Funny, but I remember that a few hours before haaley’s Oscar winning roadrunner performance, he was raising his fist outside the Capitol in support of those who would later become the J6 hostages 🤬
Terms like corruption matter. We must be careful how we define them. I’m so glad to have people like Eric Lipton and Mike Johnson are available to let us know that we can’t believe what we see with our own eyes nor what we hear with our own ears.
The billion dollar flying bordello is not even a masquerading as a gift to The United States, as it won’t be ready for tRump’s use until 2027 or 2028. And then in 2029, with tRump presumably out of office, he gets to jet around the world in it until he dies, and then it will sit in the Trump Library forever, presumably as the perfect Monument To Greed And Excess.
There are many examples of Donny requesting (and often, audibly spelling out) an improper quid pro quo (as he did with Zelenskyy), and as played out publicly with Elon Musk. To think Qatar would “gift” a $400MM plane and expect to receive absolutely nothing in return from a quintessentially greedy, corrupt transactionalist is LUDICROUS
Right on. Speaking of Musk, the media hasn't mentioned his taxpayer-funded presence on the trip. And that video of Musk sitting directly behind MBS with uncomfortably pursed lips and rolling eyes while Trump unctuously gushed and farted out his adoration of him was priceless.
Little Mikey Johnson is a small bag of Louisiana swamp slime and alligator shit. And he knows EXACTLY what corruption is and that he's looking at it--he comes from the state where the Big Easy is located, for crying out loud.
I thought that he was done. "How could anyone survive that politically?" Yet he was reelected. As was Cancun Ted Cruz. MAGATs would vote for a boll weevil if it had an R after its name.
Haven't you ever heard about a yellow dog Democrat? Back in the old days in Texas people used to say. “I'm gonna vote for the Democrats if they nominate a yellow dog.”
1. I guess Running Man Hawley has never played Monopoly. 🙄
2. I get it now. The Orange Fuckwit doesn’t word salad, he speaks in code and you need his gold plated decoder kit to understand it. Only $49.99 on sale!
Bennie told Krusti, Sec. of Inhumane Security, where she's at and what she stands for with her endless costume and makeup changes. In the meantime, Felonious 47 keeps cutting deals like he rips farts in a courtroom. That airplane he received probably has more bugs in it than a RFK Jr's favorite swimming hole. But Donnie keeps on crimin' since these corrupt assholes are paid to look the other way and just don't give two shits.
The last photo I saw of her responding snippily to a democratic lawmaker, I wondered how she could talk with that HUGE lower lip she's sprouted seemingly overnight. My god, that thing has been 'plumped' to a level 'never before seen'. Do these women imagine that's 'sexy' or 'attractive' in a face where it clearly doesn't belong? I ask the men here: do YOU like those fake-azz 'injected/plumped-up' lips? Especially knowing they can't feel anything (imagine trying to drink hot coffee and having it pour down one's 'designer outfit'? (only the 'best' for cecotbarbie). I do and find myself giggling at the thought. Perhaps they serve one purpose: helping them keep their weight in check since they can't get food past that huge 'blockade?
I work for an insurance company and watched as Hawley grilled two insurance company claims presidents the other day - masterful! Such hard core questioning. Seriously, he beat the shit out of them.
Then he goes on and says NOTHING about all the "I don't knows" registered by the cabinet and the president. Too bad he can't treat THEM the way he treats Allstate and State Farm. How about it, Josh?
Hawley's complicated. he's opposed to medicare cuts, and he thinks members of congress should be barred from investing in the stock market. but then he ruins it by being a pro-Donny weasel
Missouri is a hotbed of people who have to have Medicaid/Medicare or nothing, that's why he's opposed cuts. It's deep red and poverty stricken. Ask Lucas Kunce.
Hawley is acutely aware that Missouri not only expanded Medicaid with Federal support but wrote it into their Consitution. Now Missouri is going to have to cover whatever they lose from the Medicaid block grants and he's gonna hear about it from his constituents and from the Missouri politicians who have to somehow come up with that funding. He hasn't really changed his spots...he's just distancing himself from 47 for a presidential campaign, may the gods and goddesses help us all.
oh, SO this. He's the smarmiest 'I want to wipe that smirk off his smug face right NOW' creep I've ever seen. His fake-azz raised fist FOR the insurrectionists and then running like wascally wabbit was pure comedy gold for me. He SHOULD be laughed at/kicked out by every one of his Constitutents, but no. He too looks in his magic mirror every day and sees himself as 'precedent'.
And THAT is the problem: he's PLAYING just like donnydemento. None of these magats give one flying fuck about actual living, breathing PEOPLE. Oh, he pastes on that fake-azz 'sincere' look about not cutting medicaid and even from NY I can see he doesn't give one fuck and can barely hold that look for more than a couple of seconds. Ugh!
