, yes she has.
posted by PenDevil at 10:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yes, yes she has.
posted by PenDevil at 10:26 PM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Well, good for her. Always good to have a life plan.
posted by Windopaene at 10:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 10:41 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
As a compulsive list maker, I approve of this foresight.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:45 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:45 PM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Way upthread: I can't remember a lot of elementary school kids -- legal citizens, some of them-- being driven to tears because they're terrified their families will be deported by the next president before Trump.
Trust me, that terror has always been there. I felt it a lot growing up. I'm only now, decades later, coming to terms with how damaging that was.
Speaking of, Trump and Pence don't think I should be a citizen. Pence even voted to repeal birthright citizenship for people like me back in 2005.
On a happier note: I really enjoyed watching the conventions with you MeFi. I'm enjoying watching Trump implode with you even more.
posted by joedan at 11:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [34 favorites]
Trust me, that terror has always been there. I felt it a lot growing up. I'm only now, decades later, coming to terms with how damaging that was.
Speaking of, Trump and Pence don't think I should be a citizen. Pence even voted to repeal birthright citizenship for people like me back in 2005.
On a happier note: I really enjoyed watching the conventions with you MeFi. I'm enjoying watching Trump implode with you even more.
posted by joedan at 11:01 PM on August 4, 2016 [34 favorites]
It's not Trump she's up against. It's Paul Fucking Ryan. It always has been. He's a doofus, but he's never been called on the carpet by the director of the FBI.
Trump is easy. Trump as an adversary is good. It's a trap. Ryan is a goddamn snake, and we will have to contend with him soon.
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Trump is easy. Trump as an adversary is good. It's a trap. Ryan is a goddamn snake, and we will have to contend with him soon.
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:02 PM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Thankfully "staunch Trump supporter Paul Ryan" is a big hammer to be able to hit Ryan with in any future campaigns.
posted by Justinian at 11:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:06 PM on August 4, 2016 [23 favorites]
If I'm elected Mefi President those people who don't have time to obsessively reload the electionfilter threads every 30 seconds will be given the opportunity to download an abridged copy of the current electionfilter thread narrated by your choice of Samuel L Jackson, Jim Dale or Morgan Freeman.
I'm listening to the thread on an app called WebOutLoud. It works quite well, and I got quite a lot of work done today (in comparison to some other days this week).
posted by kjs4 at 11:40 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Thankfully "staunch Trump supporter Paul Ryan" is a big hammer to be able to hit Ryan with in any future campaigns.
I expect Paul Ryan and others to turn on Trump as soon as they get safely past their primaries. For them, the real election is the primary and they can coast in the general election. They are being attacked from the right and can't afford to offend any Trumpists until after they are safely past the primaries.
posted by JackFlash at 11:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I expect Paul Ryan and others to turn on Trump as soon as they get safely past their primaries. For them, the real election is the primary and they can coast in the general election. They are being attacked from the right and can't afford to offend any Trumpists until after they are safely past the primaries.
posted by JackFlash at 11:42 PM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Damn, it's hard to keep up with you folks.
The biggest Trump issue has yet to detonate - the tax returns. I think Clinton has yet to really ramp up on this because it's going to be the October focus.
Given Trumps love of secrets in general (I can't tell you what my ISIL plan is because ISIL) I can't help but wonder how long before some information should be free type in a Guy Fawkes mask issues a press release on this front. I mean, I suppose Trump could have first rate data security. The best data security people. Etc. But somehow, I can't bring myself to believe it.
If I were a Democrat running for President, I would say that I am absolutely pro-life.
I dare say that nobody wants more abortions. The thing is, if you're a Republican, you have, for the past 36 years or so at least, been "I WILL MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL AND THEN ALL WILL BE RIGHT IN THE WORLD!!!" If you're a democrat and you want to one up this a good response would be, "Oh, yeah, like that war on drugs. A masterstroke." and hold up a chart showing heroin related deaths by year. And then start pounding them by comparing the teenage pregnancy rate in Colorado and Mississippi and the like and talking about results, not platitudes.
Kids if you want some fun
Gov. LePage is your man
Eponyfavorited!
On to notion of Corb's switching party allegiance:
I'd rather she didn't. As I mentioned in one of the 100 earlier election threads, I'm glad to know a sane and responsible Republican. Her flipping parties would just ruin it.
Did you read that Harvard Republican's thing? I these guys can stick to their principles and not start humping realpolitik's leg I may actually live to see a Republican candidate who Eisenhower wouldn't try to stab in the face with a broken bottle.
He literally just praised "medieval times"
After his failed presidential bid, I can definitely see Donald cosplaying as King at a schlocky jousting attraction.
Not the King. The Baron, or maybe the younger brother Prince if their playbook is Robin Hood. People have an idyllic desire for the King to be all noble and serene and graceful and shit, but are familiar enough with real life to know that there's always some wanker out there who wants to knife that guy right in the back.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 11:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
The biggest Trump issue has yet to detonate - the tax returns. I think Clinton has yet to really ramp up on this because it's going to be the October focus.
Given Trumps love of secrets in general (I can't tell you what my ISIL plan is because ISIL) I can't help but wonder how long before some information should be free type in a Guy Fawkes mask issues a press release on this front. I mean, I suppose Trump could have first rate data security. The best data security people. Etc. But somehow, I can't bring myself to believe it.
If I were a Democrat running for President, I would say that I am absolutely pro-life.
I dare say that nobody wants more abortions. The thing is, if you're a Republican, you have, for the past 36 years or so at least, been "I WILL MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL AND THEN ALL WILL BE RIGHT IN THE WORLD!!!" If you're a democrat and you want to one up this a good response would be, "Oh, yeah, like that war on drugs. A masterstroke." and hold up a chart showing heroin related deaths by year. And then start pounding them by comparing the teenage pregnancy rate in Colorado and Mississippi and the like and talking about results, not platitudes.
Kids if you want some fun
Gov. LePage is your man
Eponyfavorited!
On to notion of Corb's switching party allegiance:
I'd rather she didn't. As I mentioned in one of the 100 earlier election threads, I'm glad to know a sane and responsible Republican. Her flipping parties would just ruin it.
Did you read that Harvard Republican's thing? I these guys can stick to their principles and not start humping realpolitik's leg I may actually live to see a Republican candidate who Eisenhower wouldn't try to stab in the face with a broken bottle.
He literally just praised "medieval times"
After his failed presidential bid, I can definitely see Donald cosplaying as King at a schlocky jousting attraction.
Not the King. The Baron, or maybe the younger brother Prince if their playbook is Robin Hood. People have an idyllic desire for the King to be all noble and serene and graceful and shit, but are familiar enough with real life to know that there's always some wanker out there who wants to knife that guy right in the back.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 11:55 PM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ryan is a goddamn snake, and we will have to contend with him soon.
Ryan is the greasy used car salesman who will never die.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 12:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ryan is the greasy used car salesman who will never die.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 12:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
> Kate McKinnon.
Only if she is reading it to her cat, Nino
posted by mrzarquon at 12:24 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
Only if she is reading it to her cat, Nino
posted by mrzarquon at 12:24 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
mattdidthat: I'm glad he got his phone back. Twitter is for Donald Trump what soap bubbles are for dogs.
Twitter : Donald Trump :: Balloons : Bill Clinton
posted by Superplin at 3:03 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Twitter : Donald Trump :: Balloons : Bill Clinton
posted by Superplin at 3:03 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
donald trump : america :: salt : slugs
posted by pyramid termite at 3:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by pyramid termite at 3:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Can we somehow please get rid of Paul Ryan and the rest of the childish obstructionists? They're not doing their jobs.
Fortunately there is indeed a way to get rid of them this November, conveniently at the same time you voice your opinion on Trump v. Clinton.
Vote for the other races as well. Remind your friends and family to pay attention to the Congrssional races. Talk about them on social media.
In fact, make "Talk about them on social media" step one. The Congressional races get only limited attention as it is, because they're given short shrift by the regular media by virtue of being kind of "local" races (someone in Wyoming can't vote in the Kansas congressional race, so Wyoming news isn't gonna cover it). So lots of people don't pay much attention to their specific congressperson's record - hell, lots of people don't even know who their congressperson is. Talking Congress up more, getting people to actually pay some damn attention to those races and those records, could help a lot.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
Fortunately there is indeed a way to get rid of them this November, conveniently at the same time you voice your opinion on Trump v. Clinton.
Vote for the other races as well. Remind your friends and family to pay attention to the Congrssional races. Talk about them on social media.
In fact, make "Talk about them on social media" step one. The Congressional races get only limited attention as it is, because they're given short shrift by the regular media by virtue of being kind of "local" races (someone in Wyoming can't vote in the Kansas congressional race, so Wyoming news isn't gonna cover it). So lots of people don't pay much attention to their specific congressperson's record - hell, lots of people don't even know who their congressperson is. Talking Congress up more, getting people to actually pay some damn attention to those races and those records, could help a lot.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
Nicki Hailey
Nikki Haley is brown (her first name is actually Nimrata) despite her attempted MJ level of whitewashing and removed the conservative flag under public pressure and liberal demands. If she was dumb enough to pursue a presidential run she wouldn't make it past Iowa.
posted by Talez at 4:24 AM on August 5, 2016
Nikki Haley is brown (her first name is actually Nimrata) despite her attempted MJ level of whitewashing and removed the conservative flag under public pressure and liberal demands. If she was dumb enough to pursue a presidential run she wouldn't make it past Iowa.
posted by Talez at 4:24 AM on August 5, 2016
The Trump black outreach effort is off to a great start!
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:31 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:31 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
They're not doing their jobs. They're simply throwing wrenches into the works of the federal government.
They and most of the people who vote for them literally think that is their job. Like Empress says above, the answer is GOTV, exposure of their tactics, organizing and working for the candidates you agree with. And also probably primary reform, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
posted by penduluum at 4:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
They and most of the people who vote for them literally think that is their job. Like Empress says above, the answer is GOTV, exposure of their tactics, organizing and working for the candidates you agree with. And also probably primary reform, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
posted by penduluum at 4:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Real tweet: The plane I saw on television was the hostage plane in Geneva, Switzerland, not the plane carrying $400 million in cash going to Iran!
I just don't ... I love the exclamation points here. Is he saying it with surprise? Like "oh my god you guys, guess what I just learned?!" Or is it the unvarnished frustration of whoever logged into his Twitter while he's still asleep, putting the words in his mouth literally as they've failed to do otherwise.
posted by penduluum at 4:42 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I just don't ... I love the exclamation points here. Is he saying it with surprise? Like "oh my god you guys, guess what I just learned?!" Or is it the unvarnished frustration of whoever logged into his Twitter while he's still asleep, putting the words in his mouth literally as they've failed to do otherwise.
posted by penduluum at 4:42 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Yeah an hour ago he tweeted this:
"@realDonaldTrump I had to say this they made me I had no choice! I still believe what I saw but they made me say this"
posted by wabbittwax at 4:46 AM on August 5, 2016
"@realDonaldTrump I had to say this they made me I had no choice! I still believe what I saw but they made me say this"
posted by wabbittwax at 4:46 AM on August 5, 2016
That's a parody account, @reaDonaldTrump, wabbittwax.
posted by peacheater at 4:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by peacheater at 4:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Poe's Law strikes again
posted by wabbittwax at 4:57 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by wabbittwax at 4:57 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's strange how I knew right away that was a fake account. The real Donald Trump would not use the phrase "they made me." I am a little concerned that I am becoming so familiar with Trump.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
mediareport: I was talking about the House, where there really aren't that many competitive races under typical turnout models, and it's debatable whether an influx of cash would change the outcome of competitive races. ('Challenger X is funded by coastal liberals who've never set foot in the district', etc.)
Obviously, close Senate (and governor) races are worthy of separate support because they're more expensive, and because of the money going in from the other side. But sea-change elections happen through turnout, whether it's by one side turning up in greater numbers than expected or the other staying at home.
posted by holgate at 5:21 AM on August 5, 2016
Obviously, close Senate (and governor) races are worthy of separate support because they're more expensive, and because of the money going in from the other side. But sea-change elections happen through turnout, whether it's by one side turning up in greater numbers than expected or the other staying at home.
posted by holgate at 5:21 AM on August 5, 2016
I'm sure this will be a shock to many, but according to the WaPo, Trump likes to tout his charitable givings but has given relatively paltry sums over the years, although he makes it a habit of attending charitable events [while not actually giving money] to give the impression that he donates much more than he does.
posted by tocts at 5:24 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by tocts at 5:24 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
When you attend the event, people slap you on the back and tell you what a great guy you are for supporting this noble cause. When you give money you have less money.
posted by maggiepolitt at 5:30 AM on August 5, 2016 [49 favorites]
posted by maggiepolitt at 5:30 AM on August 5, 2016 [49 favorites]
maggiepolitt, that's as perfect a summation of Trump's mindset as I can think of. Like, he sees no contradiction or disconnect there.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 5:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 5:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
So my boss today told me he still intends to vote Trump, no matter what. When I asked what key things made him favor Trump his response was "he admits when he's wrong."
After I chuckled a bit I asked why Trump didn't admit he was wrong for insulting a Gold Star family whose son died saving hundreds of lives. His response was, "look, he was set up."
At that I laughed so hard aloud that I started choking.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [36 favorites]
After I chuckled a bit I asked why Trump didn't admit he was wrong for insulting a Gold Star family whose son died saving hundreds of lives. His response was, "look, he was set up."
At that I laughed so hard aloud that I started choking.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [36 favorites]
But taking stimulants long-term for energy is not proper use (except for my coffee abuse).
Stimulants are indicated for some patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Please don't make misleading medical statements, especially if you're going to joke about it.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Stimulants are indicated for some patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Please don't make misleading medical statements, especially if you're going to joke about it.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Larry Sabato's latest take has the Dems likely with 347 electoral votes
posted by OmieWise at 5:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by OmieWise at 5:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Rich sociopaths I have worked for in the past have a foundation with their name on it. It makes them look philanthropic. HA! Easy enough to set up, and it can serve as a way OUT of giving when you can say, 'Send the info to my foundation'. It can be the cheapest way to get positive publicity. And it's never your money, you grift others to fund your pet projects, see The Eric Trump Foundation.
posted by readery at 5:42 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by readery at 5:42 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sean Hannity, just named "Fox News' dumbest anchor" by a WSJ columnist, is throwing an absolute tantrum right now blaming the establishment for trump and the current state of the GOP on Twitter. It's glorious.
posted by codacorolla at 12:26 AM on August 5
Here are the tweets as collected by HuffPo
"Where were you dumbass" really elevates Hannity in my estimation, makes him come across as the consummate professional.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by codacorolla at 12:26 AM on August 5
Here are the tweets as collected by HuffPo
"Where were you dumbass" really elevates Hannity in my estimation, makes him come across as the consummate professional.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
They and most of the people who vote for them literally think that is their job.
Bingo. I grew up with the academic version of this ethos (so less "keep the government out of my medicare!!!" and more "taxation is theft") and like it or not, there is a sizable number of people in this country who think that government is evil, and the only way to be a good politician is to destroy the government.
Short term, yes, GOTV like you've never GOTV before.
Long term? Please talk to people. I know it's hard. I'm an introvert, I have social anxiety, I've been socialized like a good girl to not rock the boat or upset anyone ever. Nice White LIberals like me just nod and smile at our crazy families and then get on the internet and complain about them. But if we want fewer obstructionist anti-government racist misogynist whackadoos elected, I think we're going to each have to do the hard work of challenging the people who are electing them. Those of us who believe in the power of democratic institutions to better the lives of the people are going to have to come up with some better narratives to explain why we believe what we believe, and we're going to have to express those narratives to others when challenged.
Gerrymandering has done a number on our democracy to be sure, but I think the folks here who live in heavily red areas can tell you that these people are not being elected by accident, they're being elected by people who agree with them that government is inherently bad and shutting it all down/burning it all down is the solution.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [21 favorites]
Bingo. I grew up with the academic version of this ethos (so less "keep the government out of my medicare!!!" and more "taxation is theft") and like it or not, there is a sizable number of people in this country who think that government is evil, and the only way to be a good politician is to destroy the government.
Short term, yes, GOTV like you've never GOTV before.
Long term? Please talk to people. I know it's hard. I'm an introvert, I have social anxiety, I've been socialized like a good girl to not rock the boat or upset anyone ever. Nice White LIberals like me just nod and smile at our crazy families and then get on the internet and complain about them. But if we want fewer obstructionist anti-government racist misogynist whackadoos elected, I think we're going to each have to do the hard work of challenging the people who are electing them. Those of us who believe in the power of democratic institutions to better the lives of the people are going to have to come up with some better narratives to explain why we believe what we believe, and we're going to have to express those narratives to others when challenged.
Gerrymandering has done a number on our democracy to be sure, but I think the folks here who live in heavily red areas can tell you that these people are not being elected by accident, they're being elected by people who agree with them that government is inherently bad and shutting it all down/burning it all down is the solution.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [21 favorites]
Of course NPR had to run some long sob story about how Clinton is a meanie for failing to hold press conferences.
We get it the Journalists want to be able to ask Gotcha questions but Clinton can basically coast on in from now on held aloft by all the hot air Trump is generating.
Besides everyone is tired of emails and Benghazi at this point, hell even Republicans seem to be getting bored with beating that dead horse.
posted by vuron at 5:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
We get it the Journalists want to be able to ask Gotcha questions but Clinton can basically coast on in from now on held aloft by all the hot air Trump is generating.
Besides everyone is tired of emails and Benghazi at this point, hell even Republicans seem to be getting bored with beating that dead horse.
posted by vuron at 5:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
On this, the morning of the first day of the Olympics, Trump unveils economic policy team, includes John Paulson
I can't tell if that's because he knows economics bores most people so he decided to throw that out there when no one is looking or if he thinks Trump News is all so exciting that it Trumps the Olympics.
Here is the list: John Paulson, Steve Roth, Harold Hamm, Howard Lorber, Steven Mnuchin, Tom Barrack, Stephen M. Calk, Andy Beal, Steve Feinberg, David Malpass, Peter Navarro, Stephen Moore and Dan DiMicco
In case you were wondering as I was if Andy Beal might be the token woman, the answer is no. From Wikipedia: "Daniel Andrew "Andy" Beal is an American banker, businessman, investor, poker player, and amateur mathematician. He is a Dallas-based businessman who accumulated wealth in real estate and banking."
Ah. real estate. It figures.
His economic policy is said to be coming later. Which is good because you don't want to be rushing into these things. However massive tax cuts for all are going to feature prominently as the surefire-powerhouse way to economic growth.
In case it isn't clear, read most of what I have just written in a your most sarcastic voice.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I can't tell if that's because he knows economics bores most people so he decided to throw that out there when no one is looking or if he thinks Trump News is all so exciting that it Trumps the Olympics.
Here is the list: John Paulson, Steve Roth, Harold Hamm, Howard Lorber, Steven Mnuchin, Tom Barrack, Stephen M. Calk, Andy Beal, Steve Feinberg, David Malpass, Peter Navarro, Stephen Moore and Dan DiMicco
In case you were wondering as I was if Andy Beal might be the token woman, the answer is no. From Wikipedia: "Daniel Andrew "Andy" Beal is an American banker, businessman, investor, poker player, and amateur mathematician. He is a Dallas-based businessman who accumulated wealth in real estate and banking."
Ah. real estate. It figures.
His economic policy is said to be coming later. Which is good because you don't want to be rushing into these things. However massive tax cuts for all are going to feature prominently as the surefire-powerhouse way to economic growth.
In case it isn't clear, read most of what I have just written in a your most sarcastic voice.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
But Clinton Rules means that the press will never, ever tire of trying to make emails/Benghazi/WhiteWater/etc into the thing that finally brings down Clinton. She's learned better than to play their game, and of course they aren't happy.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Did Trump really just tap an entire team of Billionaire Real Estate, Finance and Oil&Gas types for his economic team?
I guess Friday before the Olympics is as good a time as any to drop some news that will almost certainly be forgotten but does Trump really think that surrounding himself with the 0.1% will help him win over the 99%?
posted by vuron at 6:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I guess Friday before the Olympics is as good a time as any to drop some news that will almost certainly be forgotten but does Trump really think that surrounding himself with the 0.1% will help him win over the 99%?
posted by vuron at 6:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump's economic policy team: no women, five guys named Steve, and not a single economist.
posted by joedan at 6:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [46 favorites]
posted by joedan at 6:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [46 favorites]
Dan DiMicco doesn't even have a wiki page. He was CEO of Nucor Steel in Charlotte and is author of American Made: Why Making Things Will Return Us to Greatness. So not a fan of Free Trade.
According to this article, while he is planning on voting for Trump, he hasn't actually donated to his campaign yet although he did donate to Scott Walker.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
According to this article, while he is planning on voting for Trump, he hasn't actually donated to his campaign yet although he did donate to Scott Walker.
“I’m supporting him because of several things,” DiMicco said.So a Trump voter who doesn't believe half of what comes out of Trump's mouth.
“No. 1, he’s a successful businessman,” he said. “The one thing I know about a successful businessman and CEO is you don’t get there unless you learn to surround yourself with winners.”
“He’s not a racist. He’s not anti-immigrant,” DiMicco said. “He will not discourage immigration, but he wants it to be done legally and I support that.”
“He’s not a politician, so sometimes the words don’t come the way a politician’s would,” DiMicco said. “I know that he is a man that will get the job done.”
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump's economic policy team: no women, five guys named Steve, and not a single economist
Knowing how ummm...flexible some economists can be, it's remarkable he wasn't able to find a single one.
posted by sallybrown at 6:12 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Knowing how ummm...flexible some economists can be, it's remarkable he wasn't able to find a single one.
posted by sallybrown at 6:12 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
A bunch of rich, angry, white male assholes, what else were you expecting?
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
The greatest team of yes-men ever assembled in US politics.
posted by valkane at 6:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by valkane at 6:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Andy Beal is a massive whale in the high stakes poker scene. Dude loves to lose money, so I guess he's an obvious choice for Trump.
posted by PenDevil at 6:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 6:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
I doubt you could even get someone at University of Chicago to answer Trump's calls.
But you'd think they could get some of the loonies at the Mises Institute to sign up.
posted by vuron at 6:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
But you'd think they could get some of the loonies at the Mises Institute to sign up.
posted by vuron at 6:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
does Trump really think that surrounding himself with the 0.1% will help him win over the 99%?
In this country, the land of temporarily embarrassed millionaires, this is one of the few things Trump has done that actually makes sense.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 6:17 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
In this country, the land of temporarily embarrassed millionaires, this is one of the few things Trump has done that actually makes sense.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 6:17 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Andy Beal is a massive whale in the high stakes poker scene.
And the attack ads continue to write themselves...
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
And the attack ads continue to write themselves...
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I like that the "the" in this sentence makes it sound like a common aphorism about a character in like a Grimm's Fairy Tale or something.
OMG, Greg Nog, you nailed it. I just assumed there was a greasy car mechanic that I didn't know about who was a comic book anti-hero or TV show villain.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:23 AM on August 5, 2016
OMG, Greg Nog, you nailed it. I just assumed there was a greasy car mechanic that I didn't know about who was a comic book anti-hero or TV show villain.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:23 AM on August 5, 2016
Even if the campaign is successful in its pursuit of low-propensity voters, some worry that turning out Trump supporters could adversely affect down-ballot races. “The Trump model is almost like they’ve broken the party turnout model,” the Republican strategist said. “He’s literally turning out people that are going to vote against their candidates.”Trump’s Campaign Focused On Attracting Unlikely Voters, A Memo Shows (FiveThirtyEight)
posted by Skorgu at 6:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Ryan is the greasy used car salesman who will never die.
I've been a car salesman and my father has been in the car business for over 30 years. This is a really apt comparison. A lot of dealerships will have guys like him. They don't stay at one dealership for very long because they get fired for various reasons (often not selling enough cars) and/or they're chasing trends. They aren't good salesmen but despite that, they have a REALLY high opinion of themselves.
Meanwhile, there is often another salesman who is open and honest with everyone, builds trust and respect with his customers, has been at the same dealership for 10+ years, and often refuses to be the sales manager because they would be making less money that way. Now that I think about it, the salesman I'm describing is a LOT like Bill Clinton but dialed back a bit.
posted by VTX at 6:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
I've been a car salesman and my father has been in the car business for over 30 years. This is a really apt comparison. A lot of dealerships will have guys like him. They don't stay at one dealership for very long because they get fired for various reasons (often not selling enough cars) and/or they're chasing trends. They aren't good salesmen but despite that, they have a REALLY high opinion of themselves.
Meanwhile, there is often another salesman who is open and honest with everyone, builds trust and respect with his customers, has been at the same dealership for 10+ years, and often refuses to be the sales manager because they would be making less money that way. Now that I think about it, the salesman I'm describing is a LOT like Bill Clinton but dialed back a bit.
posted by VTX at 6:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
Andy Beal is a massive whale in the high stakes poker scene. Dude loves to lose money, so I guess he's an obvious choice for Trump.
Holy Moly! He lost $14 million in 3 days? Playing poker? I don't know how that's going to go down with the buttoned-up Eisenhower Conservatives. No wait, I do. Holy Moly!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:29 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Holy Moly! He lost $14 million in 3 days? Playing poker? I don't know how that's going to go down with the buttoned-up Eisenhower Conservatives. No wait, I do. Holy Moly!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:29 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
...and so we're at the point where the campaign staff is leaking internal memos to the press.
Well, it can't be any worse than what their candidate is openly saying to the press.
posted by Mooski at 6:29 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Well, it can't be any worse than what their candidate is openly saying to the press.
posted by Mooski at 6:29 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
I'm wondering how professional gambling is going to go down with evangelicals. Do they still have issues with gambling?
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:30 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:30 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump’s Campaign Focused On Attracting Unlikely Voters, A Memo Shows (FiveThirtyEight)
the crazy thing is that they're continuing to pursue this strategy in the general even though it's clear it was republican base voters who won them the primary. also, for this strategy to work at all, you would need a massive GOTV effort, and their ground game is a joke.
i would say "unbelievable" but this is trump
posted by murphy slaw at 6:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
the crazy thing is that they're continuing to pursue this strategy in the general even though it's clear it was republican base voters who won them the primary. also, for this strategy to work at all, you would need a massive GOTV effort, and their ground game is a joke.
i would say "unbelievable" but this is trump
posted by murphy slaw at 6:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Well, it won't make him any more popular in Utah, that's for sure.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:32 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:32 AM on August 5, 2016
Yes. They will vote for Trump based on the Supreme Court only, if they vote for him at all.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
The subset of them that have embraced an oft-divorced womanizer with a clumsy grasp of scripture are unlikely to be put off by gambling at this point.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
strategy
what is this word of which you speak
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
what is this word of which you speak
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Carl Paladino, Trump's NY co-chair, doubles down on "Obama is a secret muslim"
do they realize that obama isn't running for president?
posted by murphy slaw at 6:36 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
do they realize that obama isn't running for president?
posted by murphy slaw at 6:36 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Well, it won't make him any more popular in Utah, that's for sure.
Actually, though they don't gamble themselves, a lot of casinos just across the border in Nevada are owned by Utah Mormons. Some of them at least are not against other people gambling.
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 6:37 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Actually, though they don't gamble themselves, a lot of casinos just across the border in Nevada are owned by Utah Mormons. Some of them at least are not against other people gambling.
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 6:37 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
what is this word of which you speak
i think he meant to say "stratgery." *squints, smirks*
posted by entropicamericana at 6:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
i think he meant to say "stratgery." *squints, smirks*
posted by entropicamericana at 6:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
For the low-P* crowd ... [t]hey don't get any voter contact love for the campaigns because they don't vote, but they don't vote because they don't get any voter contact.
surely this is a crowd that trump can reach with his world-class email list-management skills
posted by murphy slaw at 6:39 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
surely this is a crowd that trump can reach with his world-class email list-management skills
posted by murphy slaw at 6:39 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Insiders to Trump: Drop Out
“I’d rather take our chances with nearly anyone else than continue with this certain loser who will likely cost the Senate and much more,” said a New Hampshire Republican — who, like all respondents, completed the survey anonymously.posted by murphy slaw at 6:41 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
who, like all respondents, completed the survey anonymously
weaponized shade
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 6:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
weaponized shade
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 6:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Rich sociopaths I have worked for in the past have a foundation with their name on it. It makes them look philanthropic.
This is great because when your name is in the paper they call you a "philanthropist" instead of the truth, "rich motherfucker".
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 6:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is great because when your name is in the paper they call you a "philanthropist" instead of the truth, "rich motherfucker".
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 6:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
“In the mind of the average American asshole there is no doubt he is a Muslim,” Paladino told the New York Observer in a phone interview.
The gentleman obviously misspoke.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
The gentleman obviously misspoke.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
weaponized shade
I mean, why build it if you're not going to use it?
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
I mean, why build it if you're not going to use it?
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
rapid flashing lights : epileptic :: described as a "certain loser" : trump ??
posted by prefpara at 6:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by prefpara at 6:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
This is great because when your name is in the paper they call you a "philanthropist" instead of the truth...
"Philantrumpist"
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:47 AM on August 5, 2016
"Philantrumpist"
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:47 AM on August 5, 2016
The more GOP insiders pressure Trump to drop out, the less likely he is to do so, if his past responses are any indication. The man could survive in a desert for months living on spite alone.
posted by overglow at 6:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by overglow at 6:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [23 favorites]
Hrmm, the guy that Trump has managing his Data Analytics operations seems like he's saying the right things but parts of me also think that he's putting ALOT of guess work into measuring his ratio of low propensity voters also likely to vote for Trump.
In theory expanding your electorate could be a solid strategy except for high voter turnout almost always leads to crushing Republican losses. So you somehow need high voter turnout among disaffected Republican leaners while also somehow keeping democratic leaning populations at home.
Trump does know that he can't deport everyone with a Hispanic sounding surname or Brown skin before the election right?
posted by vuron at 6:48 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
In theory expanding your electorate could be a solid strategy except for high voter turnout almost always leads to crushing Republican losses. So you somehow need high voter turnout among disaffected Republican leaners while also somehow keeping democratic leaning populations at home.
Trump does know that he can't deport everyone with a Hispanic sounding surname or Brown skin before the election right?
posted by vuron at 6:48 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
He's clearly not going to
A) Drop out
B) Change in any way
All of this will be hilarious in retrospect when the terror goes away.
posted by Artw at 6:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
A) Drop out
B) Change in any way
All of this will be hilarious in retrospect when the terror goes away.
posted by Artw at 6:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
the guy that Trump has managing his Data Analytics operations
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:51 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:51 AM on August 5, 2016
Op-Ed Bernie Sanders: I support Hillary Clinton. So should everyone who voted for me: I understand that many of my supporters are disappointed by the final results of the nominating process, but being despondent and inactive is not going to improve anything. Going forward and continuing the struggle is what matters. And, in that struggle, the most immediate task we face is to defeat Donald Trump.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [46 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [46 favorites]
Oooh a Trump scene ala True Detectives season 2 where instead of Frank Semyon we have a Trump left to die in the California desert and who stubbornly walks and walks while spouting off word pasta that would make Vince Vaughn jealous.
Holy shit they both run casinos and are both hated by Hispanics and they are both in bed with the Russians!
posted by vuron at 6:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Holy shit they both run casinos and are both hated by Hispanics and they are both in bed with the Russians!
posted by vuron at 6:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
All of this will be hilarious in retrospect when the terror goes away.
What? So you saying it is wrong of me to find this all hilarious right now? I had no idea when I woke up today that I was going to be spending my morning laughing so hard.
Carl Paladino, Trump's NY co-chair, doubles down on "Obama is a secret muslim"
That will surely to bring the black voters around to Trump.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:55 AM on August 5, 2016
What? So you saying it is wrong of me to find this all hilarious right now? I had no idea when I woke up today that I was going to be spending my morning laughing so hard.
Carl Paladino, Trump's NY co-chair, doubles down on "Obama is a secret muslim"
That will surely to bring the black voters around to Trump.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:55 AM on August 5, 2016
Insiders to Trump: Drop Out
I hope and assume that there exist (plans for) groups without super-obvious ties to the campaign or party who could put together convincing HE WAS OUR ONLY HOPE AND THEY DROVE HIM OUT SHOW THEM WHO'S BOSS ads in that unlikely event.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:57 AM on August 5, 2016
I hope and assume that there exist (plans for) groups without super-obvious ties to the campaign or party who could put together convincing HE WAS OUR ONLY HOPE AND THEY DROVE HIM OUT SHOW THEM WHO'S BOSS ads in that unlikely event.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:57 AM on August 5, 2016
All of this will be hilarious in retrospect when the terror goes away.
So..
(a) mid-November
or
(b) never
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
So..
(a) mid-November
or
(b) never
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
So I picked one of those economic strategist names at random and started with Wikipedia (journalism, how it do)
Stephen A. Feinberg (born March 29, 1960) is an American financier, who is active in hedge fund management and private equity. He is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.
Cerberus? Ah well, aardvark never killed anyone. But it did nearly put the coup de grace on Chrysler, which it bought to hive off the financing operation, saddled with $10bn in extra debt and thus helped drive into bankruptcy shortly thereafter. Didn't some dude called Obama help fix that, to Cerberus' detriment?
posted by Devonian at 6:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Stephen A. Feinberg (born March 29, 1960) is an American financier, who is active in hedge fund management and private equity. He is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.
Cerberus? Ah well, aardvark never killed anyone. But it did nearly put the coup de grace on Chrysler, which it bought to hive off the financing operation, saddled with $10bn in extra debt and thus helped drive into bankruptcy shortly thereafter. Didn't some dude called Obama help fix that, to Cerberus' detriment?
posted by Devonian at 6:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Okay, it's hilarious right now, but it's still kind of a rictus grin even if you can tamp the terror down a bit by glancing at the now cast or whatever.
posted by Artw at 6:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
It takes *a lot* of work to get low-propensity voters to vote. Where I live, the Democrats are relying heavily on early voting, which means that we knock on their door and get them to fill out a vote-by-mail request, then after the ballots are mailed we knock on their door and get them to fill out their ballot, then we walk them to the mailbox and watch them put it in, or we take the ballot and deliver it to the county auditor's office for them. If that doesn't work, the back-up plan is to contact them and walk them through the process of voting. You need to have an actual conversation where you remind them of their polling place and then have them come up with a specific plan to get there. What time will you go? How will you get there? Do you need someone to look after your kids? If so, who can do that? Doing this takes a lot of manpower and a lot of organization at the level of the campaign.
Hillary's operation is already working on this. I have real doubts that Trump's campaign has the organizational wherewithal to do it.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:01 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
Hillary's operation is already working on this. I have real doubts that Trump's campaign has the organizational wherewithal to do it.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:01 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
Imagine if he was just as openly vile but not utterly incompetent in every single respect. He'd be winning right now.
posted by Artw at 7:01 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:01 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
I'm taken aback by how many of Trump's cabinet names I recognize from working at a commercial real estate trade magazine lo these many years ago.
posted by Andrhia at 7:01 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by Andrhia at 7:01 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
I wasn't sure HRC would go there on the Trump/Russia links since it involves her deleted emails, but they just released a video that hammers him.
posted by chris24 at 7:03 AM on August 5, 2016 [26 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 7:03 AM on August 5, 2016 [26 favorites]
Okay, it's hilarious right now, but it's still kind of a rictus grin even if you can tamp the terror down a bit by glancing at the now cast or whatever.
posted by Artw
Now-Cast from FiveThirtyEight.com
And wow, 91%.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:03 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw
Now-Cast from FiveThirtyEight.com
And wow, 91%.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:03 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Imagine if he was just as openly vile but not utterly incompetent in every single respect. He'd be winning right now.
the only thing that keeps me from freaking out about that is that most blatant racists are stupid.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
the only thing that keeps me from freaking out about that is that most blatant racists are stupid.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
they just released a video that hammers him.
"Hey, we're just asking questions here."
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
"Hey, we're just asking questions here."
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Carl Paladino, Trump's NY co-chair, doubles down on "Obama is a secret muslim"
FFS what rock did the Trump folks dig Carl Paladino out from under? He was pathetic when he ran for Governor of NY in 2010 as a crazed philandering anti-tax agitator, who used to leaven his wild ravings on Democrats destroying the country with welfare with frothing attacks on the Native American nations in upstate who own casinos. Semi-coherent with a strange gleam in his eye. So, obvious Trump ally I guess.
posted by aught at 7:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
FFS what rock did the Trump folks dig Carl Paladino out from under? He was pathetic when he ran for Governor of NY in 2010 as a crazed philandering anti-tax agitator, who used to leaven his wild ravings on Democrats destroying the country with welfare with frothing attacks on the Native American nations in upstate who own casinos. Semi-coherent with a strange gleam in his eye. So, obvious Trump ally I guess.
posted by aught at 7:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I Ran the C.I.A. Now I’m Endorsing Hillary Clinton.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia was a career intelligence officer, trained to identify vulnerabilities in an individual and to exploit them. That is exactly what he did early in the primaries. Mr. Putin played upon Mr. Trump’s vulnerabilities by complimenting him. He responded just as Mr. Putin had calculated.
Mr. Putin is a great leader, Mr. Trump says, ignoring that he has killed and jailed journalists and political opponents, has invaded two of his neighbors and is driving his economy to ruin. Mr. Trump has also taken policy positions consistent with Russian, not American, interests — endorsing Russian espionage against the United States, supporting Russia’s annexation of Crimea and giving a green light to a possible Russian invasion of the Baltic States.
In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation
posted by Artw at 7:08 AM on August 5, 2016 [57 favorites]
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia was a career intelligence officer, trained to identify vulnerabilities in an individual and to exploit them. That is exactly what he did early in the primaries. Mr. Putin played upon Mr. Trump’s vulnerabilities by complimenting him. He responded just as Mr. Putin had calculated.
Mr. Putin is a great leader, Mr. Trump says, ignoring that he has killed and jailed journalists and political opponents, has invaded two of his neighbors and is driving his economy to ruin. Mr. Trump has also taken policy positions consistent with Russian, not American, interests — endorsing Russian espionage against the United States, supporting Russia’s annexation of Crimea and giving a green light to a possible Russian invasion of the Baltic States.
In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation
posted by Artw at 7:08 AM on August 5, 2016 [57 favorites]
"Hey, we're just asking questions here."
Yeah, it's almost a "there's so much smoke there's gotta be fire"
approach. But effective. Cuz my god the smoke.
posted by chris24 at 7:09 AM on August 5, 2016
Yeah, it's almost a "there's so much smoke there's gotta be fire"
approach. But effective. Cuz my god the smoke.
posted by chris24 at 7:09 AM on August 5, 2016
Please Santa Claus if I'm really really good will you bring me a Clinton victory in Georgia?
Yes it would be a bit early for you to bring gifts but it would touch the hearts of so many children and adults.
posted by vuron at 7:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
Yes it would be a bit early for you to bring gifts but it would touch the hearts of so many children and adults.
posted by vuron at 7:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation
And the Trump/Russia ad is nicely timed with the CIA Op/Ed endorsement. HRC might know what she's doing.
posted by chris24 at 7:10 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
And the Trump/Russia ad is nicely timed with the CIA Op/Ed endorsement. HRC might know what she's doing.
posted by chris24 at 7:10 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Harold Hamm Oh! Our favorite mushed-mouth speaker from the RNC who started his adult life with only a truck, a co-signed loan and a phone. Big Fracker.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:12 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:12 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
oh man, i missed the best quote in that politico article
“I also wish I could lose 20 pounds, cut 5 shots off my handicap and play the piano,” a New Hampshire Republican added. “None of those things will happen, and neither will Trump drop out.”posted by murphy slaw at 7:12 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
Today's schedule for your entertainment needs:
Trump and Pence in Des Moines at 3pm, and Green Bay at 7pm
Hillary Clinton at the Nat'l Ass'n of Black and Hispanic Journalists Joint Convention
Tim Kaine in Milwaukee this afternoon and Grand Rapids this evening
It looks like Clinton will take the weekend off. Trump is headed to New Hampshire tomorrow and has nothing scheduled on Sunday.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump and Pence in Des Moines at 3pm, and Green Bay at 7pm
Hillary Clinton at the Nat'l Ass'n of Black and Hispanic Journalists Joint Convention
Tim Kaine in Milwaukee this afternoon and Grand Rapids this evening
It looks like Clinton will take the weekend off. Trump is headed to New Hampshire tomorrow and has nothing scheduled on Sunday.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation.
omfg did a former DCI just say Trump's a rube for the Russians in the New York Times?
Yes, yes he did.
posted by Mooski at 7:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [33 favorites]
omfg did a former DCI just say Trump's a rube for the Russians in the New York Times?
Yes, yes he did.
posted by Mooski at 7:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [33 favorites]
He is the Mango Manchurian Candidate
posted by Sophie1 at 7:16 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 7:16 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
Yeah, that's a pretty devastating endorsement right there.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:17 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:17 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Now-Cast from FiveThirtyEight.com
And wow, 91%.
Uh, did something else just happen in the last 10 minutes since you linked to that because when I clicked on that it's at 92.9%.
I can't keep up with this. Part of me thinks/knows I should disconnect for like a week but there's a bigger part of me that Can't Blink.
posted by like_neon at 7:17 AM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
And wow, 91%.
Uh, did something else just happen in the last 10 minutes since you linked to that because when I clicked on that it's at 92.9%.
I can't keep up with this. Part of me thinks/knows I should disconnect for like a week but there's a bigger part of me that Can't Blink.
posted by like_neon at 7:17 AM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
Polls only has it in the 80s, the more conservative polls plus model hovers around 75%.
Still, the margin for terror exists.
posted by Artw at 7:19 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
Still, the margin for terror exists.
posted by Artw at 7:19 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
Six months ago, I'd never have predicted that in August I'd be thinking, "I sure hope Trump does not drop out." But man, I sure hope he doesn't drop out.
That said, while I appreciate the CIA dude's directness and it's a remarkable op-ed, it seems to confirm Hillary's hawkishness. Although I do discount some of that, since CIA dude is presumably no fool and is playing up the hawkishness for the market.
posted by Frowner at 7:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
That said, while I appreciate the CIA dude's directness and it's a remarkable op-ed, it seems to confirm Hillary's hawkishness. Although I do discount some of that, since CIA dude is presumably no fool and is playing up the hawkishness for the market.
posted by Frowner at 7:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump’s Campaign Focused On Attracting Unlikely Voters, A Memo Shows
This jives with my gut-level take on what happened in the primary. It's often been noted that many people don't vote, especially in primaries or off-year elections – and that if a candidate could simply mobilize some of those normally inactive voters, it could make a big difference in a race.
Well, that's exactly what Trump did. It was an effective strategy for the primary – but, as we're witnessing now, it set the candidate up to fail in the general.
The memo is worth a read:
I'm finding this tricky to even talk about – because on the one hand, I'm all for democratic participation, enfranchisement of voters, and empowerment of the working class. On the other hand...another way of saying this is that Donald Trump went specifically after low-information voters (he even bragged about this). And apparently what happens when you mobilize these particular voters is that you get Donald Fucking Trump within stumbling distance of the nuclear codes.
I want to sympathize with the concerns of the white working class. I want to understand. I want our political conversation to accommodate them. I want them to get a fair shake, because I want everyone to get a fair shake. But if Donald Trump is their representative – I mean, what am I even supposed to do with that? No. Just, no. Get entirely the fuck out.
If you're sick of being called stupid and bigoted by elitists, then don't elect the world's most thunderingly, preeningly ignorant bigot as your standard-bearer. I'm trying to believe that ugly stereotypes about the white working class are unfair, but that's extremely hard to do when their candidate is a know-nothing demagogue with fucking neo-Nazis cheering outside his rallies. Definitely not. Get the fuck out. Go back and try again. That isn't political enfranchisement; that's playing Russian roulette with US democracy and global stability (not to mention the safety and security of millions of minorities).
I'm sorry, but any bleeding-heart progressive compassion I might have for the working class ends where the fucking swastikas begin. Get the fuck out. You will not find what you're looking for on this path.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 7:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [68 favorites]
This jives with my gut-level take on what happened in the primary. It's often been noted that many people don't vote, especially in primaries or off-year elections – and that if a candidate could simply mobilize some of those normally inactive voters, it could make a big difference in a race.
Well, that's exactly what Trump did. It was an effective strategy for the primary – but, as we're witnessing now, it set the candidate up to fail in the general.
The memo is worth a read:
In the media and in certain social circles, our low-P supporters have been called “stupid,” “racists,” and “bigots.” The “elites” look down on them, and there is evidence they deny their support for our candidate because they fear being ostracized.So, on that point at least, the Trump primary campaign agrees wholeheartedly with the recently discussed J.D. Vance interview. That is...extremely telling to me.
I'm finding this tricky to even talk about – because on the one hand, I'm all for democratic participation, enfranchisement of voters, and empowerment of the working class. On the other hand...another way of saying this is that Donald Trump went specifically after low-information voters (he even bragged about this). And apparently what happens when you mobilize these particular voters is that you get Donald Fucking Trump within stumbling distance of the nuclear codes.
I want to sympathize with the concerns of the white working class. I want to understand. I want our political conversation to accommodate them. I want them to get a fair shake, because I want everyone to get a fair shake. But if Donald Trump is their representative – I mean, what am I even supposed to do with that? No. Just, no. Get entirely the fuck out.
If you're sick of being called stupid and bigoted by elitists, then don't elect the world's most thunderingly, preeningly ignorant bigot as your standard-bearer. I'm trying to believe that ugly stereotypes about the white working class are unfair, but that's extremely hard to do when their candidate is a know-nothing demagogue with fucking neo-Nazis cheering outside his rallies. Definitely not. Get the fuck out. Go back and try again. That isn't political enfranchisement; that's playing Russian roulette with US democracy and global stability (not to mention the safety and security of millions of minorities).
I'm sorry, but any bleeding-heart progressive compassion I might have for the working class ends where the fucking swastikas begin. Get the fuck out. You will not find what you're looking for on this path.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 7:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [68 favorites]
Uh, did something else just happen in the last 10 minutes since you linked to that because when I clicked on that it's at 92.9%.
Yes, something happened in those 10 minutes. I believe it was the new Georgia polling.
posted by The Bellman at 7:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Yes, something happened in those 10 minutes. I believe it was the new Georgia polling.
posted by The Bellman at 7:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Imagine if he was just as openly vile but not utterly incompetent in every single respect. He'd be winning right now.
Sarah Kendzior is already thinking about this, "Whoever follows Trump" and thinking about what a Trump loss would bring, and how he could still destroy America with a loss.
posted by gladly at 7:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sarah Kendzior is already thinking about this, "Whoever follows Trump" and thinking about what a Trump loss would bring, and how he could still destroy America with a loss.
posted by gladly at 7:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
That Putin-Trump attack ad is... well, near-perfect. There's no downside in going there with the email server business; HRC doesn't even need to address it. Like Benghazi, she's weathered that storm already, in public, against the worst and the best the GOP could throw at her. They can go back there any time they like: won't seem like anything other than desperation.
But then, what can they do right now that doesn't? It's a sane response when all your hopes are going up like so much smoke from a burning clown car. Man is born to trouble, as the snark flies upwards.
And just think how many ads like it, on so many subjects, could be made.
posted by Devonian at 7:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
But then, what can they do right now that doesn't? It's a sane response when all your hopes are going up like so much smoke from a burning clown car. Man is born to trouble, as the snark flies upwards.
And just think how many ads like it, on so many subjects, could be made.
posted by Devonian at 7:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Uh, did something else just happen in the last 10 minutes since you linked to that because when I clicked on that it's at 92.9%.
Maybe people are waking up and reading that list of Economic Advisers? Because that list just shrieks of incompetence and unprofessionalism on behalf of Trump.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:26 AM on August 5, 2016
Maybe people are waking up and reading that list of Economic Advisers? Because that list just shrieks of incompetence and unprofessionalism on behalf of Trump.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:26 AM on August 5, 2016
I wasn't sure HRC would go there on the Trump/Russia links since it involves her deleted emails, but they just released a video that hammers him.
For all that he's tactically clever, Putin seems like a strategic idiot. A weakened or dissolved NATO would present some very short-term gains for Russia but in any longer term what it means is the expansion of western militaries, possibly the nuclearization of more western militaries, and more danger of another war breaking out within the west. And now he's positioning himself and Russia not just as national adversaries of the US but as the personal enemies of the next President? Slow clap.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
For all that he's tactically clever, Putin seems like a strategic idiot. A weakened or dissolved NATO would present some very short-term gains for Russia but in any longer term what it means is the expansion of western militaries, possibly the nuclearization of more western militaries, and more danger of another war breaking out within the west. And now he's positioning himself and Russia not just as national adversaries of the US but as the personal enemies of the next President? Slow clap.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Well, that's exactly what Trump did. It was an effective strategy for the primary
Trump voters were overwhelmingly just normal, regular GOP primary voters.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:28 AM on August 5, 2016 [18 favorites]
Trump voters were overwhelmingly just normal, regular GOP primary voters.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:28 AM on August 5, 2016 [18 favorites]
An additional benefit to bringing the emails up now, in the context of a Putin-Trump alliance, is that it serves to frame any WikiLeaks October surprises in a narrative about Russian meddling rather than Clinton’s email carelessness.
posted by nicepersonality at 7:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by nicepersonality at 7:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
I want to sympathize with the concerns of the white working class.
The thing is, post-primary polling indicated that Trump voters don't tend to be low income. Their median household income nationwide was $72k. The only candidate of either party with a higher-income median was Kasich.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [23 favorites]
The thing is, post-primary polling indicated that Trump voters don't tend to be low income. Their median household income nationwide was $72k. The only candidate of either party with a higher-income median was Kasich.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [23 favorites]
Imagine if he was just as openly vile but not utterly incompetent in every single respect. He'd be winning right now.
No he wouldn't. Trump got where he is because he's so over the top and reckless and impulsive and unpredictable. You can't fake or rehearse the field of weirdness the man generates around himself. But that weirdness is inseperable from the qualities that also make him incompetent.
He won over a relatively tiny portion of the electorate with his shtick. Then he took his shtick to the big stage and it's flopping badly.
posted by argybarg at 7:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
No he wouldn't. Trump got where he is because he's so over the top and reckless and impulsive and unpredictable. You can't fake or rehearse the field of weirdness the man generates around himself. But that weirdness is inseperable from the qualities that also make him incompetent.
He won over a relatively tiny portion of the electorate with his shtick. Then he took his shtick to the big stage and it's flopping badly.
posted by argybarg at 7:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
He won over a relatively tiny portion of the electorate with his shtick. Then he took his shtick to the big stage and it's flopping badly.
That's it exactly. The only reason why the press was giving him so much publicity is because he was crazy and outrageous. However, crazy and outrageous is not what most people want in a President.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:36 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
That's it exactly. The only reason why the press was giving him so much publicity is because he was crazy and outrageous. However, crazy and outrageous is not what most people want in a President.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:36 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
David Brooks: Trump’s Enablers Will Finally Have to Take a Stand
you know shit is bad when David Brooks is unequivocal
posted by murphy slaw at 7:39 AM on August 5, 2016 [22 favorites]
you know shit is bad when David Brooks is unequivocal
posted by murphy slaw at 7:39 AM on August 5, 2016 [22 favorites]
I want to sympathize with the concerns of the white working class. I want to understand. I want our political conversation to accommodate them. I want them to get a fair shake, because I want everyone to get a fair shake. But if Donald Trump is their representative
white working class person here - in NO FUCKING WAY is donald trump MY representative - nor is he the representative of many others i know
i'm voting for hillary
posted by pyramid termite at 7:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [43 favorites]
white working class person here - in NO FUCKING WAY is donald trump MY representative - nor is he the representative of many others i know
i'm voting for hillary
posted by pyramid termite at 7:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [43 favorites]
I wasn't sure HRC would go there on the Trump/Russia links since it involves her deleted emails, but they just released a video that hammers him.
Sweet judo move to use Trump's "people are saying" approach against him.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:42 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
I wish this myth of the white working class Trump voters would die already. What I hate about it is that it is used both on the left and on the right by white cis males as an argument for their own positions. There. I said it. I've been fuming about this for several years actually, but it needs to be said out and loud. It's a myth. And it is far more interesting to examine the roots of this myth than the myth in itself.
posted by mumimor at 7:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 7:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
I want to sympathize with the concerns of the white working class. I want to understand. I want our political conversation to accommodate them. I want them to get a fair shake, because I want everyone to get a fair shake.
While one does not want to go all #notallwhiteworkingclass, there's sort of a weird contradiction in a lot of these conversations.
I am white and working class. I am a secretary. My best career move will be to become a low-level accountant, and that's if I'm lucky and can shake the secretary stigma off my resume. I would gnaw off a forearm before I'd pull the lever for Trump or indeed any Republican, and I'm pretty dubious about Hillary because my politics are well to the left of hers.
It's kind of like when I say "as a fat person I have this experience" and thin people are all "but you're not fat!" and I'm like, I wear fat-people sizes, I weigh a lot, of course I'm fat. It's because they can't imagine that a fat person could be well-dressed, or smart, or whatever-it-is that prevents them from seeing me as fat. "Fat people" are always them-off-over-there.
Similarly, I feel like a lot of professional class people are all "white working class people are off over there with their hard right politics and low-information voting, let me enter into their strange emotional world better to understand them". The white working class is various, and I would know.
posted by Frowner at 7:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [58 favorites]
So, I guess that's his "secret state strategy", try to flip traditionally held Democratic states by appealing to disaffected white guys who don't normally vote? That seems guaranteed to fail, especially if they're running that without a decent traditional ground game in OH/PA/FLA.
posted by codacorolla at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by codacorolla at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
For all that he's tactically clever, Putin seems like a strategic idiot. A weakened or dissolved NATO would present some very short-term gains for Russia but in any longer term what it means is the expansion of western militaries, possibly the nuclearization of more western militaries, and more danger of another war breaking out within the west.
Never, ever underestimate Putin. He managed to nearly openly invade Ukraine and get it treated like a fait acompli. He's been in power or a major power behind the 'official' power for years now. He's former KGB who made it through the fall and into power as the face of a 'New Russia'. Putin is very good, and when he seems to be fucking up, that's when you know he's got the knife up the sleeve waiting for you to forget how dangerous he is and fuck up worse.
He wants the west to militarize, he's basically running a military dictatorship, and they need an enemy to explain why freedoms must be curtailed and to blame current economic strife (okay, we can cop to that one at least a little bit.) on. He knows damned well the west is war weary and not at all into the idea of a violent conflict with Russia, and a lot of that is Putin's sabre rattling about nukes (who else was doing that recently? hmmm.) scaring people into complacency and acceptance.
posted by neonrev at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
Never, ever underestimate Putin. He managed to nearly openly invade Ukraine and get it treated like a fait acompli. He's been in power or a major power behind the 'official' power for years now. He's former KGB who made it through the fall and into power as the face of a 'New Russia'. Putin is very good, and when he seems to be fucking up, that's when you know he's got the knife up the sleeve waiting for you to forget how dangerous he is and fuck up worse.
He wants the west to militarize, he's basically running a military dictatorship, and they need an enemy to explain why freedoms must be curtailed and to blame current economic strife (okay, we can cop to that one at least a little bit.) on. He knows damned well the west is war weary and not at all into the idea of a violent conflict with Russia, and a lot of that is Putin's sabre rattling about nukes (who else was doing that recently? hmmm.) scaring people into complacency and acceptance.
posted by neonrev at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
The one and only Trump die-hard I am aware of (because she is a friend of a friend on Facebook and has been harassing his feed) appears to be a wealthy white woman living in Dallas.
posted by maggiemaggie at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by maggiemaggie at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
you know shit is bad when David Brooks is unequivocal
Wow this is just brutal. Blunt and one shot after another.
posted by Jalliah at 7:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wow this is just brutal. Blunt and one shot after another.
posted by Jalliah at 7:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
A California representative has started a change.org petition for a mental health examination for Trump. Since when do lawmakers use change.org? These days, man.
posted by Countess Elena at 7:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 7:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
If Putin can cast any military conflict between the west and Russia as ending in nukes (which I do not believe is accurate.), that frees his hand much more in what he can invade. I don't think Putin is a death-seeking world killer, or as ignorant of nuclear warfare as Trump, but he can definitely scare us into silence.
posted by neonrev at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by neonrev at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2016
The economic policy team:
* Vornado's Steven Roth
* Continental's Harold Hamm
* Prudential Douglas Elliman and the Vector Group's Howard M. Lorber
* Goldman Sachs and One West's Steven Mnuchin
* Colony Capital's Tom Barrack
* Chicago's The Federal Savings Bank's Stephen M. Calk.
* Beal Bank's Andy Beal, author of the Beal Conjecture
* Cerberus' Stephen A. Feinberg Also see.
* Encima Global and GrowPAC's David Malpass
* University of California-Irvine Professor Peter Navarro
* Heritage Foundation's Stephen Moore
* Nucor's Dan DiMicco
posted by zarq at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
* Vornado's Steven Roth
* Continental's Harold Hamm
* Prudential Douglas Elliman and the Vector Group's Howard M. Lorber
* Goldman Sachs and One West's Steven Mnuchin
* Colony Capital's Tom Barrack
* Chicago's The Federal Savings Bank's Stephen M. Calk.
* Beal Bank's Andy Beal, author of the Beal Conjecture
* Cerberus' Stephen A. Feinberg Also see.
* Encima Global and GrowPAC's David Malpass
* University of California-Irvine Professor Peter Navarro
* Heritage Foundation's Stephen Moore
* Nucor's Dan DiMicco
posted by zarq at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
"Low information voters" is absolutely not a synonym for "white working class".
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
My favorite Putin story is the time he stole the owner of the New England Patriot's Super Bowl ring.
posted by drezdn at 7:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 7:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
I thought the "five guys named Steve" thing was a joke. Silly me
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:54 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:54 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
A weakened or dissolved NATO would present some very short-term gains for Russia but in any longer term what it means is the expansion of western militaries, possibly the nuclearization of more western militaries
Putin sees the absorption of the former Warsaw pact countries into NATO as encirclement, and encroachment on Russia's proper sphere of influence. I don't think we can walk back their membership in NATO now without huge consequences, but it's likely that if Mr. Clinton in '99 and Bush II in '04 had not expanded NATO to include the former Warsaw pact countries that we'd be, in general, in a much less precarious situation with Russia. But I also don't see how, for example, kicking Poland, Latvia, Estonia, etc. out of NATO would lead to more nuclearization, unless it was Russia that offered them nukes once they switched allegiance and became Russian instead of NATO client states.
posted by dis_integration at 7:54 AM on August 5, 2016
Putin sees the absorption of the former Warsaw pact countries into NATO as encirclement, and encroachment on Russia's proper sphere of influence. I don't think we can walk back their membership in NATO now without huge consequences, but it's likely that if Mr. Clinton in '99 and Bush II in '04 had not expanded NATO to include the former Warsaw pact countries that we'd be, in general, in a much less precarious situation with Russia. But I also don't see how, for example, kicking Poland, Latvia, Estonia, etc. out of NATO would lead to more nuclearization, unless it was Russia that offered them nukes once they switched allegiance and became Russian instead of NATO client states.
posted by dis_integration at 7:54 AM on August 5, 2016
The one and only Trump die-hard I am aware of (because she is a friend of a friend on Facebook and has been harassing his feed) appears to be a wealthy white woman living in Dallas.
Not that it matters because they can't vote but up here in Canada the diehard Trump lovers I know are all middle to upper middle class. They're not in any way poor or floundering. Though according to one guy he is. With his 80k+ job and uber good benefits I don't have much empathy on this declaration.
The one thing that all of these people have in common is varying levels of 'scary brown people, muslim, OMG Clinton evil, sexism' type thoughts. With a couple of them I had no idea they think things way so thanks Trump I guess at least I know what is truely in their hearts and can act accordingly.
posted by Jalliah at 7:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Not that it matters because they can't vote but up here in Canada the diehard Trump lovers I know are all middle to upper middle class. They're not in any way poor or floundering. Though according to one guy he is. With his 80k+ job and uber good benefits I don't have much empathy on this declaration.
The one thing that all of these people have in common is varying levels of 'scary brown people, muslim, OMG Clinton evil, sexism' type thoughts. With a couple of them I had no idea they think things way so thanks Trump I guess at least I know what is truely in their hearts and can act accordingly.
posted by Jalliah at 7:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
How do Brooks (and others like him) reconcile their belief that their party is inherently good and noble with the simple fact that they nominated Trump? At some point, they have to come to terms with the fact that there's something rotten at the core, right?
posted by diogenes at 7:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 7:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
How do Brooks (and others like him) reconcile their belief that their party is inherently good and noble with the simple fact that they nominated Trump?I think it's fair to say that I despise Brooks, but I don't think he's ever been a Republican loyalist, and I think he's been pretty distressed by the Republicans' slide towards stupid for a very long time. Brooks is much, much more committed to his intellectual pretensions than he is to any party or ideology.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
Turning the non-voters into your base? Good luck with that Donald! It's what every single student insurgency campaign tries every single time. And it never works.
Holy mother of god the Nowcast has AZ and GA leaning blue.
Never in my lifetime did I ever think I'd see Georgia blue again.
Hillary Clinton's stretch goal isn't Georgia. It's Texas. Everyone thought she was ridiculously optimistic at best - but Trump's lead is down to single digits. Having seen what she and Trump have done to the GOP in a week, at this rate I wouldn't be surprised to see the GOP on the back foot by November. In Texas.
posted by Francis at 8:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [36 favorites]
Holy mother of god the Nowcast has AZ and GA leaning blue.
Never in my lifetime did I ever think I'd see Georgia blue again.
Hillary Clinton's stretch goal isn't Georgia. It's Texas. Everyone thought she was ridiculously optimistic at best - but Trump's lead is down to single digits. Having seen what she and Trump have done to the GOP in a week, at this rate I wouldn't be surprised to see the GOP on the back foot by November. In Texas.
posted by Francis at 8:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [36 favorites]
I think Brooks has always been about what the Republican party says about itself more than what they actually do, to the point where he does a lot of hand-wringing when the two come into conflict.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Vornado! Those guys who left a giant hole in the middle of Boston! Got to hand it to Trump, he just came up with a totally unexpected way for me to loathe everything he stands for.
posted by Countess Elena at 8:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 8:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
The Trump constituency, in my estimation, is the Venn-diagram overlap of "white," "weird things give me the heebie-jeebies" and "craves a strong, scary daddy."
posted by argybarg at 8:02 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 8:02 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
I've gotta say that the best part about watching the RNC on PBS was seeing the "WTF did I just see" deer in the headlights look on David Brooks when they'd cut to him after showing some gibbering Republican take a steaming dump on America right there on national tv.
It still makes me smile.
posted by Floydd at 8:03 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
It still makes me smile.
posted by Floydd at 8:03 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
I think Brooks has always been about what the Republican party says about itself more than what they actually do
I agree. He's definitely a strong advocate of the Republican party that exists in his head. It just seems like Trump might finally make it impossible for people like him to continue to claim that that party exists in reality.
posted by diogenes at 8:04 AM on August 5, 2016 [18 favorites]
I agree. He's definitely a strong advocate of the Republican party that exists in his head. It just seems like Trump might finally make it impossible for people like him to continue to claim that that party exists in reality.
posted by diogenes at 8:04 AM on August 5, 2016 [18 favorites]
The thing is, post-primary polling indicated that Trump voters don't tend to be low income.
You are correct, of course. I've read this widely shared FiveThirtyEight article on that topic. I just read it again, a bit more closely, and yeah – there doesn't seem to be a ton of support for the notion that Trump was the working class' choice. The Princeton Election Consortium isn't entirely satisfied with the FiveThirtyEight analysis, but honestly I'm underslept, and this past week has been insane, and I don't know what to make of anything, so I'm just gonna shut up now.
white working class person here - in NO FUCKING WAY is donald trump MY representative - nor is he the representative of many others i know
Of course, and I apologize. This is what I meant when I said that it's difficult to talk about: it's tricky to talk about trends (the white working class does this, gamers do this, etc.) without making it sound like you're tarring all members of a group with the same brush. (And it seems that the trend I was talking about may not exist anyway.)
How about this: whoever Trump does represent, fuck those people.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:04 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
You are correct, of course. I've read this widely shared FiveThirtyEight article on that topic. I just read it again, a bit more closely, and yeah – there doesn't seem to be a ton of support for the notion that Trump was the working class' choice. The Princeton Election Consortium isn't entirely satisfied with the FiveThirtyEight analysis, but honestly I'm underslept, and this past week has been insane, and I don't know what to make of anything, so I'm just gonna shut up now.
white working class person here - in NO FUCKING WAY is donald trump MY representative - nor is he the representative of many others i know
Of course, and I apologize. This is what I meant when I said that it's difficult to talk about: it's tricky to talk about trends (the white working class does this, gamers do this, etc.) without making it sound like you're tarring all members of a group with the same brush. (And it seems that the trend I was talking about may not exist anyway.)
How about this: whoever Trump does represent, fuck those people.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:04 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Can someone define for me what the difference is these days between "working class" and "lower middle class"? Because I just don't see much of a distinction where I live. My neighbors are contractors, sanitation workers, first responders, teachers, nurses, and white collar office drones. Oh, and the precinct went over 80% for Obama in 08 and 12.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
All of this will be hilarious in retrospect when the terror goes away.
What? So you saying it is wrong of me to find this all hilarious right now? I had no idea when I woke up today that I was going to be spending my morning laughing so hard.
I read somewhere that laughter developed in humans as a coping mechanism to avoided or mis-identified danger. If you've narrowly escaped being eaten by a saber-toothed tiger, or thought that you were going to get jumped by a saber-toothed tiger that turned out to just be a rock, laughter is how people relieve some of that tension.
So you absolutely should be terrified right now, but once the terror is past (knocks on wood), we'll all be laughing about it at least a little bit eventually.
posted by VTX at 8:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
What? So you saying it is wrong of me to find this all hilarious right now? I had no idea when I woke up today that I was going to be spending my morning laughing so hard.
I read somewhere that laughter developed in humans as a coping mechanism to avoided or mis-identified danger. If you've narrowly escaped being eaten by a saber-toothed tiger, or thought that you were going to get jumped by a saber-toothed tiger that turned out to just be a rock, laughter is how people relieve some of that tension.
So you absolutely should be terrified right now, but once the terror is past (knocks on wood), we'll all be laughing about it at least a little bit eventually.
posted by VTX at 8:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
> "Vornado! Those guys who left a giant hole in the middle of Boston!"
Just looked that up (I used to live in Boston). Goddamn. I knew Filene's was gone and was saddened by that already, but I didn't know some asshole company had SALTED THE EARTH WHERE IT STOOD.
posted by kyrademon at 8:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Just looked that up (I used to live in Boston). Goddamn. I knew Filene's was gone and was saddened by that already, but I didn't know some asshole company had SALTED THE EARTH WHERE IT STOOD.
posted by kyrademon at 8:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Brooks: Some people compare Trump to the great authoritarians of history, but that’s wrong. They were generally disciplined men with grandiose plans. Trump is underdeveloped and unregulated.
Translated: Trump is too dumb to be Hitler.
posted by octothorpe at 8:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [46 favorites]
Translated: Trump is too dumb to be Hitler.
posted by octothorpe at 8:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [46 favorites]
Missing from that list of economic advisers are pretty much all of the typical high-profile Republican economists. Greg Mankiw (who was a chair of Bush's council of economic advisers, advised both Romney campaigns) was quoted this morning as saying that he wouldn't vote for Trump and that while he knew some people who thought "things couldn't be worse" than Obama/Clinton, "they're wrong."
I mean, in terms of surprises this is about up there with the Harvard Young Republicans refusing to endorse Trump but given the number of political hack economists out there it's remarkable that the best they could do was some other real estate people and Stephen Moore who (as zarq's helpful link reminded me) was so disingenuous the Kansas City Star stopped running anything he wrote.
posted by dismas at 8:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I mean, in terms of surprises this is about up there with the Harvard Young Republicans refusing to endorse Trump but given the number of political hack economists out there it's remarkable that the best they could do was some other real estate people and Stephen Moore who (as zarq's helpful link reminded me) was so disingenuous the Kansas City Star stopped running anything he wrote.
posted by dismas at 8:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
How do Brooks (and others like him) reconcile their belief that their party is inherently good and noble with the simple fact that they nominated Trump?
What's the mystery? Brooks is a recognizable old school "fiscally responsible / socially moderate" Republican. Once upon a time there were a lot of people like him in the GOP (see also PJ O'Roarke's comments on the current election season), and they frequently compromised with Democrats to get things done in Congress.
In fact, it wasn't that long ago (within my lifetime anyhow) that a lot of the people who now lean Trumpish would likely have been staunch Democrats, not Republicans (see Nixon's Southern Strategy for how that changed). Black and white thinking about who is in what party and who is "good" and who is "evil" is generally going to get you into trouble.
posted by aught at 8:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
What's the mystery? Brooks is a recognizable old school "fiscally responsible / socially moderate" Republican. Once upon a time there were a lot of people like him in the GOP (see also PJ O'Roarke's comments on the current election season), and they frequently compromised with Democrats to get things done in Congress.
In fact, it wasn't that long ago (within my lifetime anyhow) that a lot of the people who now lean Trumpish would likely have been staunch Democrats, not Republicans (see Nixon's Southern Strategy for how that changed). Black and white thinking about who is in what party and who is "good" and who is "evil" is generally going to get you into trouble.
posted by aught at 8:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
And I should add that the current polls make me feel better in a "we'll be okay as long as we keep bringing our A-game" sense but I won't really feel like the terror is past until at least November, maybe not until January.
posted by VTX at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by VTX at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
From that campaign memo linked above the former (now) Trump data guy Matt Braynard is really a piece of work. With Twitter these guys put a lot of hate out there, do they think the world of the future will be that bleak that hate filled racists will always be able to find work?
posted by readery at 8:11 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by readery at 8:11 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
How do Brooks (and others like him) reconcile their belief that their party is inherently good and noble with the simple fact that they nominated Trump?
Well for better or worse the hoi polloi get to vote. Blame it on the plebs.
posted by dis_integration at 8:11 AM on August 5, 2016
Well for better or worse the hoi polloi get to vote. Blame it on the plebs.
posted by dis_integration at 8:11 AM on August 5, 2016
Brooks is a recognizable old school "fiscally responsible / socially moderate" Republican. Once upon a time there were a lot of people like him in the GOP..., and they frequently compromised with Democrats to get things done in Congress.
Right, once upon a time. But we aren't talking about the party that used to exist.
posted by diogenes at 8:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Right, once upon a time. But we aren't talking about the party that used to exist.
posted by diogenes at 8:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
From that campaign memo linked above the former (now) Trump data guy Matt Braynard is really a piece of work.
He sounds nice.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
He sounds nice.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Every election year I come in to write about how you Americans need to remember you have a huge influence in the rest of the world. Please vote! Vote down ticket! You know the rant. I usually save it for November.
But this morning, listening to morning radio, there was a politician telling about how Humayun Khan was a personal friend of his and that the racism and islamophobia had to go. He was (naturally) really angry. But he was also part of our government party that depends on a racist, nationalist party's support to govern. The journalist didn't let him go one second.
This morning I realized that you guys can set international agendas in a way that none of us small countries can, including positive agendas. It really redeemed my trust in America to the extent that those USA chants at the DNC seemed almost sensible. Speak to us!
posted by mumimor at 8:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
But this morning, listening to morning radio, there was a politician telling about how Humayun Khan was a personal friend of his and that the racism and islamophobia had to go. He was (naturally) really angry. But he was also part of our government party that depends on a racist, nationalist party's support to govern. The journalist didn't let him go one second.
This morning I realized that you guys can set international agendas in a way that none of us small countries can, including positive agendas. It really redeemed my trust in America to the extent that those USA chants at the DNC seemed almost sensible. Speak to us!
posted by mumimor at 8:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
but I don't think he's ever been a Republican loyalist,
He is, but to the Republican Party of Eisenhower, not Trump.
posted by aught at 8:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
He is, but to the Republican Party of Eisenhower, not Trump.
posted by aught at 8:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm still trying to sort out what I think about the question of Trump and the white working class, because I actually think that's a pretty complicated situation. I think part of it is that we don't have any coherent definition of class in the US: it's never really clear to me what we're talking about when we talk about class. I don't think that income is the only thing that defines the working class, although it's part of it. I also don't think it's clear what we're talking about when we're talking about Trump's supporters. It's pretty clear that his primary support didn't come primarily from people I would consider working-class. Trump voters had a (considerably) higher income than the American average, and they were more likely to have college educations than the general population. On the other hand, it's possible that working-class white people are more likely than other people to like Trump and say they'll vote for him in the general election. I think that the Pennsylvania polling, for instance, supports the idea that Trump has more support in parts of the state where there are lots of working-class white people than in parts of the state where there are lots of professional-class white people.
And of course, it can't be said enough that many (most?) members of the American working-class are not white, and any analysis that equates white working-class with working-class is racist and wrong.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
And of course, it can't be said enough that many (most?) members of the American working-class are not white, and any analysis that equates white working-class with working-class is racist and wrong.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Hillary Clinton's stretch goal isn't Georgia. It's Texas. Everyone thought she was ridiculously optimistic at best - but Trump's lead is down to single digits. Having seen what she and Trump have done to the GOP in a week, at this rate I wouldn't be surprised to see the GOP on the back foot by November. In Texas.
