Why won't the press say it? Because he might be a menace to democracy and a danger to the entire world, but boy howdy, he's good for their business. And that's all they give a fuck about.
I totally agree.I think a lot of the reason we got Little Donnie FuckFelon in 2016 was the press “ but her e-mails”ing the hell out of Hillary.I could see this happening but I was incredulous that they were doing this.After all I had been a faithful reader of the NYT for 20+ years.I initially thought that they knew something that I didn’t but came to realize that they were just screwing us big time.F them and the rest of the press vultures!
I do believe this election will be different. People are not falling for the “but her emails” bullshit this time. They can throw whatever they want at the wall and it won’t stick. I mean 500 golf cart Karavan for Kamala at the Villages?!? Who woulda thunk it?!?!
Because that is exactly what republican owner John Malone wants. They take over all the neutral fact-based news outlets, then slowly take them right-wing.This asshole thinks Fox (so-called) News is centrist!
"But complicating that narrative is the fact that Malone has repeatedly wished, in public, for CNN to remake itself. And his prescription happens to sync with the new CNN agenda: a plan to steer the channel away from what Malone and others call a liberal bias they say muddles opinion and news. And to shift it toward a supposedly centrist, just-the-facts bent...
“I would like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism that it started with, and actually have journalists, which would be unique and refreshing,” he said. Then he suggested a model: “Fox News, in my opinion, has followed an interesting trajectory of trying to have ‘news’ news, I mean some actual journalism, embedded in a program schedule of all opinions.”
Reporting of facts and actual truth shouldn't be partisan, there's is no such thing has Kellyanne's 'alternative facts',facts are facts, period,what the liberal or conservative spin of them is,I personally don't care. What this clown Malone wants is ratings and clicks and engagement,and apparently the Fox News 'It's just opinion and entertainment, until someone sues the crap out of us' business model.
Most of y'all aren't old enough to remember the "golden age" of news reporting, when serious people simply stated what happened, without any spin at all, then left the viewers to add any subtext. It was a lovely time, indeed.
I can't think of anyone who would attempt to sue, anyone who can afford to sue is already in tfg's pocket already, and that's where they intend to stay, apparently.
Yes, Murdoch bankrolled it, and Ailes designed it that way. Did you know Roger Ailes was Nixon’s Tv and media consultant? He never got over his hero being disgraced, so he had the idea to start a tv network that would make sure a republican president never had to step down again.
“In 1970, political consultant Roger Ailes and other Nixon aides came up with a plan to create a new TV network that would circumvent existing media and provide "pro-administration" coverage to millions. "People are lazy," the aides explained in a memo. "With television you just sit — watch — listen.The thinking is done for you." Nixon embraced the idea, saying he and his supporters needed "our own news" from a network that would lead "a brutal, vicious attack on the opposition." Alas, his fantasy network did not come into being at that time, and the 37th president was soon engulfed in the Watergate scandal. At first, Republicans dismissed the scandal as a Washington Post "witch hunt." But then the White House tapes proved beyond doubt that Nixon had used the levers of government to pursue vendettas against his opponents and cover up his extensive skulduggery. Disgusted GOP leaders, including Sen. Howard Baker of the Senate Watergate committee, chose principles over party. Nixon was forced to resign. Nov 22, 2019” https://theweek.com/articles/880107/why-fox-news-created
What kills me it's the same old MAGAs all the time,the same crew from Fox,now on CNN and MSM, they've lied to your face,and babbled like deranged morons,never actually answer a question,and try to interrupt their way out of losing any debate,and yet MSM what?? Thinks somehow it will be different this time?? Maybe when you've interviewed someone 500 times,and they act like an a-hole, maybe time recognize you might be the a-hole instead,look up the definition of insanity Mr./Ms. Journalist.
Further to your point, it's a GD travesty that GeeDumbya and his handler Cheney The Dick escaped being charged with war crimes for their two wars for fun and profit, from which Cheney made $39.5B from the US government for no-bid contracts. Hanging is too good for these murderous fkers.
The Obama administration didn't want to open that can of worms for the sake of 'unity', Obama and Democrats should of realized for a long time,if you give Repubs an inch, they'll take a mile,Newt Gingrich has been spewing his nonsense for decades.
1000% Bruce! Nancy Pelosi was asked when decorum went to hell in politics, and she said it was when Gnewt (sic) Gingrich showed up. Obama wasted his entire first term trying to reason with these mofos whose only mission was to take him down. They have no interest in governing, only ruling and stealing.
Republicans are no longer "worthy opponents" instead, they are our country's worst enemy. They hate America because they don't understand the basic concept of America. No one can call themselves 'French' if they are not born in France, but anyone can become an American. They don't get it.
They lied us into "W"'s wars with "weapons of mass destruction"propaganda too, face it, they justify almost all of the republican greed, and wars. Then complain when it takes the Democratic party a few terms to clean up all the damage..
Absolutely, the Press was complicit in 2016. CNN, NYTimes, maybe even msnbc and mainstream media too. The Felon gets ratings and bottom line that's what the media wants.
The print media, I can't explain, but recently the NYTimes has gotten worse.
Good for her. Trump has been using AI to misrepresent his popularity with blacks for some time now. And the AI-generated image of this guy praying in a pew is yet another example.
Even with the extra fingers. Sheesh...I have to constantly remind myself how gullible, and sorry stupid are so many people. Especially those voting against their own interests, Republicans!
Those of us struggling here, in Florida, would love help with that. The developer of the Villages doesn't deserve your money though, there are tons of nice developments here. I recommend the south Tampa bay area. Central Florida is hotter in the summer, and colder in the winter. And unless you are onh the outsakirts of Orlando, or Ocala miles to go for any kind of cultural pursuits. (my sister hated it for that reason.)
Boycott Tesla, thart's where most of his money is, and they would have to justify to the stockholders, why the hand-picked nepo-board just voted to give him back the benefits package, the court in Delware ruled was illegal. They can't justify it if the stock majorly tanks...because of him.
The developer sets the tone and he is a big trump donor, but there are D's there, who either got conned into buying there, being politically neutral, or are just passing through until they can sell their parent's place there. Of course there are retirees that live there, but the entire place skews republican, but it is a large development. I have friends who tried it there and left.
Ethereal…, thank you for the info. I knew nothing anout The Villages except that my brother-in-law’s former sister-in-law (whom I liked) has lived there for years and what I have heard from Floridian friends and seen and read on the media.
