Trump. He's really trying to turn me into a conspiracy theorist.
As of today, I'm almost there with the fringers who say that Trump is a stalking horse. A bowling pin. A willing patsy. That he's "in on the play", taking a fall for Her Royal Heinous. Today (almost) put me in that column.
With an opponent as "target rich" as Hillary Clinton, how in the world can Trump do what he is doing? Yeah, he was raucous in the Rethug primaries. A bully. But now that he is the Rethug nominee, he's gone totally off the rails. It's truly as if he does not want people to vote for him.
With the 2016 presidential campaign in swing, anyone, and I mean anyone, who wanted to win an election against Hillary Clinton need only look at her vulnerabilities. A sky so rich with targets that it appears to be black:
*The Clinton Foundation. A pay for play scheme if there ever was one. Secretary Clinton trading off of her position as Secretary Of State to secure "donations" to the Foundation in return for favorable treatment by the U.S. government. Back in the day, it used to be called "influence peddling". As much contempt as I have for John Foster Dulles and what he did as SOS, I cannot imagine him taking a nickel.
*Hillary's Emails. She put national security at risk by using a compromised personal server, rather than the government's. Forget the reason that she did it for a moment. It doesn't matter whether it was so that she could send/receive emails from Sid Blumenthal (which was forbidden.) Whether it was to circumvent FOIA. Whether it was to interact with and grift for The Clinton Foundation. Whether it was for her convenience. "What difference does it make?" She compromised national security. The FBI questioned her, as well as staff. How long would any mortal (even George W. Bush) last as a POTUS candidate if their actions had been the subject of an FBI investigation?
*The lies. The big ones and even the little ones. #1 The use of a private server for my emails was approved. #2 We landed under sniper fire. #3 We were dead broke when we left the White House. #4 All my grandparents were immigrants (if by "all" she meant "one"). #5 I was named after Sir Edmund Hillary by psychic parents who named me 6 years before he scaled Mt. Everest.
*Wall Street speeches. One minute of listening to her is worth $6,000?
But despite all of these opportunities to clobber her, yesterday he said that the 2nd Amendment whack jobs could deal Hillary and, today, Trump accused President Obama of being the founder of ISIS and Hillary Clinton, the co-founder. He actually said that. I'm not sure that Rush Limbaugh or Michael Savage would make that statement. And they make a living out of playing to the fears of the crazies.
"Donald Trump insisted in a CNBC phone interview Thursday that President Barack Obama "absolutely" founded ISIS, and that Hillary Clinton was the terrorist group's co-founder."
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-obama-absolutely-founded-is...
Nobody is that bad, that wrong. Every single time. Maybe he is the dog that caught the car and he doesn't know what to do. Maybe he's clearing a path for Hillary. Gawd knows why, but he ain't acting like a man who wants to be president.
Comments
Game, set, match
Completely agreed. His behavior does not seem to be of a man who really wants this particular job. Hasn't for awhile, IMO.
Put me down for the CT on this one--I've been of this mind for months now...
the sting is playing out
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — In a rare show of humility by the boastful billionaire, Donald Trump is acknowledging that his presidential campaign faces challenges and could ultimately fall short.
If I were going with the CT, I'd say the Clintons and Trump have the GOP/ Tea Party by the balls
The changeover was too fast and coordinated.
I'm just shocked he hasn't called Hillary out on her assassination speeches.
Course, some of his useful dupes have, but of course, they're ignored by the MSM. It's amazing that everybody who's MAKING the points that you bring up is ignored as "Not Serious People".
If Trump ain't in on it, the media certainly is.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
You nailed it with one word...
...CHANGEOVER. Even NPR has given up on trying to be subtle about undermining the country.
With Trump's ego...I don't see it.
It's possible he is just a stupid person that believes Info wars shit he reads.
There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams
It would mean he is a fine actor.
He talks like a 4th grader.
He thinks like a 3rd grader.
He argues like a 5th grader.
Trump is not that good of an actor. He isn't acting, he is trying and this is how he does it. He is a stupid man.
There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams
I don't buy that he's stupid.
I could not have wheeled and dealt and rigged things to my favor the way he has in business. I would think that that would have taken some cogency requiring presence of mind. I just wonder what the split would be. He should get at least 50% of what the Clintons take in while in the WH. God knows, he's had to make a fool out of himself for an entire year. That should surely be worth half. He's probably a fool in the long run to trust that he'll ever actually get his half--knowing how his friends generally operate.
