"It's not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It's about baking a new pie.”
~gloria steinem

i have a solution. if you live in a state where you're unable to write pie on the ballot, you can sneak actual pie into the voting booth. when they see crumbs on the voting machine, other voters will realize there is demand for pie. problem solved!

What better way to not register a valid vote in 40 states than to protest with pie? That'll show them all!

why must you continue to engage on topics that we all know are past their expiration date, when there's a new political strategy that is fresh and hot?

Well, you got me there, I confess; Don's blah, blah, blah was definitely dead on arrival and expired long ago.

a lemon pie could be brought into the voting booth to demonstrate how much voters hunger for political solutions in all fifty states.

Pies to the Polls! It's perfect; I love it. :)

In all seriousness, Don, all kidding aside.

I have no idea what all your posts say because I don't read all of them. True fact. I assume they're repetitive because I used to read them; I quit doing that long ago, and I would wager I'm not alone.

Confusing my trained memory skills and excellent search techniques of past comments with continuing to give a shit is the epitome of delusional. Allow yourself to stop doing that... or don't... I don't care. :)

One way to tell that someone has no response is that they don't address the points that show they are wrong and instead switch to another dubious claim they make up that has nothing to do with the subject at hand.

One way to tell that someone isn't reading all of your comments is when you notice that they aren't addressing your points. True to form, Don Harris personifies the definition of delusional by assuming I read his every word and chose not to address his points. It never occurred to the DH that I simply chose not to read his "blah, blah, blah." <-- Major props to CW here for yet another excellent description that's dead on accurate.

Paraphrasing and not quoting: You asked me why I was unable to find where you addressed "dubious claims on other threads" as if you hadn't already addressed them, and I replied that I don't read all of your comments and it was the height of ridiculous delusion that you believed anyone here would. I still can't stop laughing that you would delude yourself that any commenter(s) or the author of this blog would actually hang on your every word... which I will henceforth be referring to as "blah, blah, blah" because it's an awesome and factually accurate description... ranks right up there with unicorns farting rainbows and pixies frolicking in the meadow. :)

While I do not think that every commenter here hangs on my every word, it is apparent that you do.

The Word of the Day is "delusional". Tune in tomorrow, boys and girls, when the word of the day will be "blah" as in "blah, blah, blah."

I have none of the credentials normally listed in a bio. No degrees, no years of running a successful business and no experience in political campaigns or activism. I am simply an average person that has been working and living at survival mode. ~ Don Harris

Stupid is as stupid does.

Said the self-admitted uneducated guy with "no credentials," "no degrees," "no success," and "no experience."

I can't stop laughing. Please post some more Forrest Gump quotes that display your total lack of self-awareness. How about: "You never know what you're going to get..." from the guy who always posts the same blah, blah, blah. :)

why must you continue to engage on topics that we all know are past their expiration date, when there's a new political strategy that is fresh and hot? lemon pie could be brought into the voting booth to demonstrate how much voters hunger for political solutions in all fifty states.

JL

You seem to be able to go back and find my comments when you think it suits your purpose, why are you unable to find the responses to these dubious claims on other threads and keep repeating your obvious bullshit as if it is something that has not already been addressed?

You seem to be under the fantastical delusion that every single commenter on CW.com reads every one of your posts and hangs on your every word.

*peals of laughter*

I guess you enjoy appearing stupid. :)

i take an egalitarian approach to pie-based voting. supporters of pie of all shapes, sizes and fillings are welcome to join, with or without whipped cream. as for the whipped cream itself, i am skeptical of your canned response.

JL

Yes! Exactly right. :)

I'll be quoting you. Carry on.

So the next time the right wingers announce that more guns is the solution to too many gun massacres, ask them to put their money where their mouths is and advocate for the revenue required to implement their plans.

Great point. :)

Excellent example of delusion.

Yes, some of your ideas truly meet the definition.

Yes. I am equating One Demand with the Democrat's effort to get out the vote.

An excellent example of delusion, Don; glad we can agree on something.

I am trying to get Big Money Democrats and Republicans out by voting for small contribution candidates

We've already agreed that there are no small contribution candidates in existence. You cannot replace either a Democrat or a Republican you've slapped with a self-imposed label with a person who doesn't exist in America, and therein lies the primary source of the delusion, Don... where your fantasy doesn't square with others' reality.

and registering write in votes to create and demonstrate demand for small contribution candidates when there are none on the ballot.

Lots of delusional thinking involved here on your part also, Don, since there are eight (8) states in America where you can't even write in a vote, thirty-two (32) states in America where you can write in a vote but it isn't registered unless it is a vote for a preregistered write-in candidate, and only ten (10) states across the entire country where a true write-in is vote is registered.

