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Aleksander Constantinoropolous's avatar

Jeff’s on fire with this one.

Comer Fudd is the spiritual embodiment of Wile E. Coyote with a subpoena — careening off cliffs, detonating ACME scandals, and somehow still thinking the 83-year-old cancer survivor is the real threat to democracy.

Meanwhile, Donny's out here drafting executive orders in crayon, trying to retroactively revoke reality, because his feelings got hurt by a pardon.

You can’t parody this anymore.

We’ve hit full Mad Libs governance.

The rake-to-the-face is now a policy position.

And yeah… I’ll take that taco now. Preferably with a side of congressional term limits.

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Kathleen Weber's avatar

When I was young there were Fun Houses. Places where reality was distorted by mirrors and stuff jumped out at you unexpectedly.

At some point, everyday reality turned into a Fun House. Every day something weird and impossible happens. I did not see this coming.

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Lisa Hansen's avatar

It’s more like a bad acid trip.

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Lynn Horsky's avatar

that just doesn't let you come down!!!

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Rick Calegari's avatar

Remember them well especially the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk and Playland at the Beach in SF.

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Colleen Sullivan's avatar

Aw, I love your comment. I was born in Santa Cruz County and worked in San Francisco for 30 years.

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Rick Calegari's avatar

Thanks Colleen.

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P123Sunny's avatar

Kathleen - Do you think it’s bc Americans are comfortable/bored? Serious Q

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Lady Emsworth's avatar

Your question reminds me of an episode from the 70's comedy show "Soap." The filthy rich lead guy and his wife go to see a psychiatrist and ask him "Why are we so worried and anxious all the time? We have everything we want!" and the psych. replies " Not enough Indians." - then explains that when you really DO have something to worry about - like getting an arrow in your throat - you're to busy figuring out how to fix THAT to worry about imaginary things. . .

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P123Sunny's avatar

You know, somewhere I did read: “Democracy Needs An Enemy”. Could be that simple. All pulling in the same direction against a common foe. Love that ‘Soap’ reference, thx!

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Schnauzermom's avatar

I remember wondering who we were going to hate when the Berlin Wall came down. Turns out, we looked at each other and said “I’ll hate you!”

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insert_something_creative's avatar

I hadn't thought about it in that context, but this so accurate. The fall of the Berlin Wall also coincides with the rise of people like Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gringrich who gleeflully fanned the flames and the debut of Faux News in the mid-90s.

All of them had and continue to have one overarching point — your fellow Americans who hold more liberal views (eventually including immigrants, LBGTQ people, etc. until it became basically anyone outside their "tribe") are literal devils who must be destroyed at all costs.

A couple decades of that later? Here we are.

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P123Sunny's avatar

Perfect storm of tech meeting / conspiracy theories/ meeting the perfect ‘salesman’… each one blurring the lines so to speak

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Kathleen Weber's avatar

Agreed.

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Kathleen Weber's avatar

I think that flyover Americans are overwhelmed by the complexity and fluidity of the modern world. What we call reality feels like a fun house to them. They are looking for simple solutions to excruciatingly complex problems. They have chosen a false but simple Messiah.

Social media is a fun house and has been for about a decade or more. So, it's okay for All of reality to be a fun house. In the 50s the John Birchers had really bizarre concepts of current events (Eisenhower is a Soviet agent). That continued with JFK Conspiracy theories, intensified with the 9/11 theorists, reached the peak with Q Anon. So, if Trump tries to recreate government with the President as a dictator, it's actually kind of mild distortion of reality, although it's not mild for us.

Trump's promise is: “I will control reality and make it one that is comfortable for you. Modernity will no longer control reality."

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MzNicky in East Jesus, TN's avatar

[deep sigh]

*not all “flyover Americans”*

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Kathleen Weber's avatar

That goes without saying. Every generality has exceptions. I assume people knows that. There is not a single county in the United States where everyone voted for Trump.

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Denise Donaldson's avatar

There are so many exceptions to your generality as to make it meaningless, Kathleen. Deliberately or not, you come across as contemptuous of "flyover country," as did Hillary, and it cost her the 2016 election. Your comment smacks of coastal elitism, of which it seems many Dems are rightfully accused.

As one example, Illinois is considered a "flyover state," yet it's thoroughly blue, as are Minnesota and Colorado. Wisconsin is getting there, as is Michigan. By contrast, Florida is not considered flyover, but is deep red. New Hampshire also leans that way.

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Kathleen Weber's avatar

I am an independent who lives in flyover Texas. I live in the blue city of Houston in the red state of Texas. We are both non-red dots in red states.

If you want to know what I think of flyover Americans I invite you to read my description of the problems of non-college educated Americans. I really implore you to read this. I Think that non-college educated Americans have gotten a really raw deal.

https://kathleenweber.substack.com/p/how-to-fight-trump-part-one

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Denise Donaldson's avatar

What do "non-college-educated Americans" have to do with flyover country?