I feel compelled to point out that
there is a big difference between intelligence and cunning, and the latter is often mistaken for the former.
I think Donald Trump is just intelligent enough to be cunning; I think Hillary Clinton is intelligent enough to make her cunning dangerous.
"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." - Mark Twain
I feel compelled to point out that
there is a big difference between intelligence and cunning, and the latter is often mistaken for the former.
I think Donald Trump is just intelligent enough to be cunning; I think Hillary Clinton is intelligent enough to make her cunning dangerous.
"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." - Mark Twain
Good point.
n/t
You might be forgetting
the long conversation the Donald had with Bill Clinton over the phone before Tump announced.
Clearly, Hillary cannot win unless she runs against the most heinous opponent possible. Case closed.
The only problem that their plan is going to encounter if that
really is the case is if Johnson makes it to the debate stage.
I don't agree with a lot of his politics, but he doesn't come off as an asshole. I listened to him on JRE podcast the other day and while I didn't care for many of his positions, he is the only candidate in the race at the moment that doesn't disgust me. (not including Stein as actually being in the race because this is more of a movement building exercise for the Greens than an actual viable run.)
Sure, Trump may "toss" the election, but if he does I bet Gary Johnson gets a lot of those defecting republican votes that the Clinton's are counting on.
Bernie really fucked up by not abandoning the Dems to run with the Greens. He should have done it before the convention when the first evidence of electioneering in the Democratic Primary surfaced.
But I guess hindsight is 20/20 and all that...
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
I think Bernie may be trying to hang in there as a free agent
in case something happens to Her Heinous, be it her health fails or she gets charged with crimes regarding the Foundation. Then the Dems can turn to him as their candidate.
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I agree with ya there Elena.
I have been saying since the endorsement that the reason he was likely doing it was to keep his horse in the race as a viable alternative if something were to destroy the Teflon coating on the Clinton machine.
When he nominated her by acclaim but retained his delegates I think it was exactly in the event of such a situation as this.
At the time I thought it may have been for the e-mail investigation making her potentially nonviable, but a person with active symptoms of a progressively worsening condition that effects cognitive function is a MASSIVE concern and after Reagan people are more aware of it than ever.
The Dems better have a back up plan in place or they are soooo screwed.
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
Honestly, e.c.,
that's as good an explanation as I've heard. If you're right, I hope that the opportunity does come up for Bernie to lead the ticket. If she steps down, I hope it's because of her crimes and not bad health.
"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey
Another explanation
Trump is exhibiting the characteristics of an unmedicated bipolar person. Think Ted Turner.
Sometimes
Sometimes bad health and criminality are interelated. You know, things not good for your health.
I don't think that would be possible
I think Caine would be propelled to the front if Hill got indicted.
glitterscale
I think they may try that, yes. I hope we would take to the
streets in protest because certainly Bernie earned the top spot. Whether or not they'd pay attention to those protests and actually realize it's either nominate Bernie or lose to Trump would remain to be seen. Nobody voted for a conservative white Christian dude for the top spot on the Dem ticket. And as mentioned, Bernie never gave up his delegates at the convention.
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I don't think that would be possible
I think Caine would be propelled to the front if Hill got indicted.
glitterscale
I think so too.
I can't stick with Johnson as long as he supports TPP. That, IMO, is one of the most dangerously long-term things we face. Bernie's still in it, as far as I'm concerned. If both apparitions make it to November, I hope most people who can't pull the lever for either will vote for Stein. Strange times.
Johnson also supports eliminating the IRS and replacing income
tax with a consumption tax. Since 76% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, we'd pay the full rate on every dollar we earn. Who spends the smallest portion of their income? The wealthiest among us, of course. So it would be a regressive tax and since he wants it to be revenue neutral, it would hit the 76% hard. And no doubt hit most of the rest of the 99%, since most probably only save a few dollars and would pay tax on 90+% of their income. Knowing a consumption tax is coming, the wealthy would probably buy everything they need before the tax kicks in and then hoard it for the next 100 years, while the rest of us can't afford to stock up at all.
Johnson also wants to balance the federal budget, and his recommended method is, of course, cutting "entitlements". I'm so looking forward to being unable to retire.
