Displaying 1,201 To 1,230 Of 19,504 Comments Nobody Wants To Be The Bad Guy – Political Conversation In The 21st Century That’s so kind of you Kes but your post is inspirational. We can be better people when we talk politics, we can be more tolerant of the views of other people with good intentions who support opposing candidates and your post affirms all of that. It’s hard to walk the tightrope on not sounding elitist on this but it does seem to be true that there are some good people who support Trump because they are only seeing him as a vehicle to express how upset they are at our government and put on the blinders to all the awful stuff pouring out of Trump’s mouth. I’ve seen Trump supporters like that, ears plugged up with denial and rationalizing away Trump’s horrible statements (“I don’t think he really means it!”) to give themselves permission to support a toxic candidate because they see him as voicing their frustration. So are they bad people deserving of attacks? No, I don’t think so. They do frustrate me because I think it is self-destructive to be co-dependent like that towards an egomaniac but they aren’t doing it out of hatred. As for the Dem Party establishment, they are not exempt from a revolt either, in fact, that’s what Bernie’s success as a candidate is. Hillary should have had a coronation, she should have been running away with the nom and sealed it up early against a hardly-known, Jewish, 74 year old Democratic Socialist who is an Independent Senator from Vermont. The fact that Hillary is virtually tied right now with Bernie in national polls makes a strong statement that Progressives and many independent voters are not content to support another business-as-usual, Democratic Elite/Establishment candidate. If Hillary does win the nom and is elected, that won’t be the end of the Progressive revolution against the Democratic Party Establishment, I woould suggest that it will continue to grow over time and especially if Hillary moves back to the center right and a corporate-friendly position. Hillary has the institutional advantage in winning the Dem nom and the Presidency but I think she would have plenty of good reasons to be concerned about winning a re-election if she shows further poor judgement and a lack of transparency as President. With negatives well over 50% and voter enthusiasm behind Bernie instead of her, missteps as President could magnify opposition to her (which is not what I’d want to see). I sure hope she learns a degree of humility from this unexpectedly close race with Bernie if she wins and not think that once she wins, the winner can do as they wish…because a President will need to keep voters believing in them to win a second term. » Posted By AdLib On April 19, 2016 @ 5:40 pm agrippa, so true, in a functioning society, tolerance is critical. It’s easy to get seduced into copying the self-righteous and disrespectful behavior of others when it comes to political discourse, kind of like the 5-year old mentality of hitting a kid back then justifying it by saying, “He hit me first!” Bad behavior doesn’t become good behavior just because it’s practiced by someone who believes they’re good. Wrong is wrong, generalizing about all the supporters of any candidate isn’t fair. I criticize Trump’s racist supporters but always mention them as a portion of Trump supporters. I know there are decent people supporting him who don’t espouse racism or attack supporters of other candidates. There are however very hostile supporters of every candidate but they are usually a minority. I’m not concerned that the Dems won’t be prepared to trounce Trump. In fact, I think we’ll see that the best GOTV tool for Dems is Donald Trump campaigning for President. I foresee very strong Dem and indie turnout (and even Repubs for the Dem candidate) in the GE which could not only elect a Dem as President by an electoral landslide but sweep in a Dem Senate and possibly even a Dem House. » Posted By AdLib On April 19, 2016 @ 5:17 pm Kes, this is a very timely and incisive article, well done! I think you nailed it, even those we may see as having the most egregious beliefs likely see themselves as good people. And the other factor you point out is that it is now the modern version of political debate to disqualify, demonize and personally attack those opposing the politician or party they support. Some even freely torture the truth in the process even though it contradicts their own stated principles in the process. Tolerance truly is a lost art lately in political conversations. As is putting the truth above personal opinions. In fact, it’s become so backwards now that opinions are now used to disqualify inconvenient truths and cherry pick affirming info even