Hi Jeff, just love all the talk about bribing Donald with a golden plane, I’m wondering how Donald will reciprocate. This very subject was brought up Tuesday in “Golf with MAGAS”. While in the middle of the round with the 2 most dedicated red hat folks I was told Donald was making deals in the Middle East, I asked if the new hotel and golf course in Damascus was part of US diplomacy? I could tell they were attempting to get into my head… At lunch MAGAS were so impressed that Donald was receiving this jet as a bribe..I pointed out that the government giving Donald the plane was also major financial backers of Hamas and Hezbolah… silence… then was asked why did our country accept the Statue of Liberty it’s the same.. nope it’s not… any gift to our administration must be voted on by Congress, Statue of Liberty or a elephant tusk gifted to President Lincoln… I stated its spelled out in our Constitution, at that point pulling out my pocket Constitution…. Should I read this to you guys? Silence… welp… that’s all for that day…..Best to All.
When I saw someone reposting loony loomer's RANT against his 'da plane, da plane' I found myself laughing out loud as 'another one bites the dust' played in my head. Might be a bit premature, but...
Fastball's 'doing the Lord's work' - in many areas of this country you simply can't escape the MAGA majority (a 2:1 ratio of MAGA to non-MAGA). Just be your normal self and stick to your principles; they'll at least be aware that their self-selected echo chamber isn't universal. Thanks, Fredo!
I appreciate your support, your analysis is correct, I am unable to escape the MAGA influence in my golf group. I do not attend parties or overnight golf outings..why? MAGAS control themselves to a certain degree on the course, however, once they start drinking alcohol the real bitterness comes out. Better for my psych to avoid these events.
Impressed with your restraint. I'd be very tempted to pull a club out of my golf bag and take some wild swings at some MAGA heads. I've lost any bit of patience I might have had.
I'm quieter about it since I'm basically non-violent (but they shouldn't test me) - and use my voice instead of a golf club to take those 'wild swings' - especially on Instagram where I found myself by accident not so long ago. I've made TONS of magat enemies so have let loose. :)
I carry mine around as well - especially lately. I've read more than one Amendment to my FORMER 'friend' magat neighbour. Her eyes glaze over. 'I told you I don't want to talk politics'! Me: this is the Constitution under which we BOTH live, y'know? How is this 'politics'? (as she disappears into her house, slamming the door). MY copy and the gorgeous flag pin I occasionally (and quite deliberately) wear on my lapel to cause confusion - were given to me when I swore MY Oath as a newly minted American Citizen back in 1987. I took and still take that Oath seriously. Same one everyone takes: to protect and defend...against ALL enemies from without AND WITHIN! I'd put money on every single one of us who took that Oath as a new Citizen MEANT it** as much as our military does, entirely unlike the unfit moron currently occupying our Oval Office who wants to rip apart this Constitution and our Country.
**As I fought back tears taking that Oath, I looked around the room on that rainy Long Island day noticing every. single. person. there of all nationalities and colours ALSO leaking tears and immediately felt better, so let them flow as we all turned to each other with huge smiles and even hugs in our sister and brotherhood. The JOY felt like sunshine. 'I' need to find and feel THAT sunshine again.
Josh Hawley: “well, listen. I think nobody believes that Donald Trump can be bought. I mean, what does Donald Trump need more money for.” So if rich people don't need more money why is the GOP stumbling all over themselves to spray tax-breaks all over them?
That statement was an 11. What did anybody hear when it was head or posted? I just don’t get what he was going for. Coins for sale, get your ever so special coins pay cash is accepted at the Oval. Why would he want money, the answer is he never had any for too long at anytime in his life, it was lost so scamming is all he knew to do.
And here again is why the rightwing media human centipede exists, to cover for these clowns and keep the cultists and anyone looking for an excuse to give Republicans a pass justification. So whatever the pricktator is doing will be fine. And there's always the captive justices to put a fine bow on it and just magically conjure some extra special permission slip.
The "official immunity" gift is the best of all. It's a gift for Republican criminal Presidents only.
And of course yet again we see plenty of useless Villagers and social media influencers that also have Congressional seats getting in on the propaganda action. Just like in 2024 they got plenty of clout and clicks playing in our faces, and telling us "oh you're mistaken, everything is going to be okay," and "You're overreacting." It's a winning strategy and of course helps keep the sadopopulism rolling. The electorate really has to upgrade here in the USA.
Josh Hawley is concerned that the tax cuts for the already über wealthy that will be paid for by huge cuts to SNAP and other safety net programs will hurt them in the midterms.
"that’s why we’re in this shithole mess: we have far too many worthless scribblers of the corporate-controlled media willing to give a filthy, corrupt mobster a benefit of the doubt that he has never earned."
We often underestimate how easily the press can sway public opinion and influence elections, and it can be very subtle: For example, headlines with euphemisms for words like "lie" and "corruption." It influences people. It normalizes the insanity.
My current peeve is headlines that begin with "Trump Says." You have to read several paragraphs down to find out it's unsupported by facts and may be absolute hogwash.
You make an outstanding point, Gerard, that the Dems simply never understand. Having worked in two media companies, I know that all media are biased, even if unintentionally so (although, of course, these days, the bias is usually deliberate and unapologetic). Simply choosing which story to cover and which to ignore is bias.