If she manages to turn Texas blue, I will dance for joy. But it seems unlikely for now.
posted by zarq at 8:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
If she manages to turn Texas blue, I will dance for joy. But it seems unlikely for now.
posted by zarq at 8:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
"cuck" is one of those great words that lets you know that the speaker deserves exactly zero of your attention.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [75 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [75 favorites]
Matt Braynard's Twitter bio: "My preferred pronouns are sonofabitch and goddamnit."
Does ... he actually know what a pronoun is?
I suppose you could make a case for "goddamnit" as first-person resentful.
posted by McCoy Pauley at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
Does ... he actually know what a pronoun is?
I suppose you could make a case for "goddamnit" as first-person resentful.
posted by McCoy Pauley at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
Right, once upon a time. But we aren't talking about the party that used to exist.
A lot of them are still in there. I think the Left ignores old money at their own peril, personally.
posted by aught at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
A lot of them are still in there. I think the Left ignores old money at their own peril, personally.
posted by aught at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Can someone define for me what the difference is these days between "working class" and "lower middle class"? Because I just don't see much of a distinction where I live. My neighbors are contractors, sanitation workers, first responders, teachers, nurses, and white collar office drones. Oh, and the precinct went over 80% for Obama in 08 and 12.
If "working class" is to mean anything, it has to include check-out clerks, call-center workers, clinic schedulers, etc - most of whom are utterly invisible to college educated people. And of course, it should include people who are not presently in work, but whose work would be that kind if they could get any. Starbucks workers, McDonald's workers, the people who empty the biohazard bins at the hospital - that's the forgotten working class.
And I'd point out that a LOT of those people are POC. Obviously if we're specifically talking about the white working class, that's one thing, but when people talk about the working class in general, I notice that they/we often talk as if it's all white, as if working class POC are something other than members of the working class.
posted by Frowner at 8:23 AM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
If "working class" is to mean anything, it has to include check-out clerks, call-center workers, clinic schedulers, etc - most of whom are utterly invisible to college educated people. And of course, it should include people who are not presently in work, but whose work would be that kind if they could get any. Starbucks workers, McDonald's workers, the people who empty the biohazard bins at the hospital - that's the forgotten working class.
And I'd point out that a LOT of those people are POC. Obviously if we're specifically talking about the white working class, that's one thing, but when people talk about the working class in general, I notice that they/we often talk as if it's all white, as if working class POC are something other than members of the working class.
posted by Frowner at 8:23 AM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
Matt Braynard's Twitter bio: "My preferred pronouns are sonofabitch and goddamnit."
Does ... he actually know what a pronoun is?
He's not going to let something trivial like "making sense" keep him from sneering at ways to treat people with the minimal level of respect.
posted by phearlez at 8:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Does ... he actually know what a pronoun is?
He's not going to let something trivial like "making sense" keep him from sneering at ways to treat people with the minimal level of respect.
posted by phearlez at 8:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Ryan is the greasy used car salesman who will never die.
I like that the "the" in this sentence makes it sound like a common aphorism about a character in like a Grimm's Fairy Tale or something. I would read that fairy tale tbh
posted by Greg Nog at 8:17 AM on August 5
Matilda's father.
posted by Reverend John at 8:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
I like that the "the" in this sentence makes it sound like a common aphorism about a character in like a Grimm's Fairy Tale or something. I would read that fairy tale tbh
posted by Greg Nog at 8:17 AM on August 5
Matilda's father.
posted by Reverend John at 8:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Can someone define for me what the difference is these days between "working class" and "lower middle class"?
It's increasingly a cultural distinction, I think. But unskilled hourly workers vs. low-paid salaried workers on some kind of career path might be a decent lens. Although I guess even that might reduce to a cultural distinction these days too, depending on which hourly and salaried jobs you're comparing.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's increasingly a cultural distinction, I think. But unskilled hourly workers vs. low-paid salaried workers on some kind of career path might be a decent lens. Although I guess even that might reduce to a cultural distinction these days too, depending on which hourly and salaried jobs you're comparing.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:32 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
five guys named Steve
Joining Five Guys Named Moe and Band of Dans.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hillary Clinton's stretch goal isn't Georgia. It's Texas. Everyone thought she was ridiculously optimistic at best - but Trump's lead is down to single digits. Having seen what she and Trump have done to the GOP in a week, at this rate I wouldn't be surprised to see the GOP on the back foot by November. In Texas.
Speaking of, I live in Houston and signed up through the site to volunteer a week ago and haven't been contacted. Is that normal?
posted by DynamiteToast at 8:36 AM on August 5, 2016
Speaking of, I live in Houston and signed up through the site to volunteer a week ago and haven't been contacted. Is that normal?
posted by DynamiteToast at 8:36 AM on August 5, 2016
And the Daves they know.
posted by Yowser at 8:37 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 8:37 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
A state like Texas where they may not have been expecting to be remotely competitive may not have gotten any kind of general election campaign staff until recently. Keep trying. Look for local events on the website. Show up and you'll get hooked up or find out who's running stuff.
posted by R343L at 8:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by R343L at 8:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Speaking of, I live in Houston and signed up through the site to volunteer a week ago and haven't been contacted. Is that normal?
Yeah, I think it is. I signed up weeks ago (and live in a battleground) and nothing but fundraising solicitations. I think the better bet is to find an event near you (voter registration drive, phone bank, etc...) and go to that.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I think it is. I signed up weeks ago (and live in a battleground) and nothing but fundraising solicitations. I think the better bet is to find an event near you (voter registration drive, phone bank, etc...) and go to that.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
it's never really clear to me what we're talking about when we talk about class.
Yeah, that certainly complicates the conversation.
Various analyses have found that support for Trump in the primaries was predicted by:
authoritarianism
lower levels of education
agreeing with the statement "people like me don't have any say"
working in old-economy jobs
identifying as ethnically "American"
To draw a composite image of Trump's constituency is probably a fool's errand. Some of them were rural poor, some were suburban middle managers in McMansions, many were somewhere in between, and some of them might surprise us.
But, a lot of the statistical fingers seem to be pointing toward a similar conclusion. Namely, that Trump's success arose from an intersection of racial/identity anxiety, and economic anxiety (particularly, the difficulty that some folks have faced as the US has completed its transition from a manufacturing economy to a service/information economy).
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yeah, that certainly complicates the conversation.
Various analyses have found that support for Trump in the primaries was predicted by:
authoritarianism
lower levels of education
agreeing with the statement "people like me don't have any say"
working in old-economy jobs
identifying as ethnically "American"
To draw a composite image of Trump's constituency is probably a fool's errand. Some of them were rural poor, some were suburban middle managers in McMansions, many were somewhere in between, and some of them might surprise us.
But, a lot of the statistical fingers seem to be pointing toward a similar conclusion. Namely, that Trump's success arose from an intersection of racial/identity anxiety, and economic anxiety (particularly, the difficulty that some folks have faced as the US has completed its transition from a manufacturing economy to a service/information economy).
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:38 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Also I think you can just sign up and use the call tool online. Not as satisfying maybe as canvassing in Texas (!!!) but something.
posted by R343L at 8:39 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by R343L at 8:39 AM on August 5, 2016
Great I didn't know you could look for local events! That's exactly what I was hoping for, thanks!
posted by DynamiteToast at 8:39 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by DynamiteToast at 8:39 AM on August 5, 2016
How do Brooks (and others like him) reconcile their belief that their party is inherently good and noble with the simple fact that they nominated Trump? At some point, they have to come to terms with the fact that there's something rotten at the core, right?
--
I agree. He's definitely a strong advocate of the Republican party that exists in his head. It just seems like Trump might finally make it impossible for people like him to continue to claim that that party exists in reality.
I very much enjoyed this Vox article that covered this ground.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
--
I agree. He's definitely a strong advocate of the Republican party that exists in his head. It just seems like Trump might finally make it impossible for people like him to continue to claim that that party exists in reality.
I very much enjoyed this Vox article that covered this ground.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Matilda's father
it's just too perfect
posted by murphy slaw at 8:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
it's just too perfect
posted by murphy slaw at 8:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
"Low information voters" is absolutely not a synonym for "white working class".
QFT. Some of the lowest information voters I know are upper middle class or higher white professionals who get 100% of their information on the issues and candidates from Fox News or Drudge Report. They literally don't see any other information, because they're busy professionals who work 60-hour weeks and therefore don't have any idea of what's going on in the world outside of the tiny little reality tunnels they've chosen for themselves.
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:41 AM on August 5, 2016 [31 favorites]
QFT. Some of the lowest information voters I know are upper middle class or higher white professionals who get 100% of their information on the issues and candidates from Fox News or Drudge Report. They literally don't see any other information, because they're busy professionals who work 60-hour weeks and therefore don't have any idea of what's going on in the world outside of the tiny little reality tunnels they've chosen for themselves.
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:41 AM on August 5, 2016 [31 favorites]
Gah I should stop hitting post so quick. Also: August is typically get your volunteers and staff in like (might we say in formation?) and that typically takes a few weeks. You don't really need to start running the big operations till October. Here in Washington our office is just calling people who said they'd volunteer and getting them hooked in .. But it's taking time as you only start with so many volunteers and in a non-swing state you have a lot fewer people.
(I say this with my now like week of experience over two nights. But I've been trying to read up fast and figure out how this works.)
posted by R343L at 8:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
(I say this with my now like week of experience over two nights. But I've been trying to read up fast and figure out how this works.)
posted by R343L at 8:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
If "working class" is to mean anything, it has to include check-out clerks, call-center workers, clinic schedulers, etc - most of whom are utterly invisible to college educated people. And of course, it should include people who are not presently in work, but whose work would be that kind if they could get any. Starbucks workers, McDonald's workers, the people who empty the biohazard bins at the hospital - that's the forgotten working class.
There's an interesting symmetry in this blind spot. The Trump supporters and the R folks who sneer at government know/accept that there's professional folks who make basic government and services work, but they vastly underestimate the level of professionalism that is there and required and they don't see the quantity of folks and organization that it takes to keep such a machine running. You get the how could that require so much money?? stuff.
Comfortable unexamined-life white collar workers know there's people who wait on them and provide the services they consume but they think not at all about those lives or how many of them they (don't) support with their dollars. They don't think about all the working people who handle putting their avocado on the shelf, unloading it from the truck, driving it from California, picking it, etc. The sheer number of hands that moved their $0.99 piece of fruit.
I don't think there's any real insight to take from this. It may just be a function of the number of distinct elements human minds can consider at once, and these bits of blindness aren't reflective of anything beyond preexisting ideological bents.
But it sure seems like very few of us really see many other people, doesn't it?
posted by phearlez at 8:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
There's an interesting symmetry in this blind spot. The Trump supporters and the R folks who sneer at government know/accept that there's professional folks who make basic government and services work, but they vastly underestimate the level of professionalism that is there and required and they don't see the quantity of folks and organization that it takes to keep such a machine running. You get the how could that require so much money?? stuff.
Comfortable unexamined-life white collar workers know there's people who wait on them and provide the services they consume but they think not at all about those lives or how many of them they (don't) support with their dollars. They don't think about all the working people who handle putting their avocado on the shelf, unloading it from the truck, driving it from California, picking it, etc. The sheer number of hands that moved their $0.99 piece of fruit.
I don't think there's any real insight to take from this. It may just be a function of the number of distinct elements human minds can consider at once, and these bits of blindness aren't reflective of anything beyond preexisting ideological bents.
But it sure seems like very few of us really see many other people, doesn't it?
posted by phearlez at 8:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Jesus Christ this is turning into a Goldwater level blowout.
posted by Talez at 8:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Talez at 8:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have Hillary's iPhone app. It has a daily challenges, usually along the lines of sending someone a Hillary e-mail or RSVPing to volunteer events. Today it's asking for my top issues, presumably to gather data to tailor messaging.
The options they're asking about:
- Addiction and substance use
- Autism
- Campaign finance reform
- Campus sexual assault
- Climate change
- Criminal justice reform
- Disability rights
- Early childhood education
- Fixing America's infrastructure
- Gun violence prevention
- Health care
- HIV and AIDS
- Immigration reform
- K-12 education
- Labor and workers' rights
- LGBT rights and equality
- Making college affordable and taking on student debt
- Manufacturing
- National security
- Paid family leave
- Protecting animals and wildlife
- Racial justice
- Raising incomes and fighting inequality
- Rural communities
- Seeking a cure for Alzheimer's disease
- Small business
- Social Security and Medicare
- Veterans, the armed forces, and their families
- Voting rights
- Wall Street reform
- Women's rights
- Workforce skills and job training
That is a good list.
posted by rewil at 8:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [47 favorites]
The options they're asking about:
- Addiction and substance use
- Autism
- Campaign finance reform
- Campus sexual assault
- Climate change
- Criminal justice reform
- Disability rights
- Early childhood education
- Fixing America's infrastructure
- Gun violence prevention
- Health care
- HIV and AIDS
- Immigration reform
- K-12 education
- Labor and workers' rights
- LGBT rights and equality
- Making college affordable and taking on student debt
- Manufacturing
- National security
- Paid family leave
- Protecting animals and wildlife
- Racial justice
- Raising incomes and fighting inequality
- Rural communities
- Seeking a cure for Alzheimer's disease
- Small business
- Social Security and Medicare
- Veterans, the armed forces, and their families
- Voting rights
- Wall Street reform
- Women's rights
- Workforce skills and job training
That is a good list.
posted by rewil at 8:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [47 favorites]
So where are the ads about Zika in Florida, making the case against the obstructionist Republicans and for a Democratic congress?
posted by schadenfrau at 8:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 8:45 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
At this point watching the newsfirehose is basically self-administered Ludovico therapy.
Still, the margin for terror exists.
posted by Artw
brilliant. This, exactly.
And oh, David Brooks. Will you never stop inadvertently condemning yourself.
I stand still by every word I said in March about you. You are a coward. Your descendants will indeed be ashamed of you.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Still, the margin for terror exists.
posted by Artw
brilliant. This, exactly.
And oh, David Brooks. Will you never stop inadvertently condemning yourself.
There comes a time when neutrality and laying low become dishonorable. If you’re not in revolt, you’re in cahoots. When this period and your name are mentioned, decades hence, your grandkids will look away in shame.Too late, David. The time for this was months and months ago. And you still, STILL are only criticizing Donald Trump for his tone and character, not for his policies.
I stand still by every word I said in March about you. You are a coward. Your descendants will indeed be ashamed of you.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Sean Hannity, just named "Fox News' dumbest anchor" by a WSJ columnist, is throwing an absolute tantrum right now blaming the establishment for trump and the current state of the GOP on Twitter. It's glorious.
From the HuffPo round-up: Twitter user Robert Stribley told Hannity he “has all the self-control on Twitter that Trump does.”
“I actually spend little time on Twitter,” replied Hannity, who has penned nearly 32,000 tweets over seven years. “But I have fun mixing it up.”
32,000 tweets / 7 years = 4571.42857... tweets per year, or around 12.5 per day. Sure, you're not a power tweeter or a teenager, but you're not not on Twitter, you twat.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
From the HuffPo round-up: Twitter user Robert Stribley told Hannity he “has all the self-control on Twitter that Trump does.”
“I actually spend little time on Twitter,” replied Hannity, who has penned nearly 32,000 tweets over seven years. “But I have fun mixing it up.”
32,000 tweets / 7 years = 4571.42857... tweets per year, or around 12.5 per day. Sure, you're not a power tweeter or a teenager, but you're not not on Twitter, you twat.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
On my commutes, I switch between the local NPR station and the local talk/call-in station. Y'know, for fun. Tuned in just at the start of NPR's "Why hasn't HRC held a press conference? Huh? Just asking" article. In disgust, I switched over, and of course the discussion was centering on Trump, and the yuuuuuge numbers of people who came out in FL on Wednesday. And they took a call from a woman who was talking about Trump's campaign being a "silent revolution," right in line with this morning's memo being made public. Fucking weird. Since when does massively public display of racism/misogyny/contempt, etc qualify as "silent?" But I get it-- get the message out to those who don't normally vote that it's not just OK, this is your chance to make a difference in making sure that it'll be OK (encouraged?) to recite the 14 words in public.
Then I swtiched back to the headlines on NPR, and actually laughed out loud when they dropped the David Duke/Trump story to come.
In other news, I saw my first official Hillary sticker on a car. I can't believe I'm starting to see people talk, in all seriousness, about Texas being a stretch goal. To (actually, for once) quote Joe Biden: C'MAAAAAN!
posted by rp at 8:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Then I swtiched back to the headlines on NPR, and actually laughed out loud when they dropped the David Duke/Trump story to come.
In other news, I saw my first official Hillary sticker on a car. I can't believe I'm starting to see people talk, in all seriousness, about Texas being a stretch goal. To (actually, for once) quote Joe Biden: C'MAAAAAN!
posted by rp at 8:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I thought the "five guys named Steve" thing was a joke. Silly me
It is now.
It's unfortunate for the Five Guys brand that I can't see their logo used in a meme without being reminded of really gross things.
posted by sparklemotion at 8:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
It is now.
It's unfortunate for the Five Guys brand that I can't see their logo used in a meme without being reminded of really gross things.
posted by sparklemotion at 8:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
I'd like to second Frowner and also to say that I've worked several of those jobs*, both the forgotten modern service sort and the more industrial sort. My communities didn't much resemble the people that get talked about as working class, either here or in the general discourse**. There's a lot of differentiation by job, region, etc., but it's a huge section of society that isn't done particularly well here.
*for long enough, and with enough expectation that that would be the case permanently, that it shaped my enduring class identity.
**or frankly, anywhere outside people working / having in the last 10-15 years worked those kid of jobs.
posted by The Gaffer at 8:50 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
*for long enough, and with enough expectation that that would be the case permanently, that it shaped my enduring class identity.
**or frankly, anywhere outside people working / having in the last 10-15 years worked those kid of jobs.
posted by The Gaffer at 8:50 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also I think you can just sign up and use the call tool online. Not as satisfying maybe as canvassing in Texas (!!!) but something.
Maybe I don't get how this works, but I do find it a little weird that this tool is just...out there?
If these are supposedly persuadable voters, rather than known dems being reminded to GOTV, what's to stop Trump people from using the same tool? "We're calling you to let you know you've been personally targeted by Hillary's sinister puppetmasters! Stein/Johnson/Nuts wouldn't do that to you."
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Maybe I don't get how this works, but I do find it a little weird that this tool is just...out there?
If these are supposedly persuadable voters, rather than known dems being reminded to GOTV, what's to stop Trump people from using the same tool? "We're calling you to let you know you've been personally targeted by Hillary's sinister puppetmasters! Stein/Johnson/Nuts wouldn't do that to you."
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
> I very much enjoyed this Vox article that covered this ground.
This article is interesting, but I think it's giving Republican leaders much too much credit. It seems to mostly accept Roy's argument that party insiders should be let off the hook for racism among Republicans because somehow they were unaware that it existed:
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 8:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
This article is interesting, but I think it's giving Republican leaders much too much credit. It seems to mostly accept Roy's argument that party insiders should be let off the hook for racism among Republicans because somehow they were unaware that it existed:
Conservative intellectuals, for the most part, are horrified by racism. When they talk about believing in individual rights and equality, they really mean it. Because the Republican Party is the vehicle through which their ideas can be implemented, they need to believe that the party isn’t racist.I just don't buy this. The Republican party has spent an awfully long time championing racist policies disguised as free-market libertarianism and states' rights. I'm reluctant to give anybody a pass for that on the grounds that they were really unsullied idealists all along, blissfully unaware of the direction their party was taking.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 8:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
Conservative intellectuals, for the most part, are horrified by racism. When they talk about believing in individual rights and equality, they really mean it.
Pure horseshit.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
Pure horseshit.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
Artw, "margin for terror" is a lovely formulation. I hadn't seen that before.
And - wow - a search for that phrase brings up this WaPo article from 1984 on the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II along with death metal and Tony Perkins. It's been around I guess.
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:58 AM on August 5, 2016
And - wow - a search for that phrase brings up this WaPo article from 1984 on the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II along with death metal and Tony Perkins. It's been around I guess.
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:58 AM on August 5, 2016
Can you tell who said it? Trump of Jesus?
posted by drezdn at 8:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 8:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
I just don't buy this. The Republican party has spent an awfully long time championing racist policies disguised as free-market libertarianism and states' rights. I'm reluctant to give anybody a pass for that on the grounds that they were really unsullied idealists all along, blissfully unaware of the direction their party was taking.
Yep. Everything Lee Atwater said should let the world know that this whole we didn't think that it wuz racist honest is complete malarkey. Conservative elites who purport not to be racist were at least complicit in the support given by white supremacists.
posted by Talez at 8:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Yep. Everything Lee Atwater said should let the world know that this whole we didn't think that it wuz racist honest is complete malarkey. Conservative elites who purport not to be racist were at least complicit in the support given by white supremacists.
posted by Talez at 8:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
That Vox article also fails to mention the Koch brothers, who seem to be the institutional organization behind the conservative movement(s). They and other big-money donors and organizers aren't going away, so the GOP won't die. Not until the minds of the conservative voters change. Trump is tarnishing the national party, but I think that state and local politicicans can distance themselves from the D.C. Bigwigs pretty easily.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:59 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by filthy light thief at 8:59 AM on August 5, 2016
snuffleupagus, this at least is often true of the young ones or those who don't read widely. There are such things as well-meaning conservatives, they're just not in charge. This election is making the scales fall from some of their eyes.
posted by Countess Elena at 8:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 8:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
There are such things as well-meaning conservatives, they're just not in charge.
Not only are they not in charge, they are by no means a slient majority (as it were) of Conservative thinkers. That's the horseshit part ("for the most part").
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:02 AM on August 5, 2016
Not only are they not in charge, they are by no means a slient majority (as it were) of Conservative thinkers. That's the horseshit part ("for the most part").
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:02 AM on August 5, 2016
snuffleupagus, this at least is often true of the young ones or those who don't read widely. There are such things as well-meaning conservatives, they're just not in charge. This election is making the scales fall from some of their eyes.
I definitely saw this happen to my 23 year old nephew.
posted by maggiemaggie at 9:02 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
I definitely saw this happen to my 23 year old nephew.
posted by maggiemaggie at 9:02 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Can you tell who said it? Trump of Jesus?
If you get 0%, it will actually ask you not to vote.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:04 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
If you get 0%, it will actually ask you not to vote.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:04 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Pure horseshit.
I disagree. My family includes many principled conservatives that legitimately hate racism as they see it. They explicitly deny that race-differential outcomes constitute racism, as long as the law does not explicitly favor one race over another. The way to convince them is, I think, more likely in challenging that previous sentence than in saying "actually, you're a secret racist".
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
I disagree. My family includes many principled conservatives that legitimately hate racism as they see it. They explicitly deny that race-differential outcomes constitute racism, as long as the law does not explicitly favor one race over another. The way to convince them is, I think, more likely in challenging that previous sentence than in saying "actually, you're a secret racist".
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
This election is making the scales fall from some of their eyes.
The jury is very much still out on that. None of the so called #neverTrump people have distanced themselves at all from his policies, such as they can be defined. To the extent there is Trump dissent (he's still capturing 38%+, that's hardly a repudiation) it's against his clearly unfit for power temperament.
Trump's policy ideas are indisguishable from Ted Cruz, or Jeb Bush, or Rick Perry, or Chris Christie, or John McCain, or Paul Ryan, or John Kasich, or Scott Walker, or Rick Snyder, or Sam Brownback, or or or or or or
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
The jury is very much still out on that. None of the so called #neverTrump people have distanced themselves at all from his policies, such as they can be defined. To the extent there is Trump dissent (he's still capturing 38%+, that's hardly a repudiation) it's against his clearly unfit for power temperament.
Trump's policy ideas are indisguishable from Ted Cruz, or Jeb Bush, or Rick Perry, or Chris Christie, or John McCain, or Paul Ryan, or John Kasich, or Scott Walker, or Rick Snyder, or Sam Brownback, or or or or or or
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
My experience with older (and in one case, non-American) intellectual fiscal conservatives is that in their understanding, they are not racist and don't condone racism. But their understanding racism and systematic oppression is extremely shallow and it's only started to occur to them recently that the economic policies they espouse just happen to also be super attractive to honest-to-gosh drooling racists. (I wonder why that is!) It's going to take some real work that most of them probably are not willing to do to put those two things together and realize that racism is more than just calling people the n-word and segregating drinking fountains.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [63 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [63 favorites]
Or, what soren_lorensen just said.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:07 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:07 AM on August 5, 2016
I'm struggling to catch up but I got to the David Brooks thing and saw this and NO NO NO NO
"...compare Donald Trump’s speaking patterns to a Robin Williams monologue, but with insults instead of jokes."
David Brooks, you swine, don't you dare say that about Robin Williams! Don't you say ANYTHING about Robin Williams! You keep Robin Williams's name out of your whore mouth! Robin Williams's flights always made perfect, beautiful, hilarious sense. ROBIN WILLIAMS SPOKE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES, you terrible man. Everything else in that column, fine, but you had to slip that in there, you always have to say something enraging every damn time, David Brooks, and this is possibly the worst thing you've ever said or done.
Such an act
That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,
Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose
From the fair forehead of an innocent love
And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows
As false as dicers' oaths—oh, such a deed
As from the body of contraction plucks
The very soul, and sweet religion makes
A rhapsody of words. Heaven’s face doth glow
O'er this solidity and compound mass
With tristful visage, as against the doom,
Is thought-sick at the act.
posted by Don Pepino at 9:10 AM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
"...compare Donald Trump’s speaking patterns to a Robin Williams monologue, but with insults instead of jokes."
David Brooks, you swine, don't you dare say that about Robin Williams! Don't you say ANYTHING about Robin Williams! You keep Robin Williams's name out of your whore mouth! Robin Williams's flights always made perfect, beautiful, hilarious sense. ROBIN WILLIAMS SPOKE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES, you terrible man. Everything else in that column, fine, but you had to slip that in there, you always have to say something enraging every damn time, David Brooks, and this is possibly the worst thing you've ever said or done.
Such an act
That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,
Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose
From the fair forehead of an innocent love
And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows
As false as dicers' oaths—oh, such a deed
As from the body of contraction plucks
The very soul, and sweet religion makes
A rhapsody of words. Heaven’s face doth glow
O'er this solidity and compound mass
With tristful visage, as against the doom,
Is thought-sick at the act.
posted by Don Pepino at 9:10 AM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
Pure horseshit.
I disagree. My family includes many principled conservatives that legitimately hate racism as they see it.
Wait -- are we talking about "Conservative intellectuals," as in policy analysts, prominent thinkers, leading commentators, think tank scholars, etc, or "conservative intellectuals," as in educated and thoughtful Republican voters?
I'm talking about the former. (Which seemed to be what the article was talking about too?)
fiscal conservative
This is basically circular--it disowns the cultural aspects of "conservatism" by definition.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I disagree. My family includes many principled conservatives that legitimately hate racism as they see it.
Wait -- are we talking about "Conservative intellectuals," as in policy analysts, prominent thinkers, leading commentators, think tank scholars, etc, or "conservative intellectuals," as in educated and thoughtful Republican voters?
I'm talking about the former. (Which seemed to be what the article was talking about too?)
fiscal conservative
This is basically circular--it disowns the cultural aspects of "conservatism" by definition.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Honestly my family is just sheltered as shit. I've done some work on my mom over the years--she grew up amdist the post-war Southern California suburban dream and while she's known personal heartbreak, systematic racial oppression was not something she ever had to contend with, nor anyone she ever knew, and she really can't conceive of the degree to which it exists every day all day for people of color. A lot of the time, it just doesn't occur to her that people have different experiences than she's had. I've had to really patiently walk her through the steps that lead to young black kids in impoverished neighborhoods not getting good educations for reasons other than "they're lazy." It never occurred to her that parents aren't around because they ware working three jobs, or incarcerated for a minor, nonviolent offence. It never occurred to her that parents who lack a good education themselves may not know how to access a better education for their kids or even if they know may not be able to make it happen for lack of time, reliable transportation, or money. It never occurred to her that growing up in extreme poverty is traumatizing and that trauma leads to organic changes in the brain that make learning more difficult. It never occurred to her that when she sees one person of color from an underprivileged background who has been successful, that's because they have beaten extraordinary odds and that expecting every single child born in similar circumstances to be extraordinary in order to access the things I have gotten in life by being merely okay is not at all fair or just. She just... never thought about that stuff, because she never had to. She'd stink-eye the hell out of anyone using racial slurs or refusing to serve people of color, but that's pretty much where the word "racism" ends with her.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:18 AM on August 5, 2016 [77 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:18 AM on August 5, 2016 [77 favorites]
But someone pointed out that Obama was scheduled to be at the Correspondents' Association dinner [the night of the bin Laden raid] and his absence...could tip off the journalist-filled room that something was up.posted by kirkaracha at 9:19 AM on August 5, 2016 [48 favorites]
At which point, Hillary Clinton looked up and said simply, "Fuck the White House Correspondents' dinner."
How about this: whoever Trump does represent, fuck those people.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:04 AM on August 5
[5 favorites −] Favorite added!
People with an authoritarian bent who are afraid of losing privilege, mostly racist whitepeople, mostly men.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:04 AM on August 5
[5 favorites −] Favorite added!
People with an authoritarian bent who are afraid of losing privilege, mostly racist whitepeople, mostly men.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm not going to be surprised if it is revealed that either Paul Manefort (campaign manager) and/or Melania are revealed to be be FSB before this is all over. Either by investigating the Manefort's ties to Ukraine's strongman or Melania's totally fabricated biography.
posted by humanfont at 9:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 9:21 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
My husband's family are military and Big Republicans. Example; grandfather passed away, and they flew the flag at half mast over the capitol, then gave the family the flag framed with a certificate signed by the governor. My family were radical leftists, who marched with Reverend King, and got called race traitors by the people like those who run the GOP.
This Christmas...the dreadening has begun.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:22 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
This Christmas...the dreadening has begun.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:22 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Biden with some lead-by-example advice for bosses everywhere.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:23 AM on August 5, 2016 [58 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:23 AM on August 5, 2016 [58 favorites]
Biden with some lead-by-example advice for bosses everywhere.
Wait, is that image on the actual letterhead?
I WANT TO BELIEVE
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
It seems pretty obvious to me that, yeah, there are plenty of conservatives who are not consciously racist, who truly believe that conservative economic policy is compatible with (and even supportive of) racial equality, and who condemn burning-cross-style racism along with the rest of us – but who simply don't have much understanding at all of institutional racism. In fact, I know more of this type of conservative. Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by ignorance.
We could make so much more progress with these folks if we'd allow ourselves to believe that some of them are just honestly confused, not closet Klansmen.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [24 favorites]
We could make so much more progress with these folks if we'd allow ourselves to believe that some of them are just honestly confused, not closet Klansmen.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [24 favorites]
Well we all know that the real FSB mole is Meredith
posted by MysticMCJ at 9:31 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by MysticMCJ at 9:31 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
We could make so much more progress with these folks if we'd allow ourselves to believe that some of them are just honestly confused, not closet Klansmen.
Again, the Vox article was talking about 'conservative intellectuals,' not conservative voters with an intellectual bent.
That said, you're apparently not watching the same Trump rally and Trump supporter videos I am.
It's reassuring to hear that mefites have anti-racist conservatives in their families. But, if they were the majority of today's GOP base Trump wouldn't be the nominee. Hell, the primary slate wouldn't have been such a shitshow either.
It's just not true that today's 'average conservative voter' is a civic-minded budget-focused egalitarian with a blind spot for structural inequality.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Again, the Vox article was talking about 'conservative intellectuals,' not conservative voters with an intellectual bent.
That said, you're apparently not watching the same Trump rally and Trump supporter videos I am.
It's reassuring to hear that mefites have anti-racist conservatives in their families. But, if they were the majority of today's GOP base Trump wouldn't be the nominee. Hell, the primary slate wouldn't have been such a shitshow either.
It's just not true that today's 'average conservative voter' is a civic-minded budget-focused egalitarian with a blind spot for structural inequality.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Good thing that isn't the argument I was making, then.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:35 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:35 AM on August 5, 2016
Wait -- are we talking about "Conservative intellectuals," as in policy analysts, prominent thinkers, leading commentators, think tank scholars, etc, or "conservative intellectuals," as in educated and thoughtful Republican voters?
Oops, I'm sorry about losing this bit of conversational context. My bad. I happen to think that policy analysts etc. could still be of very much the same bent as e.g. my conservative family members, but I have no way of knowing or checking that in any case.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:37 AM on August 5, 2016
Oops, I'm sorry about losing this bit of conversational context. My bad. I happen to think that policy analysts etc. could still be of very much the same bent as e.g. my conservative family members, but I have no way of knowing or checking that in any case.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:37 AM on August 5, 2016
Good thing that isn't the argument I was making, then.
Well, I guess I'm missing your point then (ignoring that I was talking about something entirely different) as racism can just as easily spring from ignorance as malice. Being ignorant instead of an actual cross-burning vigilante does not mean you're not racist.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:39 AM on August 5, 2016
Well, I guess I'm missing your point then (ignoring that I was talking about something entirely different) as racism can just as easily spring from ignorance as malice. Being ignorant instead of an actual cross-burning vigilante does not mean you're not racist.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:39 AM on August 5, 2016
It's reassuring to hear that mefites have anti-racist conservatives in their families. But, if they were the majority of today's GOP base Trump wouldn't be the nominee. Hell, the primary slate wouldn't have been such a shitshow either.
The majority of voters don't vote in the primaries (as Trump is finding out.)
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
The majority of voters don't vote in the primaries (as Trump is finding out.)
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
The incredibly frustrating and appalling thing about Republicans turning against Trump is that they're doing it now. Yes, we've seen a long list of Republican foreign policy experts come out against him over the last few months (for which I'm grateful), but aside from that? These guys who are coming out against him now?
The blatant racism and misogyny weren't enough. His advocacy of torture and war crimes wasn't enough. His stunning ignorance wasn't enough. The "Dear Russia, please hack my opponent" wasn't a show-stopper for them.
No, it's only this mess in the last week where he threatened the Republicans' (wholly unjustified, but whatever) longstanding image as being the party for veterans and the military and the following week of rapid-fire embarrassments was too much.
It's frustrating as hell, because the smart play is to voice appreciation for that rather than shun it and call it out for the too little, too late hand-wringing that it is. Because it shouldn't fucking matter what your party affiliation is. Trump should've been an unacceptable candidate from the very start.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:41 AM on August 5, 2016 [38 favorites]
The blatant racism and misogyny weren't enough. His advocacy of torture and war crimes wasn't enough. His stunning ignorance wasn't enough. The "Dear Russia, please hack my opponent" wasn't a show-stopper for them.
No, it's only this mess in the last week where he threatened the Republicans' (wholly unjustified, but whatever) longstanding image as being the party for veterans and the military and the following week of rapid-fire embarrassments was too much.
It's frustrating as hell, because the smart play is to voice appreciation for that rather than shun it and call it out for the too little, too late hand-wringing that it is. Because it shouldn't fucking matter what your party affiliation is. Trump should've been an unacceptable candidate from the very start.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:41 AM on August 5, 2016 [38 favorites]
Hillary Clinton Remarks in Washington, D.C.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
One thing about the low-education white vote: a lot of people are aspiring away from that and would rather not see themselves in the same vote as their kind of tacky, obnoxious relatives at the Thanksgiving table. Identification cuts many ways.
posted by argybarg at 9:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 9:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Will Reince resign or be fired after November? Will the party consider a super delegate system like the Democrats have?
posted by zakur at 9:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by zakur at 9:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's frustrating as hell, because the smart play is to voice appreciation for that rather than shun it and call it out for the too little, too late hand-wringing that it is. Because it shouldn't fucking matter what your party affiliation is. Trump should've been an unacceptable candidate from the very start.
If he was likely to win he'd still be an acceptable candidate to all these 'leaders' who are having sudden attacks of conscience. That's the point.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
If he was likely to win he'd still be an acceptable candidate to all these 'leaders' who are having sudden attacks of conscience. That's the point.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
Clinton's speaking to journalists at right now at NABJ/NAHJ (National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists) joint convention . (CTV stream; NBC stream).
posted by maudlin at 9:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by maudlin at 9:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Will Reince resign or be fired after November? Will the party consider a super delegate system like the Democrats have?
There are RNC superdelegates. They're bound to the party's primary results not free to vote for whoever.
posted by Talez at 9:47 AM on August 5, 2016
There are RNC superdelegates. They're bound to the party's primary results not free to vote for whoever.
posted by Talez at 9:47 AM on August 5, 2016
If he was likely to win he'd still be an acceptable candidate to all these 'leaders' who are having sudden attacks of conscience.
Yup, and every day they wait, the more craven they will appear when they develop this "conscience." It's beautiful.
posted by diogenes at 9:48 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yup, and every day they wait, the more craven they will appear when they develop this "conscience." It's beautiful.
posted by diogenes at 9:48 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Because it shouldn't fucking matter what your party affiliation is. Trump should've been an unacceptable candidate from the very start.
I'd be happy to see those ads now, and in every election season in the future: they put party before country and supported Donald Trump. Why should you trust them now?
posted by schadenfrau at 9:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I'd be happy to see those ads now, and in every election season in the future: they put party before country and supported Donald Trump. Why should you trust them now?
posted by schadenfrau at 9:49 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Speaking of Klansmen: David Duke rates higher than Donald Trump with black voters
posted by zombieflanders at 9:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 9:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
There are RNC superdelegates. They're bound to the party's primary results not free to vote for whoever.
Which is why I stated "like the Democrats have," i.e. automatically seated AND unpledged.
posted by zakur at 9:57 AM on August 5, 2016
Which is why I stated "like the Democrats have," i.e. automatically seated AND unpledged.
posted by zakur at 9:57 AM on August 5, 2016
I want to point out since Eisenhower has been mentioned a couple times in these threads, that according to his memoir, At Ease, Stories I Tell to Friends, which I read I long, long time ago, when he was approached to run for president, he was being courted by both Republicans and Democrats and he took some time to decide which party to join.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
I found the Vox article interesting because it shows a kind of mental gymnastics I've seen in a lot of conservative acquaintances brought about by the mask completely coming off the party - this thing where they have to kind of make excuses to ignore their own culpability in order to face some hardcore denial and start challenging some long-held assumptions. It's frustrating to see in the sense that those excuses don't really excuse anything, but it's hopeful too, as it's a sign of a crack in the armor and gives them cover for more self-reflection and any change that might follow. I'd rather have hypocrites walking away from the mess they made than have them continue to keep it going.
But on that article, to be honest idk what "conservative intellectual" even MEANS anymore when people regularly paint Paul goddamn Ryan with that brush. I mean the guy in the article is actually lamenting Rubio's loss, as if Rubio was substantially different from Trump on a policy level, as if Rubio's policies wouldn't hurt people too... that doesn't scream "intellectual" to me. But the thought process that guy's going through is a real thing I've been seeing among rank-and-file voters, it seems like Trump's forcing a lot of low-info centrists who vote with their gut and identify as Republican out of habit or social pressure or naively buying into conservative media lies to actually really think about their politics for maybe the first time ever.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
But on that article, to be honest idk what "conservative intellectual" even MEANS anymore when people regularly paint Paul goddamn Ryan with that brush. I mean the guy in the article is actually lamenting Rubio's loss, as if Rubio was substantially different from Trump on a policy level, as if Rubio's policies wouldn't hurt people too... that doesn't scream "intellectual" to me. But the thought process that guy's going through is a real thing I've been seeing among rank-and-file voters, it seems like Trump's forcing a lot of low-info centrists who vote with their gut and identify as Republican out of habit or social pressure or naively buying into conservative media lies to actually really think about their politics for maybe the first time ever.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I want to point out since Eisenhower has been mentioned a couple times in these threads, that according to his memoir, At Ease, Stories I Tell to Friends, which I read I long, long time ago, when he was approached to run for president, he was being courted by both Republicans and Democrats and he took some time to decide which party to join.
And the reason he chose the Republicans was that he felt that Senator Robert Taft (R-Ohio) was too isolationist (Taft was even against NATO), and he wanted to knock him out of the race entirely rather than run against him in the general.
posted by Etrigan at 10:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
And the reason he chose the Republicans was that he felt that Senator Robert Taft (R-Ohio) was too isolationist (Taft was even against NATO), and he wanted to knock him out of the race entirely rather than run against him in the general.
posted by Etrigan at 10:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
If Trump wins do we have to call him Daddy?
posted by guiseroom at 10:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 10:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
There's an assumption among a certain type of conservative, that conservative automatically equals intelligence. It's how somebody like Sean Hannity can fool himself into thinking he's a reasonable thoughtful man. Or how Ann Coulter can think she's always the smartest person in the room. It's a delusion. But they think liberalism is dumb and naive so they're obviously superior.
posted by wabbittwax at 10:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 10:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
ew.
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:07 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:07 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
to be honest idk what "conservative intellectual" even MEANS anymore when people regularly paint Paul goddamn Ryan with that brush.
I keep bumping against that too. I'll be reading one of these articles denouncing Trump, and I'll be thinking that maybe we share some common ground, and then they'll praise Ryan or Rubio as the paragon of their party's ideals...
posted by diogenes at 10:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
I keep bumping against that too. I'll be reading one of these articles denouncing Trump, and I'll be thinking that maybe we share some common ground, and then they'll praise Ryan or Rubio as the paragon of their party's ideals...
posted by diogenes at 10:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Or how Ann Coulter can think she's always the smartest person in the room. It's a delusion.
Considering how many people can't stand to be in the same room as her, this is often true.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:11 AM on August 5, 2016 [50 favorites]
Considering how many people can't stand to be in the same room as her, this is often true.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:11 AM on August 5, 2016 [50 favorites]
New Clinton ad: a bunch of Republicans say Trump is unfit to handle nuclear codes.
posted by maudlin at 10:12 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 10:12 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Guys guys I got 100% on Trump or Jesus!!!!1!!
posted by hilaryjade at 10:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by hilaryjade at 10:13 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
I feel like the bare minimum for being considered a policy intellectual would be actually promoting evidence-based policy but then I guess the GOP wouldn't get to have intellectuals so the term's a little looser there.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:16 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 10:16 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
New Clinton ad: a bunch of Republicans say Trump is unfit to handle nuclear codes.
Lately, I keep being struck by the memory of George W. Bush not being able to pronounce the word nuclear.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:18 AM on August 5, 2016
Lately, I keep being struck by the memory of George W. Bush not being able to pronounce the word nuclear.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:18 AM on August 5, 2016
I really do hope Trump drops out, even if that means a Republican wins.* My dislike for him goes far deeper than my politics.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by roll truck roll at 10:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
drezdn, to be fair, Putin's always wanted one and this was much easier.
posted by ckape at 10:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by ckape at 10:20 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
for all the legit things to complain about re: Dubya's presidency, treating a commonly attested regional variation on the pronunciation of "nuclear" as a sign of intellectual deficit isn't one of 'em
posted by cortex at 10:22 AM on August 5, 2016 [51 favorites]
posted by cortex at 10:22 AM on August 5, 2016 [51 favorites]
If Trump wins do we have to call him Daddy?
If Trump wins, you GET to call him Daddy.
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:22 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
If Trump wins, you GET to call him Daddy.
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:22 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
treating a commonly attested regional variation on the pronunciation of "nuclear" as a sign of intellectual deficit isn't one of 'em
Indeed, and it's the contrast between that brouhaha and Trump having members of his own party saying he shouldn't have access to nuclear weapons that makes the Noughts seem very far away at times.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Indeed, and it's the contrast between that brouhaha and Trump having members of his own party saying he shouldn't have access to nuclear weapons that makes the Noughts seem very far away at times.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Why does Trump assume he's the smartest in the room?
Soon that attitude may be his doom...
posted by CottonCandyCapers at 10:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
Soon that attitude may be his doom...
posted by CottonCandyCapers at 10:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
Donald J. Trump all but erased his enormous fund-raising deficit against Hillary Clinton in the span of just two months, according to figures released by his campaign on Tuesday, converting the passion of his core followers into a flood of small donations on a scale rarely seen in national politics.
At least one of those small donors, experiencing the political equivalent of buyer's remorse, got a nasty shock when they had second thoughts:
"Help, I set up a recurring contribution to Trump's campaign & want to cancel it"
Would it surprise anyone familiar with Trump's business practices that there is of course no way to cancel this?
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
At least one of those small donors, experiencing the political equivalent of buyer's remorse, got a nasty shock when they had second thoughts:
"Help, I set up a recurring contribution to Trump's campaign & want to cancel it"
Would it surprise anyone familiar with Trump's business practices that there is of course no way to cancel this?
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
You know, about this "low-information" thing...
In many cases, the voters in question are not actually uninformed. To the contrary, they are engaged and invested, and are often enthusiastic consumers of political commentary.
The problem is, the information they receive is bugshit insane. It describes some imaginary parallel reality, rather than the actual reality that we live in. They are misinformed, not uninformed.
Due to a confluence of factors – Fox News, the tendency for conspiracism and echo chambers to flourish online, the whole "liberal media" meme – American conservatism has retreated almost entirely into a media universe of its own making. Not only do they have their own facts, but they have their own (completely alien) criteria for determining what constitutes a fact. The gap between the American left and right has grown beyond mere policy disagreement, beyond mere differences in interpretation or strategy – it's epistemological at this point. We are operating under incompatible sets of principles for knowing and understanding reality.
It's impossible to communicate or reason with someone if you lack common referents, or can't agree on fundamental principles. Yet that's exactly where we seem to be.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 10:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [48 favorites]
In many cases, the voters in question are not actually uninformed. To the contrary, they are engaged and invested, and are often enthusiastic consumers of political commentary.
The problem is, the information they receive is bugshit insane. It describes some imaginary parallel reality, rather than the actual reality that we live in. They are misinformed, not uninformed.
Due to a confluence of factors – Fox News, the tendency for conspiracism and echo chambers to flourish online, the whole "liberal media" meme – American conservatism has retreated almost entirely into a media universe of its own making. Not only do they have their own facts, but they have their own (completely alien) criteria for determining what constitutes a fact. The gap between the American left and right has grown beyond mere policy disagreement, beyond mere differences in interpretation or strategy – it's epistemological at this point. We are operating under incompatible sets of principles for knowing and understanding reality.
It's impossible to communicate or reason with someone if you lack common referents, or can't agree on fundamental principles. Yet that's exactly where we seem to be.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 10:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [48 favorites]
Scam Alert: Donald Trump’s Website Won’t Let You Cancel Recurring Donations: "You can’t even delete your credit card information (you can update it, but it has to be with a different valid card number)."
posted by kirkaracha at 10:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 10:27 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
"Help, I set up a recurring contribution to Trump's campaign & want to cancel it"
Cancel your credit card. Go into hiding. Forge a new identity. Live off the land.
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:30 AM on August 5, 2016 [84 favorites]
Cancel your credit card. Go into hiding. Forge a new identity. Live off the land.
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:30 AM on August 5, 2016 [84 favorites]
"Scam Alert: Donald Trump’s Website Won’t Let You Cancel Recurring Donations: "You can’t even delete your credit card information (you can update it, but it has to be with a different valid card number).""I've been wondering when this article would come out ever since my father proudly told me on skype that when he accidentally gave the Hillary campaign more than he intended to, they immediately got back to him with professional friendly service and the overpaid portion of his money. Of course the Trump campaign would shortsightedly fuck this up, fucking up shit like this is Trump's shtick.
posted by Blasdelb at 10:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Scam Alert: Donald Trump’s Website Won’t Let You Cancel Recurring Donations: "You can’t even delete your credit card information (you can update it, but it has to be with a different valid card number)."
posted by kirkaracha at 10:27 AM on 8/5
[1 favorite +] [!]
That...cannot not legal.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 10:27 AM on 8/5
[1 favorite +] [!]
That...cannot not legal.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
TRUMP: Mexicans are rapists.
RYAN:
TRUMP: No more Muslims.
RYAN:
TRUMP: Sexual harassment's OK.
RYAN:
TRUMP: Ayn Rand sucks
RYAN: YOU SONUVA
posted by Roommate at 10:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
RYAN:
TRUMP: No more Muslims.
RYAN:
TRUMP: Sexual harassment's OK.
RYAN:
TRUMP: Ayn Rand sucks
RYAN: YOU SONUVA
posted by Roommate at 10:34 AM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
Of course the Trump campaign would shortsightedly fuck this up, fucking up shit like this is Trump's shtick.
This isn't a fuckup. They did it on purpose. I'll only be surprised if they were smart enough not to leave an email trail.
posted by Etrigan at 10:35 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
This isn't a fuckup. They did it on purpose. I'll only be surprised if they were smart enough not to leave an email trail.
posted by Etrigan at 10:35 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
New Clinton ad: a bunch of Republicans say Trump is unfit to handle nuclear codes.
Speaking of which: the WaPo noticed that McCain was asked that question yesterday:
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 10:35 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Speaking of which: the WaPo noticed that McCain was asked that question yesterday:
QUESTION: Are you comfortable with Donald Trump possibly having control of the nuclear arsenal?...followed by a mealy-mouthed it's-up-to-the-people-to-decided evasion.
McCAIN: [Silence, followed by unintelligible stammering.]
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 10:35 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump being rumoured to endorse Ryan tonight... this plus a panel of economic advisers, is he actually having his head held in the toilet and being flushed until he cries uncle?
posted by Devonian at 10:37 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 10:37 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump being rumoured to endorse Ryan tonight.
Is that a reward for good behaviour or is one of Trump's handlers attempting to sabotage Ryan?
posted by Francis at 10:39 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Is that a reward for good behaviour or is one of Trump's handlers attempting to sabotage Ryan?
posted by Francis at 10:39 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Can you trust a man who can't be trusted with twitter, to have the nuclear codes?
posted by drezdn at 10:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 10:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Ryan and Walker are somehow too busy to attend Trump's rally in Wisconsin tonight. "Insiders to Trump: Drop Out" is trending on Twitter.
Trump will be the R nominee to the end in November, but what the Rs know now is that he is a mortal threat down ballot. Which means the golden opportunity he has been presenting to the Ds this year is now burnished and lustrous.
posted by bearwife at 10:41 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Trump will be the R nominee to the end in November, but what the Rs know now is that he is a mortal threat down ballot. Which means the golden opportunity he has been presenting to the Ds this year is now burnished and lustrous.
posted by bearwife at 10:41 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
I got a buck that says his "endorsement" will be the most backhanded such thing imaginable and consist mostly of talking about how awesome Trump is.
posted by Etrigan at 10:41 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 10:41 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
Trump's economic policy team: no women, five guys named Steve, and not a single economist.
Trump: MEREDITH! I want to announce an economic team. Get me John Paulson, Harold Hamm, ..., and Steve.
Meredith: Right away Mr. Trump
Trump: MEREDITH! You incompetent fool! [insert workplace harassment here] You got the wrong Steve. Fine. We'll just have both. Offer it to Steve.
Meredith: Right away Mr. Trump
Trump: MEREDITH!
[repeat until five Steves have been appointed]
posted by zachlipton at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2016 [47 favorites]
Trump: MEREDITH! I want to announce an economic team. Get me John Paulson, Harold Hamm, ..., and Steve.
Meredith: Right away Mr. Trump
Trump: MEREDITH! You incompetent fool! [insert workplace harassment here] You got the wrong Steve. Fine. We'll just have both. Offer it to Steve.
Meredith: Right away Mr. Trump
Trump: MEREDITH!
[repeat until five Steves have been appointed]
posted by zachlipton at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2016 [47 favorites]
The economic advisors are utter garbage amateurs with nut so ideas, so I would assume more Trump than GOP? But it's hard to say, the GOP being just as in love with that kind of shit as he is and him probably not caring too much about the details.
posted by Artw at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
There was (is?) some company that sold penis enlargement pills. They sold their product (which is total hokum, of course) on a monthly subscription basis – but they made it nearly impossible for customers to unsubscribe. The thinking (which worked out beautifully for a while) was that people would be too embarrassed to complain to credit companies or take legal action.
I am not the least bit surprised that Trump has taken a page from the playbook of the penis-enlargement industry.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 10:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
I am not the least bit surprised that Trump has taken a page from the playbook of the penis-enlargement industry.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 10:46 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
The incredibly frustrating and appalling thing about Republicans turning against Trump is that they're doing it now. Yes, we've seen a long list of Republican foreign policy experts come out against him over the last few months (for which I'm grateful), but aside from that? These guys who are coming out against him now?
Yeah, this is the most dangerous and horrifying thing about this new era we are now in: not Trump himself, but the signal flare his campaign represents that not only can a fascist candidate garner overwhelming public support in 21st-century America, but that one of the two political-party-baskets we have put all our eggs in is unwilling-to-slash-incapable-of resisting that open fascism. And now everyone knows this, even the Republicans who had deluded themselves into thinking their party would never go beyond wink-wink, nudge-nudge flirtation with fascism as a branding exercise.
The aspect of it which seems to me most likely to alter history is that, if it wasn't a common idea before, conservatives now know that when the effects of climate change become completely undeniable, there's an alternative to humbly (or even not-so-humbly) joining the efforts that have been going on for decades to moderate those effects. Instead, they can just solve the problem by turning to fascism—make the U.S. into a place like China where a muscular state simply forces compliance with the environmental measures it deems most necessary—and can turn the brand-catastrophe of admitting they were wrong all along into an opportunity to get everything else they ever wanted too.
These limp noodles half-heartedly speaking out against Trump, only just now, aren't going to be able to resist the siren call of fascism as a solution to their problems, now that there's hard data on how powerful a tool it is, just lying there unused. Trump's insight was to see this, but he was unable to wield it. The broader conservative movement will embrace it wholeheartedly, probably while re-enacting the exact same doublethink that they can control it like they convinced themselves they could control Trump.
posted by XMLicious at 10:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
You Know It's Bad When Maine Gov. Paul LePage Is Telling Trump To Cool It
posted by zachlipton at 10:50 AM on August 5, 2016 [22 favorites]
"I told him one word: discipline,” LePage said on the Howie Carr Show, according to a clip highlighted by Buzzfeed News. “He said, ‘what do you mean?’ I said, ‘From here on out, everybody’s gonna wanna try to trip you so you gotta have discipline. He said, ‘oh, I get it. I get it.’”LePage, who says outrageous things all the time, is telling Trump to show some discipline and Trump literally doesn't understand the concept.
posted by zachlipton at 10:50 AM on August 5, 2016 [22 favorites]
You guys, I just bought tickets to see Seu Jorge, but the concert isn't until late November. Do you think America will still be here by then?
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
what is this "discipline" you speak of
posted by EarBucket at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by EarBucket at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump's policy ideas are indisguishable from Ted Cruz, or Jeb Bush, or Rick Perry, or Chris Christie, or John McCain, or Paul Ryan, or John Kasich, or Scott Walker, or Rick Snyder, or Sam Brownback, or or or or or or
That's really not true, and the fact that it's not true is part of what's worrying and dangerous about him.
I mean first of all ---- Trump has no policy ideas, really. He has sales pitches, that he tweaks on the fly depending on what's working to get the room riled up
But, these sales pitches he's made, and which are working with his crowd? Are in many ways precisely the opposite of orthodox conservatism. It's partly why he thinks he can win Bernie voters. Does he want huge tax cuts for the rich? Yep, and that is in line with conservatives. Otherwise, he's annoucned he's in favor of a huge increase in infrastructure spending, is anti-free trade, anti-NATO. All the things you usually have to swear fealty to to get elected as a Republican -- balanced buget amendments, anti-gay marriage, Planned Parenthood defund, he's said basically nothing about.
His pitch is nationalist and isolationist. Not conservative at all. And that pitched walloped the actual hardline conservatives in the primaries. That's a big reason why conservative intelectuals are saying stuff like the Vox article linked about, or this at Slate. Trump is proving that the base DGAF about conservatism and small government. They don't even really give a fuck about the gays, anymore. They do give a fuck about hating on browns and protecting their jobs.
posted by maggiepolitt at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
That's really not true, and the fact that it's not true is part of what's worrying and dangerous about him.
I mean first of all ---- Trump has no policy ideas, really. He has sales pitches, that he tweaks on the fly depending on what's working to get the room riled up
But, these sales pitches he's made, and which are working with his crowd? Are in many ways precisely the opposite of orthodox conservatism. It's partly why he thinks he can win Bernie voters. Does he want huge tax cuts for the rich? Yep, and that is in line with conservatives. Otherwise, he's annoucned he's in favor of a huge increase in infrastructure spending, is anti-free trade, anti-NATO. All the things you usually have to swear fealty to to get elected as a Republican -- balanced buget amendments, anti-gay marriage, Planned Parenthood defund, he's said basically nothing about.
His pitch is nationalist and isolationist. Not conservative at all. And that pitched walloped the actual hardline conservatives in the primaries. That's a big reason why conservative intelectuals are saying stuff like the Vox article linked about, or this at Slate. Trump is proving that the base DGAF about conservatism and small government. They don't even really give a fuck about the gays, anymore. They do give a fuck about hating on browns and protecting their jobs.
posted by maggiepolitt at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
Fountains of Steve? Binders full of Steve? Embarras de Stevesse? So many possible band names...
posted by uosuaq at 10:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 10:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm really annoyed today that the focus of the Clinton campaign seems to be back on the FBI probe. Especially since the video of the teenager being murdered by Chicago PD seems to have gone viral, who really cares about this FBI thing? Ugh.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:53 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:53 AM on August 5, 2016
"Handful of Steve."
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:54 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by infinitywaltz at 10:54 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
I mean first of all ---- Trump has no policy ideas, really. He has sales pitches, that he tweaks on the fly depending on what's working to get the room riled up
This is important to keep in mind. I am dead certain that when the tell-all books come out we'll read that "build a wall along the border!" was just a series of words that came out of Trump's mouth with no preparation and only became part of the platform when it got a bunch of applause.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:54 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
This is important to keep in mind. I am dead certain that when the tell-all books come out we'll read that "build a wall along the border!" was just a series of words that came out of Trump's mouth with no preparation and only became part of the platform when it got a bunch of applause.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:54 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
There was (is?) some company that sold penis enlargement pills. They sold their product (which is total hokum, of course) on a monthly subscription basis – but they made it nearly impossible for customers to unsubscribe. The thinking (which worked out beautifully for a while) was that people would be too embarrassed to complain to credit companies or take legal action.
I am not the least bit surprised that Trump has taken a page from the playbook of the penis-enlargement industry.
I used to work fraud detection for Bank of America, and there's a whole industry that operates on scamming people out of their money using this tactic. We'd often get people complaining about recurring charges from (for example) greeting card companies that would ask for a credit card for a free sample, and then charge little old ladies recurring subscription fees to send them junk mail because they couldn't figure out how to unsubscribe. They signed a contract, and we couldn't charge back "legitimate" charges, so people on fixed incomes would be out hundreds of dollars a year with no real way to get out of it. Unsurprisingly the trump campaign seems to have taken such a low class scam as inspiration.
posted by codacorolla at 10:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
I am not the least bit surprised that Trump has taken a page from the playbook of the penis-enlargement industry.
I used to work fraud detection for Bank of America, and there's a whole industry that operates on scamming people out of their money using this tactic. We'd often get people complaining about recurring charges from (for example) greeting card companies that would ask for a credit card for a free sample, and then charge little old ladies recurring subscription fees to send them junk mail because they couldn't figure out how to unsubscribe. They signed a contract, and we couldn't charge back "legitimate" charges, so people on fixed incomes would be out hundreds of dollars a year with no real way to get out of it. Unsurprisingly the trump campaign seems to have taken such a low class scam as inspiration.
posted by codacorolla at 10:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump's economic team has more Steves than the MCU has Chrises
posted by a car full of lions at 10:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by a car full of lions at 10:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Important Steve update: According to the Washington Post, there is a sixth Steve who works for the campaign and is leading the economic team: policy director Stephen Miller.
We have found another Steve, but the search for women continues to be hopeless.
posted by zachlipton at 10:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
We have found another Steve, but the search for women continues to be hopeless.
posted by zachlipton at 10:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
"Get me our nation's top economic minds! *Whispers ominously* But they MUST be named Steve."
posted by drezdn at 10:56 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 10:56 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Steve! Steve-O! The Stevenator! Making copies, the Stevearino!
posted by nubs at 10:57 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 10:57 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
"Hear me, Paul Ryan! God-Emperor Trump may one day hear your pitiful policy proposal, but first you must submit yourself to the judgement of... THE COUNCIL OF STEVES!"
posted by jason_steakums at 10:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 10:58 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
"Get me our nation's top economic minds! *Whispers ominously* But they MUST be named Steve."
"No... wait... let's say... about half Steve."
"So... Ste?"
"Ste? What are you, stupid? Who the hell is named Ste? No, half of the total number must be named Steve."
"Are Stevens okay?"
"JUST GO."
posted by Etrigan at 10:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
"No... wait... let's say... about half Steve."
"So... Ste?"
"Ste? What are you, stupid? Who the hell is named Ste? No, half of the total number must be named Steve."
"Are Stevens okay?"
"JUST GO."
posted by Etrigan at 10:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
"You don't want guys names Alan, Ben or Robert doing your economic policy. You gotta have Steves. They get it."
posted by drezdn at 10:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 10:59 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
None of the so called #neverTrump people have distanced themselves at all from his policies, such as they can be defined.
What are you watching for news? Every day I hear several conservative commentators or spokespeople interviewed, and most of them are horrified by Trump's foreign policy, banking, and trade policy proposals. Just five minutes ago, as the example freshest in my mind, on Here and Now I heard Max Boot, advisor to McCain, Romney, and Rubio, go through Trump's unreasonableness point by point with the host, and conclude by saying Clinton was the only reasonable choice in the current election.
I'm far from a fan of the Republican Party, but if excited progressives in this thread (and of course out across the vast insanity of social media) persist in making ill-informed and stereotyped portraits of how every Republican is a particular way, and how terrible and culpable they all are, then we'll fall into the same ignorant traps as the "low information" voters we keep decrying.
posted by aught at 11:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
What are you watching for news? Every day I hear several conservative commentators or spokespeople interviewed, and most of them are horrified by Trump's foreign policy, banking, and trade policy proposals. Just five minutes ago, as the example freshest in my mind, on Here and Now I heard Max Boot, advisor to McCain, Romney, and Rubio, go through Trump's unreasonableness point by point with the host, and conclude by saying Clinton was the only reasonable choice in the current election.
I'm far from a fan of the Republican Party, but if excited progressives in this thread (and of course out across the vast insanity of social media) persist in making ill-informed and stereotyped portraits of how every Republican is a particular way, and how terrible and culpable they all are, then we'll fall into the same ignorant traps as the "low information" voters we keep decrying.
posted by aught at 11:00 AM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
they're horrified now, but they helped create Trumpism and were quiet too long. Their alternative candidates are scarcely better. Republicans have no heroes besides Reagan's ghost.
posted by zutalors! at 11:01 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 11:01 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
L-R: Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve
posted by jason_steakums at 11:02 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 11:02 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump: I know lot's of Steves, I have binders full of them!
posted by vuron at 11:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by vuron at 11:05 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
I cannot speak for others, but speaking as a Steve-American who once took an economics course as an undergrad: I strongly reject Trump’s economic platform! …or at least strongly suspect that I would if I could figure out what it was.
posted by nicepersonality at 11:07 AM on August 5, 2016 [24 favorites]
posted by nicepersonality at 11:07 AM on August 5, 2016 [24 favorites]
Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve, amirite?
posted by Devonian at 11:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 11:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
This Steve wants a Steves for Hillary button.
posted by jason_steakums at 11:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 11:09 AM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
You guys, this thread is really long, can we chill out with the Steve comments that are making it hard to read?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:10 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:10 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
#NotAllSteves
posted by vuron at 11:11 AM on August 5, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by vuron at 11:11 AM on August 5, 2016 [23 favorites]
if excited progressives in this thread... persist in making ill-informed and stereotyped portraits of how every Republican is a particular way, and how terrible and culpable they all are...
I'm not saying that all elected Republicans are terrible and culpable. I'm just saying that any of them that refused to denounce Trump until this week are terrible and culpable. Oh wait, that is all of them.
posted by diogenes at 11:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I'm not saying that all elected Republicans are terrible and culpable. I'm just saying that any of them that refused to denounce Trump until this week are terrible and culpable. Oh wait, that is all of them.
posted by diogenes at 11:14 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
If more Steve comments mean we get a new thread sooner, then I advocate 100% Steve. A Steve in every pot!
posted by rikschell at 11:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 11:15 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Just five minutes ago, as the example freshest in my mind, on Here and Now
Well, see, there you go, that's what you get for listening to that radical Centrist propaganda outlet, NPR.
(sarcasm)
posted by biogeo at 11:17 AM on August 5, 2016
Well, see, there you go, that's what you get for listening to that radical Centrist propaganda outlet, NPR.
(sarcasm)
posted by biogeo at 11:17 AM on August 5, 2016
SIR. SIR, YOU BESTEVE YOURSELF.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:18 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:18 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
So did these guys know before today that they'd been picked for Trump's cabinet?
posted by octothorpe at 11:18 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 11:18 AM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
If more Steve comments mean we get a new thread sooner, then I advocate 100% Steve. A Steve in every pot!
I don't mind some joyful goofy Steveing but I also don't mind telling folks that they've made their Steve and have to sleep in it, so please don't assume that the mods are gonna be warmly embracing of the idea of intentional comment inflation to push it over the edge. We got up above 5000 comments with Sarah Palin a few years back and I'm not afraid to drive this station wagon there again if that's what it takes to get you dang kids to stop fighting in the back seat, etc.
posted by cortex at 11:22 AM on August 5, 2016 [74 favorites]
I don't mind some joyful goofy Steveing but I also don't mind telling folks that they've made their Steve and have to sleep in it, so please don't assume that the mods are gonna be warmly embracing of the idea of intentional comment inflation to push it over the edge. We got up above 5000 comments with Sarah Palin a few years back and I'm not afraid to drive this station wagon there again if that's what it takes to get you dang kids to stop fighting in the back seat, etc.
posted by cortex at 11:22 AM on August 5, 2016 [74 favorites]
Translation:
So help me I will pull this Steve over!
posted by meinvt at 11:23 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
So help me I will pull this Steve over!
posted by meinvt at 11:23 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
A Steve in every pot!That's why we gotta have so many Steves in the cabinet!
posted by rikschell at 2:15 PM on August 5
posted by erisfree at 11:24 AM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Where would commander-in-chief Trump keep his armies?
In his Stevies!
I think I'm doing this wrong.
posted by Etrigan at 11:24 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
In his Stevies!
I think I'm doing this wrong.
posted by Etrigan at 11:24 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Woo! Cortex is driving us all the way to 10,000 comments! Turn on the windshield wipers. He's touching me! Are we there yet?
posted by rikschell at 11:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 11:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
But Uncle Cortex, room317 is on my side of the thread again!
posted by vuron at 11:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by vuron at 11:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Q: Hey Assembly Speaker Vos, why is it again that you can't seem to make the Trump Rally up in Green Bay tonight?
A: "I have a thing."
end of transcript.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 11:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
A: "I have a thing."
end of transcript.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 11:25 AM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
It seems to me that there are some signs that the intervention + pivot attempt is underway. Yesterday Trump stayed mostly on message and today he walked back his comments about the nonexistent "bales of money" video. And it seems that he's mostly not allowed to have his phone. I can only hope that a) he can't stick to it and b) he's already done too much damage to himself, his campaign, and his party to put out the Trumpster Fire.
posted by xyzzy at 11:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 11:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Feature request: along with 'post comment' and 'preview' include a button 'I don't really need to post this'. Discarded posts are tallied and badges earned by posts never made.
posted by mazola at 11:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [57 favorites]
posted by mazola at 11:26 AM on August 5, 2016 [57 favorites]
The incredibly frustrating and appalling thing about Republicans turning against Trump is that they're doing it now. Yes, we've seen a long list of Republican foreign policy experts come out against him over the last few months (for which I'm grateful), but aside from that? These guys who are coming out against him now?
Republican foreign policy "experts" have been coming out against Trump because they've already realized that they won't be getting jobs in a potential Trump administration. Remember, these are the same geniuses who pushed us head first into invading Iraq, the same masters of diplomacy who completely fucked up any chance of a nuclear deal with North Korea. How do you think they're going to feel about their career prospects with a guy who came out on national television to declare the Iraq war an idiotic blunder?
posted by indubitable at 11:30 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Republican foreign policy "experts" have been coming out against Trump because they've already realized that they won't be getting jobs in a potential Trump administration. Remember, these are the same geniuses who pushed us head first into invading Iraq, the same masters of diplomacy who completely fucked up any chance of a nuclear deal with North Korea. How do you think they're going to feel about their career prospects with a guy who came out on national television to declare the Iraq war an idiotic blunder?
posted by indubitable at 11:30 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
> include a button 'I don't really need to post this'.
And here I've just been closing the window instead. I could've asked for a button instead?
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:31 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
And here I've just been closing the window instead. I could've asked for a button instead?
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:31 AM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
I can only hope that a) he can't stick to it and b) he's already done too much damage to himself, his campaign, and his party to put out the Trumpster Fire.
I've been worried about this since he made a very sober, normal sounding speech the night he won enough delegates to tie up the primaries. I keep reminding myself: The scorpion always stings. And sure enough, he always has.
posted by holborne at 11:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've been worried about this since he made a very sober, normal sounding speech the night he won enough delegates to tie up the primaries. I keep reminding myself: The scorpion always stings. And sure enough, he always has.
posted by holborne at 11:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Republicans have no heroes besides Reagan's ghost.
And their Saint was, in a reality, a goddamn monster.
I'm not gonna pretend to know much about various Republican luminaries. But the ones they seem proudest of are all actual racist monsters. Where am I supposed to go with that? Seriously asking.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
And their Saint was, in a reality, a goddamn monster.
I'm not gonna pretend to know much about various Republican luminaries. But the ones they seem proudest of are all actual racist monsters. Where am I supposed to go with that? Seriously asking.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:33 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
And goddammit Lincoln doesn't count
posted by schadenfrau at 11:34 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by schadenfrau at 11:34 AM on August 5, 2016
Steve! Steve-O!
I'd put Steve-O on my economic adviser team before a clod like Beal. At least I can verify Steve-O gives a shit about people.
posted by tclark at 11:35 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'd put Steve-O on my economic adviser team before a clod like Beal. At least I can verify Steve-O gives a shit about people.
posted by tclark at 11:35 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maybe I don't get how this works, but I do find it a little weird that this tool [the Clinton online call tool ] is just...out there?
If these are supposedly persuadable voters, rather than known dems being reminded to GOTV, what's to stop Trump people from using the same tool? "We're calling you to let you know you've been personally targeted by Hillary's sinister puppetmasters! Stein/Johnson/Nuts wouldn't do that to you."
I'm sure there are people who abuse the tool to fit a different agenda, but it's highly unlikely that there are anywere near enough of themfolks to make a significant impact.
And anyway, the folks on these call lists are unlikely to be persuadables. Persuasion barely works in person, let alone over the phone.
It's much more likely that they are people who've been modeled as supporters but who may not vote--and whose contact information may be out of date.
Online call tools like this are great for list-cleaning (i.e. confirming that peoples' contact info is correct, weeding out disconnected numbers, etc.) and are a nice, lower-stakes way to prime the volunteering pump.
(They could also just be the lowest-priority call lists that the campaign thinks they won't have time to get to otherwise.)
posted by dersins at 11:36 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
If these are supposedly persuadable voters, rather than known dems being reminded to GOTV, what's to stop Trump people from using the same tool? "We're calling you to let you know you've been personally targeted by Hillary's sinister puppetmasters! Stein/Johnson/Nuts wouldn't do that to you."
I'm sure there are people who abuse the tool to fit a different agenda, but it's highly unlikely that there are anywere near enough of themfolks to make a significant impact.
And anyway, the folks on these call lists are unlikely to be persuadables. Persuasion barely works in person, let alone over the phone.
It's much more likely that they are people who've been modeled as supporters but who may not vote--and whose contact information may be out of date.
Online call tools like this are great for list-cleaning (i.e. confirming that peoples' contact info is correct, weeding out disconnected numbers, etc.) and are a nice, lower-stakes way to prime the volunteering pump.
(They could also just be the lowest-priority call lists that the campaign thinks they won't have time to get to otherwise.)
posted by dersins at 11:36 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
In honor of Scott Baio (and a callback to like six threads ago):
New econs in the neighborhood
Talk to Trump and its understood
They're there just to advise on the economy
Like they're one of the GOP
Steves in charge of
Our stocks and our bonds.
Steves in charge of
Our rates and our swaps.
So I say
I want Steves in charge of me.
["I don't really need to post this"]
posted by zachlipton at 11:37 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
New econs in the neighborhood
Talk to Trump and its understood
They're there just to advise on the economy
Like they're one of the GOP
Steves in charge of
Our stocks and our bonds.
Steves in charge of
Our rates and our swaps.
So I say
I want Steves in charge of me.
["I don't really need to post this"]
posted by zachlipton at 11:37 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
that was a steveriffic comment stevelipton and I'm giving you a steve for it
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:40 AM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
So I can't help
Thinking that
Eventually
Victory will
Evade this Drumpf
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 11:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thinking that
Eventually
Victory will
Evade this Drumpf
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 11:43 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
(They could also just be the lowest-priority call lists that the campaign thinks they won't have time to get to otherwise.)