* STATES WHERE BALLOTS HAVE NO WRITE-IN WHATSOEVER
Arkansas
Hawaii
Louisiana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota

* STATES +DC WHERE WRITE-IN IS AN OPTION

Alabama
District of Columbia
Iowa
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Oregon
Mississippi
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Wyoming

The remaining 32 states will not register your vote at all unless you vote for a preregistered write-in candidate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/write-in-votes/

Once again for full effect:

I am trying to get Big Money Democrats and Republicans out by voting for small contribution candidates and registering write in votes to create and demonstrate demand for small contribution candidates when there are none on the ballot.

There are never any on the ballot because there are none in existence. You can't vote for something that doesn't exist.

Writing in your own name:

* is not an option in eight (8) states.

* is ignored in 32 states.

* demonstrates a "One-Vote Demand" to elect yourself in ten 10 states and the District of Columbia.

How exactly is that the OPPOSITE of encouraging people to vote?

Encouraging people to vote for only people who don't exist requires no voting whatsoever. Encouraging people to write in their own name (or any name) when it isn't possible in 8 states and isn't registered/counted in thirty-two (32) states unless their write-in name is a preregistered authorized candidate requiring fees and/or thousands of citizens' signatures from their requisite state is undeniably moronic and might even constitute actionable fraud depending on legal definitions contained in various assorted state statutes.

So to recap: Your sad attempt at political activism is only viable in ten (10) states and the District of Columbia and might actually constitute actionable fraud in some states because you're dealing with people's Constitutional rights under statute.

Seriously, Don. Since you obviously need it spelled out for you and require spoon-feeding like a toddler, you literally would need to run your idea past a lawyer in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to ensure that what you're encouraging people to do isn't either against voting rules/statutes or an actionable violation of law.

Anyone who shills for you is assuming the same risk you're assuming, and you seriously believe someone... anyone... has an obligation to actually assume that possible risk on your behalf? Delusional.

Any questions? <--- rhetorical question :)

Just want to say that I think that argument is a rightwing tactic - you see it in many of their arguments. They try to reduce things to the individual because: 1) No one can "fix" every single person which leads to their no-one can do anything arguments, and 2) Fixating on the individuals deflects attention and blame from the contributions of group/structural forces and dynamics where political solutions ARE possible.

I did a back-of-the-envelope calculation on the cost, then assigned the cost to the people most responsible (the gun/ammo manufacturers).

It netted out, as I remember, to be about a $1,000/gun tax to cover the costs of all the additional security. Since adding $1000 per firearm would reduce sales, I also needed to add a 50% tax on ammo to close the gap.

So the next time the right wingers announce that more guns is the solution to too many gun massacres, ask them to put their money where their mouths is and advocate for the revenue required to implement their plans.

Kick...funny you mention the 'group innocent'. I agree totally. So what's your plan? Is it your intention to sing to the choir or hold some political feet to the fire?

In the immortal words of Robert Frost: "From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire," metaphorically speaking, of course.

Come on...this is a domestic issue in the US that has to be reconciled.

Agree.

If sane gun laws can't be agreed upon, all that's left is to gradually arm every environment, from daycare centres to retirement homes.

Disagree. Having a gun and knowing how to properly use it are two totally different things.

After Sandy Hook (my kids were the same age as the SH kids) I decided to take my complete hatred of guns to 11.

On a scale of what? Just kidding. I hear you, but I don't hate guns any more than I hate blunt knives. Not too fond of people that misuse them, though... makes my blood boil no matter who the bearer is or what their political bent. Misuse of guns isn't a political issue to me, it's a national health issue like opioids. Our Constitution grants citizens a right to bear arms, but I do not believe our founding fathers meant for citizens to have access to weapons of war whose sole purpose it is to kill multiple humans in rapid succession.

Guns are blunt and blatant, why dull the response?

Good question. These days it's popular to blame mental illness as the culprit versus the abundance of firearms unique to America. We obviously haven't cornered the market on mental illness versus any other nation, but gun violence is off the charts in comparison because guns are readily available. Seems like there ought to be a common sense solution in there somewhere that's a compromise, but here we are.

Thanks for responding with substantive answers; it is truly appreciated. :)

By the way, Kick, you missed the point, again. Heh.

Bless your heart, but your tired one liners aren't a substitute for the "productive and enlightening" and "muscular debate" you keep claiming you want... just the "same shit different day" and "as per usual" board monitoring and whining about language and barking out orders that you seemingly believe is a substitute for actual debate.

In short: Arguing about proper subjects, techniques, and language of debate is your thing, while actual debating... not so much.

Heh. :)

Chill.