But yes, to your comment about language, the NYT writers, for example, are obscenely skilled at shading meanings to manipulate readers' perceptions. Word choice and framing are how they do it. And in the last few years, they've taken to writing pure clickbait headlines that have little to do with the bodies of the stories they preface. But corporate owners are all about manipulation that draws clicks, views, and ratings and thus sells advertising.
I sometimes think the Democrats actually do understand this fairly clearly, which is why they might appear timid or too careful: They know the media will spin their words and actions in a way that benefits Republicans.
So I have a slightly different perspective, Denise. I think it's about a lot more than just clicks or selling advertising. The media is corporate controlled, and because it's corporate controlled, it's Republican controlled. Example: Negative stories about the Republicans generally disappear after two or three days. Negative stories about the Democrats hang around for a long time. The media presents the appearance of impartiality to keep the clicks, but they are far from impartial.
Democrats know this. Their viewpoints often won't be represented accurately. The game is rigged against them. Our only hope at this point is for this mess to worsen, and for a large percentage of this country to wake up, start wearing the sunglasses, see the propaganda, and see the people running things for the monsters they are (a slight reference to the sci-fi film, "They Live").
The Dems are just timid, period. They haven't come with a simple, coherent message since Obama. Right-wing media would twist, "The sky is blue," as a message, but the Dems have to stop whining about that and stop accepting GOP framing. Start going on offense. If they develop a straightforward, simple message, all MSM is going to do is report it, as long as the Dems keep on message and stop being defensive.
Because media are corporate controlled, it IS about clicks and ratings. That's why everything is sensationalized. Yeah, negative D stories have longer shelf life than negative R stories (with some exceptions; George Santos comes to mind), but the general public just notices the hype. It's up to the Dems to change their playbook and learn to play the media game, as the Rs did decades ago.
Corporations who own media companies see the enormous financial upside of having Republicans in the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. They still want the clicks, but the holy grail for these corporations is the mountain of cash that comes from tax savings and deregulation. For that, they can thank Republicans, and this is why corporate America donates loads of money to Republicans and a few Democrats who are DINOs.
I agree that Dems will need to change their playbook. But they were just voted out after a year of shouting from the rooftops. This country is ignorant, uninformed, and easily swayed by the corporate press. To change that -- and for people to begin to actually listen to Democrats -- people will need to suffer the consequences of T. 2.0, and then not believe the propaganda that it's Obama's fault. Hillary's fault. Joe's fault. Hell, Roosevelt's fault. Suffering reality is usually more informative than having it explained to us.
This is what I keep saying, we are going to have to crash all the way down to the pits in order for t’s supporters to understand how terrible he is. Until we have all experienced and suffered from his bizarre delusions and deranged policies they’ll just keep making excuses for him. And some people will never ever learn, because they have elevated him to a godlike status.
No question that the Dems were shouting from the rooftops. But not effectively. What they tend to do is accept the R framing and then try to defend or argue their way out of it. By continually using that tactic, they merely reinforce the R message. It's the verbal version of what a Dem congressional candidate in my district did. Every ad, every mailer, showed her opponent, with a litany of how bad her opponent was, and what the opponent was doing wrong. Quite predictably, her opponent won, because the candidate I followed doubled her opponent's exposure. That's what the Dems do all. the. time. MSM handed the 2016 election to Rump by giving him millions in free publicity, and NYT and WaPo were two of the worst, even though they were supposedly "liberal."
Even if, indeed, there are dire, widespread consequences from T 2.0, as I agree there will be, what will stop the feedback of blaming Biden, Harris, etc.? If Dems just keep saying, "We didn't do it. It's not our fault. We tried to warn you," they might as well throw in the towel, IMO.
I guess we have different takes, but want the same thing. I believe the next few years will open some eyes. Hope we get there, and hope it's not too late. Thanks for the dialog, Denise!
Good point, birdwatcher. The Miller coverage was unforgivable.. I still skim NYT opinion because there are some good takes here and there. The news articles are worthless, with the occasional exception of live updates from various courtroom proceedings.
It's illuminating to watch the online NYT headlines change over time. You can easily figure out which ones caused someone somewhere to get on the phone to Sulzberger.
Except the Supreme Aholes declared it's not a bribe if it's a gratuity. So I wonder, What's Donny already done for them? He backed off the Houthis for one.
On "it's only corruption if you hide it"--when I ran for a tiny, stupid, minor office I had to set up all kinds of backstops so I wouldn't know who donated tiny amounts of money to me, because otherwise there would be the appearance of a conflict. Even $20 from a friend from out of state--I just handed that over to the treasurer and ignored it because that's what you do, even if it's never going to come up.
Also, I think trump LIKES to get these bribes out in the open. If not, how will anyone know how feared/beloved he is? It's mind-blowing that he is so damaged that he has to not only get two scoops of ice cream, he has to let the world KNOW he got two scoops, more than anyone else at dinner, because PEOPLE LOVE ME BEST!