This was my impression when I used the tool - it would let me call people in MA and CA or WV but not people in NH or VA.
posted by peacheater at 11:44 AM on August 5, 2016
This was my impression when I used the tool - it would let me call people in MA and CA or WV but not people in NH or VA.
posted by peacheater at 11:44 AM on August 5, 2016
Back in my college party crashing days, when questioned who invited me to the party being crashed I'd always answer "Steve". Because, of members of my age bracket, there is not more than one degree of separation between myself and someone that person knew whose name was Steve.
All of this to say, I think this could be leveraged to crash a Trumpian Economic Policy meeting...assuming these actually get held...which is, frankly, a bold assumption.
posted by Fezboy! at 11:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
All of this to say, I think this could be leveraged to crash a Trumpian Economic Policy meeting...assuming these actually get held...which is, frankly, a bold assumption.
posted by Fezboy! at 11:44 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Steve is the prototypical cool American male. Y'know, I'm talking about Steve McGarrett, alright? Steve Austin, Steve McQueen, Steve Roth, Steven Mnuchin, Stephen M. Calk, Steve Feinberg, Stephen Moore, Stephen Miller, Steve-kabobs, Steve creole, Steve gumbo. There's pineapple Steve, lemon Steve, coconut Steve, pepper Steve, Steve soup, Steve stew, Steve salad, Steve and potatoes, Steve burger, Steve sandwich. That's about it.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 11:47 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Attention. This is not a drill. There is a Steve Meredith running for the Kentucky state senate. His campaign site reveals him indeed to be both a steve and a meredith.
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:48 AM on August 5, 2016 [38 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:48 AM on August 5, 2016 [38 favorites]
Steve, eggs, sausage and Steve
posted by Sublimity at 11:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by Sublimity at 11:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
> "Republican foreign policy 'experts' have been coming out against Trump because they've already realized that they won't be getting jobs in a potential Trump administration."
It is, in fact, possible to be a bad person and still think to yourself, "I do not wish to wake up with my home in the middle of a radioactive wasteland."
posted by kyrademon at 11:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
It is, in fact, possible to be a bad person and still think to yourself, "I do not wish to wake up with my home in the middle of a radioactive wasteland."
posted by kyrademon at 11:51 AM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Can't resist:
Steven and the Stevens
Come on, now, don't be shy
Me, myself, and I and him (that's me!)
Are all the same guy
posted by Eddie Mars at 11:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Steven and the Stevens
Come on, now, don't be shy
Me, myself, and I and him (that's me!)
Are all the same guy
posted by Eddie Mars at 11:52 AM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
That does not explain why they are suddenly so principled while their colleagues who already have jobs in Congress are sticking with the Party.
posted by indubitable at 11:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by indubitable at 11:53 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Attention. This is not a drill. There is a Steve Meredith running for the Kentucky state senate. His campaign site reveals him indeed to be both a steve and a meredith.
In my campaign we just call those stevediths
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:54 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
In my campaign we just call those stevediths
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:54 AM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Does this mean that Trump and Steve Wynn hate each other again, since he went out of his way to get rich Steves that weren't him?
posted by ckape at 11:54 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by ckape at 11:54 AM on August 5, 2016
That does not explain why they are suddenly so principled while their colleagues who already have jobs in Congress are sticking with the Party.
I think this is on the people who haven't repudiated him rather than the people who have?
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:55 AM on August 5, 2016
Frankly, the bedfellows are going to have to be PRETTY DAMN STRANGE for me to turn them down this year. "Republican strategist" is NOWHERE NEAR strange enough for me to want to boot them off of the NeverTrump mattress.
posted by kyrademon at 11:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by kyrademon at 11:55 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Steve Wynn is the reigning Archsteve; presumably these other Steves have attached themselves to Trump in the hopes of acquiring enough power to depose him and claim the Stevethrone
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:56 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:56 AM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
What are you watching for news? Every day I hear several conservative commentators or spokespeople interviewed, and most of them are horrified by Trump's foreign policy, banking, and trade policy proposals.
Call me when those same "reasonable" conservatives acknowledge Obamacare was a Republican proposal, or stop pushing endless tax cuts for the 1% as the cure for all ills. Or call for a vote on Merrick Garland. The only difference between Trump and every other primary contender was that Trump was completely unbounded from logic or reason, while the others had to maintain at least the facade of acknowledging rational thought as a thing that exists.
Or hell, call me when an elected Republican Senator refuses to endorse Trump (in clear, not "support but don't endorse" terms), and not just a talking head on TV who's career depends on access to either a Trump or Clinton administration.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Call me when those same "reasonable" conservatives acknowledge Obamacare was a Republican proposal, or stop pushing endless tax cuts for the 1% as the cure for all ills. Or call for a vote on Merrick Garland. The only difference between Trump and every other primary contender was that Trump was completely unbounded from logic or reason, while the others had to maintain at least the facade of acknowledging rational thought as a thing that exists.
Or hell, call me when an elected Republican Senator refuses to endorse Trump (in clear, not "support but don't endorse" terms), and not just a talking head on TV who's career depends on access to either a Trump or Clinton administration.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
This really didn't really sink in for me until this morning. If you had asked at any time in the past two decades what one person the GOP hated the most, Hillary Clinton would have been at the top of that list. And somehow when the moment came to deny their bitterest rival her greatest victory....
Donald Trump comes along and pulls a Leeroy Jenkins.
posted by billyfleetwood at 12:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [26 favorites]
Donald Trump comes along and pulls a Leeroy Jenkins.
posted by billyfleetwood at 12:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [26 favorites]
I just want to say that even though I don't agree with everything everyone here says, I nevertheless wish I could upsteve each and every one of you.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:05 PM on August 5, 2016 [26 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:05 PM on August 5, 2016 [26 favorites]
Call me when those same "reasonable" conservatives acknowledge Obamacare was a Republican proposal, or stop pushing endless tax cuts for the 1% as the cure for all ills. Or call for a vote on Merrick Garland. The only difference between Trump and every other primary contender was that Trump was completely unbounded from logic or reason, while the others had to maintain at least the facade of acknowledging rational thought as a thing that exists.
Or hell, push for funding to combat Zika virus? How is that a partisan issue?
posted by zutalors! at 12:05 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
Oh Jesus, Paul O'Neal's sister speaking on MSNBC.
The grief is unending.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:08 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
The grief is unending.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:08 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
(What’s “upsteve”?)
posted by nicepersonality at 12:08 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by nicepersonality at 12:08 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
MSNBC press conference on Paul O'Neal's death
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:09 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:09 PM on August 5, 2016
Not much, what's up with you?
posted by steveminutillo at 12:09 PM on August 5, 2016 [90 favorites]
posted by steveminutillo at 12:09 PM on August 5, 2016 [90 favorites]
tim kaine, is that you?
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:11 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:11 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
That's about it.
I think you mean "Steve's about it."
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:12 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think you mean "Steve's about it."
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:12 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I don't want to link it (it's not hard to find), but trump's weird-ass relationship with Ivanka is getting a lot of play today. I'm not sure how I feel about that, aside from squicked out. I hate whenever the far right goes after Michelle, Malia and Natasha, but all three of them are also far less involved in politics than Ivanka is.
posted by codacorolla at 12:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 12:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I nevertheless wish I could upsteve each and every one of you.
Ooh. I don't know, I need to think about it.
posted by bongo_x at 12:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ooh. I don't know, I need to think about it.
posted by bongo_x at 12:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Feature request: along with 'post comment' and 'preview' include a button 'I don't really need to post this'. Discarded posts are tallied and badges earned by posts never made.
Jesus this is the best worst idea i've ever heard
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
Jesus this is the best worst idea i've ever heard
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
I don't see any reason for comparison between criticizing Malia and Sasha and criticizing Ivanka. Ivanka is 100% fair game.
posted by zutalors! at 12:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 12:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Everything I've seen has focused on Donny's impropriety, not Ivanka's.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
That is a lot of Steves. Finally Trump does something right.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 12:21 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 12:21 PM on August 5, 2016
If he's suggesting her for a cabinet position I think the "don't bring family into this" thing is off the table.
posted by zutalors! at 12:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 12:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Open your console (option-command-j on mac) and paste this in
posted by phearlez at 12:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [22 favorites]
$('span').filter(function() {You're welcome.
return this.id.match(/favcnt\d+/);
}).map(function() {
$(this).text($(this).text().replace('favorite', 'steve'));
}
);
posted by phearlez at 12:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [22 favorites]
Maybe those posts could go to some archive somewhere so we could all reflect on the things we were about to post and decided that we had better not.
But I suppose that any more discussion of that idea belongs on Metatalk.
posted by VTX at 12:25 PM on August 5, 2016
But I suppose that any more discussion of that idea belongs on Metatalk.
posted by VTX at 12:25 PM on August 5, 2016
Oh hell, who let all the Steves out? Someone has made such a mess of this thread. BRB I'ma get my mop and bucket.
Clinton's speaking to journalists at right now at NABJ/NAHJ (National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists) joint convention .
Or as an unmentionable source in my newsfeed put it: No Whites Allowed, Clinton Speaks to Press For First Time in 260 Days.
From the oft quoted Vox article:
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:26 PM on August 5, 2016
Clinton's speaking to journalists at right now at NABJ/NAHJ (National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists) joint convention .
Or as an unmentionable source in my newsfeed put it: No Whites Allowed, Clinton Speaks to Press For First Time in 260 Days.
From the oft quoted Vox article:
The work of conservative intellectuals today, he argues, is to devise a new conservatism — a political vision that adheres to limited government principles but genuinely appeals to a more diverse America.Well that will leave the Evangelicals behind then. They have been preaching anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality for decades so individual liberty isn't going to work for them. I know there is an attempt to spin this as liberty for fetuses and Religious liberty to discriminate but if the Conservatives build a movement that is genuinely about individual liberty they must embrace the freedom of women to control their own bodies and the freedom to love whom you choose. Otherwise this New Conservatism will start out a party of bigotry and hate.
“I think it’s incredibly important to take stock,” he says, “and build a new conservative movement that is genuinely about individual liberty.”
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:26 PM on August 5, 2016
Trump's cabinet must be like the cabinet of Dr. Caligari but with tacky decor.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Or as an unmentionable source in my newsfeed put it: No Whites Allowed, Clinton Speaks to Press For First Time in 260 Days.
"Unmentionable" .. heh. In my newsfeed, it was InfoWars. (Oops, I mentioned it.)
posted by theorique at 12:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
"Unmentionable" .. heh. In my newsfeed, it was InfoWars. (Oops, I mentioned it.)
posted by theorique at 12:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
So can we start the requests for a new thread? Getting a bit tough on mobile.
posted by waitingtoderail at 12:31 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by waitingtoderail at 12:31 PM on August 5, 2016
I think we have to get the thread to 3,000 comments before they'll let us have a new one.
We're gonna need more Steves.
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
We're gonna need more Steves.
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
"Unmentionable" .. heh. In my newsfeed, it was InfoWars. (Oops, I mentioned it.)
It rhymes with Fail-y Faller
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
It rhymes with Fail-y Faller
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
We're heading into a weekend and the relative distraction of the Olympics. Steve adoration notwithstanding, I think it'd make more sense to let this hobble along in what will likely be relative quiet until Monday or so.
posted by cortex at 12:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by cortex at 12:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
Did anyone highlight here the WSJ poll numbers today indicating a majority of voters now want the Ds to lead Congress?
posted by bearwife at 12:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 12:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
That speech to the NABJ/NAHJ is really great. I can't tell if it's just because I've been watching Trump speak lately but holy shit do I feel better about the world and about her as a candidate after watching that.
Ever since Trump clinch the nomination I knew that I'd be casting my vote against him by checking the box next to Hillary's name in November. After watching her speak just now and at the DNC, hearing about her campaign, and reading all of your comments about her (the listening thing especially resonated with me) I'm really starting to want to vote for Hillary.
I hope that she starts to get more active now because her message is such a relief after everything that Trump has been up to.
posted by VTX at 12:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
Ever since Trump clinch the nomination I knew that I'd be casting my vote against him by checking the box next to Hillary's name in November. After watching her speak just now and at the DNC, hearing about her campaign, and reading all of your comments about her (the listening thing especially resonated with me) I'm really starting to want to vote for Hillary.
I hope that she starts to get more active now because her message is such a relief after everything that Trump has been up to.
posted by VTX at 12:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
So sweet!
(We're still talking about Stevia, right?)
posted by zakur at 12:37 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
(We're still talking about Stevia, right?)
posted by zakur at 12:37 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
cortex: I think it'd make more sense to let this hobble along in what will likely be relative quiet until Monday or so.
The comment thread just got 10 feet longer!
With this kind of deliberate provocation of fate, I think Trump is either going to drop the F-bomb on live TV or use a racial slur in an interview this weekend...
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
The comment thread just got 10 feet longer!
With this kind of deliberate provocation of fate, I think Trump is either going to drop the F-bomb on live TV or use a racial slur in an interview this weekend...
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I had a good chuckle out of that LePage telling Trump to be more disciplined linked earlier. Especially this part:
"I told him, this election’s bigger than you. This election’s about the United States," he added.
"This election's bigger than you." To Trump. Oh please. Has he ever spent anytime with Trump or heard any of his speeches?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
"I told him, this election’s bigger than you. This election’s about the United States," he added.
"This election's bigger than you." To Trump. Oh please. Has he ever spent anytime with Trump or heard any of his speeches?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
I feel like if the attention does get off him with the Olympics, he will do some horrible thing in retaliation.
posted by zutalors! at 12:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 12:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
In the 1948 election Harry Truman ran against the ""do-nothing, good-for-nothing 80th Republican Congress." Clinton should do the same. The Republican-led Senate won't vote on Supreme Court nominees. The Republican-controlled Congress won't do anything about the Zika virus. And so on.
Fun fact: The "Do-Nothing Congress" was more productive than the current one.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [21 favorites]
Fun fact: The "Do-Nothing Congress" was more productive than the current one.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [21 favorites]
in what will likely be relative quiet until Monday or so.
[bookmarks]
posted by Devonian at 12:44 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
[bookmarks]
posted by Devonian at 12:44 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
JUST LET ME BELIEVE, FOR A FEW HOURS AT LEAST
posted by cortex at 12:45 PM on August 5, 2016 [57 favorites]
posted by cortex at 12:45 PM on August 5, 2016 [57 favorites]
Signs of a more disciplined Trump?
Fox News: Trump expected to endorse Ryan, GOP sources say
I suspect that to somehow get himself to do this one thing for the GOP, he'll probably have to immediately compensate with a few dozen horrible and outrageous tweets.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 12:47 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Fox News: Trump expected to endorse Ryan, GOP sources say
I suspect that to somehow get himself to do this one thing for the GOP, he'll probably have to immediately compensate with a few dozen horrible and outrageous tweets.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 12:47 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
JUST LET ME BELIEVE, FOR A FEW HOURS AT LEAST
*cackles insanely as he sends Trump a picture of Shaquille O'Neil's hands*
posted by Mooski at 12:47 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
*cackles insanely as he sends Trump a picture of Shaquille O'Neil's hands*
posted by Mooski at 12:47 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Sorry about my earlier crass comment.
But I'm not sorry about my lizard-brain desire to see Trump take some of the BS he's been dishing out, LBJ "make the sumbitch deny it" style.
posted by whuppy at 12:48 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
But I'm not sorry about my lizard-brain desire to see Trump take some of the BS he's been dishing out, LBJ "make the sumbitch deny it" style.
posted by whuppy at 12:48 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
538 asks if Georgia is becoming a battleground state. Spoiler: looks like that's a yes.
posted by bearwife at 12:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 12:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
538's now cast has Clinton 91.7% Trump 8.3%
The now cast is a twitchy clickbait, to be sure, but that's just insane.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
The now cast is a twitchy clickbait, to be sure, but that's just insane.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Just back from the Portland Somali community press conference regarding Trump's slander of immigrants and Somalis in particular at his Maine event yesterday. It was incredibly well attended for a weekday afternoon event in the hot(-tish) summer sun planned less than 24 hours ago. Our mayor, city council members, and several hundred non-Somali community members stood in solidarity with our neighbors on the steps of City Hall as they denounced Trump's bigotry and the support he received from Maine governor Paul LePage. Short video clip of the mayor that shows the crowd in this tweet from a local news anchor.
Proud of my adopted city today. If a full-length video appears later, I'll post it.
posted by donnagirl at 1:06 PM on August 5, 2016 [39 favorites]
Proud of my adopted city today. If a full-length video appears later, I'll post it.
posted by donnagirl at 1:06 PM on August 5, 2016 [39 favorites]
Did we already discuss this? There's a burst in online conspiracy theory talk among the unhinged right about conspiracy theory novelist Victor Thorn's suicide (Snopes link).
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:09 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:09 PM on August 5, 2016
(Relevant because he was a Clinton critic and, thus, the kool-aid drinkers think he must have been murdered because of what he knew)
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:10 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:10 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
i don't think Trump is willing to be outdone by Rio's floods of disease and shit
posted by indubitable at 1:13 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by indubitable at 1:13 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
There's also conspiracy theory stuff floating around about the guy who served the lawsuit about the DNC and Debbie Wasserman Schultz or whatever.
posted by infinitywaltz at 1:15 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by infinitywaltz at 1:15 PM on August 5, 2016
I showed my daughter one of the forecast maps yesterday, explained red vs pink vs very pale pink, blue vs pale blue etc., and she pointed to GA and AZ. She said, "so... those are the swing states I keep hearing about?" I laughed hard and then had to explain why.
I got to say no, swing states are HERE and HERE and pointed to a few middle-blue-color states. Those, AZ and GA, are absolutely Republican states where Democrats usually do a minimal amount of campaigning... GA gets some fallout from Florida; AZ gets some fallout from CA (not that CA gets serious campaigning but it does get serious fundraising), but those are normally solid-red states.
I am thrilled to see AZ and GA be wavering on that. Even more thrilled to consider Texas could go blue - the idea of Texas being this year's serious battleground state is amazing.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
I got to say no, swing states are HERE and HERE and pointed to a few middle-blue-color states. Those, AZ and GA, are absolutely Republican states where Democrats usually do a minimal amount of campaigning... GA gets some fallout from Florida; AZ gets some fallout from CA (not that CA gets serious campaigning but it does get serious fundraising), but those are normally solid-red states.
I am thrilled to see AZ and GA be wavering on that. Even more thrilled to consider Texas could go blue - the idea of Texas being this year's serious battleground state is amazing.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
It's surreal seeing all the chatter about trying to get rid of Trump or to push him to resign. The party had its chance to do that, when corb et al. were making the principled case for the conscience clause at the RNC.
Here's a (non-exhaustive) list of things that are apparently acceptable in a Presidential nominee for the Republican party:
- A week long feud with the parents of a soldier killed in action
- Characterizing Mexican people as "rapists"
- Treating NATO as a protection racket
- Threatening to pull out of NATO
- Threatening to pull out of the WTO
- Threatening to pull out of the UN
- Joking about an incestuous relationship wit his daughter
- Banning an entire religious group from the country
- Antisemitism
- Humiliating and gaslighting a woman with an infant in public
- Explicitly commenting on the size of his penis at a debate
- Pro-torture attitudes
- Being for the killing of unarmed women and children
- Suggesting the use of nuclear weapons
- Mocking torture victims and POWs
- Supporting the deportation of 11 million people
- Repeated demonstrations of misogyny
- Encouraging political violence and the criminalization of political dissent
- Encouraging foreign actors to spy on our government and a political opponent
- Suggesting that our elections are rigged against him
- Racist attacks on a sitting federal judge
- Failing to immediately condemn the KKK's support
- And the list goes on and on til 18239
A similar list for things that get Trump's party functionaries to really consider withdrawing their endorsements an support:
- Not endorsing the Paul Ryan in his reelection campaign
So while it's good that some are condemning the Cheeto Jesus' policies, where the hell have they been until now? There must be accountability for those who have stayed silent or supported him thus far, even if they drop that support in the future. I'm especially looking Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Reince Priebus, Jeff Sessions, Chris Christie, every candidate that didn't explicitly condemn him early in the race, and every candidate who did then reversed position. These people have endangered our civil liberties and government.
I am struggling with how best to welcome support from those who are just now doing the right thing, while also holding them accountable for the damage they have supported, either with words or silence.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 1:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [25 favorites]
Here's a (non-exhaustive) list of things that are apparently acceptable in a Presidential nominee for the Republican party:
- A week long feud with the parents of a soldier killed in action
- Characterizing Mexican people as "rapists"
- Treating NATO as a protection racket
- Threatening to pull out of NATO
- Threatening to pull out of the WTO
- Threatening to pull out of the UN
- Joking about an incestuous relationship wit his daughter
- Banning an entire religious group from the country
- Antisemitism
- Humiliating and gaslighting a woman with an infant in public
- Explicitly commenting on the size of his penis at a debate
- Pro-torture attitudes
- Being for the killing of unarmed women and children
- Suggesting the use of nuclear weapons
- Mocking torture victims and POWs
- Supporting the deportation of 11 million people
- Repeated demonstrations of misogyny
- Encouraging political violence and the criminalization of political dissent
- Encouraging foreign actors to spy on our government and a political opponent
- Suggesting that our elections are rigged against him
- Racist attacks on a sitting federal judge
- Failing to immediately condemn the KKK's support
- And the list goes on and on til 18239
A similar list for things that get Trump's party functionaries to really consider withdrawing their endorsements an support:
- Not endorsing the Paul Ryan in his reelection campaign
So while it's good that some are condemning the Cheeto Jesus' policies, where the hell have they been until now? There must be accountability for those who have stayed silent or supported him thus far, even if they drop that support in the future. I'm especially looking Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Reince Priebus, Jeff Sessions, Chris Christie, every candidate that didn't explicitly condemn him early in the race, and every candidate who did then reversed position. These people have endangered our civil liberties and government.
I am struggling with how best to welcome support from those who are just now doing the right thing, while also holding them accountable for the damage they have supported, either with words or silence.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 1:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [25 favorites]
TRUMP: Who'm I s'posed to kick off for a girl? Steve?
RYAN:
TRUMP: I'm obviously not kicking the other Steve off.
RYAN:
TRUMP: OR Steves 3-6
This is basically how I imagine every conversation goes at Marvel Studios when they work out casting and/or which characters should get their own films.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:22 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
RYAN:
TRUMP: I'm obviously not kicking the other Steve off.
RYAN:
TRUMP: OR Steves 3-6
This is basically how I imagine every conversation goes at Marvel Studios when they work out casting and/or which characters should get their own films.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:22 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
Trump's slander of immigrants and Somalis
Wow. He really must have a list of every group of people to insult. There are about 150,000 Somali Americans.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:25 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
> That...cannot not legal.
Trump's response.
posted by guiseroom at 1:26 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump's response.
posted by guiseroom at 1:26 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Kinda tired of that twitter guy's fake conversations at this point.
posted by DynamiteToast at 1:27 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 1:27 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
odinsdream: Long thread sufferers: Use the Classic theme. It works totally fine.
*switches*
*massive déjà vu attack ensues*
Holy shit, the site used to look like this?
posted by tzikeh at 1:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
*switches*
*massive déjà vu attack ensues*
Holy shit, the site used to look like this?
posted by tzikeh at 1:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I really loved this line from Rachel Maddow yesterday on Trump's electoral math situation: "That's a campaign on fire that is sinking into a lake that is also on fire and the firetruck that just showed up to help is on fire and what's shooting out of its firehose is more fire."
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [56 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [56 favorites]
not only did the site used to look like this, as far as I'm concerned the site has always and will always look like this.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [86 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [86 favorites]
Welcome back to the days before the dark ages of UX design! When everything didn't have to look like somebody who'd never used a device other than a touchscreen designed it.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
Holy shit, the site used to look like this?
It still does, and always will.
(heh. jinx.)
posted by tonycpsu at 1:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
It still does, and always will.
(heh. jinx.)
posted by tonycpsu at 1:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
classic theme 4 lyfe
posted by indubitable at 1:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by indubitable at 1:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [27 favorites]
I don't know what you are talking about, and this is one Steve who hopes to never find out...
posted by Windopaene at 1:34 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by Windopaene at 1:34 PM on August 5, 2016
I use the classic theme because it is better
I wasn't even here for the good old days
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:35 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I wasn't even here for the good old days
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:35 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I caught a few minutes of his Iowa rally. Apart from bringing up the baby (!?!?!), and saying he blames Iowa if they lose (a very poorly delivered joke), he is clearly reading from a speech, and not a particularly good one either. Behold, the pivot.
posted by codacorolla at 1:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by codacorolla at 1:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've been here since 2004, and only recently switched from classic. It's amazing how fast you get used to the new normal.
Still, I think I'll stay in classic for the duration of the election. Wow.
posted by tzikeh at 1:40 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Still, I think I'll stay in classic for the duration of the election. Wow.
posted by tzikeh at 1:40 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
This seems more like a drunken stumble than a pivot.
posted by gatorae at 1:41 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 1:41 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Apart from bringing up the baby (!?!?!)
How did he do that?
posted by zutalors! at 1:43 PM on August 5, 2016
How did he do that?
posted by zutalors! at 1:43 PM on August 5, 2016
How did he do that?
A few half-hearted jokes that were largely incomprehensible, but seemed to be trying to play it off, making him seem like a fun jokester instead of a black hearted monster.
posted by codacorolla at 1:46 PM on August 5, 2016
A few half-hearted jokes that were largely incomprehensible, but seemed to be trying to play it off, making him seem like a fun jokester instead of a black hearted monster.
posted by codacorolla at 1:46 PM on August 5, 2016
Is there any substance to the prepared speech he's delivering?
posted by tzikeh at 1:48 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by tzikeh at 1:48 PM on August 5, 2016
Yeah he is hitting the same old stuff: France isn't France, Obama is anti-Israel, People are amazed at how much I know, Mexico is going to pay for the wall....I should think at this point the crowd could finish all of his sentences for him.
How did he do that?
Saying it was crying like Pavarotti, unbelievably loud. And that the media is so disgusting because they lied about him throwing the baby out.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:49 PM on August 5, 2016
How did he do that?
Saying it was crying like Pavarotti, unbelievably loud. And that the media is so disgusting because they lied about him throwing the baby out.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:49 PM on August 5, 2016
I'm no longer watching it, but not that I could see. Keeping an eye on Twitter, he's just repeating the same shit over and over again that he's been using: blah blah, Iran 400 million, blah blah, NATO, blah blah, failed Obama policies.
posted by codacorolla at 1:49 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by codacorolla at 1:49 PM on August 5, 2016
Top Trumpeteer Paul Manafort: "... if you’re relying on the Justice Department to ensure the security of the elections, we have to be worried.” (TPM: Paul Manafort Stokes ‘Rigged Election’ Fears)
This is disgusting. Also, looooosers.
posted by RedOrGreen at 1:50 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
This is disgusting. Also, looooosers.
posted by RedOrGreen at 1:50 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
At least he sounds on message today, and not drunk.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:50 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:50 PM on August 5, 2016
The liberal media's well-known pro-baby bias
posted by EarBucket at 1:54 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by EarBucket at 1:54 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Daniel Dale: Donald Trump said he didn't do fundraising in the Republican primary because he was too busy "fighting with people."
Wait. I thought his schtick was that he was self-funding and didn't need to rely on outsiders who would demand influence.
He was too busy fighting with people to fund raise? My god that is just....a bizarre excuse because it makes him come across as a belligerent asshole. Every other candidate wasn't too busy to fund raise. Is this supposed to be an asset?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Wait. I thought his schtick was that he was self-funding and didn't need to rely on outsiders who would demand influence.
He was too busy fighting with people to fund raise? My god that is just....a bizarre excuse because it makes him come across as a belligerent asshole. Every other candidate wasn't too busy to fund raise. Is this supposed to be an asset?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
So... It's just Trump with a grammar editor, and not actually a speechwriter.
posted by tzikeh at 1:55 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by tzikeh at 1:55 PM on August 5, 2016
I'm so tired of people being like 'now he'll pivot' or 'at least he's sort of doing x' - NPR Politics Podcast is all about that.
posted by zutalors! at 1:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 1:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
...he is clearly reading from a speech, and not a particularly good one either. Behold, the pivot.
The only problem is that if he sticks with it, he might start to get some practice and then start to get good at it. Once he's firmly back to using dog-whistle terms like a good Republican, others might start to return to the fold and help put out Trumpster fire.
I don't think that will happen and I don't think it will get him a win either way but I'd be concerned about the impact on the down-ballot races. And as I said up-thread, we're playing Russian Roulette with Trump and I don't want him to start putting bullets back in the gun.
posted by VTX at 1:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
The only problem is that if he sticks with it, he might start to get some practice and then start to get good at it. Once he's firmly back to using dog-whistle terms like a good Republican, others might start to return to the fold and help put out Trumpster fire.
I don't think that will happen and I don't think it will get him a win either way but I'd be concerned about the impact on the down-ballot races. And as I said up-thread, we're playing Russian Roulette with Trump and I don't want him to start putting bullets back in the gun.
posted by VTX at 1:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
A real pivot is not reading from a speech. A real pivot is like, actually moving away from your base. Saying some things your base might not even like.
posted by zutalors! at 1:57 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 1:57 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump can't stop being Trump. It won't last.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:57 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 1:57 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
if he sticks with it, he might start to get some practice and then start to get good at it
That would require him to not be someone who can be baited with a tweet. And that ain't him, for more than a few days at a time.
posted by bearwife at 1:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
That would require him to not be someone who can be baited with a tweet. And that ain't him, for more than a few days at a time.
posted by bearwife at 1:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Video of Trump trying to relitigate the baby incident and comparing it Pavarotti. He says he decided to "counteract his order" when he changed his mind and ordered the baby out. And the media lied about it.
posted by zachlipton at 1:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 1:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
"Relitigate the baby" is the name of my next band's first single.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
It's surreal seeing all the chatter about trying to get rid of Trump or to push him to resign. The party had its chance to do that, when corb et al. were making the principled case for the conscience clause at the RNC.
As someone recently tweeted, it will be fitting if Republicans who want Trump out are forced to carry him to term.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 2:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [56 favorites]
As someone recently tweeted, it will be fitting if Republicans who want Trump out are forced to carry him to term.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 2:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [56 favorites]
Someone, I think in another election thread here, recommended the podcast Election Profit Makers with David Rees. In the podcast, Rees and a friend bet on election-related events in an online prediction market. I want to second that recommendation.
In one of the episodes, Rees talks about how he somehow got on Donald Trump's email list without ever having signed up. The email list was apparently not well curated. Fundraising emails began with the intro "Dear friend" or some such.
This is because they used "Friend" as the recipient's first name. Which resulted in Rees receiving the following in his inbox:
Anyway, this brought me happiness; maybe the podcast will make you feel better about this insane election season as well.
posted by compartment at 2:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
In one of the episodes, Rees talks about how he somehow got on Donald Trump's email list without ever having signed up. The email list was apparently not well curated. Fundraising emails began with the intro "Dear friend" or some such.
This is because they used "Friend" as the recipient's first name. Which resulted in Rees receiving the following in his inbox:
Friend,Rees has a delightful response: "Are you kidding me? 'Friend and I are coming for you?' That sounds like a haunted ventriloquist dummy about to go on a killing spree!"
I have a message for Obama, Hillary, and their cronies who have hijacked our country:
Friend and I are coming for you.
Anyway, this brought me happiness; maybe the podcast will make you feel better about this insane election season as well.
posted by compartment at 2:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
This seems more like a drunken stumble than a pivot.
The Russian judge gave it a 10
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [23 favorites]
The Russian judge gave it a 10
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [23 favorites]
That baby could have been a little bomb!
posted by kyrademon at 2:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kyrademon at 2:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
He's fairly coherent today. Looks like he has actual notes.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yes this is a well-traveled road. Trump is prodded into reading a real speech from a teleprompter. Trump gives a very flat delivery. The speech is dull. He knows it. Returns to his free-wheeling, outrageous way in order to keep his fans appeased. Without the outrageousness he has nothing, no insight, no policy, no experience. There is no place for him to pivot to. He would have to take about a year or so off, get some training, learn some things, develop some policy. He is nothing but a malodorous clown with small hands.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:03 PM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:03 PM on August 5, 2016 [17 favorites]
Aaand now he's dissing caucuses. In Iowa.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:05 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:05 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Well, that didn't last long.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:06 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:06 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Daniel Dale again: Wow. Donald Trump: "If you don't like me, vote for Pence! Because it's the same thing."
Whoa. Same thing? Who is going to fall for that? "Yeah that Trump really disgusts me. I don't think he would make a good President, but Pence-- he is all right. "
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:09 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Whoa. Same thing? Who is going to fall for that? "Yeah that Trump really disgusts me. I don't think he would make a good President, but Pence-- he is all right. "
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:09 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Stephen Colbert::
It turns out that these kids did not deal from strength and got crushed this time. Unfortunately for the USA Freedom Kids, Donald Trump took the "free" part literally.posted by kirkaracha at 2:10 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
...
Well folks, Donald Trump thinks he can get away with this, but I'm going to hold him accountable and get his attention with a flashy song-and-dance number.
Why didn't more highly respected (I'm kidding) Republican intellectuals repudiate Trump when he started talking about deporting 11 million people from the US and denying a path to citizenship? Is the answer because they were fine with it? Or just thought a majority of their voters were fine with it?
posted by puddledork at 2:12 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by puddledork at 2:12 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Trump is still going to start a trade war. The US can't win a trade war. The USD is a fully convertible currency. China maintains strict controls on the yuan.
So let's assume Trump orders the Fed to print a trillion dollars and buy other currencies like crazy. So one of two things happen.
1) The Chinese smile and let the US devalue the shit out of their currency and watch US inflation tick up immediately. They know that interest rates will come up to temper the inflation and that will further slow down the US economy.
2) The Chinese smile and buy every dollar the US prints (at a now discount price) and goes and buys out more of the US.
China will happily absorb and sock away as many of the dollars that the US wants to flood. Any tariffs will immediately cause inflation across every sector. A weak dollar will see a surge in energy and gas prices. It's so utterly fucking stupid to even try. You have literally no ammo.
posted by Talez at 2:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
So let's assume Trump orders the Fed to print a trillion dollars and buy other currencies like crazy. So one of two things happen.
1) The Chinese smile and let the US devalue the shit out of their currency and watch US inflation tick up immediately. They know that interest rates will come up to temper the inflation and that will further slow down the US economy.
2) The Chinese smile and buy every dollar the US prints (at a now discount price) and goes and buys out more of the US.
China will happily absorb and sock away as many of the dollars that the US wants to flood. Any tariffs will immediately cause inflation across every sector. A weak dollar will see a surge in energy and gas prices. It's so utterly fucking stupid to even try. You have literally no ammo.
posted by Talez at 2:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Daniel Dale
Gee if only those random Iowans had been in France packing heat and ready to rumble. Everything would have been hunky-dorry. Cuz I'm sure they are all great shots and used to killing people.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Donald Trump points at random Iowans, claims they - "you, you...you" - would have saved the Parisians in the Bataclan with their guns.The baby clearly got under his skin.
Donald Trump attempts to conclude, then gets distracted and says: "I love that baby! I love that baby! But you'll hear very different."
Gee if only those random Iowans had been in France packing heat and ready to rumble. Everything would have been hunky-dorry. Cuz I'm sure they are all great shots and used to killing people.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
The Late Show has given up any pretense that Trump supporters might watch their show and get upset or petition advertisers to pull their sponsorship or anything and is just going full on anti-Trump in a bid for continued relevance. It's an impressive gambit for them.
posted by zachlipton at 2:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
Even if Trump has been persuaded to hand over his phone and deliver prepared remarks he reads from a tele-prompter, he lacks the discipline to keep at it. Not only will his crowds tire of drama-free events, Trump will be bored as well. And that's when the fun begins...
posted by carmicha at 2:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 2:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Why didn't more highly respected (I'm kidding) Republican intellectuals repudiate Trump when he started talking about deporting 11 million people from the US and denying a path to citizenship?
They probably thought it was an opening gambit for renegotiating policy. You know, like leading with single payer health care.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
They probably thought it was an opening gambit for renegotiating policy. You know, like leading with single payer health care.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
USA Freedom Kids interviewed by VICE back in February.
posted by XMLicious at 2:22 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 2:22 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
OMG that giant pink stretch pickup!
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
He's not going to drop out, right? He's just going to do...this...at least until the end of August when it's too late, right? And then there will be a blowout Democratic victory and Hillary gets to nominate the Supremes and RBG can, if she so chooses, retire? That's what's going to happen?
posted by Frowner at 2:25 PM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 2:25 PM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
Video of Trump trying to relitigate the baby incident
I feel like such a jerk feeling bad for that poor mom. Apparently, "everyone was having fun." Thanks, wet blanket media!
posted by snofoam at 2:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I feel like such a jerk feeling bad for that poor mom. Apparently, "everyone was having fun." Thanks, wet blanket media!
posted by snofoam at 2:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Why does Trump assume he's the smartest in the room?
Smart people tend to leave the room.
posted by srboisvert at 2:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [46 favorites]
Smart people tend to leave the room.
posted by srboisvert at 2:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [46 favorites]
He's not going to drop out, right? He's just going to do...this...at least until the end of August when it's too late, right? And then there will be a blowout Democratic victory and Hillary gets to nominate the Supremes and RBG can, if she so chooses, retire? That's what's going to happen?
I think so but it's all gonna get weird from here on out.
posted by zutalors! at 2:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think so but it's all gonna get weird from here on out.
posted by zutalors! at 2:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Surely even if he drops out the Republicans are a godawful mess. They'd need to come up with some other candidate who's enthusiastic about stepping in a few months from the general, and mollify the Trumpist bloc of their own party, and convince Republican-leaning independents that, no, really, they have it under control now.
I mean, a new candidate would bring some of the disenchanted back into the fold, true, but it seems like they'd still be in big trouble.
posted by jackbishop at 2:36 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I mean, a new candidate would bring some of the disenchanted back into the fold, true, but it seems like they'd still be in big trouble.
posted by jackbishop at 2:36 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Frowner, I think that's the consensus on we think will happen. It what I would put money on happening.
But, the consequences of being wrong on this are so much higher I don't want to plan on it.
It's like driving through some road work where they have those concrete barriers on both sides of the lane. It's not really any tighter than if the barriers weren't there and it's not like you have a problem staying in the lane normally right? But you still feel a need to slow down a little bit, keep a firm grip on the wheel, and pay a little extra attention because the consequences of straying out of that lane aren't just maybe getting honked at.
Now make the lane narrower, replace the barriers with pits of hell fire, and increase the speed to 150mph.
Or to put a more positive spin on it, Trump's rise represents an opportunity for an enormous landslide victory and a mandate for Democrats. So no matter what Trump does, Democrats and their supporters should be going full throttle to maximize that opportunity no matter how well or poorly Trump is doing.
posted by VTX at 2:37 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
But, the consequences of being wrong on this are so much higher I don't want to plan on it.
It's like driving through some road work where they have those concrete barriers on both sides of the lane. It's not really any tighter than if the barriers weren't there and it's not like you have a problem staying in the lane normally right? But you still feel a need to slow down a little bit, keep a firm grip on the wheel, and pay a little extra attention because the consequences of straying out of that lane aren't just maybe getting honked at.
Now make the lane narrower, replace the barriers with pits of hell fire, and increase the speed to 150mph.
Or to put a more positive spin on it, Trump's rise represents an opportunity for an enormous landslide victory and a mandate for Democrats. So no matter what Trump does, Democrats and their supporters should be going full throttle to maximize that opportunity no matter how well or poorly Trump is doing.
posted by VTX at 2:37 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
If they got a new candidate the whole situation would be in such disarray. Like what if Trump drops out? People say that he'll walk out on top or whatever, but that's not the case right now. He's got a big LOSER on his forehead and if he quits it'll be etched there permanently.
posted by zutalors! at 2:38 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by zutalors! at 2:38 PM on August 5, 2016
"I should think at this point the crowd could finish all of his sentences for him."
His sentences finish? It seems to me he mostly speaks in disconnected sentence fragments.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
His sentences finish? It seems to me he mostly speaks in disconnected sentence fragments.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
It's seems like more of a call-and-response where he says something outrageous and offensive and then the crowd tries to out-do him.
posted by VTX at 2:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by VTX at 2:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
I am a non gamer chick living with two gamer dudes and this is my first introduction to LEROY JENKINS. The dudes are kind of like, it's not THAT funny. Oh but it is, it is.
posted by angrycat at 2:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [36 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 2:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [36 favorites]
OMG. Donald Jr. and Eric apparently just left for another overseas hunting trip
Canada isn't overseas. Even way up here.
posted by ODiV at 2:47 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Canada isn't overseas. Even way up here.
posted by ODiV at 2:47 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Guys, what
Clinton's lead over Trump narrows to less than three points: Reuters/Ipsos
posted by maggiemaggie at 2:55 PM on August 5, 2016
Clinton's lead over Trump narrows to less than three points: Reuters/Ipsos
posted by maggiemaggie at 2:55 PM on August 5, 2016
The Notorious K.R.U.G. weighs in on the Council Of Steve.
"(T)rack records that make William Kristol look like a brilliant prophet" is not what I'd call a ringing endorsement.
posted by NoxAeternum at 2:58 PM on August 5, 2016
"(T)rack records that make William Kristol look like a brilliant prophet" is not what I'd call a ringing endorsement.
posted by NoxAeternum at 2:58 PM on August 5, 2016
It's probably an outlier. Don't freak out about individual polls. Look at aggregate polls.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 2:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Clinton's lead over Trump narrows to less than three points: Reuters/Ipsos
Have to assume this is an outlier until we see more polls.
posted by waitingtoderail at 2:58 PM on August 5, 2016
Have to assume this is an outlier until we see more polls.
posted by waitingtoderail at 2:58 PM on August 5, 2016
There was (is?) some company that sold penis enlargement pills. They sold their product (which is total hokum, of course) on a monthly subscription basis – but they made it nearly impossible for customers to unsubscribe. The thinking (which worked out beautifully for a while) was that people would be too embarrassed to complain to credit companies or take legal action.
I did one of those free iPod offers years ago while in college where you have to sign up for a bunch of trial offers and then very diligently cancel them in a narrow time window to avoid ridiculous charges.
Canceling the penis pills was approximately as easy as getting a permit to do anarchist street theater in Pyongyang.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
I did one of those free iPod offers years ago while in college where you have to sign up for a bunch of trial offers and then very diligently cancel them in a narrow time window to avoid ridiculous charges.
Canceling the penis pills was approximately as easy as getting a permit to do anarchist street theater in Pyongyang.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
At least in Kenya people have questioned Ipsos poll results. quite recently in fact.
posted by infini at 2:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by infini at 2:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Clinton's lead over Trump narrows to less than three points: Reuters/Ipsos
Well, thank goodness its a horse race again. I was worried that all those poor news networks were going to have to mortgage their houses.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
Well, thank goodness its a horse race again. I was worried that all those poor news networks were going to have to mortgage their houses.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
There're huge spreads in some of the polls but generally Hillary is not getting much more than 50%. Which I realize is a lot when considering undecideds/others, but it is still a little un-nerving.
posted by Rumple at 3:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Rumple at 3:02 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump Communications Advisor Jason Miller: Donald Trump Knows What It Takes To Win This Election
Miller was on the FOX radio show, Kilmeade and Friends:
"A really good few days" not counting today because he talks about another good day today, and if few means more than two, then that means he is talking about Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Tuesday! Tuesday has been called one of Trump's worst days ever so that's quite the spin.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:06 PM on August 5, 2016
Miller was on the FOX radio show, Kilmeade and Friends:
Donald Trump wants to win this election. I think Donald Trump knows what it takes to go in and win this election… And he has made it clear to everyone on the campaign team that he knows what he needs to do to win, he is doing that. We’ve had a really good few days on the campaign trail, we’re going to have another good day today in Iowa and Wisconsin. He knows what he needs to do. Governor Pence is a great ally on the campaign trail and another asset to the team and we’re just going to keep doing it.[my bold]
"A really good few days" not counting today because he talks about another good day today, and if few means more than two, then that means he is talking about Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Tuesday! Tuesday has been called one of Trump's worst days ever so that's quite the spin.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:06 PM on August 5, 2016
"Relitigate the baby" is the name of my next band's first single.
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:07 PM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
_____"RELITIGATE THE BABY"_______
======> The Commissioners <======
___________"EX PARTY"____________posted by snuffleupagus at 3:07 PM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
Brian Kilmeade has no friends.
posted by guiseroom at 3:09 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 3:09 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Clinton's lead over Trump narrows to less than three points: Reuters/Ipsos
Polling is always a mess until the beginning of September, at least. Frequently until after the first debate, if there is one this time.
The rulebook's been thrown out the window. Usually few assumptions are safe. Right now virtually NO assumption is safe.
posted by tclark at 3:12 PM on August 5, 2016
Polling is always a mess until the beginning of September, at least. Frequently until after the first debate, if there is one this time.
The rulebook's been thrown out the window. Usually few assumptions are safe. Right now virtually NO assumption is safe.
posted by tclark at 3:12 PM on August 5, 2016
Trump, looking to right his campaign ship, plans to endorse Ryan
Trump has said he will endorse Ryan at his rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin but Ryan will not be there and Ryan's aide has said, "We have no knowledge of this and it's a question for their campaign."
About the rally today, Reuters has this:
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
Trump has said he will endorse Ryan at his rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin but Ryan will not be there and Ryan's aide has said, "We have no knowledge of this and it's a question for their campaign."
About the rally today, Reuters has this:
At a rally in Des Moines, Trump showed newfound discipline, mostly sticking to his central charge that Clinton is the "queen of corruption." He defended himself against her charge that he is temperamentally unfit for the White House.There isn't any need to snark at him, Reuters just has to quote his actual words.
"All my life I've been told, 'You have the greatest temperament,'" he said.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
Polling is always a mess until the beginning of September, at least.
Ha! When I raised this point upthread I was told, "Polling in America is the best, that's what everyone tells us, it's remarkable, really, how great American polling is, very good, you know."
Polling is great for the media since it provides an exciting horserace, but it would seem unwise to take it on face value until after Labor Day - a month away at this point.
posted by My Dad at 3:25 PM on August 5, 2016
Ha! When I raised this point upthread I was told, "Polling in America is the best, that's what everyone tells us, it's remarkable, really, how great American polling is, very good, you know."
Polling is great for the media since it provides an exciting horserace, but it would seem unwise to take it on face value until after Labor Day - a month away at this point.
posted by My Dad at 3:25 PM on August 5, 2016
Top Trumpeteer Paul Manafort: "... if you’re relying on the Justice Department to ensure the security of the elections, we have to be worried.” (TPM: Paul Manafort Stokes ‘Rigged Election’ Fears)
This is disgusting. Also, looooosers.
It's an odd-numbered day, so we have switched from "VLADIMIR PUTIN IS GOING TO HACK R ELECTIONS U GUYS!!! USA #1!" to "our elections have perfect integrity, how cynical of you to suggest otherwise".
posted by indubitable at 3:25 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
This is disgusting. Also, looooosers.
It's an odd-numbered day, so we have switched from "VLADIMIR PUTIN IS GOING TO HACK R ELECTIONS U GUYS!!! USA #1!" to "our elections have perfect integrity, how cynical of you to suggest otherwise".
posted by indubitable at 3:25 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
The Green Bay rally with Trump and Pence together is supposed to start at 8:00 EST. You can watch a live stream via Heavy. I would be really surprised if they start on time because in the past week I don't think any of Trump's rallys started on time. The one in Portland Maine was three hours late.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:27 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:27 PM on August 5, 2016
Reuters showed them tied last week. IBD is showing her up 7. Really, she is up in all polls -- largely because Trump is losing points -- and the concern to my way of thinking is that I want to see her polling over 50 across all polls.
Also, we are going to need a new thread on Monday.
posted by bearwife at 3:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also, we are going to need a new thread on Monday.
posted by bearwife at 3:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
No, no! Cortex promised to drive us all the way to Stevesville!
posted by rikschell at 3:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 3:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
Trump's coming back to North Carolina on Tuesday. He will be back in Fayetteville, home of Fort Bragg.
I've lived here for 16 years and have never been. My husband, the Raleigh native, says it is a pit. The only thing I know about it is when we got our Giant Schnauzer puppy and looked into getting her ears docked (we decided against that thankfully) Fayetteville was the only place around that would do it.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've lived here for 16 years and have never been. My husband, the Raleigh native, says it is a pit. The only thing I know about it is when we got our Giant Schnauzer puppy and looked into getting her ears docked (we decided against that thankfully) Fayetteville was the only place around that would do it.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Can G.O.P. Tell Donald Trump, ‘You’re Fired’? Probably Not
posted by a lungful of dragon at 3:42 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by a lungful of dragon at 3:42 PM on August 5, 2016
Former CIA director Michael Morrel has penned an endorsement of Hilary Clinton in the NYT:
In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation.posted by chrchr at 3:44 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Forgot this from the linked article
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:46 PM on August 5, 2016
Trump's last visit to Fayetteville drew international attention because a spectator hit a protester that was being escorted out by Cumberland County sheriff's deputies. The spectator, Trump supporter John F. McGraw of Linden, was charged with assault and battery, disorderly conduct and communicating a threat. His case is scheduled to be heard after the election.Fayetteville is that kind of place.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:46 PM on August 5, 2016
In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation.
Whoops, it's ten 'til 7, so we're back to using cynical xenophobia to promote the Democrat.
posted by indubitable at 3:51 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Whoops, it's ten 'til 7, so we're back to using cynical xenophobia to promote the Democrat.
posted by indubitable at 3:51 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump Supporters and Protestors Arrive Hours Before Rally in Green Bay
Gene Lyons: Will Donald last all the way to the election?
Some that waited for the Donald Trump rally said they were standing outside the doors for 11:00 AM for the 7:00 PM speech.Oh those poor souls. Eight hours waiting to see Trump. And there is no telling when he will arrive or if he will actually endorse Ryan.
Many of the supporters CBS 58’s David Ade talked to said they're hoping Donald Trump endorses Paul Ryan, and then shifts his focus to talking about issues.
Gene Lyons: Will Donald last all the way to the election?
A Gallup poll taken after the 2016 GOP convention showed voters less likely to vote for Trump by a 51-36 margin — the first negative numbers in post-convention polling history. No national political convention since Gallup began asking the question in 1984 has failed to improve a nominee’s standing. Even Mitt Romney got a two percent bounce. Trump dropped 15 points.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:54 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard Trump describe the U.S. as a doomed, hellish landscape with “poverty and violence at home, war and destruction abroad.” Were Republicans really so far gone into his cult of personality as to leave patriotism, optimism and the enduring hope of a better tomorrow to Democrats?
Indeed, they were. Hence voter dismay, and a recent CBS News poll showing 63 percent of voters saying Trump “lacks the right temperament” for the presidency. For all the hugger-mugger over Hillary Clinton’s “damned emails,” 60 percent think she’s prepared.
Is it wrong of me to hope that this guy shows up at the Trump rally tonight?
posted by NoxAeternum at 3:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by NoxAeternum at 3:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Well, thank goodness its a horse race again. I was worried that all those poor news networks were going to have to mortgage their houses.
They'd better ramp up their Trump coverage to 59.5 minutes of every hour just in case.
posted by Copronymus at 4:10 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
They'd better ramp up their Trump coverage to 59.5 minutes of every hour just in case.
posted by Copronymus at 4:10 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
I admit I don't usually follow the campaigns this closely so I don't know if this usual but I doubt it. As of Friday afternoon the Republican Party in Colorado thought he was going to making a couple of stops there on Tuesday.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Mesa County Party Leaders say their communications with the campaign have "gone quiet" they haven't gotten a confirmed yes that the candidate will be there, but they haven't heard a no, either.Since Trump will be campaigning in Fayetteville and Wilmington, NC on Tuesday, I'm guessing that would be a big "No" for both Grand Junction and Pueblo. Hope they didn't go to too much trouble. What I find startling is the line "communications with the campaign have gone quiet." That's the part that sounds like it might be unusual. I don't think you want to be messing around with your local party as they will be responsible for the GOTV.
Reports indicated Donald Trump would also be in Pueblo, making two stops in Colorado, Friday morning the Pueblo stop was cancelled. What that means for the Grand Junction visit isn’t completely clear – but it could mean the candidate is skipping Colorado altogether.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Fayetteville is that kind of place.
Fayette-Nam, as my old Econ prof liked to say. I mean, really, he should drive on down 95 and make a campaign stop at South Of The Border.
Whoops, it's ten 'til 7, so we're back to using cynical xenophobia to promote the Democrat.
They might regret that. The pro-Putin demo could be key.
posted by octobersurprise at 4:25 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Fayette-Nam, as my old Econ prof liked to say. I mean, really, he should drive on down 95 and make a campaign stop at South Of The Border.
Whoops, it's ten 'til 7, so we're back to using cynical xenophobia to promote the Democrat.
They might regret that. The pro-Putin demo could be key.
posted by octobersurprise at 4:25 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Thanks for the link, Twain Device; it's a nice reminder that if the RNC had a single viable other candidate, we wouldn't be here. Aside from "no, Trump is really, really not going to quit," there's nobody to replace him if he did.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:25 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:25 PM on August 5, 2016
What I find startling is the line "communications with the campaign have gone quiet." That's the part that sounds like it might be unusual. I don't think you want to be messing around with your local party as they will be responsible for the GOTV.
The states that Trump are going after are apparently so secret that not even his campaign knows what they are.
Meanwhile, Georgia and Arizona burn.
posted by Talez at 4:27 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
The states that Trump are going after are apparently so secret that not even his campaign knows what they are.
Meanwhile, Georgia and Arizona burn.
posted by Talez at 4:27 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
They'd better ramp up their Trump coverage to 59.5 minutes of every hour just in case.
Vacant Podium 2016?
posted by Talez at 4:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Vacant Podium 2016?
posted by Talez at 4:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Vacant Podium 2016?
Vacant Podium/Clint Eastwood Chair 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
Vacant Podium/Clint Eastwood Chair 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
This week has been a godsend for me in terms of my overall sanity and ability to get work done. Please, please, I need next week to be similar. I want that one poll to be an outlier. I want this election to be a no-brainer. Please, let it be so.
posted by peacheater at 4:36 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 4:36 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Twain Device- Great article. I'm going to print it out and put it by my desk for days that I start hyperventilating. Specifically, that the deadline has passed in about 20 states. These are the candidates, folks.
posted by Sophie1 at 4:47 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by Sophie1 at 4:47 PM on August 5, 2016
With the global warming section of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies literally showing cities on maps being inundated by water (wait for it, tape-delayed people), I think we've found what Trump is going to explode over next.
posted by zachlipton at 4:47 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 4:47 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Vacant Podium 2016
Perhaps it is best to take a lesson from the Belgian gov't and just have no President for a time. Any bills presented to the Office of the President by Congress become law after the requisite period passes without action. The armed forces fulfill their current orders and return to base and a posture of defending against any encroaching fleet of Russian troopships but not starting any wars or bombardments. The Executive continues with the current leadership or interim leaders as needed.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 4:51 PM on August 5, 2016
Perhaps it is best to take a lesson from the Belgian gov't and just have no President for a time. Any bills presented to the Office of the President by Congress become law after the requisite period passes without action. The armed forces fulfill their current orders and return to base and a posture of defending against any encroaching fleet of Russian troopships but not starting any wars or bombardments. The Executive continues with the current leadership or interim leaders as needed.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 4:51 PM on August 5, 2016
We have a good candidate for president running though.
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:52 PM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:52 PM on August 5, 2016 [30 favorites]
Paul Nehlen, @SpeakerRyan primary opponent will be arriving at Trump's rally in Green Bay momentarily, his Spox tells me.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:52 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zombieflanders at 4:52 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well that could be awkward if Trump does endorse Ryan at this event.
posted by dersins at 4:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by dersins at 4:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
'Trump for Women' event held at local restaurant
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
A large crowd gathered at Abele’s Family Restaurant on Friday morning to take part in a “Women for Trump” meet and greet with a family member and supporters of the Donald Trump campaign organized by the Burke County Republican Party.So Eric's wife, Eric's assistant, Omarosa, and Katrina "Why is everyone a half-breed" Pierson. So sorry I missed that.
Lara Trump, the wife of Donald Trump’s son Eric, arrived at the restaurant along with Omarosa Manigault of "The Apprentice" fame, Katrina Pierson, spokeswoman for Trump, Lynn Patton, vice president for the Eric Trump Foundation, and senior assistant to Eric Trump.
“When I say ‘Trump Train’ everybody in here needs to go ‘choo choo,’” Lara said.Nope not sorry I missed that at all.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
AND BY AWKWARD I MEAN AWESOME
posted by dersins at 4:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by dersins at 4:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Well that could be awkward if Trump does endorse Ryan at this event.
Ugh. Well I'm not going to listen to his damn speech. Keep me posted will you? I've had enough Trump for the day. (Fingers crossed for a Ryan double-cross.)
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ugh. Well I'm not going to listen to his damn speech. Keep me posted will you? I've had enough Trump for the day. (Fingers crossed for a Ryan double-cross.)
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:59 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
This week has been a godsend for me in terms of my overall sanity and ability to get work done. Please, please, I need next week to be similar. I want that one poll to be an outlier. I want this election to be a no-brainer. Please, let it be so.
Deep breaths, deep breaths. In all honesty and I know this is delicate....I think we're going to see some polls soon where he narrows the gap. Polls and ratings are the one thing he gets. He will try, for a while, to do what his advisors tell him. If a week or two goes by without him literally cursing at babies and grieving mothers, people will edge back a bit, and the Wall Street Journal et al will doubtless try and spring something else on Hilary, and some people will remember they don't like her either.
Seriously, in this thread you've got a bunch of people all of a sudden thinking Texas is in play. 538's now cast puts HRC's chances at like 90-billion-percent. This cannot last, this peak. There's no room on the upside from here. So a fall's the most likely thing. Deep breaths, mentally prepare yourself, hum your matra, go to your special place. It will happen.
Then most likely he'll do some other vicious, stupid thing and we'll be off to the races, again. But the coaster ride ain't over yet.
posted by maggiepolitt at 5:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [25 favorites]
Deep breaths, deep breaths. In all honesty and I know this is delicate....I think we're going to see some polls soon where he narrows the gap. Polls and ratings are the one thing he gets. He will try, for a while, to do what his advisors tell him. If a week or two goes by without him literally cursing at babies and grieving mothers, people will edge back a bit, and the Wall Street Journal et al will doubtless try and spring something else on Hilary, and some people will remember they don't like her either.
Seriously, in this thread you've got a bunch of people all of a sudden thinking Texas is in play. 538's now cast puts HRC's chances at like 90-billion-percent. This cannot last, this peak. There's no room on the upside from here. So a fall's the most likely thing. Deep breaths, mentally prepare yourself, hum your matra, go to your special place. It will happen.
Then most likely he'll do some other vicious, stupid thing and we'll be off to the races, again. But the coaster ride ain't over yet.
posted by maggiepolitt at 5:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [25 favorites]
Any bills presented to the Office of the President by Congress become law after the requisite period passes without action.
After the Democrats fucked up, a bill to repeal the ACA actually made it to Obama's desk so no, I don't think we should operate without a president or even a Democratic president right now.
posted by Talez at 5:06 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
After the Democrats fucked up, a bill to repeal the ACA actually made it to Obama's desk so no, I don't think we should operate without a president or even a Democratic president right now.
posted by Talez at 5:06 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
I'm watching the Trump rally... I'm afraid I'll damage my eyes with how bad they're rolling right now.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:09 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:09 PM on August 5, 2016
Is he reading from his lectern like a 4th grader when he's not speaking from the hip?
posted by Talez at 5:15 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by Talez at 5:15 PM on August 5, 2016
look at those note cards and think of all the money you save not using a teleprompter dude
posted by infinitewindow at 5:15 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by infinitewindow at 5:15 PM on August 5, 2016
Baby bingo!
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:18 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:18 PM on August 5, 2016
My gawd... and he's lying through his teeth about the baby. I mean it's on video. LOL.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
"I'm running against myself."
Truth, finally!
posted by snofoam at 5:20 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Truth, finally!
posted by snofoam at 5:20 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
"I'm running against myself"
posted by erisfree at 5:20 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by erisfree at 5:20 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
So Trump is finally going to endorse Paul Ryan after teasing for weeks and making him sweat, but Trump made clear in his last interview that he will never, ever endorse McCain. Given that McCain has been a much sturdier supporter of Trump than Ryan, what perceived slight going back many months or years is motivating Trump's animosity towards McCain? Both Ryan and McCain have similarly disavowed some of Trump's more toxic statements recently so that can't be the distinguishing factor. What makes McCain so much worse than Ryan in Trump's eyes?
posted by JackFlash at 5:20 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by JackFlash at 5:20 PM on August 5, 2016
Who do you believe, Trump or your lying eyes?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:20 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:20 PM on August 5, 2016
It would be incredible if Trump endorses BOTH Ryan & Nehlen.
posted by zakur at 5:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by zakur at 5:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Looking down at the stapled printout of the speech is just so much more personable and connected than reading from a teleprompter.
Ronald Reagan, big tent, big BIG tent, Reagan, remember that...
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:22 PM on August 5, 2016
Ronald Reagan, big tent, big BIG tent, Reagan, remember that...
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:22 PM on August 5, 2016
I thought he might say something like "I will let the voters decide."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:24 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:24 PM on August 5, 2016
Holy shit. He actually had to read that endorsement statement from a piece of paper.
posted by Talez at 5:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Talez at 5:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Did he just... advocate people voting multiple times because voter ID restrictions have been removed?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:24 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:24 PM on August 5, 2016
The physical notes seem to be his sweet spot. He can riff for a bit about babies or whatever, and then glance down for his next prepared point.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:25 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:25 PM on August 5, 2016
It's like he's going down the list of people he's pissed off. And yet the youtube chat is eating this shit up. lol
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:26 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:26 PM on August 5, 2016
This week has been a godsend for me in terms of my overall sanity and ability to get work done. Please, please, I need next week to be similar. I want that one poll to be an outlier. I want this election to be a no-brainer. Please, let it be so.
If it's any consolation, observing the election won't alter its outcome. Nothing happens until 11/8, and then it either is, or it isn't.
posted by indubitable at 5:26 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
If it's any consolation, observing the election won't alter its outcome. Nothing happens until 11/8, and then it either is, or it isn't.
posted by indubitable at 5:26 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
He obviously has handlers now, and they've got him muzzled. I'm afraid the crowd might tear him apart.
posted by Yowser at 5:27 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Yowser at 5:27 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, this is delicious. The endorsements are now there for everyone to see, I hope he drags every single one of those gutless pigfuckers down with him if he gets spanked, no matter how unenthusiastic he is.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 5:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
Did he give Paul Ryan a big smooch, Godfather-style?
posted by indubitable at 5:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by indubitable at 5:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
This you could have been the hero schtick is going to get some traction, I'm afraid.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:31 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:31 PM on August 5, 2016
Well, so much for that. I guess he endorsed them all.
posted by JackFlash at 5:32 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by JackFlash at 5:32 PM on August 5, 2016
Those endorsements just oooozzed sincerity.
posted by wallabear at 5:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by wallabear at 5:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
So Ryan didn't show up but got an endorsement and Nehlen did show up and got shafted. Ouch. I wonder if Nehlen was invited or just showed up to support his tweet buddy?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Crowd cheers big for waterboarding. Sigh.
posted by mochapickle at 5:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mochapickle at 5:33 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I can see Ryan opening a bottle of vodka and sobbing to sleep tonight. RIP political aspirations.
posted by Yowser at 5:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Yowser at 5:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Clearly someone has gotten him on a very tight leash. Are you safe, Donald? Blink twice if you need help.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:36 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:36 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
W. Kamau Bell @wkamaubell
.@donaldtrump is reading this "unity" speech like a guy who has been taken hostage by the Republican party.
posted by zakur at 5:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
.@donaldtrump is reading this "unity" speech like a guy who has been taken hostage by the Republican party.
posted by zakur at 5:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
At last, the pivot.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
"You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it."
posted by kirkaracha at 5:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 5:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Not sure how much longer I can stomach listening to this but, if I understood this correctly then
1) she's an unhinged power hungry monster who obeys no rules and has wrecked America and will continue to do so if elected and
2) she's too weak to be president
Huh. Interesting.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 5:40 PM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
1) she's an unhinged power hungry monster who obeys no rules and has wrecked America and will continue to do so if elected and
2) she's too weak to be president
Huh. Interesting.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 5:40 PM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
I've already had to turn it off. And according to the chat, being pro-anyonebutTrump means you're a troll and get timed out. Nothing says 'yay freedom' more than silencing people.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:44 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:44 PM on August 5, 2016
Those endorsements just oooozzed sincerity.
I suspect it doesn't matter. He ticked the boxes.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:45 PM on August 5, 2016
I suspect it doesn't matter. He ticked the boxes.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:45 PM on August 5, 2016
Guys guys guys. I get it now!
"The wall is getting taller every day...."
The wall is made of bullshit!
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:46 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
"The wall is getting taller every day...."
The wall is made of bullshit!
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:46 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Now he's using his practice of stiffing contractors as a model for how he'd deal with Iran.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:49 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:49 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
I've been thinking lately that if I didn't know Marlon Brando was dead I'd think Donald Trump was the greatest performance of his career.
posted by wabbittwax at 5:49 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 5:49 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
8:30 p.m. Eastern on a Friday is a great time to roll out news.
I know, less relevant in today's world but still.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:50 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I know, less relevant in today's world but still.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:50 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
He's gonna pivot so hard, you won't believe this pivot. You think a 180 is a big pivot? He's gonna way more than that, he'll double it, do a 360.
posted by ckape at 5:50 PM on August 5, 2016 [28 favorites]
posted by ckape at 5:50 PM on August 5, 2016 [28 favorites]
360 is for losers. Trump'll do a 720.
posted by wabbittwax at 5:53 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 5:53 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
360 is for losers. Trump'll do a 720.
I'm still hoping he'll stick the dismount.
posted by puddledork at 5:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm still hoping he'll stick the dismount.
posted by puddledork at 5:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've been thinking lately that if I didn't know Marlon Brando was dead I'd think Donald Trump was the greatest performance of his career.
Shit. Andy Kaufman really DIDN'T die.
posted by Deoridhe at 5:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Shit. Andy Kaufman really DIDN'T die.
posted by Deoridhe at 5:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Always twirling toward freedom!
posted by wabbittwax at 5:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 5:56 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
He's got some interesting quirks. They're not folksy, but they read that way. Unusual adjective-noun pairs, for example. "strong voters"
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
As if this thread wasn't long enough already, Julian Assange will be speaking at the Green Party convention via live feed (SLTwitter).
posted by miguelcervantes at 6:04 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by miguelcervantes at 6:04 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Jeebus! Putin as the test for American President?!
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:05 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:05 PM on August 5, 2016
"Sometimes knowing a little is better than knowing too much."
posted by erisfree at 6:08 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by erisfree at 6:08 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wait. Is the anti NATO stuff part of the prepared remarks?!
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:09 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:09 PM on August 5, 2016
man, stein and assange speaking at the same event, a self-regard black hole might form
posted by murphy slaw at 6:09 PM on August 5, 2016 [21 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:09 PM on August 5, 2016 [21 favorites]
The chat window on YouTube... they hate Ryan; they hate McCain... Trump is utterly failing to do the basic "please vote for Republicans up and down the ballot" thing. (I don't think Trump has put three whole minutes into the concept of negotiating with congress.)
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:09 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:09 PM on August 5, 2016
Does anyone do transcripts of Trump's and/or Hillary's rallies? Googling around, I can't find any.
posted by macfly at 6:10 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by macfly at 6:10 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
is he gonna make every GOP member of congress running for re-election kiss the ring individually for an endorsement?
posted by murphy slaw at 6:11 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:11 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I hear: They. Out there. They're coming. To get us. We have to protect ourselves.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:12 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:12 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Please keep commenting people who are viewing this. I personally cannot stand to even hear the man's voice.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 6:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 6:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Ryan et al. must have been relieved at the beginning when he endorsed them, and are now shitting themselves as he attacks all our allies.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I hear: They. Out there. They're coming. To get us. We have to protect ourselves.
Huh, that's how I feel about Trump fans.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Huh, that's how I feel about Trump fans.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
i am going to laugh my ass off if immediately after this he tweets something incredibly passive-aggressive about having to endorse ryan and mccain
posted by murphy slaw at 6:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
So far he's bad-mouthed Japan, Saudi Arabia, and all of NATO.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:16 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:16 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
He put the notes away. We're going rogue now.
posted by erisfree at 6:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by erisfree at 6:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I hear: They. Out there. They're coming. To get us. We have to protect ourselves.
they're all holding mirrors - and they're all named steve
posted by pyramid termite at 6:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
they're all holding mirrors - and they're all named steve
posted by pyramid termite at 6:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Ryan et al. must have been relieved at the beginning when he endorsed them, and are now shitting themselves as he attacks all our allies.
"Finally, I got the endorsement. Everyone will know that the GOP candidate for president thinks highly of me, and that…I…wish to be…associated…with…*gulp*…his policies…*sobs uncontrollably*"
posted by murphy slaw at 6:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
"Finally, I got the endorsement. Everyone will know that the GOP candidate for president thinks highly of me, and that…I…wish to be…associated…with…*gulp*…his policies…*sobs uncontrollably*"
posted by murphy slaw at 6:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
From the chat stream: "The khazir Khan debacle is backfiring on the dems"
Um. It is? You mean, the "debacle" caused when Trump started insulting a gold star family? And it's backfiring by... um, by Trump having something to talk about, other than his nonexistent policy plans?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:18 PM on August 5, 2016
Um. It is? You mean, the "debacle" caused when Trump started insulting a gold star family? And it's backfiring by... um, by Trump having something to talk about, other than his nonexistent policy plans?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:18 PM on August 5, 2016
Back to shitting on America. Except for cops.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:18 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:18 PM on August 5, 2016
Gonna have strong borders; Mexico's gonna pay for the wall; gonna get rid of Obamacare & common core; gonna appoint supreme court justices. We're gonna win. Gonna win so much you're gonna get tired of winning.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:20 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:20 PM on August 5, 2016
"We're going to get rid of Common Core. We're going to have local education." What is "local education"?
posted by erisfree at 6:20 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by erisfree at 6:20 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
local education means calling it "the war of northern aggression" and using Song of the South to show what slavery was like
posted by murphy slaw at 6:23 PM on August 5, 2016 [62 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:23 PM on August 5, 2016 [62 favorites]
Twitter is saying that the RNC/Priebus threatened to pull all the staff and money. Trump, having no campaign apparatus at all, caved.
posted by Devonian at 6:23 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 6:23 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
He wants to put control of curriculums back in local school board hands. Which, has its pluses and minuses. Not that I think he's given it any thought.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:23 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:23 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
So Trump was shitting on the cooperation and security treaty between United States and Japan, this treaty has lasted longer than any other alliance between two great powers since the metafilter-favorite Treaty of Westphalia.
posted by peeedro at 6:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 6:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
Why are you guys watching this crap and not the Parade of Nations?
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
How can we rejoice in Westphalia when Wallenstein was so cruelly cut down?
posted by The Gaffer at 6:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by The Gaffer at 6:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Who should play Trump in the movie? I'm going with Christopher Walken.
posted by Lyme Drop at 6:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Lyme Drop at 6:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Hey, we can do both!
If we have a VPN that allows us to spoof an Eastern Time Zone, that is. (facepalm)
posted by narwhal at 6:33 PM on August 5, 2016
If we have a VPN that allows us to spoof an Eastern Time Zone, that is. (facepalm)
posted by narwhal at 6:33 PM on August 5, 2016
That's the Parade of Nations that are Robbing Us Blind and Not Paying Their Way according to Trump.
posted by zachlipton at 6:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 6:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Who should play Trump in the movie?
jerry lewis
posted by pyramid termite at 6:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
jerry lewis
posted by pyramid termite at 6:34 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
I love that he endorsed Ryan and McCain when the rest of the world is focused on the Olympics. Well played, Il Douche.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:35 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:35 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Who should play Trump in the movie?
Danny DeVito.
posted by carmicha at 6:37 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Danny DeVito.
posted by carmicha at 6:37 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Joe Piscopo
posted by Lyme Drop at 6:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Lyme Drop at 6:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Who should play Trump in the movie?
a big sweaty butt
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
a big sweaty butt
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:38 PM on August 5, 2016 [20 favorites]
So, I haven't listened to Donald Trump speak for this long in a while.
He is incredibly talented. He becomes his own character in a way that neither sneering nor cheering do justice. He knows his flock, and his flock know him.
They must lose.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
He is incredibly talented. He becomes his own character in a way that neither sneering nor cheering do justice. He knows his flock, and his flock know him.
They must lose.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Scott Baio
posted by zakur at 6:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by zakur at 6:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
his endorsing ryan and mccain is like some kid endorsing spinach after holding his nose, holding his breath, turning blue in the face, falling to the floor and pounding his tiny hands and feet on the floor for 5 minutes, then shoving a mouthful in his piehole and shoving the rest into his glass of ovaltine
no one's buying it, donnie
posted by pyramid termite at 6:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
no one's buying it, donnie
posted by pyramid termite at 6:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
I think as far as Donald is concerned that's a feature, not a bug.
posted by Francis at 6:41 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by Francis at 6:41 PM on August 5, 2016
Who should play Trump in the movie? I'm going with Christopher Walken.