I agree that a dumbed-down populace is a critical problem, but the epithet of "flyover country" is insulting, by definition. The implication is that non-coastal states are somehow less worthy than coastal ones.

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MzNicky in East Jesus, TN's avatar

She’s like a dog with a bone — she’ll never let it go. Perhaps she’s written a blog piece about it that she can excerpt from and post for you.

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Denise Donaldson's avatar

She did that. As many times as I said any of her other writings had no relevance to today's comment, she did indeed excerpt her blog piece, saying that now I'd "have to" read it.

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Lisa K. Obrien's avatar

Jeezus, lady. Give it a rest.

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Kathleen Weber's avatar

I agree that it does have a contemptuous attitude, and I am alluding to that contempt. Would you be happier if I called it heartland America? I see you did not read the piece I asked you to read.

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Denise Donaldson's avatar

"Heartland" doesn’t have the same negative connotation, true, but you're still implying that, collectively, non-coastal areas are less than. I still don't see what the connection is between non-college-educated and any specific part of the country.

No, I didn't read your linked piece, because I was responding directly to the statement you made on Jeff's current comment thread. That statement stands alone on that thread; there should be no expectation that readers should have to go to your writings for clarification.

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MzNicky in East Jesus, TN's avatar

It’s only a generality until it becomes a stereotype. Also, you know what they say about generalizations? Same goes for generalities.

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Kathleen Weber's avatar

So every generalization has to come with a disclaimer. That's a big burden. I'm counting on people to be smart enough at least on this site Not to engage in stereotyping. Also, I can count on you to be on the anti-stereotype patrol.

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MzNicky in East Jesus, TN's avatar

And also, just be thankful I’m not on the grammar-pedant patrol.

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MzNicky in East Jesus, TN's avatar

That you can!

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MzNicky in East Jesus, TN's avatar

Are we having fun yet?

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Kathleen Weber's avatar

I'm sure not having fun..

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Kati Kertesz's avatar

Unfun Houses.

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Stephen Schiff's avatar

I keep hearing the ghost of H.L. Mencken, his things about the taste of the American public and the ultimate mentality of our leadership. We must remember that around 45% of our citizens think the Orange Turd is cool and smart and handsome and and and, and that of the other 55%, 90% can't be bothered to get off their asses and protest, even write a fucking letter.

The solution, most unfortunately, is for the Democrats to stoop to the level of the MAGAts and MAGAettes, and start shoveling shit at them. Enough of this fucking decorum! Put a clothes pin on your nose and cotton in your ears, if you must, but DO SOMETHING.

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Mary Hall's avatar

NATIONWIDE PROTESTS on June 14th -- make a sign, find your local tribe, and show up -- www.nokings.org. You will have a great time -- I guarantee it!

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Terri Nighswonger's avatar

Yes!! Get out and march!!! We had on last night for Miguel Alvarez who was snatched by ICE while he was going to get his citizenship in San Francisco. I wrote about this earlier this week.

We had a gathering last night in our town square. Terrific response. 200 or more.

Most in tears. These are our people. We love them. Hard working reliable good good people. They do everything. They are excellent citizens builders of our community.

I am sick of our leaders not having backbone. They NEED TO MOVE. DONT OVER THINK IT. FIGHT THE HELL BACK.

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Margaret's avatar

You don't even have to march! Go to the site and just sit! I can't march anymore so I go with a chair and a sign. And I cheer a lot. I'm always surrounded by supportive people and it's always fun.

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Mary Hall's avatar

Absolutely! Our local protest spot is at a shopping center next to a busy street, so it's not even a march. At our last protest on April 19th, even though it was raining, we still had over 400 people show up in our small town, and there were 500 people in the next town over. It was so fun to read everyone's clever, grammatically correct signs and meet so many like-minded people. There are many more of US then there are of "them".

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Margaret's avatar

I love to hear this! Thanks for the good news!

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Steve Kelly's avatar

It will be "wild"....

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P123Sunny's avatar

right?

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Burke's avatar

Great points however the Dems don't have to stoop to the Stupid's level. All they need to do is tell the truth. Without fear of the loud ignorant criminals yelling back. Just quietly tell the truth. Over and over and over. And force the Press to start telling the truth as well.

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Lady Emsworth's avatar

I'm afraid MAGA like to be entertained as well as informed. So when you have one guy quietly and sensibly saying "This new bill of trump's is going to take Medicaid away from you." and another guy with bulging muscles and barbed wire tattooed all round his neck screaming "THE IMMIGRANTS ARE COMING TO GET YOUR WIVES! THEY WILL EAT YOUR PETS AND THEN YOUR CHILDREN! THEY ARE ALL RAPISTS AND MURDERERS!" - that's what they listen to. Much more amusing than " You know, your health could be at risk because of that bill."

Joni Ernst proved it - she knows her base well. "Look what Joni posted! Haw! Haw! Haw! - She sure made them libs mad!"