I’ve read some comments that you have made about The Villages and appreciate your explanations.
The funny thing is my one set of friends, ran a swing club in New Jersey and they try very hard to get along with everyone. Even they found them selfish and repulsive, and lasted less than a year. There are of course, Democratic, and Independent, voters there, but they are a small proportion as the developer wants it to be a republican enclave.
Thank you for the info. I thought it was tilted right.
After having to make the corporate 'death march' to FL for the annual convention I never want to go there again. Sorry, no offense to those that live there.
This week will be a Democracy Showdown as I call on the Senate to pass my bipartisan bills to ban deceptive deepfakes of federal candidates and require disclaimers on AI-generated political ads. 18 states have already acted—it’s time for the federal government to do the same.
Susan, The press elected Trump in 2016! We all know this like the nose on our faces, but it’s still galls to remember how many millions of dollars of free campaign exposure they gave Trump against Hillary. And here they go again.
With a dishonorable mention to Jim Comey and his 'coincidental' announcement about restarting the investigation on "her emails" contrary to DOJ policy of not commenting on active investigations.
FBI used to be "all in for Drumph" in 2016.
I wonder how hot they are now on the insurrectionist party.
You are right and it still pisses me off to no end.And now they are doing it again.Damn!The press are giving are Little Donnie FF a pass and they have been doing it all along.The
Press have unofficially been exposed as an enemy of democracy having aligned themselves w Little Donnie FF and Vlad the Bad and are actively working right now to control our election.No horribleness will be withheld.We now know somewhat how dirty they will be.Gird your loins.
When he was asked why CNN was broadasting Trump rallies in whole, without commercial breaks, Jeff Zucker replied "Donald Trump gives us high ratings." That's all they're about.
I HATE when they still call him that, and some even on the left do it!! "President" or "Former President". No, fuck that. Don't even call him "Mister". Just say his stupid name, he doesn't deserve anything else.
Felon has just as many letters in it as trump so that’s the way I just refer to him now. Why bother with anything else? By the way, what’s with his mini “summit” with Netanyahu as he did with Orban? How is he allowed to get away with this shit?
This president shit is another one of many media fuck ups that just enables him to carry on with his diseased rhetoric even more. How is it that a convicted felon out on bail and domestic terrorist allowed to continue violating the Logan Act.? First it's Orban and now Netanyahu. It's like he believes he's still in power and the media constantly portrays him in that capacity. Even the purveyor of the devil's dandruff Don Jr., met with Orban and the news coverage appeared to be minimal. We talk about the two-tier justice system and it appears that applies to much of the media as well.
"The battle for the mind of North America will be fought in the video arena: the Videodrome.
The television screen is the retina of the mind's eye.
Therefore, the television screen is part of the physical structure of the brain. Therefore, whatever appears on the television screen emerges as raw experience for those who watch it.
Therefore, television is reality, and reality is less than television."
James Baldwin has said as much, in that people prefer fantasy vs reality. And white people, the market and viewership of Fox prefer it that way as confirmed by Fox saying they tried to revise their programming but saw that viewership was going to alternate markets.
Since he never admitted that he lost the 2020 election, in his deranged mind he is still the president. And it seems all the news anchors still call him “Mr. President.”
IMO when you've led an insurrection and continue to deny elections,you've lost the right to call yourself 'president' anymore,he should be referred to by his inmate number.
"By the way, what’s with his mini “summit” with Netanyahu as he did with Orban? How is he allowed to get away with this shit?"
I take your gist, S. In the context of your post, the "summits" are a prime example of the media not doing its job.
There is a general sketchiness in what Trump (or his handlers?) chose to do by hosting those particular guests.
The press needs to be forced (or enticed?) to be more discerning, but that won't happen by itself.
Money and power talk.
The Vote, the Vote. the Vote
These days so much always comes back to the vote. VP Harris and other democratic candidates need to speak to the issue of bias, both hidden and blatant, in Big Media.
Mary Trump has mentioned more than once that simply calling him “donald” gets under his skin. By default, anyone I disrespect might get their name shortened and typed in lowercase letters, out of principle.
I don't like it either, but apart from Fox's feverish sycophancy, using the title "President' for formers is a courtesy that has long been afforded to all of them. It's incorrect, as Miss Manners wrote in a 2003 column, but at least it's generally bipartisan.
This is true, but it's never happened in our lifetimes that a former President is also a prospective President, and since Trump refused the peaceful transfer of power and never conceded his loss, it supports the lie his cult believes that he was not defeated legitimately. It is disrespectful to the office and to the current president that a treasonous loser and walking threat to democracy should be equated with the winner of the 2020 election by using that title without any distinction.
The same way he says he "took a bullet for democracy" (with no evidence he was hit by a bullet) this ambiguity feeds his cult. Nobody ever "took a bullet" less than the luckiest bastard on earth.
OK I guess we’ll have to allow it, then. Noted. (Harder to listen to on current propaganda ish channels that weren’t quite like this back in the day…).
Think about it the money wasn’t earned it was donated by the saps who patronize the grifters . They just get more and more …by far the deepest well in the country ,and we dug it for them free of charge !😳🤪😵💫🥴
The MAGATS on Jan 6th were smashing MSMs cameras and equipment,you want me to roll that video,you morons?? It was exactly what they do in Putin's Russia.
'The press' doesn't exist as we've known it in the past,the press is Fox, Sinclair,the WSJ,and NYP,Rupert Murdoch and Ted Turner decided they wanted to own the 'press' and decided to form monopolies to buy local media and newspapers,and close them down to eliminate competition.
I think what they're doing is completely shttty, but I disagree about their motive. Journos at *legit* operations have been e been taught to present both sides of an issue, which is the correct approach for most things (ex.: a certain state desperately needs more housing, but building houses and apartments will exacerbate the water shortage, so here are the pluses and minuses of both courses of action) -- but not for ALL things.
I'm dismayed and infuriated by their inability or refusal to see that "democracy vs autocracy" is one of very few exceptions to the "Here are the pluses and minuses" rule, and I say this as someone who worked in newsrooms for most of my career and therefore know firsthand that most journos at *legit* operations are motivated by idealism. The NPR and WaPo examples above are disgusting, to say the least.
I don't follow it that closely, but didn't the NYT said Biden must step down after his lousy debate performance, but never said Trump must step down after his felony conviction?