Drunk Alec Baldwin. But I repeat myself.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
He is incredibly talented. He becomes his own character in a way that neither sneering nor cheering do justice. He knows his flock, and his flock know him.
i watched most of his spiel at the maine rally the other day, and if you buy into his vision of america as hellhole and trump as the guy to give you back your fair share, he sells it pretty well.
if you're looking from outside his bubble though, it's nauseating
posted by murphy slaw at 6:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
i watched most of his spiel at the maine rally the other day, and if you buy into his vision of america as hellhole and trump as the guy to give you back your fair share, he sells it pretty well.
if you're looking from outside his bubble though, it's nauseating
posted by murphy slaw at 6:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
No one is actually buying his 30' wall. That's not a deal breaker and neither is his half-assed endorsements.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
So apparently, earlier today in Iowa, Trump said Hillary is "unbalanced" and "unhinged."
In other news, the pot called the kettle black.
posted by zakur at 6:45 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
In other news, the pot called the kettle black.
posted by zakur at 6:45 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
that's his problem in a nutshell - nobody who already supports him cares that he's bullshitting, and nobody who doesn't already support him can take him seriously. he's starting to hit the hard ceiling of his appeal
posted by murphy slaw at 6:45 PM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:45 PM on August 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
Okay, so obviously my prediction about Trump's endorsements was a little off the mark in terms of details. He needed a written statement, so I was right on the money there, but he read it himself which is a surprise. Past that, it seems like a given that he's going to undermine it. That's not much of a prediction. So we're down to guessing how long it'll take him to fuck the whole thing up.
I'm guessing he'll do it sometime on Sunday. Maybe at an in-person appearance, maybe on an interview. His people will try to keep him off Twitter and on-message tomorrow, but by Sunday something will slip.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:52 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm guessing he'll do it sometime on Sunday. Maybe at an in-person appearance, maybe on an interview. His people will try to keep him off Twitter and on-message tomorrow, but by Sunday something will slip.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:52 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
So apparently, earlier today in Iowa, Trump said Hillary is "unbalanced" and "unhinged."
That is Trump's schtick; whenever he is attacked he turns it around and uses the exact same phrase to describe Hillary. He tweeted early about her being "unfit." He is basically a toddler screaming "I'm rubber, you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to YOU!"
posted by gatorae at 6:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
That is Trump's schtick; whenever he is attacked he turns it around and uses the exact same phrase to describe Hillary. He tweeted early about her being "unfit." He is basically a toddler screaming "I'm rubber, you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to YOU!"
posted by gatorae at 6:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I go on vacation and the Trump campaign finally goes off the rails in one of the worst campaign weeks we've seen since 1972.
You're welcome, America.
Hamilton was worth every penny we paid to sit in the upper balcony
posted by dw at 7:00 PM on August 5, 2016 [24 favorites]
You're welcome, America.
Hamilton was worth every penny we paid to sit in the upper balcony
posted by dw at 7:00 PM on August 5, 2016 [24 favorites]
At some point next week the Clinton campaign will have a surrogate accuse him of being a hyper-competent woman with decades of policy experience and wait for him to reflexively throw it back at her.
posted by cortex at 7:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [54 favorites]
posted by cortex at 7:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [54 favorites]
Twitter is saying that the RNC/Priebus threatened to pull all the staff and money. Trump, having no campaign apparatus at all, caved.
I need to hear more about this, specifically people teasing him about it.
posted by bongo_x at 7:01 PM on August 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Its there a link to a tweet suggesting that? I may have missed it if it was linked already.
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:02 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:02 PM on August 5, 2016
Trump would insist on playing himself.
Or Jeffrey Jones.
posted by guiseroom at 7:03 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Or Jeffrey Jones.
posted by guiseroom at 7:03 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
@Joey Michaels
Its there a link to a tweet suggesting that? I may have missed it if it was linked already.
Friend suggest RNC/Priebus threatened to pull staff/money. Thats fatal for Trump since he still has zero campaign apparatus.Seems plausible.
posted by vac2003 at 7:07 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Its there a link to a tweet suggesting that? I may have missed it if it was linked already.
Friend suggest RNC/Priebus threatened to pull staff/money. Thats fatal for Trump since he still has zero campaign apparatus.Seems plausible.
posted by vac2003 at 7:07 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I go on vacation and the Trump campaign finally goes off the rails in one of the worst campaign weeks we've seen since 1972.
how much do we need to pay you to stay on vacation until election day
posted by murphy slaw at 7:10 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
how much do we need to pay you to stay on vacation until election day
posted by murphy slaw at 7:10 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
Thank you vac2003!
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:13 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:13 PM on August 5, 2016
Does anyone do transcripts of Trump's and/or Hillary's rallies? Googling around, I can't find any.
@SopanDeb is chasing Donald and providing rally transcripts.
posted by salix at 7:15 PM on August 5, 2016
@SopanDeb is chasing Donald and providing rally transcripts.
posted by salix at 7:15 PM on August 5, 2016
Julian Assange is on Bill Maher right now and just said Wikileaks is working on hacking the Trump tax returns.
posted by carmicha at 7:16 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 7:16 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
I saw a few people smack talking him on twitter. My God, GWB made me have to pay attention to politics and now Trump is causing me to look at twitter. My resentment of Republicans grows stronger and burns hotter every day.
posted by bongo_x at 7:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 7:17 PM on August 5, 2016 [14 favorites]
That is Trump's schtick; whenever he is attacked he turns it around and uses the exact same phrase to describe Hillary.
Oh god, this. I caught a little Trump* on XM earlier and he was going on and on about how Hillary doesn't have the right temperament to be president. Basically every single thing that has been said about him in the last week, he turned around and said Hillary was the one deficient in that way.
(* this sounds like something that would result in a doctor requiring you to contacting all your sexual partners for the past 5 years)
posted by tocts at 7:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Oh god, this. I caught a little Trump* on XM earlier and he was going on and on about how Hillary doesn't have the right temperament to be president. Basically every single thing that has been said about him in the last week, he turned around and said Hillary was the one deficient in that way.
(* this sounds like something that would result in a doctor requiring you to contacting all your sexual partners for the past 5 years)
posted by tocts at 7:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
So if Hillary is a monster but also very weak, is she supposed to be Elmo?
posted by gatorae at 7:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 7:18 PM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Julian Assange is on Bill Maher right now and just said Wikileaks is working on hacking the Trump tax returns.
Ugh can we not?
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ugh can we not?
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Julian Assange is on Bill Maher right now and just said Wikileaks is working on hacking the Trump tax returns.
It doesn't even matter if it's true, the joy I'm getting from knowing Trump is going to be running around screaming like his hair is on fire is immense.
posted by bongo_x at 7:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
It doesn't even matter if it's true, the joy I'm getting from knowing Trump is going to be running around screaming like his hair is on fire is immense.
posted by bongo_x at 7:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Ugh, can we not?
Julian Assange is a disgusting and amoral human being. Wikileaks has disclosed interesting things. Both statements are true.
posted by carmicha at 7:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [22 favorites]
Julian Assange is a disgusting and amoral human being. Wikileaks has disclosed interesting things. Both statements are true.
posted by carmicha at 7:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [22 favorites]
Friend suggest RNC/Priebus threatened to pull staff/money. Thats fatal for Trump since he still has zero campaign apparatus.
Could I get a dozen journalists, stat, to talk smack about how RNC/Priebus out negotiated Trump. I really want to jab him right in the I'm-a-fabulous-negotiator solar plexus.
posted by puddledork at 7:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
Could I get a dozen journalists, stat, to talk smack about how RNC/Priebus out negotiated Trump. I really want to jab him right in the I'm-a-fabulous-negotiator solar plexus.
posted by puddledork at 7:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
The scary part is that Wikileaks could do just as much damage making up fake tax returns and putting them out.
posted by zachlipton at 7:23 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 7:23 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yeah I am really not a huge fan of international cybercrime becoming a major factor in our electoral process.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [64 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [64 favorites]
They didn't want me to talk about the baby. I said I've got to. They caved. Sad.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:25 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:25 PM on August 5, 2016
Julian Assange is on Bill Maher right now and just said Wikileaks is working on hacking the Trump tax returns.
Are they bollocks.
posted by holgate at 7:26 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Are they bollocks.
posted by holgate at 7:26 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Drunk Alec Baldwin. But I repeat myself.
No way, Alec Baldwin is totally President Millard Fillmore.
posted by fings at 7:28 PM on August 5, 2016
No way, Alec Baldwin is totally President Millard Fillmore.
posted by fings at 7:28 PM on August 5, 2016
I've been thinking lately that if I didn't know Marlon Brando was dead I'd think Donald Trump was the greatest performance of his career.
Charlie Sheen is not dead.
posted by srboisvert at 7:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Charlie Sheen is not dead.
posted by srboisvert at 7:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
The way they work, I imagine Trump's will be one of 45,000 tax returns they hack and they'll release all of them. Fuck wikileaks.
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:28 PM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
I'm sure hacking one of the financial foundations of the United States will work swimmingly for Mr. Assange.
Obviously he's lying. Dr. Stein is a quack.
posted by Yowser at 7:29 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Obviously he's lying. Dr. Stein is a quack.
posted by Yowser at 7:29 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
The scary part is that Wikileaks could do just as much damage making up fake tax returns and putting them out.
Have they fabricated documents before? I'm more concerned that it will come in another giant data dump that damages a lot of other people. Cyberspying sucks, whether international or domestic.
posted by carmicha at 7:30 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Have they fabricated documents before? I'm more concerned that it will come in another giant data dump that damages a lot of other people. Cyberspying sucks, whether international or domestic.
posted by carmicha at 7:30 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
The scary part is that Wikileaks could do just as much damage making up fake tax returns and putting them out.
And yet that would inevitably be discovered, which would destroy what credibility Wikileaks has. Which is to say there's an upside either way.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 7:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
And yet that would inevitably be discovered, which would destroy what credibility Wikileaks has. Which is to say there's an upside either way.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 7:31 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Have they fabricated documents before?
Not that I'm aware of, but the DNC hack was (most likely) by Russians, so it's certainly possible.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:33 PM on August 5, 2016
Not that I'm aware of, but the DNC hack was (most likely) by Russians, so it's certainly possible.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:33 PM on August 5, 2016
Have they fabricated documents before?
Not that I'm aware if, but the DNC hack was (most likely) by Russians, so it's certainly possible.
Ehh . . howzat?
posted by petebest at 7:37 PM on August 5, 2016
Not that I'm aware if, but the DNC hack was (most likely) by Russians, so it's certainly possible.
Ehh . . howzat?
posted by petebest at 7:37 PM on August 5, 2016
The scaryawesome part is that Wikileaks could do just as much damage to Trump making up fake tax returns and putting them out.
And yet that would inevitably be discovered, which would destroy what credibility Wikileaks has.
But the only way to prove it would be for Trump to release his real returns. Win/Win.
I am really not a huge fan of international cybercrime becoming a major factor in our electoral process.
That horse was out of the stable when they released select DNC e-mails. It would just be a relief to know that Trump's most valuable allies are NOT foreign hackers.
I'm more concerned that it will come in another giant data dump that damages alot of other people
THAT is the big potential downside (and, sadly, the one way to prove it isn't fake). If you live in New York and your last name starts with a T, I would suggest you fill out the necessary forms to have your Social Security Number changed NOW and be ready to submit them. And remember, this would not be happening at all if Dirty Donald had been minimally honest.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:39 PM on August 5, 2016
And yet that would inevitably be discovered, which would destroy what credibility Wikileaks has.
But the only way to prove it would be for Trump to release his real returns. Win/Win.
I am really not a huge fan of international cybercrime becoming a major factor in our electoral process.
That horse was out of the stable when they released select DNC e-mails. It would just be a relief to know that Trump's most valuable allies are NOT foreign hackers.
I'm more concerned that it will come in another giant data dump that damages alot of other people
THAT is the big potential downside (and, sadly, the one way to prove it isn't fake). If you live in New York and your last name starts with a T, I would suggest you fill out the necessary forms to have your Social Security Number changed NOW and be ready to submit them. And remember, this would not be happening at all if Dirty Donald had been minimally honest.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:39 PM on August 5, 2016
> I'm sure hacking one of the financial foundations of the United States will work swimmingly for Mr. Assange.
If they're really making an attempt and not just blowing smoke, then I'd guess they're trying to steal the tax returns from Trump, not from the IRS.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 7:40 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
If they're really making an attempt and not just blowing smoke, then I'd guess they're trying to steal the tax returns from Trump, not from the IRS.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 7:40 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
There's speculation that Wikileaks didn't fabricate some of those documents, but the Russians may have before handing them over.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:40 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:40 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
... but maybe I only think that because I expect Trump to be massively incompetent at everything.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 7:41 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 7:41 PM on August 5, 2016
Someone in one of the previous threads said that Trump makes sense when you realize that he is always talking about himself.
He isn't calling Hillary unfit, he's talking about himself. When he calls her weak, he's still talking about himself. It's basically just his sick brain screaming at itself using other people's names.
I hope you'll forgive me for butchering it and not finding the original comment but...there have been a lot of threads.
posted by VTX at 7:41 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
He isn't calling Hillary unfit, he's talking about himself. When he calls her weak, he's still talking about himself. It's basically just his sick brain screaming at itself using other people's names.
I hope you'll forgive me for butchering it and not finding the original comment but...there have been a lot of threads.
posted by VTX at 7:41 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
howzat?
From what I understand, several of the documents show signs of having been opened on computers with Russian keyboards. I'm not sure if that does or doesn't imply they've been altered.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
From what I understand, several of the documents show signs of having been opened on computers with Russian keyboards. I'm not sure if that does or doesn't imply they've been altered.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:42 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'd guess they're trying to steal the tax returns from Trump, not from the IRS.
I imagine it's his accountant, lawyer or tax preparer--possibly NYC or NYS--that's the target.
posted by carmicha at 7:42 PM on August 5, 2016
I imagine it's his accountant, lawyer or tax preparer--possibly NYC or NYS--that's the target.
posted by carmicha at 7:42 PM on August 5, 2016
There's speculation that Wikileaks didn't fabricate some of those documents, but the Russians may have before handing them over.
Some people say[who?] that the Moon is made out of cheese.
posted by indubitable at 7:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Some people say[who?] that the Moon is made out of cheese.
posted by indubitable at 7:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
howzat?
NY Times: "Spy Agency Consensus Grows That Russia Hacked D.N.C."
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:44 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
NY Times: "Spy Agency Consensus Grows That Russia Hacked D.N.C."
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:44 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Local Fox news channel here just ran the story completely as "Trump caves to pressure from RNC" with a mocking tone. The clip of the endorsement was hilarious. He might as well have been flipping the middle finger with both hands while he read it.
posted by bongo_x at 7:44 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 7:44 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Honestly, the IRS is likely the easier target.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:45 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:45 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Trump endorses Ryan, senators in effort to right campaign ship:
Trump plans to release his economic policy framework in a speech in Detroit on Monday, an event that will offer him a chance to avoid theatrics and detail how he would handle economic issues if elected.posted by kirkaracha at 7:47 PM on August 5, 2016
If there's something Trump can't do, it's working for someone else.
This is going to explode.
posted by Yowser at 7:48 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is going to explode.
posted by Yowser at 7:48 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
So apparently, earlier today in Iowa, Trump said Hillary is "unbalanced" and "unhinged."
In other news, the pot called the kettle black.
Well, the pot called the, like, firetruck black.
posted by dersins at 7:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [28 favorites]
In other news, the pot called the kettle black.
Well, the pot called the, like, firetruck black.
posted by dersins at 7:58 PM on August 5, 2016 [28 favorites]
Although I'm sure not a majority opinion, several trumpist Twitter accounts are gnashing teeth at tonight's endorsements.
posted by codacorolla at 8:00 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by codacorolla at 8:00 PM on August 5, 2016
offer him a chance to avoid theatrics
Anybody offering odds on him taking the chance?
posted by nubs at 8:00 PM on August 5, 2016
Anybody offering odds on him taking the chance?
posted by nubs at 8:00 PM on August 5, 2016
> Julian Assange is on Bill Maher right now and just said Wikileaks is working on hacking the Trump tax returns.
Honestly, spear phishing against his accountants wouldn't exactly be that difficult, or one of the independent audit firms he probably employees.
Granted I'm writing this from DefCon, so I'm in the hacktivist bubble right now.
posted by mrzarquon at 8:00 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Honestly, spear phishing against his accountants wouldn't exactly be that difficult, or one of the independent audit firms he probably employees.
Granted I'm writing this from DefCon, so I'm in the hacktivist bubble right now.
posted by mrzarquon at 8:00 PM on August 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Julian Assange is on Bill Maher right now and just said Wikileaks is working on hacking the Trump tax returns.
WTF? If that's true, why the hell would he talk about it on TV? Anybody who has those documents would just lock them down even harder -- store them locally or something. This has to be bullshit: either a bluff or an attempt to fake being even-handed.
Right??
posted by PlusDistance at 8:12 PM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
WTF? If that's true, why the hell would he talk about it on TV? Anybody who has those documents would just lock them down even harder -- store them locally or something. This has to be bullshit: either a bluff or an attempt to fake being even-handed.
Right??
posted by PlusDistance at 8:12 PM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Khizr Khan Says He Would Live This Week A 'Hundred Million Times' Over
"I will do it [a] million times, I will do it louder, I will do it forcefully," Khan told Kelly McEvers, host of NPR's All Things Considered. "I'll do it [a] hundred million times — now is the time for the rest of the world to see the true America, the decent America, the good America."posted by zachlipton at 8:12 PM on August 5, 2016 [138 favorites]
...
Khan also addressed criticism that they shouldn't have used their son's death to wade into politics. He said he thought about staying out of the political conversation but ultimately felt that calling out Trump was worth the "price" that he has had to pay:
"I would have such a burden on my conscience if I would have not spoken. In the midst of the grief, we don't set our conscience aside. There are some prices that must be paid. There are certain concerns and certain hearts that must be touched regardless of the price," he said.
"Someday, and I'm a strong believer, that when we appear in front of our God, I will have one thing to say about myself. That regardless of this, I preferred to comfort a scared heart."
Khizr Khan is a far better person than I. I stand in awe of his courage.
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [51 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:14 PM on August 5, 2016 [51 favorites]
Ghazala too.
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [53 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [53 favorites]
Assange didn't bring up trying to ferret out Trump's tax returns; his comment responded to an exhortation to do so by Bill Maher. But everyone with access to the tax returns has got to know that they're among the highest value targets rights now. There's even a bounty for them.
posted by carmicha at 8:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 8:19 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Meghan McCain on November 16, 2012:
*whistly time-going-backwards wavy lines*
My father just sighed and said, “Honey, I’m sorry.” I started to choke back tears.
There was no reason for me to have such an emotional reaction to Romney’s loss. It’s not like he’s a close friend. Looking back to last week, I think that I was mourning something else. For the last four years, writing on this website, I’ve been calling for the Republican Party to come to terms with reality and modernize. Last Tuesday, Mitt Romney lost—and he lost big. As Republicans, we lost again. I felt sad, exhausted, beaten down, and heartbroken. It was the first time that I considered that the Republican Party, which I love so much, might die.
Well, there's good news, and there's bad news . . .
posted by petebest at 8:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
*whistly time-going-backwards wavy lines*
My father just sighed and said, “Honey, I’m sorry.” I started to choke back tears.
There was no reason for me to have such an emotional reaction to Romney’s loss. It’s not like he’s a close friend. Looking back to last week, I think that I was mourning something else. For the last four years, writing on this website, I’ve been calling for the Republican Party to come to terms with reality and modernize. Last Tuesday, Mitt Romney lost—and he lost big. As Republicans, we lost again. I felt sad, exhausted, beaten down, and heartbroken. It was the first time that I considered that the Republican Party, which I love so much, might die.
Well, there's good news, and there's bad news . . .
posted by petebest at 8:21 PM on August 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
The Unskewing Has Already Begun...
And if Dismal Donald and his helpless aides rely on those "unscrewedskewed" numbers, it'll be hilarious.
It was the first time that I considered that the Republican Party, which I love so much, might die.
...anybody who notices the existence of all the political offices OTHER than the President would be damaging their facial muscles from all the eye-rolling.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:30 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
And if Dismal Donald and his helpless aides rely on those "un
It was the first time that I considered that the Republican Party, which I love so much, might die.
...anybody who notices the existence of all the political offices OTHER than the President would be damaging their facial muscles from all the eye-rolling.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:30 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
So Trump was shitting on the cooperation and security treaty between United States and Japan, this treaty has lasted longer than any other alliance between two great powers since the metafilter-favorite Treaty of Westphalia.
The Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 begs to differ.
posted by jedicus at 8:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
The Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 begs to differ.
posted by jedicus at 8:55 PM on August 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
In Norway every citizen's income and taxes are publicly available.
posted by JackFlash at 8:57 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by JackFlash at 8:57 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
In Norway every citizen's income and taxes are publicly available.
And it would be impossible to implement such a policy in the United States, where status is so aggressively correlated with wealth. It's because of that correlation that Donald Trump has gotten this far and we're sitting around speculating about his tax returns in the first place.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 9:05 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
And it would be impossible to implement such a policy in the United States, where status is so aggressively correlated with wealth. It's because of that correlation that Donald Trump has gotten this far and we're sitting around speculating about his tax returns in the first place.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 9:05 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
spear phishing against his accountants wouldn't exactly be that difficult
sounds like a job for G Gordon Liddy, actually
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 9:21 PM on August 5, 2016
sounds like a job for G Gordon Liddy, actually
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 9:21 PM on August 5, 2016
And it would be impossible to implement such a policy in the United States, where status is so aggressively correlated with wealth
That and where the rich take it as a matter of competitive pride to pay the least amount possible in taxes through any means, legal, paid-for-through-lobbying-legal, or illegal.
See: the tale of Mitt Romney and the 100 million tax sheltered IRA
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
That and where the rich take it as a matter of competitive pride to pay the least amount possible in taxes through any means, legal, paid-for-through-lobbying-legal, or illegal.
See: the tale of Mitt Romney and the 100 million tax sheltered IRA
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:24 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
It was the first time that I considered that the Republican Party, which I love so much, might die.
Well, there's good news, and there's bad news . . .
The bad news being that sometimes the dead come back to life and run for president.
posted by vverse23 at 9:35 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, there's good news, and there's bad news . . .
The bad news being that sometimes the dead come back to life and run for president.
posted by vverse23 at 9:35 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
That is a good list.
None of my top issues are there. except obliquely:
-end the drug war
-demilitarize the police
-prison system reform
posted by Meatbomb at 10:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
None of my top issues are there. except obliquely:
-end the drug war
-demilitarize the police
-prison system reform
posted by Meatbomb at 10:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
34. End the era of mass incarceration. Hillary supports creating fairer sentencing guidelines for nonviolent drug offenses and fixing the crack/cocaine disparity, focusing on treatment, recovery and reentry, and ending the privatization of prisons.
posted by salix at 10:26 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by salix at 10:26 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
This thread on Reddit about the state of Bernie's primary ground game, from the perspective of seasoned campaign volunteers, is really interesting. There's some typical Reddit stuff in there, so forewarned is forearmed, but largely it's insightful stuff.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 10:32 PM on August 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
The return of Bigly!
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 10:45 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 10:45 PM on August 5, 2016
That thread is pretty great, jason_steakums. I'm volunteering my first time this campaign (data entry so far) but know a fair but about the mechanics of campaigns, psychology of voting, etc but seeing the practicalities is very interesting. The local paid campaign staff (the local leaders) clearly need to be great. Assertive, emotionally even-keeled, focused, persistent, etc. Riding herd on volunteers to get them to do practical but boring stuff every week looks hard.
posted by R343L at 11:08 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by R343L at 11:08 PM on August 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
This thread on Reddit about the state of Bernie's primary ground game
No big surprises, but super interesting nonetheless.
I kinda figured the ground game wasn't up to Dean / Obama / Clinton standards. I spent the last year working on the campus of a large public university in one of the most liberal cities in the country, and though I saw a ton of students with Bernie stickers and buttons and whatever, I didn't see a single Sanders organizer recruiting volunteers, registering voters, etc.
posted by dersins at 11:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
No big surprises, but super interesting nonetheless.
I kinda figured the ground game wasn't up to Dean / Obama / Clinton standards. I spent the last year working on the campus of a large public university in one of the most liberal cities in the country, and though I saw a ton of students with Bernie stickers and buttons and whatever, I didn't see a single Sanders organizer recruiting volunteers, registering voters, etc.
posted by dersins at 11:15 PM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Who was it that said that Trump seems to be stuck in the '80s? Anyone remember Japan bashing?
Donald Trump has attacked Japan, one of America's closest allies, stating that if the US is attacked, all Japan would do is "sit home and watch Sony television".posted by J.K. Seazer at 11:20 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Donald Trump has attacked Japan, one of America's closest allies, stating that if the US is attacked, all Japan would do is "sit home and watch Sony television".
Reminds me of an abuser disparaging all your close friends and sabotaging those relationships so that you become utterly dependent on them.
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:29 PM on August 5, 2016 [29 favorites]
Reminds me of an abuser disparaging all your close friends and sabotaging those relationships so that you become utterly dependent on them.
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:29 PM on August 5, 2016 [29 favorites]
Mod note: A couple of earlier comments deleted. I know it was meant as a joke, but let's stay away from "somebody should spread X lie / insinuation" sorts of remarks. Thanks.
posted by taz (staff) at 11:30 PM on August 5, 2016
posted by taz (staff) at 11:30 PM on August 5, 2016
let's stay away from "somebody should spread X lie / insinuation" sorts of remarks.
Well, there go my weekend plans.
posted by bongo_x at 11:36 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Well, there go my weekend plans.
posted by bongo_x at 11:36 PM on August 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
So I finally finished reading the last thread and I come over here to find I am 2434 comments behind. Argh.
Anyway, last time around (while speculating on what happens if Trump drops out) we had this:
But if they hypothetically replaced Trump as the nominee, that person would get on the ballot in all 50 states? Is that correct?
As with so many things Trumpian, we have the test drive of Rob Ford to look to. He dropped out of the Toronto mayoralty race to be replaced by his brother, who was able to leverage all those Ford for Mayor signs to come in second.
I guess what I am saying is that the RNC's optimum strategy at this point is to find someone else named Donald Trump and take their chances with that guy.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
Anyway, last time around (while speculating on what happens if Trump drops out) we had this:
But if they hypothetically replaced Trump as the nominee, that person would get on the ballot in all 50 states? Is that correct?
As with so many things Trumpian, we have the test drive of Rob Ford to look to. He dropped out of the Toronto mayoralty race to be replaced by his brother, who was able to leverage all those Ford for Mayor signs to come in second.
I guess what I am saying is that the RNC's optimum strategy at this point is to find someone else named Donald Trump and take their chances with that guy.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:39 PM on August 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
Steve Trump will make America great again, again. Meredith Trump obviously can't be trusted.
posted by bongo_x at 11:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 11:43 PM on August 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
I've been as happy (in my case lack of existential despair counts) as the next guy with this week but lets wait for the polls two weeks from now before counting our chickens. Convention bounces tend to settle down back to an equilibrium and its not clear how much of the last week's polls are pure bounce and how much are from Trump's implosion.
We want to believe it's from Trump's implosion because how could anyone vote for the guy after this week but I lack any sort of faith in how closely lots of the electorate has been paying attention. If the Good Side is still ahead by 6-9 points in two weeks I'll feel better.
posted by Justinian at 12:23 AM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
We want to believe it's from Trump's implosion because how could anyone vote for the guy after this week but I lack any sort of faith in how closely lots of the electorate has been paying attention. If the Good Side is still ahead by 6-9 points in two weeks I'll feel better.
posted by Justinian at 12:23 AM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
Can't we just vote now? Why wait? Just hold the vote now.
posted by tzikeh at 12:24 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by tzikeh at 12:24 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
I guess what I am saying is that the RNC's optimum strategy at this point is to find someone else named Donald Trump and take their chances with that guy.
Be careful what you wish for.
posted by The Tensor at 12:44 AM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Be careful what you wish for.
posted by The Tensor at 12:44 AM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I really appreciated that reddit post-mortem of Bernie's (crap) ground game. I emerged from that thread knowing three things which I will summarize here for people who wish to avoid reddit:
1. Bernie was up against someone who had experienced Obama For America campaigners working for her due to loyalty after her class act in 2008, bringing with them the laser focused professionalism and work ethic they acquired working for a brutally efficient campaign. By contrast, his volunteers were disorganized and too passionate to actually do the scut work of data entry, phone list management, and only spending five minutes per door knock or one minute per phone call. They preferred to do things like protest Trump (?!), install signs, and argue issues with voters rather than knock, enter data, and move on. And their phone list was, apparently, crap, so call center workers would end up wasting time talking to or getting hung up on by Republicans.
2. Hillary For America's ground game is excellent and humming along like a machine.
3. Trump's ground game is garbage. He apparently has exactly zero people installed in Pennsylvania, for example.
posted by xyzzy at 12:45 AM on August 6, 2016 [20 favorites]
1. Bernie was up against someone who had experienced Obama For America campaigners working for her due to loyalty after her class act in 2008, bringing with them the laser focused professionalism and work ethic they acquired working for a brutally efficient campaign. By contrast, his volunteers were disorganized and too passionate to actually do the scut work of data entry, phone list management, and only spending five minutes per door knock or one minute per phone call. They preferred to do things like protest Trump (?!), install signs, and argue issues with voters rather than knock, enter data, and move on. And their phone list was, apparently, crap, so call center workers would end up wasting time talking to or getting hung up on by Republicans.
2. Hillary For America's ground game is excellent and humming along like a machine.
3. Trump's ground game is garbage. He apparently has exactly zero people installed in Pennsylvania, for example.
posted by xyzzy at 12:45 AM on August 6, 2016 [20 favorites]
Hey, there's a storify of @onlxn's Trump/Ryan Twitter thing.
posted by salix at 1:04 AM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by salix at 1:04 AM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
Welp, there goes the Japanese-American vote. Trump's target demo narrows by the hour.
posted by guiseroom at 1:10 AM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 1:10 AM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump was previously iffy on Japanese internment. He's been digging that hole for quite a while now.
posted by zachlipton at 1:17 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:17 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump's strategy to get out of the debates by polling below 15% just might work.
posted by guiseroom at 1:25 AM on August 6, 2016 [88 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 1:25 AM on August 6, 2016 [88 favorites]
So after Trump's day of pivoting (like a pretzel!) CNN's top headline:
Obama Breaks Historic Barrier
(by warning the people about Trump)
Donald's going to have a fit when he gets his phone back.
posted by mmoncur at 1:40 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Obama Breaks Historic Barrier
(by warning the people about Trump)
Donald's going to have a fit when he gets his phone back.
posted by mmoncur at 1:40 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Last night while in voice chat of an game I started playing again I got told the real reason why the Hilary email thing means she shouldn't be president.
You see the problem is that obviously she is going to use her personal email for all her President stuff which means she obviously will be hacked again. Of course this is super dangerous because then all of the world will know all of America's secrets. It's even more important because apparently the US is extremely close to going to war with North Korea (where does this come from???) and yeah can't have secrets leaking out.
Also Putin is a man to be admired, Trump is an idiot and Hilary is not Presidential enough to deal with war with Korea.
posted by Jalliah at 3:59 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
You see the problem is that obviously she is going to use her personal email for all her President stuff which means she obviously will be hacked again. Of course this is super dangerous because then all of the world will know all of America's secrets. It's even more important because apparently the US is extremely close to going to war with North Korea (where does this come from???) and yeah can't have secrets leaking out.
Also Putin is a man to be admired, Trump is an idiot and Hilary is not Presidential enough to deal with war with Korea.
posted by Jalliah at 3:59 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Looks like someone got forced to grudgingly read endorsements like a dog.
posted by snofoam at 5:07 AM on August 6, 2016 [30 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 5:07 AM on August 6, 2016 [30 favorites]
your dog can read???
posted by indubitable at 5:11 AM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by indubitable at 5:11 AM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
Julian Assange is on Bill Maher right now and just said Wikileaks is working on hacking the Trump tax returns
Here's where Trump is hoping Meredith remembered to update the McAfee.
posted by wabbittwax at 5:34 AM on August 6, 2016 [17 favorites]
Here's where Trump is hoping Meredith remembered to update the McAfee.
posted by wabbittwax at 5:34 AM on August 6, 2016 [17 favorites]
and endorses individual candidates??? My cats only endorse issues, such as the global war on laser pointing devices
posted by tivalasvegas at 5:38 AM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 5:38 AM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
TRUMP: We call butts cans but boobs are also cans? Confusing. Should be fixed!
RYAN: That's in your platform?
TRUMP: That's most of it, yeah
. . . [/falsebutawesome]
posted by petebest at 6:01 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
RYAN: That's in your platform?
TRUMP: That's most of it, yeah
. . . [/falsebutawesome]
posted by petebest at 6:01 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Looks like someone got forced to grudgingly read endorsements like a dog.
Someone should tag him on twitter for being weak and caving to RNC PR BS.
Might mention how only 'losers' whine about rigged elections before they even take place.
Or how he's polling worse than any other major presidential candidate since the invention of polling.
He's react well to that, I'm sure.
Sad.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:16 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Someone should tag him on twitter for being weak and caving to RNC PR BS.
Might mention how only 'losers' whine about rigged elections before they even take place.
Or how he's polling worse than any other major presidential candidate since the invention of polling.
He's react well to that, I'm sure.
Sad.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:16 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Is there a new thread or did the Olympics take some of the fire out of this or is it just Saturday morning? Regardless I am relieved to come back here to a manageable number of new comments.
posted by aspersioncast at 6:19 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 6:19 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Here's where Trump is hoping Meredith remembered to update the McAfee.
I smell a sitcom pilot!
TRUMP: Whad dya mean we got all sorts of rapists and murderers coming into America? I built a wall!
AIDE: Apparently someone forgot to latch the gate.
TRUMP: MEREDIIIIITH!
posted by leotrotsky at 6:21 AM on August 6, 2016 [17 favorites]
I smell a sitcom pilot!
TRUMP: Whad dya mean we got all sorts of rapists and murderers coming into America? I built a wall!
AIDE: Apparently someone forgot to latch the gate.
TRUMP: MEREDIIIIITH!
posted by leotrotsky at 6:21 AM on August 6, 2016 [17 favorites]
Compare him to Jeb! I bet he'll love that.
posted by Francis at 6:23 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Francis at 6:23 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I just tweeted Trump - "Hey @therealdonald your new scripted speeches have as much energy as @jebbush".
Doubt I'll get a response but I hope he sees it.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 6:30 AM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
Doubt I'll get a response but I hope he sees it.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 6:30 AM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
They preferred to do things like protest Trump (?!), install signs, and argue issues with voters rather than knock, enter data, and move on.
Like I said several threads ago, building an effective political campaign requires a lot of repetitious work and dull meetings in badly-furnished, badly-lit rooms. It's more like an MMO grind than a spectacular mission.
Activists sometimes confuse the dull work with institutional control, especially if they're new to the process and working under the mantle of a 'political revolution' because don't revolutions have marches and rallies and signs, an isn't it an achievement to write a 10,000-word manifesto and send people the link so they can be persuaded by it?
posted by holgate at 6:42 AM on August 6, 2016 [37 favorites]
Like I said several threads ago, building an effective political campaign requires a lot of repetitious work and dull meetings in badly-furnished, badly-lit rooms. It's more like an MMO grind than a spectacular mission.
Activists sometimes confuse the dull work with institutional control, especially if they're new to the process and working under the mantle of a 'political revolution' because don't revolutions have marches and rallies and signs, an isn't it an achievement to write a 10,000-word manifesto and send people the link so they can be persuaded by it?
posted by holgate at 6:42 AM on August 6, 2016 [37 favorites]
Is there a new thread or did the Olympics take some of the fire out of this or is it just Saturday morning? Regardless I am relieved to come back here to a manageable number of new comments.
Trump was not unfettered crazy pants yesterday; he was Boring Trump hence there isn't as much to talk about.
To tide you over here are a couple of links.
The Donald was my hero - until I tried to sell talking Trump novelty pens
Guy looks up to Trump and uses him as his hero to grow his novelty/gag business. Unfortunately when he tried selling novelty talking Trump pens, his pens were seized and destroyed because the name Trump is trademarked. Trump is the only politician with a trademarked name.
How Does Trump Betray American Political Tradition?
Very interesting look at the language that Trump uses. The author tracks the use of the words "free" "liberty" and "democracy" in Trump's acceptance speech and compares the usage to acceptance speeches of the past. Spoiler alert, Trump does not use those words, or not in they way they are traditionally used.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:46 AM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump was not unfettered crazy pants yesterday; he was Boring Trump hence there isn't as much to talk about.
To tide you over here are a couple of links.
The Donald was my hero - until I tried to sell talking Trump novelty pens
Guy looks up to Trump and uses him as his hero to grow his novelty/gag business. Unfortunately when he tried selling novelty talking Trump pens, his pens were seized and destroyed because the name Trump is trademarked. Trump is the only politician with a trademarked name.
How Does Trump Betray American Political Tradition?
Very interesting look at the language that Trump uses. The author tracks the use of the words "free" "liberty" and "democracy" in Trump's acceptance speech and compares the usage to acceptance speeches of the past. Spoiler alert, Trump does not use those words, or not in they way they are traditionally used.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:46 AM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
And of course, the sitting around for ages in shitty rooms is how entryism works - you want to take over a movement, you make sure you out-sit everyone else and drive them away through tedium and lack of decisions, then when they've gone you and your mates vote in your agenda.
posted by Devonian at 6:52 AM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 6:52 AM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
Now the NYT is criticizing Clinton for using an insincere hand-on-heart gesture. I link to the Twitter post because I enjoyed the reaction.
posted by madamjujujive at 6:55 AM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by madamjujujive at 6:55 AM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
Clinton made an 8mil ad buy for the Olympics. Two weeks of unanswered ads during a national coversation that has nothing to do with him? That is going to make Trump INSANE.
*gleeful cackle*
posted by schadenfrau at 7:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
*gleeful cackle*
posted by schadenfrau at 7:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
And of course, the sitting around for ages in shitty rooms is how entryism works - you want to take over a movement, you make sure you out-sit everyone else and drive them away through tedium and lack of decisions, then when they've gone you and your mates vote in your agenda.
I've been involved in a political organization with a corrupt leadership (a union, not a party). Their bi-annual conference of representatives would always be two days. First part of the first day would be practical stuff that you need to do in unions, like all the committees presenting etc. Second part of the first day, there would be really, really boring sessions with a very thin veneer of legitimacy and an expensive external speaker (so the plenum couldn't change the agenda). Then there would a huge dinner and a free bar.
Then at 8-10 o'clock the next morning, all the important elements of the agenda were on. Like the budget and accounts, which were always manipulated to an extent no-one could see through them, let alone someone with a hangover.
posted by mumimor at 7:05 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I've been involved in a political organization with a corrupt leadership (a union, not a party). Their bi-annual conference of representatives would always be two days. First part of the first day would be practical stuff that you need to do in unions, like all the committees presenting etc. Second part of the first day, there would be really, really boring sessions with a very thin veneer of legitimacy and an expensive external speaker (so the plenum couldn't change the agenda). Then there would a huge dinner and a free bar.
Then at 8-10 o'clock the next morning, all the important elements of the agenda were on. Like the budget and accounts, which were always manipulated to an extent no-one could see through them, let alone someone with a hangover.
posted by mumimor at 7:05 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Jill Stein: Very excited - Julian Assange of @wikileaks will be speaking at the #GreenConvention about the #DNCLeaks! http://m.chron.com/houston/article/Julian-Assange-to-speak-via-live-feed-at-Green-9125376.php … #GNCinHOU
posted by octothorpe at 7:48 AM on August 6, 2016
posted by octothorpe at 7:48 AM on August 6, 2016
jason_steakums: "This thread on Reddit about the state of Bernie's primary ground game, from the perspective of seasoned campaign volunteers, is really interesting. There's some typical Reddit stuff in there, so forewarned is forearmed, but largely it's insightful stuff."
Oh god. I've done a fair amount of campaigning and stuff in there makes me cringe. Spending 20 minutes at a house arguing with someone who's not voting for your candidate? No, just don't. You have your message for the day, you give that politely and if they're still not interested, you ask if you can leave a pamphlet and then you thank them for your time and go to the next house on your list. Basic campaigning 101 stuff that's worked for generations.
posted by octothorpe at 8:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [28 favorites]
Oh god. I've done a fair amount of campaigning and stuff in there makes me cringe. Spending 20 minutes at a house arguing with someone who's not voting for your candidate? No, just don't. You have your message for the day, you give that politely and if they're still not interested, you ask if you can leave a pamphlet and then you thank them for your time and go to the next house on your list. Basic campaigning 101 stuff that's worked for generations.
posted by octothorpe at 8:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [28 favorites]
Well, this seems like a worrying development.
@realDonaldTrump Crooked Hillary said loudly, and for the world to see, that she "SHORT CIRCUITED" when answering a question on her e-mails. Very dangerous!
@realDonaldTrump Anybody whose mind "SHORT CIRCUITS" is not fit to be our president! Look up the word "BRAINWASHED."
posted by gerryblog at 8:08 AM on August 6, 2016
@realDonaldTrump Crooked Hillary said loudly, and for the world to see, that she "SHORT CIRCUITED" when answering a question on her e-mails. Very dangerous!
@realDonaldTrump Anybody whose mind "SHORT CIRCUITS" is not fit to be our president! Look up the word "BRAINWASHED."
posted by gerryblog at 8:08 AM on August 6, 2016
you want to take over a movement, you make sure you out-sit everyone else and drive them away through tedium and lack of decisions, then when they've gone you and your mates vote in your agenda.
and then you wonder why working class people won't get on board and get so alienated
it's because they don't have time for it
posted by pyramid termite at 8:10 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
and then you wonder why working class people won't get on board and get so alienated
it's because they don't have time for it
posted by pyramid termite at 8:10 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Please clap.
The internal link to Gawker's Lost puppy meme is even more adorable. Have you seen this Jeb.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:11 AM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
The internal link to Gawker's Lost puppy meme is even more adorable. Have you seen this Jeb.
Answers to: Jeb!Awwww! Sweet Jeb. Sure, I don't want him to be president but at least he doesn't terrify or repulse me.
Age: A spry 63.
Sex: Male, neutered.
Distinguishing features: Glasses, beige, almost definitely sweater-less.
Personality: Low energy, very sweet to Barbaras, can be calmed by gentle clapping.
If you find Jeb on Boston’s dark city streets, please take him in
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:11 AM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
She's a POD PERSON! Do you want a POD PERSON as president! WAKE UP SHEEPLE!
posted by yhbc at 8:13 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yhbc at 8:13 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
We're letting a JOHNNY 5 run for president? No! We need to make American JOHNNY #1 again! And ditch that loser Gutenberg!
posted by cortex at 8:16 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by cortex at 8:16 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump's man in New York, Carl Paladino, really presented poorly on Morning Joy just now (MSNBC). Basically trotting out the standard Trump line that the media is just being unfair to Trump.
"Where did he get off the bus," is what Paladino said in reference to General Barry McCafree. Joy wasn't letting that slide.
And Paladino said that "Donald Trump is a lot smarter than Vladimir Putin, and he'll use him in the best way he possibly can. There's no question about it. Vladimir Putin will be drawn in, and Trump will get the best of him. That's the way it's going to be."
This is just amazing.
posted by yesster at 8:22 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
"Where did he get off the bus," is what Paladino said in reference to General Barry McCafree. Joy wasn't letting that slide.
And Paladino said that "Donald Trump is a lot smarter than Vladimir Putin, and he'll use him in the best way he possibly can. There's no question about it. Vladimir Putin will be drawn in, and Trump will get the best of him. That's the way it's going to be."
This is just amazing.
posted by yesster at 8:22 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trump wants to discuss mental competency? That's an...interesting...tact to take.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:24 AM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:24 AM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
I'm not getting the connection between "short circuits" and "brainwashed." Am I missing something?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:25 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:25 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
WHEN I AM PRESIDENT AMERICA IS GOING TO HAVE THE LONGEST CIRCUITS! HUGE CIRCUITS! ALL THE BEST CIRCUITS!
posted by PlusDistance at 8:26 AM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by PlusDistance at 8:26 AM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
Yeah, I thought the short circuit phrase was a mistake - she should just have said she got that wrong and apologised to him for misrepresenting what he said, but what she was describing was correct. One of the techniques Obama deploys to great effect when answering questions is a well-crafted obtuseness at length, which makes it very hard to pull a soundbite out of it to use out of context and puts the onus on the listener to do some hard parsing to work out what he's said (and, just as importantly, not said). It's a very lawyerly trick, and he does it well.
I don't think it matters too much; it's not substantive and can't be used to force anything, but it wasn't helpful.
posted by Devonian at 8:27 AM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
I don't think it matters too much; it's not substantive and can't be used to force anything, but it wasn't helpful.
posted by Devonian at 8:27 AM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
I don't see what it could mean except "short-circuiting is a well-known consequence of brainwashing, as we all know."
posted by gerryblog at 8:29 AM on August 6, 2016
posted by gerryblog at 8:29 AM on August 6, 2016
Thanks for that {shudder} Reddit link. I find it fascinating what actually wins elections and what doesn't. At my office we recently hired someone who had been an OFA field organizer and I offered them a clipboard once for some work we were about to do off site and he just about had a flashback. He was like, nah, I'm good, I just can't with clipboards anymore. Traumatic campaign memories.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:29 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:29 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I don't see what it could mean except "short-circuiting is a well-known consequence of brainwashing, as we all know."
Yes, that's the same conclusion I came to but that means he is saying Hillary Clinton is brainwashed? What? Who brainwashed her? The secret scary society of bad guys? Or she brainwashed herself? Or Bill did it?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:32 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yes, that's the same conclusion I came to but that means he is saying Hillary Clinton is brainwashed? What? Who brainwashed her? The secret scary society of bad guys? Or she brainwashed herself? Or Bill did it?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:32 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Awwww! Sweet Jeb. Sure, I don't want him to be president but at least he doesn't terrify or repulse me.
Q: If Jeb were a drink, what drink would he be?
A: Milk. Milk is just a normal thing that wouldn't be ... fantastic if you could choose any drink, but it's a solid drink to have.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:32 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Q: If Jeb were a drink, what drink would he be?
A: Milk. Milk is just a normal thing that wouldn't be ... fantastic if you could choose any drink, but it's a solid drink to have.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:32 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Huh. I didn't hear about this: Paul Nehlen Kicked Out of Green Bay Donald Trump Rally.
I mean I know Trump endorsed Ryan but I didn't know he actually kicked Nehlen out of the rally. Brutal.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:36 AM on August 6, 2016 [19 favorites]
I mean I know Trump endorsed Ryan but I didn't know he actually kicked Nehlen out of the rally. Brutal.
Paul Nehlen, House Speaker Paul Ryan’s Republican primary challenger, was ejected by Wisconsin GOP staffers from a Donald Trump rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin Friday night.I do believe he was invited. Unfortunately for him Trump was forced to endorse Ryan by the RNC. I think Trump invited Nehlen and did plan to endorse him as a big "fuck you" to Ryan but had to change his plans at the last minute.
Nehlen was able to enter the premises of the rally before being urged to leave by individuals affiliated with the state party organization, according to his campaign. A Nehlen spokesman told The Daily Caller the Trump campaign had reached out and invited the congressional candidate to attend the rally earlier Friday.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:36 AM on August 6, 2016 [19 favorites]
and then you wonder why working class people won't get on board and get so alienated
it's because they don't have time for it
Which is why, if you're part of a movement, you have to guard against entryism. It's not inevitable and you can be inclusive for everyone who wants to be a part, but that doesn't come for free.
Politics is hard work.
posted by Devonian at 8:39 AM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
it's because they don't have time for it
Which is why, if you're part of a movement, you have to guard against entryism. It's not inevitable and you can be inclusive for everyone who wants to be a part, but that doesn't come for free.
Politics is hard work.
posted by Devonian at 8:39 AM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Yes, that's the same conclusion I came to but that means he is saying Hillary Clinton is brainwashed? What? Who brainwashed her? The secret scary society of bad guys? Or she brainwashed herself? Or Bill did it?
Let's slow down. It would be irresponsible to speculate who precisely brainwashed Clinton without more information.
posted by gerryblog at 8:42 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Let's slow down. It would be irresponsible to speculate who precisely brainwashed Clinton without more information.
posted by gerryblog at 8:42 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Whoo! Finally caught up! No new thread! WE'RE TAKING THIS THREAD ALL THE WAY TO SEPTEMBER!!!! Break vuron's fingers! FULL STEVE AHEAD!!!!
posted by um at 8:43 AM on August 6, 2016 [32 favorites]
posted by um at 8:43 AM on August 6, 2016 [32 favorites]
Yes, that's the same conclusion I came to but that means he is saying Hillary Clinton is brainwashed? What? Who brainwashed her?
You're overthinking this. He's literally just saying whatever to denigrate her. Brainwashing just happened to pop in his head. There was no actual thought process involved.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:46 AM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
You're overthinking this. He's literally just saying whatever to denigrate her. Brainwashing just happened to pop in his head. There was no actual thought process involved.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:46 AM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm really getting annoyed with the Times' coverage of Clinton. See also this.
posted by peacheater at 8:47 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 8:47 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
The Daily Caller has a statement from Nehlen. According to him he was invited to join Trump in the VIP room and he also had a general admission ticket but when he arrived he and his team were intercepted.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:52 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I made it through security when one of the GOP phalanx wearing loafers and a blazer chased me down and informed the police that I was not allowed into the rally.The funny thing to me is that everyone knew he was attending so that ship had sailed. It didn't matter one way or another if he was sitting inside. It is also a bit bothersome that in our Great Democracy that the police can be used to escort people off the premises of political events. I've heard that Clinton does this as well so it isn't just a Republican thing. In this case, though, Nehlen wasn't there to protest or make a scene. They just didn't want other people to see him at Trump's rally. Makes me wonder what other people are barred. What if David Duke showed up or President Obama or Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Could they be removed from the premises?
The GOP staffer then escorted me back outside the security perimeter to the lobby, where another Republican staffer told me and the officers I was to wait for one of their fellow GOP staffers to come and tell me what was going on.
It quickly became clear they were never going to send another staffer to tell me what was going on.
The obvious reality was that they just didn’t want Speaker Ryan’s challenger to be seen in the building supporting Mr. Trump.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:52 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
maybe they didn't take Trump's phone but instead installed a fake Twitter app that lets him think he's posting and generates sandbox replies and retweets that only he can see
posted by thelonius at 8:53 AM on August 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 8:53 AM on August 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
You're overthinking this. He's literally just saying whatever to denigrate her. Brainwashing just happened to pop in his head. There was no actual thought process involved.
I know, crazy right? It's this weird personality glitch that I have. I try to make logical sense out of the things people say or tweet. I try not to but my brain just can't let that shit go.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:54 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I know, crazy right? It's this weird personality glitch that I have. I try to make logical sense out of the things people say or tweet. I try not to but my brain just can't let that shit go.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:54 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
The former CIA director's statement yesterday strongly implied that Trump is being manipulated (perhaps even brainwashed) by Putin. So I suppose this is Trump's reply. I'm not brainwashed, you are! And you have stupid hair.
posted by wabbittwax at 8:57 AM on August 6, 2016 [36 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 8:57 AM on August 6, 2016 [36 favorites]
Wow. I just got to watch Trump reading from the prepared endorsement remarks. In any other campaign that would have been an utter shit show. A disgraceful, clearly insincere and proud of it speech.
Modern Republicanism operates on talismanic words, like "RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM." It doesn't matter how you say it, what you mean by it, or if you have any further plans, it just matters that you intone the sacred phrase to ward off evil.
posted by codacorolla at 9:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
Modern Republicanism operates on talismanic words, like "RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM." It doesn't matter how you say it, what you mean by it, or if you have any further plans, it just matters that you intone the sacred phrase to ward off evil.
posted by codacorolla at 9:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
Thought-terminating cliché
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:04 AM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:04 AM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Carl Paladino deserves no place in discourse, period. I was aggravated that he was on AM Joy, with General McCaffrey, in the first place, no matter what fell out of his mouth. He's a vile attention pig with no redeeming value whatsoever.
posted by wallabear at 9:05 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by wallabear at 9:05 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
...it just matters that you intone the sacred phrase to ward off evil.
Maybe that's true, but I still find it baffling what good a Trump endorsement is even supposed to be if everyone knows it's only being said because the RNC made him say it. It's not even a weak endorsement, it's a non-endorsement and anyone voting in Ryan's primary knows it.
posted by tocts at 9:06 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Maybe that's true, but I still find it baffling what good a Trump endorsement is even supposed to be if everyone knows it's only being said because the RNC made him say it. It's not even a weak endorsement, it's a non-endorsement and anyone voting in Ryan's primary knows it.
posted by tocts at 9:06 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
We were listening to Anaïs Mitchell's fantastic Hadestown album, and when it came to Why We Build The Wall, my wife and I said "how timely."
posted by filthy light thief at 9:12 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
HADESFull lyrics, and a bit more background on the song
Why do we build the wall?
My children, my children
Why do we build the wall?
CERBERUS
Why do we build the wall?
We build the wall to keep us free
That's why we build the wall
We build the wall to keep us free
HADES
How does the wall keep us free?
My children, my children
How does the wall keep us free?
CERBERUS
How does the wall keep us free?
The wall keeps out the enemy
And we build the wall to keep us free
That's why we build the wall
We build the wall to keep us free
posted by filthy light thief at 9:12 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
It provides at least an illusion of party unity. A flimsy, transparent illusion, to be sure – but at least it takes the media narrative off of "OMG the GOP Presidential candidate is refusing to endorse his party's chair".
Not sure why they expect anything better to fill the space formerly occupied by that narrative, given that there is nothing but wreckage in every direction.
The GOP had their chance to disavow Trump. Instead they've demonstrated that they're willing to abet a grossly incompetent, dangerous, racist demagogue, if that's what it takes to keep their party in power. They have lost all legitimacy.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:13 AM on August 6, 2016 [24 favorites]
Not sure why they expect anything better to fill the space formerly occupied by that narrative, given that there is nothing but wreckage in every direction.
The GOP had their chance to disavow Trump. Instead they've demonstrated that they're willing to abet a grossly incompetent, dangerous, racist demagogue, if that's what it takes to keep their party in power. They have lost all legitimacy.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:13 AM on August 6, 2016 [24 favorites]
Carl Paladino deserves no place in discourse, period.
Paladino is unfortunately a bit of a favorite son in western NY, so the local media had a lot of interest in his 2010 candidacy in spite of it being an obvious blowout from the get-go. Anyway, I was provided with several opportunities to note that it was always possible that Cuomo would eat a human infant live on television and that Paladino would personally save the life of a member of every family in New York, and if both of those things happened it could be a real race.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:13 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Paladino is unfortunately a bit of a favorite son in western NY, so the local media had a lot of interest in his 2010 candidacy in spite of it being an obvious blowout from the get-go. Anyway, I was provided with several opportunities to note that it was always possible that Cuomo would eat a human infant live on television and that Paladino would personally save the life of a member of every family in New York, and if both of those things happened it could be a real race.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:13 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I still find it baffling what good a Trump endorsement is even supposed to be if everyone knows it's only being said because the RNC made him say it.
I wonder if the real intent is just to perform dominance over Trump? To force him to publicly do something he doesn't want to do, so everyone knows he's under someone's thumb?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:15 AM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
I wonder if the real intent is just to perform dominance over Trump? To force him to publicly do something he doesn't want to do, so everyone knows he's under someone's thumb?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:15 AM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
Some bullies become very docile when they're thoroughly beaten. Maybe they expect Trump to be one of those.
posted by Countess Elena at 9:17 AM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 9:17 AM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think it's important to remember that most people aren't going to listen to the actual endorsement itself, but if they ask the internet "Does Trump endorse Ryan" the internet will say "yes"
posted by aubilenon at 9:38 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 9:38 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Pretty sure he's more the "lash out irrationally and indiscriminately" type.
posted by dersins at 9:38 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dersins at 9:38 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Donald Trump Will Never Be President… Or Will He?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:43 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:43 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Trump wants to discuss mental competency? That's an...interesting...tact to take
Tact is incorrect. Particularly when talking about Trump.
You either want tactic or tack (as in sailing).
Tact and Trump don't belong in the same paragraph never mind the same sentence.
posted by srboisvert at 9:48 AM on August 6, 2016 [19 favorites]
Tact is incorrect. Particularly when talking about Trump.
You either want tactic or tack (as in sailing).
Tact and Trump don't belong in the same paragraph never mind the same sentence.
posted by srboisvert at 9:48 AM on August 6, 2016 [19 favorites]
Tact and Trump don't belong in the same paragraph never mind the same sentence.
To think people say Americans don't do irony!
posted by jaduncan at 10:01 AM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
To think people say Americans don't do irony!
posted by jaduncan at 10:01 AM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
Trump has responded to questions about his mental stability and temperament with the playground bully classic "I know you are but what am I".
posted by humanfont at 10:03 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 10:03 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
It is also a bit bothersome that in our Great Democracy that the police can be used to escort people off the premises of political events. I've heard that Clinton does this as well so it isn't just a Republican thing.
Eh, you rent the hall, you get to decide who's tresspassing...
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 10:24 AM on August 6, 2016
Eh, you rent the hall, you get to decide who's tresspassing...
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 10:24 AM on August 6, 2016
Eh, you rent the hall, you get to decide who's tresspassing...
People who paid over a thousand dollars to attend an event should not be told they're not allowed in after they arrive.
I understand the importance of the appearance of unity, but would've liked to see Bernie's supporters given the same access - which they were promised - that Hillary's supporters received.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:26 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
People who paid over a thousand dollars to attend an event should not be told they're not allowed in after they arrive.
I understand the importance of the appearance of unity, but would've liked to see Bernie's supporters given the same access - which they were promised - that Hillary's supporters received.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:26 AM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
That endorsement is what happens when you try to force a child to do something they don't want to do instead of inspiring them to want to do it. "Ok, I will literally tell people the words." I won't: act like I mean it, tell my followers to vote the same, provide any financial or organizational support, participate in any joint functions, or even promise I won't change my mind tomorrow when it screws you most.
posted by ctmf at 10:30 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 10:30 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm reading the reddit post on Bernie's campaign efforts and how uncoordinated they are, and it strikes me that this is another problem with our 4-year system: when a newcomer jumps into the process, with passion and a handful of end goals and a long list of grievances, there's not time to both hash through a plan and actually campaign. However, young people especially are wary of well-polished already completed action plans; if the plan doesn't hit all their buzzwords, they recognize that they're being shut out of the process.
Any politician who wants to campaign on "I'm hearing your voice and will adjust my plans accordingly" is at a sharp disadvantage vs one who has a plan based on the party platform. Hillary doesn't have this disadvantage; she's had literally decades of listening and talking to people so she can present a solid, workable plan that really does speak to people's interests. But Bernie, as much as he's been active in politics for years, just hasn't had as much time to put into face-to-face community-building activities.
I am solidly pro-Hillary, and as much as I liked Bernie's platform, I think his exclusion of topics that weren't directly class/income-based wasn't likely to get fixed if he got elected. (I don't think that would've been a disaster, because solid medical care, relief from student debt, and a higher minimum wage would help women and people of color more than white dudes.)
I believe that a substantial portion of his voters were voting against the woman instead of for either Bernie or his platform, and I really am looking forward to four or eight years with Hillary in charge. I don't think he was cheated out of his rightful role as nominee, as much as I do think there was bias and some shady dealings against him from the status quo. But... the system is deeply flawed, and I would like to see this election shatter the two-major-parties trope as just another part of that glass ceiling Clinton's working so hard to remove.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:48 AM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Any politician who wants to campaign on "I'm hearing your voice and will adjust my plans accordingly" is at a sharp disadvantage vs one who has a plan based on the party platform. Hillary doesn't have this disadvantage; she's had literally decades of listening and talking to people so she can present a solid, workable plan that really does speak to people's interests. But Bernie, as much as he's been active in politics for years, just hasn't had as much time to put into face-to-face community-building activities.
I am solidly pro-Hillary, and as much as I liked Bernie's platform, I think his exclusion of topics that weren't directly class/income-based wasn't likely to get fixed if he got elected. (I don't think that would've been a disaster, because solid medical care, relief from student debt, and a higher minimum wage would help women and people of color more than white dudes.)
I believe that a substantial portion of his voters were voting against the woman instead of for either Bernie or his platform, and I really am looking forward to four or eight years with Hillary in charge. I don't think he was cheated out of his rightful role as nominee, as much as I do think there was bias and some shady dealings against him from the status quo. But... the system is deeply flawed, and I would like to see this election shatter the two-major-parties trope as just another part of that glass ceiling Clinton's working so hard to remove.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:48 AM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
From now on this guy is my mental image of a random Trump supporter. (youtube NSFW-ish)
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 10:53 AM on August 6, 2016 [38 favorites]
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 10:53 AM on August 6, 2016 [38 favorites]
Well if they're gonna be assholes the least they could do is let us harvest their organs.
posted by wabbittwax at 10:57 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by wabbittwax at 10:57 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
weretable: That ad is incredible and it was worth sticking with this entire ridiculous-ass thread just to see it.
posted by absalom at 11:01 AM on August 6, 2016 [21 favorites]
posted by absalom at 11:01 AM on August 6, 2016 [21 favorites]
I don't think the fact that there's a barrier to upshots and newcomers is a bad thing.
I think presidents have to be able to build coalitions and work with massive, recalcitrant organizations. That's the nature of democracy in a nation of 360 million people and such disparate human geographies. I don't want a president who hasn't demonstrated being able to organize within systems. The idea that "new ideas" and emotional motivation should be enough to change everything is the kind of naivete that kept me from ever being fully on board with Bernie in the first place.
posted by argybarg at 11:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [40 favorites]
I think presidents have to be able to build coalitions and work with massive, recalcitrant organizations. That's the nature of democracy in a nation of 360 million people and such disparate human geographies. I don't want a president who hasn't demonstrated being able to organize within systems. The idea that "new ideas" and emotional motivation should be enough to change everything is the kind of naivete that kept me from ever being fully on board with Bernie in the first place.
posted by argybarg at 11:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [40 favorites]
Hey, wasn't someone here complaining about the Hillary car magnets? My fundraising email for today is a poll about which magnet they should make next, so it sounds like there's a new car magnet coming. The options are a standard Clinton Kaine one, an orange one with a picture of Hillary that says "I believe in science," and one that says "I'm a Hillary voter." I'm guessing that the plain Clinton Kaine one will win.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 11:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 11:02 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Can you tell who said it? Trump of Jesus?
If you get 0%, it will actually ask you not to vote.
It actually hurt to click the wrong answers.
posted by roll truck roll at 11:04 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
If you get 0%, it will actually ask you not to vote.
It actually hurt to click the wrong answers.
posted by roll truck roll at 11:04 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
the system is deeply flawed, and I would like to see this election shatter the two-major-parties trope
One thing that has really changed my political views over the past couple decades is having a better understanding of how the political system works. One of the big ones is how our system gravitates towards two roughly equal parties based on how we conduct our elections. It’s not a trope, but it has been described as a law.
I don’t think my views have changed a whole lot, but I feel like I have a better grasp of what is realistically possible and why. Most third-party talk ignores the actual reality of the situation and it’s impossible to take seriously. It's one area where I would recommend really looking into why things are the way they are before talking about it.
posted by snofoam at 11:09 AM on August 6, 2016 [26 favorites]
One thing that has really changed my political views over the past couple decades is having a better understanding of how the political system works. One of the big ones is how our system gravitates towards two roughly equal parties based on how we conduct our elections. It’s not a trope, but it has been described as a law.
I don’t think my views have changed a whole lot, but I feel like I have a better grasp of what is realistically possible and why. Most third-party talk ignores the actual reality of the situation and it’s impossible to take seriously. It's one area where I would recommend really looking into why things are the way they are before talking about it.
posted by snofoam at 11:09 AM on August 6, 2016 [26 favorites]
Hey, there's a storify of @onlxn's Trump/Ryan Twitter thing.
I lost it at:
I lost it at:
TRUMP: Indiana's thrilled to be rid of this guy. I should run on that. "Trump: Saved Indiana From Mike Pence"posted by Talez at 11:09 AM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
RYAN: Seems petty
PENCE: Yeah
Hillary doesn't have this disadvantage; she's had literally decades of listening and talking to people so she can present a solid, workable plan that really does speak to people's interests. But Bernie, as much as he's been active in politics for years, just hasn't had as much time to put into face-to-face community-building activities.
I'm not seeing "deeply flawed". You're pointing out that the system favors the one with the most experience, knowledge, and skills. This isn't little league, we're not trying to give everyone an equal chance. We're trying to get the best person for the job.
posted by bongo_x at 11:09 AM on August 6, 2016 [29 favorites]
I'm not seeing "deeply flawed". You're pointing out that the system favors the one with the most experience, knowledge, and skills. This isn't little league, we're not trying to give everyone an equal chance. We're trying to get the best person for the job.
posted by bongo_x at 11:09 AM on August 6, 2016 [29 favorites]
Apologies for making a 2nd post on this, but I re-read and I wanted to add: the last sentence can be read in a way I don’t intend and I’m not trying to tell ErisLordFreedom or any individual person what they should talk about. Also, if I could just choose how the world would be, I might very well give the US a different electoral system, but I’m specifically referring to what could be achieved in the world we live in.
posted by snofoam at 11:28 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by snofoam at 11:28 AM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Eh, you rent the hall, you get to decide who's tresspassing...
I disagree. If you are holding a private function such as a wedding or a fund raiser that's one thing. But when you hold a political rally and invite the public in, I think it is wrong to bar certain people preemptively before they make a scene, people like Muslim students, AARP members, reporters, or other politicians. If you are running for President, you are effectively asking to represent everyone-- not just your declared fans. Anyone who lives in America should be allowed to attend and listen to your speech as long as they are not being disruptive.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:33 AM on August 6, 2016 [22 favorites]
I disagree. If you are holding a private function such as a wedding or a fund raiser that's one thing. But when you hold a political rally and invite the public in, I think it is wrong to bar certain people preemptively before they make a scene, people like Muslim students, AARP members, reporters, or other politicians. If you are running for President, you are effectively asking to represent everyone-- not just your declared fans. Anyone who lives in America should be allowed to attend and listen to your speech as long as they are not being disruptive.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:33 AM on August 6, 2016 [22 favorites]
I'm reading the reddit post on Bernie's campaign efforts and how uncoordinated they are, and it strikes me that this is another problem with our 4-year system: when a newcomer jumps into the process, with passion and a handful of end goals and a long list of grievances, there's not time to both hash through a plan and actually campaign. However, young people especially are wary of well-polished already completed action plans; if the plan doesn't hit all their buzzwords, they recognize that they're being shut out of the process.
Any politician who wants to campaign on "I'm hearing your voice and will adjust my plans accordingly" is at a sharp disadvantage vs one who has a plan based on the party platform.
Except that basic organizing principles aren't something that need to be responsive to the, like, voice of the people or whatever. These principles guide the structure you put in place from the very beginning in order to execute your actual campaign, regardless of what your policy positions are or how they might evolve.
Policy has almost nothing to do with an "action plan," and it's pretty clear from that reddit thread--and from how things actually played out during the campaign--that Sanders' action plan wasn't as thought out as it could or should have been from the get go.
This is in stark contrast to, say, Obama's action plan in 2008, to use the example of another insurgent candidacy. Not only was Obama's plan effective, it was scalable to a national level once he performed better than expected early on. (It helps as well that his campaign was being run by people who'd been down the road before, as opposed to someone like Weaver who, as far as I can tell, has only ever worked for Sanders. )
It really does seem like the Sanders camp just wasn't prepared to run a national campaign on the scale necessary to win, in no small part because their early successes were probably as much a surprise to them as to everyone else.
They didn't have the infrastructure or, apparently, an effective plan to build it, and the stories we see in that reddit thread bear this out.
What it comes down to is that "passion and a handful of end goals and a long list of grievances" just isn't anywhere near enough to win a race on the scale of this one, especially when the focus is on the passion and the grievances, rather than the goals and how to reach them.
posted by dersins at 11:45 AM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
Any politician who wants to campaign on "I'm hearing your voice and will adjust my plans accordingly" is at a sharp disadvantage vs one who has a plan based on the party platform.
Except that basic organizing principles aren't something that need to be responsive to the, like, voice of the people or whatever. These principles guide the structure you put in place from the very beginning in order to execute your actual campaign, regardless of what your policy positions are or how they might evolve.
Policy has almost nothing to do with an "action plan," and it's pretty clear from that reddit thread--and from how things actually played out during the campaign--that Sanders' action plan wasn't as thought out as it could or should have been from the get go.
This is in stark contrast to, say, Obama's action plan in 2008, to use the example of another insurgent candidacy. Not only was Obama's plan effective, it was scalable to a national level once he performed better than expected early on. (It helps as well that his campaign was being run by people who'd been down the road before, as opposed to someone like Weaver who, as far as I can tell, has only ever worked for Sanders. )
It really does seem like the Sanders camp just wasn't prepared to run a national campaign on the scale necessary to win, in no small part because their early successes were probably as much a surprise to them as to everyone else.
They didn't have the infrastructure or, apparently, an effective plan to build it, and the stories we see in that reddit thread bear this out.
What it comes down to is that "passion and a handful of end goals and a long list of grievances" just isn't anywhere near enough to win a race on the scale of this one, especially when the focus is on the passion and the grievances, rather than the goals and how to reach them.
posted by dersins at 11:45 AM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
@RealDonaldTrump: Heading to New Hampshire - will be talking about Hillary saying her brain SHORT CIRCUITED, and other things!
He obviously thinks this SHORT CIRCUIT thing is of vital importance. So much more important than....Zika, income inequality, prison reform, health care, college tuition, drug dependency, education reform, Veterans, climate change, or any number of things that are of increasing importance to voters.
Hey Trump, spend all the time you want demonizing Clinton, you still can't hide the fact that you have no idea what the POTUS actually does or what s/he needs to know.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:46 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
He obviously thinks this SHORT CIRCUIT thing is of vital importance. So much more important than....Zika, income inequality, prison reform, health care, college tuition, drug dependency, education reform, Veterans, climate change, or any number of things that are of increasing importance to voters.
Hey Trump, spend all the time you want demonizing Clinton, you still can't hide the fact that you have no idea what the POTUS actually does or what s/he needs to know.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:46 AM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Donald Trump Is Proposing The Biggest Tax Cuts Since Ronald Reagan's Presidency
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:58 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
The proposal will reiterate Trump’s plan to cut the corporate tax rate to 15%, Stephen Moore, who is the chief economist for the Heritage Foundation, and of one of the men on Trump’s 13-member economic advisory team that the Republican presidential candidate announced Friday, said.[...]I love that casual "oh yeah, the job rate should be twice what it is now." Because it is so easy to create jobs-- just produce more coal, gas, and oil. No problems there. Also tax cuts paired with massive infrastructure rebuilding and a stupid giant wall. If I didn't already have nightmares about a Trump presidency, I would have them now.
The plan will also supposedly include the major changes to U.S. energy policy that will make the country the biggest producer in the world of oil and gas, as well as coal, Moore told Bloomberg.[...]
Despite the fact a Labor Department report showed the economy created a stronger-than-expected 255,000 jobs in July, Moore told Bloomberg that the monthly payroll gains should be 400,000 to 500,000.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:58 AM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Julian Assange is on Bill Maher right now and just said Wikileaks is working on hacking the Trump tax returns.
Isn't this the exact crime he was accused of in the Chelsea Manning case, before he was accused of date rape? AFAIK this makes him accessory to illegal hacking, if not the "kingpin" directing it. In the same way that the person who hires a hit man is the one most guilty of conspiracy to murder.
posted by msalt at 12:01 PM on August 6, 2016
Isn't this the exact crime he was accused of in the Chelsea Manning case, before he was accused of date rape? AFAIK this makes him accessory to illegal hacking, if not the "kingpin" directing it. In the same way that the person who hires a hit man is the one most guilty of conspiracy to murder.
posted by msalt at 12:01 PM on August 6, 2016
@RealDonaldTrump: Heading to New Hampshire - will be talking about Hillary saying her brain SHORT CIRCUITED, and other things!
He obviously thinks this SHORT CIRCUIT thing is of vital importance. So much more important than....Zika, income inequality, prison reform, health care, college tuition, drug dependency, education reform, Veterans, climate change, or any number of things that are of increasing importance to voters.
I'm more amazed that he is actually still going after New England so hard while Florida, Ohio, and Iowa are bleeding. Without those there is no path to victory. Does he have some delusion that he'll win New York?
posted by Talez at 12:04 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
He obviously thinks this SHORT CIRCUIT thing is of vital importance. So much more important than....Zika, income inequality, prison reform, health care, college tuition, drug dependency, education reform, Veterans, climate change, or any number of things that are of increasing importance to voters.