Anyway, I know you're not supporting Johnson, but thought I would take this opportunity to spread the word about some of what I learned about him while watching his videos.
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That would go to Tim Kaine .
That would go to Tim Kaine . He completes stacking the deck.
As I noted above, I sure hope not, and I would protest it.
Unfortunately, I would not be surprised if that's how it worked out.
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OK. I just have to say...
... Her Heinous
(Perfect. Gave me multiple wry smiles. First time I've heard it put quite this succinctly.)
Thanks! Not original with me, I stole it from another commenter
here. Unfortunately, I don't remember from whom! Anyone want to lay claim?
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Love to, but it wasn't me. Although I use it often.
In another essay, someone referred to the Clintons as "the Underwoods". Genius.
"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey
We should all coopt it...
...and make it a meme. Priceless.
Coopt! Sounds much better than stole.
But either way, yes definitely, spread the joy.
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Just like Hillary didn't try to hide
the fact she was stealing the primary, Donald isn't trying to hide his throwing the race for her. Why do they/we even bother going through the motions anymore?
Enjoy every sandwich. (ripwz)
While I agree more than disagree, it should be remembered
that Trump will say anything that comes to mind and that he seems immune to "handlers and packagers." This is part of his appeal, "a real man striding in to save the town." Of course it's nutso but look who has voted for him. This is an unusual election year with Donald "Donald" Trump running against Hillary "Fanny Sweat" Clinton. 67% of potential voters - if polls are to believed - don't believe a word from her mouth, and Trump's negatives are almost as high.
The media is raking in huge profits from this matchup so I don't look for any sort of incisive analysis from that crowd.
I think Trump will continue to spout off, it will get reported with film, and those who favor him will continue to favor him. The Republicans who want a obedient president to aid capital in its continuing invasion of the global south will not be sad if The Lord in His wisdom calls The Donald home to his eternal reward because they've got Pence.
The Democrats, many of whom should know better, will vote for Clinton because...Well we have heard the specious reasoning and will find it inescapable.
"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"
What was the crowd thinking?
Let me preface my comment by saying I am not a Trump fan, though I have some near & dear who are. That being said, when I watched the clip of his 2nd amendment comment I was struck by two things. 1) Trump is the master of innuendo and 2) he was playing to his audience because they ate it up. The applause got louder for each of his little comments. The crowd didn't look like the fringe of society, but rather your everyday American.
Was everyone in that crowd thinking they would shoot a liberal? Or were they clapping as pushback against a policy they didn't agree with, i.e. a non-violent protest?
"I don't brake for liberals" was a common bumpersticker
in the southeast for a couple of decades at the end of the 20th century. His diehard supporters are used to this violent talk and, you're right, they want to hear it.
Normally, such crapola would turn off most of the country and the opponent would benefit. Maybe Clinton still will benefit but she is so deeply unpopular across the political spectrum, that Trump seems to be getting away with these out of bounds comments, at least for the time being.
It's a strange mood the country is in, mainly, in my opinion, because of the battering of wage earners and their precarious economic condition.
"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"
Yes. This is a huge factor.
Yes. This is a huge factor.
Actually...
If polls are to be believed, Trumps unfavorables are soaring to -32. Where as Hillary's have stabilized and have even come back to -11.5. If we were to go just by people favorable to Hillary voting for her and people voting for Trump that view him as favorable - then Hillary wins by over 10 points - 42.5 to 32.4.
Democrats, we tried to warn you. How is that guilt and shame working out?
Thanks for this information - I had not seen it.
"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"
"IF polls are to be believed"
That's the catch, isn't it, with all the reports of polls being crocked this way and that?
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
I had NPR on in the car last evening
On my way home from work.
They were interviewing self-identified Republican gun owners, every one of whom said they did not perceive Drumpf's comments as an invitation to violence. They heard a rally to vote against Clinton. One even said that as a gun owner, he was vehemently anti-violence because people who abuse guns are why gun owners can't have nice things. (That last sentence is a paraphrase!).
Interestingly, not a single one of them wanted to support Trump. (One said, "He was my 16th choice."). All said they would, however, in order to vote against HRC.
So I guess my point is that
We all hear what we want to hear. And the media's and all the Democratic talking heads' obsession with screaming about how murderous Trump is and yadda yadda isn't going to do a damned thing ... except, perhaps, cement more support for Trump, especially among those gun owners whose biggest fear is that someone is going to snatch all the guns away. And it won't matter what side of the political fence they're on in that case.
