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

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#248501: Jul 6th 2018 at 7:05:21 AM

Apparently Pruitt's replacement has the exact same goal as him but is better at avoiding the spotlight. Ain't that splendid!

Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#248502: Jul 6th 2018 at 7:08:12 AM

Right, Fox News is going to shill anyone the GOP puts forth completely shamelessly. CNN, MSNBC, et al are demonstrably left-leaning but they're obsessed with both-sidesing to seem non-partisan.

Not to mention, they care more about profit and seem to think both-sidesing is more profitable. And it might be.

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#248503: Jul 6th 2018 at 7:18:00 AM

[up]I am highly skeptical of the idea that CNN is demonstrably left-leaning, that's maybe true of MSNBC but frankly it's more a of a right-wing meme about CNN then anything actually connected to fact.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#248504: Jul 6th 2018 at 7:21:22 AM

Just a question, is it possible for the rest of the EPA to just ignore the guy Trump puts in?

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#248506: Jul 6th 2018 at 7:39:58 AM

Both-Sidesing is absolutely more profitable. If the winner is a foregone conclusion, nobody needs to read papers. Having a close race where people are coming back every day to hear the latest news is in the press's best interest. They did a lot of heavy lifting in 2016 to even the playing field between Trump and Clinton.

That being said, while I have hammered on in the past about the Democrats needing to be more marketable, I wouldn't necessarily want a liberal Fox News. In a sense, we already have that in the form of comedy shows like the Daily Show or Late Night with Stephen Colbert, but a legitimate left-wing propaganda network?

As we've previously discussed before, the answer to right-leaning authoritarianism is not left-leaning authoritarianism. We don't need a propaganda machine dedicated to brainwashing the population into accepting our word as absolute doctrine. We need candidates who can successfully market themselves to people in the 21st century.

I'm not talking about Chuck Schumer doing devil horns and saying, "It's hip to be rad, yo." I'm talking about understanding the way the world has evolved and learning how to get their message across in a world run by snappy sound-bytes, internet memes, and Twitterstorms.

Keith Olbermann did a pretty solid video on this subject, and how Trump's tweeting is a modern evolution of Roosevelt's Fireside Chats:

A major reason for Trump's success is that he's relatable to the common man. That might sound phenomenally stupid because he's an egotistical spiteful billionaire who made his living stepping on the common man, but people like him because he communicates his message in a way that feels like it's on their level.

As we've heard before, people actually like the way he talks because he doesn't sound like a professional. He doesn't sound like an expert. He sounds like them, and that makes them feel more comfortable around him. They love his Twitterstorms because they make him sound like them. They relate to him just enough to be inspired by what he's accomplished, rather than horrified by how he accomplished it or skeptical of how much it really even is.

That's why it's so important that our politicians relearn how to talk to people in a way that makes them sound not like professional titans of their field but like ordinary men and women who care about something. That's what people want to hear. They don't want to vote for President Superman. They want to vote for President Spider-Man. And just under half of them are willing to vote for President Peter Griffin if that's the closest they're going to get.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#248507: Jul 6th 2018 at 7:40:15 AM

Its not "Protecting the rain-forests" its "Defending our resources", use militaristic language to dress it up, and you can get a lot of them on board with that one pretty quick. ._.

The tone matters a lot. I'm sure that a lot of non-overtly-commited Republicans could switch to Democrat with the right Exact Words.

Lenguage is weird.

Watch me destroying my country
Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#248508: Jul 6th 2018 at 7:54:52 AM

Heh. Lenguage. Not sure if that was an awesome bilingual pun or just a typo.

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#248510: Jul 6th 2018 at 8:35:04 AM

CNN, MSNBC, et al are demonstrably left-leaning but they're obsessed with both-sidesing to seem non-partisan.
MSNBC is legitimately left-leaning, but only in the sense that they report facts and have analysis about why what the GOP is doing this week is stupid. "Trump is starting a trade war, which will be bad for the economy" is objective truth, but gets counted as "left-leaning" because it comes off as supporting liberal positions. Which it does, but only because liberal positions are objectively superior — MSNBC does not, generally speaking, skew facts or coverage specifically to benefit liberals.

CNN is aggressively bothsideist, which it pitches as "neutrality". Instead of saying "Trump is starting a trade war, which will be bad for the economy" (objective fact), they say "Trump imposes tariffs! He says he's protecting American jobs, but his critics say it will be bad for the economy! Who's right? NOBODY KNOWS!". This annoys everyone but he bothsiders themselves — the right for daring to suggest that Trump's word is not absolute truth, and the left for suggesting that Trump's claims have any validity at all when they objectively do not.