if it is from a flawed or dishonest source. Every four years, each party experiences this to one degree or another, where members within the same party declare fellow members opposing their candidate as traitors, ignorant, naive, or worse. We remember how horrible the Obama/Hillary civil war was in the 2008 primary, worse than this year’s Bernie/Hillary conflicts if that’s any consolation. It’s difficult to disarm these conflicts in some cases because the truth can’t be agreed upon. Customized versions of the truth seem to be the coin of the realm often, people latch onto propaganda that a candidate, party or MSM outlet has planted and adopt it as “truth” despite the facts because they feel it validates them and their choice of candidate. The Hillary supporter you conversed with was able to break through the control of that mindset (that supporters of all candidates are vulnerable to engaging in) because despite everything else, her conscience matters to her and as you say, she sees herself as a good person fighting the good fight. When that subjective view of oneself runs into a brick wall of conscience, that one isn’t being a good person, the truly good person puts down the sword. I would say though that this doesn’t work with people lacking any perspective or conscience. The Trump mentality dictates that conscience is for wimps, that being unapologetically awful to others in pursuit of one’s fervent goal makes them “good”. So appealing to the conscience of some Republicans is futile but until one tries, one may not know. As for the finger-pointing between fellow Dems, if it could be based solely upon facts and truth, it would be a positive thing in the end. That’s my main complaint against those who express that they are Progressives but then act identically as Tea Party Republicans, having blind faith in their chosen candidate and ignoring truths that challenge that. Not to mention, the approach of demonizing the opposing candidate and anyone supporting them. Think about the PUMAs from 2008 that were so hostile, there was no getting through to them, they vowed to vote in McCain AND Palin if Hillary didn’t win. But what happened in the GE? Hillary supporters were not represented by the that tiny minority of PUMAs and voted in Obama in 2008 and 2012. So the last aspect I might add into the mix is that the most aggressive supporters of a Dem candidate (not so sure about Trump supporters) only reflect a small minority of that candidate’s supporters. Most I have ever seen interviewed or those I’ve had personal conversations with are not absolutists and don’t portray Dems supporting the other candidate in a negative way. It is seductive to go into that kind of elitist and hostile mode, who doesn’t like feeling righteous? But it is more important to be right than righteous and I think that the Hillary supporter you described deserves props for displaying that value. » Posted By AdLib On April 18, 2016 @ 6:57 pm LIVE CHAT TONIGHT: 2016 Democratic Debate in NY at 6:00pm PST! Kalima, this is what the so[called “news” channels have devolved into. Debates begin with the national anthem like sporting events then are conducted like demolition derbies. Their only goal is to steer each candidate into a head on crash with the other so spectators have a reason to slow down and rubberneck throughout their “debate”. Intent matters. For “news” networks, debates are now solely about accumulating more revenue for themselves by staging conflict to attract viewers. There is no evidence they care about actually hosting debates to have candidates dig deeply into who they are, what they believe and what they’ll do. It’s all about pushing hot buttons and gobbling up the resulting ad revenue, the process displaying the MSM as Pavlovian, drooling every time the bell is rung in a debate to start a “Fight!” Pathetic for a country like the US to have in place, can’t imagine how much more horrible things would be if not for the internet’s providing so many alternatives as an antidote to corporate monopolized MSM news. » Posted By AdLib On April 15, 2016 @ 8:35 am Conducting his supporters, an overture before the performance by Maestro Bernie:
» Posted By AdLib On April 14, 2016 @ 12:39 pm Could Ted Cruz Win the GOP Nomination Tomorrow? Fergie, well said and very appreciated. I do think that the level of the Dems’ discourse dropped this week and unnecessarily so. Since we regard Trump as looking like a 5 year old for using the, “He started it!” excuse, I wouldn’t allow Bernie to get off the hook using that either and credit to him that he wouldn’t try to. Instead, he toook it back and declared today that Hillary is qualified to be President. Disappointing though that Hillary still won’t say the same of Bernie, just that he would be better than any of the Repubs but then so would a case of pneumonia. Hillary’s camp has been hammering him with this misguided new “Disqualify, Defeat then Try to Unify” campaign against Bernie but he shouldn’t have given in to returning the same kind of hyperbole. Had he responded just by saying that no one should question his qualifications who has made so many errors in judgement, he could have punched back without stooping to her level. So, neither of them are excused for dropping to this. I will say that Hillary’s abuse of throwing the “sexist” card at anything Bernie says that she doesn’t like is getting tired and insulting to women who have to deal with real sexism (and insulting to the many men and women who are feminists but believe Bernie is the better candidate). » Posted By AdLib On April 8, 2016 @ 6:14 pm And now for something completely different…Bad Lip Reading does Ted Cruz…yes, it’s very funny!
» Posted By AdLib On April 7, 2016 @ 1:33 am Just checked out the Twitter hashtag #HillarySoQualified which is intentionally ironic and saw a reminder of another horrible smear Hillary launched against Obama which stinks of Islamophobia. Remember this photo that Hillary’s 2008 campaign sent all around the media and in emails: [img]https://static-secure.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/02/25/0225_obamaturban_460x276.jpg[/img] And the title of the Guardian article with this photo Hillary promoted? “Clinton aides claim Obama photo wasn’t intended as a smear”. Here’s the article that reminds us that this is Hillary and history just repeating itself…through slinging lies and mud: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/25/barackobama.hillaryclinton » Posted By AdLib On April 7, 2016 @ 1:09 am She just can’t help herself. It seems like Hillary’s natural manner is to be harsh and cutting except when it seems advantageous to present a kinder and gentler image. As happened when Bernie first surged, now that he’s surging again she’s reverted back to the dishonest inferences. As you point out, she did this same evasive type of response to avoid disputing the lie that Obama was a Muslim. There is a track record with her using this kind of mud slinging. That said, do you think it was wise for Bernie to respond in kind, using the phrase that Hillary wasn’t “qualified to be President”? It’s got to be hard to get sucker punched again and again by Hillary but responding in kind I think is counter productive. BTW, Hillary and Bill are closely connected with the owner of The Daily News, the hit piece/interview they did on Bernie and led to this was so obviously a dirty trick from the Hillary camp. She’s like a 5 year old in rain gear during a storm, she can’t stop jumping in the gutter. But Bernie shouldn’t join her there. » Posted By AdLib On April 6, 2016 @ 7:41 pm Being just slightly more humble than Donald Trump, I appreciate that Nate Silver at 538.com today decided to agree with my post above: » Posted By AdLib On April 6, 2016 @ 9:09 am So now that Trump has lost WI, it looks like neither he nor Cruz will get enough delegates to win the nomination in the primaries. By definition, doesn’t that make them both losers? » Posted By AdLib On April 5, 2016 @ 7:32 pm Bernie Sanders just projected as winner in WI! Cheers to Cheeseheads! » Posted By AdLib On April 5, 2016 @ 6:30 pm Hey PPO, not a Vox but folks can post comments here on the night’s results! » Posted By AdLib On April 5, 2016 @ 12:33 pm Trump Courting Women’s Vote With “Get in Bed With The Donald” Campaign gyp46, I’m with you on that, my wish would be for him to be the Repub nom and lose on the biggest stage to the Dem (who may be a woman). The yuuge humiliation would be so enjoyable. However, I don’t know that he will win enough delegates to take it outright and if it goes to a contested convention, The RNC may do all it can to make sure he isn’t their nom. In that case, not only is he a loser but if his supporters turn on the GOP because of that, they and he could be even bigger losers in Nov.. » Posted By AdLib On April 4, 2016 @ 8:45 am Monica, I find Melania very distasteful for being happily bought and agreeable to being a possession of such a horrible and disgusting excuse of a human being. IMO, she is poorer as a human being and with regard to character than any women not married to Drumpf. I had to mentally hold my nose as I wrote this parody, thinking of getting in bed with Drumpf could be considered torture under the Geneva Convention. » Posted By AdLib On April 4, 2016 @ 8:40 am Gyp46, I think Trump lives in so much of a bubble that he still thinks he looks like he’s in his 20’s. As KT mentioned below, he has no clue that if he hadn’t inherited