To make every story seem balanced, they were equating Trump's felonious and fraudulent nature with Biden's… age.
And if it hadn't been for Biden's dismal debate performance, it would be clear that Trump lied and evaded his way through the whole thing. If he tries it with Kamala, she'll bury him.
yes ! For sure. That is the one thing I was disappointed with on Biden...He never, or at least rarely ,called tRump out for his blatant lies and when he did it was very underwhelming and soft. And that weakness gave tRump more undeserved advantages.
I just can't believe that NPR has turned against democracy. It is shocking. Don't they get huge government financial support? Maybe we should ask that the support be cut off now instead of when Diaper Don is once again "president".
Koch donor money poisoned that well. First you get their funding cut, then you make up the vdifference in "donations" then they hesitate to say things that make you angry...
Well respectfully, the Church of Both Sides is an artificial construct designed to distort facts.
There are no "both sides" to a lie.
There are many more than two perspectives. The media embrace of this construct has become almost invisible, even to its practitioners.
As Tim Snyder has recently written:
"Both-Sidesism is the habit of reducing the world into two perspectives, treating the two as fundamentally alike, and then ignoring or adjusting the data. One cause of this odd behavior is the ownership of media companies. Another is fear.
But Both-Sidesism is not just a practice. It passes in the United States for a principle of journalism. Indeed, the dualism is almost unquestionable. Americans tends to take it for granted.
But it makes no sense. No data from the world around us indicates that two is the correct number of perspectives, nor that any two perspectives, once chosen, would be equal.
These are, rather, articles of faith. Once accepted, they enable the public performance we wrongly call “media.” Both-Sideism does not mediate but mystify. Its practitioners, called “anchors” or “publishers,” are shamans or priests. Mystifiers.
To be sure, “media” people do not think that they are mystifying. Nor are we in the habit of seeing them as practicing a religion. "
The media peddles fear,so do most politicians,a match made in hell. I heard a report recently about local,30 minute newscasts, usually the first 8 minutes is a crime report, inevitably who today is going to kick down your door to murder and rape you,or your children and family,or rob you,or steal your precious goodies. It got so bad, people were tuning out, I still have some friends who won't watch news at all,I can relate,I refuse to live my life in fear,media realized this,and usually have some human lighted-hearted fluffiness in the last 2 minutes,to try and relieve the angst. News is a business, traditionally not really a particularly profitable one,breaking even was a good thing,but I believe a lot of journalists have a calling,like teachers and nurses,it's such an important job,the financial rewards are secondary. I believe the cable news,24 hour news cycle changed all that, Rupert Murdoch made news profitable,by being carried by cable outlets,and realized right-wing outrage was good for ratings,CNN and MSNBC wanted to get in on the action. American ideals and ethics will sometimes get corrupted by capitalistic greed.
The media lost 50% of their readers/viewers after Trump left office in 2020. The intergalactic widgetmakers who own them demand they become "profitable" - get the readers/viewers back - because they want to sell these legacy media companies to the firwst rube who comes along that still believes they're relevant.
If we weren’t dealing with a once -every-100 years pandemic, it would have been great to take that moment and help them regroup - look at how for-profit journalism can’t really meet the moment :/
Actually '60 Minutes' did a pretty good report on a mega-hedgefund company buying up local outlets and newspapers,just to close them down,or consolidate them into the giant corporate monolith that exists,who are we kidding?? 4 mega-corporations control almost every industry in America, billionaires buying politicians and judges to stop those pesky antitrust lawsuits,while they do their stock buy-backs and transfer manufacturing overseas to increase profits.
Exactly. Journalism schools must not be taking in too many history majors these days. Authoritarian regimes are known to take over the media and get rid of the owners and journalists in unsavory ways. I think it would be good to start writing the press and instead of complaining to them about their shitty totally slanted coverage of the election, just write and point out what happened to journalists under Mussolini, Putin, Hitler, Gaddafi, Mobutu, Pinochet, Franco.
By his actions, words and deeds, Donald tells us that he is the paid representative of the worldwide oligarch/autocrat network. Rupert Murdoch ($19 Billion net worth) is a leading member of the Autocrat Club. Rupert owns Fox News and the Wall Street Journal and many other propaganda platforms. 93 year old Rupert even showed up at the RNC to support his hand picked political representative.
In J-School we learned to ask What, Where, When, Why, Who and How. Do you ever see a Why question in any Trump World coverage? Nope. Donald gets a pass on the REASONS for his words and deeds.
Donald, WHY do you want the job of President again? You spent most of your 4 years in office playing/cheating at golf? You are 78 years old and you obviously don't really care about the lives of the American People. WHY should we listen to anything you say about wanting to be President again?
Donald, you offered to protect the oil companies from government regulation if they paid you $1 Billion. You offered "good lives" for Musk and Thiel and their billionaire pals, as long as they give you millions every month. WHY doesn't this corruption/attempted bribery disqualify you from running for any public office?
Donald, WHY did you lead a conspiracy to steal the Executive Branch of the Government? When every President before you had the honor to leave when they lost the election?
Donald, WHY do you claim that elections in the future will be rigged against you? Is this another of your con game scams?
So, WHY doesn't the Washington Post, NYT, CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS ask these easy WHY questions?
That is more or less what I was just going to say but liked your comment better! Yep, it sells “papers”! WGAF about democracy when there is money to be made.
Because they do not have courage of conviction. The elite owners think the public is dumber than doorknobs. They are in their own bubble. We don't count. Integrity and truth is old school. It's about competitive markets now. They don't respect their readers. As pare for the course, we are always the collateral damage.
BTW, NPR hasn't been a liberal news media source in decades. Ever since they took money from Chuckie Koch, his name, or foundation is right there on their donor list. Chuckie made NPR say "Mr. Obama" all 8 years when President. But dickweed Dubya got to be called President Bush. I stopped listening to NPR when they started doing all the Doublespeak and Whataboutism stories. Some were incoherent, the rest was just mindless filler. Newt Gingrich was a regular contributor. He even was coherent for awhile, disagreed with everything he said, but at least he spoke clean english. NPR is a conservative asset now. Listen at your own risk.
She's beautiful and he's ugly, and that's the kind of thing that matters on television. Joe Biden is a great president, but he looks awful on tv so out he went.
TV sure has fucked up the people of the world. They are no longer able to think critically or discern lies from truth, it's up to the box to tell them what to believe.