I'm more amazed that he is actually still going after New England so hard while Florida, Ohio, and Iowa are bleeding. Without those there is no path to victory. Does he have some delusion that he'll win New York?
posted by Talez at 12:04 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
They LOVE him in New York. Of course he thinks he's going to win New York.
posted by wabbittwax at 12:07 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 12:07 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
From looking at 538, it looks like Gary Johnson is going to be the GOP's Nader for this cycle. If he wasn't grabbing about 7% of the vote (i.e. if Trump wasn't so repellent Johnson wasn't able to split off GOP votes), it would be a dead heat.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:09 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by murphy slaw at 12:09 PM on August 6, 2016
also it seems like trump is trying to run the Dean 50 state strategy without actually doing any of the things that made the Dean campaign think it might work
posted by murphy slaw at 12:10 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:10 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
One of the techniques Obama deploys to great effect when answering questions is a well-crafted obtuseness at length, which makes it very hard to pull a soundbite out of it to use out of context and puts the onus on the listener to do some hard parsing to work out what he's said (and, just as importantly, not said). It's a very lawyerly trick, and he does it well.
This is one of my favorite things about Obama because if you actually are paying attention -- if you actually listen instead of looking for soundbites -- there's almost always actual content in there.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:11 PM on August 6, 2016 [28 favorites]
This is one of my favorite things about Obama because if you actually are paying attention -- if you actually listen instead of looking for soundbites -- there's almost always actual content in there.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:11 PM on August 6, 2016 [28 favorites]
Julian Assange is on Bill Maher right now and just said Wikileaks is working on hacking the Trump tax returns.
Wikileaks is walking that back now, claiming Assange was joking.
My sense is that it wasn't ever true and he just said it because Maher was accusing him of being specifically anti-Hillary.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 12:11 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Wikileaks is walking that back now, claiming Assange was joking.
My sense is that it wasn't ever true and he just said it because Maher was accusing him of being specifically anti-Hillary.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 12:11 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
I guess that's my big worry at the moment - that since voters are known to change their minds at the last moment about voting for third party candidates, many of those current Gary Johnson voters may turn into Trump voters in the end.
posted by peacheater at 12:14 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 12:14 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
i feel like in the end it's all going to come down to getting the vote out. and i have a lot more faith in the clinton campaign's ability to do that than i do in the trump campaign.
at least that's what i tell myself to be able to sleep at night.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:15 PM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
at least that's what i tell myself to be able to sleep at night.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:15 PM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
There are lots of polls that don't give Johnson as an option. Right now, at least, Clinton is leading in those as well.
However, I'm taking an "it's not over 'til it's over" approach on this one ...
posted by kyrademon at 12:16 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
However, I'm taking an "it's not over 'til it's over" approach on this one ...
posted by kyrademon at 12:16 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
This is one of my favorite things about Obama because if you actually are paying attention -- if you actually listen instead of looking for soundbites -- there's almost always actual content in there.
tl;dr: Obama actually uses words to say things.
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:17 PM on August 6, 2016 [27 favorites]
tl;dr: Obama actually uses words to say things.
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:17 PM on August 6, 2016 [27 favorites]
WaPo: Donald Trump now says even legal immigrants are a security threat
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:19 PM on August 6, 2016 [34 favorites]
At a rally in Portland, Maine, on Thursday afternoon, Trump provided a lengthy explanation of why he thinks the United States needs to be skeptical of immigrants from many countries, even if they follow the legal process. Reading from notes, Trump listed nearly a dozen examples of immigrants, refugees or students who came to the United States legally -- often applying for and receiving citizenship -- and then plotted to kill Americans, sometimes successfully doing so. The countries that he referenced in these examples: Somalia, Morocco, Uzbekistan (he asked the crowd where it was located), Syria, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen (which he pronounced "yay-men"). Trump's staff has yet to confirm if there are countries from which the nominee wants to limit immigration.Two days ago I read an article about Hawaiian Senator Brian Schatz who denounced Donald Trump for proposing to ban immigration from the Philippines and my immediate reaction was when did this happen and why? Turns out Trump has a story about one Filipino, Ralph Deleon, who was a legal resident who plotted to join Al-Qaeda. One guy. And now Trump thinks all Filipinos should be treated with suspicion. Do you think he has any idea how many Filipinos live and work in California and Hawaii? It boggles the mind.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:19 PM on August 6, 2016 [34 favorites]
Wasn't Richard Reid, the shoe bomber, from England? I'm sure that any day now, Trump is going to call for a ban on immigrants from the UK.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:24 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:24 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
My wife and her family are naturalized Filipino immigrants who live in Hawaii. Her father is still voting for Trump. Her brother, who emigrated here when he was four and has been dragging ass about finishing his citizenship application, is finally urgently pursuing that. Fuck Trump.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:27 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:27 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
WaPo: Donald Trump now says even legal immigrants are a security threat
Here's my surprised face. Donald Trump wants jus sanguinis to be the only immigration law, and so do his followers. And probably retroactive to, say, 1965. They will keep ratcheting up until they are defeated.
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:28 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Here's my surprised face. Donald Trump wants jus sanguinis to be the only immigration law, and so do his followers. And probably retroactive to, say, 1965. They will keep ratcheting up until they are defeated.
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:28 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
A vet who lost his leg in Afghanistan has started a GoFundMe for Donald Trump so he can fly into a war zone and earn a Purple Heart the old fashioned way. HuffPo:
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:32 PM on August 6, 2016 [60 favorites]
“As with seemingly everything else in his life, Mr. Trump got [a Purple Heart] handed to him instead of earning it,” Kerr states on a GoFundMe page he launched Tuesday with the headline “Help Trump Get A Purple Heart.”He is almost half-way to his goal of $50,000
“I fully endorse his desire to earn one and would happily oblige his interest in doing so, by being one of the first to chip in to fly him to the conflict zone of his choosing,” Kerr wrote. “After all, you’re never too old to follow your dreams.”[...]
Kerr, who now works as a security analyst, knows Trump isn’t likely to take him up on a fully paid trip into a war zone. So, as he spells out on his fundraising page, he plans to direct any money he raises to a cause that Trump deeply opposes: aiding Syrian refugees. Not only did Kerr study Arabic and Middle Eastern history in college, he has worked directly with refugees from the region and knows the hell they have to endure to escape the violence of their home countries.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:32 PM on August 6, 2016 [60 favorites]
Wasn't Richard Reid, the shoe bomber, from England? I'm sure that any day now, Trump is going to call for a ban on immigrants from the UK.
You gotta look past that. Scared white people don't want to know your nationality. They want to know where you're ultimately from. Richard Reid is a quarter Jamaican so the logical inference is to stop immigration from the whole Caribbean region. Even those who are legally US citizens like Puerto Rico!
And probably retroactive to, say, 1965.
Only east of the Mississippi. If you're in the West they want to make it retroactive to the Mexican–American War.
posted by Talez at 12:33 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
You gotta look past that. Scared white people don't want to know your nationality. They want to know where you're ultimately from. Richard Reid is a quarter Jamaican so the logical inference is to stop immigration from the whole Caribbean region. Even those who are legally US citizens like Puerto Rico!
And probably retroactive to, say, 1965.
Only east of the Mississippi. If you're in the West they want to make it retroactive to the Mexican–American War.
posted by Talez at 12:33 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
@pattonoswalt - The dynamic between Trump & the GOP is the same as The Joker & the mob in THE DARK KNIGHT. I can't be the 1st person to point this out.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
if you actually listen instead of looking for soundbites -- there's almost always actual content in there.
I wish that I was optimistic about the average voter "actually listening" to something longer than a soundbite - or indeed, the average news source presenting anything longer than eight second clips.
posted by Rumple at 1:01 PM on August 6, 2016
I wish that I was optimistic about the average voter "actually listening" to something longer than a soundbite - or indeed, the average news source presenting anything longer than eight second clips.
posted by Rumple at 1:01 PM on August 6, 2016
He obviously thinks this SHORT CIRCUIT thing is of vital importance.
I think what's happening with that is much more Trumpy than an assessment of importance. Donnie's mad that people are calling his mental health into question, and, because he sees the world in incredibly simplistic terms (peons on one side and the conspiracy of haters on the other) he blames Clinton for it. So he's lashing out at her. As someone said upthread, it's simply "I know you are but what am I?". Another signal that he's unlikely to gain any sort of rational control over his campaign.
posted by howfar at 1:02 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think what's happening with that is much more Trumpy than an assessment of importance. Donnie's mad that people are calling his mental health into question, and, because he sees the world in incredibly simplistic terms (peons on one side and the conspiracy of haters on the other) he blames Clinton for it. So he's lashing out at her. As someone said upthread, it's simply "I know you are but what am I?". Another signal that he's unlikely to gain any sort of rational control over his campaign.
posted by howfar at 1:02 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yet another "Trump isn't really a successful businessman" piece in which the writer details an attempt to destroy the career of a reporter with a "series of wild and bogus accusations" by the Trump organization: Trump, the Bad, Bad Businessman
posted by peeedro at 1:03 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 1:03 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
America's biggest faults can be boiled down to: We admire assholes. We personally wish we could be assholes.
Except when people are assholes to us, that's different.
(I wish I was kidding.)
posted by maxwelton at 1:04 PM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
Except when people are assholes to us, that's different.
(I wish I was kidding.)
posted by maxwelton at 1:04 PM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
To think people say Americans don't do irony!
They Don't.
TAKES OFF SHIRT
RUFFLES HAIR
UNFURLS CANADIAN FLAG
posted by srboisvert at 1:05 PM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
They Don't.
TAKES OFF SHIRT
RUFFLES HAIR
UNFURLS CANADIAN FLAG
posted by srboisvert at 1:05 PM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
Oh shit, me (dual citizen born abroad) and my dad (Canadian green-card holder) better watch our p's and q's. One more parking ticket and old Donald is going to be using us as an example of why all Canadian immigration must be ceased immediately.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:05 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:05 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
We admire assholes. We personally wish we could be assholes.
This is why people love driving.
posted by thelonius at 1:08 PM on August 6, 2016 [14 favorites]
This is why people love driving.
posted by thelonius at 1:08 PM on August 6, 2016 [14 favorites]
(sorry, a little late to the party, but I couldn't resist...)
At some point next week the Clinton campaign will have a surrogate accuse him of being a hyper-competent woman with decades of policy experience and wait for him to reflexively throw it back at her.
Ah yes, the famous Wabbit/Duck Gambit!
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:09 PM on August 6, 2016 [17 favorites]
At some point next week the Clinton campaign will have a surrogate accuse him of being a hyper-competent woman with decades of policy experience and wait for him to reflexively throw it back at her.
Ah yes, the famous Wabbit/Duck Gambit!
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:09 PM on August 6, 2016 [17 favorites]
It's Trump Season
posted by wabbittwax at 1:11 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 1:11 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Okay well. Mefites, allow me to announce that I just knocked on doors for the first time in my 22 years as a registered voter. Apparently all it takes to get me to talk to strangers is the threat of nuclear apocalypse.
I'm still deciding whether I did a perfectly fine job or was The Most Terrible Canvasser Ever Omigod.
posted by gerstle at 1:15 PM on August 6, 2016 [93 favorites]
I'm still deciding whether I did a perfectly fine job or was The Most Terrible Canvasser Ever Omigod.
posted by gerstle at 1:15 PM on August 6, 2016 [93 favorites]
@snofoam - you didn't come across as telling me what I could/should talk about :)
I would love election reform to start with requiring Republicans and Democrats to earn their way onto the ballots in all 50 states, just like other parties - or else change the requirements for the other parties, so that a certain size/age of the party would automatically get them included. Get a certain number of voters nationwide, and you're automatically included on the ballots as long as you keep your voter reg above that number.
And I don't think that "new ideas + hope" should automatically get solid support from the media or the political process. I am noting that, had Bernie run as an independent, he'd likely be doing worse than Johnson - and that has nothing to do with how solid his plans were nor how well (or poorly) his campaign was organized. Had Trump run as an independent, he'd be getting 95% of his media coverage from Comedy Central.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:18 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would love election reform to start with requiring Republicans and Democrats to earn their way onto the ballots in all 50 states, just like other parties - or else change the requirements for the other parties, so that a certain size/age of the party would automatically get them included. Get a certain number of voters nationwide, and you're automatically included on the ballots as long as you keep your voter reg above that number.
And I don't think that "new ideas + hope" should automatically get solid support from the media or the political process. I am noting that, had Bernie run as an independent, he'd likely be doing worse than Johnson - and that has nothing to do with how solid his plans were nor how well (or poorly) his campaign was organized. Had Trump run as an independent, he'd be getting 95% of his media coverage from Comedy Central.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:18 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Donald Trump, Mike Pence And Vladimir Putin As The Golden Girls Is Brilliant (YouTube link)
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 1:25 PM on August 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 1:25 PM on August 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
If you're out there trying to make a difference then what you are is my hero.
posted by vbfg at 1:30 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by vbfg at 1:30 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
I'm still deciding whether I did a perfectly fine job or was The Most Terrible Canvasser Ever Omigod.I've knocked doors in every presidential election since 2000, was a neighborhood team leader in the last two elections, was once introduced to Michelle Obama as "A&C, who is one of our super-volunteers," and have trained a ton of callers and canvassers, and I'm still not sure whether I'm perfectly fine or The Most Terrible Canvasser Ever Omigod. Luckily, all the research suggests that canvassers don't have to be perfect and amazing in order to be effective. If it didn't feel like a total disaster from hell, you were almost certainly great.
Congrats on surviving your first canvassing adventure! It gets easier the more you do it.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 1:34 PM on August 6, 2016 [38 favorites]
Here's my surprised face. Donald Trump wants jus sanguinis to be the only immigration law, and so do his followers. And probably retroactive to, say, 1965.
Yep, and it's not even a Trump thing specifically, but apparently a conservative blog / talk radio / email forwards thing he probably latched onto. Last year I was horrified to encounter someone who was actually descended entirely from 20th-century immigrants, who insisted that the "true meaning" of the 14th Amendment has nothing to do with birthright citizenship and any apparent legal interpretation as such is merely the result of a liberal conspiracy.
(Like as in, the Supreme Court who interpreted it that way, at a time when many of the people who voted for the Amendment in Congress and in state legislatures were still alive, nearly the same court that passed Plessy v. Ferguson that endorsed private security guards dragging someone with one non-white grandparent to the police station because he sat down in the white section, and when recent Courts wouldn't allow women to vote, were part of a liberal conspiracy.)
This person was certain they and their family are citizens, because multiple grandparents had been naturalized, but apparently had no thoughts about the rest of us who think we're citizens because the government will issue us passports after looking at our birth certificates, and print the city of birth in the passport.
This ideology sets up the same circumstances as for Jews and Romani in Europe historically, where people were just regarded as racially being permanent immigrants, even if their family had lived somewhere for a thousand years.
Retroactively stripping the citizenship of millions of people before setting up camps and engaging in mass population resettlement of "illegals" would have quite a parallel with Nazi Germany, of course.
posted by XMLicious at 1:35 PM on August 6, 2016 [23 favorites]
I would love election reform to start with requiring Republicans and Democrats to earn their way onto the ballots in all 50 states,
My understanding is that they generally do have to do this.
posted by dersins at 1:51 PM on August 6, 2016
My understanding is that they generally do have to do this.
posted by dersins at 1:51 PM on August 6, 2016
Here's my surprised face. Donald Trump wants jus sanguinis to be the only immigration law, and so do his followers. And probably retroactive to, say, 1965.
This has been a thing on the fringe right at least since the advent of Birtherism—as well as wacky theories about citizenship passing only through the father—and possibly before. And "14th Amendment citizen" has been a stock phrase with SovCits for forty years or more.
In other lunatic news, the writers at Breitbart are working hard at cosplaying 1930's European autocrats:
posted by octobersurprise at 1:53 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
This has been a thing on the fringe right at least since the advent of Birtherism—as well as wacky theories about citizenship passing only through the father—and possibly before. And "14th Amendment citizen" has been a stock phrase with SovCits for forty years or more.
In other lunatic news, the writers at Breitbart are working hard at cosplaying 1930's European autocrats:
"Hannity is making it known that he stands with the Populist Nationalist Champions of the New and Better Republican Party Borne in Cleveland That Will Reign Supreme For Years To Come."(Linky goes to Oliver Darcy's tweet, not Breitbart.)
posted by octobersurprise at 1:53 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Possible proof that Android users are unhinged narcissists and iPhone users are cynically calculating sociopaths: "Every non-hyperbolic tweet is from iPhone (his staff). Every hyperbolic tweet is from Android (from him)."
posted by maudlin at 2:02 PM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 2:02 PM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
WaPo: Donald Trump now says even legal immigrants are a security threat
FLAMES
FLAMES ON THE SIDE OF MY FACE
Okay, here's a couple of things about refugees who have been accepted for resettlement in the United States.
1. They have been vetted and screened by the United States Federal Government for over a year, back in the camps where they came from.
2. There is usually an organization that is waiting to receive them in whatever state they are placed, and the organization usually gauges where to place them based on things like "how easy would it be for them to get a job in that community" and "would they have a support system of family and friends already there in addition to the support we're going to give them".
3. Most telling: It is actually Federal Law that if you have been granted refugee status, once you get to the United States, you are free to move anywhere within the United States you wish.
And yet, a lot of people don't seem to know that. Especially Trump. And especially the pig-butt governors of some of the states in this country. I work for an organization that in part assists refugees with resettlement here in the US, and some months back, after one of Trump's snarky comments about refugees, we started having a couple cases where the governors of some states would meet some of our clients at the airport right when they got off and deny them entry. Never mind that the Federal Government had already screened them nine ways to Sunday, never mind that if they went somewhere else they could just move right back in when the governor wasn't looking, they decided to be non-welcoming as possible. It is heartbreaking.
Although, "flying somewhere else and waiting for the governor to go away and then arriving the next day after things blew over" is exactly the solution we went for, which proves to me that this isn't about national security, it's about political theater.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:04 PM on August 6, 2016 [43 favorites]
FLAMES
FLAMES ON THE SIDE OF MY FACE
Okay, here's a couple of things about refugees who have been accepted for resettlement in the United States.
1. They have been vetted and screened by the United States Federal Government for over a year, back in the camps where they came from.
2. There is usually an organization that is waiting to receive them in whatever state they are placed, and the organization usually gauges where to place them based on things like "how easy would it be for them to get a job in that community" and "would they have a support system of family and friends already there in addition to the support we're going to give them".
3. Most telling: It is actually Federal Law that if you have been granted refugee status, once you get to the United States, you are free to move anywhere within the United States you wish.
And yet, a lot of people don't seem to know that. Especially Trump. And especially the pig-butt governors of some of the states in this country. I work for an organization that in part assists refugees with resettlement here in the US, and some months back, after one of Trump's snarky comments about refugees, we started having a couple cases where the governors of some states would meet some of our clients at the airport right when they got off and deny them entry. Never mind that the Federal Government had already screened them nine ways to Sunday, never mind that if they went somewhere else they could just move right back in when the governor wasn't looking, they decided to be non-welcoming as possible. It is heartbreaking.
Although, "flying somewhere else and waiting for the governor to go away and then arriving the next day after things blew over" is exactly the solution we went for, which proves to me that this isn't about national security, it's about political theater.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:04 PM on August 6, 2016 [43 favorites]
Kerr, who now works as a security analyst, knows Trump isn’t likely to take him up on a fully paid trip into a war zone. So, as he spells out on his fundraising page, he plans to direct any money he raises to a cause that Trump deeply opposes: aiding Syrian refugees. Not only did Kerr study Arabic and Middle Eastern history in college, he has worked directly with refugees from the region and knows the hell they have to endure to escape the violence of their home countries.
Oh, hey, one of the three institutions that Kerr will be supporting with this GoFundMe is the organization I work for. Keen!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:08 PM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
Oh, hey, one of the three institutions that Kerr will be supporting with this GoFundMe is the organization I work for. Keen!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:08 PM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
A vet who lost his leg in Afghanistan has started a GoFundMe for Donald Trump so he can fly into a war zone and earn a Purple Heart the old fashioned way.
Ha! Contribution made. (And seriously, the organizations to which the contributions will go* are very good ones AFAIK. )
(*and of course it's not totally impossible that this challenge to Trump's ego could incite him to go to an actual war zone and get his ass shot off, so -- win/win.)
posted by Kat Allison at 2:09 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ha! Contribution made. (And seriously, the organizations to which the contributions will go* are very good ones AFAIK. )
(*and of course it's not totally impossible that this challenge to Trump's ego could incite him to go to an actual war zone and get his ass shot off, so -- win/win.)
posted by Kat Allison at 2:09 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would love election reform to start with...
The point I was trying to make was that I don't think this line of thought really goes anywhere. There could be 1,000 parties on the ballot, but when the person with more votes wins, the system itself will gravitate towards two dominant, pretty equally-matched parties. The fact that some other countries have more parties that end up forming coalition governments, etc. is totally driven by the fact that they have electoral systems that make it viable to have many parties.
In the US, there are rare situations when one party collapses and is replaced but it gravitates back towards two strong parties very quickly. Sometimes, an third-party/independent candidate can be a spoiler, like Perot. Individuals can be elected to local or national office outside the two main parties, but this doesn’t fundamentally change the balance of parties. To change the system to something that really supports having more than two parties would require a constitutional amendment that totally changes how we do our elections and this is really unlikely.
Assuming there were a wholesale change in how we do our elections, the impact I would personally want—super progressive government—is still a real longshot. If a very progressive party did get some representation, they would surely have to form a coalition with a more centrist party to get things done. The end result seems a lot like leftists sucking it up and supporting the Democratic party. I think at the end of the day, I think politicians aren’t as progressive as I want because most people aren’t as progressive as I would like.
posted by snofoam at 2:23 PM on August 6, 2016 [24 favorites]
The point I was trying to make was that I don't think this line of thought really goes anywhere. There could be 1,000 parties on the ballot, but when the person with more votes wins, the system itself will gravitate towards two dominant, pretty equally-matched parties. The fact that some other countries have more parties that end up forming coalition governments, etc. is totally driven by the fact that they have electoral systems that make it viable to have many parties.
In the US, there are rare situations when one party collapses and is replaced but it gravitates back towards two strong parties very quickly. Sometimes, an third-party/independent candidate can be a spoiler, like Perot. Individuals can be elected to local or national office outside the two main parties, but this doesn’t fundamentally change the balance of parties. To change the system to something that really supports having more than two parties would require a constitutional amendment that totally changes how we do our elections and this is really unlikely.
Assuming there were a wholesale change in how we do our elections, the impact I would personally want—super progressive government—is still a real longshot. If a very progressive party did get some representation, they would surely have to form a coalition with a more centrist party to get things done. The end result seems a lot like leftists sucking it up and supporting the Democratic party. I think at the end of the day, I think politicians aren’t as progressive as I want because most people aren’t as progressive as I would like.
posted by snofoam at 2:23 PM on August 6, 2016 [24 favorites]
My bet is that these long-recognized systemic problems in our democracy which make it virtually impossible for smaller-than-50%-of-the-population-sized groups to unite politically across geographic lines and reliably obtain direct representation in government proportionate to their size will suddenly turn out to be big, important, fundamental issues that nonetheless are solvable with concerted effort and a little elbow grease, a few decades from now as soon as we demographically flip over to majority-minority and white people make up less than 50% together.
posted by XMLicious at 2:45 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 2:45 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
The way I describe it is with oversimplification.
Imagine for a moment that 50% of the electorate is right-wing and 50% is left. If there's one significant party for each side, it's going to come down to the people in the middle and which way they go this year. If one of those sides acquires a second party with any pull, suddenly one side's got a consistent 50% and the other side has, say, one with 40% and one with 10%. Which means that the side with only one party wins every single time.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:50 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
Imagine for a moment that 50% of the electorate is right-wing and 50% is left. If there's one significant party for each side, it's going to come down to the people in the middle and which way they go this year. If one of those sides acquires a second party with any pull, suddenly one side's got a consistent 50% and the other side has, say, one with 40% and one with 10%. Which means that the side with only one party wins every single time.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:50 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
Yes, an in a parliamentary democracy, how this could work is that the party with 50% of the votes could win 50% of the seats, the one with 40% - 40% of seats and so on (assuming perfect geographic segregation - which happens quite a bit - lots of extremely regional parties in parliamentary democracies). Then the parties with 40% and 10% of the votes could form a coalition government (not really, but bear with me for a moment) which could take on the party with the 50% of votes. So there's a natural tendency in parliamentary democracies for more than two parties. And then you'll have a bunch of people bellyaching about the "fragmentation of our politics" and "extreme regionalization" - so no one's ever happy.
posted by peacheater at 2:58 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 2:58 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Now the NYT is criticizing Clinton for using an insincere hand-on-heart gesture. I link to the Twitter post because I enjoyed the reaction.
Woooow. I make that gesture a lot - when I was watching the DNC and the Khans came on and spoke, I think I made it like five times (a couple of them with the fingertip kiss to screen add on). I think it's just a gesture people in the US make... there certainly wasn't anyone here to see me.
@realDonaldTrump Anybody whose mind "SHORT CIRCUITS" is not fit to be our president! Look up the word "BRAINWASHED."
Donald Trump is so unfamiliar with women he mistakes them for robots.
-------
On a tangent, one of the things which has really struck me recently is the relationship between Obama and Clinton. They competed head to head in Obama's primary, and it got somewhat nasty. Clinton pivoted well before the convention, though later than the media asked her to, and subsequently worked about as closely with Obama as anyone has. And based on their body language, their relationship is solid - mutual respect, mutual affection, mutual support.
I can't see Sanders doing the same thing - for both political and gendered reasons. The political is that Sanders isn't really a Democrat even though he caucuses with them, and that not-really-a-Democrat was a thru-line of his campaign. He could have become a Democrat at any point during his history, and he got support from the party as if he were a Democrat, but he never returned the favor. He only called himself a Democrat to have a chance at a run at the White House, and I doubt he'll call himself a Democrat as a Senator now despite his Presidential bid.
I think this accepting of favor/support without returning favor/support is a typically masculine thing, however. Expanding to popular media, the go-it-alone-male-hero is typical and common, and he usually gets tons of support while either neglecting or outright being abusive to those supports and is still rewarded by the narrative. In contrast, female heroines tend to always be paired up and if they're neglectful or abusive they will be punished by the narrative if not those supports.
Obama, in contrast though, is much more of a consensus builder and mutual supporter than Sanders*, and you can see how that played out with Clinton who has the same basic response to others but has also learned to endure humiliation and abuse over her years of being a public figure. The latter makes her much tougher, much quicker to jettison people who are not working with her to be obstreperous or who are humiliating her to see if she'll break (watch how she treats journalists!), and fast on the push back against nonsense.
It's interesting seeing these three public figures in the same arena, and comparing how their gender has played out in their political choices.
*I think this might be a result of his work for racial equality - he and Clinton have both had to work with people who hate them simply because of their physical characteristics, and that leads to a different perspective on working with others. Sanders, by contrast, is only marginalized via being an Independent Socialist but otherwise has boatloads of privilege.
posted by Deoridhe at 3:53 PM on August 6, 2016 [40 favorites]
Woooow. I make that gesture a lot - when I was watching the DNC and the Khans came on and spoke, I think I made it like five times (a couple of them with the fingertip kiss to screen add on). I think it's just a gesture people in the US make... there certainly wasn't anyone here to see me.
@realDonaldTrump Anybody whose mind "SHORT CIRCUITS" is not fit to be our president! Look up the word "BRAINWASHED."
Donald Trump is so unfamiliar with women he mistakes them for robots.
-------
On a tangent, one of the things which has really struck me recently is the relationship between Obama and Clinton. They competed head to head in Obama's primary, and it got somewhat nasty. Clinton pivoted well before the convention, though later than the media asked her to, and subsequently worked about as closely with Obama as anyone has. And based on their body language, their relationship is solid - mutual respect, mutual affection, mutual support.
I can't see Sanders doing the same thing - for both political and gendered reasons. The political is that Sanders isn't really a Democrat even though he caucuses with them, and that not-really-a-Democrat was a thru-line of his campaign. He could have become a Democrat at any point during his history, and he got support from the party as if he were a Democrat, but he never returned the favor. He only called himself a Democrat to have a chance at a run at the White House, and I doubt he'll call himself a Democrat as a Senator now despite his Presidential bid.
I think this accepting of favor/support without returning favor/support is a typically masculine thing, however. Expanding to popular media, the go-it-alone-male-hero is typical and common, and he usually gets tons of support while either neglecting or outright being abusive to those supports and is still rewarded by the narrative. In contrast, female heroines tend to always be paired up and if they're neglectful or abusive they will be punished by the narrative if not those supports.
Obama, in contrast though, is much more of a consensus builder and mutual supporter than Sanders*, and you can see how that played out with Clinton who has the same basic response to others but has also learned to endure humiliation and abuse over her years of being a public figure. The latter makes her much tougher, much quicker to jettison people who are not working with her to be obstreperous or who are humiliating her to see if she'll break (watch how she treats journalists!), and fast on the push back against nonsense.
It's interesting seeing these three public figures in the same arena, and comparing how their gender has played out in their political choices.
*I think this might be a result of his work for racial equality - he and Clinton have both had to work with people who hate them simply because of their physical characteristics, and that leads to a different perspective on working with others. Sanders, by contrast, is only marginalized via being an Independent Socialist but otherwise has boatloads of privilege.
posted by Deoridhe at 3:53 PM on August 6, 2016 [40 favorites]
I’m Not A Sexist, I Just Don’t Like Hillary Clinton for a Bunch of Sexist Reasons
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:11 PM on August 6, 2016 [41 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:11 PM on August 6, 2016 [41 favorites]
I doubt he'll call himself a Democrat as a Senator now despite his Presidential bid.
Sanders told reporters he'd be back in the Senate as an Independent the day after he endorsed Clinton at the DNC.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:21 PM on August 6, 2016
So I understand why no one does this anymore, but I really feel like if you're running for President, you shouldn't also be running for reelection for your Senate or House seat or whatever. Like, if you're serious about being President, why do you need a back up plan?
posted by betsybetsy at 4:27 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by betsybetsy at 4:27 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Donald Trump's mind can't 'short circuit' because it hasn't made ANY kind of circuit in his life.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:28 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:28 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
After having seen the 40 Years of Sexism video it was a bit frustrating to see her get asked how come nobody likes or trusts here when she addressed the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Her answer was pretty good, though.
...when I started running for the Senate in New York, a lot of the same things were said.posted by kirkaracha at 4:49 PM on August 6, 2016 [47 favorites]
I won. I worked hard for the people of New York. And I was reelected with 67 percent of the vote after I demonstrated that I would be on their side, I would fight for the people I represented.
...
And then I served as secretary of state. And when I left, I had a 66 percent approval rating. So, ask yourselves, were 67 percent of the people in New York wrong? Were 66 percent of the American public wrong? Or maybe, just maybe, when I’m actually running for a job, there is a real benefit to those on the other side in trying to stir up as much concern as possible.
Also the 40 Years of Sexism video is a good way to get familiar with her "urge to kill...rising" face.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:52 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 4:52 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
Also the 40 Years of Sexism video is a good way to get familiar with her "urge to kill...rising" face.
Yeah, the face off where Katie Couric tried to get her to admit she didn't care about tablecloth colors in particular.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 4:54 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah, the face off where Katie Couric tried to get her to admit she didn't care about tablecloth colors in particular.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 4:54 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I’m Not A Sexist, I Just Don’t Like Hillary Clinton for a Bunch of Sexist Reasons
The author has chosen not to show responses on this story.
Smart woman.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:15 PM on August 6, 2016 [16 favorites]
The author has chosen not to show responses on this story.
Smart woman.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:15 PM on August 6, 2016 [16 favorites]
It seems pretty obvious that Trump's unenthusiastic endorsement of Paul Ryan was as insincere as inhumanly possible. It's telling that Paul Nehlen was invited to a Trump rally and then kicked out (probably not for bringing his pocket Constitution) and begs the question of whether Trump was planning to endorse Nehlen and give Ryan and the GOP the lil' finger only to have his tiny baby cabbage hand forced by the GOP at the last minute. I suspect there is more to this story than meets the eye and that the Liberal Media™ is looking into.
Meanwhile, in the folksiest timeline: Surreality TV show star and turnip supporter Sarah Palin has doubled down on her endorsement of Paul Nehlen.
> So I understand why no one does this anymore, but I really feel like if you're running for President, you shouldn't also be running for reelection for your Senate or House seat or whatever. Like, if you're serious about being President, why do you need a back up plan?
I believe that's called a Lieberman.
posted by guiseroom at 5:20 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Meanwhile, in the folksiest timeline: Surreality TV show star and turnip supporter Sarah Palin has doubled down on her endorsement of Paul Nehlen.
> So I understand why no one does this anymore, but I really feel like if you're running for President, you shouldn't also be running for reelection for your Senate or House seat or whatever. Like, if you're serious about being President, why do you need a back up plan?
I believe that's called a Lieberman.
posted by guiseroom at 5:20 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump Live in NH (Currently an empty podium)
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:23 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:23 PM on August 6, 2016
[real] Sign spotted on livestream: "TRUMP" printed over a Batman logo.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:35 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:35 PM on August 6, 2016
Sanders told reporters he'd be back in the Senate as an Independent the day after he endorsed Clinton at the DNC.
Forget the DNC: this was one major reason I didn't trust Sanders. For all his talk, his behavior is such that he takes and he takes without ever guaranteeing he'll contribute.
posted by steady-state strawberry at 5:36 PM on August 6, 2016 [19 favorites]
Forget the DNC: this was one major reason I didn't trust Sanders. For all his talk, his behavior is such that he takes and he takes without ever guaranteeing he'll contribute.
posted by steady-state strawberry at 5:36 PM on August 6, 2016 [19 favorites]
Wow I just clicked on the Trump in NH feed and the music was Wagner. He's trolling, right?
posted by stowaway at 5:39 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by stowaway at 5:39 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
It hit me the other day that it's not only sexism that explains why people don't like her, it's because her husband is the most extroverted extrovert in the history of extroverts so of course Hillary is an introvert. I'm an introvert and people don't really like me until they get to know me.
posted by VTX at 5:40 PM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by VTX at 5:40 PM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
[real]
• Trump is promising to solve New Hampshire's heroin problem with the border wall.
• Obamacare is "imploding." ("We're going to repeal and replace it, but it's gonna die anyway.")
• $400 million to Iran going to be used for terrorism, though Trump thinks it's going to be stolen and used "for themselves." More stolen than used for terrorism. (A couple minutes later says that it'll go to the Clinton Foundation.)
• "It's very simple" repeated a few times already -- possible new Trump catchphrase?
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:49 PM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
• Trump is promising to solve New Hampshire's heroin problem with the border wall.
• Obamacare is "imploding." ("We're going to repeal and replace it, but it's gonna die anyway.")
• $400 million to Iran going to be used for terrorism, though Trump thinks it's going to be stolen and used "for themselves." More stolen than used for terrorism. (A couple minutes later says that it'll go to the Clinton Foundation.)
• "It's very simple" repeated a few times already -- possible new Trump catchphrase?
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:49 PM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
Is it me, or does he seem a smidge more repetitive even than usual?
posted by Don Pepino at 5:52 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by Don Pepino at 5:52 PM on August 6, 2016
[real]
• Trump promising his brain won't "short-circuit" like Hillary Clinton's, that America's enemies see Clinton and saying "that's what we want." IT'S ALWAYS PROJECTION
• Barack Obama "the worst thing ever to happen to Israel."
• Clinton's "got bad judgment." Attributes assessment of bad judgment / bad temperament to Sanders.
• "My life has been about winning. She can't win."
• Christians in Middle East whose heads are being chopped off, drowned, buried in sand
• "Waterboarding does work (they're all going to say it [doesn't] work)"
• "Clinton's greatest achievement" that she got away with deleting 30,000 e-mails.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:55 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
• Trump promising his brain won't "short-circuit" like Hillary Clinton's, that America's enemies see Clinton and saying "that's what we want." IT'S ALWAYS PROJECTION
• Barack Obama "the worst thing ever to happen to Israel."
• Clinton's "got bad judgment." Attributes assessment of bad judgment / bad temperament to Sanders.
• "My life has been about winning. She can't win."
• Christians in Middle East whose heads are being chopped off, drowned, buried in sand
• "Waterboarding does work (they're all going to say it [doesn't] work)"
• "Clinton's greatest achievement" that she got away with deleting 30,000 e-mails.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:55 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Is it me, or does he seem a smidge more repetitive even than usual?
Must be a... :::puts on sunglasses::: short circuit.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 5:55 PM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
Must be a... :::puts on sunglasses::: short circuit.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 5:55 PM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
It's not you. He's run out of new talking points, and he has no idea how to keep a message fresh when he's got the same basic script for each new stop. So he falls back on the repeat-and-emphasize thing that's part of his natural speaking habits - which works well in business meetings, and substantially less well in recorded public speeches.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:56 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:56 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
[real]
• We don't have much disruptors anymore because they were Sanders supporters; Clinton supporters not as spirited.
• "This room was not meant for this many people."
• Someone's fainted or something? Calling for a doctor, talking about heat in the room.
• "So . . . she's a dangerous liar who has disregarded the lives of Americans and put us all at great, great risk." "A totally unhinged person." Will cause "the destruction of our country from within." IT'S ALWAYS PROJECTION
• Trump has friends who are no longer going to France. (implied: because immigration to France has made it too dangerous) Hillary wants to increase immigration.
• He is literally just saying everything that anyone has ever said about his temperament and threat to the country but saying it's Clinton instead.
• Clinton's greatest achievement is now "getting in trouble."
• Something about hostages; implying that $400 mil. to Iran was in exchange for hostages WTF?
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:01 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
• We don't have much disruptors anymore because they were Sanders supporters; Clinton supporters not as spirited.
• "This room was not meant for this many people."
• Someone's fainted or something? Calling for a doctor, talking about heat in the room.
• "So . . . she's a dangerous liar who has disregarded the lives of Americans and put us all at great, great risk." "A totally unhinged person." Will cause "the destruction of our country from within." IT'S ALWAYS PROJECTION
• Trump has friends who are no longer going to France. (implied: because immigration to France has made it too dangerous) Hillary wants to increase immigration.
• He is literally just saying everything that anyone has ever said about his temperament and threat to the country but saying it's Clinton instead.
• Clinton's greatest achievement is now "getting in trouble."
• Something about hostages; implying that $400 mil. to Iran was in exchange for hostages WTF?
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:01 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
What I get from the fact that the email story has legs at all: A whole lot of people have never had email-heavy jobs, so they think 30k emails is actually a lot of emails (yuuuuge! a massive amount of emails!), AND have never worked in a place where the internal security was getting in the damn way of doing the job.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:03 PM on August 6, 2016 [29 favorites]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:03 PM on August 6, 2016 [29 favorites]
will be talking about Hillary saying her brain SHORT CIRCUITED, and other things!
Just to clarify, Hillary did not say that her brain short-circuited. What she said is that in the interview with Chris Wallace, she may have short-circuited her response to Wallace's question. Wallace apparently was talking about her public statements about the emails and Clinton was responding to a different question about her statements to the FBI. The short-circuit was the misunderstanding between Clinton and Wallace as to the precise question, not any short-circuit about emails.
As Clinton later clarified, the distinction between her public and FBI statements is irrelevant anyway since her answers in both cases were consistent.
posted by JackFlash at 6:05 PM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
Just to clarify, Hillary did not say that her brain short-circuited. What she said is that in the interview with Chris Wallace, she may have short-circuited her response to Wallace's question. Wallace apparently was talking about her public statements about the emails and Clinton was responding to a different question about her statements to the FBI. The short-circuit was the misunderstanding between Clinton and Wallace as to the precise question, not any short-circuit about emails.
As Clinton later clarified, the distinction between her public and FBI statements is irrelevant anyway since her answers in both cases were consistent.
posted by JackFlash at 6:05 PM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
Forget the DNC: this was one major reason I didn't trust Sanders. For all his talk, his behavior is such that he takes and he takes without ever guaranteeing he'll contribute.
If Democrats don't want Sanders to do fundraising for them every year and don't want his vote in the Senate, I'm sure all they have to do is say so.
posted by XMLicious at 6:05 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wow I just clicked on the Trump in NH feed and the music was Wagner. He's trolling, right?
Woke Meredith strikes again
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:06 PM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
Woke Meredith strikes again
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:06 PM on August 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
I want to see transcripts with a percent-of-repetition score. How many times does he repeat the phrase he just said?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:06 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:06 PM on August 6, 2016
[real]
• Clinton / Obama created ISIS.
• Trump a "big fan" of Gen. Patton, McArthur, who are now spinning in their graves.
• Our fighter jets being repaired by taking parts from museum planes?
• "Stupid foolish people" saying "can we trust Donald Trump with nuclear [weapons]" which is silly because Trump didn't want to go into Iraq; he understands what it represents.
• Obama / Clinton now permitting Iran to have nuclear weapons? (I've completely lost the thread of the conversation.)
• Trump is putting a lot of his own money into running.
• Has a plan "universally loved by the veterans." Does not actually say what the plan is unless I missed it (he talks fast!).
• Joe Arpaio gets cheers.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:07 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
• Clinton / Obama created ISIS.
• Trump a "big fan" of Gen. Patton, McArthur, who are now spinning in their graves.
• Our fighter jets being repaired by taking parts from museum planes?
• "Stupid foolish people" saying "can we trust Donald Trump with nuclear [weapons]" which is silly because Trump didn't want to go into Iraq; he understands what it represents.
• Obama / Clinton now permitting Iran to have nuclear weapons? (I've completely lost the thread of the conversation.)
• Trump is putting a lot of his own money into running.
• Has a plan "universally loved by the veterans." Does not actually say what the plan is unless I missed it (he talks fast!).
• Joe Arpaio gets cheers.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:07 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Hello and greetings from one of Philadelphia's many Clinton campaign offices! People up above mentioned the importance of long, tedious days of data entry, so let me tell y'all that, as a Clinton Data Entry Guy, I have been processing voter registrations and phone conversations like a motherfucker. Think my comments on MetaFilter, only instead of cheap rhetorical devices I'm crammin' contact info and follow-up guidelines.
If any of you have spare tables, chairs, fridges, microwaves, printers, maps, couches, or surge protectors, let me know! "Coffee maker" was written on the "what we want" list about five thousand times, but we now have I think three separate coffee makers so only send me three or four more of those kthx
posted by rorgy at 6:07 PM on August 6, 2016 [41 favorites]
If any of you have spare tables, chairs, fridges, microwaves, printers, maps, couches, or surge protectors, let me know! "Coffee maker" was written on the "what we want" list about five thousand times, but we now have I think three separate coffee makers so only send me three or four more of those kthx
posted by rorgy at 6:07 PM on August 6, 2016 [41 favorites]
So Obama's a fool for announcing the date of the pullout of Iraq but there's nothing wrong with going out and yelling every single day that our military is depleted and none of the planes work and we're scavenging in the airplane graveyard, and we basically suck so hard we can't defend ourselves. Oh, and we're not helping our allies unless they pay us first. That's all fine to say and proof of presidential competence. Mmmkay!
posted by Don Pepino at 6:08 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 6:08 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
News you need right now!
Scam Alert: Donald Trump’s Website Won’t Let You Cancel Recurring Donations
DO NOT set up a recurring donation to Donald Trump's campaign, at least until we see how this plays out. Just make regular donations like always.
You're welcome.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:08 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Scam Alert: Donald Trump’s Website Won’t Let You Cancel Recurring Donations
DO NOT set up a recurring donation to Donald Trump's campaign, at least until we see how this plays out. Just make regular donations like always.
You're welcome.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:08 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Possible proof that Android users are unhinged narcissists and iPhone users are cynically calculating sociopaths: "Every non-hyperbolic tweet is from iPhone (his staff). Every hyperbolic tweet is from Android (from him)."
Google Doc of all Trump tweets going back to July 25 showing source.
posted by waitingtoderail at 6:09 PM on August 6, 2016 [16 favorites]
Google Doc of all Trump tweets going back to July 25 showing source.
posted by waitingtoderail at 6:09 PM on August 6, 2016 [16 favorites]
Hey Rorgy, you got some kind of NORAD map there with other PA Clinton campaign offices, because for the life of me I cannot find the Pittsburgh one. I thought I knew where it was but every time I drive by, it just looks like a completely vacant storefront. (It's the same place the Obama office was in years past, I know what it looks like when it's a fully armed and operational campaign office.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:11 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:11 PM on August 6, 2016
[real]
• Mexico's still going to pay for the wall.
• Border Control Agents Association endorsed Trump.
• Something about John Kerry breaking his leg while riding bicycle?
• Clinton called for amnesty in her 1st 100 days, expanding dangerous Obama policies. Her immigration plan will line her own pockets somehow? "Every American family should be alarmed that her plan leaves their children vulnerable to drug cartels" from over the border.
• Blah blah blah drug cartels very bad, dangerous, like to torture/behead people.
• Unless Obama uses the magic term "radical Islamic terrorism" he's never going to solve the problem.
• "Hillary Rotten Clinton"
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:13 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
• Mexico's still going to pay for the wall.
• Border Control Agents Association endorsed Trump.
• Something about John Kerry breaking his leg while riding bicycle?
• Clinton called for amnesty in her 1st 100 days, expanding dangerous Obama policies. Her immigration plan will line her own pockets somehow? "Every American family should be alarmed that her plan leaves their children vulnerable to drug cartels" from over the border.
• Blah blah blah drug cartels very bad, dangerous, like to torture/behead people.
• Unless Obama uses the magic term "radical Islamic terrorism" he's never going to solve the problem.
• "Hillary Rotten Clinton"
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:13 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I can't be the only one who thinks his plan to make Mexico pay for the wall is to threaten to nuke them.
posted by gatorae at 6:16 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 6:16 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
The man projects more than the Sydney IMAX. Three months of this? The shtick is tired already. Nobody will be watching, and there's no hint he can refresh his material.
posted by Devonian at 6:16 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by Devonian at 6:16 PM on August 6, 2016
I suppose the solution to the "cannot cancel donations" is to get someone to set up a recurring donation that puts them over $2700, and then report the campaign for taking more money from an individual than is allowed by law.
If there software were decent, it'd stop when it collects $2700, but I'd give good odds on them not having bothered setting that limit.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:18 PM on August 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
If there software were decent, it'd stop when it collects $2700, but I'd give good odds on them not having bothered setting that limit.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:18 PM on August 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
[real]
• An embarrassment that Clinton not found guilty.
• Bill Clinton spends 39 min. in back of an airplane w/ Atty. Gen. talking about grandkids and golf. You can't talk for 39 minutes about grandkids and golf, apparently. Casting doubt on Bill Clinton just happening to be there when Atty. Gen. was.
• Jun 14 Trump starts to raise $ for the Republican Party. Reiterates spending a lot of his own money, $60 mil. during primaries, more now. $82 mil. raised in last month, "much" from small donor, avg. of $64-65 ea. Thousands of small donors
• "Many of the ads [by Clinton against Trump] are false. . . . And they know they're false." Promises to be spending money against Clinton soon, holding back on ads for now is deliberate strategy.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:18 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
• An embarrassment that Clinton not found guilty.
• Bill Clinton spends 39 min. in back of an airplane w/ Atty. Gen. talking about grandkids and golf. You can't talk for 39 minutes about grandkids and golf, apparently. Casting doubt on Bill Clinton just happening to be there when Atty. Gen. was.
• Jun 14 Trump starts to raise $ for the Republican Party. Reiterates spending a lot of his own money, $60 mil. during primaries, more now. $82 mil. raised in last month, "much" from small donor, avg. of $64-65 ea. Thousands of small donors
• "Many of the ads [by Clinton against Trump] are false. . . . And they know they're false." Promises to be spending money against Clinton soon, holding back on ads for now is deliberate strategy.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:18 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
[real] "This stuff is so amazing - it amazes me, actually!"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:19 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:19 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's not you. He's run out of new talking points, and he has no idea how to keep a message fresh when he's got the same basic script for each new stop.
Repetition is a powerful technique for cementing your message.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:19 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Repetition is a powerful technique for cementing your message.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:19 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Repetition is a powerful technique for cementing your message.
posted by box at 6:23 PM on August 6, 2016 [43 favorites]
posted by box at 6:23 PM on August 6, 2016 [43 favorites]
[real]
• Hillary false statements about Trump: 1) reason for her illegal use of insecure e-mail because it was more convenient to use just one device - false because she used multiple devices; real motivation was to keep them from being read by public. 2) said she turned over all of work-related e-mails; false because FBI director said "several thousand" work-related e-mails, incl. classified ones, not turned over. 3) nothing more classified sent/received on Clinton e-mails; false bc. FBI says she sent more than 100 e-mails with secret/ top-secret info in them 4) Clinton said server was secure, had no security breaches; false because FBI says it's possible that others may have had access, FBI confirmed that the people she was e-mailing had been hacked (!) 5) said attorneys had conducted rigorous review of every single e-mail; FBI director said lawyers doing sorting in 2014 did not individually read content of all e-mails before destroying them.
• Hillary is a horrible, horrible human being. Also incompetent.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:23 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
• Hillary false statements about Trump: 1) reason for her illegal use of insecure e-mail because it was more convenient to use just one device - false because she used multiple devices; real motivation was to keep them from being read by public. 2) said she turned over all of work-related e-mails; false because FBI director said "several thousand" work-related e-mails, incl. classified ones, not turned over. 3) nothing more classified sent/received on Clinton e-mails; false bc. FBI says she sent more than 100 e-mails with secret/ top-secret info in them 4) Clinton said server was secure, had no security breaches; false because FBI says it's possible that others may have had access, FBI confirmed that the people she was e-mailing had been hacked (!) 5) said attorneys had conducted rigorous review of every single e-mail; FBI director said lawyers doing sorting in 2014 did not individually read content of all e-mails before destroying them.
• Hillary is a horrible, horrible human being. Also incompetent.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:23 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
The best technique. Amazing
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:24 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:24 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Repetition is a powerful technique for cementing your message.
Yep, it's a great oratory tool. But if not done very carefully, it makes for lousy transcripts being read later, and hilarious video clips.
Repeating his talking points is good; repeating a phrase for emphasis is good; repeating a phrase in every sentence, sometimes two or three times, loses a lot of that power and just moves into sounding scatterbrained.
He really is oblivious to the idea that he's trying to persuade people who aren't in the room with him.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:25 PM on August 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Yep, it's a great oratory tool. But if not done very carefully, it makes for lousy transcripts being read later, and hilarious video clips.
Repeating his talking points is good; repeating a phrase for emphasis is good; repeating a phrase in every sentence, sometimes two or three times, loses a lot of that power and just moves into sounding scatterbrained.
He really is oblivious to the idea that he's trying to persuade people who aren't in the room with him.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:25 PM on August 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
He won't ride a bike like Scary Kerry, but it's okay because whenever a room is hot, he considers it a workout.
posted by Don Pepino at 6:25 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 6:25 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
[real]
• "So hot in here that I consider this to be like a workout."
• Obama either doesn't know or doesn't care about us getting creamed on trade issues.
• Obama flying to Hawaii on AF1, very old engines, then stays for 2 weeks or OMG some unreasonable amount of time, then comes back and lectures us all on global warming.
• Also Obama plays more golf than many professional golfers. (!)
• Massive trade deficit with Mexico; the cost of the wall is "peanuts" compared to trade deficit.
• China built big wall lots of years ago; we only need one half as long.
• Now we're on China devaluing currency?
• A friend of mine builds plants, was telling me how many he builds in Mexico. Started in U.S. but now Mexico's where all the plant-building action is at.
• If Trump is President, he will stop companies from moving jobs to Mexico.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:29 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
• "So hot in here that I consider this to be like a workout."
• Obama either doesn't know or doesn't care about us getting creamed on trade issues.
• Obama flying to Hawaii on AF1, very old engines, then stays for 2 weeks or OMG some unreasonable amount of time, then comes back and lectures us all on global warming.
• Also Obama plays more golf than many professional golfers. (!)
• Massive trade deficit with Mexico; the cost of the wall is "peanuts" compared to trade deficit.
• China built big wall lots of years ago; we only need one half as long.
• Now we're on China devaluing currency?
• A friend of mine builds plants, was telling me how many he builds in Mexico. Started in U.S. but now Mexico's where all the plant-building action is at.
• If Trump is President, he will stop companies from moving jobs to Mexico.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:29 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
DO NOT set up a recurring donation to Donald Trump's campaign
Really all advice can end here. The reasons are manifold.
posted by jaduncan at 6:29 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Another interesting turn of events:
Representative Scott Rigell of Virginia says he plans to vote for the Libertarian Party’s presidential ticket, becoming the first member of Congress to express support for Gary Johnson’s third-party campaign.
posted by zyxwvut at 6:29 PM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
Representative Scott Rigell of Virginia says he plans to vote for the Libertarian Party’s presidential ticket, becoming the first member of Congress to express support for Gary Johnson’s third-party campaign.
posted by zyxwvut at 6:29 PM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
"In China they built a wall that's 30,000 miles long and they built it two thousand years ago."
... and it took hundreds of years to build. (Couple thousand, by some counts.) And it didn't actually prevent people from getting in; it wasn't intended to stop individuals - it was intended to stop military troops, especially mounted ones, from being able to march in and wage war.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:32 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
... and it took hundreds of years to build. (Couple thousand, by some counts.) And it didn't actually prevent people from getting in; it wasn't intended to stop individuals - it was intended to stop military troops, especially mounted ones, from being able to march in and wage war.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:32 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
[real]
• 35% tax on goods made in Mexico; says companies won't move with that threat against them.
• People that were pretty good are saying "Donald Trump is right. George Washington --" and then the sentence goes like five directions at once.
• Wants to make "great deals for the American people." "And you can make different deals with different countries."
• NAFTA "cleaned out your factories, and they moved them to different locations."
• We don't win at trade, we don't win through our military, education, vets, ISIS, "in virtually any category."
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:34 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
• 35% tax on goods made in Mexico; says companies won't move with that threat against them.
• People that were pretty good are saying "Donald Trump is right. George Washington --" and then the sentence goes like five directions at once.
• Wants to make "great deals for the American people." "And you can make different deals with different countries."
• NAFTA "cleaned out your factories, and they moved them to different locations."
• We don't win at trade, we don't win through our military, education, vets, ISIS, "in virtually any category."
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:34 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
• Obama flying to Hawaii on AF1, very old engines, then stays for 2 weeks or OMG some unreasonable amount of time, then comes back and lectures us all on global warming.
..but..but..you fly home every single night.. how can you say this, this is so hypocritical..does not compute... /head explodes
posted by gatorae at 6:35 PM on August 6, 2016 [17 favorites]
..but..but..you fly home every single night.. how can you say this, this is so hypocritical..does not compute... /head explodes
posted by gatorae at 6:35 PM on August 6, 2016 [17 favorites]
"We don't win any more - we don't win in trade; ... we don't win with our vets; we don't win in education..."
SWEET SKELETON DICKS ON A POGO STICK MR CHEETO, THESE ARE NOT ZERO SUM GAMES.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:35 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
SWEET SKELETON DICKS ON A POGO STICK MR CHEETO, THESE ARE NOT ZERO SUM GAMES.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:35 PM on August 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Where is the ass of ISIS? Don't we gotta know that in order to kick it?
posted by Don Pepino at 6:37 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Don Pepino at 6:37 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
[real]
• Trump constantly digressing to relive his primary victories and compliment New Hampshire.
• Promises to pick Supreme Court justices in the mold of Scalia, save 2nd Amendment, have "fantastic, strong borders" but will allow people to come into the country legally.
• "The wall does work, and will be big."
• We're going to win on vets, education, military, etc.; people of NH will have to send a delegation to Washington to talk to President Trump to say they can't stand all the winning because everything is just unbearably wonderful.
• OH THANK JESUS IT'S OVER FINALLY
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
• Trump constantly digressing to relive his primary victories and compliment New Hampshire.
• Promises to pick Supreme Court justices in the mold of Scalia, save 2nd Amendment, have "fantastic, strong borders" but will allow people to come into the country legally.
• "The wall does work, and will be big."
• We're going to win on vets, education, military, etc.; people of NH will have to send a delegation to Washington to talk to President Trump to say they can't stand all the winning because everything is just unbearably wonderful.
• OH THANK JESUS IT'S OVER FINALLY
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
"Hillary Rotten Clinton"
wait is this a real thing? Third graders get mocked every day, I mean, the other kids are there on the playground and they push him right down the slide for a horrible pun like that. Thats the kind of leadership Hillary will
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
wait is this a real thing? Third graders get mocked every day, I mean, the other kids are there on the playground and they push him right down the slide for a horrible pun like that. Thats the kind of leadership Hillary will
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
What does the Trump campaign even do with the money? He's not running ads and we know there aren't field offices. He's also running with a limited staff. Where's the money going?
posted by chrchr at 6:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 6:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
..but..but..you fly home every single night.. how can you say this, this is so hypocritical..does not compute... /head explodes
It's always Trump projecting his own weaknesses; it's virtually oppostion research at this point. Also he has the greatest plane, sad to compare it to classless AF1, etc, ad nauseam.
posted by jaduncan at 6:39 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's always Trump projecting his own weaknesses; it's virtually oppostion research at this point. Also he has the greatest plane, sad to compare it to classless AF1, etc, ad nauseam.
posted by jaduncan at 6:39 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I couldn't actually watch him while I was typing that -- was he reading anything from a teleprompter or cards? It didn't sound scripted so much as just something he's said so often that he can do it by rote.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:40 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:40 PM on August 6, 2016
R's, are they hoping to win and then self-impeach? They can't seriously think that they can control this for four years. Four. Years of this. What is in the minds of the Republican leadership right now? What happens if the evangelicals stick with him (numbers-wise)(What happened to the Rubio endorsement I'm sure I saw something about)? What do they have over him that he endorsed Ryan? Why can't I stop drinking? Thanks, Metafilter!
posted by bird internet at 6:41 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by bird internet at 6:41 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
What does the Trump campaign even do with the money? He's not running ads and we know there aren't field offices. He's also running with a limited staff. Where's the money going?
I assumed it was all going to Trump-affiliated business for campaign "expenses". Like the ad agency named after a Mad Men character.
posted by strange chain at 6:42 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I assumed it was all going to Trump-affiliated business for campaign "expenses". Like the ad agency named after a Mad Men character.
posted by strange chain at 6:42 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
What does the Trump campaign even do with the money?
He pays for high-end staff and a lot of high-end travel; he puts as much as possible in to Trump businesses by paying for Trump hotel rooms & gear; he probably has some spent on ads even if they're not live yet. And, as has been noted, he's actually raised damn little for a presidential campaign.
While I could easily imagine overt fraud going on, I haven't seen anything to make me think he's being other than extravagantly wasteful with limited funds.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:42 PM on August 6, 2016
He pays for high-end staff and a lot of high-end travel; he puts as much as possible in to Trump businesses by paying for Trump hotel rooms & gear; he probably has some spent on ads even if they're not live yet. And, as has been noted, he's actually raised damn little for a presidential campaign.
While I could easily imagine overt fraud going on, I haven't seen anything to make me think he's being other than extravagantly wasteful with limited funds.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:42 PM on August 6, 2016
He's using writen bullet points now, which is frankly a great way to give him talking points while letting him do crowd pleasing riffs.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:43 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:43 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I mean, the media now has bullet points to isolate into sound bites, instead of just throwing up their hands at the stream of consciousness.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:50 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:50 PM on August 6, 2016
When's the next presser? I'm sure he's gagging to fill in all the details he's unable to fit into his speeches or put on a website or publish in any way...
posted by Devonian at 6:51 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by Devonian at 6:51 PM on August 6, 2016
Trump a "big fan" of Gen. Patton, McArthur, who are now spinning in their graves.
Consider MacArthur's purported* enthusiasm for nuclear deployment during post-WWII Korean entanglements, that admiration makes a kind of sense above and beyond just his standard "they were, believe me, big big military winners" headspace. Who better to admire than the sort of no-holds-barred military negotiator who is willing to ask, "why not use the nukes?"
*That MacArthur's nuke fever may be mostly apocryphal would be a big damper on this theory if I thought Trump's grasp of US military history were any less sad and shaky than my own.
posted by cortex at 6:59 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Consider MacArthur's purported* enthusiasm for nuclear deployment during post-WWII Korean entanglements, that admiration makes a kind of sense above and beyond just his standard "they were, believe me, big big military winners" headspace. Who better to admire than the sort of no-holds-barred military negotiator who is willing to ask, "why not use the nukes?"
*That MacArthur's nuke fever may be mostly apocryphal would be a big damper on this theory if I thought Trump's grasp of US military history were any less sad and shaky than my own.
posted by cortex at 6:59 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
What does the Trump campaign even do with the money?
Wasn't the answer last time that was asked "directs it into Trump related businesses"?
posted by Artw at 7:02 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wasn't the answer last time that was asked "directs it into Trump related businesses"?
posted by Artw at 7:02 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Google Doc of all Trump tweets going back to July 25 showing source.
I caught a tweet about this Trump v Staff twitter client discovery earlier and laughed out loud. No idea how consistent or protracted that distinguishing factor is, but I hope it's very much both and that someone will produce a more expansive data set, because it'd be a cinch from there to build distinct TrumpBot and StaffBot Markov processes and side-by-side 'em. (Even without any Markov tomfoolery it'd be interesting to test people's ability to guess the provenance of any given tweet. Ready-made quiz.)
posted by cortex at 7:04 PM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
I caught a tweet about this Trump v Staff twitter client discovery earlier and laughed out loud. No idea how consistent or protracted that distinguishing factor is, but I hope it's very much both and that someone will produce a more expansive data set, because it'd be a cinch from there to build distinct TrumpBot and StaffBot Markov processes and side-by-side 'em. (Even without any Markov tomfoolery it'd be interesting to test people's ability to guess the provenance of any given tweet. Ready-made quiz.)
posted by cortex at 7:04 PM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
Instead of "Trump or Jesus?" you could have "Trump or Meredith?"
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:06 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:06 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
From the Google Doc--
Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated. via Twitter for iOS (Trump's Staff)
His STAFF tweeted Paul Ryan's challenger? Whoa!
posted by acidic at 7:11 PM on August 6, 2016
Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated. via Twitter for iOS (Trump's Staff)
His STAFF tweeted Paul Ryan's challenger? Whoa!
posted by acidic at 7:11 PM on August 6, 2016
He's claimed before that he dictates some of his tweets to his staff during the day and does more of his own at night (as if he'd ever allow his staff to go home), so perhaps he told someone to tweet that for him.
posted by zachlipton at 7:13 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 7:13 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
yeah just because it didn't come right from the trump-phone doesn't mean he didn't 'compose' it.
I'm pleased to find out that Trump's spelling of 'spinnnn!' is is own.
posted by dis_integration at 7:15 PM on August 6, 2016
I'm pleased to find out that Trump's spelling of 'spinnnn!' is is own.
posted by dis_integration at 7:15 PM on August 6, 2016
"Spin with four Ns, Meredith."
[fake]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:17 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
[fake]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:17 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
New theory: Trump is Guy Grand from Terry Southern's The Magic Christian. This is all just a huge, multi-million dollar prank to "make it hot for them," a comical socio-economic fable. At the end, he'll pull off his pig mask and have a little chuckle.
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:22 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:22 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
A friend of mine builds plants, was telling me how many he builds in Mexico.
• If Trump is President, he will stop companies from moving jobs to Mexico.
TRUMP'S FRIEND: You dick!
TRUMP: *smug ass face*
posted by petebest at 7:30 PM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
• If Trump is President, he will stop companies from moving jobs to Mexico.
TRUMP'S FRIEND: You dick!
TRUMP: *smug ass face*
posted by petebest at 7:30 PM on August 6, 2016 [13 favorites]
What is in the minds of the Republican leadership right now? What happens if the evangelicals stick with him (numbers-wise)(What happened to the Rubio endorsement I'm sure I saw something about)? What do they have over him that he endorsed Ryan? Why can't I stop drinking? Thanks, Metafilter!
Take it to Ask.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:37 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Take it to Ask.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:37 PM on August 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Petebest: *smug ass face*
How does that relevant XKCD go? Is that a smug ass-face, a smug-ass face, or both?
I'm leaning both
posted by miguelcervantes at 7:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
How does that relevant XKCD go? Is that a smug ass-face, a smug-ass face, or both?
I'm leaning both
posted by miguelcervantes at 7:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Wow. The Twitter client discovery is hilarious. If you look at only Trump Himself's tweets, his feed becomes even more self-absorbed and vacuous. Literally every single one is either congratulating himself for being so awesome (he uses a lot of "I" words), or pettily insulting one of his rivals, or both. And he loves his exclamation points and GRATUITOUS CAPITALS!
It's hard to know whether to laugh or cry. He speaks and reasons on a fucking third-grade level. And this is the man that (hopefully less than) half my countrymen want for President. It's been going on for a year, and I still don't know what to do with that. Like, surely I'm going to wake up at some point, right? And find that this was all a bizarre dream? Surely I don't really live in a country that could come anywhere near electing an infantile fascist buffoon to the Presidency?
Because, man...I thought I was already pretty damn cynical. But this...it makes me want to give up on America. I never imagined that the cancer of ignorance ran so deep. How on earth do we come back from that?
I've probably just been spending too much time in these threads, but...I've found myself looking at strangers at the grocery store, and wondering: are you one of them? Are you one of the millions of my neighbors who's glad that someone is finally "telling it like it is"? Are you one of the people who hears about deporting Muslims by the millions, and thinks "about damn time"? Do you nod in agreement when you hear people chanting "kill her!" about Hillary Clinton? Are you one of the people that's going to come banging on my door looking for the immigrant family hidden in my basement? In short, are you one of the people who is forcing us to actually fucking debate whether Donald J. Trump should be our next President?
Because it seriously skeeves me out to know those people are out there. By the millions. I don't know how to be amongst that kind of fathomless ignorance.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 7:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [63 favorites]
It's hard to know whether to laugh or cry. He speaks and reasons on a fucking third-grade level. And this is the man that (hopefully less than) half my countrymen want for President. It's been going on for a year, and I still don't know what to do with that. Like, surely I'm going to wake up at some point, right? And find that this was all a bizarre dream? Surely I don't really live in a country that could come anywhere near electing an infantile fascist buffoon to the Presidency?
Because, man...I thought I was already pretty damn cynical. But this...it makes me want to give up on America. I never imagined that the cancer of ignorance ran so deep. How on earth do we come back from that?
I've probably just been spending too much time in these threads, but...I've found myself looking at strangers at the grocery store, and wondering: are you one of them? Are you one of the millions of my neighbors who's glad that someone is finally "telling it like it is"? Are you one of the people who hears about deporting Muslims by the millions, and thinks "about damn time"? Do you nod in agreement when you hear people chanting "kill her!" about Hillary Clinton? Are you one of the people that's going to come banging on my door looking for the immigrant family hidden in my basement? In short, are you one of the people who is forcing us to actually fucking debate whether Donald J. Trump should be our next President?
Because it seriously skeeves me out to know those people are out there. By the millions. I don't know how to be amongst that kind of fathomless ignorance.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 7:38 PM on August 6, 2016 [63 favorites]
I don't know how to be amongst that kind of fathomless ignorance.
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, or misanthropy to anyone, but they've always worked for me.
posted by entropicamericana at 7:41 PM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, or misanthropy to anyone, but they've always worked for me.
posted by entropicamericana at 7:41 PM on August 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
What does the Trump campaign even do with the money?
I have no doubt that American journalists are going to dig into this story with dedication and couraaahhhahaha . . . Ahh crap, couldn't even finish it.
Yeah that's right motherf*%#s we haven't forgotten The W Years. Just because Clowny McF(&stick keeps ordering rocket rollerskates from ACME to catch Hillary doesn't mean you can copy/paste twitter and act proud. This thing is oozing dirt and you got campaign gibberish on the front page again? Bravo, Wolf. You're the king. Ass.
I'm mostly talking to mid-level executives and up, tbh, but damn if every media outlet doesn't owe democracy big for eight years of The Dick, W, and Condi Show. IT'S SITTING RIGHT THERE!! GET IT, YOU IDIOTS!
posted by petebest at 7:46 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
I have no doubt that American journalists are going to dig into this story with dedication and couraaahhhahaha . . . Ahh crap, couldn't even finish it.
Yeah that's right motherf*%#s we haven't forgotten The W Years. Just because Clowny McF(&stick keeps ordering rocket rollerskates from ACME to catch Hillary doesn't mean you can copy/paste twitter and act proud. This thing is oozing dirt and you got campaign gibberish on the front page again? Bravo, Wolf. You're the king. Ass.
I'm mostly talking to mid-level executives and up, tbh, but damn if every media outlet doesn't owe democracy big for eight years of The Dick, W, and Condi Show. IT'S SITTING RIGHT THERE!! GET IT, YOU IDIOTS!
posted by petebest at 7:46 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
Because it seriously skeeves me out to know those people are out there. By the millions. I don't know how to be amongst that kind of fathomless ignorance.
Bear in mind that it's probably only about 25% even if Trump pulls ahead - consider how many people don't vote. I always figure that out of that 25%, at least half really haven't thought it through. I mean, I literally know a woman who is a Trump supporter who has (and I have witnessed part of this process) actively advocated for a Muslim Middle Eastern refugee and his family in order to help their employment and visa process. This is someone who isn't even remotely stupid in other areas of life, thinks Trump is great and does not see any contradiction in wanting to help this Muslim family settle here in the US. It's the weirdest thing. In a strange way, it cheers me up, because while I have no idea what she's getting out of Trump, at least she's not getting "let's deport the Muslims".
posted by Frowner at 7:52 PM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
Bear in mind that it's probably only about 25% even if Trump pulls ahead - consider how many people don't vote. I always figure that out of that 25%, at least half really haven't thought it through. I mean, I literally know a woman who is a Trump supporter who has (and I have witnessed part of this process) actively advocated for a Muslim Middle Eastern refugee and his family in order to help their employment and visa process. This is someone who isn't even remotely stupid in other areas of life, thinks Trump is great and does not see any contradiction in wanting to help this Muslim family settle here in the US. It's the weirdest thing. In a strange way, it cheers me up, because while I have no idea what she's getting out of Trump, at least she's not getting "let's deport the Muslims".
posted by Frowner at 7:52 PM on August 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
Are you one of the millions of my neighbors who's glad that someone is finally "telling it like it is"?
I drove through IL, ID, OH and PA today, and saw several 'LOCK HER UP' bumperstickers. including one that also said 'AND BILL TOO!!!!' so yes they are out there and real.
posted by dis_integration at 7:53 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
I drove through IL, ID, OH and PA today, and saw several 'LOCK HER UP' bumperstickers. including one that also said 'AND BILL TOO!!!!' so yes they are out there and real.
posted by dis_integration at 7:53 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
> It's not you. He's run out of new talking points, and he has no idea how to keep a message fresh when he's got the same basic script for each new stop.
As someone who has watched way too many Trump performances, his stump speeches are very repetitive. He introduces new talking points infrequently and they're usually straight from the republican message machine like the $400 million dollar ransom. He integrates what works and discards what doesn't, which is fine for him because nobody expects any sort of constancy in his message. He has a particular talent for reading the crowd and knowing which material is strong and which is weak; I noticed last week that saying he had predicted the Brexit vote (he didn't) wasn't getting any love from the crowds, so he kept sandwiching that line in-between his big applause lines. He's not just feeding off the crowd's energy, but training them on when he'd like them to applaud. He's turning his falsehoods into his strengths.
I wasn't watching this one, but from what Spathe Cadet is summarizing (thanks for your sacrifice), he's covering more breadth than usual for a stump speech. I think the next week will be interesting to see what his media strategy will be to cut through the Olympics coverage (especially since the Clinton campaign has paid for ads and he has none to respond with). He's not going to like to play third fiddle in the media for two weeks, how is he going to act out?
> • Trump is promising to solve New Hampshire's heroin problem with the border wall.
I'd like someone to pull some conservative talking points jui-jitsu on him and ask if it would be more prudent to leave the actual implementation of the border wall to the local level, because the federal govt is too big and slow to do anything right, so why not give the border states some block grants and let them do what's right with local knowledge and derring-do? If you advocate for local education, why not local wall building? A conservative schism over an imaginary wall would be hilarious.
> • Trump a "big fan" of Gen. Patton, McArthur, who are now spinning in their graves.
I don't think Patton would mind Trump. Patton was a Virginia Gentleman, the last gasp of the former slave-owning aristocracy, notable racist and anti-semite, his field tactics can be traced to the personal lesson he was given as a boy from the Grey Ghost, Col. John S. Mosby, Confederate calvary commander and war criminal. "Old Blood and Guts" Patton would probably admire Trump's tactics, his ability to conquer so much with so few casualties. But Patton considered the Ruskies an inferior mongrel race, so he might not like Trump's overtures to Putin.
> I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, or misanthropy to anyone, but they've always worked for me.
It's a shame he's not with us anymore, but perhaps he's still along in spirit.
posted by peeedro at 7:53 PM on August 6, 2016 [22 favorites]
As someone who has watched way too many Trump performances, his stump speeches are very repetitive. He introduces new talking points infrequently and they're usually straight from the republican message machine like the $400 million dollar ransom. He integrates what works and discards what doesn't, which is fine for him because nobody expects any sort of constancy in his message. He has a particular talent for reading the crowd and knowing which material is strong and which is weak; I noticed last week that saying he had predicted the Brexit vote (he didn't) wasn't getting any love from the crowds, so he kept sandwiching that line in-between his big applause lines. He's not just feeding off the crowd's energy, but training them on when he'd like them to applaud. He's turning his falsehoods into his strengths.