Which then makes me question whether he's such a buffoon after all ...
Yes, this matches a point
Yes, this matches a point that I have repeatedly tried to make to committed Hillary supporters. If they want their girl to win they had damn well better start making a case to the people as to why anyone should vote FOR her. As long as her entire campaign consists of screaming "Look at Trump!", she is losing, no matter what the polls say. As much as I hate what the Clintons have done to the Dem party, Trump scares the shit out of me. I don't want her to win, but I do want him to lose - and lose BIG. I want his style of demagoguery to be so utterly rejected by the voting public that it can never raise it's head again in my lifetime.
Yeah and I have a hard time believing
Hillary's boasts that she is sucking up a lot of republican votes. A few prominent republicans endorsing her over Trump is not going to resolve the visceral hatred so many people on the right have for Hillary.
I mean we don't like her one bit, but these people hate her with a white hot heat.
2nd amendment comment
I'm certainly not a Trump supporter. I am a hunter, and I own several long arms. I believe we need to reconsider our right to bear arms. Assault weapons are for those with an envy problem, as are expanded clips, and other weaponry and accessories designed to kill people with greater efficiency.
That said, I did not hear Trumps comment as intended to incite, or suggest violence. It was a stupid comment, but not what is construed by the MSM. Clinton is desperate.
"Clinton is desperate" - and has been for months,
ever since it started looking as though she might miss out on the Dem nomination - again. She and her team immediately started acting like rabid cornered rats, no trick too low, no attack too loathsome. And they're still at it.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
an extraordinary ride
This presidential election has every chance, after surprising twists and turns, ending up before January going in a most unexpected direction. When the wheels fall off while driving at high speed at the edge of a cliff, normal outcomes can be thrown out the window.
Almost the entirety of US media
is counting Trump down and out. Half the GOP establishment has abandoned him. All the Dems of course. It's difficult to find anything positive being written or spoken about Trump anywhere, in polite company.
But considering the nearly universally negative coverage he's getting, much of it extremely so, Trump's polling numbers are not nearly as bad as I'd expect them to be. What is he now, down seven points or so? Which indicates to me that a whole lot of people still support him, in spite of what all VIPs and respectable people are saying about him. These supporters, whoever they may be, are clearly not paying any attention to the opinions of their betters.
native
The US media MADE him into what he is as a candidate
That man got more free goddamn advertising during the primaries--and virtually all of it was positive.
Soon as he won? Complete 180.
So that's why you don't see much change in his polling. His supporters know, just like we do, that MSM is full of shit. They believe that for differing reasons than we do, but they do believe it.
This is precisely why Hillary is so terrifying
Never, ever have I seen all of the money and all of the media--all of the Big 6 and the little players too--lined up at the command of a single candidate.
At this point, the only difference between Democrats and Republicans are the industries they champion and the particular social causes they use to mobilize different sets of dumb yokels. That's all. Yet for the first time, both arms of the duopoly are coming together in agreement. No populist voice is being allowed to speak anywhere in the country.
This is big and it's scary.
I have to (grudgingly)give credit to the ruling class.
They truly understand the meaning and application of the word solidarity.
While it suits their purposes they whipsaw the working class between two parties.One for racist low info voters,another for tolerant low info voters.But when the people get a glimpse behind the curtain,and the crowd in the cheap seats gets too rowdy,the ruling class puts up a united front.
Order must be restored.
Solidarity
I give them credit, too.
The Republican Party bosses and DC Establishment Cartel have been signaling distress since the Conventions ended. One of the Two Parties is down and it can't get up.
So, they are trying to protect the last Party, the Democratic Party, which is all they have left to bamboozle voters to become the indentured servants of their Empire.
If Hillary, the last Neocon standing, goes down in defeat, then they got nuttin'. At that point, with both Parties broken, the people can swoop in and take back their democracy, support any Parties that represents the interests of the People. American workers desperately need representation in Congress. So do people under 40.
I will work to deliver a resounding defeat to the Democratic Party. It's the last chance the American people will have stop the globalists and the US Police State.
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
On another note, I don't get the ISIS outrage
…and the objection to Trump naming Obama and Hillary as founders.
I don't get all the umbrage among the media propaganders?