TV "programming" programs the *audience*, not the content it carries. The PEOPLE are being programmed.
Thanks TV. It's Videodrome made real. It has a philosophy.
If it ain't on TV, it ain't real! Didn't happen! Doesn't matter.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Listen:
Humans are the only animals capable of believing things that are completely false.
Next you'll be saying some creepy, sleazy, complete business failure of a con man can pretend to be a super successful businessman on a completely made-up "reality show," and people will buy it!
Social media has their 'chaos algorithms',more engagement and clicks,top of the feed,lies and misinformation spread 6 times faster than truth, driving further engagement,and that goddamn Zuckerberg weasel with his 'Aww shucks,I'm just a drop-out in a dirty t-shirt' and 'I don't have that info handy, I'll get back to you',(never) and 'look much we stop!!',when his whole goddamn business model was unlimited growth, eliminate competition,and eliminating any human beings from the equation so his nazi-bots can keep the revenue flowing in unimpeded.
Think about it, people watch all these “reality” tv shows that aren’t based on reality. So what they watch is “programmed” reality and they love it! Sort of like “alternative facts” 🙄
Richard: as shallow as it seems, the admiration of beauty is as ancient as the Greeks and the Judgment of Paris. Glad our lady is so much more appealing than that porcine, sweaty and gibberish spewing classless clown.
Why won't the press say it? Because he might be a menace to democracy and a danger to the entire world, but boy howdy, he's good for their business. And that's all they give a fuck about.
You said it Alison. And should this election go south, the loss of our democracy is squarely on the press. They’re screwing us.
I totally agree.I think a lot of the reason we got Little Donnie FuckFelon in 2016 was the press “ but her e-mails”ing the hell out of Hillary.I could see this happening but I was incredulous that they were doing this.After all I had been a faithful reader of the NYT for 20+ years.I initially thought that they knew something that I didn’t but came to realize that they were just screwing us big time.F them and the rest of the press vultures!
I do believe this election will be different. People are not falling for the “but her emails” bullshit this time. They can throw whatever they want at the wall and it won’t stick. I mean 500 golf cart Karavan for Kamala at the Villages?!? Who woulda thunk it?!?!
That's what Leslie Stahl did with MTG,and Chuck 'nodding politely' Todd did to lose his job.
CNN is 'Fox Lite' now,all MAGA,all the time.
Because that is exactly what republican owner John Malone wants. They take over all the neutral fact-based news outlets, then slowly take them right-wing.This asshole thinks Fox (so-called) News is centrist!
"But complicating that narrative is the fact that Malone has repeatedly wished, in public, for CNN to remake itself. And his prescription happens to sync with the new CNN agenda: a plan to steer the channel away from what Malone and others call a liberal bias they say muddles opinion and news. And to shift it toward a supposedly centrist, just-the-facts bent...
“I would like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism that it started with, and actually have journalists, which would be unique and refreshing,” he said. Then he suggested a model: “Fox News, in my opinion, has followed an interesting trajectory of trying to have ‘news’ news, I mean some actual journalism, embedded in a program schedule of all opinions.”
https://www.vox.com/2022/8/26/23322761/cnn-john-malone-david-zaslav-chris-licht-brian-stelter-fox-peter-kafka-column
Reporting of facts and actual truth shouldn't be partisan, there's is no such thing has Kellyanne's 'alternative facts',facts are facts, period,what the liberal or conservative spin of them is,I personally don't care. What this clown Malone wants is ratings and clicks and engagement,and apparently the Fox News 'It's just opinion and entertainment, until someone sues the crap out of us' business model.
Most of y'all aren't old enough to remember the "golden age" of news reporting, when serious people simply stated what happened, without any spin at all, then left the viewers to add any subtext. It was a lovely time, indeed.
I can't think of anyone who would attempt to sue, anyone who can afford to sue is already in tfg's pocket already, and that's where they intend to stay, apparently.
Fox "News" is a de facto enemy of democracy.
Yes, Murdoch bankrolled it, and Ailes designed it that way. Did you know Roger Ailes was Nixon’s Tv and media consultant? He never got over his hero being disgraced, so he had the idea to start a tv network that would make sure a republican president never had to step down again.
“In 1970, political consultant Roger Ailes and other Nixon aides came up with a plan to create a new TV network that would circumvent existing media and provide "pro-administration" coverage to millions. "People are lazy," the aides explained in a memo. "With television you just sit — watch — listen.The thinking is done for you." Nixon embraced the idea, saying he and his supporters needed "our own news" from a network that would lead "a brutal, vicious attack on the opposition." Alas, his fantasy network did not come into being at that time, and the 37th president was soon engulfed in the Watergate scandal. At first, Republicans dismissed the scandal as a Washington Post "witch hunt." But then the White House tapes proved beyond doubt that Nixon had used the levers of government to pursue vendettas against his opponents and cover up his extensive skulduggery. Disgusted GOP leaders, including Sen. Howard Baker of the Senate Watergate committee, chose principles over party. Nixon was forced to resign. Nov 22, 2019” https://theweek.com/articles/880107/why-fox-news-created
It's just disgusting.
What kills me it's the same old MAGAs all the time,the same crew from Fox,now on CNN and MSM, they've lied to your face,and babbled like deranged morons,never actually answer a question,and try to interrupt their way out of losing any debate,and yet MSM what?? Thinks somehow it will be different this time?? Maybe when you've interviewed someone 500 times,and they act like an a-hole, maybe time recognize you might be the a-hole instead,look up the definition of insanity Mr./Ms. Journalist.
Several typos but I cannot edit .Sorry. I am writing this in the high, curvy mountains of Pennsylvania in a car.
It's the message Victoria. The grammar police are off duty today!!! ;o)
Must be a big car or very tiny mountains! [/jk]
Some of us knew even back then. And don’t get me started on Valerie Plame…
Further to your point, it's a GD travesty that GeeDumbya and his handler Cheney The Dick escaped being charged with war crimes for their two wars for fun and profit, from which Cheney made $39.5B from the US government for no-bid contracts. Hanging is too good for these murderous fkers.
The Obama administration didn't want to open that can of worms for the sake of 'unity', Obama and Democrats should of realized for a long time,if you give Repubs an inch, they'll take a mile,Newt Gingrich has been spewing his nonsense for decades.