I don't take orders, Elizabeth. You can keep barking them out until you're barking mad, and it'll net you exactly nothing for all your incessant whining and board monitoring. :)

Still waiting on your comprehensive list of "all of [Trump's] deleterious policies" so I can "be far more productive and enlightening" and "begin debating how Democrats should counter these with policies and solutions of their own." *shakes head*

Speaking of not that, behold...even royalty swears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDCn0lGhaLg

Kick...funny you mention the 'group innocent'. I agree totally. So what's your plan? Is it your intention to sing to the choir or hold some political feet to the fire? Come on...this is a domestic issue in the US that has to be reconciled. If sane gun laws can't be agreed upon, all that's left is to gradually arm every environment, from daycare centres to retirement homes.
After Sandy Hook (my kids were the same age as the SH kids) I decided to take my complete hatred of guns to 11. Guns are blunt and blatant, why dull the response?

LL&P

Hope you're having (or had) a lovely time out of country!

They are up to killing nuclear arms reduction treaties and they prefer war with Iran to change the regime instead of the behavior. We will all rue the day that they sabotaged the JCPOA.

They are up to quite a lot across most governmental departments but too many of us are focused on countering Trump by acting just like him.

Chill.

Comments like that don't belong here.

Utter bullshit, EM; this is exactly where comments like that belong. You keep claiming you want "muscular debate," and then you whine like a little bitch when somebody presents some.

Watch your language. This is not the place for it.

Oh, Elizabeth, damn you for this repetitive board monitor bullshit of yours. Is it safe to assume "damn" is acceptable since you used it in your comment above at 37?

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2018/10/26/ftp506/#comment-129772

Is there anything worse than an effing hypocrite? Allow yourself to stop giving orders, please, Elizabeth. No one here owes you a damn thing. :)

Of note, in regards to the bombs and shootings. Several Latin american papers in countries with relatively young stable democracies noticed Trumps behavior and failure to be a leader. they all universally called him out for behavior that threatens democracy. Which is notable since Trump and the US rarely make the real news section down here now-a-days.

@liz 35,

I would say that it is not that they are up to anything. It is quite simply an end product of having two draft dodgers in power and in a position to do as they want. After-all a draft dodger, especially one who dodged because they did not feel they had to fulfill their responsibilities,is the person I want controlling the leavers of power because they can only do it right.

JL 47,

I am curious how you will combat the problems of big money pie in the system, will adding whip cream to my big money pie as a form of protest cause big money to get out of the pie movement? How will this metric be measured to separate the protesters from those that just want whipped cream on their pie? Will the threat of whipped cream cause the inferior big money pies to get out of the system? I have 3.14159265 questions but not enough time....

A random thought to close on.

Since the GOP controlled law and order, security minded congress has done bupkis to secure our election I wonder how many HR and Senate races will be held captive due to "election meddling"?

OR

Will Trump and the GOP use "election meddling" to just outright suspend the election results to maintain power?

I used to think such talk was nonsense but given the shenanigans and propaganda of the last few weeks, I am not so sure. Tensions are heading towards a critical mass that will enable the repeat of some dark times in global history.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/28/world/africa/uganda-refugees.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld&action=click&contentCollection=world&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront

Uganda bests the US.

Be best, indeed.

That's what I thought you meant.

Heh.

I don't think he meant it that way.

Sometimes, I've found, from hard experience, that it's best to read a comment a couple of times and see if there could be any other meaning than the bad one you first read into it. Or, something like that. :)

What an appalling time to be American.

Easy for a Canadian to say. ;)

It's easy to get your head around the events of the last week, once you grip the notion that Trump is a sociopathic political slag.

Is that really fair to political slags? You had me at sociopath, though.

Of course it's a left-wing conspiracy when Trump's followers put his insinuations into action...Damn true it's not Trump's fault when the media microscopes a mad bomber or a fucking gun-totting Neo-Nazi, in liew of his barrage of politico-sewage...Without a doubt the thug-Saudi's are at the mercy of 'rogue' squads, striding the planet, conveniently shredding outspoken critics of their pro-American mid-eastern debacle...How can it not be true that Trump is going to pull a 10% tax cut for the people who voted for him, which were awkwardly omitted from the sweeping tax reform, out of his arse...It simply can't be believed that any Democratic midterm victory will have anything to do with Trump, he's pure as driven snow, the sun shines out of his arse.

Your sarcasm is just dripping with sarcasm today, sir; however, I fear it is dripping so thusly that many will lose your meaning. I, however, am not one of them.

Fuck me.

So we do have the sympathy of at least some of our friends to the North... comforting as well as truly appreciated.

What creates the mass-delusion that tens of millions of Americans see life through such a warped lens?

In a word: Ignorance.

How depressing it must be to wrestle within your own culture over such mundane things as race, religion and guns.