I wasn't watching this one, but from what Spathe Cadet is summarizing (thanks for your sacrifice), he's covering more breadth than usual for a stump speech. I think the next week will be interesting to see what his media strategy will be to cut through the Olympics coverage (especially since the Clinton campaign has paid for ads and he has none to respond with). He's not going to like to play third fiddle in the media for two weeks, how is he going to act out?
> • Trump is promising to solve New Hampshire's heroin problem with the border wall.
I'd like someone to pull some conservative talking points jui-jitsu on him and ask if it would be more prudent to leave the actual implementation of the border wall to the local level, because the federal govt is too big and slow to do anything right, so why not give the border states some block grants and let them do what's right with local knowledge and derring-do? If you advocate for local education, why not local wall building? A conservative schism over an imaginary wall would be hilarious.
> • Trump a "big fan" of Gen. Patton, McArthur, who are now spinning in their graves.
I don't think Patton would mind Trump. Patton was a Virginia Gentleman, the last gasp of the former slave-owning aristocracy, notable racist and anti-semite, his field tactics can be traced to the personal lesson he was given as a boy from the Grey Ghost, Col. John S. Mosby, Confederate calvary commander and war criminal. "Old Blood and Guts" Patton would probably admire Trump's tactics, his ability to conquer so much with so few casualties. But Patton considered the Ruskies an inferior mongrel race, so he might not like Trump's overtures to Putin.
> I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, or misanthropy to anyone, but they've always worked for me.
It's a shame he's not with us anymore, but perhaps he's still along in spirit.
posted by peeedro at 7:53 PM on August 6, 2016 [22 favorites]
From the "racist and anti-Semite" link above, in commenting on the inspector who toured Patton's heavily-guarded-for-some-reason camps housing youd-think-would-be-free-free concentration camp survivors:
Here is what Patton thought about Harrison: “Harrison and his ilk believe that the Displaced Person is a human being, which he is not, and this applies particularly to Jews who are lower than animals.”
I . . did not know that. Nor would I have even if I were to have read the book this article is reviewing. "Killing Patton" buy Trumps BFFF, Bill O'Reilly (best Fox friend forever - face it, Hannity's a loozer).
When asked how O'Reilly could crap out 300 meandering pages with no reference whatsoever to his subject's insanely virulent anti-Semitism, O'Reilly said, “The far left is desperate, desperate to disparage ‘Killing Patton’ because they despise General Patton and they despise me. It pains them to see the overwhelming success of the book.”
Wow. Anyone feel like calling Trump out on this? It seems . . . relevant?
Thanks peeedro!
posted by petebest at 8:31 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Here is what Patton thought about Harrison: “Harrison and his ilk believe that the Displaced Person is a human being, which he is not, and this applies particularly to Jews who are lower than animals.”
I . . did not know that. Nor would I have even if I were to have read the book this article is reviewing. "Killing Patton" buy Trumps BFFF, Bill O'Reilly (best Fox friend forever - face it, Hannity's a loozer).
When asked how O'Reilly could crap out 300 meandering pages with no reference whatsoever to his subject's insanely virulent anti-Semitism, O'Reilly said, “The far left is desperate, desperate to disparage ‘Killing Patton’ because they despise General Patton and they despise me. It pains them to see the overwhelming success of the book.”
Wow. Anyone feel like calling Trump out on this? It seems . . . relevant?
Thanks peeedro!
posted by petebest at 8:31 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you created ISIS how would you go about putting that on your résumé? Asking for a fiend.
posted by guiseroom at 8:33 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 8:33 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
Because it seriously skeeves me out to know those people are out there. By the millions.
I don't want to sound cynical-er than thou about this, but I'm honestly surprised that people are surprised about this segment of the US. It's always been here. You don't get slavery, Jim Crow, the Red Scare(s), Scopes Monkey Trials, Japanese Internment, HUAC, and all this sort of shit without the approval of huge percentages of the population. And a lot of these things happened in a country that by the standards of the day was moving in a progressive, more-modern direction. There's a reason we use the 150-year-old appelation "Know-Nothings" to describe people like Trump supporters.
Most of the time, a lid is generally kept on it, but sometimes it boils over and there's a popular voice and movement. Even the likes of Trump has echoes back over 200 years of history. At several times in our history we avoided shitshows like this by luck more than by design. We even had a Civil War, after all.
Trump, I don't think, is even sui generis in US history. What would the path of history looked like had Joe McCarthy ascended at the same time his party started fragmenting?
However, don't get me wrong. Trump is a "In the history of our nation"-level catastrophe, and will be remembered for a very, very long time. The best case scenario is that enough of the country comes together and repudiates the naked racism and fearful authoritarianism and those who, for their own assorted reason, find it acceptable to seek common cause with naked racists and fearful authoritarians. Turns out it could just be that the 20th century just happened to be an abnormally stable time in American politics, and what we're seeing is more of a reversion to (rule by) the mean.
posted by tclark at 8:42 PM on August 6, 2016 [30 favorites]
I don't want to sound cynical-er than thou about this, but I'm honestly surprised that people are surprised about this segment of the US. It's always been here. You don't get slavery, Jim Crow, the Red Scare(s), Scopes Monkey Trials, Japanese Internment, HUAC, and all this sort of shit without the approval of huge percentages of the population. And a lot of these things happened in a country that by the standards of the day was moving in a progressive, more-modern direction. There's a reason we use the 150-year-old appelation "Know-Nothings" to describe people like Trump supporters.
Most of the time, a lid is generally kept on it, but sometimes it boils over and there's a popular voice and movement. Even the likes of Trump has echoes back over 200 years of history. At several times in our history we avoided shitshows like this by luck more than by design. We even had a Civil War, after all.
Trump, I don't think, is even sui generis in US history. What would the path of history looked like had Joe McCarthy ascended at the same time his party started fragmenting?
However, don't get me wrong. Trump is a "In the history of our nation"-level catastrophe, and will be remembered for a very, very long time. The best case scenario is that enough of the country comes together and repudiates the naked racism and fearful authoritarianism and those who, for their own assorted reason, find it acceptable to seek common cause with naked racists and fearful authoritarians. Turns out it could just be that the 20th century just happened to be an abnormally stable time in American politics, and what we're seeing is more of a reversion to (rule by) the mean.
posted by tclark at 8:42 PM on August 6, 2016 [30 favorites]
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, or misanthropy to anyone, but they've always worked for me.
You are Winston Churchill's opinion of the Royal Navy and I claim my five pounds.
posted by rifflesby at 8:44 PM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
You are Winston Churchill's opinion of the Royal Navy and I claim my five pounds.
posted by rifflesby at 8:44 PM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
Damn, the Clinton campaign ad on Trump-Putin is brutal.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:48 PM on August 6, 2016 [21 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:48 PM on August 6, 2016 [21 favorites]
Trump a "big fan" of Gen. Patton
And Patton's most famous quote is: “No dumb bastard ever won a war by going out and dying for his country. He won it by making some other dumb bastard die for his country.”
Explains his lack or respect for the late Capt. Humayun Khan and his family (as well as the "racist and anti-Semite" part)
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:50 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
And Patton's most famous quote is: “No dumb bastard ever won a war by going out and dying for his country. He won it by making some other dumb bastard die for his country.”
Explains his lack or respect for the late Capt. Humayun Khan and his family (as well as the "racist and anti-Semite" part)
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:50 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've found myself looking at strangers at the grocery store, and wondering: are you one of them?
Put on the goddamn sunglasses! *lengthy fight scene ensues*
posted by um at 9:01 PM on August 6, 2016 [28 favorites]
Put on the goddamn sunglasses! *lengthy fight scene ensues*
posted by um at 9:01 PM on August 6, 2016 [28 favorites]
What does the Trump campaign even do with the money?
posted by dersins at 9:21 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
He pays for high-end staff and a lot of high-end travelWell, he pays for expensive staff anyway.
posted by dersins at 9:21 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
odinsdream: "Clinton will *literally* destroy the country from within because of Sirian refugees resettling in the US."
This is so easily falsifiable, Canada has accepted thousands of Syrian refugees. Maybe the Democratic side needs to take the approach of saying "Canada is successfully accepting refugees; part of Making America Great should be beating Canada at something".
posted by Mitheral at 9:24 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
This is so easily falsifiable, Canada has accepted thousands of Syrian refugees. Maybe the Democratic side needs to take the approach of saying "Canada is successfully accepting refugees; part of Making America Great should be beating Canada at something".
posted by Mitheral at 9:24 PM on August 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Asking for a fiend.
You can't fool me, Motor Runner. ED-E and I will pay you a visit soon.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:24 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
You can't fool me, Motor Runner. ED-E and I will pay you a visit soon.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:24 PM on August 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
It skeeves me out to know that these people are out there. By the millions.
My neighborhood is bright red, although I live in a purple community and state. Most of my neighbors tease me about my flaming liberal ways and they've all expressed dismay about Trump. We get along fine, except when it comes to gun control. I think a few will vote for Hillary, a few will vote for Johnson, and many will just leave that part of the ballot blank. All the same, I'm used to people learning where I live and assuming I'm a Republican.
Anyway, something horrifying happened the other day: a new acquaintance not only assumed that I was loyal to the GOP... he assumed I was voting for Trump, just like him. I set him straight, but the idea that someone lumped me in with Trump nation is just anathema to me. I felt slimed, but also worried; did something about me strike him as a signifier of Trump's fans? Shudder.
Note to self: order more Hillary shirts.
posted by carmicha at 9:27 PM on August 6, 2016 [14 favorites]
My neighborhood is bright red, although I live in a purple community and state. Most of my neighbors tease me about my flaming liberal ways and they've all expressed dismay about Trump. We get along fine, except when it comes to gun control. I think a few will vote for Hillary, a few will vote for Johnson, and many will just leave that part of the ballot blank. All the same, I'm used to people learning where I live and assuming I'm a Republican.
Anyway, something horrifying happened the other day: a new acquaintance not only assumed that I was loyal to the GOP... he assumed I was voting for Trump, just like him. I set him straight, but the idea that someone lumped me in with Trump nation is just anathema to me. I felt slimed, but also worried; did something about me strike him as a signifier of Trump's fans? Shudder.
Note to self: order more Hillary shirts.
posted by carmicha at 9:27 PM on August 6, 2016 [14 favorites]
This is so easily falsifiable, Canada has accepted thousands of Syrian refugees.
And how well does Canada uphold the US Constitution, hm? PROOF THAT SYRIAN REFUGEES WILL DESTROY THE USA.
did something about me strike him as a signifier of Trump's fans?
He thinks you're decent folks, and since he thinks he's decent folks and wants to vote for Trump, he assumes all decent folks are voting for Trump. What you did is not come across as a hysterical hippie or impending terrorist, which is what he assumes all Hillary's supporters are.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 9:52 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
And how well does Canada uphold the US Constitution, hm? PROOF THAT SYRIAN REFUGEES WILL DESTROY THE USA.
did something about me strike him as a signifier of Trump's fans?
He thinks you're decent folks, and since he thinks he's decent folks and wants to vote for Trump, he assumes all decent folks are voting for Trump. What you did is not come across as a hysterical hippie or impending terrorist, which is what he assumes all Hillary's supporters are.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 9:52 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
American Nazi Chair: Trump Win Would Be “A Real Opportunity” For White Nationalists:
Donald Trump’s campaign statements, if nothing else, have SHOWN that ‘our views’ are NOT so ‘unpopular’ as the Political Correctness crowd have told everyone they are!posted by kirkaracha at 9:55 PM on August 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Another good poll: ABC News/WaPo: Clinton +8 (50-42). Including a 23-point lead among women.
posted by argybarg at 10:05 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 10:05 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
The key seems to be wrong on the "attributes" chart from that ABC/WaPo polling link.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 10:19 PM on August 6, 2016
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 10:19 PM on August 6, 2016
I set him straight, but the idea that someone lumped me in with Trump nation is just anathema to me.
I'm from Utah and this happens to me all the time. In fact it's happened in these threads.
I actually live in a conservative, rural part of the state and I have never seen a TRUMP sign or bumper sticker. The only person I know personally who's pro-Trump lives in California. Most of my conservative friends and family are of the "Both of the candidates are terrible, why can't we have a good candidate!" sub-species of Republican. A few of them have started posting "Why it's OK to vote for Hillary and still be Republican" type links to Facebook.
I'm sure many of my neighbors and family members will end up voting for Trump but at least they have the good sense to be embarrassed about it.
(I do see the occasional Clinton bumper sticker. I still wouldn't wear a Hillary shirt around here, though. Too many people with guns and strong opinions for my comfort.)
posted by mmoncur at 10:26 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
I'm from Utah and this happens to me all the time. In fact it's happened in these threads.
I actually live in a conservative, rural part of the state and I have never seen a TRUMP sign or bumper sticker. The only person I know personally who's pro-Trump lives in California. Most of my conservative friends and family are of the "Both of the candidates are terrible, why can't we have a good candidate!" sub-species of Republican. A few of them have started posting "Why it's OK to vote for Hillary and still be Republican" type links to Facebook.
I'm sure many of my neighbors and family members will end up voting for Trump but at least they have the good sense to be embarrassed about it.
(I do see the occasional Clinton bumper sticker. I still wouldn't wear a Hillary shirt around here, though. Too many people with guns and strong opinions for my comfort.)
posted by mmoncur at 10:26 PM on August 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
You know, with the whole "short-circuited" thing: Trump and his guys think they've got a winner here. But they don't know how to handle what they got (which in truth isn't much).
if Trump said: "the woman can't just say 'I fibbed,' she has to be a lawyer about it and make up these weird ways to avoid the truth. Why does she do this?" I would cringe a little bit, because he has a point. And it could be an aside, and one small thing that people would store away.
But "she said 'I short-circuited!' Her brain is going!" — that just makes no sense. I thought Hillary was an evil, calculating mastermind — now she's erratic and feeble-minded? They're saying every possible negative thing, so that they cancel out. And they're hoping it's the nuclear weapon of attacks. They don't have the patience to build a case, one little characterization at a time compounding into a complete portrait. They want one big hit, and it doesn't work that way.
posted by argybarg at 10:41 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
if Trump said: "the woman can't just say 'I fibbed,' she has to be a lawyer about it and make up these weird ways to avoid the truth. Why does she do this?" I would cringe a little bit, because he has a point. And it could be an aside, and one small thing that people would store away.
But "she said 'I short-circuited!' Her brain is going!" — that just makes no sense. I thought Hillary was an evil, calculating mastermind — now she's erratic and feeble-minded? They're saying every possible negative thing, so that they cancel out. And they're hoping it's the nuclear weapon of attacks. They don't have the patience to build a case, one little characterization at a time compounding into a complete portrait. They want one big hit, and it doesn't work that way.
posted by argybarg at 10:41 PM on August 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
> If you created ISIS how would you go about putting that on your résumé? Asking for a fiend.
"Volunteer experience."
posted by Spathe Cadet at 10:41 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
"Volunteer experience."
posted by Spathe Cadet at 10:41 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
If you created ISIS how would you go about putting that on your résumé? Asking for a fiend.
Aide for a Billionaire?
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:11 PM on August 6, 2016
Aide for a Billionaire?
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:11 PM on August 6, 2016
Dr. Jill Stein, Michael Flynn, and Vladimir Putin photographed at a dinner for RT
posted by chrchr at 11:20 PM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 11:20 PM on August 6, 2016 [11 favorites]
That's the conspiraciest.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:28 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:28 PM on August 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
If you created ISIS how would you go about putting that on your résumé? Asking for a fiend.
* Founded community outreach activist group
* Coordinated international efforts, incl training and logistics
* Distributed employee/volunteer materials in multiple languages
* Exceeded all previous fundraising and volunteer participation efforts
* Trend-setter in international business negotiations methodology
* Attained unique success at outperforming rival organizations
... why yes, I read resumespeak.tumblr.com; is it that obvious?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:30 PM on August 6, 2016 [31 favorites]
* Founded community outreach activist group
* Coordinated international efforts, incl training and logistics
* Distributed employee/volunteer materials in multiple languages
* Exceeded all previous fundraising and volunteer participation efforts
* Trend-setter in international business negotiations methodology
* Attained unique success at outperforming rival organizations
... why yes, I read resumespeak.tumblr.com; is it that obvious?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:30 PM on August 6, 2016 [31 favorites]
Balloon Boy endorses Trump
[sorry]
posted by morganw at 10:38 PM on August 6 [+] [!]
I thought you were joking. Those poor fucking kids.
posted by lkc at 11:36 PM on August 6, 2016
[sorry]
posted by morganw at 10:38 PM on August 6 [+] [!]
I thought you were joking. Those poor fucking kids.
posted by lkc at 11:36 PM on August 6, 2016
But "she said 'I short-circuited!' Her brain is going!" — that just makes no sense. I thought Hillary was an evil, calculating mastermind — now she's erratic and feeble-minded?
I almost wonder if this is one of those 5-dimensional chess things, where Clinton used that awkward language on purpose so Trump would pick up on it and make a huge deal out of it, thus bringing the theme of "Who is mentally competent enough to be President" into the news cycle.
If she used normal language, the news cycle would have been about Trump accusing Clinton of being a liar and a criminal again. Instead we get to talk about who's got something wrong with his/her brain, and Trump doesn't win that one.
Then again, my fantasies of my own party being diabolically clever have never come true before.
posted by mmoncur at 11:55 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
I almost wonder if this is one of those 5-dimensional chess things, where Clinton used that awkward language on purpose so Trump would pick up on it and make a huge deal out of it, thus bringing the theme of "Who is mentally competent enough to be President" into the news cycle.
If she used normal language, the news cycle would have been about Trump accusing Clinton of being a liar and a criminal again. Instead we get to talk about who's got something wrong with his/her brain, and Trump doesn't win that one.
Then again, my fantasies of my own party being diabolically clever have never come true before.
posted by mmoncur at 11:55 PM on August 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think Trump may be playing 12-dimensional Candyland.
posted by aubilenon at 11:59 PM on August 6, 2016 [86 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 11:59 PM on August 6, 2016 [86 favorites]
Re: Trump Campaign Recurring Donation Problem - there's a fix (mostly):
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:23 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
1) You’ve got to sign up for an account and password.Posting it here in case anyone hears of a friend who needs it; the info is about 2/3 down the article. I have no idea if you can replace the credit card with a $10 Visa gift card.
2) Click on a small gray question mark icon the upper-right hand corner.
3) From there, you’ll be sent to another page with the option to make more contributions. There should be a “Manage” button on the lower left-hand corner. Click on that.
4) You’ll be sent to a separate website run by the campaign vendor, and there should be an option to access “recurring plans.” That should then finally give you an option to cancel payments.
5) But they’ll keep your credit/debit card info anyway until you replace it with another card. There’s apparently no way to delete it from their system.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:23 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you created ISIS how would you go about putting that on your résumé?"Community organizer"
Asking for a fiend.
posted by doop at 12:29 AM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
> "Promises to be spending money against Clinton soon, holding back on ads for now is deliberate strategy."
Well, I find that somewhat reassuring, at least. "We'll do a massive ad blitz in the fall!" is one of those loser comments like "We're relying on an unprecedented turnout of young voters!" or "The polls are all biased, our internal polls show the real truth!"
posted by kyrademon at 12:36 AM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
Well, I find that somewhat reassuring, at least. "We'll do a massive ad blitz in the fall!" is one of those loser comments like "We're relying on an unprecedented turnout of young voters!" or "The polls are all biased, our internal polls show the real truth!"
posted by kyrademon at 12:36 AM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
Dr. Jill Stein, Michael Flynn, and Vladimir Putin photographed at a dinner for RT
That's amazing. it was striking how often RT [Russian Today] propaganda articles suddenly started appearing on Reddit /r/Politics this year, invariably attacking Hillary or pumping up Bernie against her. I had never heard of anyone reading that website before Trump's campaign started taking off.
posted by msalt at 12:38 AM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
That's amazing. it was striking how often RT [Russian Today] propaganda articles suddenly started appearing on Reddit /r/Politics this year, invariably attacking Hillary or pumping up Bernie against her. I had never heard of anyone reading that website before Trump's campaign started taking off.
posted by msalt at 12:38 AM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
I have bookmarked that "I'm not a sexist" article for use until November. Cause I know I'm going to want to refer to it in a LOT of conversations between now and then.
posted by threeturtles at 12:43 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by threeturtles at 12:43 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
That Jill Stein thing is just bizarre. I cannot imagine why someone who is so obviously of the left should be stanning for Russia. Is it some kind of leftover Cold War thing? During the Cold War, one could at least sort of see the point - a tyrannical state, yes, but at least people got free health care, housing and education, so there was some point. But now it's just "Russia is a big power that's a counterweight to the US, so no matter how awful we should cheer them on".
It's really disturbing how many people on the left and right are happy to gin up Cold War style sentiment. The Cold War was awful! Having it again only without, like, actual communism in play is the worst idea ever.
It's intensely frustrating because it discredits the left. For me, much of the "Jill Stein, antivaxxer" stuff has seemed pretty irrelevant, since it has seemed to me very obvious temporizing for the wingnuts in the party like all politicians have to do from time to time. But if one is going to critique American imperialism while cozying up to the post-communist Russian government, well that suggests an absence of principle that is rather bad. I would not blame someone at all for being totally skeptical of all Greens remotely associated with Stein after that.
Or else it suggests a truly incredible level of the stupids - Snowden had to go to ground in Russia, for instance, but that was a matter of political convenience for the Russian state, not a sign of their commitment to principle.
And it's just dumb. All of this nonsense with Trump and now Stein gives cover and credence to nationalist anti-Russian sentiment among centrist people. Putin and the Russian state are a very nasty bunch, it's true, but I would prefer to live in a society with a relatively realistic assessment of them rather than a return to the propaganda of the Cold War.
posted by Frowner at 1:33 AM on August 7, 2016 [29 favorites]
It's really disturbing how many people on the left and right are happy to gin up Cold War style sentiment. The Cold War was awful! Having it again only without, like, actual communism in play is the worst idea ever.
It's intensely frustrating because it discredits the left. For me, much of the "Jill Stein, antivaxxer" stuff has seemed pretty irrelevant, since it has seemed to me very obvious temporizing for the wingnuts in the party like all politicians have to do from time to time. But if one is going to critique American imperialism while cozying up to the post-communist Russian government, well that suggests an absence of principle that is rather bad. I would not blame someone at all for being totally skeptical of all Greens remotely associated with Stein after that.
Or else it suggests a truly incredible level of the stupids - Snowden had to go to ground in Russia, for instance, but that was a matter of political convenience for the Russian state, not a sign of their commitment to principle.
And it's just dumb. All of this nonsense with Trump and now Stein gives cover and credence to nationalist anti-Russian sentiment among centrist people. Putin and the Russian state are a very nasty bunch, it's true, but I would prefer to live in a society with a relatively realistic assessment of them rather than a return to the propaganda of the Cold War.
posted by Frowner at 1:33 AM on August 7, 2016 [29 favorites]
Jeremy Corbyn has been appeared on RT a few times as well, as well as the Iranian equivalent, Press TV. The intellectual justification, I guess, is that US imperialism is the Big Bad, and that any anti-US forces must therefore be supported, even when it’s Putin or Iran.
A more cynical interpretation is that for fringe politicians (which Corbyn was until recently), it’s seductive to have any outlet taking them seriously enough to give them airtime.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:40 AM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
A more cynical interpretation is that for fringe politicians (which Corbyn was until recently), it’s seductive to have any outlet taking them seriously enough to give them airtime.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 2:40 AM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
I don't know about the USA, but there is a component of the British left that has been consistently pro-Russia for over a century. I have no idea why; given the changes in government you would think this doesn't make sense; but there it is.
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:59 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:59 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have no particular desire to return to irrational cold war hatred of Russia either. I feel bad for the people who live under Putin, particularly if they have some desire to publicly dissent. And he feel bad for Russia's neighbors. I've felt no particular animus against anyone, even Putin himself, another eye-roll-worthy tin pot dictator, common as muck on the world-historical stage. Poor suckers who elected him thinking they could get rid of him if it didn't work out... taken in by a con man and now they're screwed. Like that.
But I have to admit I really resent the fact that Putin is trying to screw with the elections in my country. That presents real risks to me and my family. We will be measurably harmed if Trump is elected thanks to Russian intervention. All in the service of weakening NATO, which undermines our national security and the delicate international balance that has prevented World War Three from happening yet. I'm really pissed right now, but it's not because one side or the other in American politics has whipped up my hatred of Russia. It's because Russia spied on my country and then sabotaged our political process by doing exactly what the Watergate burglers were trying to do, dig around in DNC files for something to embarrass them (as if the RNC doesn't have any embarrassing emails! Look at what they say on frickin' Twitter and imagine what they must be like in private.)
As pissed off as Sanders fans were about the DNC "thumb on the scale" during the primary, how can I NOT be pissed off by a Russian thumb on the scale during the general election?
So yeah, I'm a centrist with some newly anti-Russian sentiments, but I feel like that has everything to do with the fact that Russia's recent actions are a threat to me and mine, and are undermining my countriy's democratic
process. I still don't hold it against the people of Russia, who are victims, mostly, but Putin? Less of a scummy guy who we can nonetheless work with, the way you have to work with scummy guys sometimes, and more of a threat to be managed, in my mind now. Not because of how he is being portrayed and discussed, but because of what his government has actually done to put me and my family at risk.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:21 AM on August 7, 2016 [30 favorites]
But I have to admit I really resent the fact that Putin is trying to screw with the elections in my country. That presents real risks to me and my family. We will be measurably harmed if Trump is elected thanks to Russian intervention. All in the service of weakening NATO, which undermines our national security and the delicate international balance that has prevented World War Three from happening yet. I'm really pissed right now, but it's not because one side or the other in American politics has whipped up my hatred of Russia. It's because Russia spied on my country and then sabotaged our political process by doing exactly what the Watergate burglers were trying to do, dig around in DNC files for something to embarrass them (as if the RNC doesn't have any embarrassing emails! Look at what they say on frickin' Twitter and imagine what they must be like in private.)
As pissed off as Sanders fans were about the DNC "thumb on the scale" during the primary, how can I NOT be pissed off by a Russian thumb on the scale during the general election?
So yeah, I'm a centrist with some newly anti-Russian sentiments, but I feel like that has everything to do with the fact that Russia's recent actions are a threat to me and mine, and are undermining my countriy's democratic
process. I still don't hold it against the people of Russia, who are victims, mostly, but Putin? Less of a scummy guy who we can nonetheless work with, the way you have to work with scummy guys sometimes, and more of a threat to be managed, in my mind now. Not because of how he is being portrayed and discussed, but because of what his government has actually done to put me and my family at risk.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:21 AM on August 7, 2016 [30 favorites]
"It's intensely frustrating because it discredits the left."There is precious little remaining of at least this left thats even worth discrediting. Jill Stein's presence at that event is a reflection of something much worse and far more damning than some kind of conspiracy with Putin to co-opt American elections. She is there because she fits right into Putin's goal of invalidating the whole idea of American elections, the targets she is helping him hit aren't specific candidates but the central myths that American democracy is founded on.
Russia Today (RT), it should be noted is the outwardly facing brand of "TV-Novosti," which Putin included in his list of core organisations of strategic importance of Russia during the economic crisis in December 2008. It is the modern descendant of Pravda only slicker, more conspiracy oriented, more tech savvy, and with a much bigger budget. A few people have already noted here that lot of the conspiracy theories that gain traction in both the right wing as well as the left wing media originate from RT, and this comes from their mandate to sow distrust in Western institutions. They also pursue specific Russian policy goals including things like attempting to make the Invasion of Ukraine palatable to Western audiences and attacking the sanctions that resulted while largely failing, but its primary purpose has been to attack our trust in each other.
Putin thrives in an environment like Russia where nearly everyone holds conspiracy theories that are sometimes mutually incompatible and usually absurd, even if those conspiracy theories are often unfavorable to him, because that is the kind of mess he can climb to the top of. People won't care that he may just be the richest person in the world as a result of hideous amounts of wealth stolen from them if he can get them to believe that he is the only thing standing in the way of Obama's black gay muslim KKK invasion. Jill Stein is indeed nearly the opposite of Putin in terms of supposed policy goals, I mean the man is a violent oil oligarch who certainly has no problem with dumping everything up to nuclear waste in lakes much less carbon emissions. There is nothing genuinely Green about him. However, Jill Stein's revolution has never been about policy goals, if it was she'd be a Democrat. What she is selling isn't coherent policy goals, or accomplish-able plans to make the country or world a better place, or even values that can shape a national conversation - its the illusion of these things. The Green Party now is pretty exclusively defined by its vision of a simple world with simple solutions that is formed without any attempt at compromise or acknowledging messy realities - those things would make a Democrat. What she shares with Putin is a need for people to accept simple solutions to complex problems, like him she thrives on people whose political ideas are little more than an incoherent mess of villainously powerful and complex conspiracies, great saviors, and loose associations.
The Green Party's stances on climate change do not even attempt to grapple with the messy realities inherent to a functional power grid capable of adjusting to fluctuations in demand, their stances on the recent bailout communicate fundamental misunderstandings of how our financial system currently works much less should, and their stance on war does not account for things like the very fucking extant reliance of Eastern Europe and much of East Asia on the ability of the American military to maintain a credible deterrent to Russian and Chinese hegemony. Indeed, their particularly vehement stances on agriculture can only really be knowledgeably described as pro-famine with its complete rejection of any of the things invented after the 1940s that allow us to feed 7 billion people far better than we used to feed 2 billion on less land with less labor and far less environmental impact. European fringe parties at least have the threat of gaining power, and thus being embarrassed with it, through coalitions to keep their policy proposals even vaguely implementable - but the Green Party has never had that threat and never will. Indeed, just like the existence of complex problems with the airline industry doesn't mean magic carpets are a viable alternative, and the existence of even more complex problems with the pharmaceutical industry doesn't mean homeopathy will work, the complex problems with how we currently deal with each of these things doesn't mean that the Green Party's simple ideas will do anything other than lead to routine and wasteful blackouts, the rapid collapse of entire industries, the brutal invasion of Eastern Europe, and Khmer Rouge style famines.
"For me, much of the "Jill Stein, antivaxxer" stuff has seemed pretty irrelevant, since it has seemed to me very obvious temporizing for the wingnuts in the party like all politicians have to do from time to time."The Green Party's stances on important issues are essentially no different from its stances on woo, from scaremongering about "WiFi" and "wireless" to support for petty snake oil salesmen defrauding the vulnerable, they stem from the same approach applied to politics that woo is to medicine and nutrition. If you only dilute the progressive vote enough times it will get exponentially stronger! Its the replacement of educated expertise and listening with googled expertise and self-importance. Just like the goal of cranks isn't actually the advancement of science and the goal of woo isn't actually health - the goal of the Green Party has nothing to do with policy implementation. Its about the feeling of being smarter than your neighbors, more morally pure, making the 'right' choice without actually having to do the emotional labor involved in recognizing that many of your neighbors don't have the luxury of not really being affected by policies being implemented - just like woo is all about getting those same feelings without having to do the labor of genuine self-education or self-advocacy.
Jill Stein's policy ideas, at least as they are vaguely articulated, are not even especially progressive when you look at what they'd actually mean.
posted by Blasdelb at 4:26 AM on August 7, 2016 [131 favorites]
a component of the British left that has been consistently pro-Russia for over a century. I have no idea why
Ignoring the fringes that are still viewing everything through leninist utopia-tinted glasses, these days it's usually one of three reasons: anti-americanism, anti-americanism, and anti-americanism.
posted by effbot at 5:15 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Ignoring the fringes that are still viewing everything through leninist utopia-tinted glasses, these days it's usually one of three reasons: anti-americanism, anti-americanism, and anti-americanism.
posted by effbot at 5:15 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
are there any good podcasts for foul-mouthed, opinionated coverage of the election? i can't bring myself to watch the tv news or listen to npr but i would really love to here a human voice reacting to the insanity in an authentic way. :-/
posted by murphy slaw at 6:22 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:22 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Don't go looking for logic or self-awareness on the British far-left. I know a tankie who drives an Aston Martin,
And attitudes to Russia and Putin can be similarly bizarre. Another friend has very deep cultural and personal ties with Russia, in particular the bits on the other side of the Urals, and I cannot make out his take on Putin at all. He talks about him being a dangerous manipulative dictator-oligarch in one breath, and him being massively misrepresented by a scheming West and the victim of prolonged brutal propaganda in the next. He seems to hold both views simultaneously and passionately. He's also extremely smart and incredibly empathic, and sometimes I suspect he has penetrated our Newtonian political worldview and is directly observing the quantum reality beneath.
Or perhaps he's just genuinely and unfathomably weird. Actually, not much doubt about that.
The question is, as it has been since the Enlightenment, is that if you equate reason, logic and evidence-based decisions with the path to making life better for as many as possible, how do you fight the woo? What stories do you tell to the woo-ists to, er, woo them back? The best thing I can say for all the nonsense out there and its seemingly unending power to seduce is that it makes me go back to my fundamental belief in enlightenment principles and humanitarian goals and question them and myself. But I'm damned if I can find a way to persuade others to do the same thing.
posted by Devonian at 6:25 AM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
And attitudes to Russia and Putin can be similarly bizarre. Another friend has very deep cultural and personal ties with Russia, in particular the bits on the other side of the Urals, and I cannot make out his take on Putin at all. He talks about him being a dangerous manipulative dictator-oligarch in one breath, and him being massively misrepresented by a scheming West and the victim of prolonged brutal propaganda in the next. He seems to hold both views simultaneously and passionately. He's also extremely smart and incredibly empathic, and sometimes I suspect he has penetrated our Newtonian political worldview and is directly observing the quantum reality beneath.
Or perhaps he's just genuinely and unfathomably weird. Actually, not much doubt about that.
The question is, as it has been since the Enlightenment, is that if you equate reason, logic and evidence-based decisions with the path to making life better for as many as possible, how do you fight the woo? What stories do you tell to the woo-ists to, er, woo them back? The best thing I can say for all the nonsense out there and its seemingly unending power to seduce is that it makes me go back to my fundamental belief in enlightenment principles and humanitarian goals and question them and myself. But I'm damned if I can find a way to persuade others to do the same thing.
posted by Devonian at 6:25 AM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
For me, much of the "Jill Stein, antivaxxer" stuff has seemed pretty irrelevant, since it has seemed to me very obvious temporizing for the wingnuts in the party like all politicians have to do from time to time.
Politicians don't have to do this and are entirely free to just repudiate their wingnuts. There are a nontrivial number of Democratic voters who are also woomongers and Clinton has pretty much told them to get stuffed. If the concentration of wingnuts in the Green Party is so high that it really is impossible to maintain a leadership position without echoing their nonsense, maybe that should be a reason not to vote for and with them.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:32 AM on August 7, 2016 [26 favorites]
Politicians don't have to do this and are entirely free to just repudiate their wingnuts. There are a nontrivial number of Democratic voters who are also woomongers and Clinton has pretty much told them to get stuffed. If the concentration of wingnuts in the Green Party is so high that it really is impossible to maintain a leadership position without echoing their nonsense, maybe that should be a reason not to vote for and with them.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:32 AM on August 7, 2016 [26 favorites]
Trump’s economic advisers are also his biggest donors
He just took a bunch of guys named Steve who gave him money and called them the economic team. It's not clear whether being named Steve, or giving Trump money, was the most important factor.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:42 AM on August 7, 2016 [23 favorites]
He just took a bunch of guys named Steve who gave him money and called them the economic team. It's not clear whether being named Steve, or giving Trump money, was the most important factor.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:42 AM on August 7, 2016 [23 favorites]
He talks about him being a dangerous manipulative dictator-oligarch in one breath, and him being massively misrepresented by a scheming West and the victim of prolonged brutal propaganda in the next.
And in a weird way, that's probably true, which is precisely what drives me nuts. I really hate it when people who don't really care, for instance, about the well-being of gay people point to how anti-gay Putin is, partly because I feel like I can't trust their analysis. I read an article by a Russian-American, for instance, who pointed out that various Russian [horrible, traumatic, violent, Very Bad] videos are often mislabeled or mistranslated to make them seem even worse. And it's like, I don't want that. I want to know how actually bad this regime is, not how propaganda-bad it is - even though I start from a position of feeling pretty confident that it is very bad indeed.
And it's extra bad if Wikileaks is an arm of the Russian state, because we so badly need some non-state entity with the powers that Wikileaks has (and without the "let's pointlessly dox random people to prove how bad-ass we are).
One can be vigorously anti-American without seeking out some other tyrant to idealize, that's the whole point of "neither Washington nor Moscow".
maybe that should be a reason not to vote for and with them
I should clarify that I have never had any intention of voting for Jill Stein for quite other reasons. But as someone who spends most of their social time around Green-and-lefter people, I am not necessarily troubled by someone's temporizing with the woo-mongers in their party as long as I don't think there's a direct line to their policy positions. This is specific to woo-mongering; it should not be taken as "I am untroubled when politicians temporize with their followers about any and all bad beliefs". It's more a social thing based on being in a particular subculture and realizing just how that particular set of beliefs fits into the subculture. I myself am extremely pro-vaxx and a big fan of "Western" medicine in general, as are all the people I know who might vote for a Green for, say, local office.
posted by Frowner at 6:43 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
And in a weird way, that's probably true, which is precisely what drives me nuts. I really hate it when people who don't really care, for instance, about the well-being of gay people point to how anti-gay Putin is, partly because I feel like I can't trust their analysis. I read an article by a Russian-American, for instance, who pointed out that various Russian [horrible, traumatic, violent, Very Bad] videos are often mislabeled or mistranslated to make them seem even worse. And it's like, I don't want that. I want to know how actually bad this regime is, not how propaganda-bad it is - even though I start from a position of feeling pretty confident that it is very bad indeed.
And it's extra bad if Wikileaks is an arm of the Russian state, because we so badly need some non-state entity with the powers that Wikileaks has (and without the "let's pointlessly dox random people to prove how bad-ass we are).
One can be vigorously anti-American without seeking out some other tyrant to idealize, that's the whole point of "neither Washington nor Moscow".
maybe that should be a reason not to vote for and with them
I should clarify that I have never had any intention of voting for Jill Stein for quite other reasons. But as someone who spends most of their social time around Green-and-lefter people, I am not necessarily troubled by someone's temporizing with the woo-mongers in their party as long as I don't think there's a direct line to their policy positions. This is specific to woo-mongering; it should not be taken as "I am untroubled when politicians temporize with their followers about any and all bad beliefs". It's more a social thing based on being in a particular subculture and realizing just how that particular set of beliefs fits into the subculture. I myself am extremely pro-vaxx and a big fan of "Western" medicine in general, as are all the people I know who might vote for a Green for, say, local office.
posted by Frowner at 6:43 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
He talks about him being a dangerous manipulative dictator-oligarch in one breath, and him being massively misrepresented by a scheming West and the victim of prolonged brutal propaganda in the next. He seems to hold both views simultaneously and passionately.
Well, Saddam Hussein was dangerous for his own citizens and massively misrepresented by western propaganda campaign. There is no contradiction in recognising both, and especially british left may be extra wary in stepping again into same turd.
posted by Free word order! at 6:47 AM on August 7, 2016
Well, Saddam Hussein was dangerous for his own citizens and massively misrepresented by western propaganda campaign. There is no contradiction in recognising both, and especially british left may be extra wary in stepping again into same turd.
posted by Free word order! at 6:47 AM on August 7, 2016
Externally directed regime change can be so unsettling to citizens' wellbeing.
posted by infini at 6:48 AM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by infini at 6:48 AM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
that's the whole point of "neither Washington nor Moscow".
Whatever did they do to the Non Aligned Movement? Its been aligned, albeit geographically
posted by infini at 6:53 AM on August 7, 2016
Whatever did they do to the Non Aligned Movement? Its been aligned, albeit geographically
posted by infini at 6:53 AM on August 7, 2016
He just took a bunch of guys named Steve who gave him money and called them the economic team. It's not clear whether being named Steve, or giving Trump money, was the most important factor.
Steve?
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:54 AM on August 7, 2016
Steve?
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:54 AM on August 7, 2016
Didn't see it above: Allen! Allen! Allen! No wait that's Steve. Steve!
posted by aspersioncast at 6:58 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 6:58 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Steve?
You rang?
Dr. Jill Stein, Michael Flynn, and Vladimir Putin photographed at a dinner for RT
Here's Youtube video from that event.
posted by SteveInMaine at 7:02 AM on August 7, 2016
You rang?
Dr. Jill Stein, Michael Flynn, and Vladimir Putin photographed at a dinner for RT
Here's Youtube video from that event.
posted by SteveInMaine at 7:02 AM on August 7, 2016
This is something I've been mulling over for a while, so pardon me if I ramble on a bit.
So I grew up as the daughter of two fairly high-level government officials, in India. Very often, they were the highest-ranked non-elected official in whatever department they were in, meaning that they reported directly to politicians. This was in a state of India, which while rather well-functioning by Indian standards, still had its fair share of corruption and waste. Still, I could see that my parents were able to get many good things done - I won't go into the details for the sake of anonymity, but let's just say that several million more people were better educated and had better access to healthcare thanks to their efforts. And I had an insider's view of how these things were managed - which politicians were reasonable, and which weren't; which fellow officials only cared about making money and which ones really had noble intentions. Things generally took a long time and there were many setbacks, but eventually over time, if you kept moving and trying and working, things would change.
I guess for that reason, I've always been resistant to cynicism about government and politicians. I heard an awful lot of "well, all officials are the same" or "all politicians are the same" growing up, but I could think about various examples my parents had talked to me about, and their own examples, and know that that was not true. Lumping all politicians together does a disservice to the politicians who are actually trying to make the world better, in their own imperfect ways. It is dangerous because it leads to a sort of nihilism, a disengagement with the political process that allows the worst actors to take over. We've seen an awful lot of this attitude on both the right and the left this election. Many Trump supporters seem to be motivated by giving everyone a big fuck-you (and racism) and on the left, there has been an incredible amount of cynicism regarding the political process as well as the whole "well, Clinton and Trump are both awful..." trope.
One of the reasons I loved the DNC so much was that it acted as a great antidote to that feeling. There were so many people who stood up on that stage and talked about why these small, incrementalist, seemingly meaningless gains actually made and will make a difference in their lives. So many people trying to reclaim patriotism for the Democrats, but in a more pluralistic, big-tent fashion. One of the interesting things I read recently was that in Canada, patriotism and openness to immigration are positively correlated, while in the US the opposite is true. Part of the reason for that is the cynicism the American left feels towards its own government, often for good reason, I will admit. But I would so love to see a left in this country that acknowledges that complete purity is impossible, that we will always take two steps forward and one step back, that progress doesn't happen overnight - but that it's all still worth it in end, in the service of building a better nation.
posted by peacheater at 7:03 AM on August 7, 2016 [167 favorites]
So I grew up as the daughter of two fairly high-level government officials, in India. Very often, they were the highest-ranked non-elected official in whatever department they were in, meaning that they reported directly to politicians. This was in a state of India, which while rather well-functioning by Indian standards, still had its fair share of corruption and waste. Still, I could see that my parents were able to get many good things done - I won't go into the details for the sake of anonymity, but let's just say that several million more people were better educated and had better access to healthcare thanks to their efforts. And I had an insider's view of how these things were managed - which politicians were reasonable, and which weren't; which fellow officials only cared about making money and which ones really had noble intentions. Things generally took a long time and there were many setbacks, but eventually over time, if you kept moving and trying and working, things would change.
I guess for that reason, I've always been resistant to cynicism about government and politicians. I heard an awful lot of "well, all officials are the same" or "all politicians are the same" growing up, but I could think about various examples my parents had talked to me about, and their own examples, and know that that was not true. Lumping all politicians together does a disservice to the politicians who are actually trying to make the world better, in their own imperfect ways. It is dangerous because it leads to a sort of nihilism, a disengagement with the political process that allows the worst actors to take over. We've seen an awful lot of this attitude on both the right and the left this election. Many Trump supporters seem to be motivated by giving everyone a big fuck-you (and racism) and on the left, there has been an incredible amount of cynicism regarding the political process as well as the whole "well, Clinton and Trump are both awful..." trope.
One of the reasons I loved the DNC so much was that it acted as a great antidote to that feeling. There were so many people who stood up on that stage and talked about why these small, incrementalist, seemingly meaningless gains actually made and will make a difference in their lives. So many people trying to reclaim patriotism for the Democrats, but in a more pluralistic, big-tent fashion. One of the interesting things I read recently was that in Canada, patriotism and openness to immigration are positively correlated, while in the US the opposite is true. Part of the reason for that is the cynicism the American left feels towards its own government, often for good reason, I will admit. But I would so love to see a left in this country that acknowledges that complete purity is impossible, that we will always take two steps forward and one step back, that progress doesn't happen overnight - but that it's all still worth it in end, in the service of building a better nation.
posted by peacheater at 7:03 AM on August 7, 2016 [167 favorites]
Sewing mistrust of political institutions has been a major goal of the Right for many decades. Much like the smearing of Hillary Clinton, the Left has been unwittingly carrying water for the Right for nearly as Long.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:14 AM on August 7, 2016 [25 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:14 AM on August 7, 2016 [25 favorites]
New CBS "battleground" state poll in Virginia:
Clinton 49
Trump 37
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:34 AM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
Clinton 49
Trump 37
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:34 AM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
Also AZ: Trump 44, Clinton 42 and NV: Trump 41, Clinton 43
posted by peacheater at 7:40 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by peacheater at 7:40 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Can't favourite peacheater's post hard enough - this has been my experience too, albeit at a further remove from the junction of civil service and the politicians - but I have watched the same process at work. It's easier in the West, but there are slow, painstaking battles to fight to promote the better over the worse, and there are people who fight that fight while knowing the way to push on is quiet, patient and mostly invisible.
It's interesting that in Scotland there's also an explicit and positive link between national identity and immigration (and one can muse on Scotland and Canada's shared yet opposite experiences of mass migration within the British Empire). The SNP owns the immigration debate - in fact, there is no immigration debate to speak of: it happens, it's a good thing and more would be better. One of the results, despite Scottish racial attitudes being roughly the same mix as in England, is that the extremists have virtually no influence outside some old sectarian stamping-grounds, the country was firmly against Brexit and there's been no uptick in hate crime post-referendum, unlike in England.
This works. You can see it working. It's open and unashamed. And I don't think it misrepresents either Nicola Sturgeon or Hillary Clinton to say they both know it and believe it.
posted by Devonian at 7:46 AM on August 7, 2016 [30 favorites]
It's interesting that in Scotland there's also an explicit and positive link between national identity and immigration (and one can muse on Scotland and Canada's shared yet opposite experiences of mass migration within the British Empire). The SNP owns the immigration debate - in fact, there is no immigration debate to speak of: it happens, it's a good thing and more would be better. One of the results, despite Scottish racial attitudes being roughly the same mix as in England, is that the extremists have virtually no influence outside some old sectarian stamping-grounds, the country was firmly against Brexit and there's been no uptick in hate crime post-referendum, unlike in England.
This works. You can see it working. It's open and unashamed. And I don't think it misrepresents either Nicola Sturgeon or Hillary Clinton to say they both know it and believe it.
posted by Devonian at 7:46 AM on August 7, 2016 [30 favorites]
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) said on Saturday that pregnant women who are infected with the Zika virus — which is believed to cause severe and debilitating birth defects like microcephaly — should not be allowed to terminate their pregnancies.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:56 AM on August 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:56 AM on August 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
I work in the public health system in a country that doesn't believe in health as a human right, a state that can't pass a budget but whose legislators have time for a bipartisan, multi-year effort to screw state employees out of their pensions (thankfully the courts keep sending their laws back with a big "THIS IS STILL UNCONSTITUTIONAL" stamp on them), a city where protests happen every weekend now and often spontaneously mid-week as police continue to gun down civilians and gun murders for the year are up to, I don't even know, past five hundred. Our public schools were almost not going to open this September because no money.
Yet there are still good people working in government and the non-profit sector even here, just as Devonian and peacheater say.
Look for the helpers.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:02 AM on August 7, 2016 [17 favorites]
Yet there are still good people working in government and the non-profit sector even here, just as Devonian and peacheater say.
Look for the helpers.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:02 AM on August 7, 2016 [17 favorites]
murphy slaw:
This Week in Blackness! Prime is utterly awesome (official web site) but unfortunately suffered catastrophic IT problems and staffing losses a few months ago and is still pulling itself back together. So for example the web site doesn't seem to have been updated in more than a month, but here are two RSS feeds that go back and forth as far as which is more up to date.
I think that if you sign up for a monthly subscription donation there's additional content behind a paywall somewhere (video from the recording studio, for example) which may be where they're focusing their resources right now. Also they're on iTunes, but I'm not, so maybe there's more there.
This media network, captained by Elon James White, is also the home of the oft-lauded-on-MeFi podcast Historical Blackness (RSS) hosted by Dr. Blair Kelley, and several other podcasts. Around the Time of Troubles a few months ago they were talking about starting a politics-specific podcast, (presumably more sober than TWiB!Prime, which often dissolves into madness and literal drunkenness, but is in all cases a million times more informative and entertaining than anything else I listen to) but I'm not sure if it ever quite got off the ground because I don't see it on the web site...
posted by XMLicious at 8:04 AM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
are there any good podcasts for foul-mouthed, opinionated coverage of the election? i can't bring myself to watch the tv news or listen to npr but i would really love to here a human voice reacting to the insanity in an authentic way. :-/
This Week in Blackness! Prime is utterly awesome (official web site) but unfortunately suffered catastrophic IT problems and staffing losses a few months ago and is still pulling itself back together. So for example the web site doesn't seem to have been updated in more than a month, but here are two RSS feeds that go back and forth as far as which is more up to date.
I think that if you sign up for a monthly subscription donation there's additional content behind a paywall somewhere (video from the recording studio, for example) which may be where they're focusing their resources right now. Also they're on iTunes, but I'm not, so maybe there's more there.
This media network, captained by Elon James White, is also the home of the oft-lauded-on-MeFi podcast Historical Blackness (RSS) hosted by Dr. Blair Kelley, and several other podcasts. Around the Time of Troubles a few months ago they were talking about starting a politics-specific podcast, (presumably more sober than TWiB!Prime, which often dissolves into madness and literal drunkenness, but is in all cases a million times more informative and entertaining than anything else I listen to) but I'm not sure if it ever quite got off the ground because I don't see it on the web site...
posted by XMLicious at 8:04 AM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Looks like that poll showing a less than 3 point lead was an outlier, both ABC and Morning Consult polls are showing an 8-point Clinton lead.
posted by waitingtoderail at 8:12 AM on August 7, 2016
posted by waitingtoderail at 8:12 AM on August 7, 2016
A new poll of battleground states has Clinton +12 in Virginia. It might be time to move that one out of the battleground state column.
Clinton is +2 in Nevada, and Trump is +2 in Arizona, so those remain battlegrounds. The poll includes third-party candidates. Gary Johnson is doing well in Virginia, but Clinton would still be significantly ahead if all of his voters ended up voting for Trump.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:18 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Clinton is +2 in Nevada, and Trump is +2 in Arizona, so those remain battlegrounds. The poll includes third-party candidates. Gary Johnson is doing well in Virginia, but Clinton would still be significantly ahead if all of his voters ended up voting for Trump.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:18 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Rubio says he wants to "err on the side of life" like it's a goddamn budget line item.
This election has really opened my eyes to something I used to miss. I remember when there was a real nonpartisan spirit of fun around Election Day. Sales and commercials with dogs in starry bandanas, straw polls in schools to teach kids about how important the vote was, that kind of thing. Today that spirit is missing. The other day I was in a cute little store that sold cute little crafts and cute little calendars and cute little shirts and hats that said TRUMP WALL BUILDERS CO. - FREE INSTALLATIONS and HILLARY FOR PRISON. If that had been Romney '12 or McCain '08 campaign gear, I only would have rolled my eyes. As it was, I felt repulsed. I didn't want to spend a cent there.
Now I realize that it was only ever privilege that made elections seem like fun.
posted by Countess Elena at 8:42 AM on August 7, 2016 [50 favorites]
This election has really opened my eyes to something I used to miss. I remember when there was a real nonpartisan spirit of fun around Election Day. Sales and commercials with dogs in starry bandanas, straw polls in schools to teach kids about how important the vote was, that kind of thing. Today that spirit is missing. The other day I was in a cute little store that sold cute little crafts and cute little calendars and cute little shirts and hats that said TRUMP WALL BUILDERS CO. - FREE INSTALLATIONS and HILLARY FOR PRISON. If that had been Romney '12 or McCain '08 campaign gear, I only would have rolled my eyes. As it was, I felt repulsed. I didn't want to spend a cent there.
Now I realize that it was only ever privilege that made elections seem like fun.
posted by Countess Elena at 8:42 AM on August 7, 2016 [50 favorites]
Well, I find that somewhat reassuring, at least. "We'll do a massive ad blitz in the fall!" is one of those loser comments like "We're relying on an unprecedented turnout of young voters!"
To be fair, if you actually work your ass off over the spring and summer to register unprecedented numbers of young voters and build a GOTV infrastructure, and then work even fucking harder in November to use that infrastructure so those young voters actually GO & V, it puts you into the "winner" column pretty goddam quick.
posted by dersins at 8:50 AM on August 7, 2016
To be fair, if you actually work your ass off over the spring and summer to register unprecedented numbers of young voters and build a GOTV infrastructure, and then work even fucking harder in November to use that infrastructure so those young voters actually GO & V, it puts you into the "winner" column pretty goddam quick.
posted by dersins at 8:50 AM on August 7, 2016
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) said on Saturday that pregnant women who are infected with the Zika virus — which is believed to cause severe and debilitating birth defects like microcephaly — should not be allowed to terminate their pregnancies.
Yes, Little Marco is a fucking nightmare senator, and I was so hoping that in his petulant tantrum after being beaten by Trump would force him out of politics forever, and into a career more suited to his temperament, such as late-night security guard at a sewage treatment facility. But Alas, he is intent on once again representing America's Wang in the US Senate, and as the incumbent he has a really good chance enen though he's mostly famous for not showing up for work.
One of life's little ironies is that Climate Change Denier Rubio's energy policies plus his stance on birth control and abortion will mean more mosquitoes (warmer weather, longer rainy season in Florida) and more sick babies. And the cycle of life continues.
In conclusion, Marco Rubio is a land of Fuck Hims.
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:51 AM on August 7, 2016 [40 favorites]
Yes, Little Marco is a fucking nightmare senator, and I was so hoping that in his petulant tantrum after being beaten by Trump would force him out of politics forever, and into a career more suited to his temperament, such as late-night security guard at a sewage treatment facility. But Alas, he is intent on once again representing America's Wang in the US Senate, and as the incumbent he has a really good chance enen though he's mostly famous for not showing up for work.
One of life's little ironies is that Climate Change Denier Rubio's energy policies plus his stance on birth control and abortion will mean more mosquitoes (warmer weather, longer rainy season in Florida) and more sick babies. And the cycle of life continues.
In conclusion, Marco Rubio is a land of Fuck Hims.
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:51 AM on August 7, 2016 [40 favorites]
A new poll of battleground states has Clinton +12 in Virginia. It might be time to move that one out of the battleground state column.
I cannot picture Trump winning VA under any reasonable scenario. Rubio/Kasich won over Trump in the moderate Republican promised land of Fairfax County, and it's VERY difficult to picture Trump out performing Ken Cucinelli, who lost in a low turnout governor's election. The presidential won't be low turnout.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:54 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I cannot picture Trump winning VA under any reasonable scenario. Rubio/Kasich won over Trump in the moderate Republican promised land of Fairfax County, and it's VERY difficult to picture Trump out performing Ken Cucinelli, who lost in a low turnout governor's election. The presidential won't be low turnout.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:54 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
dumb question time: is pence an asset or a liability in indiana? from my pov his governorship looks like a slow motion disaster but i'm not republican…
posted by murphy slaw at 9:11 AM on August 7, 2016
posted by murphy slaw at 9:11 AM on August 7, 2016
> "To be fair, if you actually work your ass off over the spring and summer to register unprecedented numbers of young voters ... and then work even fucking harder in November ..."
"We will *have* an unprecedented turnout of youth voters" is a wonderful thing for a campaign to be able to say.
"We are *relying on* an unprecedented turnout of youth voters" is usually a sign that your campaign is toast.
posted by kyrademon at 9:20 AM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
"We will *have* an unprecedented turnout of youth voters" is a wonderful thing for a campaign to be able to say.
"We are *relying on* an unprecedented turnout of youth voters" is usually a sign that your campaign is toast.
posted by kyrademon at 9:20 AM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm a little mystified that Michigan (Dem in Presidential years since/including 1992) and Wisconsin (Dem since/including 1988) are considered swing states, too, though I assume there must be reasons. (I'm guessing off-year elections is the main reason?)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 9:25 AM on August 7, 2016
posted by Spathe Cadet at 9:25 AM on August 7, 2016
Indiana liberals hate Pence for being a right-wing fucksack, Business Republicans hate him for embarrassing the state and damaging us economically with that RFRA, and Tea Partiers think he's the bee's knees.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:25 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:25 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Kasich confirmed that Donald Trump Jr. contacted one of his aides to offer Kasich the VP spot. He also thinks it will be hard for Trump to win Ohio.
"He's going to win parts of Ohio where people are really hurting and where people of both parties have failed to fix our education system," he said. "But I still think it's difficult if you are dividing to be able to win in Ohio. I think it's really, really difficult."posted by kirkaracha at 9:26 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
In the last poll conducted before his nomination, Pence had 40% job approval vs. 42% disapproval.
posted by waitingtoderail at 9:28 AM on August 7, 2016
posted by waitingtoderail at 9:28 AM on August 7, 2016
Harold Hamm, a billionaire energy magnate, has suggested he would write checks to the Republican National Committee in support of Trump, but he has also been wooed by the constellations of pro-Trump super PACs . . . has also been floated as a potential energy secretary in a Trump cabinet and is already an informal energy adviser.
Harold "Frackhead" Hamm, Mitt Romney's energy advisor? Nice.
What is it that Trump's good at, again?
posted by petebest at 9:31 AM on August 7, 2016
Harold "Frackhead" Hamm, Mitt Romney's energy advisor? Nice.
What is it that Trump's good at, again?
posted by petebest at 9:31 AM on August 7, 2016
Clinton has solid leads in Michigan and Wisconsin. They're not swing states.
The New York Times currently lists Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia as the most competitive states.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:33 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
The New York Times currently lists Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia as the most competitive states.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:33 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm a little mystified that Michigan (Dem in Presidential years since/including 1992) and Wisconsin (Dem since/including 1988) are considered swing states, too, though I assume there must be reasons. (I'm guessing off-year elections is the main reason?)
Probably the same thing as PA - they go blue in presidential elections, but it's close. Both have Republican governors, both have the same urban/rural divide, and there isn't a whole ton of urban in WI to offset the rural.
posted by LionIndex at 9:34 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Probably the same thing as PA - they go blue in presidential elections, but it's close. Both have Republican governors, both have the same urban/rural divide, and there isn't a whole ton of urban in WI to offset the rural.
posted by LionIndex at 9:34 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's because of the non-college white vote. Trump is (slightly) over performing in that demographic, basically alone among all democraphics, and Wisconsin/Michigan/Pennsylvania/Ohio have a greater than the national average share of non-college white voters. Trump's entire strategy, to the extent he has a coherent strategy that doesn't include somehow winning New York, relies on turning out every white voter in those states.
I think most media sources are giving that stratey waaaaay too much credit, given the polling, which basically shows it has no shot whatsoever. But horseracers gotta have a horse race, and if Trump can win, that's one of his one couple paths to victory.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:36 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think most media sources are giving that stratey waaaaay too much credit, given the polling, which basically shows it has no shot whatsoever. But horseracers gotta have a horse race, and if Trump can win, that's one of his one couple paths to victory.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:36 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
What is it that Trump's good at, again?
Grift, although I'm sure given the opportunity he would excel at graft as well.
posted by ckape at 9:36 AM on August 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
Grift, although I'm sure given the opportunity he would excel at graft as well.
posted by ckape at 9:36 AM on August 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
Why aren't "greft" or "gruft" words, I wonder? We should be like the Inuit with their apocryphal 100 words for snow, with financial crimes.
posted by thelonius at 9:38 AM on August 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 9:38 AM on August 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
MAKE AMERICA GREFT AGAIN
posted by NMcCoy at 9:46 AM on August 7, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by NMcCoy at 9:46 AM on August 7, 2016 [17 favorites]
PA currently has a Democratic governor and a Republican-controlled state house (disastrous budget stand-off last year but they seen to have learned their lesson because no one came out smelling like roses after that). Previous Governor was R and the one before that was Ed Rendell, a Democrat and also a notable prick. So while we trend D in presidential elections, we are really pretty evenly divided in state races and I think dems are wise to not take the state for granted.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:48 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:48 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
“Obviously, microcephaly is a terrible prenatal condition that kids are born with. And when they are, it’s a lifetime of difficulties,” Rubio told Politico. “So I get it. I’m not pretending to you that that’s an easy question you asked me. But I’m pro-life.
No, Senator, no I don't think you do "get it." You won't get it until you are forced to quit your job and stay home to be a full time caretaker for your child. You won't get it until you spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week looking after your child because you can't afford help and none of your friends and family know how to take care of your baby. You won't get it until you spend night after night tossing and turning in your bed worrying about the future. You won't get it until you look at the change in your purse and realize you don't have the bus fare to bring your daughter to her many, many medical appointments. You won't get it until you are forced to let your baby stay in wet diapers because you are rationing them and you only brought enough to change her once.
In other words you don't get it and you will not get it because you are privileged little twerp without an ounce of empathy or ability to see beyond your nose.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:48 AM on August 7, 2016 [104 favorites]
No, Senator, no I don't think you do "get it." You won't get it until you are forced to quit your job and stay home to be a full time caretaker for your child. You won't get it until you spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week looking after your child because you can't afford help and none of your friends and family know how to take care of your baby. You won't get it until you spend night after night tossing and turning in your bed worrying about the future. You won't get it until you look at the change in your purse and realize you don't have the bus fare to bring your daughter to her many, many medical appointments. You won't get it until you are forced to let your baby stay in wet diapers because you are rationing them and you only brought enough to change her once.
In other words you don't get it and you will not get it because you are privileged little twerp without an ounce of empathy or ability to see beyond your nose.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:48 AM on August 7, 2016 [104 favorites]
I found this to be an interesting read:
Where Are All the Republican Women? There are fewer Republican women in Congress now than in 2006. The trend repeats at every level of government.
Where Are All the Republican Women? There are fewer Republican women in Congress now than in 2006. The trend repeats at every level of government.
So far this year, Republicans have nominated women in just 26 of the 308 congressional districts that have held primaries. That’s a mere 8 percent—and it’s in line with the current makeup of the House Republican Conference, which is 91 percent male and 9 percent female. [...]posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:58 AM on August 7, 2016 [19 favorites]
The decline of the Republican woman is a public relations disaster for the GOP.
It means that every time a male Republican officeholder or candidate puts his foot in his mouth about women—from former Congressman Todd “legitimate rape” Akin to Donald “blood coming out of her wherever” Trump—effectively the only Republicans who can rush to their defense are other men. Whenever Republican leaders gather to speak about welfare, abortion, the minimum wage or pay equity, they look like a bunch of men telling women what’s good for them. The GOP’s few female national officeholders the tend to tire of playing the role of token woman—especially when they think it’ll come at the expense of their reputation back home. You don’t see New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez or New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte on national television much anymore.
Multiple polls now show Hillary leading among college-educated whites (example). That really doesn't bode well for Trump -- if he's relying on the white vote to win, he'll need to turn out even more whites without degrees. And that means he'll need a GOTV strategy, which at this point he apparently doesn't have.
I also think this is another GOP chicken coming home to roost -- they have been aggressively anti-university the last 20 years, painting people with degrees as "elitist" (even as their candidates hail from Ivy League schools). It seems like this year the degreed electorate finally just went "so?"
posted by dw at 10:00 AM on August 7, 2016 [9 favorites]
I also think this is another GOP chicken coming home to roost -- they have been aggressively anti-university the last 20 years, painting people with degrees as "elitist" (even as their candidates hail from Ivy League schools). It seems like this year the degreed electorate finally just went "so?"
posted by dw at 10:00 AM on August 7, 2016 [9 favorites]
John Schindler, former NSA analyst and counterintelligence officer, writes in the Observer: Yes, American spies really think Trump is Putin's guy
posted by chrchr at 10:02 AM on August 7, 2016 [28 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 10:02 AM on August 7, 2016 [28 favorites]
Whenever Republican leaders gather to speak about welfare, abortion, the minimum wage or pay equity, they look like a bunch of men telling women what’s good for them.
I mean, if it looks like a duck ...
posted by tocts at 10:03 AM on August 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
I mean, if it looks like a duck ...
posted by tocts at 10:03 AM on August 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
All that probably explains why Clinton is up 23 points among women voters.
posted by octothorpe at 10:12 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 10:12 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I get that some Republicans feel like they need to be consistent on their anti-abortion message, and it's even possible that Rubio believes it, but "should abortion be available to parents who find out their babies may have microcephaly" is really not the terrain on which I think they want to fight the abortion debate.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 10:14 AM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 10:14 AM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
I mean, if it looks like a duck ...
It has a mutilated corkscrew shaped penis?
posted by Talez at 10:16 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
It has a mutilated corkscrew shaped penis?
posted by Talez at 10:16 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
> Why aren't "greft" or "gruft" words, I wonder? We should be like the Inuit with their apocryphal 100 words for snow, with financial crimes.
Grift, graft, embezzlement, [insert prefix here] fraud, pyramid scheme, bribery, tax evasion, insider trading, counterfeiting, forgery, market manipulation, money laundering, tax havens, skimming, greenmailing, identity theft, junk bonds, black market economy, racketeering, stealing...
I suppose the zillion forms of "fraud" aren't all different words, but we do have a good start.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:30 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Grift, graft, embezzlement, [insert prefix here] fraud, pyramid scheme, bribery, tax evasion, insider trading, counterfeiting, forgery, market manipulation, money laundering, tax havens, skimming, greenmailing, identity theft, junk bonds, black market economy, racketeering, stealing...
I suppose the zillion forms of "fraud" aren't all different words, but we do have a good start.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:30 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Probably the same thing as PA - they go blue in presidential elections, but it's close. Both have Republican governors, both have the same urban/rural divide, and there isn't a whole ton of urban in WI to offset the rural.
I live in Pennsylvania, and the fact that it's considered a swing state this year fills me with delight. Because if Donald Trump wins PA, I'll eat his fucking hat.
posted by rorgy at 10:49 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
I live in Pennsylvania, and the fact that it's considered a swing state this year fills me with delight. Because if Donald Trump wins PA, I'll eat his fucking hat.
posted by rorgy at 10:49 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
"Now I realize that it was only ever privilege that made elections seem like fun."What really impressed me about the DNC was how subtly and beautifully it demonstrated how well the American myths that white people have always shared really can expand to fit all of us. Fuck the empty regressive nihilism inherent saying that because these myths haven't included all of us they shouldn't include any of us.
This convention demonstrated to the country and to the world that the Democratic party is the party of Barbara Jordan's 1976 keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, easily one of the greatest and most important speeches ever given in this country. Recognizing how awful elections really are for the most vulnerable of us shouldn't be cause for throwing up our hands and abandoning the myths of American democracy, but a challenge to own them, shape them, and make them ours in a way that can include all of us.
posted by Blasdelb at 10:53 AM on August 7, 2016 [42 favorites]
Nick Gillespie at reason.com interviews Penn Jillette for 46 minutes on: Celebrity Apprentice, Trump, Sanders, Clinton, how he lost a hundred pounds on a "nutritarian" diet, and Bob Dylan fandom.
posted by bukvich at 10:56 AM on August 7, 2016
posted by bukvich at 10:56 AM on August 7, 2016
From way up thread: That Jill Stein thing is just bizarre...It's intensely frustrating because it discredits the left.
I realized reading this that I've never thought of Jill Stein or the Greens as the left. Jill Stein just seems like a rich hippie. I don't get the impression she cares too much about economic issues, for example. But, to be fair, she's been an activist on environmental issues for a long time.
The Russia Today thing is really disturbing though. I don't want this election to be a referendum on Russia when there are so many important things to talk about, but for crying out loud...wtf...Putin?
posted by maggiemaggie at 11:12 AM on August 7, 2016 [14 favorites]
I realized reading this that I've never thought of Jill Stein or the Greens as the left. Jill Stein just seems like a rich hippie. I don't get the impression she cares too much about economic issues, for example. But, to be fair, she's been an activist on environmental issues for a long time.
The Russia Today thing is really disturbing though. I don't want this election to be a referendum on Russia when there are so many important things to talk about, but for crying out loud...wtf...Putin?
posted by maggiemaggie at 11:12 AM on August 7, 2016 [14 favorites]
One of my brothers is married to a Russian woman who HATES Putin. She's visiting her parents now and said that the sanctions are causing serious food shortages in their city.
posted by maggiemaggie at 11:16 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by maggiemaggie at 11:16 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
His frequent appearances on RT, the Kremlin’s propaganda network, look suspicious, while his appearance at RT’s 10th anniversary gala, complete with a photo op with President Putin
Well? Let's see it! I looked, but all i could find was Trumputin. Or Putrump.
posted by petebest at 11:26 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well? Let's see it! I looked, but all i could find was Trumputin. Or Putrump.
posted by petebest at 11:26 AM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Greens are not "left." I live in the heartland of Green politics of Canada (one Member of Parliament, one member of the state legislator, and a mayor very closely tied to the Greens) and the Greens here are all deeply bourgeoisie. No love for unions, for example.
I think the problem the Greens have is that they're a fringe party, and being in a fringe party means never worrying about having to compromise. The result is really weird policies that make no sense, and a lot of rigidity and infighting.
PR could probably change this.
posted by My Dad at 11:33 AM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
I think the problem the Greens have is that they're a fringe party, and being in a fringe party means never worrying about having to compromise. The result is really weird policies that make no sense, and a lot of rigidity and infighting.
PR could probably change this.
posted by My Dad at 11:33 AM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
Is there a party that actually focuses on helping out the poor and disenfranchised as well as emphasizing the protection of the environment (preferably from the standpoint of actual science) then? I'm guessing my best bet is to vote Democrat and supplement that with targeted donations to groups like the Union of Concerned Scientists, Nature Conservancy and League of Conservation Voters?
posted by infinitywaltz at 11:37 AM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by infinitywaltz at 11:37 AM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
John Schindler, former NSA analyst and counterintelligence officer, writes in the Observer: Yes, American spies really think Trump is Putin's guy
The footnote on chrchr's link above might be the most interesting part of the article:
Disclosure: Donald Trump is the father-in-law of Jared Kushner, the publisher of Observer Media.
posted by zyxwvut at 11:42 AM on August 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
The footnote on chrchr's link above might be the most interesting part of the article:
Disclosure: Donald Trump is the father-in-law of Jared Kushner, the publisher of Observer Media.
posted by zyxwvut at 11:42 AM on August 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
Is there a party that actually focuses on helping out the poor and disenfranchised [...]
Not exactly what you're looking for, but you should check out Working Families nonetheless.
posted by phooky at 11:47 AM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Not exactly what you're looking for, but you should check out Working Families nonetheless.
posted by phooky at 11:47 AM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Nick Gillespie at reason.com interviews Penn Jillette for 46 minutes
Still watching - ugh atheist libertarianism but Penn is nicely articulate and reasoned in his approach - and noticed he has one fingernail painted red. That was interesting enough that I googled to see if it meant anything (as opposed to, "I lost a bet backstage before we started"), and sure enough-- #PolishedMan "encourages men to paint one of their fingernails for a week to represent the 1 in 5 children who will be the victims of sexual violence in their lifetime. "
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:55 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Still watching - ugh atheist libertarianism but Penn is nicely articulate and reasoned in his approach - and noticed he has one fingernail painted red. That was interesting enough that I googled to see if it meant anything (as opposed to, "I lost a bet backstage before we started"), and sure enough-- #PolishedMan "encourages men to paint one of their fingernails for a week to represent the 1 in 5 children who will be the victims of sexual violence in their lifetime. "
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:55 AM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm usually a Working Families Party voter here in NY. Typically the ticket here is a line-up of candidates running Working Families AND Democratic party, so I usually vote Democratic candidates on the Working Families ticket. (The Conservative party here is the right-wing counterpart, mostly running Republican crossover candidates.) I was more than a hair alienated by how aggressively Working Families stumped for Bernie in the primary, though, especially since they only started to weigh in heavily after it turned ugly.
posted by Andrhia at 11:58 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Andrhia at 11:58 AM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
(Penn Jillette has had that red fingernail for a long, long time--I'm not sure he's part of the #PolishedMan thing.)
posted by box at 12:06 PM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by box at 12:06 PM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Planned Parenthood Will Start Registering Voters At Its Clinics
posted by Artw at 12:06 PM on August 7, 2016 [36 favorites]
posted by Artw at 12:06 PM on August 7, 2016 [36 favorites]
Actually Penn Jillette wears the nail polish in memory of his mom.
posted by palomar at 12:06 PM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by palomar at 12:06 PM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Who Bigfooted Donald?