1000% Bruce! Nancy Pelosi was asked when decorum went to hell in politics, and she said it was when Gnewt (sic) Gingrich showed up. Obama wasted his entire first term trying to reason with these mofos whose only mission was to take him down. They have no interest in governing, only ruling and stealing.
Republicans are no longer "worthy opponents" instead, they are our country's worst enemy. They hate America because they don't understand the basic concept of America. No one can call themselves 'French' if they are not born in France, but anyone can become an American. They don't get it.
They lied us into "W"'s wars with "weapons of mass destruction"propaganda too, face it, they justify almost all of the republican greed, and wars. Then complain when it takes the Democratic party a few terms to clean up all the damage..
Democrats have been cleaning up Rethuglican messes since 1933.
I call that the 'Fox News Inspired Holy War for Profit',and somehow Iraq and Afghanistan being blamed for mostly Saudi terrorists.
Yeesh
Don’t even WANT a horse race any more -
I used to like Jake, apparently I guess there's no other job openings at other networks...
Jake tapper lost me after the “debate.” He can go shit in his hat.
He gonna need a big hat. :-}
Consolidation def an issue - but the internet has ruined a lot of things… or should we say ‘reimagined’…
The bots have concurred,message approved.
MSNBC needs to retire Andrea Mitchell, who has become slower than molasses in winter, & then hire Jake Tapper for that slot.
👏👏👏👏👏
Huzzah!! 🙌
Absolutely, the Press was complicit in 2016. CNN, NYTimes, maybe even msnbc and mainstream media too. The Felon gets ratings and bottom line that's what the media wants.
The print media, I can't explain, but recently the NYTimes has gotten worse.
Senator Amy K ‘warning’ today that EMusk needs to ‘take down’ an AI distorted KHarris video…or…else?
Susan Collins would like to have a word...
😂😂😂😂
Don't make me use my 'wagging' finger damnit!!!
Good for her. Trump has been using AI to misrepresent his popularity with blacks for some time now. And the AI-generated image of this guy praying in a pew is yet another example.
…Praying he doesn’t go to prison.
Even with the extra fingers. Sheesh...I have to constantly remind myself how gullible, and sorry stupid are so many people. Especially those voting against their own interests, Republicans!
The Villages? Wow! Holy moly! Whooopeeee! I’ve been looking for a nice retirement community. I would love to help turn that state blue.
Those of us struggling here, in Florida, would love help with that. The developer of the Villages doesn't deserve your money though, there are tons of nice developments here. I recommend the south Tampa bay area. Central Florida is hotter in the summer, and colder in the winter. And unless you are onh the outsakirts of Orlando, or Ocala miles to go for any kind of cultural pursuits. (my sister hated it for that reason.)
Over 500 people joined the rally for Harris there. That's a significant percentage of the population.
Oooooooh. “Or else”! Now *there’s* a threat if I ever heard one! I’m sure Elon is scared shitless.
I think Elon's made his opinion quite clear, 'Go fuck yourselfs',is what he said.
Well, sue him into oblivion for defamation, then!
Making him hurt is the only language that Apartheid-loving thug understands, so give hurt to him in abundance.
Boycott Tesla, thart's where most of his money is, and they would have to justify to the stockholders, why the hand-picked nepo-board just voted to give him back the benefits package, the court in Delware ruled was illegal. They can't justify it if the stock majorly tanks...because of him.
But obviously Musk has enough FU money to not really care.
Quelle suprise!
I'm horrified by this shit. Really hope voters show up at each and every single election.
BTW - Do not mean to disparage a lone Senator who has the guts to speak up.
They're like Season 1 of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION—so determined to show we're "beyond" petty disputes that they take it to absurd extremes.
Only difference is, in ST:TNG's case the worst we got was a boring season of television—here we may well be looking at the End of Democracy.
Are some of the The Village-rs coming to their senses? It’s about time.
The developer sets the tone and he is a big trump donor, but there are D's there, who either got conned into buying there, being politically neutral, or are just passing through until they can sell their parent's place there. Of course there are retirees that live there, but the entire place skews republican, but it is a large development. I have friends who tried it there and left.
Ethereal…, thank you for the info. I knew nothing anout The Villages except that my brother-in-law’s former sister-in-law (whom I liked) has lived there for years and what I have heard from Floridian friends and seen and read on the media.
I’ve read some comments that you have made about The Villages and appreciate your explanations.
The funny thing is my one set of friends, ran a swing club in New Jersey and they try very hard to get along with everyone. Even they found them selfish and repulsive, and lasted less than a year. There are of course, Democratic, and Independent, voters there, but they are a small proportion as the developer wants it to be a republican enclave.
https://deadspin.com/cops-discover-meth-lab-golf-cart-chop-shop-in-retireme-1796365237/
Thank you for the info. I thought it was tilted right.
After having to make the corporate 'death march' to FL for the annual convention I never want to go there again. Sorry, no offense to those that live there.
No one sane should come here, let the tourism market suffer. They are a big part of who votes republican here.
Did they have a lot of Covid deaths back in the day? Or just doing it for the grandkids? Either way, nice pivot. TY!
Amy Klobuchar
@amyklobuchar
This week will be a Democracy Showdown as I call on the Senate to pass my bipartisan bills to ban deceptive deepfakes of federal candidates and require disclaimers on AI-generated political ads. 18 states have already acted—it’s time for the federal government to do the same.
My Seantor at work!!
Susan, The press elected Trump in 2016! We all know this like the nose on our faces, but it’s still galls to remember how many millions of dollars of free campaign exposure they gave Trump against Hillary. And here they go again.
With a dishonorable mention to Jim Comey and his 'coincidental' announcement about restarting the investigation on "her emails" contrary to DOJ policy of not commenting on active investigations.
FBI used to be "all in for Drumph" in 2016.
I wonder how hot they are now on the insurrectionist party.
I totally agree. MSM owned by wealthy people who want to maximize profits at any cost…and keep their tax cuts.
Every network CEO is a Trump donor.
And AT&T who helped start OAN because Fox wasn't far-right enough for them and used the carrier under their ownership umbrella to boost it.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-att/
Holy crap!!! And since when are publicly traded broadcast network contracts 'confidential'??
You are right and it still pisses me off to no end.And now they are doing it again.Damn!The press are giving are Little Donnie FF a pass and they have been doing it all along.The
Press have unofficially been exposed as an enemy of democracy having aligned themselves w Little Donnie FF and Vlad the Bad and are actively working right now to control our election.No horribleness will be withheld.We now know somewhat how dirty they will be.Gird your loins.