Oh, it's bad alright, but don't let the heightened rhetoric that generally surrounds the midterms give you the wrong impression... situation normal, all effed up -- snafu for short.

You'll get no sympathy from me when you hit my trifecta of ambiguity. "A white guy, revved up by right-wing conspiracy, walks into a Synagogue and blows away a bunch of religious zealots" I simply don't care. I see no difference between gun-totting freaks, the right-wing or religious nutters... they can have at each other all day long, and good riddance too.

Well, you lost me here because I see a huge difference. Regardless of their religious affiliation or for any other reason a large number of people might meet in any group anywhere... whether it be to get educated (Sandy Hook, Parkland, etc.), to watch a movie (Aurora), to attend a concert (Las Vegas), to generally party (Pulse, Orlando) or to attend a religious service (Tree of Life Synagogue, Mother Emanuel AME, etc.)… these are all innocent people that somebody took it upon themselves to exterminate for whatever reason, and that is not acceptable regardless.

Fuckem.

I hope somebody cares more about whatever group(s) you belong to than you seem to care about theirs. I would wager your attitude above likely mirrors some of the sentiments of the home grown American terrorists who felt it was necessary that they brandish multiple firearms and take the lives of innocents and law enforcement officers in rapid succession. Pity.

Maybe you're upset about something; I hope you'll elaborate, please. :)

Liz, we all rebuke in our own way, I find sarcastic brevity sprinkled with the occasional invective, catches the eye...

nyp, I apologise for being vague. The point I was making was, I don't make any distinction between the people/actions or beliefs of any of those involved in that latest shoot-up. To my mind, the world would be a better place without guns, right-wing fueled nutters and religion.

Seems you mistook my global contempt for the events and its players for an assignment of blame or innocence. Guns kill--Religion kills--Dogma slaughters. (besides, in my opinion, America doesn't get to whine every time a mass shooting happens. America has collectively decided that, while a good fence might make a good neighbour, superior firepower keeps their dog off your lawn)

However, like everyone else, I find the racist in the White House and the gun guy to be the bad guys in all of this. I advocate for the abolition of all religion, not the liquidation of its adherents...lengthy jail terms, public floggings, some mild keel-hauling's … naturally, but no massacres. ;)

LL&P

there are a few topics where that kind of humor is really not appreciated, no matter the intent. hate crime terrorism with multiple fatalities is one of those. you'll have to pardon my lack of a sense of humor on this.

JL

that is a good point. it's not just CW, but the news media as a whole who have been conspicuously silent on the potential political impact of pie. by failing to acknowledge this chance to make politics sweeter, they are not living up to their journalistic responsibility.

The "news media as a whole," you say? *long pause*

*laughs*

I see what you did there, you sneaker (high praise).
Plus, I do so love pie. ;)

Liz was not alone in sounding like me (Kick 38).

Funny how those of you that recently insisted it was aboot winning elections when talking aboot One Demand let Balthy slip on that.

Have you perchance considered the fact that Balthasar is a Democrat speaking about Democrats voting en masse for Democrats in order to remove Republicans from office? Because that's exactly what he was doing. The fact that you would even remotely equate Balthasar's sentiment regarding getting out the vote... GOTV... to your failed attempt at political activism that encourages exactly the opposite action speaks volumes about the depths of your delusion and is ample proof that Russ is dead on accurate with his sentiments that you're discussing "One Demand" as you fantasize it rather than the reality of what it truly is and confirms without question JL's sentiments that you won't believe CW has responded to you until his response lives up to your fantasy of a "worthy" response.

So to recap:

The Word of the Day is delusional:

* It's delusional to whine incessantly that CW hasn't responded to you when he has done so multiple times; it's obvious that his reality doesn't meet with your fantasy.

* It's delusional to believe that your failed political venture is a threat to commenters, yet that is exactly what you continually insinuate and is yet another in a long line of examples where your fantasy doesn't meet with others' reality.

* It's delusional to equate your exercise in withholding votes from candidates who don't meet your fantastical purity test referred to by you as "One Demand" -- of which none exist in the entire country -- to Democrats' efforts to get out the vote for Democratic candidates. Non voters already aren't voting, and they don't need any help from you or anyone else to continue to not do it. :)

As for language, Liz, well, shit, we all occasionally use some profanity for emphasis. You're not a hall monitor.

forget for a second how he said it, what exactly did he say? it sounded almost like he thinks the eleven people who went to a baby naming and got killed in a hate crime somehow had it coming.

JL

Comments like that don't belong here.

Watch your language. This is not the place for it.

Subtext. Trump broadcasts on two channels. Channel one is the one you can hear, and you know what that sounds like, not unlike one of Michale's old rants.

The other channel, however, modifies the sentence structures to use specific words and phrases recognizable to fellow travelers.