Donald Trump is all about domination. And the thought of being dominated himself, humiliated is unbearable. And yet there he was on a stage in Wisconsin reading off endorsements of all three, much as we remember American hostages in Lebanon in the 1980s reading off captors' messages. He caved and he caved hard.posted by kirkaracha at 12:24 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
...
I don't have an answer for his one. But if we know Trump, this was an uncharacteristic submission. I've yet to see any persuasive account of just what that unseen force was.
Rubio will almost certainly win his Senate seat again, no matter what Metafilter thinks of him.
I've said it before, but I hope Clinton isn't relying on Florida, given our history of voter suppression.
posted by wittgenstein at 12:29 PM on August 7, 2016
I've said it before, but I hope Clinton isn't relying on Florida, given our history of voter suppression.
posted by wittgenstein at 12:29 PM on August 7, 2016
This thread is enormous and I can't search it on my iPad anyway but wanted to make sure everyone got a look at this politico.com story about how orange feuhrer's economic advisors are also his biggest donors. Corrupt much, crooked Donald?
posted by bearwife at 12:34 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 12:34 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
I asked this before more flippantly, but given that Observer piece: how in the fuck can that guy even get a security clearance? Is there a chance he'd give our (and our allies') sensitive information straight to the Kremlin? We're not sure? Please leave your badge on the table and someone will escort you out of the building, sir.
posted by ctmf at 12:40 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 12:40 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
Of all things, this, THIS, would be damaging to the ultra-patriot conservative three-percenter military crowd planning to vote for Trump that seems disproportionately large around me. These are the people who won't let the email thing go, because there are RULES for handling classified material that must be followed. Being an operative of a foreign power would not go over well at all.
posted by ctmf at 12:46 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 12:46 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Pulitzer Prize winner David Cay Johnston talks about his new book The Making of Donald Trump with Bill Moyers. Some interesting bits:
The main reason he has “been extremely critical of my colleagues,” in the media Johnston said, is they’ve been too buttoned-down and professional. “They’re covering him as though he is a serious person,” Johnston said of the Republican presidential nominee. Though Johnston believes there has been some good coverage of Trump, he faulted it for being too highbrow, “not written in tabloid style.” (Personally, I think is very true - particularly the NY Times has this starched-up style that renders the most inane things Trump says as though they are worthy of careful consideration.)
In 1927, Fred Trump was arrested at a Ku Klux Klan meeting in Queens — something his son has tried furiously to deny, but, said Johnston: “I have the clips.” Later, as Johnston details in his book, the elder Trump, in trouble once before with the feds for allegedly bilking a federal housing program for returning GIs, was ordered by the federal authorities to stop discriminating against African-Americans who were trying to rent apartments he owned. The settlement came only after Donald Trump tried unsuccessfully to get the allegations of racial bias thrown out by the courts — a lawsuit in which he was represented by Roy Cohn, former longtime aide to Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI), the disgraced Communist witch-hunt perpetrator.
At the Press Club event, Johnston raised repeated questions about Trump’s ties to Felix Sater, a Russian-born stock fraudster and admitted fellow traveller with the mob. Sater is now a defendant in a tax fraud case; papers unsealed earlier this month name Trump and two of his children as “material witnesses.”
...what he did to his infant great-nephew, gravely ill with an ailment that caused seizures... Trump was much less accommodating to the grandson of his late older brother after the baby’s parents challenged the will of his father, Fred Trump (which cut them out), in court. Trump removed the ailing child from the family’s medical insurance policy. “I can’t help that,” Johnston quotes Trump telling a New York Daily News reporter who asked why he cut off the infant’s health care coverage (a court later restored it).
Describing how Trump fired a female employee who, citing ethical qualms, wouldn’t call a banker friend on his behalf, Johnston quotes Trump’s own account from his book, Think Big:
“She ended up losing her home. Her husband, who was only in it for the money, walked out on her and I was glad… I can’t stomach disloyalty…and now I go out of my way to make her life miserable.”
An expert on tax law who lectures on the subject at the Syracuse University, Johnston said he believes, “in all likelihood, Donald has paid no federal income taxes for years.” That’s based on some documents that have leaked out from various court cases, Trump’s lack of charitable giving to his own family foundation (which suggested no need for deductions), and a gaping tax loophole available to real estate developers.
posted by peacheater at 12:55 PM on August 7, 2016 [40 favorites]
The main reason he has “been extremely critical of my colleagues,” in the media Johnston said, is they’ve been too buttoned-down and professional. “They’re covering him as though he is a serious person,” Johnston said of the Republican presidential nominee. Though Johnston believes there has been some good coverage of Trump, he faulted it for being too highbrow, “not written in tabloid style.” (Personally, I think is very true - particularly the NY Times has this starched-up style that renders the most inane things Trump says as though they are worthy of careful consideration.)
In 1927, Fred Trump was arrested at a Ku Klux Klan meeting in Queens — something his son has tried furiously to deny, but, said Johnston: “I have the clips.” Later, as Johnston details in his book, the elder Trump, in trouble once before with the feds for allegedly bilking a federal housing program for returning GIs, was ordered by the federal authorities to stop discriminating against African-Americans who were trying to rent apartments he owned. The settlement came only after Donald Trump tried unsuccessfully to get the allegations of racial bias thrown out by the courts — a lawsuit in which he was represented by Roy Cohn, former longtime aide to Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI), the disgraced Communist witch-hunt perpetrator.
At the Press Club event, Johnston raised repeated questions about Trump’s ties to Felix Sater, a Russian-born stock fraudster and admitted fellow traveller with the mob. Sater is now a defendant in a tax fraud case; papers unsealed earlier this month name Trump and two of his children as “material witnesses.”
...what he did to his infant great-nephew, gravely ill with an ailment that caused seizures... Trump was much less accommodating to the grandson of his late older brother after the baby’s parents challenged the will of his father, Fred Trump (which cut them out), in court. Trump removed the ailing child from the family’s medical insurance policy. “I can’t help that,” Johnston quotes Trump telling a New York Daily News reporter who asked why he cut off the infant’s health care coverage (a court later restored it).
Describing how Trump fired a female employee who, citing ethical qualms, wouldn’t call a banker friend on his behalf, Johnston quotes Trump’s own account from his book, Think Big:
“She ended up losing her home. Her husband, who was only in it for the money, walked out on her and I was glad… I can’t stomach disloyalty…and now I go out of my way to make her life miserable.”
An expert on tax law who lectures on the subject at the Syracuse University, Johnston said he believes, “in all likelihood, Donald has paid no federal income taxes for years.” That’s based on some documents that have leaked out from various court cases, Trump’s lack of charitable giving to his own family foundation (which suggested no need for deductions), and a gaping tax loophole available to real estate developers.
posted by peacheater at 12:55 PM on August 7, 2016 [40 favorites]
I made a flippant comment about that too, in another thread.
Stated more straightforward: Donald Trump has been involved in international business deals for decades. There is no doubt that several government agencies have files on him, including the State Department and the NSA.
At some point in his "security briefing," Donald was/will be informed about his intelligence files. He has come too far in this political season for the NSA to completely slap him down, since that would appear too partisan. And they don't want to tip their hand too much, share too much that they know, since it his highly unlikely that he will actually be the next President. Once he's back to being The Donald, big business billionaire (cough), they don't want him looking over his shoulder too much.
It is entirely plausible that, while Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton had access to some classified information about Donald Trump. But she cannot use that information because it would be a security breach. She has to tread very carefully, keeping in mind what information is public record and what is classified.
There are so many interesting possible futures here.
posted by yesster at 12:57 PM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
Stated more straightforward: Donald Trump has been involved in international business deals for decades. There is no doubt that several government agencies have files on him, including the State Department and the NSA.
At some point in his "security briefing," Donald was/will be informed about his intelligence files. He has come too far in this political season for the NSA to completely slap him down, since that would appear too partisan. And they don't want to tip their hand too much, share too much that they know, since it his highly unlikely that he will actually be the next President. Once he's back to being The Donald, big business billionaire (cough), they don't want him looking over his shoulder too much.
It is entirely plausible that, while Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton had access to some classified information about Donald Trump. But she cannot use that information because it would be a security breach. She has to tread very carefully, keeping in mind what information is public record and what is classified.
There are so many interesting possible futures here.
posted by yesster at 12:57 PM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
And another acquaintance is hosting the PG version of What The Fuck Has Trump Done, What The Heck Has Trump Done , for the people who you can't drop the F-bomb on.
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:58 PM on August 7, 2016
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:58 PM on August 7, 2016
> the PG version
Missed a spot: The "what the heck" site still has a link to What The Fuck Has Hillary Done, in the lower right.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 1:07 PM on August 7, 2016
Missed a spot: The "what the heck" site still has a link to What The Fuck Has Hillary Done, in the lower right.
posted by a mirror and an encyclopedia at 1:07 PM on August 7, 2016
You want to know why Hillary no longer does press conferences? Read this.
posted by Sophie1 at 1:09 PM on August 7, 2016 [39 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 1:09 PM on August 7, 2016 [39 favorites]
> Greens are not "left." I live in the heartland of Green politics of Canada (one Member of Parliament, one member of the state legislator, and a mayor very closely tied to the Greens) and the Greens here are all deeply bourgeoisie. No love for unions, for example.
For whatever it's worth, the Canadian Greens and the U.S. Greens are very different sorts of organizations. On the one hand, unlike the U.S. Greens, the Canadian Greens in past elections have positioned themselves as pro-capitalist centrist environmentalists, a combination of traits that only makes sense if you're a crazy person. But also they've had a bit more electoral success than the American Greens have... I think largely due to the Westminster system being marginally more tolerant of new parties than the U.S. system, rather than to there being any real appeal to their all-things-to-all-people platform.
But yeah the U.S. Greens are a joke, and the Canadian Greens are real weird.
One thing that both party primaries illustrated this time around is that in the U.S., entryism is far and away the most effective way to intervene in electoral politics. Since successful national-level independent parties are impossible, winning real change requires building a disciplined faction within one of the extant parties.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:10 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
For whatever it's worth, the Canadian Greens and the U.S. Greens are very different sorts of organizations. On the one hand, unlike the U.S. Greens, the Canadian Greens in past elections have positioned themselves as pro-capitalist centrist environmentalists, a combination of traits that only makes sense if you're a crazy person. But also they've had a bit more electoral success than the American Greens have... I think largely due to the Westminster system being marginally more tolerant of new parties than the U.S. system, rather than to there being any real appeal to their all-things-to-all-people platform.
But yeah the U.S. Greens are a joke, and the Canadian Greens are real weird.
One thing that both party primaries illustrated this time around is that in the U.S., entryism is far and away the most effective way to intervene in electoral politics. Since successful national-level independent parties are impossible, winning real change requires building a disciplined faction within one of the extant parties.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:10 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
According to the OED, gruft is a word, if an archaic one! It means "particles of soil which are washed up by rain among the grass.", and has the derived form "grufted" with the evocative meaning of "begrimed, dirty".
And greft is a dialectal variant of graft.
Groft is a no-show, though.
posted by cortex at 1:12 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
And greft is a dialectal variant of graft.
Groft is a no-show, though.
posted by cortex at 1:12 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
LOL - just flipped past Fox News and caught the end of an interview with Ben Carson. The interviewer finished by saying, "You have been the voice of reason for the Trump campaign for a long time now, Dr. Carson."
posted by XMLicious at 1:13 PM on August 7, 2016 [24 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 1:13 PM on August 7, 2016 [24 favorites]
Some kind of long forgotten 1st edition Goblin sub-type, probably.
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
remember how last cycle some people were questioning romney's character because bain capital specialized in rapacious leveraged buyouts? we were so innocent then.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:18 PM on August 7, 2016 [29 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:18 PM on August 7, 2016 [29 favorites]
It's easy to imagine people like Rubio opposing the termination of a pregnancy of a woman carrying the Antichrist.
Marco Rubio: No abortion for pregnant woman carrying False Messiah who will bring about 1000 years of darkness
"I believe all life should be protected by law, irrespective of the conceptive circumstances, condition of that life disease, or abomination of desolation. Pro-life means no compassion or exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or Mephistophelean insemination. Planned Parenthood can't stop Armageddon. All life is precious, even hellspawn sired by Lucifer himself in an unholy chocolate mouse drug-induced adulterous ravishment beheld by a secret sinister satanist sect and born to a hellhound in the form an unmarried, undocumented god dam jackal that entered this country illegally through the Cleveland Hellmouth. Dark Lives Matter."
posted by guiseroom at 1:28 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
Marco Rubio: No abortion for pregnant woman carrying False Messiah who will bring about 1000 years of darkness
"I believe all life should be protected by law, irrespective of the conceptive circumstances, condition of that life disease, or abomination of desolation. Pro-life means no compassion or exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or Mephistophelean insemination. Planned Parenthood can't stop Armageddon. All life is precious, even hellspawn sired by Lucifer himself in an unholy chocolate mouse drug-induced adulterous ravishment beheld by a secret sinister satanist sect and born to a hellhound in the form an unmarried, undocumented god dam jackal that entered this country illegally through the Cleveland Hellmouth. Dark Lives Matter."
posted by guiseroom at 1:28 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
If you missed this wonderful Buzzfeed piece on Hillary Clinton's motivations, I would highly recommend it. A lot that is apropos to what we were discussing above, about how to combat cynicism. I hadn't realized what an ugly reaction Clinton got back in the early 90s when she tried to talk her vision for how we could treat each other better as humans and was widely mocked for it:
The speech and subsequent interviews — earnest, unembarrassed, and decidedly open — are laughed at in Washington. Columnists call her a New Age “aspiring philosopher queen.” One compares her remarks to “a cross between Jimmy Carter’s malaise speech and a term paper on Siddhartha,” with all the “distinctive marks of adolescent self-discovery.” The New Republic asks: “It is good to hear the First Lady is also pro-meaning, but before we sign on, one question: What on earth are these people talking about?”
posted by peacheater at 1:33 PM on August 7, 2016 [18 favorites]
The speech and subsequent interviews — earnest, unembarrassed, and decidedly open — are laughed at in Washington. Columnists call her a New Age “aspiring philosopher queen.” One compares her remarks to “a cross between Jimmy Carter’s malaise speech and a term paper on Siddhartha,” with all the “distinctive marks of adolescent self-discovery.” The New Republic asks: “It is good to hear the First Lady is also pro-meaning, but before we sign on, one question: What on earth are these people talking about?”
posted by peacheater at 1:33 PM on August 7, 2016 [18 favorites]
"He's going to win parts of Ohio where...people of both parties have failed to fix our education system.
That really is some top-shelf shade, there, John.
posted by adamgreenfield at 1:47 PM on August 7, 2016 [15 favorites]
That really is some top-shelf shade, there, John.
posted by adamgreenfield at 1:47 PM on August 7, 2016 [15 favorites]
Well, if the "Green Party" is humorously different between different countries, just take a look at the differences among countries' "Liberal Party" (for example, Australia's isn't). Your Mileage May Not Cross Borders.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:58 PM on August 7, 2016
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:58 PM on August 7, 2016
Thanks for the link sophie1 - that was pretty moving - especially:
And, yes, it is harassment. Asking her dreadful questions like, “Why don’t people like you?” isn’t about trying to establish facts about Hillary’s fundamental truthfulness or integrity. It’s about an attempt to hurt her on camera and capture her pain. This persistent and recursive exploration of negative feelings toward Hillary is about shaming her, and nothing more.
posted by ianhattwick at 2:03 PM on August 7, 2016 [25 favorites]
And, yes, it is harassment. Asking her dreadful questions like, “Why don’t people like you?” isn’t about trying to establish facts about Hillary’s fundamental truthfulness or integrity. It’s about an attempt to hurt her on camera and capture her pain. This persistent and recursive exploration of negative feelings toward Hillary is about shaming her, and nothing more.
posted by ianhattwick at 2:03 PM on August 7, 2016 [25 favorites]
"He's going to win parts of Ohio where...people of both parties have failed to fix our education system.
Where was this John Kasich six months ago?
oh, right, the people who think government should care about education had pretty much all jumped ship to the Dems by then
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:04 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Where was this John Kasich six months ago?
oh, right, the people who think government should care about education had pretty much all jumped ship to the Dems by then
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:04 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
OK, I tried really hard to make sure this hadn't already been posted, because it's so delicious that posting it twice would give the thread a heart attack.
Jill Stein had a cheesy new age folk-rock band called "Somebody's Sister" in the 90s.
Dave Holmes' write up in Esquire is some good solid snarky work, here's a sample:
I will be brutally honest here: it is not half bad. If you had a Dar Williams/Jonatha Brooke/Abra Moore moment in the mid 1990s—and you did, and there is no shame in it— you might even like it. It is designed to be played while you paint a chip-and-dip bowl in a Color Me Mine. (But do you even need another chip-and-dip bowl, Thing Junky? Why not stop depleting our natural resources, do some transcendental meditation, and find the chip-and-dip bowl within?)
You can listen to tracks at the link. They don't appear to be on YouTube.
You're welcome. Please tip your wait staff.
posted by spitbull at 2:14 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
Jill Stein had a cheesy new age folk-rock band called "Somebody's Sister" in the 90s.
Dave Holmes' write up in Esquire is some good solid snarky work, here's a sample:
I will be brutally honest here: it is not half bad. If you had a Dar Williams/Jonatha Brooke/Abra Moore moment in the mid 1990s—and you did, and there is no shame in it— you might even like it. It is designed to be played while you paint a chip-and-dip bowl in a Color Me Mine. (But do you even need another chip-and-dip bowl, Thing Junky? Why not stop depleting our natural resources, do some transcendental meditation, and find the chip-and-dip bowl within?)
You can listen to tracks at the link. They don't appear to be on YouTube.
You're welcome. Please tip your wait staff.
posted by spitbull at 2:14 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
But if we know Trump, this was an uncharacteristic submission. I've yet to see any persuasive account of just what that unseen force was.
I wonder if it was a fairly prosaic threat, but one that would go directly to how powerful Trump would feel on Day 1: that the party would instruct McConnell to allow a vote on Garland.
posted by tclark at 2:17 PM on August 7, 2016
I wonder if it was a fairly prosaic threat, but one that would go directly to how powerful Trump would feel on Day 1: that the party would instruct McConnell to allow a vote on Garland.
posted by tclark at 2:17 PM on August 7, 2016
Jill Stein had a cheesy new age folk-rock band called "Somebody's Sister" in the 90s
This is the first thing I've placed in my "reasons to vote for Stein" column. More musicians in the White House!
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:21 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is the first thing I've placed in my "reasons to vote for Stein" column. More musicians in the White House!
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:21 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Tim Kaine is musician enough for me!
posted by spitbull at 2:25 PM on August 7, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 2:25 PM on August 7, 2016 [9 favorites]
Tim Kaine might in fact be a harmonica maestro. He could have a side job in a blues band.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:26 PM on August 7, 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:26 PM on August 7, 2016
I don't know if Bill's saxophone is gathering dust these days. That was such a '90s sight gag, the President in sunglasses with a sax.
posted by Countess Elena at 2:32 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 2:32 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also Jill Stein is a singer, not a musician.
/kidding!
posted by spitbull at 2:32 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
/kidding!
posted by spitbull at 2:32 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
He could have a side job in a blues band.
Unfortunately, the square-white-guy spot in O'Malley's March has already been filled.
posted by box at 2:32 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Unfortunately, the square-white-guy spot in O'Malley's March has already been filled.
posted by box at 2:32 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
I wonder if it was a fairly prosaic threat, but one that would go directly to how powerful Trump would feel on Day 1: that the party would instruct McConnell to allow a vote on Garland.
that is way, way too sophisticated a motivation to attribute to donald trump
posted by murphy slaw at 2:35 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
that is way, way too sophisticated a motivation to attribute to donald trump
posted by murphy slaw at 2:35 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Also haven't seen this posted: Fareed Zakaria explains in detail why he called Trump a "bullshit artist," including extended citation of Harry Frankfurt. Quite a tasty takedown.
Youtube link.
posted by spitbull at 2:35 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Youtube link.
posted by spitbull at 2:35 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Well lookit that, Fred Trump was arrested at a Klan march for failing to disperse.
That's the kind of thing that could stoke otherwise unfounded charges of racism in a Presidential candidate. Amazing that NBC, CNN, and NYT all ran it at the top of - oh, no wait it was on the Vice website. In March. Probably not a big ratings ticket. Boring stuff.
Rock on, Wolf! Hey, any update on that missing plane or whatever?
posted by petebest at 2:36 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
That's the kind of thing that could stoke otherwise unfounded charges of racism in a Presidential candidate. Amazing that NBC, CNN, and NYT all ran it at the top of - oh, no wait it was on the Vice website. In March. Probably not a big ratings ticket. Boring stuff.
Rock on, Wolf! Hey, any update on that missing plane or whatever?
posted by petebest at 2:36 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
My all too extensive experience with sociopaths is that they will brown-nose enthusiastically when they understand someone else has the authority, just as enthusiastically as they will torture the people they have power over for fun. Trump, having been born a billionaire millionaire probably doesn't have much experience with that but it's in his DNA. It has probably occurred to him by now that he is in way over his depth and is winging it. But he's been in way over his depth before and winging it worked for him in the end, so that doesn't particularly bother him. He has never experienced a failure so profound that he has had to own it, and so the prospect of failure does not really scare him.
This, BTW, is why we should be very very afraid of him getting anywhere near the nuclear launch codes. He is Greg Stillson incarnate in his likelihood of using them in a fit of pique.
posted by Bringer Tom at 2:44 PM on August 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
This, BTW, is why we should be very very afraid of him getting anywhere near the nuclear launch codes. He is Greg Stillson incarnate in his likelihood of using them in a fit of pique.
posted by Bringer Tom at 2:44 PM on August 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
In the Penn Jillette interview he said that he has spent about five hours in conversation with Trump during the two seasons of doing the television show and his opinion is it easy to imagine Trump nuking somebody for personal reasons.
The other thing he said which I found very interesting although again this is just his opinion but he said the Trump success and the Sanders success is tantamount to proof that money has not yet completely wrecked politics in America--that a candidate with no big donor support can still come out on top or at least really really close to it.
posted by bukvich at 2:51 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
The other thing he said which I found very interesting although again this is just his opinion but he said the Trump success and the Sanders success is tantamount to proof that money has not yet completely wrecked politics in America--that a candidate with no big donor support can still come out on top or at least really really close to it.
posted by bukvich at 2:51 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
He may have a point with Sanders, who tapped into the online-viral-youth crowd without big donor support. Saying "Trump ran without big donor support" is like saying "George Clooney could run without big donor support" - celebrity status guarantees that the message will get to people without hiring someone to make ads.
He misses a lot of the problems with Citizens United by assuming that "it hasn't entirely ruined access to the presidential race" means "it's not causing a lot of damage to the political process."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:56 PM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
He misses a lot of the problems with Citizens United by assuming that "it hasn't entirely ruined access to the presidential race" means "it's not causing a lot of damage to the political process."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:56 PM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
I wish poll aggregators and reporters would separate tracking polls and regular polls. The USC/LA Times poll always shocks me until I realize its a tracking poll.
Tracking polls are mostly good for one thing; watching the change in the margin. The actual margin doesn't tell you very much. The LAT/USC tracker went from +1 Clinton from before the conventions to -8 for Trump at his peak back to +1 for Clinton, so it shows both of their bounces. But the +1 is a big outlier compared to other polls and the crosstabs are so weird. Trump is beating Clinton among 18-34 year olds, for example. Other polls have Trump in 4th place among young people.
posted by Justinian at 2:58 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Tracking polls are mostly good for one thing; watching the change in the margin. The actual margin doesn't tell you very much. The LAT/USC tracker went from +1 Clinton from before the conventions to -8 for Trump at his peak back to +1 for Clinton, so it shows both of their bounces. But the +1 is a big outlier compared to other polls and the crosstabs are so weird. Trump is beating Clinton among 18-34 year olds, for example. Other polls have Trump in 4th place among young people.
posted by Justinian at 2:58 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've said in these threads before, but I don't really find being one's own big donor to be preferable to having a couple of billionaire BFFs in the same role. All it does is cut out the middle man.
posted by soren_lorensen at 3:01 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 3:01 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Big money support was less important for trump in the primaries than a constant and uncritical media spotlight.
posted by Artw at 3:07 PM on August 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Artw at 3:07 PM on August 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
petebest: "Well lookit that, Fred Trump was arrested at a Klan march for failing to disperse."
Donald has plenty of problematic statements and actions on his record. I don't really think there is any need to try and bring him down with an arrest that didn't even lead to charges of his father before Donald was born.
The Trump real estate companies systematically discouraging and/or refusing to rent to anyone but whites in the 70s and 80s on the other hand is fair game.
posted by Mitheral at 3:09 PM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
Donald has plenty of problematic statements and actions on his record. I don't really think there is any need to try and bring him down with an arrest that didn't even lead to charges of his father before Donald was born.
The Trump real estate companies systematically discouraging and/or refusing to rent to anyone but whites in the 70s and 80s on the other hand is fair game.
posted by Mitheral at 3:09 PM on August 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
In an interview with Robert Costa, Paul Ryan says he's disturbed by the rise of the alt-right, which he views as a non-conservative, non-Republican block.
WHAT? Are you effing kidding me? You can't stoke racial resentment and condone violent eliminationst rhetoric for 40 years and then act all suprised when your base voters start taking you at your word.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:31 PM on August 7, 2016 [52 favorites]
WHAT? Are you effing kidding me? You can't stoke racial resentment and condone violent eliminationst rhetoric for 40 years and then act all suprised when your base voters start taking you at your word.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:31 PM on August 7, 2016 [52 favorites]
My Dad was a terrible asshole. A narcissistic bully and bigot.
It would be unfair to reflect that on me.
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:31 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
It would be unfair to reflect that on me.
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:31 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
One of the reasons I loved the DNC so much was that it acted as a great antidote to that feeling. There were so many people who stood up on that stage and talked about why these small, incrementalist, seemingly meaningless gains actually made and will make a difference in their lives.
The other thing I have really liked about the Clinton campaign version of the Democratic Party in particular is Clinton's response to criticism - in specific, her response when she misspoke about Reagan and AIDS; the moment they realized there was a problem, they reached out to various LGBT communities they already knew of, a legit apology was made, and people were brought on board to the campaign so mistakes like that wouldn't happen again.
A lot is made of how the left "eats it's own tale" and targets itself. During the convention, a lot was made of Bernie supporters speaking out, and protests from other Left groups outside of the convention. I think this emphasis on flawless presentation and group unity isn't appropriate for the Left, though, and we'd be better served by thanking people who offer legit critique and trying to include their perspectives.
This means a profound cultural shift, though. It means the first response to critique needs to be "why do you think that" and "what's your point of view" not "you're making us weaker as a group". It also means differentiating between abuse and critique - "why don't people like you" is abusive; "Regan hid the AIDS epidemic because of homophobia" is not even if one is said politely and the other includes curse words.
posted by Deoridhe at 3:40 PM on August 7, 2016 [23 favorites]
The other thing I have really liked about the Clinton campaign version of the Democratic Party in particular is Clinton's response to criticism - in specific, her response when she misspoke about Reagan and AIDS; the moment they realized there was a problem, they reached out to various LGBT communities they already knew of, a legit apology was made, and people were brought on board to the campaign so mistakes like that wouldn't happen again.
A lot is made of how the left "eats it's own tale" and targets itself. During the convention, a lot was made of Bernie supporters speaking out, and protests from other Left groups outside of the convention. I think this emphasis on flawless presentation and group unity isn't appropriate for the Left, though, and we'd be better served by thanking people who offer legit critique and trying to include their perspectives.
This means a profound cultural shift, though. It means the first response to critique needs to be "why do you think that" and "what's your point of view" not "you're making us weaker as a group". It also means differentiating between abuse and critique - "why don't people like you" is abusive; "Regan hid the AIDS epidemic because of homophobia" is not even if one is said politely and the other includes curse words.
posted by Deoridhe at 3:40 PM on August 7, 2016 [23 favorites]
My Dad was a terrible asshole. A narcissistic bully and bigot.
It would be unfair to reflect that on me.
Sure, unless you'd demonstrated a pattern of racist speech or behavior, as Donald has.
In other news, Ex-KKK leader David Duke has more black voter support than Trump.
posted by sebastienbailard at 3:56 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
It would be unfair to reflect that on me.
Sure, unless you'd demonstrated a pattern of racist speech or behavior, as Donald has.
In other news, Ex-KKK leader David Duke has more black voter support than Trump.
posted by sebastienbailard at 3:56 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I dunno, maybe let Donald Trump be his own racist asshole and leave his dead father out of it?
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:59 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:59 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Entirely coincidental KKK support!
posted by Artw at 4:01 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 4:01 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
The media is going crazy. They totally distort so many things on purpose. Crimea, nuclear, "the baby" and so much more. Very dishonest!
Trump's Twitter has sounded like a parody of itself for so long I am almost past making fun of it or even rage correcting the grammar. So though I know it's controversial, I will satisfy myself by objecting to the lack of Oxford comma.
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 4:08 PM on August 7, 2016 [15 favorites]
Trump's Twitter has sounded like a parody of itself for so long I am almost past making fun of it or even rage correcting the grammar. So though I know it's controversial, I will satisfy myself by objecting to the lack of Oxford comma.
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 4:08 PM on August 7, 2016 [15 favorites]
In other news, Ex-KKK leader David Duke has more black voter support than Trump.
I keep seeing people cite this as if it were meaningful. It is funny, but it is not meaningful.
These are two different polls conducted by two different organizations using two different methodologies. One poll used an automated voice response system to poll likely voters in Louisiana; the other was a national telephone poll of registered voters using human interviewers.
And that's before you get to the fact that literally everyone knows who Donald Trump is and where he stands, which is not at all true--even in Louisiana--for David Duke.
It really is pretty fucking funny, though.
posted by dersins at 4:10 PM on August 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
I keep seeing people cite this as if it were meaningful. It is funny, but it is not meaningful.
These are two different polls conducted by two different organizations using two different methodologies. One poll used an automated voice response system to poll likely voters in Louisiana; the other was a national telephone poll of registered voters using human interviewers.
And that's before you get to the fact that literally everyone knows who Donald Trump is and where he stands, which is not at all true--even in Louisiana--for David Duke.
It really is pretty fucking funny, though.
posted by dersins at 4:10 PM on August 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
Thanks for the context, dersins.
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:26 PM on August 7, 2016
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:26 PM on August 7, 2016
Lindsay Gibbs: Muslim Fencer On Team USA Takes Down Trump
posted by zombieflanders at 4:35 PM on August 7, 2016 [57 favorites]
“I think his words are very dangerous,” she said. “When these types of comments are made, no one thinks about how they really affect people. I’m African-American. I don’t have another home to go to. My family was born here. I was born here. I’ve grown up in Jersey. All my family’s from Jersey. It’s like, well, where do we go?”I can already see the Trump kids eyeing his phone nervously.
While Muhammad is not a politician, she knows that her mere presence on the world’s biggest stage for athletes can make a difference.
“I’m hopeful that, in my efforts to represent our country well as an athlete ― that they change the rhetoric around how people think and perceive the Muslim community,” she said.
Earlier this week in a press conference at the Olympics, Muhammad made another statement without saying much at all. When a reporter asked her about Trump, she simply said, “Who?” As reported by NJ.com, she continued to feign ignorance, even after the reporter kept pressing, shouting, “Trump! Donald Trump!”
posted by zombieflanders at 4:35 PM on August 7, 2016 [57 favorites]
Also haven't seen this posted: Fareed Zakaria explains in detail why he called Trump a "bullshit artist," including extended citation of Harry Frankfurt.
I wonder if Fareed reads Ask Metafilter.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:46 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I wonder if Fareed reads Ask Metafilter.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:46 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Is it fair game if Trump denies it to the hilt and says it never happened, then is proved dead wrong about his dad at a Klan rally?
If I'm the son of a jerk, and I make jerkhead comments running for POTUS, am cheered on by the Official Jerkheads on Wheels club, plan to do way-jerkheaded things to people who aren't jerks once elected and I spend a year lying through my teeth about it not being true, I argue that makes it fair game.
If he'd said, "Hey, ya got me, my dad was a jerk supreme. It was bad, I don't agree with it, and I'm totally not gonna go all nuclear jerk because that would be unconscionable." Then it'd be a different thing.
He's a lying racist, he's lying about his racist dad, and it's totally fair to call him on it because he has no shame, no restraint, no empathy and he wants the keys to the nukes. At least make him admit he's lying about the story!
Meanwhile . . . Next up, did Kim Kardishian burp off-mic? Jeremy Cardboard joins us to review, after this.
posted by petebest at 4:48 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
If I'm the son of a jerk, and I make jerkhead comments running for POTUS, am cheered on by the Official Jerkheads on Wheels club, plan to do way-jerkheaded things to people who aren't jerks once elected and I spend a year lying through my teeth about it not being true, I argue that makes it fair game.
If he'd said, "Hey, ya got me, my dad was a jerk supreme. It was bad, I don't agree with it, and I'm totally not gonna go all nuclear jerk because that would be unconscionable." Then it'd be a different thing.
He's a lying racist, he's lying about his racist dad, and it's totally fair to call him on it because he has no shame, no restraint, no empathy and he wants the keys to the nukes. At least make him admit he's lying about the story!
Meanwhile . . . Next up, did Kim Kardishian burp off-mic? Jeremy Cardboard joins us to review, after this.
posted by petebest at 4:48 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
So though I know it's controversial, I will satisfy myself by objecting to the lack of Oxford comma.
What I need to know is: what are the quotation marks doing around "the baby"? Are they supposed to be scare quotes? Did the think there actually was no baby? Does he think it was really an adult disguised as a baby? Things may be worse than we thought.
posted by holborne at 5:01 PM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
What I need to know is: what are the quotation marks doing around "the baby"? Are they supposed to be scare quotes? Did the think there actually was no baby? Does he think it was really an adult disguised as a baby? Things may be worse than we thought.
posted by holborne at 5:01 PM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
"Anyone who saw 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' knows that middle-aged men can look exactly like babies and even smoke cigars. Lying media wants you to forget. Sad!"
[Not real, but I think this can work for him. Does Trump buy tweets on spec?]
posted by PlusDistance at 5:26 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
[Not real, but I think this can work for him. Does Trump buy tweets on spec?]
posted by PlusDistance at 5:26 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Disclosure: Donald Trump is the father-in-law of Jared Kushner, the publisher of Observer Media.
Why would the Observer run such a negative article about Trump? Aren't they cheerleading for him?
posted by PlusDistance at 5:29 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Why would the Observer run such a negative article about Trump? Aren't they cheerleading for him?
posted by PlusDistance at 5:29 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Does Trump buy tweets on spec?
Maybe, but good luck collecting a paycheck from him.
posted by mordax at 5:30 PM on August 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
Maybe, but good luck collecting a paycheck from him.
posted by mordax at 5:30 PM on August 7, 2016 [13 favorites]
Jeb Bush's son , Texas Land Comissioner George P. Bush endorses Trump. Tell me again how the Bush family is going to lead some sort of Republican resistance movement.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:31 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:31 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
Jeb's son, George P. Bush, is "asking Texas Republicans to support the nominee." I'm sorry, is your mother not of Mexican descent? Has "the nominee not repeatedly been overtly disrespectful to your father? Judas.
posted by Sophie1 at 5:32 PM on August 7, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 5:32 PM on August 7, 2016 [19 favorites]
I'm surprised Trump hasn't gone ballistic about many things happening on the Olympics, like the Opening Ceremony part on Global Warming (which he and his close advisor Frackman don't believe in) and the Islamic Refugee finishing the torch run and lighting the big fire (obviously a terrorist act!). Maybe he has but it hasn't been mentioned here or at the Olympics threads (I do NOT EVER go directly to RealAwful's twitter; thanks to the MeFites who quote him here so I don't have to) and I haven't watched enough Olympics on NBC to see any of the umpteen million dollars worth of Hillary ads her committee bought. Maybe for that reason his 'advisers' are keeping him away from the TV.
Why would the Observer run such a negative article about Trump? Aren't they cheerleading for him?
Well, it is the New York Observer and being TOO Pro-Drumpf would alienate its main target audience.
Jeb Bush's son , Texas Land Comissioner George P. Bush endorses Trump.
Ah, youthful rebellion. And a few dozen warnings from the Texas Landowners who put him in that job...
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:35 PM on August 7, 2016
Why would the Observer run such a negative article about Trump? Aren't they cheerleading for him?
Well, it is the New York Observer and being TOO Pro-Drumpf would alienate its main target audience.
Jeb Bush's son , Texas Land Comissioner George P. Bush endorses Trump.
Ah, youthful rebellion. And a few dozen warnings from the Texas Landowners who put him in that job...
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:35 PM on August 7, 2016
George P. Bush
Someone buy these people a baby naming book.
posted by ckape at 5:39 PM on August 7, 2016 [57 favorites]
Someone buy these people a baby naming book.
posted by ckape at 5:39 PM on August 7, 2016 [57 favorites]
Is it fair game if Trump denies it to the hilt and says it never happened, then is proved dead wrong about his dad at a Klan rally?
'Cause that's what happened. His father also used to falsely claim to be of Swedish descent to avoid offending his Jewish customers (he was born in Germany and his parents where both German). Trump repeated the lie in The Art the Deal.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:40 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Disclosure: Donald Trump is the father-in-law of Jared Kushner, the publisher of Observer Media.
Why would the Observer run such a negative article about Trump? Aren't they cheerleading for him?
As far as I can tell, The Observer's only consistent political position is anti-Clinton.
In their politics section I've seen:
pro Trump
anti Trump
pro Sanders
anti DNC
anti Clinton
It's kind of a weird paper, though. Until fairly recently it was actually The New York Observer, and as I recall it was a kind of Village Voice for bankers, more a Gawker competitor than anything else, and kind of ideologically incoherent. I don't think it's print circulation was ever very big, though they seem to have a decent web strategy since I see people citing their political stuff online more and more often.
Now it appears that they are willing to publish criticism of Trump, though there's also plenty of defending him, both from his son-in-law, who owns it, and the publisher.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 5:56 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Why would the Observer run such a negative article about Trump? Aren't they cheerleading for him?
As far as I can tell, The Observer's only consistent political position is anti-Clinton.
In their politics section I've seen:
pro Trump
anti Trump
pro Sanders
anti DNC
anti Clinton
It's kind of a weird paper, though. Until fairly recently it was actually The New York Observer, and as I recall it was a kind of Village Voice for bankers, more a Gawker competitor than anything else, and kind of ideologically incoherent. I don't think it's print circulation was ever very big, though they seem to have a decent web strategy since I see people citing their political stuff online more and more often.
Now it appears that they are willing to publish criticism of Trump, though there's also plenty of defending him, both from his son-in-law, who owns it, and the publisher.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 5:56 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Watching prime time Olympics coverage (in MN) and just saw the Hillary ad with the Letterman clip where he asks Donald where all of his branded goods are made. It works well when juxtaposed with the very pro-USA NBC broadcast. Her media people seem to know what they're doing.
posted by strange chain at 6:07 PM on August 7, 2016 [22 favorites]
posted by strange chain at 6:07 PM on August 7, 2016 [22 favorites]
Oh that aired nationally. Whoa.
posted by strange chain at 6:08 PM on August 7, 2016
posted by strange chain at 6:08 PM on August 7, 2016
guiseroom: This just aired nationally.
Help an Australian out here. The implication is that Hillary isn't writing off any states, even ones that were historically Republican?
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:09 PM on August 7, 2016
Help an Australian out here. The implication is that Hillary isn't writing off any states, even ones that were historically Republican?
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:09 PM on August 7, 2016
The implication is that Hillary isn't writing off any states, even ones that were historically Republican?
It's a national buy, so cheaper than targeting X number of states (for a varying degree of X)
It does imply confidence in the message.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:13 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's a national buy, so cheaper than targeting X number of states (for a varying degree of X)
It does imply confidence in the message.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:13 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
The new Post-ABC poll shows just how badly Donald Trump blew his convention:
As we've noted before, Donald Trump blew it. Gallup has been tracking the response from voters to conventions since 1984, and the Republican National Convention of 2016 was the first for which more people said it made them less likely to back the candidate.posted by kirkaracha at 6:19 PM on August 7, 2016 [35 favorites]
Also, good for supporting downticket races in districts within red states that still can be competitive. Although it probably needs more context of "here is who your local Republican is standing behind". Well, with a $8million ad buy and a lot more Anti-Trump spots already seen on YouTube, expect to see MORE.
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:20 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:20 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Help an Australian out here. The implication is that Hillary isn't writing off any states, even ones that were historically Republican?
I think it's less that she expects to potentially win in all 50 states, and more that she is playing offense. She has more resources than he does. If she can force him to defend more states, then his more limited resources are stretched further. But it also takes advantage of the fact that stuff's weird this year and the trend is bluer than it's been in decades. Who knows what new states might reveal themselves to be potential targets, if the Clinton campaign floats a few ads there? Why not try it - if you have the money. Which she does.
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:20 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think it's less that she expects to potentially win in all 50 states, and more that she is playing offense. She has more resources than he does. If she can force him to defend more states, then his more limited resources are stretched further. But it also takes advantage of the fact that stuff's weird this year and the trend is bluer than it's been in decades. Who knows what new states might reveal themselves to be potential targets, if the Clinton campaign floats a few ads there? Why not try it - if you have the money. Which she does.
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:20 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
the Republican National Convention of 2016 was the first for which more people said it made them less likely to back the candidate.
Have a schadenfavorite, kirkaracha.
posted by grouse at 6:22 PM on August 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
Have a schadenfavorite, kirkaracha.
posted by grouse at 6:22 PM on August 7, 2016 [8 favorites]
It's a national buy on NBC during the Sunday primetime Olympic broadcast while the women's gymnastics is on and the American team is doing well. That's about making a point to the nation, and catching the people who still haven't really tuned in to the presidential race. Nobody's skipping those commercials.
It's not about states: it's about framing the entire general election campaign and defining Trump on those terms. It's bold bold campaigning from a position of strength.
posted by holgate at 6:24 PM on August 7, 2016 [33 favorites]
It's not about states: it's about framing the entire general election campaign and defining Trump on those terms. It's bold bold campaigning from a position of strength.
posted by holgate at 6:24 PM on August 7, 2016 [33 favorites]
Trump's grandfather emigrated to NY from Germany, then went to Canada for the Klondike gold rush, then back to Germany. He married, then left again.
The bride in particular had no desire to leave their hometown. They might well have stayed there had German authorities not observed that Fredrick had departed the fatherland just before he was to have begun compulsory military service and returned just after he aged out.
Frederich became that very rare person who is deported from his own country. [emphasis added]
I . . . ronic?
posted by petebest at 6:34 PM on August 7, 2016 [19 favorites]
The bride in particular had no desire to leave their hometown. They might well have stayed there had German authorities not observed that Fredrick had departed the fatherland just before he was to have begun compulsory military service and returned just after he aged out.
Frederich became that very rare person who is deported from his own country. [emphasis added]
I . . . ronic?
posted by petebest at 6:34 PM on August 7, 2016 [19 favorites]
Sunday night and it is on Olympics prime time nationally. Best case scenario Trump is going to see it and he's going to be pissed. He'll ruminate on that shit all night. No sleep. Then he'll call into the talk shows in the morning and say more crazy insomniac shit. And his campaign will spend the next week in damage control again.
posted by humanfont at 6:45 PM on August 7, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 6:45 PM on August 7, 2016 [14 favorites]
just when you started to forget about her, the meredith mciver story gets weirder
posted by murphy slaw at 6:55 PM on August 7, 2016 [22 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:55 PM on August 7, 2016 [22 favorites]
Best case scenario Trump is going to see it and he's going to be pissed. He'll ruminate on that shit all night. No sleep. Then he'll call into the talk shows in the morning and say more crazy insomniac shit. And his campaign will spend the next week in damage control again.
Is that a primary goal of this ad? Is the Clinton campaign literally running psy ops against Trump? Her convention speech ("A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons") certainly seemed like it was designed to bait Trump. Did that ever succeed beyond the probable dreams of anyone involved.
posted by grouse at 6:59 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
Is that a primary goal of this ad? Is the Clinton campaign literally running psy ops against Trump? Her convention speech ("A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons") certainly seemed like it was designed to bait Trump. Did that ever succeed beyond the probable dreams of anyone involved.
posted by grouse at 6:59 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
just when you started to forget about her, the meredith mciver story gets weirder
Actually I think it would be a lot weirder if the Trump campaign had been telling the truth
posted by an animate objects at 7:04 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Actually I think it would be a lot weirder if the Trump campaign had been telling the truth
posted by an animate objects at 7:04 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Snopes says that Meredith does exist.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 7:07 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by J.K. Seazer at 7:07 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
I think the Clinton campaign is following up on the observations of Scott Adams (who is, let me be very clear, an asshole himself). Adams has said that Trump is using hypnotic persuasion techniques -- those neat little word games none of us think actually work on us -- brilliantly, and that is actually the key to unlocking his indecipherable "speeches" and understanding why he doesn't care about relatively unimportant things like message or consistency. Adams has recently reported that Team Clinton seems to have hired some advisors who actually do understand this shit themselves. Meanwhile, Donald is just Donald doing what Donald has always done and what has always worked for Donald.
posted by Bringer Tom at 7:07 PM on August 7, 2016
posted by Bringer Tom at 7:07 PM on August 7, 2016
just when you started to forget about her, the meredith mciver story gets weirder
Wow. So did she previously have a blue check mark?
posted by Artw at 7:09 PM on August 7, 2016
Wow. So did she previously have a blue check mark?
posted by Artw at 7:09 PM on August 7, 2016
Re Meredith: I'd take a second look at the stories from places like the Daily News Bin. It's just another cheerleading personal blog that's tarted up to look like a news source.
posted by maudlin at 7:13 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 7:13 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
are you implying that a random site i got off of twitter might be questionable
posted by murphy slaw at 7:16 PM on August 7, 2016 [24 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 7:16 PM on August 7, 2016 [24 favorites]
"Just when you've started to forget about her..."
Oh, I'll never forget Meredith, and she'll never forgive me neither.
posted by Floydd at 7:17 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
Oh, I'll never forget Meredith, and she'll never forgive me neither.
posted by Floydd at 7:17 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
pretty sure the rule with twitter is to discount all tweets that aren't marked with at least an (x/50) or more
posted by rorgy at 7:18 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by rorgy at 7:18 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
I love that ad. At first it seems innocuous, but it takes him to task for being full of crap about one of his main issues and shows what a huckster he is. And Letterman makes him prevaricate like a dog.
posted by snofoam at 7:19 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 7:19 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think the Clinton campaign is following up on the observations of Scott Adams (who is, let me be very clear, an asshole himself).
i find this incredibly unlikely
Adams has said that Trump is using hypnotic persuasion techniques
adams has also said that seeing hillary clinton speak lowers his testosterone levels perceptibly so maybe he's not a great resource for analyzing political discourse
posted by murphy slaw at 7:21 PM on August 7, 2016 [70 favorites]
i find this incredibly unlikely
Adams has said that Trump is using hypnotic persuasion techniques
adams has also said that seeing hillary clinton speak lowers his testosterone levels perceptibly so maybe he's not a great resource for analyzing political discourse
posted by murphy slaw at 7:21 PM on August 7, 2016 [70 favorites]
Yeah I'm gonna go with the simpler explanation in this case: Scott Adams is full of $excrement.
posted by strange chain at 7:24 PM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by strange chain at 7:24 PM on August 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
this would be the Scott Adams who announced that he endorses Clinton because she'll have him killed if he endorses Trump?
posted by thelonius at 7:26 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 7:26 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
So it seems like that account has been assumed to be fake pretty much from the start. The real alleged Meredith remains as mysterious as ever.
posted by Artw at 7:27 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 7:27 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
This time four years ago, the big election news story was around how well Rafalca, the horse Ann Romney co-owned, would do at the Olympics (28th place as it turned out). Those were simpler times.
posted by zachlipton at 7:31 PM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 7:31 PM on August 7, 2016 [11 favorites]
Oh, those happy days of horse ballet...
posted by Artw at 7:36 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:36 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
You mean the horse America owned, we paid $77k for that fancy horse!
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:40 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:40 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
Now you mention that it's sounding more like a trump story.
posted by Artw at 7:43 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 7:43 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Donald J. Trump and family is delighted to announce the upcoming wedding of Meredith McIver and John Barron, to be held the day after Donald wins the Presidential Election.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:45 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:45 PM on August 7, 2016 [10 favorites]
With a fake Twitter account and everything!* That's so Meredith!
*Rafalca is apparently a Democrat. Or at least not a Trump supporter.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 7:45 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
*Rafalca is apparently a Democrat. Or at least not a Trump supporter.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 7:45 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Aww, Rafalca is pregnant, I bet that little foal already has $10mil in its' 529 fund, a perfect end to a 1% story!
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:02 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:02 PM on August 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
This Romney horse digression prompted me to pull up the "Romney Style" video parody of Gangam Style. My memory of it was really positive but watching it with this year in mind really affects the experience. I guess that Trump would just dream to have a video like that about him - it would be basically an ad instead of a satire/critique. (It's funny how the Christie and Ryan parts could kind of still work too).
posted by Salamandrous at 8:11 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Salamandrous at 8:11 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
So guys I'm wicked tired, but--
I found the ground game in southwestern Virginia.
I spent my weekend registering voters, from noon to nine pm both yesterday and today, as part of a big weekend of action type push. I talked to homeless people and old people and addicts and Fine Upstanding Middle Class folks and heard some amazing stories and worked with some awesome and dedicated people and got kicked out of a shopping center and a gas station. Today I registered a seventeen year old that'll be eighteen by Election Day and a grandmother from the Dominican Republic, among others. I got shouted at and condescended to and hugged.
And the team said I should apply for an internship. I mean. I'm a college dropout, and my entire professional background is in the service industry. But I did the thing. And I think I might have found what I'm doing for the next three months.
posted by dogheart at 10:15 PM on August 7, 2016 [227 favorites]
I found the ground game in southwestern Virginia.
I spent my weekend registering voters, from noon to nine pm both yesterday and today, as part of a big weekend of action type push. I talked to homeless people and old people and addicts and Fine Upstanding Middle Class folks and heard some amazing stories and worked with some awesome and dedicated people and got kicked out of a shopping center and a gas station. Today I registered a seventeen year old that'll be eighteen by Election Day and a grandmother from the Dominican Republic, among others. I got shouted at and condescended to and hugged.
And the team said I should apply for an internship. I mean. I'm a college dropout, and my entire professional background is in the service industry. But I did the thing. And I think I might have found what I'm doing for the next three months.
posted by dogheart at 10:15 PM on August 7, 2016 [227 favorites]
Great news, dogheart!
posted by mumimor at 10:24 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 10:24 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Good job dogheart!
posted by R343L at 10:35 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by R343L at 10:35 PM on August 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Greg Sargent: Trump thought he could win through sheer media dominance. In reality, it’s killing him.
posted by murphy slaw at 10:52 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 10:52 PM on August 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Do the thing, dogheart, and trust your team.
I think the digital natives on the Clinton comms team have implicit permission (or at least, a short chain of command for sign-off) for things that are borderline trolling Trump -- the 'delete your account' tweet, for instance -- to show a kind of savvy social media literacy.
What the Clinton team definitely knows is how much attention the small group of campaign journalists give to Twitter and ad buys. Trump's meant to be giving his "big economic speech" in Detroit earlyish on Monday, and it's the only thing he has scheduled for the day. Running the "made in China" ad on the evening beforehand frames that speech and potentially the morning's lead-up to the speech.
posted by holgate at 11:19 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
I think the digital natives on the Clinton comms team have implicit permission (or at least, a short chain of command for sign-off) for things that are borderline trolling Trump -- the 'delete your account' tweet, for instance -- to show a kind of savvy social media literacy.
What the Clinton team definitely knows is how much attention the small group of campaign journalists give to Twitter and ad buys. Trump's meant to be giving his "big economic speech" in Detroit earlyish on Monday, and it's the only thing he has scheduled for the day. Running the "made in China" ad on the evening beforehand frames that speech and potentially the morning's lead-up to the speech.
posted by holgate at 11:19 PM on August 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
dogheart, you're fighting the good fight. If Derek Kitts gets elected in the 9th district, I'll bring you your choice of adult beverage from the west coast next time I'm back east.
posted by infinitewindow at 11:48 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by infinitewindow at 11:48 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Snopes says that Meredith does exist.
Yes, Virginia, there is a MEREDITH. She exists as certainly as Love and Hope and Plagiarism exist. Alas! How dreary the world would be if there were no MEREDITH. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
posted by mmoncur at 12:25 AM on August 8, 2016 [24 favorites]
Yes, Virginia, there is a MEREDITH. She exists as certainly as Love and Hope and Plagiarism exist. Alas! How dreary the world would be if there were no MEREDITH. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
posted by mmoncur at 12:25 AM on August 8, 2016 [24 favorites]
So... the FPP about Carlos Fuente made me think of Tito Puente, and that made me think of the "Señor Burns" song from the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" episode, and that made me watch a video of it, where I found this sitting in the comments.
Wounds won't last longposted by J.K. Seazer at 3:09 AM on August 8, 2016 [9 favorites]
but an insulting song
Trump will always carry with him
So I'll settle my score
on the Salsa floor
with this vengeful Latin rhythm!
¡Trump!
Con el corazón de perro...
Señor Trump
¡El diablo con dinero!
It may not surprise you
but all of us despise you
please die, and fry
in hell, you rotten
rich, old wretch!
¡Adios viejo!
Might be time for a new thread:
Multiple sources say an independent conservative candidate will announce his candidacy for president today.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:08 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
Multiple sources say an independent conservative candidate will announce his candidacy for president today.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:08 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
That ad reminds me how much I miss David Letterman.
posted by Servo5678 at 5:17 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Servo5678 at 5:17 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
No way will Trump be able to survive this independent bid from... (checks notes)... Evan? Mc... Mullin?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:19 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:19 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
W00t! Is there time for an independent conservative to get on enough of the ballots?
posted by Francis at 5:19 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by Francis at 5:19 AM on August 8, 2016
Yeah. Former CIA agent... how are they at giving references?
"The agency neither confirms nor denies Mr. McMullin's employment."
Or is it the Culinary Institute of America?
posted by wabbittwax at 5:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [9 favorites]
"The agency neither confirms nor denies Mr. McMullin's employment."
Or is it the Culinary Institute of America?
posted by wabbittwax at 5:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [9 favorites]
"Just put one of the CIA guys in the race."
That was a gutsy decision, sir!
posted by petebest at 5:24 AM on August 8, 2016
That was a gutsy decision, sir!
posted by petebest at 5:24 AM on August 8, 2016
McMullin's Twitter follower count went from 545 to 622 in the minute between the time I looked at his profile and when I refreshed it. Guesses on where it'll be at the end of the day?
posted by dfan at 5:26 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by dfan at 5:26 AM on August 8, 2016
Less "high-profile" than David French
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
But people close to the effort suggested McMullin would have the backing of serious Republican donors and fundraisers. They also pointed to his ties to Utah, a state where polls show Trump badly underperforming with the Mormon-heavy electorate. McMullin, an alum of Brigham Young University, plans to aggressively contest the state.
So if this guy gets 10%, Gary Johnson gets 25%, and Trump gets 30%, then Clinton only needs about 35% to win the state. Cool.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:29 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
So if this guy gets 10%, Gary Johnson gets 25%, and Trump gets 30%, then Clinton only needs about 35% to win the state. Cool.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:29 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
Not a bad move for a guy with no profile. If he attracts any support, then he could run against the clown show in 2020, potentially helping avoid another fiasco like this year for them.
posted by gusottertrout at 5:33 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by gusottertrout at 5:33 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Or, of course, he could just be another clown.
posted by gusottertrout at 5:35 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by gusottertrout at 5:35 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Isn't it too late to put his name on the ballots of most states now even if he could pull the signatures necessary for an independent run out of his ass?
posted by Blasdelb at 5:36 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Blasdelb at 5:36 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
This doesn't seem like a "try to get this new random guy to win the White House" move but rather a "try to sabotage Trump in a couple of strategic states to guarantee his loss" move.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:37 AM on August 8, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:37 AM on August 8, 2016 [23 favorites]
dogheart, did you run into (or were?) the Dem Coordinated Campaign folks at Steppin' Out? They were super helpful and were EVERYWHERE, doing a great job of making sure everyone was registered and knew the deal.
posted by introp at 5:38 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by introp at 5:38 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
If they did somehow manage to get this guy on the ballots it would mean one thing for sure and one of two other things:
1) Trump is D-U-N done. There's no way for a party with two major candidates to beat a party with just one in a first-past-the-post election.
AND
2a) It could staunch the downballot bleeding as #NeverTrump Republicans get someone they're willing to turn out for.
OR
2b) It could cement the downballot carnage as hardcore Trump supporters, furious at the GOP establishment's kneecapping of their God-Emperor, refuse to support the party's legislative candidates.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:40 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
1) Trump is D-U-N done. There's no way for a party with two major candidates to beat a party with just one in a first-past-the-post election.
AND
2a) It could staunch the downballot bleeding as #NeverTrump Republicans get someone they're willing to turn out for.
OR
2b) It could cement the downballot carnage as hardcore Trump supporters, furious at the GOP establishment's kneecapping of their God-Emperor, refuse to support the party's legislative candidates.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:40 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Retired four-star general Barry McCaffrey:Donald Trump Is An Abusive Braggart Unfit To Lead Our Armed forces
posted by murphy slaw at 5:44 AM on August 8, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 5:44 AM on August 8, 2016 [23 favorites]
Great news dogheart, I can't remember if this thread or the last thread you were despairing about the lack of a ground game in SW Virginia so I and probably 100% of this thread are glad you found it and got engaged. Sounds like you found a calling along the way.
posted by vuron at 5:56 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by vuron at 5:56 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
twitter fluff, but too good not to share
Talk radio dude Bill Mitchell: Imagine polls don't exist. Show me evidence Hillary is winning?
posted by murphy slaw at 6:10 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Talk radio dude Bill Mitchell: Imagine polls don't exist. Show me evidence Hillary is winning?
posted by murphy slaw at 6:10 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
The first and best reply to above: "Exhibit A: people supporting Trump imagining polls didn't exist."
posted by chris24 at 6:17 AM on August 8, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 6:17 AM on August 8, 2016 [23 favorites]
/puts money on 3.
posted by Artw at 6:19 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:19 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
If McMullin attracts a wave of support from prominent members of the GOP, Trump will go ballistic. After all, he bent the knee by endorsing McCain, Ryan and Ayotte and won't understand why Reince Priebus would "allow" the defections. Maybe this is Trump's way out, or at least the excuse for losing...
posted by carmicha at 6:19 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by carmicha at 6:19 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wow great reality based commentary there.
Unfortunately unless you engage in a bit of magical thinking along the lines that anecdotes and gut feelings trump polling then it's hard to find any real evidence that Hillary is not winning handily.
It sounds like the Republicans are so desperate to prop up any narrative that Trump isn't basically at the point of capsizing and taking down the passengers and crew that they'll probably resort to "Jesus came down and told me Trump would win in November" tactics to keep the faithful inline. Because that's really what Trump is threatening a schism among the Republican base between the true believers that think that narrative trumps facts and the other block that are increasingly tied into the fact that Trump is not only hated by the bulk of Democrats and Independents but also a substantial amount of the Republican base.
posted by vuron at 6:20 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately unless you engage in a bit of magical thinking along the lines that anecdotes and gut feelings trump polling then it's hard to find any real evidence that Hillary is not winning handily.
It sounds like the Republicans are so desperate to prop up any narrative that Trump isn't basically at the point of capsizing and taking down the passengers and crew that they'll probably resort to "Jesus came down and told me Trump would win in November" tactics to keep the faithful inline. Because that's really what Trump is threatening a schism among the Republican base between the true believers that think that narrative trumps facts and the other block that are increasingly tied into the fact that Trump is not only hated by the bulk of Democrats and Independents but also a substantial amount of the Republican base.
posted by vuron at 6:20 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
My Dad was a terrible asshole. A narcissistic bully and bigot.
It would be unfair to reflect that on me.
To be fair, if the specific way your dad was an asshole was to attend KKK events and then YOU started saying really racist stuff on national TV, we might be forgiven for assuming that the former has something to do with the latter.
I agree with your statement but this is a little bit different situation.
posted by VTX at 6:20 AM on August 8, 2016 [9 favorites]
It would be unfair to reflect that on me.
To be fair, if the specific way your dad was an asshole was to attend KKK events and then YOU started saying really racist stuff on national TV, we might be forgiven for assuming that the former has something to do with the latter.
I agree with your statement but this is a little bit different situation.
posted by VTX at 6:20 AM on August 8, 2016 [9 favorites]
Isn't it too late to put his name on the ballots of most states now even if he could pull the signatures necessary for an independent run out of his ass?
This election is going to be tough on people who say "all publicity is good publicity" at stupid times.
posted by Artw at 6:20 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
This election is going to be tough on people who say "all publicity is good publicity" at stupid times.
posted by Artw at 6:20 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
According to the numbers in that Ballotpedia link, August 2nd was the last day to get on the ballot for Massachusetts, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Without those 3, the remaining states with deadlines after today only reach 253 electoral votes.
posted by fragmede at 6:21 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by fragmede at 6:21 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's cognitive dissonance in a way, but with a overdose of insularity added in. The same stew that led so many people, including one of my bosses, to believe that Romney was going to win in 2012. The thinking went:
No one is going to vote for Obama, because
No one likes Obama, because
No one I know likes Obama.
Remember all the stunned faces at the Romney victory party? A lot of them still can't figure out where they went wrong.
posted by yhbc at 6:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [17 favorites]
No one is going to vote for Obama, because
No one likes Obama, because
No one I know likes Obama.
Remember all the stunned faces at the Romney victory party? A lot of them still can't figure out where they went wrong.
posted by yhbc at 6:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [17 favorites]
Guys, I'm getting promoted tweets from Trump asking me to "join the movement." They're not doing a particularly good job targeting, are they?
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:26 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:26 AM on August 8, 2016
insofar as they think twitter ads achieve anything at all ever, no
posted by murphy slaw at 6:29 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:29 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm pretty sure the Trump campaign is just using emails harvested by Russian spammers at this point.
I think they should start doing mixed Nigerian Prince style spam emails as their Campaign messages.
Oh well I guess we should be glad they haven't resorted to phishing people.... yet.
posted by vuron at 6:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think they should start doing mixed Nigerian Prince style spam emails as their Campaign messages.
Oh well I guess we should be glad they haven't resorted to phishing people.... yet.
posted by vuron at 6:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
August 2nd was the last day to get on the ballot for Massachusetts, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Texas was May 9th. The August 22 date also listed is for write-in only. Third party deadline is way past.
posted by chris24 at 6:31 AM on August 8, 2016
Texas was May 9th. The August 22 date also listed is for write-in only. Third party deadline is way past.
posted by chris24 at 6:31 AM on August 8, 2016
All that CIA guy has to do is campaign in Utah, basically. I'm sure he knows that 'success' for him means splitting Trump's vote and delivering a state or two to Clinton, but that's the point. It's not so much a real campaign as it is a protest with teeth.
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:34 AM on August 8, 2016 [32 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:34 AM on August 8, 2016 [32 favorites]
Pennsylvania and Florida are also past. So purely a spoiler candidate in limited states.
posted by chris24 at 6:34 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by chris24 at 6:34 AM on August 8, 2016
Guys, I'm getting promoted tweets from Trump asking me to "join the movement." They're not doing a particularly good job targeting, are they?
Nah, I'm already there. Every time I read something about Trump I am inspired to have a movement.
posted by phearlez at 6:35 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
Nah, I'm already there. Every time I read something about Trump I am inspired to have a movement.
posted by phearlez at 6:35 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
All that CIA guy has to do is campaign in Utah, basically. I'm sure he knows that 'success' for him means splitting Trump's vote and delivering a state or two to Clinton, but that's the point. It's not so much a real campaign as it is a protest with teeth.
Yes, and it basically says so in the article. The angry conservatives are really angry
posted by mumimor at 6:36 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yes, and it basically says so in the article. The angry conservatives are really angry
posted by mumimor at 6:36 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Every time I read something about Trump I am inspired to have a movement.
I'm not constipated, I'm a movement conservative.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:43 AM on August 8, 2016 [16 favorites]
I'm not constipated, I'm a movement conservative.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:43 AM on August 8, 2016 [16 favorites]
yhbc: Remember all the stunned faces at the Romney victory party?
With unadulterated, ecstatic relish. Schadenfreude ist die beste Freude, especially when the guy experiencing the Schaden deserves it.
The prospect of Clinton trouncing clueless Trump and the Democrats making huge inroads in down-ticket races in November is a helluva drug.
posted by syzygy at 6:47 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
With unadulterated, ecstatic relish. Schadenfreude ist die beste Freude, especially when the guy experiencing the Schaden deserves it.
The prospect of Clinton trouncing clueless Trump and the Democrats making huge inroads in down-ticket races in November is a helluva drug.
posted by syzygy at 6:47 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
Imagine polls don't exist. Show me evidence Hillary is winning?
Man, I know this guy isn't part of the reality-based community, but the word "evidence" means something. To get evidence of how anybody would do in the election you kind of have to get a feel for how people would vote. Which you get by, y'know, going out and asking people how they'd vote, preferably in quantities and demographic distribution to get a feel for what the entire voting population will do. That seems like a useful procedure! Maybe we should give it a name, maybe one that starts with "p" and rhymes with "hole".
Seriously, "Excluding evidence, what evidence is there?" is a dumb question.
posted by jackbishop at 6:47 AM on August 8, 2016 [39 favorites]
Man, I know this guy isn't part of the reality-based community, but the word "evidence" means something. To get evidence of how anybody would do in the election you kind of have to get a feel for how people would vote. Which you get by, y'know, going out and asking people how they'd vote, preferably in quantities and demographic distribution to get a feel for what the entire voting population will do. That seems like a useful procedure! Maybe we should give it a name, maybe one that starts with "p" and rhymes with "hole".
Seriously, "Excluding evidence, what evidence is there?" is a dumb question.
posted by jackbishop at 6:47 AM on August 8, 2016 [39 favorites]
jackbishop: Seriously, "Excluding evidence, what evidence is there?" is a dumb question.
I think he's working along the same lines as the Trump campaign meme that goes, roughly, "Trump's rallies are packed while Crooked Hillary's are half-empty. Trump obviously has more support. The liberal media is skewing the polls and helping to rig the election."
posted by syzygy at 6:53 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think he's working along the same lines as the Trump campaign meme that goes, roughly, "Trump's rallies are packed while Crooked Hillary's are half-empty. Trump obviously has more support. The liberal media is skewing the polls and helping to rig the election."
posted by syzygy at 6:53 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
All I did was take the table on Blasdelb's Ballotpedia link and connected the number of electoral votes with dates after today. According to that page, the date to register as an independent for the following states has already past:
Texas, North, Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, New, Mexico, Nevada, Georgia, Delaware, Florida, Oklahoma, South, Carolina, Michigan, Washington, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, New, Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West, Virginia, Massachusetts, South, Dakota, Wisconsin
The date to register has not yet past in the rest of the states:
Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, New, Hampshire, Ohio, Washington,, D.C., , California, Utah, Montana, Alabama, Tennessee, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, New, York, Idaho, Virginia, Oregon, Wyoming, North, Dakota, Arizona, Kentucky, Mississippi, Rhode, Island
August 2nd was the last day to get on the ballot to get enough states to be able to theoretically win the 270 electoral votes necessary. However further research is necessary; it might be possible for a candidate to have quietly announced, gathered signatures, and sent in paperwork to be on state's ballots before trumpeting their candidacy to a national audience. I'm not sure that states are required to list everyone who's turned in paperwork to be on the ballot quite this early. There might also be a loophole by running as a lesser-known 3rd party's candidate instead of as a total independent.
posted by fragmede at 6:54 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Texas, North, Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, New, Mexico, Nevada, Georgia, Delaware, Florida, Oklahoma, South, Carolina, Michigan, Washington, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, New, Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West, Virginia, Massachusetts, South, Dakota, Wisconsin
The date to register has not yet past in the rest of the states:
Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, New, Hampshire, Ohio, Washington,, D.C., , California, Utah, Montana, Alabama, Tennessee, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, New, York, Idaho, Virginia, Oregon, Wyoming, North, Dakota, Arizona, Kentucky, Mississippi, Rhode, Island
August 2nd was the last day to get on the ballot to get enough states to be able to theoretically win the 270 electoral votes necessary. However further research is necessary; it might be possible for a candidate to have quietly announced, gathered signatures, and sent in paperwork to be on state's ballots before trumpeting their candidacy to a national audience. I'm not sure that states are required to list everyone who's turned in paperwork to be on the ballot quite this early. There might also be a loophole by running as a lesser-known 3rd party's candidate instead of as a total independent.
posted by fragmede at 6:54 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
This is one of two scenarios that I've been completely stressing over and it seems that my stress is over on this one. Thanks for the link, blasdelb.
The deadlines for 6 states are in 2 days. California's deadline is in 4 days and there is no way anyone could get 178,000 signatures by then with so little name recognition. Utah's deadline is next week and they only need 1000 signatures, so, go for it Evan. The sixteen last states are between August 17th and September 9th and some of those will be easy to get on the ballot. Rhode Island, Mississippi and Idaho only need 1000 signatures and some need 1500 or 2000.
Oregon, Arizona and New York are going to be the ones to fight for if I were him. They need a huge ground game yesterday to get the 17,893, 36,000 and 15,000 signatures needed (respectively) for those states just to get on the ballot, so maybe?
Ultimately, Evan is a spoiler for Donald and I'm completely fine with that.
The second scenario that concerns me is that he will drop out and the party will put someone in his place. I'm thinking that's less and less reasonable with every passing day.
posted by Sophie1 at 6:55 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
The deadlines for 6 states are in 2 days. California's deadline is in 4 days and there is no way anyone could get 178,000 signatures by then with so little name recognition. Utah's deadline is next week and they only need 1000 signatures, so, go for it Evan. The sixteen last states are between August 17th and September 9th and some of those will be easy to get on the ballot. Rhode Island, Mississippi and Idaho only need 1000 signatures and some need 1500 or 2000.
Oregon, Arizona and New York are going to be the ones to fight for if I were him. They need a huge ground game yesterday to get the 17,893, 36,000 and 15,000 signatures needed (respectively) for those states just to get on the ballot, so maybe?
Ultimately, Evan is a spoiler for Donald and I'm completely fine with that.
The second scenario that concerns me is that he will drop out and the party will put someone in his place. I'm thinking that's less and less reasonable with every passing day.
posted by Sophie1 at 6:55 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
For pure unadulterated schadenfreude it's hard not to go back to the 2012 Karl Rove being shown to be completely incompetent as a pundit when election results started showing that no Obama would be re-elected despite all his "numbers" to the contrary.
When people are moneyballing politics your role as a traditional pundit is increasingly doomed to obsolescence at least in terms of your relevance on election night.
There is still some role for pundits as providing context to the numbers and giving insight into the campaigns and in some cases functioning as surrogates to individual campaigns (although I wish people were more upfront about that) but for people that are used to dealing with campaign access as their primary currency these "stats guys" are threatening their bread and butter.
What's funny is that Nate Silver and 538 are primarily losing credibility when they get out of their stats zone and into their pundit zone which is resulting in a loss of marketshare (at least in terms of credibility) to independents like Princeton Election Consortium which are keeping away from too much punditry.
posted by vuron at 6:59 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
When people are moneyballing politics your role as a traditional pundit is increasingly doomed to obsolescence at least in terms of your relevance on election night.
There is still some role for pundits as providing context to the numbers and giving insight into the campaigns and in some cases functioning as surrogates to individual campaigns (although I wish people were more upfront about that) but for people that are used to dealing with campaign access as their primary currency these "stats guys" are threatening their bread and butter.
What's funny is that Nate Silver and 538 are primarily losing credibility when they get out of their stats zone and into their pundit zone which is resulting in a loss of marketshare (at least in terms of credibility) to independents like Princeton Election Consortium which are keeping away from too much punditry.
posted by vuron at 6:59 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm still intrigued by the Iranian plane cash video.
And I still don't believe Trump made it up, because it was so bizarrely specific - he's not big on specifics - and his reaction to it: "They sent us this video to humiliate us". He could have said anything about the Iranian cash, there were a thousand ways to Trump on about it. This was a specific reaction to an unambiguous event.
I don't believe his excuse, either, that he saw the Swiss hostage plane video and mis-interpreted it. Perhaps, if he was tripping balls, but even Donnie doesn't populate videos with totally imaginary events. Plus, since when does he admit he got anything wrong?
And now he's doing what he's told (so far, so badly) and the intelligence bods are coming out of the woodwork to say 'this man is bad, m'kay?'.
I think he saw the video during an intelligence briefing, used it in a speech, and has been told to walk it back and that if he puts one orange whisker out of line again this will go public and his run is over. (I think if this is so, it will go public anyway; if this is true it's a big old turd steaming away in the summer heat.)
I don't like things that feel so much like conspiracy theories, but I can't square this any other way. Too many weird things in such a short space of time and Occam's no help.
posted by Devonian at 7:00 AM on August 8, 2016 [13 favorites]
And I still don't believe Trump made it up, because it was so bizarrely specific - he's not big on specifics - and his reaction to it: "They sent us this video to humiliate us". He could have said anything about the Iranian cash, there were a thousand ways to Trump on about it. This was a specific reaction to an unambiguous event.