When he was asked why CNN was broadasting Trump rallies in whole, without commercial breaks, Jeff Zucker replied "Donald Trump gives us high ratings." That's all they're about.
CNNN….CONVICTS NOT NEWS NITWITS ! No con news is now news no one need know !🚽🧻💩🤔🧐🤪😂😅
Bingo!
Nailed it Doc.
With the help of Cambridge Analytica, etc.
And a little Putin ad buys and other dark money interests. Now they are flat out in open.
They are. Maybe that's what the people in The Villages have figured out. (Eyes on the road, Susan!)
Lol! 😂😂
The last couple of decades I have been saying that when the autopsy is written on American democracy, the media will be found as the cause of death.
Assisted suicide !
Susan… you hit the proverbial nail on the proverbial head!!!
And they shall have done unto themselves as they have done unto others.
And, why, why, why??? Are they all in orange guy's pocket? It's the only explanation I can fathom.
Fox interviewer😒
I HATE when they still call him that, and some even on the left do it!! "President" or "Former President". No, fuck that. Don't even call him "Mister". Just say his stupid name, he doesn't deserve anything else.
Call him 'convict'.
Felon Trump? I do like the sound of that. Succinct, honest and true, right?
Felon has just as many letters in it as trump so that’s the way I just refer to him now. Why bother with anything else? By the way, what’s with his mini “summit” with Netanyahu as he did with Orban? How is he allowed to get away with this shit?
This president shit is another one of many media fuck ups that just enables him to carry on with his diseased rhetoric even more. How is it that a convicted felon out on bail and domestic terrorist allowed to continue violating the Logan Act.? First it's Orban and now Netanyahu. It's like he believes he's still in power and the media constantly portrays him in that capacity. Even the purveyor of the devil's dandruff Don Jr., met with Orban and the news coverage appeared to be minimal. We talk about the two-tier justice system and it appears that applies to much of the media as well.
If our government wasn’t so corrupt we would be calling him inmate or better yet deceased !
In one of those third-world shithole countries that he has referred to in the past, that probably would've been the outcome.
I demand 'proof of life' from Merrick Garland and Christopher Wray.
As Brian O. Blivion said, in Videodrome:
"The battle for the mind of North America will be fought in the video arena: the Videodrome.
The television screen is the retina of the mind's eye.
Therefore, the television screen is part of the physical structure of the brain. Therefore, whatever appears on the television screen emerges as raw experience for those who watch it.
Therefore, television is reality, and reality is less than television."
😳
James Baldwin has said as much, in that people prefer fantasy vs reality. And white people, the market and viewership of Fox prefer it that way as confirmed by Fox saying they tried to revise their programming but saw that viewership was going to alternate markets.
Can't have that, even before being sued.
What do you do when so ma y prefer a fantasy?
And he still uses the presidential seal on inappropriate things, contrary to the rules
Since he never admitted that he lost the 2020 election, in his deranged mind he is still the president. And it seems all the news anchors still call him “Mr. President.”
Merrick? 🦗🦗🦗
I just call him the rapist. Everyone knows who I'm talking about.
Just don’t call him …! Let him rot !
IMO when you've led an insurrection and continue to deny elections,you've lost the right to call yourself 'president' anymore,he should be referred to by his inmate number.
According to my copy of The Roberts Rules of Order - “Dems aren’t allowed to write new rules…” /s
If only someone cared in Congress-besides the Dems.
Shit!!
Unless Immune Joe can get real creative - we’re letting these guys run AGAIN…Bizarre:/
Responding to SPW'S comment re Trump:
"By the way, what’s with his mini “summit” with Netanyahu as he did with Orban? How is he allowed to get away with this shit?"
I take your gist, S. In the context of your post, the "summits" are a prime example of the media not doing its job.
There is a general sketchiness in what Trump (or his handlers?) chose to do by hosting those particular guests.
The press needs to be forced (or enticed?) to be more discerning, but that won't happen by itself.
Money and power talk.
The Vote, the Vote. the Vote
These days so much always comes back to the vote. VP Harris and other democratic candidates need to speak to the issue of bias, both hidden and blatant, in Big Media.
Citizen tRumP
I prefer "Bronzo the Malignant". Or "tangerini"
I call him Fuckhead.
lol
"Convicted Felon Trump" works.
So does "Adjudicated Rapist" Trump.
"Bankrupt Fraud" Trump is also good....
Nicole Wallace refers to him as, Disgraced Former President
How about Fulton County, GA Inmate No. P01135809?
Or maybe just Fulton County, GA Inmate Pxxx809 ...like they do with credit cards or social security numbers!😂
How about "dickless."
I call him Fuckhead.
absolutely 100%
Mary Trump has mentioned more than once that simply calling him “donald” gets under his skin. By default, anyone I disrespect might get their name shortened and typed in lowercase letters, out of principle.
Call him A**hole tRump
I call him Dumb Antichrist
I don't like it either, but apart from Fox's feverish sycophancy, using the title "President' for formers is a courtesy that has long been afforded to all of them. It's incorrect, as Miss Manners wrote in a 2003 column, but at least it's generally bipartisan.
This is true, but it's never happened in our lifetimes that a former President is also a prospective President, and since Trump refused the peaceful transfer of power and never conceded his loss, it supports the lie his cult believes that he was not defeated legitimately. It is disrespectful to the office and to the current president that a treasonous loser and walking threat to democracy should be equated with the winner of the 2020 election by using that title without any distinction.
The same way he says he "took a bullet for democracy" (with no evidence he was hit by a bullet) this ambiguity feeds his cult. Nobody ever "took a bullet" less than the luckiest bastard on earth.
Shitler was hit with a catsup pack from McDonald's.
He's a goddamn domestic terrorist and traitor, I'm not calling him 'president'.
The courtesy this convicted felon deserves is his own little room in Colorado's Supermax prison and 3 PNJ sandwiches per day.
OK I guess we’ll have to allow it, then. Noted. (Harder to listen to on current propaganda ish channels that weren’t quite like this back in the day…).
I don’t think he deserves ANY courtesy!
And as a veteran, I would never salute his bone spur ass either.
Too many do, though, and I just can’t figure out why
“Heil Trump,” is what they are really saying.