Think of using the phrase, 'live long and prosper' in a context in which you'd expect that ONLY Star Trek fanatics would recognize it.

Now this could be inadvertent on the President's part, as he's fond of parroting the media that he consumes. Many of those around him, however - Bannon and Mercer, for instance, know full well how that sort of messaging works, and who its intended audience is.

So Caesar Sucdic, would-be leader of the Ape uprising, didn't have to look far to get his list of bomb recipients - it had already been recited to him at the many rallies he'd attended, over and over.

And Trump's first response was, essentially: "No, wrong target." Then he pointed at the media on the other side of the room, and criticized them, to which his crowd responded to with a Minute of Hate.

The Synagogue should have had armed guards, says Trump. Is the subtext of that the suggestion that Katy Tur should start wearing body armor?

what the hell are you on about? the people who that gun nut shot were completely innocent.

JL

It's easy to get your head around the events of the last week, once you grip the notion that Trump is a sociopathic political slag.

Of course it's a left-wing conspiracy when Trump's followers put his insinuations into action...Damn true it's not Trump's fault when the media microscopes a mad bomber or a fucking gun-totting Neo-Nazi, in liew of his barrage of politico-sewage...Without a doubt the thug-Saudi's are at the mercy of 'rogue' squads, striding the planet, conveniently shredding outspoken critics of their pro-American mid-eastern debacle...How can it not be true that Trump is going to pull a 10% tax cut for the people who voted for him, which were awkwardly omitted from the sweeping tax reform, out of his arse...It simply can't be believed that any Democratic midterm victory will have anything to do with Trump, he's pure as driven snow, the sun shines out of his arse.

Fuck me.

What creates the mass-delusion that tens of millions of Americans see life through such a warped lens?

How depressing it must be to wrestle within your own culture over such mundane things as race, religion and guns.

You'll get no sympathy from me when you hit my trifecta of ambiguity. "A white guy, revved up by right-wing conspiracy, walks into a Synagogue and blows away a bunch of religious zealots" I simply don't care. I see no difference between gun-totting freaks, the right-wing or religious nutters... they can have at each other all day long, and good riddance too.

Fuckem.

Happy Halloween, no need for costumes this year...we can all go trick-or-treating as door-to-door pollsters (Black-face, optional!)

LL&P

that is a good point. it's not just CW, but the news media as a whole who have been conspicuously silent on the potential political impact of pie. by failing to acknowledge this chance to make politics sweeter, they are not living up to their journalistic responsibility.

JL

they will until they don't.

JL

Bolton's plan is working. There may be other plans that are working, too.

to loosely paraphrase mike tyson: everyone has a plan, until they meet trump.

JL

Nailed it! :)

Not enough of you vote.

You are so 100% correct about that. A whole lot of us get disenfranchised too in a myriad of ways, and it's infinitely frustrating for multiple reasons, but there's no denying that fact. :)

Calling Trump names is akin to, well, acting just like him.

Trump didn't invent name calling, Elizabeth, and I confess I am quite fond of CW's "Comrade Trump" moniker

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2018/07/17/comrade-trump/

as well as Neil's "Treasonous Trump" and my own "Benedict Donald" and TS's "BLOTUS" or "Tiny" or anything that reminds Americans that Trump sold out our democracy for his seemingly unquenchable love of money and in pursuit of fame for his needy ego.

It would be far more productive and enlightening to highlight all of his deleterious policies and begin debating how Democrats should counter these with policies and solutions of their own.

"All of his deleterious policies"? Make a list of all of them and post them, Elizabeth, and we'll then "begin debating" them and how "Democrats" should counter all of them. OR Consider the fact that it would be "far more productive" if you allowed yourself to stop playing board mother and whining incessantly about what would be "far more productive."

Seriously, though, "Democrats" can debate incessantly about all of Trump's deleterious policies or get busy getting elected and being in a position to do something about them. Right about now, I'm going with getting busy getting elected and "repealing and replacing" the spineless Republicans who are allowing Trump to piss on our democratic system of checks and balances because they refuse to be a check on Comrade Trump. :)

To illustrate my point:

The Trump administration is trying to get it tossed out!

Which the Trump administration wouldn't have to be bothered with if the Obama administration had successfully gotten it "thrown out!"... which they tried and failed.

Not enough Americans know about this.

What is your definition of "not enough"? And please explain by what magical force it is that you actually believe you know what "Americans know" and/or do not know. These multiple climate issues are covered by the "media" on a quite regular basis.

https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/written-media-coverage/

Is it perchance possible that this is simply just a case of "not enough" Canadians being aware of that fact?

Things have changed, our kids are getting worse
They won’t obey their parents
They just want to fart and curse

Should we blame the government?
Or blame society?
Or should we blame the images on TV?