Excellent point about financial disclosure -- but keep in mind that Don "out in the open" Trump has never disclosed his tax returns or other financial info.
Ctizens United is all about Dark money going to the right wing 'legitimately' isn't it?? How did Kavanaugh pay off his mortgage? The right wing has HUNDREDS of orgs & think tanks that shuffle money around invisibly....
We all need to remember who owns the media. It is safe to assume that the NYT, WaPo and every other oligarch owned multimedia conglomerate will continue to obfuscate the truth and set records for misleading the public. They are part of the oligarchy machine. Ignore, boycott and never look back. The 4th Estate is nothing but a jumbled mishmash of disinformation.
Correct, Walt. We all need to remember, Judith Miller, Judith Miller, Judith Miller...and I just don't remember the Sixties, but I did read the media, and listen to the media after the Eighties. Before that it was only Scoop Nisker, et al, on KSAN. Remember the judge in the Chicago Eight Trial trying to arrest Bobby Seale's birthday cake?
Well, I believe it was a Friday afternoon, I was in the middle of a mescaline trip (about an hour past the peak), we were lying on the floor about 5:30 listening to KSAN, pretty much the only radio station in SF, and Scoop came on to do the news in his inimitable way (news, clips, relatable music clips) and when he got to the story on the Chicago Eight trial, there was a clip from the trial, the demonstrators came into the courtroom holding the cake up and singing Happy Birthday to Bobby, and Judge Hoffman starting screaming "Arrest that cake!" Pandemonium ensued. The clip cut off and we were left lying on the floor wondering if we had really heard that, if it had really happened, etc. etc. Anyway, it's still one of my stronger memories from the Sixties. Pandemonium is a good word to characterize the Sixties.
No, it was real. When I think back about it, we were celebrating the end of finals (fall quarter.) One week after Altamont. Berkeley, the center of the world in 1969.
The horrible truth of all of this has fallen together with this trip overseas. As Heather Cox Richardson said last night, Trump is not alone. We haven’t seen it in photos but Musk is there, Sam Altman, ChatGP guy is there, all the biggest tech people are there.
This crap about Doge getting rid of fraud and abuse was an excuse to get into our private information and gather it for their AI development. The Saudis want to diversify from oil into AI. We have all been rubes and our private information is gone. This is not just Trump’s greed but also for investment money from the Middle East for AI development.
While our heads have been spinning, we have been taken over by corporate tech, a racist fascist, and a Christian Nationalist heading the OBM, Russel Vought, who practically wrote Project 2025. This is happening FAST.
When I see Josh Hawley run, I start singing, “Brave, brave Sir Hawley!"
“So bravely ran away…
When danger reared up its nasty head,
He bravely turned tail and fled!
How brave was Sir Hawley!”
🤣🤣🤣
Funny, but I remember that a few hours before haaley’s Oscar winning roadrunner performance, he was raising his fist outside the Capitol in support of those who would later become the J6 hostages 🤬
Thanks for knowing the words! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🥇🥇🥇🥇
Who gets to unplug his bowels?
When I want some tea, I can open a box of Lipton’s.
When Donny wants to be teabagged, he can call Eric Lipton.
Terms like corruption matter. We must be careful how we define them. I’m so glad to have people like Eric Lipton and Mike Johnson are available to let us know that we can’t believe what we see with our own eyes nor what we hear with our own ears.
Yes. And - Where to begin?
The billion dollar flying bordello is not even a masquerading as a gift to The United States, as it won’t be ready for tRump’s use until 2027 or 2028. And then in 2029, with tRump presumably out of office, he gets to jet around the world in it until he dies, and then it will sit in the Trump Library forever, presumably as the perfect Monument To Greed And Excess.
There are many examples of Donny requesting (and often, audibly spelling out) an improper quid pro quo (as he did with Zelenskyy), and as played out publicly with Elon Musk. To think Qatar would “gift” a $400MM plane and expect to receive absolutely nothing in return from a quintessentially greedy, corrupt transactionalist is LUDICROUS
Right on. Speaking of Musk, the media hasn't mentioned his taxpayer-funded presence on the trip. And that video of Musk sitting directly behind MBS with uncomfortably pursed lips and rolling eyes while Trump unctuously gushed and farted out his adoration of him was priceless.
I noticed Musk didn't look happy!! Poor boy! The grifters keep grifting, and Congress - Repubs and Mike Johnson keep their blinders on.
where can I enjoy that clip?
Here's a link: https://youtu.be/kp9dhMStWlQ?si=urbfCyJRozgqcSbh
The first lesson in Orwell’s
‘1984’ was to not believe what you saw or heard.
Little Mikey Johnson is a small bag of Louisiana swamp slime and alligator shit. And he knows EXACTLY what corruption is and that he's looking at it--he comes from the state where the Big Easy is located, for crying out loud.
I think of They Call him the Streak by Ray Stevens.
Boogity-boogity.
Don't look Ethel! But it was too late.
of course they do . . .
just check his underwear!