Think about it the money wasn’t earned it was donated by the saps who patronize the grifters . They just get more and more …by far the deepest well in the country ,and we dug it for them free of charge !😳🤪😵💫🥴
I'm with you Junior
And me you.
Exactly. I really resent the press putting words he didn’t say into his mouth. They have become Trump’s speech writers after the fact.
And it's the media that he has constantly criticized that keeps kissing his ass every chance they get.
The MAGATS on Jan 6th were smashing MSMs cameras and equipment,you want me to roll that video,you morons?? It was exactly what they do in Putin's Russia.
Doonie O"Sullivan from CNN, reported it for us he was so brave.
Also we constantly hear how he ‘was utterly destroyed’ or he ‘melted down’… uh sure.l
It seems they have resorted to outright lying for him.
They are!
Exactly right.
'The press' doesn't exist as we've known it in the past,the press is Fox, Sinclair,the WSJ,and NYP,Rupert Murdoch and Ted Turner decided they wanted to own the 'press' and decided to form monopolies to buy local media and newspapers,and close them down to eliminate competition.
This.
I think what they're doing is completely shttty, but I disagree about their motive. Journos at *legit* operations have been e been taught to present both sides of an issue, which is the correct approach for most things (ex.: a certain state desperately needs more housing, but building houses and apartments will exacerbate the water shortage, so here are the pluses and minuses of both courses of action) -- but not for ALL things.
I'm dismayed and infuriated by their inability or refusal to see that "democracy vs autocracy" is one of very few exceptions to the "Here are the pluses and minuses" rule, and I say this as someone who worked in newsrooms for most of my career and therefore know firsthand that most journos at *legit* operations are motivated by idealism. The NPR and WaPo examples above are disgusting, to say the least.
I don't follow it that closely, but didn't the NYT said Biden must step down after his lousy debate performance, but never said Trump must step down after his felony conviction?
To make every story seem balanced, they were equating Trump's felonious and fraudulent nature with Biden's… age.
And if it hadn't been for Biden's dismal debate performance, it would be clear that Trump lied and evaded his way through the whole thing. If he tries it with Kamala, she'll bury him.
Bury Trump under the second hole at Bedminster??
I'd prefer a 'Mussolini' ending.
Karma!
yes ! For sure. That is the one thing I was disappointed with on Biden...He never, or at least rarely ,called tRump out for his blatant lies and when he did it was very underwhelming and soft. And that weakness gave tRump more undeserved advantages.
If your political belief system is anarchy and dictatorship,you shouldn't even have a seat at the debate table.
I just can't believe that NPR has turned against democracy. It is shocking. Don't they get huge government financial support? Maybe we should ask that the support be cut off now instead of when Diaper Don is once again "president".
Repugs have called for defunding NPR and PBS for years.
They have done it, so they can donate, and have some sway on what gets said.
Got them running scared :/
Koch donor money poisoned that well. First you get their funding cut, then you make up the vdifference in "donations" then they hesitate to say things that make you angry...
Well respectfully, the Church of Both Sides is an artificial construct designed to distort facts.
There are no "both sides" to a lie.
There are many more than two perspectives. The media embrace of this construct has become almost invisible, even to its practitioners.
As Tim Snyder has recently written:
"Both-Sidesism is the habit of reducing the world into two perspectives, treating the two as fundamentally alike, and then ignoring or adjusting the data. One cause of this odd behavior is the ownership of media companies. Another is fear.
But Both-Sidesism is not just a practice. It passes in the United States for a principle of journalism. Indeed, the dualism is almost unquestionable. Americans tends to take it for granted.
But it makes no sense. No data from the world around us indicates that two is the correct number of perspectives, nor that any two perspectives, once chosen, would be equal.
These are, rather, articles of faith. Once accepted, they enable the public performance we wrongly call “media.” Both-Sideism does not mediate but mystify. Its practitioners, called “anchors” or “publishers,” are shamans or priests. Mystifiers.
To be sure, “media” people do not think that they are mystifying. Nor are we in the habit of seeing them as practicing a religion. "
Here is the entire piece: https://snyder.substack.com/p/both-sides
The media peddles fear,so do most politicians,a match made in hell. I heard a report recently about local,30 minute newscasts, usually the first 8 minutes is a crime report, inevitably who today is going to kick down your door to murder and rape you,or your children and family,or rob you,or steal your precious goodies. It got so bad, people were tuning out, I still have some friends who won't watch news at all,I can relate,I refuse to live my life in fear,media realized this,and usually have some human lighted-hearted fluffiness in the last 2 minutes,to try and relieve the angst. News is a business, traditionally not really a particularly profitable one,breaking even was a good thing,but I believe a lot of journalists have a calling,like teachers and nurses,it's such an important job,the financial rewards are secondary. I believe the cable news,24 hour news cycle changed all that, Rupert Murdoch made news profitable,by being carried by cable outlets,and realized right-wing outrage was good for ratings,CNN and MSNBC wanted to get in on the action. American ideals and ethics will sometimes get corrupted by capitalistic greed.
Respectfully disagree. There’s alternative facts. Kelly Anne said so. 🙄 (yes this is snark, she’s a pos)
Snyder is brilliant, as usual.
(sigh)
BEND OVER !
Screw that 'gifted demagogue' nonsense,he's a babbling idiot leading a babbling idiot cult.
Yes the Gish Gallop is not gifted oration. Hitler was a gifted Orator, Obama was a gifted Orator.
The media lost 50% of their readers/viewers after Trump left office in 2020. The intergalactic widgetmakers who own them demand they become "profitable" - get the readers/viewers back - because they want to sell these legacy media companies to the firwst rube who comes along that still believes they're relevant.
If we weren’t dealing with a once -every-100 years pandemic, it would have been great to take that moment and help them regroup - look at how for-profit journalism can’t really meet the moment :/
Actually '60 Minutes' did a pretty good report on a mega-hedgefund company buying up local outlets and newspapers,just to close them down,or consolidate them into the giant corporate monolith that exists,who are we kidding?? 4 mega-corporations control almost every industry in America, billionaires buying politicians and judges to stop those pesky antitrust lawsuits,while they do their stock buy-backs and transfer manufacturing overseas to increase profits.
Yep, see John Oliver’s take on Sinclair Media. Funny, yet horrifying
Oh,and that '60 Minutes' report?? It was like someone covering their own lynching.
