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LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#110001: Jan 28th 2016 at 7:14:40 PM

I'm watching the debate. I'm too young for alcohol and I don't have any popcorn so I'll just have water or something. At least Trump isn't there.

edited 28th Jan '16 7:15:06 PM by LinkToTheFuture

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Nihlus1 Since: Jul, 2015
#110002: Jan 28th 2016 at 7:21:29 PM

Trump being there was the only chance this debate had at being watchable.

LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#110003: Jan 28th 2016 at 7:23:59 PM

Actually yeah that's true, it would at least be entertainingly bad instead of regular bad. Has someone come up with Party Debate Bingo yet?

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#110004: Jan 28th 2016 at 7:45:29 PM

Fox's debate is gonna suffer for this, because most people were only gonna watch for Donald Trump.

I wonder how they'll handle realizing they're mainstream media now.

Their audience - urban white racists - doesn't buy their "we're Right Wing, totally hard far right wing!" any more.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#110006: Jan 28th 2016 at 7:55:59 PM

And with the Oregon situation, the FBI released helicopter footage of the arrest and shooting. The report saying Finicum ran the stop into a snowbank is proven, and it does look like he was reaching for his waistband when he got shot.

Original news link, as well.

Ironically, the Bundy account was also accurate, as Finicum also had his hands up immediately after stepping out of the truck - he just reached for his pocket afterward.

edited 28th Jan '16 8:00:46 PM by ironballs16

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#110007: Jan 28th 2016 at 8:10:05 PM

404-sympathy not found. Guy would've killed those agents (and probably innocent people) given the chance.

edited 28th Jan '16 8:10:50 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
SciFiSlasher from Absolutely none of your business. Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#110008: Jan 28th 2016 at 8:44:11 PM

Really don't understand why people say they only watch for Trump. Yes, he remains an egotistical piece of shit, but he's become more and more boring with each debate. He's now only really starting to speak at the halfway point.

And besides Cruz and Carson, the debate was actually more like a debate this time. Or maybe I'm just being stupid and not getting it.

"Somehow the hated have to walk a tightrope, while those who hate do not."
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#110009: Jan 28th 2016 at 8:47:31 PM

Many people don't want a debate, they want theatre, they want reality TV, they're not interested in a debate, they're interested in drama.

edited 28th Jan '16 8:47:40 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#110010: Jan 28th 2016 at 8:52:25 PM

It's important to understand that the core viewing demographic for both parties has little patience for or interest in politics in and of itself. They want to see their biases reinforced. They want to see theater. They want to see Trump or Cruz slam down whatever people or group cheeses them off.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
Achaemenid HGW XX/7 from Ruschestraße 103, Haus 1 Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
HGW XX/7
#110013: Jan 29th 2016 at 3:36:16 AM

[up][up]

Hardly surprising. They've turned the defaults on Reddit into even more intolerable shitfests than they already were. Criticism of Hillary has always had a misogynistic current as well.

"I target these talking heads in the media who have a high perch, these great liberal thought leaders, when they're not - they're tools of bourgeois," says Russo.

What a fanny.

edited 29th Jan '16 3:37:31 AM by Achaemenid

Schild und Schwert der Partei
FieldMarshalFry Field Marshal of Cracked from World Internet War 1 Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Field Marshal of Cracked
#110014: Jan 29th 2016 at 4:32:46 AM

still... better than the fascists supporting Trump...

edited 29th Jan '16 3:01:42 PM by FieldMarshalFry

advancing the front into TV Tropes
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#110015: Jan 29th 2016 at 6:17:07 AM

I'm watching the MSNBC coverage of Trump's event last night. He had the gall to call himself out in his list of donors to his veterans' fund. And then just over five minutes in, there was another protester disruption. Theater.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#110016: Jan 29th 2016 at 7:08:07 AM

Watched neither event last night. Played vidyagaems. Was much happier for it.

On the Sander supporters (Sanderites? Bernists?), I've been seeing that too, first hand. Granted, here in the south you have to be some kinda special to think you can win anything here.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#110017: Jan 29th 2016 at 7:16:20 AM

Krugman's been getting vicious attacks from Sanders supporters. It's starting to look like they are competing for toxicity with Trump's supporters.

Edit: I, too, played games last night. Finally downed Heroic Archimonde in Hellfire Citadel, and if you know what that means, you are a WoW geek. But I always watch the evening talk and comedy shows the next morning.

edited 29th Jan '16 7:23:24 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#110018: Jan 29th 2016 at 7:23:54 AM

Extremes, no matter WHICH extreme, tend to behave the same way vis a vis whatever counts as the mainstream.

EDIT- I do indeed know what that means. I was more busy with Big Boss in the Congo though.

edited 29th Jan '16 7:24:43 AM by FFShinra

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#110019: Jan 29th 2016 at 7:41:27 AM

Any recap of the funny things from the GoP stuff?

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#110020: Jan 29th 2016 at 7:51:46 AM

How the GOP created and continues to nourish the toxic atmosphere that led to the rise of Trump.

But once the Trump-bashing ritual had ended, and Fox News had done its duty in the GOP's campaign to bring down Trump before Trump brings down the party, something curious happened. The discussion shifted to terrorism. And every candidate on stage — as well as the moderators themselves — announced that Americans were at grave and imminent danger from the "radical Muslims" in our midst, that President Obama is ushering terrorists into our neighborhoods, and that political correctness has shackled police from keeping us safe.

It was a breathtaking sight. Only moments after decrying the destructive extremism of Donald J. Trump, the candidates and moderators paused for a commercial break and, without even a hint of self-awareness, urged their audience to embrace exactly the sense of fear and desperation that so fuels Trump.

