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

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#243251: May 23rd 2018 at 6:03:53 AM

Well, one way to shove this tactic up the Republicans' collective asses would be to field Elizabeth Warren (if we can get her to run). Clearly a member of the brain club, but her "anti-elite" credentials are absolutely ironclad because she's been fighting the plutocrats for years.

She's one candidate who it would be impossible for any but the most reality-proof Berniebros to attack from the left, while having solid ground to stand on with the establishment.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#243252: May 23rd 2018 at 6:05:01 AM

"Elites", much like "sheeple", is no longer a word that can be taken seriously in political discourse. Use them if you want, but be prepared for the response to not at all be what you'd prefer.

edited 23rd May '18 6:06:07 AM by sgamer82

KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#243253: May 23rd 2018 at 6:10:35 AM

People ever thought that Sheeple was a valid term besides Conspiracy Theorists and Edgy teenagers?

Watch me destroying my country
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#243254: May 23rd 2018 at 6:40:35 AM

I'm pretty sure it's a Dead Unicorn Trope. "Wake up, sheeple!" was always a perjorative used to parody fringe rants. I've never actually heard it used straight.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#243255: May 23rd 2018 at 7:00:06 AM

A sampling of Trump tweet from the last few days (it's mainly quoting Fox News.

The Wall Street Journal asks, “WHERE IN THE WORLD WAS BARACK OBAMA?” A very good question!

Under our potential deal with China, they will purchase from our Great American Farmers practically as much as our Farmers can produce.

.@Asa Hutchinson, the great Governor of Arkansas, is in a primary tomorrow. He has done an incredible job with a focus on lower taxes, border security, and crime prevention. Asa loves our military and our veterans. I fully endorse Asa for Governor!

If the person placed very early into my campaign wasn’t a SPY put there by the previous Administration for political purposes, how come such a seemingly massive amount of money was paid for services rendered - many times higher than normal......Follow the money! The spy was there early in the campaign and yet never reported Collusion with Russia, because there was no Collusion. He was only there to spy for political reasons and to help Crooked Hillary win - just like they did to Bernie Sanders, who got duped!

Look how things have turned around on the Criminal Deep State. They go after Phony Collusion with Russia, a made up Scam, and end up getting caught in a major SPY scandal the likes of which this country may never have seen before! What goes around, comes around!

“It’s clear that they had eyes and ears all over the Trump Campaign” Judge Andrew Napolitano

SPYGATE could be one of the biggest political scandals in history!

“Trump should be happy that the FBI was SPYING on his campaign” No, James Clapper, I am not happy. Spying on a campaign would be illegal, and a scandal to boot!

Big legislation will be signed by me shortly. After many years, RIGHT TO TRY and big changes to DODD FRANK.

There will be big news coming soon for our great American Autoworkers. After many decades of losing your jobs to other countries, you have waited long enough!

WITCH HUNT!

BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#243256: May 23rd 2018 at 7:22:12 AM

Because it's "progressives" who are renowned for unleashing violence when they don't get their way.
As I saw (and agreed with) on Facebook yesterday: "Someone should probably tell the rich that workers banding together to present formal address of grievances is the alternative we worked out a long time ago to breaking down the factory owner's door and beating him to death in front of his family. I feel like they forgot."note 

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#243257: May 23rd 2018 at 8:07:05 AM

Dallas candidate who promised to reward kids for marrying white loses by 25 votes

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2018-elections/2018/05/22/dallas-candidate-promised-reward-kids-marrying-white-leads-early-vote

Dallas attorney J.J. Koch eked out a win for the Republican nomination for Dallas County commissioner, beating Vickers "Vic" Cunningham, a former judge who drew national headlines over alleged racist behavior and language.

Twenty-five votes decided the race for northern Dallas County's District 2 seat.

"That was totally bonkers," Koch said. "To say that this race was contentious is an understatement. To say that the last four days were bad for the Republican party is an understatement."

On Friday, the last day of early voting, Cunningham admitted to rewarding his kids financially if they marry a white, heterosexual, Christian person in a story that reverberated nationally after it was published by The Dallas Morning News.

Cunningham, who held a 10-percent lead over Koch in early voting, conceded the loss in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately we did not prevail," Cunningham said. "I am acutely aware of my own failings and will counsel with my God, my family, and my friends what path I shall take moving forward."

Though I'm not sure the alternative is any better. Than again, they are both Republicans, so...

Throughout the race, Koch, 38, did not shy from controversy. His combativeness cost him the support of some leaders, including the district's longtime Commissioner Mike Cantrell, who feared Koch would struggle to compromise with the four Democrats on the Commissioners Court.