Is the problem that they were differentiated into the the roles "co-founder" and "founder?" Trump was wrong about that particular detail and I suppose it could be called sexist, since that is fashionable of late.
Is it that Trump didn't name the other founders, as well, and left the impression Obama and Hillary were the only founders and that they were micro-managing their partners (the Saudis, Qatar, and Turkey) as they executed the physical extermination of Shiites and secular governments across the Middle East on behalf of Israel and the Sunnis?
Or is it because ISIS has nothing to do with the United States, and by naming its foreign facilitators, Hillary and Obama, Trump was saying something the elite had tacitly agreed not to ever mention? (See above).
I seem to be the only one who doesn't get what this freak-out is about.
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Makes reports of Jill Stein
polling "lower than Gary Johnson" make more sense too, doesn't it?
Johnson does not seem to be Gooper-crazy, but he's no populist, either. OTOH, Sanders populism is shared in very large part by the Greens and by Jill Stein. I don't believe corporate information services, declaring their "polls" that show Stein is polling lower. I think they're lying.
I'm actually surprised that Johnson isn't polling better.
If you're a conservative Republican, and if you aren't a sociopath, Gary Johnson has to look good. He's intelligent and sane. He speaks well. And he probably isn't a bad person.
Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.
Same issue Stein has
no media attention, and no money to buy ad time, etc.
"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott
I'm waiting for the July FEC data
Both of them saw a strong uptick in contributions and contributors in the second half of June. Johnson had broken $1M in identifiable contributions as of June 30, and his average donation is high. Steins is lower (more like Bernies $350) but the trend was up.
I'm planning to do an essay after the next dump on August 20th of the large donation trends from July and maybe the statistics on candidate switching.
We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg
Would a person of color please read this and respond?
https://www.reddit.com/r/jillstein/comments/4xa3q1/racism_rampant_within...
It seems so out of character for the Green Party.
Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.
That post was removed but
This is from the mirror (ceddit--anytime you want to see a deleted post on Reddit just change the R in the URL to a C). This is NOT ME, I'm just copying and pasting:
Sounds like a very "Concerned" argument.
Un-named person second hand story, which just happens to paint the Greens as "Those awful people who HATE white people..."
I don't really think this should be admissible evidence in the court of public opinion. If completely true it just shows that the Greens are willing to give a voice to those who want to speak.
Honestly, every time I see this kind of "They want to be racist against white people!" type of argument, my eyes roll involuntarily.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Why?
I've known, heard and read plenty of blacks who wanted to be racist against white people (and obviously plenty that don't!). The idea that such a thing is impossible is a pure identity politics position. One I find too boring to argue about. I'm too old!
Is this post legit? Hard to know. I could easily see it being fake. But: Pretty stupid for the Greens to delete it without comment. If it's not true just come out and deny it. I guess Hillary isn't the only one who doesn't know how the Internet works.
My eyes roll because the argument...
is almost always followed up with a call for "White Nations For White People" or some other statement of pot and kettle.
Racists exist, and can exist anywhere. Calls that this person is a racist make my eyes roll, even when applied to Trump, because it's an attempt to vilify.
But I totally get you on the boring argument, because It well trodden ground and nobody ever feels good or uplifted after it's done.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Lol, Dog Bless you for making me laugh at loud for this
Don't believe everything you think.
Trump was given a
pass by the media right up until Clinton was the definite Dem nominee - then they ripped into him.
While everyone's attention was elsewhere over the past 8 years or so the Clintons were busy buying the Establishment - all of it.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
He's definitely throwing it for Hill
Her history of never letting a good lead get laid to waste means he has to work a lot harder to tip the scales back her way. If she starts showing a consistent lead of 10 points watch Trump become human again. If that happens according to script then I'd say there's absolutely no doubt.
How much do you need...
...to stop calling us "fringers?" Lord, believe your (not) lying eyes.
Heh
I think Trump has been a ringer all along, but I don't get insulted by being called a "fringer". I've tried that out for size at work and it's a harder sell than I thought, lol! People who don't believe it? They cite "Trump's ego", as in "he's so egotistical he'd never do that..." and they seem really certain of that. And I really don't get that, because to me, guys like Donald Trump always have a price.
But this might be pretty damned steep, even for The Donald. You start wondering how much does he love his country? I'm thinking lately this is yet another reason they're going to try and stall debates--it's all become so farcical, he can't pull it off convincingly.
I get you...