No!

Blame Canada!
Blame Canada!

Before their beady little eyes have packed their heads so full of lies

Blame Canada!
Blame Canada!

We need to form a full assault
It’s Canada’s fault! ~ Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman, South Park

If the mainstream (mostly broadcast media) - as a whole - were doing their jobs and informing the American people about the issues that are important, then there wouldn't be a reason to criticize them.

So if the "mainstream mostly broadcast media" agreed with Elizabeth Miller's definition of "important" and "were doing their jobs," "then there wouldn't be a reason to criticize them." Okay then, Elizabeth, but for all your criticism of "Trump and Trumpism," this argument of yours sounds alarmingly similar to Trump's way of thinking (simply replace your name in sentence one above with Trump's and... voila).

Of course, there is quite a difference between constructive media criticism and how Trump refers to the media.

Oh, really? If one insists on generally referring to the "media" as some kind of monolithic organization that isn't doing their job to inform Americans about what they deem is "important," then there really isn't much of a difference. Not only that, Elizabeth, but your argument is alarmingly similar to Don Harris arguing that CW deserves his criticism for not informing Americans about what Don deems is important. It's all relative (and all quite familiar).

I think we can do better.

Who is this "we," you're referring to, Elizabeth?
_______________

I'll alert the media. ~ John Gielgud as Hobson, Arthur

But I can damn sure guarantee you that Bolton has a plan which is not so quietly being put into motion.

What are they up to?

Indeed.

It is also a recipe for the ultimate failure of American democracy. Or for the death of the planet. Whichever comes first.

There's quite a lot of middle ground between those two options. I'm not convinced that Democrats know this, though ...

Well, that's hard to say since the devolutionary media haven't, in large part, tried to do that. And, that goes especially for the Trump era.

This is a very salient point. Do Democratic pols who wish to run for president understand this?

If the mainstream (mostly broadcast media) - as a whole - were doing their jobs and informing the American people about the issues that are important, then there wouldn't be a reason to criticize them.

18] Elizabeth Miller

To illustrate my point:

There is a very important court case coming up...

It concerns climate change and the responsibility and role of the federal government in mitigating the devastating effects of climate change.

Not enough Americans know about this.

The mainstream media could educate Americans about this and other topics until they were blue in the face, and their ratings for doing so would be very low.

Unless it immediately affects them, not enough Americans care to be educated. They want to be entertained instead and reaffirmed in their own thinking. They would rather not deal with any kind of critical analysis that actually requires them to consider facts and opinions contrary to their own already closely held beliefs. This is the secret to Trump's connection to his crowd base. It also explains the puzzled look Tucker Carlson always give his guests when he is contradicted.

You also can't reach people where you hope they will be, like sitting in a lecture hall. You have to reach them where they actually live, i.e. ringside at a wrestling match or a monster truck rally. Or Public Television versus the National Enquirer. Which one gets labeled "Fake News?" HINT: It's NOT the Enquirer.

Simple emotional catch phrases are going to win politically over 10 page well thought out treatises on complex problems every single time. This was why Trump won over Hillary, and why Ronald Reagan won over his opponents. "Make America Great" as a slogan is both easy to relate to and remember. Your plan for solving (insert complex problem here) is not.

For most people. Most, NOT ALL, it's sad but true. And up till now at least, those are the voters who make the difference in close elections.

Well, it really doesn't matter what Democrats have done or tried to do in the past.

The future is now! And, they are still treading water when it comes to combating Trump and Trumpism.

that's why with total control of all three branches the only thing republicans have accomplished legislatively is tax cuts for billionaires. without any democratic agenda to oppose, it's the only thing left for them to be in favor of.

JL

The GOP has chosen to oppose everything the Democrats support.

And "Yep" on the second part, as demonstrated by Republican reversals in policy regarding trade (TPP and NAFTA were originally GOP initiatives), Obamacare (developed from Heritage Foundation blueprint), Russia ('natch) and lately, the IMF (signed by Reagan). Reminds me of the time Mitch McConnell reversed himself, and voted against his own bill because Obama endorsed it at the last moment!

This is why, to echo Goldwater's famous pronouncement, GOP extremism is the worst of the political vices, since it leaves no room for anything short of outright opposition. One can only hope that Republicans realize their mistake before it decimates and marginalizes their once-proud party.

Right! Now we're on the same page. We're all badgering our friends and neighbors to vote right now. Let's all hope it overwhelms the counter-vote, the gerrymandered districts, institutionalized voter suppression, and the Russians, this time.

Bravo! Incredible recap of where the MSM is shining!

[20]
Every time the Republicans get into power, they attack Climate Change (on behalf of the fossil fuel industry),

Here is one thing that I don’t quite understand, the fossil fuel corporations seem to have come to terms with the fact that climate change is both:

1) real &

2) adversely affected by their products;

so who is really being protected by the GOP’s denials?