the basis for all his wealth just by being born, had he been born to a poor janitor named Drumpf, shallow gold digging models like Melania would look past him like he didn’t even exist. Drumpf has made “winning” so important to his identity, it is and will be so sweet to see him being forced to be a loser in the GOP race, he will be devastated and never be able to live it down. Tomorrow may be the last nail in the coffin, if he loses in WI, depending on how many delegates he does or doesn’t get, it may become mathematically impossible for him to win the nom outright which means the Repub Elite will make sure he’s a loser at the convention. Sweet indeed! » Posted By AdLib On April 4, 2016 @ 8:34 am Kalima, it seems to me that Trump is sexually assaulting himself, that is, he’s battering his campaign through with his sexist attacks and insults of women. Maybe Trump should get a restraining order against himself? We know he likes suing, it’s time he sued himself and completed the farce trifecta. » Posted By AdLib On April 4, 2016 @ 8:22 am Bill Cosby to Host Fundraiser for Donald Trump Very funny KT, nails what a child Trump is! That’s what I think appeals to all those less educated bigots who support him, “He’s got the mind of a child…like me!” » Posted By AdLib On March 31, 2016 @ 9:30 pm KT, to channel Trump: “Believe me, I want to be President! I’m just sick of all this PC out there so I tell it like it is. In other words, I’m obviously ignorant and make things up as I go and hope that this shtick will work long enough for me to get elected President. Trust me, I’m too much of an ass to know what an ass I am.” » Posted By AdLib On March 31, 2016 @ 9:20 pm gyp46, maybe we’re looking at Trump/Cosby 2016! All they need is a slogan now…hmm…maybe “Make Chauvinism Great Again!”? Or “Make America Rape Again”? » Posted By AdLib On March 31, 2016 @ 8:54 pm Kalima, in the GOP race, every day is April Fool’s Day! I don’t think Trump is trying to hurt his campaign, he has been succeeding in the GOP despite all his many outrageous statements. This one might just be the straw that broke the camel’s back. No one should be surprised that in the end, Trump is nothing more than a childish and ignorant bully. People assume that having a lot of money means you have to be brilliant but there are plenty of brilliant people who aren’t millionaires and plenty of millionaires who are truly stupid. Depending on what is being discussed, Trump is usually stupid. His whole campaign is premised on the stupid idea that you can insult the majority of voters to get the GOP nomination from ignorant, lesser educated and mostly bigoted white people and somehow all those voters you’ve offended will forget it all in the GE. He’s ignorant about nearly every issues he talks about, willing to nuke Europe, somehow arrest 11 million immigrants, jail women for having abortions, make Mexico pay billions for a US wall…just about everything he says is jaw dropping stupid. The way I see it, thanks to the greed of the MSM, Trump has been treated with kid gloves despite his horribleness because he’s making them a lot of money but he’s finally gone so far off the rails with encouraging violence, blaming a woman reporter for the assault against her by a man Trump employs and now open to imprisoning women for controlling their own bodies. I’ll bet the MSM is disappointed now, having such a great run with propping up the reality-show-outrageousness of Trump all this time and now having to admit they can’t keep up their promotion of him for greed’s sake. It’s like the Emperor’s New Clothes, we’ve seen all along what an ignorant loser Trump is but the MSM was making a fortune selling pictures of him in his New Clothes until the buyers started drying up. Even so, he’s going to head into the GOP convention with the most delegates so when they try to refuse him the nom, it’s going to tear the party apart which is well worth all the garbage we’ve been put through with him. Really looking forward to watching that convention! » Posted By AdLib On March 31, 2016 @ 8:52 pm Hey Kes! It’s so true, it’s a neverending race to put out a Trump parody before he tops it! I know he’s gone back on it now but think about the prison population in America being mostly young black and Latino men and women who’ve had abortions. No doubt you know Margaret Atwood and “The Handmaid’s Tale”, it would come to life under a President Trump. I watched his whole interview with Matthews which included that quote and so many other rambling, wack comments of his. It is plain and obvious to anyone who has some street smarts that Trump just uncomfortably improvises answers when cornered into having to give details on anything and it’s just crappy snake