...on the "fringer" thing. I've had some good responses and great discussions at work when I speculate about the Trump plant. But, yes, we are a fringe, in that we are a minority. My hope is that more and more people will wake up until the majority is looking at things with eyes wide open. We might wear the "fringe" label as a badge of honor now, but I think sometimes that our mere vocabulary keeps us down. I wasn't insulted though. I do get it.
It's hard to see it otherwise HD. Tnx for laying it out so clear
You really summed it up:
Everything is upside down this year. The 2016 presidential race is the Greatest Fraud on Earth.
Btw, it always lifts my spirit to see the face of the great sage and rebel Bill Hicks. His words echo through as we watch aghast at ever-increasing bile that American politics and culture keep spitting up.
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
Thanks, MfQ.
I was a big Bill Hicks fan the first time I saw him on the teevee. I had the pleasure of seeing his act in person about 3 or 4 years before he died. I can't imagine how great his commentary about the shit show called election 2016 would be if Bill Hicks was still with us. Carlin too for that matter.
"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey
One of my best friends is a national comedian.
I have so much respect for his art, and the calling of comedians to speak truth to power, or as George Bernard Shaw made the point, "Mark Twain and I are in very much the same position. We have to put things in such a way as to make people who would otherwise hang us, believe that we are joking."
And though I remain disappointed in the trajectory that Colbert and Stewart have taken, comedians in this era have really stepped forward to claim the mantle deserted by the mainstream news media, of which those two paved the way for. People like John Oliver, Larry Willmore, Lee Camp, all have regular tv shows in which they've come to relied upon by many for the truth. Fuck the stale traditional news outlets. These guys are really making a difference. Colbert's White House Correspondant's Dinner speech, straight to Bsuh's face, still remains to me one of the greatest performances of all-time.
Let's not forget the amazing contributions of Russell Brand too. His "The Trews" YouTube channel was one of the best examples of a celebrity comedian/actor committing himself and his frighteningly sharp mind to the cause of exposing the news media and calling attention to the marginalized, and also speaking lovingly about the virtues of social movements. Lewis Black, also, another avowed and proud Socialist. Chris Rock's stuff early on was very socially aware and cutting too.
Of course over the years so many have trailblazed this road. Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor were also so powerful and visionary.
But then you have Bill, and George. For me too they stand apart singularly, Both so sagacious, fearless and brilliant. I often read and re-read (watch) their stuff. Their views on politics, philosophy, the vapidity and crassness of American culture, the human race have informed me and line up with mine more than most in the world. Great teachers, really. Poetic when they wanted to be, fire-breathing when they needed to be.
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
don't forget Lenny Bruce, he was not afraid.
"People ask me -if you hate America so much why don't you leave it? I answer 'because I don't want to be persecuted by Americas foreign policy' -Lenny Bruce
This is a truly great personal recap of the genre, Mark.
The whole tradition of satire-as-news is really an essay of it's own. You might bring this part back, sometime, so folks can comment their experiences, ideas, and memories, as well. I suppose this is really what the concept of "court Jesters" looks like, as it comes down through the ages. They delivered biting satire with a smile. From earlier centuries, Mark Twain and Will Rogers come to mind.
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Trump
I agree. Since the Dems convention Trump has gone postal. Not that he wasn't before. But it is crazy. I believe he and the "Underwoods" cut a deal. She gets the presidency and Trump gets whatever. Those rich assholes sick together.
Johanna Brackney
The "Underwoods". Ha!
Love it. Consider that one stolen.
"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey
Sentiment analysis of Trump's twitter feed
Original article here.
We all know that the candidates' feeds are partly managed by their teams, but it is interesting to see how well the simple Android/iPhone distinction captures the different sources.
It also shows that The Donald uses fear and negativity to rally his base, just like the Dems are doing. This makes me think that his antics are deliberate.
We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg
I have been all-in on the notion that they are twin sock-puppets
I've mentioned elsewhere that I think Trump won't release his recent tax records, because someone might notice giant contributions from the Clinton Foundation, or one of their many tentacles / spore pods / slime sacks / other "surrogates". Trump and Slick Willy were golf buddies, Epstein buddies, and the Clintons attended his wedding. It really is an oligarchy. One Party to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them...
"Capitalism is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work for the benefit of all."
- John Maynard Keynes
The Hill has written your essay today
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/291286-is-tr...
'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member