What you saw in this debate was the GOP field and the party's most powerful media institution declare their opposition to Donald Trump, then go about, for two hours, painstakingly maintaining the eco-system of fear that allows him to thrive.

...

Here are four of the things that a viewer would learn from Thursday's debate, which, in sum, practically compose a recruiting pamphlet to volunteer for the Trump campaign:

(1) Barack Obama deliberately hollowed out our military, leaving us weak

"Barack Obama right now, number one, over seven years has dramatically degraded our military." — Ted Cruz

"You cannot destroy ISIS with a military that's been diminished." — Marco Rubio"

(2) Obama is allowing terrorists to flow into our communities

"I don't know of anyone who is not in favor of fully vetting people trying to come to this country, other than perhaps Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton." — Marco Rubio

"You can't defend us against Islam if you're not for border security." — Rand Paul

(3) Political correctness prevents law enforcement from protecting us

"We need to stop allowing political correctness to dictate our policies, because it's going to kill us if we don't." — Ben Carson, after being asked whether "GOP messaging on Muslims has stoked the flames of bias, as the Democrats suggest"

"Barack Obama has made law enforcement the enemy, Hillary Clinton has made law enforcement the enemy. ... It's making people nervous to go to law enforcement. As president, I will support law enforcement and we'll stop radical terrorist attacks in this country by supporting our intelligence and law enforcement community." — Chris Christie

(4) ISIS could defeat America unless we make a change and soon

"Radical Islamic jihadists, what they want to do is impose their faith upon each and every one of us. Every one of us. The reason why this war against them is so important is that very basis of religious liberty. They want everyone in this country to follow their religious beliefs the way they do." — Chris Christie

"They're the best funded radical group in the history of the world and have shown a sophisticated understanding of the laws of other countries and are planning to attack us here at home and around the world." — Marco Rubio

Megyn Kelly won the award for debate moderators who explicitly called for racial profiling and showing off casual bigotry.

MEGYN KELLY: Governor Christie, let's talk about profiling. In December, two radical Muslims killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California. Neighbors of the terrorists said they did not report the couple to law enforcement prior to the crime because they were afraid they would be accused of profiling. You have said we should not profile. How do you square that with the San Bernardino case?

CHRIS CHRISTIE: Because you can do it without profiling. You do it on the facts. What those facts knew was that these folks had weapons, they knew that they were talking about trying to take our country and attack it. That's not profiling, that's law enforcement. That's the difference between somebody who knows how to do this and somebody who has done this before.

KELLY: They didn't know they were going to attack the country.

CHRISTIE: They knew they were talking about attacking people.

KELLY: Neighbors said they saw men going in and out of the garage. They saw packages being delivered. They saw muslims and they did not think that was enough to call the cops. Do you?

CHRISTIE: Listen, I think what people should do is use common sense. And the fact is, let law enforcement make those decisions. I told people that from the time I was U.S. Attorney 13 years ago. You see something that's suspicious, you call law enforcement and let law enforcement make those decisions. That's what should be done and can be done. That can be done without profiling people. What that is, it's common sense. They thought something was wrong. Here's the problem in this country right now. The problem is, Barack Obama has made law enforcement the enemy, Hillary Clinton has made law enforcement the enemy. They're not supporting law enforcement, it's making everybody nervous to get out of your cars if you're a law enforcement officer. It's making people nervous to go to law enforcement. As president, I will support law enforcement and we'll stop radical terrorist attacks in this country by supporting our intelligence and law enforcement community.

Kelly's line of questioning culminates in her — the debate moderator! — expressing alarm that neighbors did not call the police on Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik simply because they were Muslim. She lectures Christie that police should have arrested the attackers, even in the absence of any evidence, simply for being Muslim and having "packages coming and going."

It is difficult to overstate the significance of a presidential debate moderator throwing off any air of moderating the debate rather than participating in it, and punishing a candidate because he has strayed from the conventional wisdom that all Muslims are threats until proven otherwise, that they should be targeted by police even in absence of evidence, and that this combination of Islam and political correctness puts communities across America at risk.

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#110021: Jan 29th 2016 at 7:53:52 AM

[up] Well, now I'm glad I didn't watch. sad

Every now and then I have hopes for Megyn Kelly, but she is, after all is said and done, a Fox News employee and an agent of the GOP political establishment.

edited 29th Jan '16 7:54:27 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#110022: Jan 29th 2016 at 8:01:45 AM

Anyway, it's easy to understand why they feed into the same fear narrative that Trump thrives in: It's because they're all trying to profit from it. Fear of the Muslim makes Republican voters, and Republican candidates all want a slice of this cake, they don't care that Trump is getting the biggest one.

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#110023: Jan 29th 2016 at 8:08:12 AM

Goddamn muslims trying to kill me

-hides under egyptian cotton blankets-

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#110024: Jan 29th 2016 at 8:27:34 AM

(NYT) Bernie Sanders are the Democrats' top beneficiary of outside (i.e. SuperPAC) spending (via Unions)

Politico Implodes: Top staff for Politico leave the media company after the 2016 Election Cycle.

How Trump Is Romancing the Christian Right

Basically: The religious right have sold out their principles since Reagan, and no longer concerned with the religious virtue of a candidate, they're after the big issue that matters most to them after Godliness:

"It's the economy, stupid." Evangelicals don't care about the fact Trump's a sleazebag, they care if he can deliver economic prosperity.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#110025: Jan 29th 2016 at 8:34:58 AM

So, no reactions to the news of the FBI's footage of the arrest and shooting being released, or did it just get lost in the shuffle?

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"

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