Fox News, of course, is the official propaganda wing of the right, and shamelessly skews both facts and analysis in order to make the GOP look as good as possible.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#248511: Jul 6th 2018 at 9:29:43 AM

Well, I wouldn't call MSNBC THAT left leaning, not as long as they air Morning Joe so that their so called conservative expert can open up whatsaboutism about the Democrats at every opportunity. The Clintons are for the show what Hillary on her own is for Trump. And it is not like Mika often manages to hold her own against Mr. Self-Important. But they also have Rachel Maddows who is currently really hated on by the far left for being the one who pointed out the Russia connection long before the actual investigation even started. (Not to mention how she is attacked from the right).

Edited by Swanpride on Jul 6th 2018 at 9:30:25 AM

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#248512: Jul 6th 2018 at 9:40:53 AM

Maddow is my favorite MSNBC host and the only one I watch with any regularity.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
TyeDyeWildebeest Unreasonably Quirky from Big Rock Candy Mountain Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: How does it feel to treat me like you do?
Unreasonably Quirky
#248513: Jul 6th 2018 at 10:29:34 AM

"Trump is starting a trade war, which will be bad for the economy" is objective truth, but gets counted as "left-leaning" because it comes off as supporting liberal positions.

As Stephen Colbert said, reality has a well-known liberal bias.

No beer?! But if there's no beer, then there's no beef or beans!
KazuyaProta Shin Megami Tensei IV from A Industrial Farm Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
#248514: Jul 6th 2018 at 10:56:45 AM

[up] I hate that phrase. Is less Liberals being right and more The GOP being devoted to crazyness.

Plus. People applying it outside American politics. God, that's awful.

Edited by KazuyaProta on Jul 6th 2018 at 12:56:35 PM

Watch me destroying my country
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#248515: Jul 6th 2018 at 10:58:10 AM

[up]That sounds like a distinction without a difference to me.

And if people use it outside of the American context that's a problem with them, not the phrase.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#248516: Jul 6th 2018 at 11:02:27 AM

nvm

Edited by PhysicalStamina on Jul 6th 2018 at 2:20:16 PM

i'm tired, my friend
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#248517: Jul 6th 2018 at 11:04:17 AM

NVM

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Jul 6th 2018 at 2:22:38 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#248518: Jul 6th 2018 at 11:20:31 AM

nvm

i'm tired, my friend
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#248519: Jul 6th 2018 at 11:47:57 AM

With the way most modern conservatives act, anyone else would look super-liberal by comparison.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#248520: Jul 6th 2018 at 12:02:23 PM

Try a friendlier country, like Australia or the UK? I think they take foreign nationals for their military as a path to citizenship.

The French take anyone.

Edited by Ramidel on Jul 6th 2018 at 11:02:13 AM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#248521: Jul 6th 2018 at 12:09:59 PM

What the Fuck Just Happened Today - Day 533: Totally prepared

1/ Trump mocked the #Me Too! movement in a speech in Montana on Thursday, repeatedly attacked Elizabeth Warren over her heritage, suggested Maxine Waters had an I.Q. in the "mid-60s," derided both John Mc Cain and George H.W. Bush, and vouched for Putin. "You know what? Putin's fine," Trump told the crowd, referring to his upcoming meeting with Putin. "He's fine. We're all fine. We're people. Will I be prepared? Totally prepared. I've been preparing for this stuff my whole life." (New York Times / CNN / Washington Post)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/05/politics/trump-montana-rally-pruitt-resigns/index.html

Trump challenged Sen. Elizabeth Warren to take a DNA test to prove that she has Native American ancestors, reviving his "Pocahontas" nickname for the Massachusetts Democrat who has claimed Native American ancestry. Trump taunted Warren with an imaginary presidential debate, telling the crowd that he would toss her a DNA kit, "but we have to do it gently because we're in the #Me Too! generation, so we have to be very gentle." He made a throwing motion and said: "we will very gently take that kit, and we will slowly toss it, hoping it doesn't hit her and injure her arm." (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-challenges-pocahontas-warren-dna-test-prove-she-s-native-n889206

The 11 most dangerous things Donald Trump said in his Montana speech. (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/06/politics/donald-trump-montana-speech/index.html

2/ The U.S. and China each levied $34 billion in tariffs on each other's exports as Trump's trade war with China began today at 12:01 a.m. China's Ministry of Commerce accused the U.S. of "typical trade bullying" for having "launched the biggest trade war in economic history so far." Trump has threatened to target another $400 billion in Chinese products with tariffs if Beijing retaliates further. (New York Times / Wall Street Journal / Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/06/china-retaliation-us-tariffs-672127

Russia imposed tariffs against U.S. goods in response to Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs. Russia's Economic Development Minister said that additional tariffs ranging from 25 to 40% have been applied to some U.S. construction equipment, oil and gas equipment, metal processing instruments, drilling equipment, and optical fiber. (The Independent)

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/us-russia-tariffs-trade-war-latest-trump-putin-goods-import-duties-a8434746.html