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Deborah Hunter's avatar

She also gave the Dems free advertising for her Senate campaign next year. I'm sure Midas can make a cute little video about that remark.

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CAM from 🇨🇦's avatar

Seems simple to us who sit on the sidelines, but the Dems don’t look ready to tackle the ineptitude of the GOP circus, except for the wonderful Ms Crockett and her oft active colleague Moskowitz.

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Terri Nighswonger's avatar

We need to scream. Like Jasmine Crockett. We need to full on charge and not stop. Whispering our truths is just what they want.

I honor your words but my life experiences taught me well. You are quiet patient follow all rules- they love it. Sucker is what they see.

WE ARE IN THE RIGHT. That means nothing to them. You play by the rules. They love that.

So, as I go over all this with every waking moment, what do we do?

Think back to how other people in like circumstances won and preserved their freedom and their countries.

Think Revolutionary War. WWII. How did we win. And we did win. 👍🙂

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Deborah Hunter's avatar

Quiet gets no headlines. The TACO tag was brilliant. Really pissed him off I've read and will stick on him forever. That's not being quiet. Remember the wedding pictures of him and Musk all over social media? No one likes to be made fun of. Especially men. Go after his weak points. We have some really smart people on our side. We need to use their command of the English language and ramp it up.

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Jeanne Leduc's avatar

The press isn't going to do shit! There are very few true journalists left.

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Denise Donaldson's avatar

How does one force the press to tell the truth?

And "quietly telling the truth" gets us nowhere, as the MAGAs use bullhorns and bully pulpits.

Being polite and decorous is what got us into this debacle.

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Burke's avatar

Well, first when a Dem leader is interviewed or on a panel they don't pull punches and "try to get along". All they need to do is tell the truth, facts, honor, honesty, right over wrong.

"Your question/comment is based on a lie. The truth is..."

"This discussion assumes that _________ was telling the truth but they weren't. They were lying to cover their ass."

"You are missing the point. There is still right and wrong and _______ is wrong."

"Stealing money by deception is wrong. The President and his family are a bunch of crooks. And they will eventually pay for their crimes."

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Denise Donaldson's avatar

Well, first, said interviewer isn't going to let the interviewee hijack the conversation like that, unless the interviewer is already in support of the interviewee's cause. In which case, it's not a question of "forcing" the press to tell the truth.

And if it's a panel, depending on what the set-up is, the Dem may never have a chance to get two sentences out.

As others have pointed out, quietly speaking the truth isn't entertaining or engaging to the people who need to hear the truth. By the time the Dem gets as far as, "Your comment/question is based on a lie...," nobody is watching anymore. Sad but true, in these times.

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Burke's avatar

A few Dems on panels who say "You are a fucking liar!" or "That is total bullshit!" might get some attention.

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Denise Donaldson's avatar

That does get attention; I've seen the news clips. The problem is, such instances with Dems are few and far between, and they last for one news cycle apiece. Also, I might point out that such language and force is a departure from quietly stating the truth. 😉

But in the long run, even that kind of outburst doesn't have any sustained momentum. The truth-telling resistance has to be very blunt, very loud, using, let's say, "colorful" language, and it has to be 24/7, on every possible platform. There have to be eye-catching, derogatory memes, such as the TACO one. Or, CONSTANT photo ops that can't be ignored (as when Senator Van Hollen went to El Salvador). In other words, the same tactics as the MAGAs, just saying the truth instead of lies.

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Rick Calegari's avatar

Demented Donnie uses Crayolas for his little hands but he's so damn petty and weak, that he also wants to go after Biden for using auto pens. And the biggest peckerwood in Congress along with his sick, sweaty, wrestling coach sidekick will gladly oblige. The mid terms can't happen soon enough so maybe we take back the House and investigate the multiple crimes being committed by that felonious brainless turd and his enabling evil cronies.

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P123Sunny's avatar

Funny how no one ever mentions the cost in ‘taxpayer dollars’ for this endless kabuki? Be great to have a true Oppo Party :/

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Kay's avatar

I really hope the Dems have a positive attitude about the midterms and have started behind closed doors recon to hit the ground running with investigations first order of business.

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P123Sunny's avatar

Can’t even kick the PARODY can down the road?… What’s a white collar corporate congresscritter TO DO? 😏

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Dana Jae Labrecque's avatar

Well stated, Aleksander!

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P123Sunny's avatar

Trouble is, Wile E. Coyote is very ‘entertaining’. So instead of a gigantic eye-roll, Comer becomes ‘harmless’, mildly distracting background noise… a sideshow for the circus. wow He’s lucky the Press has been defanged srsly

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Deborah Hunter's avatar

He's like that good old Southern boy you see at the Piggly Wiggly whose mama was your grade school teacher. He doesn't have a punchable face like Miller has. The look on his face though that day Crockett called MTG the blonde thing, was one for the books.

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