True dat Phil, Donny leaves more than just a streak in his diaper though!!
Do we assume Hawley doesn’t answer the keeper of the bridge of deaths questions first?
Blue! No, red! Aaaarghhhh!
we would hope thats how trump would answer the questions 3.
Hawley is a twat who loves to hear the sound of his own voice. He's a fucking chicken-shit coward.
I thought that he was done. "How could anyone survive that politically?" Yet he was reelected. As was Cancun Ted Cruz. MAGATs would vote for a boll weevil if it had an R after its name.
Haven't you ever heard about a yellow dog Democrat? Back in the old days in Texas people used to say. “I'm gonna vote for the Democrats if they nominate a yellow dog.”
"He was quite afraid, you know/To be primed in nasty ways."
Could you possibly post an audio Kathleen?
"Run away, run away!"
1. I guess Running Man Hawley has never played Monopoly. 🙄
2. I get it now. The Orange Fuckwit doesn’t word salad, he speaks in code and you need his gold plated decoder kit to understand it. Only $49.99 on sale!
3. Bennie Thompson for the win.
Pritzker added a comment about hiding your dogs when she was in Illinois.
That was funny and well deserved.
Bennie told Krusti, Sec. of Inhumane Security, where she's at and what she stands for with her endless costume and makeup changes. In the meantime, Felonious 47 keeps cutting deals like he rips farts in a courtroom. That airplane he received probably has more bugs in it than a RFK Jr's favorite swimming hole. But Donnie keeps on crimin' since these corrupt assholes are paid to look the other way and just don't give two shits.
🎯
🎯
Bennie is too much of a gentleman to include all the Botox and lip injections and cheek implants (and that's just above the neck).
The last photo I saw of her responding snippily to a democratic lawmaker, I wondered how she could talk with that HUGE lower lip she's sprouted seemingly overnight. My god, that thing has been 'plumped' to a level 'never before seen'. Do these women imagine that's 'sexy' or 'attractive' in a face where it clearly doesn't belong? I ask the men here: do YOU like those fake-azz 'injected/plumped-up' lips? Especially knowing they can't feel anything (imagine trying to drink hot coffee and having it pour down one's 'designer outfit'? (only the 'best' for cecotbarbie). I do and find myself giggling at the thought. Perhaps they serve one purpose: helping them keep their weight in check since they can't get food past that huge 'blockade?
Maestro level points Kay-EI!!
Lol running man. Nicely done.
I think he named it “the weave.”
I work for an insurance company and watched as Hawley grilled two insurance company claims presidents the other day - masterful! Such hard core questioning. Seriously, he beat the shit out of them.
Then he goes on and says NOTHING about all the "I don't knows" registered by the cabinet and the president. Too bad he can't treat THEM the way he treats Allstate and State Farm. How about it, Josh?
Hawley's complicated. he's opposed to medicare cuts, and he thinks members of congress should be barred from investing in the stock market. but then he ruins it by being a pro-Donny weasel
Missouri is a hotbed of people who have to have Medicaid/Medicare or nothing, that's why he's opposed cuts. It's deep red and poverty stricken. Ask Lucas Kunce.
Hawley is acutely aware that Missouri not only expanded Medicaid with Federal support but wrote it into their Consitution. Now Missouri is going to have to cover whatever they lose from the Medicaid block grants and he's gonna hear about it from his constituents and from the Missouri politicians who have to somehow come up with that funding. He hasn't really changed his spots...he's just distancing himself from 47 for a presidential campaign, may the gods and goddesses help us all.
OMG, Hawley is the worst kind of person. Blessed with smarts, great education, and slimy little operator - out for himself all the way.
oh, SO this. He's the smarmiest 'I want to wipe that smirk off his smug face right NOW' creep I've ever seen. His fake-azz raised fist FOR the insurrectionists and then running like wascally wabbit was pure comedy gold for me. He SHOULD be laughed at/kicked out by every one of his Constitutents, but no. He too looks in his magic mirror every day and sees himself as 'precedent'.
I read his opinion about trading and Medicare/medicaid and thought it must be AI. He has a brain cell that actually fired but sadly flickered out.
He's certainly a shitstain, but he ain't stupid. He knows how to play the both sides game of politics.
And THAT is the problem: he's PLAYING just like donnydemento. None of these magats give one flying fuck about actual living, breathing PEOPLE. Oh, he pastes on that fake-azz 'sincere' look about not cutting medicaid and even from NY I can see he doesn't give one fuck and can barely hold that look for more than a couple of seconds. Ugh!
Hi Jeff, just love all the talk about bribing Donald with a golden plane, I’m wondering how Donald will reciprocate. This very subject was brought up Tuesday in “Golf with MAGAS”. While in the middle of the round with the 2 most dedicated red hat folks I was told Donald was making deals in the Middle East, I asked if the new hotel and golf course in Damascus was part of US diplomacy? I could tell they were attempting to get into my head… At lunch MAGAS were so impressed that Donald was receiving this jet as a bribe..I pointed out that the government giving Donald the plane was also major financial backers of Hamas and Hezbolah… silence… then was asked why did our country accept the Statue of Liberty it’s the same.. nope it’s not… any gift to our administration must be voted on by Congress, Statue of Liberty or a elephant tusk gifted to President Lincoln… I stated its spelled out in our Constitution, at that point pulling out my pocket Constitution…. Should I read this to you guys? Silence… welp… that’s all for that day…..Best to All.