I don't believe his excuse, either, that he saw the Swiss hostage plane video and mis-interpreted it. Perhaps, if he was tripping balls, but even Donnie doesn't populate videos with totally imaginary events. Plus, since when does he admit he got anything wrong?
And now he's doing what he's told (so far, so badly) and the intelligence bods are coming out of the woodwork to say 'this man is bad, m'kay?'.
I think he saw the video during an intelligence briefing, used it in a speech, and has been told to walk it back and that if he puts one orange whisker out of line again this will go public and his run is over. (I think if this is so, it will go public anyway; if this is true it's a big old turd steaming away in the summer heat.)
I don't like things that feel so much like conspiracy theories, but I can't square this any other way. Too many weird things in such a short space of time and Occam's no help.
posted by Devonian at 7:00 AM on August 8, 2016 [13 favorites]
If there are four candidates, would you still need 270 electoral votes to win? If the three lesser candidates split the vote among them, but there is still one candidate with a plurality of votes, what happens?
(Not that it really matters, because Hillary is winning, but out of curiosity)
posted by mumimor at 7:00 AM on August 8, 2016
(Not that it really matters, because Hillary is winning, but out of curiosity)
posted by mumimor at 7:00 AM on August 8, 2016
Hillary needs 270 or more in any scenario. If nobody hits that threshold, the House of Representatives gets to choose the President, and they won't be picking Hillary.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:05 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:05 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
Yes, they need a majority of electoral votes or the House of Representatives selects the President.
posted by waitingtoderail at 7:06 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by waitingtoderail at 7:06 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Does the currently sitting House of Representatives choose in case no one reaches the threshold, or is one of the first things the newly elected House does?
posted by fragmede at 7:10 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by fragmede at 7:10 AM on August 8, 2016
Heh. Talking of 538 and punditry, today they're talking up Bernie holdouts, despite all but admitung once you get into the article that those guys are irrelevant. Stick to the stats, man!
posted by Artw at 7:11 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:11 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
The most vocal Bernie holdout on my friends list is currently conducting a thought experiment: Convince him to vote for either candidate without referencing the other candidate or any other branch of government.
It is pleasing to me that most of his friends are like, "dude, please stop. this is not only beyond tedious, it is a really ugly display of entitlement on about seventy different levels."
posted by palomar at 7:15 AM on August 8, 2016 [63 favorites]
It is pleasing to me that most of his friends are like, "dude, please stop. this is not only beyond tedious, it is a really ugly display of entitlement on about seventy different levels."
posted by palomar at 7:15 AM on August 8, 2016 [63 favorites]
The last bald President also had a problematic relationship with the deterrent.
Re: the House of Representatives - if HRC got 269 and none of the other three candidates broke into three figures, what then? Assuming the House was GOP majority and they chose the GOP candidate, what madness would follow?
posted by Devonian at 7:16 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Re: the House of Representatives - if HRC got 269 and none of the other three candidates broke into three figures, what then? Assuming the House was GOP majority and they chose the GOP candidate, what madness would follow?
posted by Devonian at 7:16 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Donnie indeed does populate videos with totally imaginary events, Devonian. The Muslims dancing in NJ after the Twin Towers fell?
You may be right and I may be naive, but I'm not willing to go down the conspiracy path on this one. He's just bonkers.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:22 AM on August 8, 2016 [20 favorites]
You may be right and I may be naive, but I'm not willing to go down the conspiracy path on this one. He's just bonkers.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:22 AM on August 8, 2016 [20 favorites]
Talking of 538 and punditry, today they're talking up Bernie holdouts, despite all but admitung once you get into the article that those guys are irrelevant. Stick to the stats, man!
Filling newshole is hard.
posted by grouse at 7:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Filling newshole is hard.
posted by grouse at 7:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
No he saw the video on Fox News of the hostages being loaded onto a plane and he thought he saw something else. So, yes, Trump's Razor strikes again.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:26 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:26 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
I think he saw the video during an intelligence briefing
Nah. There's no evidence that the intel briefings have audiovisual aids. There's plenty of evidence that Trump spends his days distracted by multiple simultaneous cable news broadcasts, which he seems to stitch into his own narrative. Trump's Razor applies here.
posted by holgate at 7:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [13 favorites]
Nah. There's no evidence that the intel briefings have audiovisual aids. There's plenty of evidence that Trump spends his days distracted by multiple simultaneous cable news broadcasts, which he seems to stitch into his own narrative. Trump's Razor applies here.
posted by holgate at 7:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [13 favorites]
I think he saw the video during an intelligence briefing, used it in a speech
From everything I've heard the intelligence briefings are just that, briefings, there is no media component even for those that only can pay attention to the TV.
posted by readery at 7:27 AM on August 8, 2016
From everything I've heard the intelligence briefings are just that, briefings, there is no media component even for those that only can pay attention to the TV.
posted by readery at 7:27 AM on August 8, 2016
I don't see why an intelligence briefing would show a video. Videos are notoriously hard to interpret so that seems an inefficient and prone to error way to communicate information. It's far more likely he saw a video on the news and made up his own ideas.
posted by R343L at 7:28 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by R343L at 7:28 AM on August 8, 2016
If no candidate gets 270 EVs, the election goes to the House, which takes the top three EV-getters (there is no provision for if two candidates tie for third).
However, the House votes as states, not as individual Representatives. So California gets one vote (the CA reps all meet up separately and vote), as does Wyoming. If a state ties, they can abstain until the deadlock is broken. If no candidate gets to 26 states, they vote again until someone does (Veep got this wrong -- the VP serves as acting President until the House chooses a President).
posted by Etrigan at 7:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
However, the House votes as states, not as individual Representatives. So California gets one vote (the CA reps all meet up separately and vote), as does Wyoming. If a state ties, they can abstain until the deadlock is broken. If no candidate gets to 26 states, they vote again until someone does (Veep got this wrong -- the VP serves as acting President until the House chooses a President).
posted by Etrigan at 7:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
He's just bonkers.
He may or may not be fucking nuts, but for stuff like this I think it's more that he's making up whatever he feels like, whenever he feels like it, because he knows he can get big cheers from the fact-deficient xenophobes who show up to his rallies.
Remember his bizarre and risible attempt at a post-convention viral video? He's in this for the applause not the votes.
posted by dersins at 7:32 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
He may or may not be fucking nuts, but for stuff like this I think it's more that he's making up whatever he feels like, whenever he feels like it, because he knows he can get big cheers from the fact-deficient xenophobes who show up to his rallies.
Remember his bizarre and risible attempt at a post-convention viral video? He's in this for the applause not the votes.
posted by dersins at 7:32 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I don't see why an intelligence briefing would show a video.
They probably just pop something in the VCR and go get coffee like supply teachers keeping a class full of kids happy when they have nothing planned.
(I do not believe the "Trump saw a secret video" theory for a second)
posted by Artw at 7:34 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
They probably just pop something in the VCR and go get coffee like supply teachers keeping a class full of kids happy when they have nothing planned.
(I do not believe the "Trump saw a secret video" theory for a second)
posted by Artw at 7:34 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's plenty of evidence that Trump spends his days distracted by multiple simultaneous cable news broadcasts, which he seems to stitch into his own narrative.
Hold on, does this make Donald Trump the Earth-Prime version of Ozymandias? Do I need to look into adding an acts-of-squid rider to my insurance policies?
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:36 AM on August 8, 2016
Hold on, does this make Donald Trump the Earth-Prime version of Ozymandias? Do I need to look into adding an acts-of-squid rider to my insurance policies?
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:36 AM on August 8, 2016
Northwest hotelier, listed as Trump campaign official, doesn't back nominee
"Gordon Sondland, a prominent Portland hotelier listed as a lead sponsor for a Donald Trump fundraiser this month, does not support the Republican presidential nominee and won't be "hosting or attending any fundraisers" in the Northwest, a spokeswoman told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Sunday afternoon.posted by octobersurprise at 7:39 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
That revelation comes after Sondland's name surfaced on an invitation to an Aug. 30 fundraiser in Seattle. On July 1, Sondland was announced by the Republican Party as the Trump campaign's state finance victory chair for Oregon."
he's a colossal wreck.
posted by wabbittwax at 7:39 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 7:39 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Romney was so sure he was going to win that he didn't write a concession speech.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:40 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 7:40 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
dersins, I'm so sad that video didn't get more mainstream awareness.
"33% time spent applauding" just has so many daily applications as a turn of phrase.
posted by meinvt at 7:40 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
"33% time spent applauding" just has so many daily applications as a turn of phrase.
posted by meinvt at 7:40 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I also don't believe he saw any such video. He's got a record of fabricating details and I don't think that's how intelligence briefings happen anyway. Didn't someone link to a description of these sessions and basically it's more of a Q&A? I don't think they have some video compilation of "US Intelligence Greatest Hits (Now That's What I Call Great Secrecy)" that they just play for them.
posted by like_neon at 7:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by like_neon at 7:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh hey, the full list of candidates for 2016 that the FEC knows about. Evan McMullin is not listed.
posted by fragmede at 7:42 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by fragmede at 7:42 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
This Canadian Press piece:
Amish rarely hear Trump speak but like his policies
[...]
Many Amish have never heard him speak. They’ve read newspaper articles about him, learned about him through word-of-mouth, but have never had the full sensory experience because their traditionalist faith forbids television, radio and the web.
So the reactions are spontaneous and physical when a reporter visits this farming community and attempts to impersonate the outer-borough twang of a candidate who brags about his billions, his beautiful wife and the gold-garnished skyscrapers adorned with his name.
Yep. Reporter goes to Amish country in PA and does Trump impressions to get their take.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:45 AM on August 8, 2016 [14 favorites]
Amish rarely hear Trump speak but like his policies
[...]
Many Amish have never heard him speak. They’ve read newspaper articles about him, learned about him through word-of-mouth, but have never had the full sensory experience because their traditionalist faith forbids television, radio and the web.
So the reactions are spontaneous and physical when a reporter visits this farming community and attempts to impersonate the outer-borough twang of a candidate who brags about his billions, his beautiful wife and the gold-garnished skyscrapers adorned with his name.
Yep. Reporter goes to Amish country in PA and does Trump impressions to get their take.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:45 AM on August 8, 2016 [14 favorites]
okay i really don't know what to do with that, things have officially gotten Too Weird for me
posted by palomar at 7:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [26 favorites]
posted by palomar at 7:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [26 favorites]
The most vocal Bernie holdout on my friends list is currently conducting a thought experiment: Convince him to vote for either candidate without referencing the other candidate or...
You probably don't want to encourage him. But if you did, I'd suggest "She's smart. She tries to thoroughly understand the issues."
posted by puddledork at 7:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
You probably don't want to encourage him. But if you did, I'd suggest "She's smart. She tries to thoroughly understand the issues."
posted by puddledork at 7:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
What are the chances that a candidate like McMullin, with enough monetary and other support from the GOP establishment, could keep Clinton from reaching 270 EVs?
posted by syzygy at 7:54 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by syzygy at 7:54 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Convince him to vote for either candidate without referencing the other candidate or...
that's just another stupid meme that people are trying to present as independent thoughts.
posted by zutalors! at 7:54 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
that's just another stupid meme that people are trying to present as independent thoughts.
posted by zutalors! at 7:54 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
Inside the swing-state trench warfare:
Donald Trump is taking an interest in the most important counties in the key battleground states. Democrats have been methodically working those places for months.posted by kirkaracha at 7:55 AM on August 8, 2016
A new poll has Clinton +7 in Georgia, though 538 only grades them a C.
posted by dfan at 7:58 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by dfan at 7:58 AM on August 8, 2016
What are the chances that a candidate like McMullin, with enough monetary and other support from the GOP establishment, could keep Clinton from reaching 270 EVs?
Zero? He would just be a spoiler hurting Trump, he wouldn't win any EVs.
posted by snofoam at 7:59 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Zero? He would just be a spoiler hurting Trump, he wouldn't win any EVs.
posted by snofoam at 7:59 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
I could be wildly off-base, and not for the first time, but reading the accounts of how Clinton and Gore got briefed it's clear that the agencies tailor their briefing to the candidates and know that visual stuff goes across well, so if I was trying to get through to Trump I'd have dancing girls and a 100" plasma.
But IANANSA, so my speculation's done.
Anyway - when the back story to Trump's general election run comes out, we shall learn many things. Of that, I'm sure.
posted by Devonian at 7:59 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
But IANANSA, so my speculation's done.
Anyway - when the back story to Trump's general election run comes out, we shall learn many things. Of that, I'm sure.
posted by Devonian at 7:59 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
but how would the Amish respond to a Tim Kaine Donald Trump impression
posted by angrycat at 8:02 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 8:02 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
Zero? He would just be a spoiler hurting Trump, he wouldn't win any EVs.
i do wonder if he'll pull any protest votes for hillary back to a nominally republican candidate
posted by murphy slaw at 8:03 AM on August 8, 2016
i do wonder if he'll pull any protest votes for hillary back to a nominally republican candidate
posted by murphy slaw at 8:03 AM on August 8, 2016
I'm with Devonian - especially after Trump's very uncharacteristic (content and style) walk-back tweet. He saw it. He also probably burned the source by announcing that he saw it. That may have gotten someone killed.
posted by ctmf at 8:04 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ctmf at 8:04 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
@BenjySarlin: "Georgia a canary in coal mine for Trump. GOP wins because it's at near max support with white vote. If college whites split, that stops."
The split among educational lines that trump is drawing in the GOP base might be one of the most important outcomes of this election. Especially so if it holds through to down ticket races, and in future elections. I agree with Sarlin: increasingly GOP presidential success is tied to maximizing the white vote, due to demo shifts. If it can't do that, even in GA, then it cannot win the presidency, and that means that eventually Dems will start walking back voter suppression and gerrymandering tactics.
I'm hoping that the Clinton campaign can hold this momentum until November and make that a reality. From there, I can see further realignments in our political landscape that make trump's white nationalists into a rump party, and maybe we can get a Right / Left balance that isn't completely fucking insane. I'd never vote right wing, but I want for there to be a rational choice that means I'm not terrified of the right wing party having power.
posted by codacorolla at 8:06 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
The split among educational lines that trump is drawing in the GOP base might be one of the most important outcomes of this election. Especially so if it holds through to down ticket races, and in future elections. I agree with Sarlin: increasingly GOP presidential success is tied to maximizing the white vote, due to demo shifts. If it can't do that, even in GA, then it cannot win the presidency, and that means that eventually Dems will start walking back voter suppression and gerrymandering tactics.
I'm hoping that the Clinton campaign can hold this momentum until November and make that a reality. From there, I can see further realignments in our political landscape that make trump's white nationalists into a rump party, and maybe we can get a Right / Left balance that isn't completely fucking insane. I'd never vote right wing, but I want for there to be a rational choice that means I'm not terrified of the right wing party having power.
posted by codacorolla at 8:06 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
snofoam: He would just be a spoiler hurting Trump, he wouldn't win any EVs.
Even if the smart money financed the heck out of him and told Trump-hating Republicans that a vote for McMullins was a vote for allowing the House of Representatives to make the final choice? Sell it as, 'this may be our last chance to win the presidency in a long time' and hope one or two states swing his way, just enough to keep Clinton below 270 EVs?
I put nothing past the GOP.
posted by syzygy at 8:09 AM on August 8, 2016
Even if the smart money financed the heck out of him and told Trump-hating Republicans that a vote for McMullins was a vote for allowing the House of Representatives to make the final choice? Sell it as, 'this may be our last chance to win the presidency in a long time' and hope one or two states swing his way, just enough to keep Clinton below 270 EVs?
I put nothing past the GOP.
posted by syzygy at 8:09 AM on August 8, 2016
It's never too late to do the right thing.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:09 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:09 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
The most vocal Bernie holdout on my friends list is currently conducting a thought experiment:
I know someone like that. Answer: It's Washington, dude. Your individual vote is meaningless at this point, compared to all the rational people. Vote for whoever you want, idiot.
posted by ctmf at 8:10 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
I know someone like that. Answer: It's Washington, dude. Your individual vote is meaningless at this point, compared to all the rational people. Vote for whoever you want, idiot.
posted by ctmf at 8:10 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
Inside the swing-state trench warfare:
Dame Noonanington hath a sad—
"'He immediately started firing off questions to me about what are the significant issues in Henrico. He knew it was important,' Whitlock said, adding that he told Trump to stay laser-focused on jobs and security issues.""Laser-focus, Donald, laser-focus—Hey, look! I'm on TV!—uh, Donald ... DONALD!!!
Dame Noonanington hath a sad—
"Here is a truth of life. When you act as if you’re insane, people are liable to think you’re insane. That’s what happened this week. People started to become convinced he was nuts, a total flake."posted by octobersurprise at 8:11 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
—"The Week They Decided Donald Trump Was Crazy" (Originally published in the WSJ, republished at The Patriot Post.)
so if I was trying to get through to Trump I'd have dancing girls and a 100" plasma.
This assumes they want to get through to him as well. If I thought Trump was a security threat I'd give him the most boring, dry, typewritten report full of excel sheets, charts, footnotes and appendices.
posted by like_neon at 8:12 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
This assumes they want to get through to him as well. If I thought Trump was a security threat I'd give him the most boring, dry, typewritten report full of excel sheets, charts, footnotes and appendices.
posted by like_neon at 8:12 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
Even if the smart money financed the heck out of him and told Trump-hating Republicans that a vote for McMullins was a vote for allowing the House of Representatives to make the final choice? Sell it as, 'this may be our last chance to win the presidency in a long time' and hope one or two states swing his way, just enough to keep Clinton below 270 EVs?
He'd need to beat both Trump AND Clinton in a given state. It's hard to imagine that happening.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:12 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
He'd need to beat both Trump AND Clinton in a given state. It's hard to imagine that happening.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:12 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm just glad that the news cycle is so completely dead that we're back to introducing alternative GOP insurgent candidates no one has heard of that will get fewer votes that the Prohibition Party candidate. It's impressive to come up with a candidate with less national media profile than David French, but by gum they did it.
posted by Copronymus at 8:15 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Copronymus at 8:15 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
It's never too late to do the right thing.
At the bottom of that page: Created with NationBuilder
Well that's horrifically fucking poetic.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:21 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
At the bottom of that page: Created with NationBuilder
Well that's horrifically fucking poetic.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:21 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Apparently the group who backs Ean Mcmullin is prepared to sue to sue to get him on the ballot in states where it is too late.
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 8:21 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 8:21 AM on August 8, 2016
What's funny is that Nate Silver and 538 are primarily losing credibility when they get out of their stats zone and into their pundit zone which is resulting in a loss of marketshare (at least in terms of credibility) to independents like Princeton Election Consortium which are keeping away from too much punditry.
Yeah but their mathematical forecasts can basically just run by themselves. They could automate the whole thing and all go home until November but that wouldn't make enough click-bate stories to keep people's attention and keep Disney's money flowing.
posted by octothorpe at 8:26 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah but their mathematical forecasts can basically just run by themselves. They could automate the whole thing and all go home until November but that wouldn't make enough click-bate stories to keep people's attention and keep Disney's money flowing.
posted by octothorpe at 8:26 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
The group, Better for America, a 501(c)(4) organization that cannot officially endorse or back McMillan's bid, has been working for months on trying to select a candidate and get on ballots throughout the country. In some states, like Texas, they will likely have to sue to get on the ballot. A 501(c)(4) is an issue-based nonprofit that can raise unlimited funds and does not have to disclose its donors.
The first article about his candidacy and his backers are already admitting campaign finance violations! They grow up so quickly.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:28 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
The first article about his candidacy and his backers are already admitting campaign finance violations! They grow up so quickly.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:28 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Apparently the group who backs Ean Mcmullin is prepared to sue to sue to get him on the ballot in states where it is too late.
That doesn't make him sound like a flakey no-hopersat all.
posted by Artw at 8:28 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
That doesn't make him sound like a flakey no-hopersat all.
posted by Artw at 8:28 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
What's wrong w/ Nationbuilder?
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:28 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:28 AM on August 8, 2016
click-bate stories
Intentional joke or Freudian slip? Either way, A+
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:31 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
Intentional joke or Freudian slip? Either way, A+
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:31 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
What's wrong w/ Nationbuilder?
W's "nation-building" war in Iraq is one of the wedges Trump used to pry his supporters away from the Republican establishment.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:33 AM on August 8, 2016
W's "nation-building" war in Iraq is one of the wedges Trump used to pry his supporters away from the Republican establishment.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:33 AM on August 8, 2016
The most vocal Bernie holdout on my friends list is currently conducting a thought experiment: Convince him to vote for either candidate without referencing the other candidate or any other branch of government.
Answer: It's not our jobs to convince you to be an adult. Eat your vegetables or don't, no one cares. Do your own homework.
posted by bongo_x at 8:33 AM on August 8, 2016 [30 favorites]
Answer: It's not our jobs to convince you to be an adult. Eat your vegetables or don't, no one cares. Do your own homework.
posted by bongo_x at 8:33 AM on August 8, 2016 [30 favorites]
Trump To Propose Moratorium on New Finanacial Regulations
also repealing the estate tax
posted by murphy slaw at 8:35 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
also repealing the estate tax
posted by murphy slaw at 8:35 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
What are the chances that a candidate like McMullin, with enough monetary and other support from the GOP establishment, could keep Clinton from reaching 270 EVs?
1. Siphon enough anti-Trump support away from Clinton to throw a few swing states to Trump.
2. Campaign hard in Utah--try to win it.
3. Nobody gets to 270.
4. The Republican-dominated house throws the election to the non-Trump conservative who is now in the mix because he won Utah, thus coming in third place.
It's not a good strategy--or even a realistic one--but it's not utterly outside the realm of the possible.
posted by dersins at 8:36 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Zero? He would just be a spoiler hurting Trump, he wouldn't win any EVs.Theoretically, a strategy could look something like this:
1. Siphon enough anti-Trump support away from Clinton to throw a few swing states to Trump.
2. Campaign hard in Utah--try to win it.
3. Nobody gets to 270.
4. The Republican-dominated house throws the election to the non-Trump conservative who is now in the mix because he won Utah, thus coming in third place.
It's not a good strategy--or even a realistic one--but it's not utterly outside the realm of the possible.
posted by dersins at 8:36 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Trump makes ad featuring image of a Chicago business owner who actually supports Clinton.
posted by dnash at 8:37 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by dnash at 8:37 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
The most vocal Bernie holdout on my friends list is currently conducting a thought experiment: Convince him
oh what a surprise
posted by dersins at 8:39 AM on August 8, 2016 [25 favorites]
oh what a surprise
posted by dersins at 8:39 AM on August 8, 2016 [25 favorites]
Apparently the group who backs Ean Mcmullin is prepared to sue to sue to get him on the ballot in states where it is too late.
Good luck with your Fourierism! On Friday, Greg Sargent detailed the obstacles to putting candidates on ballots after a deadline. Summary: in theory State legislatures can waive ballot deadlines for any candidate; in practice it would probably involve lawsuit after lawsuit. Or as Sargent writes, quoting Anna Palmer at Politico,
Good luck with your Fourierism! On Friday, Greg Sargent detailed the obstacles to putting candidates on ballots after a deadline. Summary: in theory State legislatures can waive ballot deadlines for any candidate; in practice it would probably involve lawsuit after lawsuit. Or as Sargent writes, quoting Anna Palmer at Politico,
"'Republicans could be forced to wage state-by-state legal battles to get a new candidate on the ballot,' Palmer writes, adding: 'That would be a time-consuming and expensive exercise for the RNC.'"posted by octobersurprise at 8:39 AM on August 8, 2016
Even if the smart money financed the heck out of him and told Trump-hating Republicans that a vote for McMullins was a vote for allowing the House of Representatives to make the final choice? Sell it as, 'this may be our last chance to win the presidency in a long time' and hope one or two states swing his way, just enough to keep Clinton below 270 EVs?
If it does happen (which I'm pretty sure it won't but who knows) it's a way to not vote for Trump and deny votes for Trump without having to:
a) Explicitly say "Vote for Clinton"
b) Work with Clinton.
c) Give the Libertarians any sort of legitimacy.
posted by Talez at 8:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
If it does happen (which I'm pretty sure it won't but who knows) it's a way to not vote for Trump and deny votes for Trump without having to:
a) Explicitly say "Vote for Clinton"
b) Work with Clinton.
c) Give the Libertarians any sort of legitimacy.
posted by Talez at 8:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Good tweetstorm about the childcare tax deduction which Trump will propose in his big speech today. Summary: Great for Ivanka, bad for everybody else!
posted by acidic at 8:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [24 favorites]
posted by acidic at 8:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [24 favorites]
it's almost like he didn't think about the implications of his policies at all
posted by murphy slaw at 8:42 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:42 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
W's "nation-building" war in Iraq is one of the wedges Trump used to pry his supporters away from the Republican establishment.
Oh. Ah. I thought you meant something about the software itself (which I use with my nonprofit and which works well for what we need it for.)
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:45 AM on August 8, 2016
Oh. Ah. I thought you meant something about the software itself (which I use with my nonprofit and which works well for what we need it for.)
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:45 AM on August 8, 2016
Trump sometimes uses a modified version of "Over There" as a theme song. Using a song about the US rushing to the aid of its allies is an odd choice for Donald "Fuck You, Pay Me" Trump.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:53 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 8:53 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
Oh. Ah. I thought you meant something about the software itself (which I use with my nonprofit and which works well for what we need it for.)
I'd never actually heard of the software before today, but McMullin saying his site was made possible by it works on multiple levels!
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:56 AM on August 8, 2016
I'd never actually heard of the software before today, but McMullin saying his site was made possible by it works on multiple levels!
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:56 AM on August 8, 2016
The first $5k per year of childcare costs for each family is already tax deductible, if you have a childcare Flexible Spending Account. Is Trump just going to increase the limit for FSA desposits? I mean, is that something people are going to get excited about? "Yay, my childcare FSA deposit limit increased!"
I actually use a childcare FSA and would benefit from an increased limit, but based on the conversations I've had, the majority of moms in my circle have no idea what an FSA (or Health Savings Account -- HSA) is. Because yeah, they don't make enough to pay much income tax, so all these hard-to-understand tax dodges are irrelevant to them. Or else they stay home because they flat out can't afford childcare. I guess this could help make it so that if they did go back to work, only 70% of their salary would go to childcare instead of 100%, or something?
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:57 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
I actually use a childcare FSA and would benefit from an increased limit, but based on the conversations I've had, the majority of moms in my circle have no idea what an FSA (or Health Savings Account -- HSA) is. Because yeah, they don't make enough to pay much income tax, so all these hard-to-understand tax dodges are irrelevant to them. Or else they stay home because they flat out can't afford childcare. I guess this could help make it so that if they did go back to work, only 70% of their salary would go to childcare instead of 100%, or something?
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:57 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
Trump doesn't think about anything that isn't selfishly motivated to advantage him or his.
He's also supremely confident in his own abilities which is a classic Dunning-Kruger effect in action. He's a "genius" at business so he's a genius at everything, he knows more about ISIS than the generals for instance.
I guess in theory he could be getting intelligence briefings from the FSB who are probably pretty close to the ground in Syria but other than that not so outrageous possibility the more likely scenario are that he's an idiot who thinks he's a genius.
Much like much of his base...
posted by vuron at 8:59 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
He's also supremely confident in his own abilities which is a classic Dunning-Kruger effect in action. He's a "genius" at business so he's a genius at everything, he knows more about ISIS than the generals for instance.
I guess in theory he could be getting intelligence briefings from the FSB who are probably pretty close to the ground in Syria but other than that not so outrageous possibility the more likely scenario are that he's an idiot who thinks he's a genius.
Much like much of his base...
posted by vuron at 8:59 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also not sure if most employers offer FSAs and HSAs, or if it is possible to sign up for one independently if your employer doesn't offer it. It takes quite a bit of hoop-jumping to prove that the income you're not being taxed on is specifically going toward childcare expenses or health expenses, and to reflect the non-taxable-ness on your W2. It takes a payroll department with substantial expertise to pull it off, so small businesses and private individuals with employees have a hard time offering these benefits unless they hire a payroll company.
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:02 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:02 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
www.evanmcmullin.com:
It’s never too late to do the right thing. And if we work together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
I'm pretty sure this was the thesis of The Garbage Pail Kids Movie too
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:02 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
It’s never too late to do the right thing. And if we work together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
I'm pretty sure this was the thesis of The Garbage Pail Kids Movie too
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:02 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
Yeah, I'm not really clamoring for a bigger child care tax deduction. I mean, it's nice, it helps, but it's like #48 on my list of things that would help working mothers in this country.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:02 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:02 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
it's not utterly outside the realm of the possible
Yes it is. Your steps 1, 2 and 3 are all ridiculous and based on your other comments in these election threads you are consistently well-informed and realistic, so this leaves me deeply confused. I would detail why 1-3 are not going to happen, but I know that you already know why.
posted by snofoam at 9:03 AM on August 8, 2016
Yes it is. Your steps 1, 2 and 3 are all ridiculous and based on your other comments in these election threads you are consistently well-informed and realistic, so this leaves me deeply confused. I would detail why 1-3 are not going to happen, but I know that you already know why.
posted by snofoam at 9:03 AM on August 8, 2016
If it had been the introductions of a tax credit on the other hand, it would have been a great policy (assuming a reasonable amount for the credit).
On the off chance that this might apply to anyone here, an additional tax deduction can benefit you even if you're already down to zero Fed. tax liability. If you add up all the deductions and subtract them from your income and get a negative number, you can convert some an IRA to a Roth IRA. That then has to get added to your income to get your income-deductions back to exactly zero (or whatever is optimal for your situation).
The conversion does have to be done during the calendar year though so you need to know it's coming and plan ahead. I am not a licensed tax professional, consult yours to be certain.
And if you're a low-income family, you don't have an IRA so this already esoteric loop-hole is useless.
posted by VTX at 9:03 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
On the off chance that this might apply to anyone here, an additional tax deduction can benefit you even if you're already down to zero Fed. tax liability. If you add up all the deductions and subtract them from your income and get a negative number, you can convert some an IRA to a Roth IRA. That then has to get added to your income to get your income-deductions back to exactly zero (or whatever is optimal for your situation).
The conversion does have to be done during the calendar year though so you need to know it's coming and plan ahead. I am not a licensed tax professional, consult yours to be certain.
And if you're a low-income family, you don't have an IRA so this already esoteric loop-hole is useless.
posted by VTX at 9:03 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have one more thought on the regressiveness of the childcare tax deduction thing... If you make it the entire cost of childcare that's deductible, instead of "the first $5k" or even "the first $20k", then the people who are going to benefit most are going to be the people who spend the most money on childcare. So someone who hires a nanny will benefit a lot more than someone who sends their kid to the neighbor's in-home daycare down the street, or who gets their childcare costs subsidized by their state already... (Even assuming the latter two make enough to benefit from any deduction.)
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:07 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:07 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yes it is. Your steps 1, 2 and 3 are all ridiculous and based on your other comments in these election threads you are consistently well-informed and realistic, so this leaves me deeply confused. I would detail why 1-3 are not going to happen, but I know that you already know why.
The premise of a splinter Republican candidate is that Hillary is only winning because people who would choose a Real Conservative see her as the least bad option, and her core of affirmative support is as small as Trump's. Otherwise, the Real Conservative independent candidate siphons more votes from Trump than Clinton and the whole enterprise falls right on its face -- rather than swinging close states to Trump he instead increases Clinton's margin of victory. This is obvious bullshit, but they refuse to learn that lesson.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:12 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
The premise of a splinter Republican candidate is that Hillary is only winning because people who would choose a Real Conservative see her as the least bad option, and her core of affirmative support is as small as Trump's. Otherwise, the Real Conservative independent candidate siphons more votes from Trump than Clinton and the whole enterprise falls right on its face -- rather than swinging close states to Trump he instead increases Clinton's margin of victory. This is obvious bullshit, but they refuse to learn that lesson.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:12 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh hey, the full list of candidates for 2016 that the FEC knows about.
Glad to see Deez Nuts still hanging in there!
posted by Cookiebastard at 9:15 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
Yes it is. Your steps 1, 2 and 3 are all ridiculous and based on your other comments in these election threads you are consistently well-informed and realistic, so this leaves me deeply confused. I would detail why 1-3 are not going to happen, but I know that you already know why.
I was trying to theorize as to what the intended strategy might be. To be clear, I didn't say--nor do I believe--it is a valid strategy.
posted by dersins at 9:15 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
I was trying to theorize as to what the intended strategy might be. To be clear, I didn't say--nor do I believe--it is a valid strategy.
posted by dersins at 9:15 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
The first $5k per year of childcare costs for each family is already tax deductible, if you have a childcare Flexible Spending Account.
But:
1. You have to have an employer who offers them (and not all do)
2. $5k would cover four months, tops, in Seattle
As is, there's a child and dependent care deduction, but it caps at $3000 if your income exceeds middle-class-ness, and it's off AGI, not off your tax bill. So for those of us in mumblety-mumblety tax bracket, it's an OK deduction, but it barely covers anything.
We need some hardcore childcare reform in this country, beginning with state-subsidized daycare. We tried having one parent stay home when my daughter was born, but we got poor in a hurry. But then we had to do the math to make sure going back to work made sense given the cost of daycare.
I know there's some old Cold War BS wrapped up in it (THE SOVIETS OFFERED FREE DAY CARE! INDOCTRINATE AT AN EARLY AGE!) but, srsly, we need to make child care affordable. Raising the FSA is nice, but it's only a small start for a problem that needs a holistic approach. If we really want "welfare mothers" working, we should take the cost of daycare off the table as an excuse.
posted by dw at 9:22 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
But:
1. You have to have an employer who offers them (and not all do)
2. $5k would cover four months, tops, in Seattle
As is, there's a child and dependent care deduction, but it caps at $3000 if your income exceeds middle-class-ness, and it's off AGI, not off your tax bill. So for those of us in mumblety-mumblety tax bracket, it's an OK deduction, but it barely covers anything.
We need some hardcore childcare reform in this country, beginning with state-subsidized daycare. We tried having one parent stay home when my daughter was born, but we got poor in a hurry. But then we had to do the math to make sure going back to work made sense given the cost of daycare.
I know there's some old Cold War BS wrapped up in it (THE SOVIETS OFFERED FREE DAY CARE! INDOCTRINATE AT AN EARLY AGE!) but, srsly, we need to make child care affordable. Raising the FSA is nice, but it's only a small start for a problem that needs a holistic approach. If we really want "welfare mothers" working, we should take the cost of daycare off the table as an excuse.
posted by dw at 9:22 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you add up all the deductions and subtract them from your income and get a negative number, you can convert some an IRA to a Roth IRA. That then has to get added to your income to get your income-deductions back to exactly zero (or whatever is optimal for your situation).
I'm sure the single mother working paycheck to paycheck is going to be thrilled about that one.
posted by Talez at 9:23 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm sure the single mother working paycheck to paycheck is going to be thrilled about that one.
posted by Talez at 9:23 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
dersins: "The Republican-dominated house throws the election to the non-Trump conservative who is now in the mix because he won Utah, thus coming in third place.
"
Wow, I kinda want this to happen to watch the shit storm that results from a presidential candidate who garners 3rd place in popular vote and a whole 6 electoral college votes become president. A 3rd party candidate no less.
posted by Mitheral at 9:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
"
Wow, I kinda want this to happen to watch the shit storm that results from a presidential candidate who garners 3rd place in popular vote and a whole 6 electoral college votes become president. A 3rd party candidate no less.
posted by Mitheral at 9:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
trump is speaking in detroit now, maybe this is a good time for a new thread…
posted by murphy slaw at 9:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Loooot of heckling and people being dragged out in Detroit today.
posted by Don Pepino at 9:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Don Pepino at 9:24 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also not sure if most employers offer FSAs and HSAs, or if it is possible to sign up for one independently if your employer doesn't offer it. It takes quite a bit of hoop-jumping to prove that the income you're not being taxed on is specifically going toward childcare expenses or health expenses, and to reflect the non-taxable-ness on your W2. It takes a payroll department with substantial expertise to pull it off, so small businesses and private individuals with employees have a hard time offering these benefits unless they hire a payroll company.
We're a very small office these days. It's not that hard. You sign up with a company that administers the FSA/HSA, employees decide how much they want to save per paycheck. You deduct contributions from their pay along with their other withholdings and send the FSA/HSA provider a check (for the all the participants contributions plus the small monthly admin fee). The provider issues debit cards to the plan participants (or accepts claims submitted by receipt) and does any auditing/substantiation of charges required.
It's not terribly hard but it's not all that amazing a benefit. You have to decide up front how much you want to set aside, there can be use it or lose it rules, there are limitations designed to prevent abuse that encourage inefficiency (such as quantity restrictions) etc.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:25 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
We're a very small office these days. It's not that hard. You sign up with a company that administers the FSA/HSA, employees decide how much they want to save per paycheck. You deduct contributions from their pay along with their other withholdings and send the FSA/HSA provider a check (for the all the participants contributions plus the small monthly admin fee). The provider issues debit cards to the plan participants (or accepts claims submitted by receipt) and does any auditing/substantiation of charges required.
It's not terribly hard but it's not all that amazing a benefit. You have to decide up front how much you want to set aside, there can be use it or lose it rules, there are limitations designed to prevent abuse that encourage inefficiency (such as quantity restrictions) etc.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:25 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
What are the chances that a candidate like McMullin, with enough monetary and other support from the GOP establishment, could keep Clinton from reaching 270 EVs?
The best you can say about it is that it would not violate any known physical laws.
I would worry more about being eaten by a tiger or grizzly bear, whichever is less likely in your area, being struck on the head by a bolide with at least 100 megajoules of kinetic energy, or how to cope when asked to become the next ruling monarch of Sweden*.
*If you are Swedish, substitute Lesotho.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:25 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
The best you can say about it is that it would not violate any known physical laws.
I would worry more about being eaten by a tiger or grizzly bear, whichever is less likely in your area, being struck on the head by a bolide with at least 100 megajoules of kinetic energy, or how to cope when asked to become the next ruling monarch of Sweden*.
*If you are Swedish, substitute Lesotho.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:25 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
trump is speaking in detroit now, maybe this is a good time for a new thread…
Trump possibly getting a second black supporter is significant news?
posted by Talez at 9:26 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Trump possibly getting a second black supporter is significant news?
posted by Talez at 9:26 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
If we really want "welfare mothers" working, we should take the cost of daycare off the table as an excuse
But then how will we punish poor women for opening their legs???
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
But then how will we punish poor women for opening their legs???
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
Well this way they can keep telling themselves that even though there was an electoral vote landslide for Clinton, the majority of Americans still support conservative principles and it was just factors beyond their control that lead to the conservative vote getting split.
And then they obstruct like hell because that's what the American People want.
posted by ckape at 9:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
And then they obstruct like hell because that's what the American People want.
posted by ckape at 9:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh hey, the full list of candidates for 2016 that the FEC knows about.
Welp, now it's a toss-up between HAVE SEX WITH ME (unaffiliated), DOT COM A WANDRLUSTR (Prohibition), and SIR TRIPPYCUP AKA YOUNG TRIPPZ AKA THE GOAT AKA THE PROPHET AKA EARL (Federalist), as far as I'm concerned.
So, thanks for that. Is what I'm saying.
posted by rp at 9:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Welp, now it's a toss-up between HAVE SEX WITH ME (unaffiliated), DOT COM A WANDRLUSTR (Prohibition), and SIR TRIPPYCUP AKA YOUNG TRIPPZ AKA THE GOAT AKA THE PROPHET AKA EARL (Federalist), as far as I'm concerned.
So, thanks for that. Is what I'm saying.
posted by rp at 9:27 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
TRUMP IS GETTING A *SECOND* BLACK SUPPORTER????
STOP THE PRESSES!
posted by dw at 9:28 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
STOP THE PRESSES!
posted by dw at 9:28 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm still trying to figure out whether there's any plausible way for McMullin to hurt Clinton's chances.
Are there any states that don't automatically award EVs to the candidate with the most votes if that candidate doesn't crack the 50% mark? Maybe they pass the decision over to the state congress?
What's the likelihood that McMullin could drop out after the election but before the EVs had cast their votes and ask his EVs to vote for the Trump (or vice versa)?
The best-case scenario is that the group behind McMullin is putting country before party, and is simply giving Republicans and independents a non-Hillary, non-Johnson option to vote for on election day, with no hope of actually influencing the contest any further than guaranteeing that Trump doesn't win, but I've seen too many GOP dirty tricks to blindly accept that explanation.
posted by syzygy at 9:29 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Are there any states that don't automatically award EVs to the candidate with the most votes if that candidate doesn't crack the 50% mark? Maybe they pass the decision over to the state congress?
What's the likelihood that McMullin could drop out after the election but before the EVs had cast their votes and ask his EVs to vote for the Trump (or vice versa)?
The best-case scenario is that the group behind McMullin is putting country before party, and is simply giving Republicans and independents a non-Hillary, non-Johnson option to vote for on election day, with no hope of actually influencing the contest any further than guaranteeing that Trump doesn't win, but I've seen too many GOP dirty tricks to blindly accept that explanation.
posted by syzygy at 9:29 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread took a bizarre turn into electoral college slashfic. No 3rd party latecomer is going to take a single EC vote under any circumstances, certianly not a noboby with less than zero profile. Not even in Utah.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:29 AM on August 8, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:29 AM on August 8, 2016 [27 favorites]
I love how Trump tells us how the tax code is too complicated and we spend so much money doing taxes and then announces that he's going to cut the number of tax brackets, as if the reason taxes are a pain involves people laboriously working out the amount of tax they own by hand and having only three brackets would simplify their arithmetic.
posted by zachlipton at 9:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
Glad to see Deez Nuts still hanging in there!
Dat Phat A$$ or Commander Cobra all the way.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Dat Phat A$$ or Commander Cobra all the way.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Today's Amazon Deal of the Day is to Save Up To 40% On Mountain House Freeze Dried Food -- 3 day emergency food supply. I feel like someone is trolling us.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:33 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:33 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Now he's citing the New York Post as evidence that Trump personally saved New York City.
posted by zachlipton at 9:34 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:34 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
As a quick reminder: Perot got 19% of the vote in '92 and didn't win a single EV.
posted by snofoam at 9:35 AM on August 8, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 9:35 AM on August 8, 2016 [20 favorites]
Are there any states that don't automatically award EVs to the candidate with the most votes if that candidate doesn't crack the 50% mark? Maybe they pass the decision over to the state congress?
Maine and Nebraska use a Congressional district model, where the candidate who gets the most votes in each CD gets 1 EV for that CD, and the candidate who gets the most votes statewide gets 2 more. No other state does anything but "most votes gets all the EVs" (some knob in Michigan had a proposal in the last few years that was sorta-proportional that not even the GOP legislature would take seriously because it was so nakedly "Hey, let's give the Republican a few EVs").
What's the likelihood that McMullin could drop out after the election but before the EVs had cast their votes and ask his EVs to vote for the Trump (or vice versa)?
The EC doesn't care whether you've dropped out, as long as you're alive. Theoretically, a candidate could say "Vote for someone else", but there are various faithless elector laws that may or may not apply.
posted by Etrigan at 9:38 AM on August 8, 2016
Maine and Nebraska use a Congressional district model, where the candidate who gets the most votes in each CD gets 1 EV for that CD, and the candidate who gets the most votes statewide gets 2 more. No other state does anything but "most votes gets all the EVs" (some knob in Michigan had a proposal in the last few years that was sorta-proportional that not even the GOP legislature would take seriously because it was so nakedly "Hey, let's give the Republican a few EVs").
What's the likelihood that McMullin could drop out after the election but before the EVs had cast their votes and ask his EVs to vote for the Trump (or vice versa)?
The EC doesn't care whether you've dropped out, as long as you're alive. Theoretically, a candidate could say "Vote for someone else", but there are various faithless elector laws that may or may not apply.
posted by Etrigan at 9:38 AM on August 8, 2016
We're a very small office these days. It's not that hard.
[to offer a childcare FSA]
Yes but...
But you have to have an employer who offers them (and not all do)
Even if the cost of hiring an administrator isn't that high, I guess some employers don't see the point in doing so.
And if you tried to offer a childcare tax deduction without the pain-in-the-butt parts of the FSA, how would you know if people were really spending that untaxed income on childcare? All the paperwork is about verifying that your "childcare expenses" are really legitimate childcare expenses. I don't really see how else Trump can offer a (bigger) childcare tax deduction other than just raising that FSA limit, which yeah, if your employer doesn't feel like paying for someone to administrate that, doesn't help you at all.
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:40 AM on August 8, 2016
[to offer a childcare FSA]
Yes but...
But you have to have an employer who offers them (and not all do)
Even if the cost of hiring an administrator isn't that high, I guess some employers don't see the point in doing so.
And if you tried to offer a childcare tax deduction without the pain-in-the-butt parts of the FSA, how would you know if people were really spending that untaxed income on childcare? All the paperwork is about verifying that your "childcare expenses" are really legitimate childcare expenses. I don't really see how else Trump can offer a (bigger) childcare tax deduction other than just raising that FSA limit, which yeah, if your employer doesn't feel like paying for someone to administrate that, doesn't help you at all.
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:40 AM on August 8, 2016
I take it back. ACTUAL LITERAL DRAGON (Socialist) has my vote. I know better than to vote against a Dragon.
posted by rp at 9:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by rp at 9:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [11 favorites]
New thread.
Aww we didn't even get to 3000.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Aww we didn't even get to 3000.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:41 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm just assuming that all those people listed on the SEC list haven't actually received $5000 in contributions or spent $5000 on their "candidacy" (including Deez Nuts, Deez W. Nuts, Bofa Deez Nuts, Ceedeez Nuts and Hold Ma Nuts) but just filed the form - but serious question, why is Gary Johnson (Libertarian) listed first alphabetically?
posted by yhbc at 9:42 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yhbc at 9:42 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
He keeps talking about how terrible regulation is, but has not identified a single regulation he would eliminate.
posted by zachlipton at 9:44 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 9:44 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you add up all the deductions and subtract them from your income and get a negative number, you can convert some an IRA to a Roth IRA. That then has to get added to your income to get your income-deductions back to exactly zero (or whatever is optimal for your situation).
I'm sure the single mother working paycheck to paycheck is going to be thrilled about that one.
Yeah, I know. That's why the last line of that comment is, "And if you're a low-income family, you don't have an IRA so this already esoteric loop-hole is useless."
I only included that information on the off chance that that loop-hole might help anyone out. Mrs. VTX's last year of college was great because she was able to convert almost $8,000 from an IRA to a Roth. That's $8,000 that went from "will be taxed later" to "has been taxed as much as it ever will be" and the actual tax dollars paid on that income is and always will be $0. And, I think that if the Roth account had already existed for five years at the time, we could have withdrawn that $8,000 penalty free but it was a new account and not cash that we needed so I didn't look into it.
Or I suppose now if someone tries to tell you that Trump's proposal really does have benefits and they trot this out, you'll have seen it before and can shoot it down. But, as I have said, it's a weird scenario that probably won't come up. Still, it's the closest I can come with to a way that the policy could potentially benefit poor families and it's still so far from a real benefit that it can't even see what the real benefits of good policies look like.
posted by VTX at 9:44 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm sure the single mother working paycheck to paycheck is going to be thrilled about that one.
Yeah, I know. That's why the last line of that comment is, "And if you're a low-income family, you don't have an IRA so this already esoteric loop-hole is useless."
I only included that information on the off chance that that loop-hole might help anyone out. Mrs. VTX's last year of college was great because she was able to convert almost $8,000 from an IRA to a Roth. That's $8,000 that went from "will be taxed later" to "has been taxed as much as it ever will be" and the actual tax dollars paid on that income is and always will be $0. And, I think that if the Roth account had already existed for five years at the time, we could have withdrawn that $8,000 penalty free but it was a new account and not cash that we needed so I didn't look into it.
Or I suppose now if someone tries to tell you that Trump's proposal really does have benefits and they trot this out, you'll have seen it before and can shoot it down. But, as I have said, it's a weird scenario that probably won't come up. Still, it's the closest I can come with to a way that the policy could potentially benefit poor families and it's still so far from a real benefit that it can't even see what the real benefits of good policies look like.
posted by VTX at 9:44 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hey, there's still time to send in a Form 2 for SPHERE OF PURE RAGE, SHRIEKING WHITE HOT...
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:46 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:46 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
If it had been the introductions of a tax credit on the other hand, it would have been a great policy (assuming a reasonable amount for the credit).
Be careful of the terminology. All tax credits can reduce taxes, but there are two types of tax credits -- non-refundable and refundable. A non-refundable tax credit cannot reduce your tax below zero. On the other hand, a refundable tax credit can result in you getting a payment instead of a tax bill. This is how the Earned Income Tax Credit works. You get a payment from the government even if you owe no taxes.
So whenever a candidate proposes a tax credit, the first question you should ask is whether it is non-refundable or refundable. A non-refundable tax credit is of little or no use to low income families since they already pay little or no income taxes. A refundable tax credit, like the EITC is better for poor families.
posted by JackFlash at 9:47 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
Be careful of the terminology. All tax credits can reduce taxes, but there are two types of tax credits -- non-refundable and refundable. A non-refundable tax credit cannot reduce your tax below zero. On the other hand, a refundable tax credit can result in you getting a payment instead of a tax bill. This is how the Earned Income Tax Credit works. You get a payment from the government even if you owe no taxes.
So whenever a candidate proposes a tax credit, the first question you should ask is whether it is non-refundable or refundable. A non-refundable tax credit is of little or no use to low income families since they already pay little or no income taxes. A refundable tax credit, like the EITC is better for poor families.
posted by JackFlash at 9:47 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
The most vocal Bernie holdout on my friends list is currently conducting a thought experiment: Convince him
Perhaps copy and paste one of Bernie's pro-Clinton pieces verbatim in his comments. Each time he rejects this evidence, post another one of Bernie's pro-Clinton pieces.
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
Perhaps copy and paste one of Bernie's pro-Clinton pieces verbatim in his comments. Each time he rejects this evidence, post another one of Bernie's pro-Clinton pieces.
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
Perhaps copy and paste one of Bernie's pro-Clinton pieces verbatim in his comments.
Anecdotal evidence from my own Facebook feed: this...does not go over well.
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:51 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Anecdotal evidence from my own Facebook feed: this...does not go over well.
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:51 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yep. Reporter goes to Amish country in PA and does Trump impressions to get their take.
The Amish PAC is a real thing aimed at turning the Amish into republican voters.
posted by peeedro at 9:52 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Amish PAC is a real thing aimed at turning the Amish into republican voters.
posted by peeedro at 9:52 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Shrieking White-Hot Sphere Of Pure Rage / Red Hot Nickel Ball 2020!
posted by Spathe Cadet at 9:54 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 9:54 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
Just for the record, there is a child & dependent care tax credit distinct from the FSA process. Filers can claim expenses up to $3000 per child or up to $6000 total. (You can't claim the same expenses towards both, of course.) That credit is neither refundable nor means- tested. (There is also a child tax credit that is means-tested and partially refundable, and the EITC which is means-tested and refundable.) This piece from Urban Institute lays out the various child-related benefits fairly succinctly.
posted by yarrow at 10:07 AM on August 8, 2016
posted by yarrow at 10:07 AM on August 8, 2016
new thread
When I read that, it sounds in my head like the scene in Dark Star at 8 minutes in when alarms go off and Pinback says "New star!."
Benson, Arizona,..
posted by Devonian at 10:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
When I read that, it sounds in my head like the scene in Dark Star at 8 minutes in when alarms go off and Pinback says "New star!."
Benson, Arizona,..
posted by Devonian at 10:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Inside the swing-state trench warfare
Okay, so the article says this:
posted by peeedro at 10:34 AM on August 8, 2016 [28 favorites]
Okay, so the article says this:
In Virginia, local GOP leaders say Trump’s recent visits to some of the state’s most critical battlegrounds have also included a heavy dose of the candidate’s personal fact-finding inquiries. "He just stopped and said, 'We’ve got to win Loudoun. How do we win Loudoun?’" Will Estrada, the chairman for the Northern Virginia exurb, said of the encounter he had last week with Trump on the sidelines of a campaign rally.but here's a from the transcript of an interview on Aug 2 with The Washington Post's Philip Rucker:
RUCKER: Whoever wins Loudoun wins the election.The non-sequitur about 800 acres is probably a reference to the Trump National his golf course in Loudoun. And then there's this article about the campaign rally in Loudoun which demonstrated Trump has no idea who lives there and what their priorities are:
TRUMP: Is that what you think?
RUCKER: It’s one of the swing counties, yeah.
TRUMP: Hey, George! Come here. He just said whoever wins Loudoun wins the election. This is Loudoun.
GEORGE GIGICOS, Trump campaign aide: We’re in Loudoun County now.
TRUMP: You got 800 acres in Loudoun.
RUCKER: Loudoun, Fairfax —
TRUMP: What about Fairfax? Same thing?
“Loudoun County is so important,” he told the crowd at the offset of the rally.Then he goes on to list a bunch of factories that closed in other parts of the state, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio as evidence that the economy is awful in Loudoun.
But—evidenced by his speech—he doesn’t understand it. At all. And if he wants to compete there, he’s going to have to learn quick.
Loudoun is the richest county in America. That’s due in part to the enormous amount of money the federal government spent on the War on Terror in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The place is replete with defense contractors, engineers, and rocket scientists. And it’s recession-proof; while the rest of the country struggled through the Great Recession, Loudoun kept sprouting up neighborhoods of McMansions, seemingly with a swimming pool in every backyard.
But Trump seems to think it’s part of the Rust Belt. Toward the end of his speech—to an atypically preppy, professional, clean-cut audience—the candidate bashed the county economy.
“You’re doing lousy over here, by the way, I hate to tell you,” he said.
That is empirically false.
posted by peeedro at 10:34 AM on August 8, 2016 [28 favorites]
Loudoun....factories.
That's adorable.
(I live as close to Loudoun as it's possible to get while still having a Fairfax County address, my wife works in Ashburn...if the entire US manufacturing base spontaneously turned into tiny rubber ducks, I'm not sure anyone there would notice within the month.)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
That's adorable.
(I live as close to Loudoun as it's possible to get while still having a Fairfax County address, my wife works in Ashburn...if the entire US manufacturing base spontaneously turned into tiny rubber ducks, I'm not sure anyone there would notice within the month.)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Trump makes ad featuring image of a Chicago business owner who actually supports Clinton.
I hope he gets in touch with a lawyer, and he should check the licensing on the stock footage site - for most of them, it's against the rules (and therefore copyright infringement) to use the works to make it seem like the person/people in them are endorsing something.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:51 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I hope he gets in touch with a lawyer, and he should check the licensing on the stock footage site - for most of them, it's against the rules (and therefore copyright infringement) to use the works to make it seem like the person/people in them are endorsing something.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:51 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
“You’re doing lousy over here, by the way, I hate to tell you,” he said.
That is empirically false.
The Trump supporters in Loudon probably believe him, though, nevertheless.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:52 AM on August 8, 2016
That is empirically false.
The Trump supporters in Loudon probably believe him, though, nevertheless.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:52 AM on August 8, 2016
Loudoun....factories.
Yep. For people who don't know, Loudoun is McMansions, wineries, golf courses, and vanity horse farms. And Trump asked these people if any of them lost their job at a Smithfield plant that closed in Hampton Roads.
posted by peeedro at 10:53 AM on August 8, 2016 [17 favorites]
Yep. For people who don't know, Loudoun is McMansions, wineries, golf courses, and vanity horse farms. And Trump asked these people if any of them lost their job at a Smithfield plant that closed in Hampton Roads.
posted by peeedro at 10:53 AM on August 8, 2016 [17 favorites]
ACTUAL LITERAL DRAGON (Socialist)
Hiram McDaniels?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 10:57 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
Hiram McDaniels?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 10:57 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
Hiram McDaniels (Republican, Green, Republican, Libertarian, Burn The World Party)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:07 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:07 AM on August 8, 2016 [7 favorites]
Has Trump ever been asked "why don't people don't like you?" in an interview?
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:13 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:13 AM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
Has Trump ever been asked "why don't people don't like you?" in an interview?
Probably not, because even the most dimwitted interviewer already knows the answer is "because Trump is an asshole."
posted by dersins at 11:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Probably not, because even the most dimwitted interviewer already knows the answer is "because Trump is an asshole."
posted by dersins at 11:30 AM on August 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Anecdotal evidence from my own Facebook feed: this...does not go over well.
Exactly the reason to do it. And do it again and again.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:34 AM on August 8, 2016
Exactly the reason to do it. And do it again and again.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:34 AM on August 8, 2016
Probably not, because even the most dimwitted interviewer already knows the answer is "because Trump is an asshole."
The idea is to get Trump to answer that question, because he's not going to say that. And whatever he does say could be very telling indeed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:36 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
The idea is to get Trump to answer that question, because he's not going to say that. And whatever he does say could be very telling indeed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:36 AM on August 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
Probably not, because even the most dimwitted interviewer already knows the answer is "because Trump is an asshole."
The idea is to get Trump to answer that question, because he's not going to say that. And whatever he does say could be very telling indeed.
"Jealousy."
(Yes, I know that he would mean "envy", but I'd bet $100 on Trump not knowing the difference.)
posted by Etrigan at 11:37 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
The idea is to get Trump to answer that question, because he's not going to say that. And whatever he does say could be very telling indeed.
"Jealousy."
(Yes, I know that he would mean "envy", but I'd bet $100 on Trump not knowing the difference.)
posted by Etrigan at 11:37 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would expect Trump to reject the premise of the question. People love him! Everybody loves him! He has the biggest rallies! They can't even fit all the people into his rallies! He won huge in all the primaries! [Outlier poll] said he was doing great! Etc.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 11:45 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 11:45 AM on August 8, 2016 [6 favorites]
I guess we should've listened to those Peak Stevers about 900 comments ago.
posted by rikschell at 11:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by rikschell at 11:49 AM on August 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Be careful of the terminology. All tax credits can reduce taxes, but there are two types of tax credits -- non-refundable and refundable.
I wasn't aware of that, thank you. I was assuming that all tax credits were refundable so let me amend that say that if the proposal had been for a refundable tax credit, it would be an excellent policy.
And just for anyone that doesn't know the difference, with a refundable tax credit, the IRS just puts that amount towards your tax liability for the year whether you have one or not. If he credit is for, say, $5,000, and your tax liability before the credit is $0, you get a $5,000 refund. So it's basically just a way for the government to subsidize things. They essentially just write you a check and apply it to your tax burden for the year and you keep whatever is left over.
I just like to point that out so that everyone knows that the infrastructure is already there in the form of refundable tax credits for any proposal that involves the federal government cutting a check to tax-payers. A universal basic income, for example.
posted by VTX at 11:57 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
I wasn't aware of that, thank you. I was assuming that all tax credits were refundable so let me amend that say that if the proposal had been for a refundable tax credit, it would be an excellent policy.
And just for anyone that doesn't know the difference, with a refundable tax credit, the IRS just puts that amount towards your tax liability for the year whether you have one or not. If he credit is for, say, $5,000, and your tax liability before the credit is $0, you get a $5,000 refund. So it's basically just a way for the government to subsidize things. They essentially just write you a check and apply it to your tax burden for the year and you keep whatever is left over.
I just like to point that out so that everyone knows that the infrastructure is already there in the form of refundable tax credits for any proposal that involves the federal government cutting a check to tax-payers. A universal basic income, for example.
posted by VTX at 11:57 AM on August 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
refundable tax credits for any proposal that involves the federal government cutting a check to tax-payers. A universal basic income, for example
It should be about two more election cycles, by my reckoning, before we hit a critical mass of ignorance in the Republican caucus where we can actually slip a UBI through by means of a false-flag rightwing think tank proposing massive "tax cuts" in the form of refundable tax credits
this is the true twelve-dimensional chess game
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:09 PM on August 8, 2016 [12 favorites]
It should be about two more election cycles, by my reckoning, before we hit a critical mass of ignorance in the Republican caucus where we can actually slip a UBI through by means of a false-flag rightwing think tank proposing massive "tax cuts" in the form of refundable tax credits
this is the true twelve-dimensional chess game
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:09 PM on August 8, 2016 [12 favorites]
I would expect Trump to reject the premise of the question. People love him! Everybody loves him! He has the biggest rallies! They can't even fit all the people into his rallies! He won huge in all the primaries! [Outlier poll] said he was doing great! Etc.
He constantly talks about how people are underestimating and surprised by him. According to Trump, people are surprised by how smart he is, how much he knows about every topic, how great a person he is, how his campaign was more successful than any in history despite the naysayers, etc. It's his thing. He'd definitely reject the premise of the question but also blame the media for his low approval ratings.
posted by zarq at 1:27 PM on August 8, 2016
He constantly talks about how people are underestimating and surprised by him. According to Trump, people are surprised by how smart he is, how much he knows about every topic, how great a person he is, how his campaign was more successful than any in history despite the naysayers, etc. It's his thing. He'd definitely reject the premise of the question but also blame the media for his low approval ratings.
posted by zarq at 1:27 PM on August 8, 2016
In fairness to Trump, I would certainly be surprised to learn that he is smart, knows stuff, or is a great person.
posted by dersins at 1:41 PM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by dersins at 1:41 PM on August 8, 2016 [10 favorites]
The most vocal Bernie holdout on my friends list is currently conducting a thought experiment: Convince him to vote for either candidate without referencing the other candidate or any other branch of government.
Can we at least use the letter e?
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 4:05 PM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Can we at least use the letter e?
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 4:05 PM on August 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
The most vocal Bernie holdout on my friends list is currently conducting a thought experiment: Convince him to vote for either candidate without referencing the other candidate or any other branch of government.
How did that work for Bernie? "Vote for Bernie! He has ideas! His last couple of decades in another branch of government have no bearing here!"
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:18 AM on August 9, 2016
How did that work for Bernie? "Vote for Bernie! He has ideas! His last couple of decades in another branch of government have no bearing here!"
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:18 AM on August 9, 2016
Possible proof that Android users are unhinged narcissists and iPhone users are cynically calculating sociopaths: "Every non-hyperbolic tweet is from iPhone (his staff). Every hyperbolic tweet is from Android (from him)."
Very interesting technical text analysis supporting the idea that the iPhone and Android users are in fact separate people.
posted by maryr at 11:18 AM on August 9, 2016 [9 favorites]
Very interesting technical text analysis supporting the idea that the iPhone and Android users are in fact separate people.
posted by maryr at 11:18 AM on August 9, 2016 [9 favorites]
Boy, this thread certainly puts the tl in the dr.
posted by y2karl at 11:41 AM on August 9, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by y2karl at 11:41 AM on August 9, 2016 [7 favorites]
That's a fabulous find, maryr. From the conclusion:
A lot has been written about Trump’s mental state. But I’d really rather get inside the head of this anonymous staffer, whose job is to imitate Trump’s unique cadence (“Very sad!”), or to put a positive spin on it, to millions of followers. Is he a true believer, or just a cog in a political machine, mixing whatever mainstream appeal he can into the @realDonaldTrump concoction? Like Tony Schwartz, will he one day regret his involvement?posted by maudlin at 11:52 AM on August 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Holy fuck, he went there.
Trump on Clinton: "If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks." Adds, "Though the second amendment folks, maybe there is..."
...wow.
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:20 PM on August 9, 2016 [8 favorites]
Trump on Clinton: "If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks." Adds, "Though the second amendment folks, maybe there is..."
...wow.
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:20 PM on August 9, 2016 [8 favorites]
And there's video now as well.
My god, that is...well, we're beyond the pale already, but that...that's just...horrifying.
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:33 PM on August 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
My god, that is...well, we're beyond the pale already, but that...that's just...horrifying.
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:33 PM on August 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
It is kind of amazing. I'm not entirely sure that "the party where our candidate calls for the murder of the opposition leader" is the brand I'd be pursuing if I were a Republican.
I'd like to feel that no one would actually seriously try this, but I also hope that Hillary is stepping up her security. I'm sure she's pretty well covered but this would make me want to ramp up.
An assassination attempt by a Trumpist would tear the party apart, at least, I guess.
Or was he calling for picking off the judges? I hope they have security, and lots of it.
posted by Frowner at 12:47 PM on August 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'd like to feel that no one would actually seriously try this, but I also hope that Hillary is stepping up her security. I'm sure she's pretty well covered but this would make me want to ramp up.
An assassination attempt by a Trumpist would tear the party apart, at least, I guess.
Or was he calling for picking off the judges? I hope they have security, and lots of it.
posted by Frowner at 12:47 PM on August 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
I can't even believe he used his STRONG STATEMENT (disgusting aside) delivery style to suggest that assassinating a president/presidential candidate will keep the Supreme Court pure.
posted by xyzzy at 12:51 PM on August 9, 2016
posted by xyzzy at 12:51 PM on August 9, 2016
But he has not yet shot anyone on 5th Avenue and is only kidding, anyway, so take it in its proper doubleyoutee-eff proportion.
posted by y2karl at 12:56 PM on August 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by y2karl at 12:56 PM on August 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
SUREL- oh never mind.
posted by phearlez at 12:57 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by phearlez at 12:57 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
It is kind of amazing. I'm not entirely sure that "the party where our candidate calls for the murder of the opposition leader" is the brand I'd be pursuing if I were a Republican.
The idea that the Second Amendment is the last line of defense for liberty is one that's obviously been current in slightly more fringe right wing circles* for ages, but Trump alienating the Establishment definitely leaves more room for it, which is clearly terrifying.
*Not even always that fringe, Jesse Helms made his comment about Clinton needing a bodyguard in the 90s, and a Republican candidate somewhere referenced "Second Amendment" solutions pretty recently.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:57 PM on August 9, 2016
The idea that the Second Amendment is the last line of defense for liberty is one that's obviously been current in slightly more fringe right wing circles* for ages, but Trump alienating the Establishment definitely leaves more room for it, which is clearly terrifying.
*Not even always that fringe, Jesse Helms made his comment about Clinton needing a bodyguard in the 90s, and a Republican candidate somewhere referenced "Second Amendment" solutions pretty recently.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:57 PM on August 9, 2016
I can't even believe he used his STRONG STATEMENT (disgusting aside) delivery style to suggest that assassinating a president/presidential candidate will keep the Supreme Court pure.
I think that this is unfair to trump. A more sympathetic reading of his statement is that he is just calling for the assassination of judges.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:59 PM on August 9, 2016 [6 favorites]
I think that this is unfair to trump. A more sympathetic reading of his statement is that he is just calling for the assassination of judges.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:59 PM on August 9, 2016 [6 favorites]
I wonder if his media people sit up at night brainstorming - "here's a template for how we'll walk it back if he calls for the assassination of a major opposition figure", that kind of thing. I wonder how many templates you'd need and how awful they'd get.
posted by Frowner at 1:11 PM on August 9, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 1:11 PM on August 9, 2016 [6 favorites]
Meredith as shadowy Winter Soldier type figure.
posted by Artw at 1:15 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 1:15 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Clinton campaign is not letting this go:
A person seeking to be the President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way.
posted by NoxAeternum at 1:32 PM on August 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
A person seeking to be the President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way.
posted by NoxAeternum at 1:32 PM on August 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
Thomas Becket
posted by infini at 1:58 PM on August 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by infini at 1:58 PM on August 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
I wonder if his media people sit up at night brainstorming - "here's a template for how we'll walk it back if he calls for the assassination of a major opposition figure", that kind of thing.
They did get this response out there pretty fast.
posted by maryr at 2:07 PM on August 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
They did get this response out there pretty fast.
posted by maryr at 2:07 PM on August 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
I am a gun owner. The statement is unmistakeable. I am quite certain he is not calling for me to vote. (Note also the timing for this supposed vote -- AFTER HRC is elected and nominates SCOTUS justices. What "vote" would anyone have then?)
posted by bearwife at 2:26 PM on August 9, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 2:26 PM on August 9, 2016 [9 favorites]
I couldn't tell if that was THE Trump/election thread or not because the title sounds like one of Mallory Ortberg's RNC dispatches.
posted by maryr at 2:32 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by maryr at 2:32 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, as a gun owner and target shooter who has spent time on gun forums, "2nd Amendment solution" means shooting people / organizations. Its one of the justifications regularly given by the extreme/NRA gun types, that they need guns to protect themselves against the government (always seems laughable to me, if the government wants me dead they can launch a missile from a drone and vaporize my house, and even a pile of ARs isn't going to do anything...). This is often called a "2nd Amendement solution".
In other words, classic dogwhistling (even if it is a defective dogwhistle that humans can kinda hear too). It might be ambiguous to the general public, but it is a familiar phrase/idea to those in or familiar with right-wing gun culture. (Those of us who are recreational shooters but also liberal are used to hearing extreme/crazy right wing rhetoric even just hanging out at a range or an a forum ostensibly about the more mundane elements of gun ownership/usage/care).
posted by thefoxgod at 2:33 PM on August 9, 2016 [8 favorites]
In other words, classic dogwhistling (even if it is a defective dogwhistle that humans can kinda hear too). It might be ambiguous to the general public, but it is a familiar phrase/idea to those in or familiar with right-wing gun culture. (Those of us who are recreational shooters but also liberal are used to hearing extreme/crazy right wing rhetoric even just hanging out at a range or an a forum ostensibly about the more mundane elements of gun ownership/usage/care).
posted by thefoxgod at 2:33 PM on August 9, 2016 [8 favorites]
Wait, no, that was this one, I'm very confused.
posted by maryr at 2:33 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by maryr at 2:33 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
It may seem too early to call, but we already have a winner in the 2016 election.
posted by infini at 2:45 PM on August 9, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by infini at 2:45 PM on August 9, 2016 [8 favorites]
Wait, no, that was this one, I'm very confused.
It's Emma Lazarus actually. She is basically the Mallory Ortberg of the late 19th c. though, I guess.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:34 PM on August 9, 2016
It's Emma Lazarus actually. She is basically the Mallory Ortberg of the late 19th c. though, I guess.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:34 PM on August 9, 2016
Um, the GOP and/or conservatives calling for assassination is nothing new. And I am pretty sure no one would be surprised to learn that the senator from my state featured in the first two links gets a huge amount of support from the NRA.
posted by TedW at 5:49 PM on August 9, 2016
posted by TedW at 5:49 PM on August 9, 2016
From It may seem too early to call, but we already have a winner in the 2016 election.
This should lead to some serious soul-searching inside the Republican party.
Pull the other leg; this one's long enough already.
posted by phearlez at 6:50 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
This should lead to some serious soul-searching inside the Republican party.
Pull the other leg; this one's long enough already.
posted by phearlez at 6:50 PM on August 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
"Have you noticed that our caps actually have little pictures of skulls on?"
posted by Artw at 8:45 PM on August 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:45 PM on August 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
are there any good podcasts for foul-mouthed, opinionated coverage of the election? i can't bring myself to watch the tv news or listen to npr but i would really love to here a human voice reacting to the insanity in an authentic way. :-/Check out Jacob Weisberg's TrumpCast podcast.
posted by murphy slaw at 6:22 AM on August 7
posted by blueberry at 9:59 PM on August 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
Trumpcast is amazing. And if anyone comes across a HillaryCast in the same vein, my Ask remains unresolved.
posted by sparklemotion at 1:18 PM on August 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sparklemotion at 1:18 PM on August 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
"Every non-hyperbolic tweet is from iPhone (his staff). Every hyperbolic tweet is from Android (from him)."
Can someone explain how to see which app posted a tweet? When I log in if I click the time stamp, I get the sort of pop-in-front-window-like-thing with the tweet, but it doesn't show iphone or android. I tried on my android phone and found the same.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:10 PM on August 10, 2016
Can someone explain how to see which app posted a tweet? When I log in if I click the time stamp, I get the sort of pop-in-front-window-like-thing with the tweet, but it doesn't show iphone or android. I tried on my android phone and found the same.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:10 PM on August 10, 2016
They took it out of the webpage display but it's in the API under the value source. Some if not all third party clients still show it. I use tweetbot and you can see here that it shows me that I used tweetbot to tweet this.
I didn't read the article but I would imagine they used the twitter API to pull all of his tweets and thereby got that result value to do their analysis.
posted by phearlez at 2:40 PM on August 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I didn't read the article but I would imagine they used the twitter API to pull all of his tweets and thereby got that result value to do their analysis.
posted by phearlez at 2:40 PM on August 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Gasp Pant Pant About to head over to the new thread, hopefully I'll catch up before it goes to 3000. But needed to comment on this:
. I'm really pissed right now, but it's not because one side or the other in American politics has whipped up my hatred of Russia. It's because Russia spied on my country and then sabotaged our political process
This so perfectly encapsulates how the people of many many countries feel about the United States. Which is not to invalidate your feeling of outrage, but it just jumped out at me.
Gasp Gasp Pant Gotta get over there if I'm ever going to catch up!
posted by bardophile at 2:17 PM on August 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
. I'm really pissed right now, but it's not because one side or the other in American politics has whipped up my hatred of Russia. It's because Russia spied on my country and then sabotaged our political process
This so perfectly encapsulates how the people of many many countries feel about the United States. Which is not to invalidate your feeling of outrage, but it just jumped out at me.
Gasp Gasp Pant Gotta get over there if I'm ever going to catch up!
posted by bardophile at 2:17 PM on August 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
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posted by wabbittwax at 11:02 AM on August 3, 2016 [23 favorites]