Personally, I think that the GOP’s denial is more likely the result of their “Everything the Democrats say is wrong” campaign. The Republicans believe that they will only stay in power by keeping their base afraid of/hating all Democrats. Remember how pissed they were when Chris Christie had the gall to compliment Obama for his quick response to helping the states hit by Hurricane Sandy? They said Christie was a “traitor” to his party.

To keep their voting base from getting confused or question how Democrats could be completely “un-American” if they support the same positions that the Republicans do, the GOP has chosen to oppose everything the Democrats support. They have taken the “Party of No” plan that they used on Obama and expanded it to cover all Democrats!

I assume that you were paying attention when Democrats were in charge 2008-16, and earlier in '92-2000. During that time we signed treaties to reduce greenhouse gases, repaired the economy (twice), expanded rights for LGBTQ communities, expanded public lands and National parks, protected reproductive rights, and grew the middle class.

"Resistance", however is built into the system, and was in full force during both the Clinton and Obama administrations, so much of what we wanted to do - like make the tax code more progressive, for instance - couldn't be achieved. When Bernie fans, for instance, used to say that he would 'do more' than Clinton to rein in the banks, polluters, or healthcare industry, the appropriate answer was "how?". If wishes were fishes we'd believe more in Cod.

If they can't do it now, then there is little hope for them.

As for that court case, I think the kids have a lot going for them ...

I suppose that's true. Not enough Americans care, and that's another problem. Some folks get stuck in floods simply because they deny that any action on their part is necessary until water is lapping at their feet. Other Americans would support Trump's EPA action, and that's yet another quandry.

If the one case bothers you, I've got more bad news - there are dozens of similar cases in the courts right now initiated by the Trump administration that are just as bad. This is programmatic, not specific. Every time the Republicans get into power, they attack Climate Change (on behalf of the fossil fuel industry), market oversight (on behalf of bankers), taxes (on behalf of rich doners), public and indian-owned lands (on behalf of developers and mining interests), internationalism (on behalf of the Defense Industry), and reproductive rights and gays (on behalf of fundamentalist religious lobbies), just to name a few.

What we're going to do about it is VOTE against Republicans, probably in record numbers. It might not work, but the closer we can come to stopping the corrupt nightmare fanatic party from carrying out their ghastly agenda, the better.

It would be far more productive and enlightening to highlight all of his deleterious policies and begin debating how Democrats should counter these with policies and solutions of their own.

There is a very important court case coming up soon at the district level which began during the Obama administration.

It concerns climate change and the responsibility and role of the federal government in mitigating the devastating effects of climate change.

The Trump administration is trying to get it tossed out!

Not enough Americans know about this.

If the mainstream (mostly broadcast media) - as a whole - were doing their jobs and informing the American people about the issues that are important, then there wouldn't be a reason to criticize them.

Of course, there is quite a difference between constructive media criticism and how Trump refers to the media.

So I think we're doing about as well as we can.

I think we can do better.

It's still the responsibility of each man, woman, and alien overlord to inform themselves. Rights come with responsibilities.

Yep.

This is the challenge: it's not 'the media's' fault nor often regular folks' fault that valuable information doesn't make it into the zeitgeist, it is, rather that that information is contained in just one set of silos across a crowded landscape that includes sports information silos, financial information silos, music and entertainment silos, reality show silos, etc., etc. We aren't in the mass communication world of our parents anymore, that's for sure.

Yep.

Even though you've agreed with me, I think you've missed MY point. Most of the multi-faceted centrist-to-left 'media' (I agree with Kick - there is no monolithic entity of that sort) are doing their level best to be both informative and thorough. We've even cut it with comedy to make it more digestible.

It's still the responsibility of each man, woman, and alien overlord to inform themselves. Rights come with responsibilities.

As if to make my point for me, while I've been constructing this post, I've become aware of a whole new tragedy has struck Philadelphia, and once again the clues lead to Mr. Bigot in the Synagogue with the gun.

Had I not wandered downstairs for a Diet Coke with Splenda and turkey salami sandwich, and flicked on the TV, and turned to a news channel, I'd have stayed in the dark about it for awhile longer, anyway.

This is the challenge: it's not 'the media's' fault nor often regular folks' fault that valuable information doesn't make it into the zeitgeist, it is, rather that that information is contained in just one set of silos across a crowded landscape that includes sports information silos, financial information silos, music and entertainment silos, reality show silos, etc., etc. We aren't in the mass communication world of our parents anymore, that's for sure.

That enthusiasm is as high for the upcoming midterms is as high as it is, is a bit of a miracle, isn't it, given these multiple hurdles and distractions.

