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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#175677: Feb 24th 2017 at 11:03:35 AM

From your confusion and mine, I suspect someone got on the wrong end of That Button With That Nickname.

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#175678: Feb 24th 2017 at 11:06:56 AM

Even Glenn Beck thinks Bannon is nucking futs.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/23/politics/glenn-beck-steve-bannon-economic-nationalism-anderson-cooper-cnntv/index.html

Also, I think a few took issue with Mad Skillz assertion that Trump's actions are an accurate reflection of the US' national character over the years, he's just been honest about it. I disagree, no president has wanted to burn down the global order that made their nation a great power.

edited 24th Feb '17 11:08:34 AM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#175679: Feb 24th 2017 at 11:10:52 AM

Sorry for the double post, but CNN just broke a story. No link yet, but here's the text.

The White House handpicked select news organizations, beyond the pool, to attend Friday’s gaggle with Press Secretary Sean Spicer. CNN was not permitted to attend, along with the New York Times, Politico, Buzzfeed, and much of the foreign press that regularly attends White House briefings.NBC, ABC, and FOX were allowed in, along with CBS, who is Friday’s pool network. Breitbart, Washington Times, One America News Network were also allowed to attend. The Associated Press and Time boycotted the gaggle.There has been no explanation yet from the White House.

Yeah, so now Trump is picking and choosing which outlets get access to the Orange House.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#175680: Feb 24th 2017 at 11:11:11 AM

Glenn Beck has gotten a bit saner since he left Fox, apparently. He's been against Trump for a while and admitted his prior insanity might have had some mental health roots which he's since working on.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#175681: Feb 24th 2017 at 11:15:04 AM

[up][up] If that's true, then NBC, ABC, CBS and the Washington Times should also boycott. Trump won't invite News organizations that don't report what he likes? Then only those that will pander to him should even bother.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#175682: Feb 24th 2017 at 11:24:18 AM

Exclusive: Leaked GOP Obamacare replacement shrinks subsidies, Medicaid expansion

http://politi.co/2lAoJwO

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#175683: Feb 24th 2017 at 12:02:35 PM

Also, I think a few took issue with Mad Skillz assertion that Trump's actions are an accurate reflection of the US' national character over the years, he's just been honest about it. I disagree, no president has wanted to burn down the global order that made their nation a great power.

Well that's not what I was saying. I meant the actions Swanpride said are actually in-line with America's policies. Military domination, destroy ISIS and bully countries into accepting our overlordship.

Trump trying to replace all trade deals with bilateral ones are just another way to do it.

I mean this is the same country that toppled democracies and subverted elections because they were not in line with the US' interests.

We're not some global force for good just a power-hungry one that has to pass itself off as righteous to its constituents.

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#175684: Feb 24th 2017 at 12:12:52 PM

Some French are courting a radical candidate for their Presidential election...Obama. (Wa. Post)

(It is somewhat tongue in cheek but it doesn't exactly bode favorably for the opinion of the actual candidates.)

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#175685: Feb 24th 2017 at 12:16:55 PM

AP and Time are boycotting the WH over their media outlet restrictions.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/24/media/cnn-blocked-white-house-gaggle/index.html

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#175686: Feb 24th 2017 at 12:46:51 PM

Well that's not what I was saying. I meant the actions Swanpride said are actually in-line with America's policies. Military domination, destroy ISIS and bully countries into accepting our overlordship.
"That's not what I'm saying, what I'm saying is the exact same thing, but worded differently."

No one here is saying that America is a shining bastion of goodness and light who's never done anything wrong, ever. But saying that Trump is simply business as usual for America except with the pleasant veneer stripped away isn't true either. The amount of backlash that Trump is getting from the American public is evidence enough of that.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#175687: Feb 24th 2017 at 1:09:41 PM

[up] Yeah, that's a rather fucked-up point of view from these ones.

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#175688: Feb 24th 2017 at 1:14:35 PM

In particular, the view that America is Evil contributes to the toxic meme that we should not bother to try to fix it, that Trump's Chumps are not an aberration in a functioning democracy but an expression of the true nature of our country, and it's only taken this long to come out because we've managed to paper it over.

It's an inherently defeatist point of view that plays directly into the hands of people who want to make totalitarianism the default state of government. Putin's propaganda team has been busily trying to seed this notion, and has already largely succeeded within Russia. They point to the corruption and malfeasance that accompanied the 2016 election as evidence: "Look, America isn't a shining exemplar of liberty after all. They're just as corrupt as we are. You should get used to it, because it's how the world works."

The more resigned we become about how we're fundamentally corrupt as a nation, the less capable we become of taking any effective action against corruption, and that's exactly what the corrupt want. Killing hope is one of the most effective and powerful tools of the dictator.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#175689: Feb 24th 2017 at 1:16:42 PM

[up] I agree with most of that comment except for the "true nature" part, that's even fucked-up.

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#175690: Feb 24th 2017 at 1:17:10 PM

I wouldn't say that Trump is a direct reflection of American nature. The American psyche is pretty deeply Manichean, and he simply all our worst excesses reflected in a single individual. He might even be good for America in the long run, in the way getting one's hand burned teaches us never to touch the flame. Seeing as he lost the popular vote by an unprecedented margin, his election is less of an indictment on "America" (and certainly not of me, I'm from Massachusetts), but of our electoral system.

edited 24th Feb '17 1:22:20 PM by CrimsonZephyr

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#175691: Feb 24th 2017 at 1:18:29 PM

Then why did he lose the popular vote by an unprecedented number?

Oh really when?
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#175692: Feb 24th 2017 at 1:19:46 PM

I'm arguing against that point of view. Trump is not representative of most Americans. He is representative of a strongly vocal minority that has gained undue influence over elections, in part through the design of our electoral system, and in part through the abrogation of responsibility on the part of people who oppose their point of view.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#175693: Feb 24th 2017 at 1:20:56 PM

I think Trump does a very good job at embodying the worst vices of America. The issue is assuming that's all there is. No nation is perfect but I think the good generally outweighs the bad in the US.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#175694: Feb 24th 2017 at 1:55:42 PM

And the protests exist to remind everyone of that.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#175695: Feb 24th 2017 at 2:03:07 PM

If you think the election of a bonafide neofascist is business as usual for the United States, you aren't paying attention. To act as if Trump is some sort of representation of America's "true colours" is to, as others have already pointed out, ignore that he lost the popular vote by a mile.

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#175696: Feb 24th 2017 at 2:05:48 PM

Why is the fleeing of lawmakers from town halls a phenomenon only recently?

Do not obey in advance.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#175697: Feb 24th 2017 at 2:09:06 PM

Because the Republicans are cornered. They can either piss off the fanatic in their base, who vote in primaries, or everyone else, who might now be voting in general elections in record numbers.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#175699: Feb 24th 2017 at 2:12:53 PM

It's just really pathetic that Reps and Senators are literally hiding and running from their own constituents.

Disgusted, but not surprised
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#175700: Feb 24th 2017 at 2:13:36 PM

Well, they broke it, so they have to buy it, right?

Do not obey in advance.

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