Tell 'em that even Loony Loomer is against orange crook accepting the plane from Qatar. Of course, she's a vicious anti-Muslim bigot, but still
That’s a big ‘wow’😱
When I saw someone reposting loony loomer's RANT against his 'da plane, da plane' I found myself laughing out loud as 'another one bites the dust' played in my head. Might be a bit premature, but...
wtf is the matter with these doofus idiots you hang out with? They think every thing Donny Two-Dolls does is “good”?
The deal with Syria is obviously illegal;
The Satan Jet from KissMyAss Qatar is illegal; the Mcdonald’s garbage truck
is illegal- man, stop golfing with these
putzes- they just cult figures now-you cant get through to them!
Fastball's 'doing the Lord's work' - in many areas of this country you simply can't escape the MAGA majority (a 2:1 ratio of MAGA to non-MAGA). Just be your normal self and stick to your principles; they'll at least be aware that their self-selected echo chamber isn't universal. Thanks, Fredo!
I appreciate your support, your analysis is correct, I am unable to escape the MAGA influence in my golf group. I do not attend parties or overnight golf outings..why? MAGAS control themselves to a certain degree on the course, however, once they start drinking alcohol the real bitterness comes out. Better for my psych to avoid these events.
Impressed with your restraint. I'd be very tempted to pull a club out of my golf bag and take some wild swings at some MAGA heads. I've lost any bit of patience I might have had.
I'm quieter about it since I'm basically non-violent (but they shouldn't test me) - and use my voice instead of a golf club to take those 'wild swings' - especially on Instagram where I found myself by accident not so long ago. I've made TONS of magat enemies so have let loose. :)
I carry mine around as well - especially lately. I've read more than one Amendment to my FORMER 'friend' magat neighbour. Her eyes glaze over. 'I told you I don't want to talk politics'! Me: this is the Constitution under which we BOTH live, y'know? How is this 'politics'? (as she disappears into her house, slamming the door). MY copy and the gorgeous flag pin I occasionally (and quite deliberately) wear on my lapel to cause confusion - were given to me when I swore MY Oath as a newly minted American Citizen back in 1987. I took and still take that Oath seriously. Same one everyone takes: to protect and defend...against ALL enemies from without AND WITHIN! I'd put money on every single one of us who took that Oath as a new Citizen MEANT it** as much as our military does, entirely unlike the unfit moron currently occupying our Oval Office who wants to rip apart this Constitution and our Country.
**As I fought back tears taking that Oath, I looked around the room on that rainy Long Island day noticing every. single. person. there of all nationalities and colours ALSO leaking tears and immediately felt better, so let them flow as we all turned to each other with huge smiles and even hugs in our sister and brotherhood. The JOY felt like sunshine. 'I' need to find and feel THAT sunshine again.
Josh Hawley: “well, listen. I think nobody believes that Donald Trump can be bought. I mean, what does Donald Trump need more money for.” So if rich people don't need more money why is the GOP stumbling all over themselves to spray tax-breaks all over them?
So, based on that statement, you'll be voting 'No' for the Give Tax Breaks to Rich Fuckers Bill there, senator?
That statement was an 11. What did anybody hear when it was head or posted? I just don’t get what he was going for. Coins for sale, get your ever so special coins pay cash is accepted at the Oval. Why would he want money, the answer is he never had any for too long at anytime in his life, it was lost so scamming is all he knew to do.
BINGO!!!
Good point 🤓
And here again is why the rightwing media human centipede exists, to cover for these clowns and keep the cultists and anyone looking for an excuse to give Republicans a pass justification. So whatever the pricktator is doing will be fine. And there's always the captive justices to put a fine bow on it and just magically conjure some extra special permission slip.
The "official immunity" gift is the best of all. It's a gift for Republican criminal Presidents only.
And of course yet again we see plenty of useless Villagers and social media influencers that also have Congressional seats getting in on the propaganda action. Just like in 2024 they got plenty of clout and clicks playing in our faces, and telling us "oh you're mistaken, everything is going to be okay," and "You're overreacting." It's a winning strategy and of course helps keep the sadopopulism rolling. The electorate really has to upgrade here in the USA.
The "official immunity" gift is the gift that keeps on giving because himself keeps on committing outrages.
Love that term "sadopopulism". Sadism is the name of the game. Although I love this word - "sadogreed". Best of both worlds.
And/or the strategically siloed media… 😒
Josh Hawley is concerned that the tax cuts for the already über wealthy that will be paid for by huge cuts to SNAP and other safety net programs will hurt them in the midterms.