oil salesman shtick. He squirms as much as he can to get out of ever answering any question with specifics and is successful in most cases but to his credit in this case, Matthews wouldn’t let him squirm away on abortion and several other issues and he looked like the slimy con man he is. In a General Election, Trump will disintegrate like wet toilet paper (something far more valuable than him). I’ve been on the fence, deciding whether I want Trump to win outright are come up just short so there could be a devastating battle at the GOP convention that Cruz might win…and send Trump and his share of the GOP into an indie campaign…I suppose the contested convention would be the most destructive to the GOP so that may be the best but I absolutely want Trump to be their nominee so that may be sacrificed. Good thing it’s not up to me! » Posted By AdLib On March 31, 2016 @ 12:37 pm The Cause of ISIS’ Global Terrorism Isn’t Islam…It’s Oil Monica, at the very least, after being Director of the CIA, GHW Bush had to have operated as VP how he wanted to and had a more independent hand, probably similar to how Cheney operated as VP under GW Bush. Reagan was always a figurehead, people wrote his script and he performed it. It was his scriptwriters that ran the Presidency, especially during his last years when this nation had a man with mental illness, senility or Alzheimer’s, as their President. Pretty scary actually to think that we had a literal puppet as President for years that people behind the scenes were operating. » Posted By AdLib On March 25, 2016 @ 1:06 pm Appreciate the reference, agrippa, will check him out! » Posted By AdLib On March 24, 2016 @ 5:10 pm Cheers Nirek! Though I do think there’s a yuuge difference between Trump threatening to nuke the ME to get at ISIS and Hillary embracing Netanyahu, the one candidate who has consistently stood on the side of peace, isn’t a kneejerk supporter of Israel’s hostile policies and supports restrained use of our military is indeed Bernie. And BTW, the latest polls still show Bernie would beat Trump and all the Repubs by much larger margins than Hillary would. » Posted By AdLib On March 24, 2016 @ 5:09 pm monica, I think we could go back to the US/UK backed coup in Iran in 1953 to install the Shah of Iran to see where the US first began down the road of disastrous meddling in the ME that resulted in nasty blowback. Reagan then financed and trained the Mujahadeen (who later became Al Qaeda and led to ISIS) in Afghanistan to thwart the Soviets who were trying to take over that country. Republicans didn’t learn from witnessing the folly of trying to control Afghanistan and started the dominoes falling towards the global terrorism we have today. And what has financed those who are so destructive is oil. The insanity behind this terrorism would still be around without oil but it wouldn’t be global and as proliferated. Terrorists are on both sides of the Atlantic, the Bush neocons terrorized and killed far more innocent people than ISIS has to date. Both are enemies of civilization and humanity but take away the wealth behind both and neither could have accomplished what they have so far. » Posted By AdLib On March 24, 2016 @ 5:02 pm Thanks agrippa! One can find Muslims on both sides of the fence of terrorism but mostly as victims of terrorism. While the Saudis’ spread of Wahhabism has been a cancer, it’s true that many Muslims were the ones behind the Arab Spring. And the ones spouting the most terroristic threats in our Presidential primaries are the most avowedly religious (though Trump is just pandering) Christians. If all American Christians were judged by the war crimes and bigotry voiced by Cruz and Trump, they would know how wrong it is to brand an entire religion evil based on terrible people who claim to be followers of their religion. » Posted By AdLib On March 24, 2016 @ 4:42 pm Kalima, the articles you linked to are exactly what we need to be promoting right now to fight off the Islamophobia that Trump, Cruz and much of the RW Repubs will be whipping up purely for self-serving political reasons. The demonizing of Muslims is flatly disproven by the numbers and facts we’re offering. All the bigots have is blind fear and hatred and that must be defeated. » Posted By AdLib On March 23, 2016 @ 6:57 pm Donald Trump Accidentally Beats Himself Up At Rally That score sure seems high for Trump…still trying to think of something true he’s ever said. Oh, he called Cruz a liar…but he would have said that about whoever runs against him anyway. » Posted By AdLib On March 24, 2016 @ 5:20 pm Thanks James! My pleasure! » Posted By AdLib On March 24, 2016 @ 5:15 pmComments Posted By AdLib
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