Koch launched a legal fight against the county elections head. He blamed "illegal immigrants" for the county's shrinking middle class, angering Commissioner Elba Garcia. And he said that as a former college wrestler, he'd be able to whup any of the four Democrats he'd work with on the Commissioners Court.

Earlier in the race, Cunningham accused Koch of committing attempted bribery by offering to pay another candidate, former Garland City Council member Stephen Stanley, to drop out of the race. Koch admitted to making the offer, but said he didn't consider it a bribe because he was trying to be nice and he'd heard Stanley had money problems and planned to exit anyway.

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#243258: May 23rd 2018 at 9:17:03 AM

I'm pretty sure it's a Dead Unicorn Trope. "Wake up, sheeple!" was always a perjorative used to parody fringe rants. I've never actually heard it used straight.

I've seen it used straight. A lot. Then again I like frequentingconspiracy theory sites for fun.

I dont care who uses the term as a dogwhistle, or how many sheeple follow them. I refuse to allow the GOP to dictate how I think and speak.

Then your movement will attract GOP members. And racists. And anti-Semites. And soon enough you'll lose control of it to them, because once they infiltrate a place they call out all their friends.

You can only reclaim words in a closed space. And please, don't use "sheeple" in any context. It's just silly.

edited 23rd May '18 9:18:57 AM by AmbarSonofDeshar

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#243259: May 23rd 2018 at 9:19:47 AM

So it's a bit self inflicted then.

A podcast I like and have mentioned before (The Last Podcast on the Left) does frequent Conspiracy Theory stuff. Most recently a side episode where that discussed Q Anon. They aren't my favorite thing personally because with Henry Zebrowski, the most Conspiracy Theory aligned host, I find it hard to tell where mockery ends and actual belief begins.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#243260: May 23rd 2018 at 9:42:21 AM

This happened a few days ago, but got a bit overlooked.

The Democrats released a new Party Platform, wants to check it out. It's called "A Better Deal", which is a callback to "The New Deal", I think.

It seems particularly focused on anti-corruption and a acchivinv progressive social programs such as affordable childcare for working families, combating wage stagnation, infrastucture, and lowering drug prices.

Personally, I don't think it's nearly progressive enough. We should be fighting for Univeral Pre-K, and Single Payer healthcare.

edited 23rd May '18 9:54:26 AM by megaeliz

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#243262: May 23rd 2018 at 10:00:14 AM

Free Speech challenge when?

"Yup. That tasted purple."
DeathorCake Since: Mar, 2016
#243263: May 23rd 2018 at 10:00:28 AM

[up][up][up]

Isn't that about ten months old? I've seen a lot of talk about it on the interwebs before now. I like the look of those anti-trust provisions, but a lot of the rest seems like generic "look, we're lefties now, right?".

I don't know what America's "investments in STEAM" and similar are, but 70 billion for housing, 100 billion for schools. 230 for various infrastructure? Corbyn's promising 250 billion of infrastructure lending plus more projects that are directly government-financed in the UK as one of his manifesto proposals, and we're a fifth your size in terms of population and much more than that in terms of landmass and amount of infrastructure needed to tie all that land together. Tax cuts for small businesses? At this point I'm surprised they have any taxes left to cut.

Their housing provisions won't do anything to your housing bubbles, I'm damn sure of that, although I acknowledge they can't promise a beatdown on house prices for a while yet unless they want to lose all those rich boomer votes.

edited 23rd May '18 10:00:46 AM by DeathorCake

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#243264: May 23rd 2018 at 10:00:53 AM

"Then your movement will attract GOP members. And racists. And anti-Semites. And soon enough you'll lose control of it to them, because once they infiltrate a place they call out all their friends."

Dont be so afraid of them, or distrusting of human nature in general. You cant let fear of how someone might twist your words suppress or filter how you express yourself. All you can do is speak your truth, the haters be damned, and trust that the right people will hear and support you.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#243265: May 23rd 2018 at 10:09:21 AM

To me it's lat less about fear and more about it being more trouble than it's worth over a few vocabulary words.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#243266: May 23rd 2018 at 10:23:39 AM

Did they really only release that platform a few days ago? Because they were using the term "A better deal" like, months ago, as I recall.