NOT THAT IT IS MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE!!! 🤮🤮🤮
"that’s why we’re in this shithole mess: we have far too many worthless scribblers of the corporate-controlled media willing to give a filthy, corrupt mobster a benefit of the doubt that he has never earned."
We often underestimate how easily the press can sway public opinion and influence elections, and it can be very subtle: For example, headlines with euphemisms for words like "lie" and "corruption." It influences people. It normalizes the insanity.
My current peeve is headlines that begin with "Trump Says." You have to read several paragraphs down to find out it's unsupported by facts and may be absolute hogwash.
It’s contagious see this ‘fuck Holy Mike for expecting us to swallow his shit-sandwich.’ Do not swallow!
I'm adding "Don't swallow" to "Don't inhale." You can tell I've been around long enough to know that "I didn't inhale" was total BS.
You make an outstanding point, Gerard, that the Dems simply never understand. Having worked in two media companies, I know that all media are biased, even if unintentionally so (although, of course, these days, the bias is usually deliberate and unapologetic). Simply choosing which story to cover and which to ignore is bias.
But yes, to your comment about language, the NYT writers, for example, are obscenely skilled at shading meanings to manipulate readers' perceptions. Word choice and framing are how they do it. And in the last few years, they've taken to writing pure clickbait headlines that have little to do with the bodies of the stories they preface. But corporate owners are all about manipulation that draws clicks, views, and ratings and thus sells advertising.
I sometimes think the Democrats actually do understand this fairly clearly, which is why they might appear timid or too careful: They know the media will spin their words and actions in a way that benefits Republicans.
So I have a slightly different perspective, Denise. I think it's about a lot more than just clicks or selling advertising. The media is corporate controlled, and because it's corporate controlled, it's Republican controlled. Example: Negative stories about the Republicans generally disappear after two or three days. Negative stories about the Democrats hang around for a long time. The media presents the appearance of impartiality to keep the clicks, but they are far from impartial.
Democrats know this. Their viewpoints often won't be represented accurately. The game is rigged against them. Our only hope at this point is for this mess to worsen, and for a large percentage of this country to wake up, start wearing the sunglasses, see the propaganda, and see the people running things for the monsters they are (a slight reference to the sci-fi film, "They Live").
Props for the reference, Gerard.
The Dems are just timid, period. They haven't come with a simple, coherent message since Obama. Right-wing media would twist, "The sky is blue," as a message, but the Dems have to stop whining about that and stop accepting GOP framing. Start going on offense. If they develop a straightforward, simple message, all MSM is going to do is report it, as long as the Dems keep on message and stop being defensive.
Because media are corporate controlled, it IS about clicks and ratings. That's why everything is sensationalized. Yeah, negative D stories have longer shelf life than negative R stories (with some exceptions; George Santos comes to mind), but the general public just notices the hype. It's up to the Dems to change their playbook and learn to play the media game, as the Rs did decades ago.
Corporations who own media companies see the enormous financial upside of having Republicans in the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. They still want the clicks, but the holy grail for these corporations is the mountain of cash that comes from tax savings and deregulation. For that, they can thank Republicans, and this is why corporate America donates loads of money to Republicans and a few Democrats who are DINOs.
I agree that Dems will need to change their playbook. But they were just voted out after a year of shouting from the rooftops. This country is ignorant, uninformed, and easily swayed by the corporate press. To change that -- and for people to begin to actually listen to Democrats -- people will need to suffer the consequences of T. 2.0, and then not believe the propaganda that it's Obama's fault. Hillary's fault. Joe's fault. Hell, Roosevelt's fault. Suffering reality is usually more informative than having it explained to us.
This is what I keep saying, we are going to have to crash all the way down to the pits in order for t’s supporters to understand how terrible he is. Until we have all experienced and suffered from his bizarre delusions and deranged policies they’ll just keep making excuses for him. And some people will never ever learn, because they have elevated him to a godlike status.
No question that the Dems were shouting from the rooftops. But not effectively. What they tend to do is accept the R framing and then try to defend or argue their way out of it. By continually using that tactic, they merely reinforce the R message. It's the verbal version of what a Dem congressional candidate in my district did. Every ad, every mailer, showed her opponent, with a litany of how bad her opponent was, and what the opponent was doing wrong. Quite predictably, her opponent won, because the candidate I followed doubled her opponent's exposure. That's what the Dems do all. the. time. MSM handed the 2016 election to Rump by giving him millions in free publicity, and NYT and WaPo were two of the worst, even though they were supposedly "liberal."
Even if, indeed, there are dire, widespread consequences from T 2.0, as I agree there will be, what will stop the feedback of blaming Biden, Harris, etc.? If Dems just keep saying, "We didn't do it. It's not our fault. We tried to warn you," they might as well throw in the towel, IMO.
I guess we have different takes, but want the same thing. I believe the next few years will open some eyes. Hope we get there, and hope it's not too late. Thanks for the dialog, Denise!
Why anyone would read the NYT after Judith Miller's take on Iraq is beyond me.