3/ The U.S. Army started discharging some immigrant recruits who were promised a path to citizenship in exchange for enlisting. Some were labeled a security risk and discharged because they have relatives abroad. Others have been told they are being discharged because the Department of Defense had not completed their background checks. The exact number of soldiers who have been discharged is unclear, but immigration attorneys say they know of more than 40. It's also unclear whether there have been policy changes in any of the military branches. (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/38334c4d061e493fb108bd975b5a1a5d

The Trump administration created a task force to revoke the citizenship of some naturalized immigrants and eventually deport them. The task force is within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency and will identify what it calls bad naturalization cases to refer them to the Justice Department for denaturalization proceedings against U.S. citizens. The purported targets are people who had already been rejected by the U.S., but who created a new identity to gain citizenship afterward. (WNYC / CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/13/politics/citizenship-fraud-office/index.html

4/ The Trump administration requested more time to reunite families it separated at the border. The Justice Department said it has dedicated "immense" resources to reunifying families. A federal court ordered the administration to return all children under 5 to their parents by July 10, and all others by July 26. (Los Angeles Times / Washington Post / ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/doj-asks-time-reunite-migrate-children-separated-families/story?id=56408724

5/ Many of the records linking separated children to their parents have either disappeared or been destroyed, leaving the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security scrambling to identify connections between family members. DNA testing is now being used on children and parents in an attempt to reunite migrant families separated at the US border. (New York Times / CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/05/politics/dna-testing-migrant-family-separation/index.html

poll/ 47% of voters overall prefer to vote for a Democrat over a Republican for the House in the midterms. 37% of voters prefer a Republican. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/most-americans-oppose-key-elements-of-trump-immigration-policy/2018/07/05/36124360-7e3d-11e8-b0ef-fffcabeff946_story.html

59% of Democrats say the midterms are extremely important, compared with 46% of Republicans.

55% disapprove of the job Trump is doing, compared to 43% who approve. 54% of men approve; 32% of women approve.

69% of Americans oppose the policy that separating immigrant children from their parents, compared with 29% who support the policy.

52% agree with Trump that America's long-term trading partners have taken advantage of this country. 41% of Americans, however, approve of Trump's handling of trade issues.

Notables.

Michael Cohen doesn't expect Trump to offer him a presidential pardon. "I brought up the pardon, and he said, 'I don't think so. I just don't think so,'" said Cohen's friend. "He's certain in his mind that he has been dismissed." Cohen has not been charged with a crime, but is under criminal investigation in New York. (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/05/politics/michael-cohen-friends-pardon-donald-trump/index.html

A fourth Ohio State wrestler said Rep. Jim Jordan knew about sexual abuse when he was an assistant coach because he took part in locker-room conversations where athletes discussed the abuse. (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fourth-ohio-state-wrestler-says-rep-jim-jordan-knew-about-n889071

Mike Pompeo brought Kim Jong-un an Elton John CD with his song "Rocket Man" on it. Trump called Kim "rocket man" following a series of nuclear tests and missile launches by North Korea last year. (Chosun Ilbo / NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pompeo-lands-north-korea-fill-denuclearization-detail-n889256

The unemployment rate ticked up to 4% after falling to 3.8% in May. The Labor Department reported 213,000 new jobs in June, down from 244,000 in May. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/06/june-2018-jobs-numbers-697827

London's mayor gave activists permission to launch the "Trump Baby" blimp when Trump visits the U.K. starting on July 13. The blimp will be allowed to fly for two hours at a maximum height of about 100 feet from Parliament Square Garden. (NPR)

https://www.npr.org/2018/07/05/626116238/london-mayor-says-trump-baby-blimp-can-fly-in-protest-of-president-s-visit

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#248522: Jul 6th 2018 at 12:16:19 PM

The unemployment rate ticked up to 4% after falling to 3.8% in May. The Labor Department reported 213,000 new jobs in June, down from 244,000 in May. (Politico)

This is because of shenanigans on how unemployment is tracked, not because unemployment went up; unemployment only went up because more people are now actively looking for work, and this was taken into account by whichever form of employment checking the federal government uses.

This is both a curse and a blessing; I honestly can't say this is bad that people are getting work, but it keeps Trump looking good which is bad.

Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#248523: Jul 6th 2018 at 12:16:27 PM

59% of Democrats say the midterms are extremely important, compared with 46% of Republicans.

This is the single best piece of data I've heard in a year and a half.

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#248524: Jul 6th 2018 at 12:24:52 PM

Oh thank fucking god, that better pan out in the election.

"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."
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#248525: Jul 6th 2018 at 12:36:25 PM

You know what makes that even more interesting?

The article about the enthusiasm gap that I've posted a few times fits this neatly, if you look at the special elections there's a 16-17 point Democratic enthusiasm advantage.

Looks like my confidence in a probable Blue Wave is being supported even more.

Furthermore I'm curious as to how those numbers will change once the effects of Trump's trade war start hitting the general public, I would put big money on it increasing Democratic concern about the midterms and doing the inverse to the Republican equivalent.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Jul 6th 2018 at 3:43:44 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang

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