Exactly. Journalism schools must not be taking in too many history majors these days. Authoritarian regimes are known to take over the media and get rid of the owners and journalists in unsavory ways. I think it would be good to start writing the press and instead of complaining to them about their shitty totally slanted coverage of the election, just write and point out what happened to journalists under Mussolini, Putin, Hitler, Gaddafi, Mobutu, Pinochet, Franco.
Here is a discussion of media under Hitler. https://mediengeschichte.dnb.de/DBSMZBN/Content/EN/MassMedia/10-medienmanipulation-im-ns-en.html
See here on page 16 a discussion of the press under Franco, including the NYT. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1248&context=hon_thesis
Here is the media under Gaddafi.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/17/gaddafi-controlled-media-propaganda-war-libya
Here is the media under the original fascist, Mussolini. Scroll down to heading Media Manipulation and Propaganda.
https://nuitalian.org/2023/04/27/fascism-rise-to-power-and-media-manipulation/
Here is a discussion of media under Putin from 2 days ago.
https://rsf.org/en/country/russia
By his actions, words and deeds, Donald tells us that he is the paid representative of the worldwide oligarch/autocrat network. Rupert Murdoch ($19 Billion net worth) is a leading member of the Autocrat Club. Rupert owns Fox News and the Wall Street Journal and many other propaganda platforms. 93 year old Rupert even showed up at the RNC to support his hand picked political representative.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/retired-rupert-murdoch-makes-surprise-rnc-appearance-in-milwaukee
In J-School we learned to ask What, Where, When, Why, Who and How. Do you ever see a Why question in any Trump World coverage? Nope. Donald gets a pass on the REASONS for his words and deeds.
Donald, WHY do you want the job of President again? You spent most of your 4 years in office playing/cheating at golf? You are 78 years old and you obviously don't really care about the lives of the American People. WHY should we listen to anything you say about wanting to be President again?
Donald, you offered to protect the oil companies from government regulation if they paid you $1 Billion. You offered "good lives" for Musk and Thiel and their billionaire pals, as long as they give you millions every month. WHY doesn't this corruption/attempted bribery disqualify you from running for any public office?
Donald, WHY did you lead a conspiracy to steal the Executive Branch of the Government? When every President before you had the honor to leave when they lost the election?
Donald, WHY do you claim that elections in the future will be rigged against you? Is this another of your con game scams?
So, WHY doesn't the Washington Post, NYT, CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS ask these easy WHY questions?
Nailed it, Alison! The MSM isn’t going to kill their golden goose, and Trump even laughed at them while he was president, recognizing exactly that.
Trump in 2016; Immigrants,birther,
emails,Fake News.
That is more or less what I was just going to say but liked your comment better! Yep, it sells “papers”! WGAF about democracy when there is money to be made.
A succinct and accurate analysis.
Because they do not have courage of conviction. The elite owners think the public is dumber than doorknobs. They are in their own bubble. We don't count. Integrity and truth is old school. It's about competitive markets now. They don't respect their readers. As pare for the course, we are always the collateral damage.
BTW, NPR hasn't been a liberal news media source in decades. Ever since they took money from Chuckie Koch, his name, or foundation is right there on their donor list. Chuckie made NPR say "Mr. Obama" all 8 years when President. But dickweed Dubya got to be called President Bush. I stopped listening to NPR when they started doing all the Doublespeak and Whataboutism stories. Some were incoherent, the rest was just mindless filler. Newt Gingrich was a regular contributor. He even was coherent for awhile, disagreed with everything he said, but at least he spoke clean english. NPR is a conservative asset now. Listen at your own risk.
If ya can't beat 'em,buy them.
🎯
Exactly!
This, from The New Republic:
Kamala Harris has two superpowers, and that's all she needs--
1) She's not 81
2) She's not Donald Trump
fair point
She's beautiful and he's ugly, and that's the kind of thing that matters on television. Joe Biden is a great president, but he looks awful on tv so out he went.
Remember the Nixon/Kennedy televised debate? Perfect example.
TV sure has fucked up the people of the world. They are no longer able to think critically or discern lies from truth, it's up to the box to tell them what to believe.
TV "programming" programs the *audience*, not the content it carries. The PEOPLE are being programmed.
Thanks TV. It's Videodrome made real. It has a philosophy.
If it ain't on TV, it ain't real! Didn't happen! Doesn't matter.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Listen:
Humans are the only animals capable of believing things that are completely false.
Religions. Because people want to believe they’re not gonna die just like everything else does so they make something up.
Once you’ve gone that far, making LDFF into a very special boy is very small stuff
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Next you'll be saying some creepy, sleazy, complete business failure of a con man can pretend to be a super successful businessman on a completely made-up "reality show," and people will buy it!
I'd add that social media is television on steroids.
Ugh! Yes. The really bad steroids, that turn you into a grunting, hooting, caveman.
Social media has their 'chaos algorithms',more engagement and clicks,top of the feed,lies and misinformation spread 6 times faster than truth, driving further engagement,and that goddamn Zuckerberg weasel with his 'Aww shucks,I'm just a drop-out in a dirty t-shirt' and 'I don't have that info handy, I'll get back to you',(never) and 'look much we stop!!',when his whole goddamn business model was unlimited growth, eliminate competition,and eliminating any human beings from the equation so his nazi-bots can keep the revenue flowing in unimpeded.
Agree 100%. I have never, and will never use FB.
Unfortunately, Substack owners are of the same ilk.
Yes! Today’s parents are worried about their kids’ addiction to social media, not TV.
WAY too much " Made for TV " crap.
Meaning simplistic, no nudity, tiny amounts of sex, but plenty of violence, usually.
Think about it, people watch all these “reality” tv shows that aren’t based on reality. So what they watch is “programmed” reality and they love it! Sort of like “alternative facts” 🙄
The folks who think wrestling is real.
Those “reality” shows are just horrible, I will never understand why people watch them. They are just silliness.
A friend told me once about social media,'If something claims to be 'free',then you are the product'
I quit tv in the 90's, I watch the ocassional movie on the box. The spouse on the other hand predates TV, and watches it for many hours.
Richard: as shallow as it seems, the admiration of beauty is as ancient as the Greeks and the Judgment of Paris. Glad our lady is so much more appealing than that porcine, sweaty and gibberish spewing classless clown.
One of so many things about "human nature" that, as much as we wish it weren't so,--it is.
Just look at MTG, it's 'The Face That Sank 1,000 Ships'