Good point, birdwatcher. The Miller coverage was unforgivable.. I still skim NYT opinion because there are some good takes here and there. The news articles are worthless, with the occasional exception of live updates from various courtroom proceedings.
Honestly The Mueller Non-Report. It was repeated a million times ‘preznidetial immunity’ what?. In those years it didn’t exist, what am I missing?
Another example of capitalism sowing the seeds of its own destruction.
Well....in its current predatory, winners-take-everything form, its destruction wouldn't be a bad thing.
It's illuminating to watch the online NYT headlines change over time. You can easily figure out which ones caused someone somewhere to get on the phone to Sulzberger.
HAH! Yes! 😆😆
What the hell is that NYT “reporter” talking about? Quid pro quid corruption?
A bribe is corruption. Don’t sanewash this stuff.
Yah, that Lipton idiot should be fired for such ridiculous bullshit
Except the Supreme Aholes declared it's not a bribe if it's a gratuity. So I wonder, What's Donny already done for them? He backed off the Houthis for one.
I saw a great meme of the plane Orange Hitler's getting from the Terrorist Backers. It was a giant purple plane with Qatar's Bitch on the fuselage.
Remember when the Saudis sent planes, oh, about 2001. 🤔
I think you mean 2001....
Right. Fixed it.
On "it's only corruption if you hide it"--when I ran for a tiny, stupid, minor office I had to set up all kinds of backstops so I wouldn't know who donated tiny amounts of money to me, because otherwise there would be the appearance of a conflict. Even $20 from a friend from out of state--I just handed that over to the treasurer and ignored it because that's what you do, even if it's never going to come up.
Also, I think trump LIKES to get these bribes out in the open. If not, how will anyone know how feared/beloved he is? It's mind-blowing that he is so damaged that he has to not only get two scoops of ice cream, he has to let the world KNOW he got two scoops, more than anyone else at dinner, because PEOPLE LOVE ME BEST!
Excellent point about financial disclosure -- but keep in mind that Don "out in the open" Trump has never disclosed his tax returns or other financial info.
Ctizens United is all about Dark money going to the right wing 'legitimately' isn't it?? How did Kavanaugh pay off his mortgage? The right wing has HUNDREDS of orgs & think tanks that shuffle money around invisibly....
You're too ethical to be in elective office
We all need to remember who owns the media. It is safe to assume that the NYT, WaPo and every other oligarch owned multimedia conglomerate will continue to obfuscate the truth and set records for misleading the public. They are part of the oligarchy machine. Ignore, boycott and never look back. The 4th Estate is nothing but a jumbled mishmash of disinformation.
Correct, Walt. We all need to remember, Judith Miller, Judith Miller, Judith Miller...and I just don't remember the Sixties, but I did read the media, and listen to the media after the Eighties. Before that it was only Scoop Nisker, et al, on KSAN. Remember the judge in the Chicago Eight Trial trying to arrest Bobby Seale's birthday cake?
I do not recall that felonious birthday cake, LTBW. But, I bet it’s a good story!
Well, I believe it was a Friday afternoon, I was in the middle of a mescaline trip (about an hour past the peak), we were lying on the floor about 5:30 listening to KSAN, pretty much the only radio station in SF, and Scoop came on to do the news in his inimitable way (news, clips, relatable music clips) and when he got to the story on the Chicago Eight trial, there was a clip from the trial, the demonstrators came into the courtroom holding the cake up and singing Happy Birthday to Bobby, and Judge Hoffman starting screaming "Arrest that cake!" Pandemonium ensued. The clip cut off and we were left lying on the floor wondering if we had really heard that, if it had really happened, etc. etc. Anyway, it's still one of my stronger memories from the Sixties. Pandemonium is a good word to characterize the Sixties.
Crazy as that period was, there was never a movement to elect Charlie Manson as President.
That is one strange trip, LTBW. Must have been the purple mescaline. 😂
No, it was real. When I think back about it, we were celebrating the end of finals (fall quarter.) One week after Altamont. Berkeley, the center of the world in 1969.
Go Bennie!
Bennie Thompson hit a home run!
The horrible truth of all of this has fallen together with this trip overseas. As Heather Cox Richardson said last night, Trump is not alone. We haven’t seen it in photos but Musk is there, Sam Altman, ChatGP guy is there, all the biggest tech people are there.
This crap about Doge getting rid of fraud and abuse was an excuse to get into our private information and gather it for their AI development. The Saudis want to diversify from oil into AI. We have all been rubes and our private information is gone. This is not just Trump’s greed but also for investment money from the Middle East for AI development.
While our heads have been spinning, we have been taken over by corporate tech, a racist fascist, and a Christian Nationalist heading the OBM, Russel Vought, who practically wrote Project 2025. This is happening FAST.
As well, to stop any and all investigations into Musk and his people.
His sons and son-in-law are there too! Grifters gonna grift.
I saw Musk there.
Corruption isn't Corruption unless it comes from the Corrupt region of France.... otherwise it's just Sparkling Unethicality.
😂😂😂