In any case, they would probably like to base their platform on things that they can actually achieve. Right now they're busy defending the ACA. Support for single payer may not be as great as you think, Mega.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#243267: May 23rd 2018 at 10:25:15 AM

Single payer isn't the only option available for universal healthcare, and the nature of the US market means that the insurance companies need to be integrated into any program.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#243268: May 23rd 2018 at 10:27:04 AM

[up][up][up][up]At best we would get maybe one sincere social democrat among the multitudes of thronging scum that are attracted to an anti-elitist platform. "Don't be so afraid of them?" The anti-Semites and actual Nazis, the anti-intellectuals, the GOP fifth columners, the Russian operatives, the blue collar racists, the homophobes and the transphobes, the isolationists are the reason this country is in the shitter. We court them, even unwittingly, at our peril.

Re: A Better Deal. It's like seven months old. We had a long conversation about how it wasn't left enough and a discourse within that discourse about how the Democrats suck at branding and "a Better Deal" is a stupid name for a policy programme.

edited 23rd May '18 10:44:30 AM 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."
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#243269: May 23rd 2018 at 10:27:58 AM

Ok so, I just heard on the news (watching MSNBC before I go to work) that Twitter is blocking Trump from blocking other users over their political views? HAH!

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#243270: May 23rd 2018 at 10:30:14 AM

Wait, is Twitter preventing Trump from blocking others, or is the platform actually suspending him?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#243271: May 23rd 2018 at 10:31:00 AM

Dont be so afraid of them, or distrusting of human nature in general. You cant let fear of how someone might twist your words suppress or filter how you express yourself. All you can do is speak your truth, the haters be damned, and trust that the right people will hear and support you.

Not afraid. Pragmatic. I have better things to do with my life than explain to anti-Semites that I don't want them in my group, and I'm not so obsessed with denouncing vague and ill-defined "elites" that my message suffers from not using the term.

Instead of ranting about "elites" or "globalists" or "banksters" (note: "bankers" is a word, "banksters" is an idiotic slur used by anti-Semites and brocialists both) I'll just talk about the people I'm actually criticizing.

Oh and once again, telling people not to be afraid of bigots? Really privileged. I'd like some nonwhite folks in my movement, thanks all the same, and keeping out the Trump fanboys is a good way to make them more welcome.

edited 23rd May '18 10:31:26 AM by AmbarSonofDeshar

TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#243272: May 23rd 2018 at 10:31:13 AM

[up][up][up]Relevant article:

    Trump can't block Twitter followers, federal judge says 
President Donald Trump cannot block users on his Twitter feed, a federal judge in New York City ruled Wednesday.

Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald said in her ruling that Trump is violating the U.S. Constitution by preventing certain Americans from viewing his tweets. The social media platform, she said, is a "designated public forum" from which Trump cannot exclude individual plaintiffs.

Buchwald's ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed last July by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, as well as seven other plaintiffs who said they had been blocked on Twitter by Trump.

Trump's blocks on the social media platform prevented the plaintiffs from viewing or responding to the president's tweets when logged into their own Twitter accounts.

"This case requires us to consider whether a public official may, consistent with the First Amendment, 'block' a person from his Twitter account in response to the political views that person has expressed, and whether the analysis differs because that public official is the President of the United States," the judge said in her opinion.

"The answer to both questions is no."

The president is an avid Twitter user and routinely makes news, often several times in a single day, with his posts.

The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on Buchwald's ruling.

The Knight Institute's executive director, Jameel Jaffer, said in a prepared statement: "We're pleased with the court's decision, which reflects a careful application of core First Amendment principles to government censorship on a new communications platform."

Jaffer added: "The President's practice of blocking critics on Twitter is pernicious and unconstitutional, and we hope this ruling will bring it to an end."

Katie Fallow, a senior staff attorney at the institute, said, "The First Amendment prohibits government officials from suppressing speech on the basis of viewpoint ... The court's application of that principle here should guide all of the public officials who are communicating with their constituents through social media."

edited 23rd May '18 10:32:03 AM by TheRoguePenguin

RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#243273: May 23rd 2018 at 10:37:25 AM

From my experience, the Republican politicians are the elites.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#243274: May 23rd 2018 at 10:38:37 AM

@Crimson Zephyr: Did we have an argument about it? I don’t remember much discussion at all when it came out.

I also think that Schumer and Pelosi did put out something new recently with a similar name. It was mostly about voting rights and anti-corruption stuff.

CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#243275: May 23rd 2018 at 10:42:55 AM

I distinctly remember Tobias using it as an example — one of many — where the Democrats reveal their clunkiness with branding and marketing a complex programme with a catchy slogan. If you have trouble remembering, I'm not surprised. We go through hundreds of pages very quickly.

"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."

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