So I think we're doing about as well as we can.

Republicans have spent years building up the idea that immigration is an existential threat to America. Republicans have also spent years alleging that Jews are secretly funding both immigrants and protesters. What Bowers did on Saturday morning is the direct result of that one plus one = 10 dead and counting. Bowers’ finger may have been on the trigger. But a lot of Republicans encouraged him to pull it. Including Donald Trump.

Just in passing, this is the kind of crap M-troll trafficked in and he was constantly given a "pass" by some of the commenters here. But his amplification of Repub conspiracy theory bs encouraged nutbags like the recent shooters to kill innocent people.

That shit was never acceptable, it wasn't "funny" or "harmless" or just "a different point of view".

For some reason a lot of folks (not just here) refused to see the obvious: that the kind of hate-speech disinformation peddled by Repubs/Tiny would lead to violence against innocent people.

And if you know people who repeat this stuff, call them on it -- unless they are dangerous, in which case get the hell away from them. But recognize none of this is taking place in a vacuum. There's a context, it was engineered deliberately and it is bearing fruit.

You missed the simple point. Again.

Surprise not surprise: Elizabeth Miller plays her tired one liner. Again.

So again, Elizabeth, allow me to reiterate that I didn't miss your simple point, I simply expanded on it.

When will the focus of the media turn from who Trump is to what Trump is doing? ~ Elizabeth Miller

If you meant "precisely" what Balthasar said because "not enough people are able or willing to do that" and "hence my initial comment," it doesn't change the fact that people lumping the media into a monolith and blaming them is exactly the response Trump is aiming for with his regular intentional flooding of the zone with his chaotic BS. It's by design.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/03/is-trumps-chaos-a-move-from-the-kremlins-playbook

it doesn't matter what mueller knows, it matters what mueller can prove.

*laughs* Have you perchance considered the irrefutable fact that one doesn't generally set about proving something that one doesn't know? We... repeat we... learn facts through interrogation and then set about proving what we know. :)

You missed the simple point. Again.

Precisely.

Not enough people are able or willing to do that. Hence my initial comment.

When will the focus of the media turn from who Trump is to what Trump is doing?

Not you too, EM!? Speaking about the free press of the United States negatively and as if it's some kind of monolith is exactly what Traitor Trump wants us to do... needs us to do... because he knows what he did, and so does Flynn, Cohen, Manafort and therefore Mueller.

Shame is dead. So it goes.

And there's also that 'truth' factor, that renders so much of what they print and say useless. I'll say it again: their present willingness to lie their way into ratings and clicks heaven will blow up in their faces one day (not literally, of course, I should add).

Step 1. Inhale some helium.

Step 2. Read a tweet.

Over at CNN, Jake Tapper and Chris Cuomo have the skills to get into nuts and bolts, enough so that Colbert observed the other night that "Trump is more afraid of Jake Tapper than Kim Jung Un".

And speaking of late night comics, we could be in the midst of something of a golden age of political comedy. John Oliver (HBO) has done long pieces that I think rival print pieces. The opinion pieces that Bill Maher does at the end of his shows are often more insightful, and more informative, than similar Op-eds in the Times.

National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS are good for down-the-middle reporting, and "All things considered" and "Marketplace" are shows I often learn from - not bad for Government-funded media. My local station also plays a lot of Canadian-originated content, by the way, and carries the BBC live from midnight 'til dawn.

We still have exceptional print media, despite Trump's attacks and a challenging financial environment for them. The Times and WaPo are all the time cranking out very deep pulitzer-level multi-part stuff, about for instance, Trump's financial machinations, that are often all-but-forgotten by the next day's news cycle. That must be frustrating, but at least it's there for future reference.

I should also mention print media's upstart competitors, the stand-alone news and opinion websites like Slate, The Daily Beast, FiveThirtyEight and many others that do independent reporting that often break news before the big players do.

Finally, there are bloggers like CW, who take the time to do very deep dives into select subjects, one of the things that drew me here. If you're listening, CW, I think you've got the internal database and sense of humor to do a very good companion podcast too, judging by many of your informal posts and replies. Think about it, huh?

My point is that informed opinion about Trump's actions (rather than his word salads) is out there if you're willing to farm the media landscape for it, especially in an environment where, because of financial pressures, headlines are often little more than elaborate gossip. You've got to dive deeper, on your own, to get to the good stuff.

Stochastic Terrorism: The use of mass, public communication, usually against a particular individual or group, which incites or inspires acts of terrorism which are statistically probable but happen seemingly at random.

Tiny's non-stop lies are part of the process that generates bombers and people who run over protestors and walk into stores and shoot POC, etc.

Tiny/GOP create the environment and are shocked, SHOCKED!, when they spawn terrorists.