homersapien 6,032 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Opinion by Joe Scarborough Columnist Oct. 1, 2020 Reaction to the first presidential debate was swift and fierce, and the fallout from President Trump’s performance was a fitting conclusion to a month that will likely cost him reelection. September began with Trump buffeted by reports that he denigrated dead military heroes while attacking America’s top generals. Then audio recordings were released exposing the president’s lies about a pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans. Soon after, a New York Times investigation showed the president to be both an astonishingly bad businessman and a possible tax cheat. Then came the commander in chief’s historic meltdown in front of 73 million Americans. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham declared Trump’s behavior on the Cleveland debate stage “the lowest moment in the history of the presidency since Andrew Johnson’s racist state papers”; author and Post associate editor Bob Woodward accused Trump of “assassinating the presidency”; historian Michael Beschloss lamented that “democracy was trashed”; and, in the unkindest cut of all, actor Mark Hamill slammed the debate as “the worst thing I’ve ever seen & I was in The Star Wars Holiday Special.” History will reveal soon enough whether Trump is Washington’s Darth Vader or Jar Jar Binks. But voters learned again Tuesday that the former reality TV star can simultaneously be both predictable and shocking. Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, observed that just because one is familiar with Trump’s corrosive character does not make it any “less shocking when it is on full, savage display.” Tuesday night, Trump openly displayed all his most savage, racist and autocratic impulses as a horrified world looked on. Throughout the frenetic 90-minute performance, America’s 45th president refused to condemn white supremacists and instead encouraged the right-wing group Proud Boys to “stand by” as Election Day approaches. The next day, he held his ground, opting to mumble meaningless generalities when invited again to condemn white supremacy. The GOP’s 2020 nominee also instructed supporters to swarm voting locations, and as with his son’s similar appeal to Trump’s “army,” the effort seemed focused on intimidating voters opposed to him. The president also used the debate to admit that Republicans were rushing Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett through the Senate to gain an extra vote for legal efforts aimed at disrupting the counting of ballots. In “Twilight of Democracy,” Anne Applebaum wrote of the Law and Justice party’s efforts to undermine Poland’s democracy: “There was very little pretense about any of this.” Nor has there been with Trump’s autocratic ambitions, though they are now on even starker display. As with right-wing movements spreading across Europe, Trump’s brand of politics is more “Bolshevik than Burkean,” Applebaum said. Stephen K. Bannon, his former chief strategist, reportedly once proudly declared: “I am a Leninist. Lenin wanted to destroy the state and that’s my goal.” That apocalyptic vision is shared by Bannon’s old boss. Trump’s disinformation campaign, his refusal to accept election results, his repeated claims that the election process will be “rigged” and his transparent efforts to sabotage the U.S. Postal Service are just some of the ways he is providing aid and comfort to America’s enemies. An aide to former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev two years ago succinctly summed up his country’s view of Trump to GQ’s Julia Ioffe: “He’s doing all of our work for us.” For former conservatives who have defected to Trumpism, it should seem ironic that the same American movement that was long defined by its hostility to ’60s radicalism has been hijacked by a Republican president obsessed with undermining the country’s core institutions. Their dear leader has succeeded where Marxist radicals never could. Trump is sowing doubt in America’s democratic process; he has attacked American generals as “losers” and “*******”; the commander in chief has also undermined the U.S. intelligence community more effectively than any Marxist ever could; and the man who privately mocks people of faith has corrupted the evangelical movement through his forging of political alliances with power-hungry preachers. In reaction to this week’s debate, Christian author Beth Moore wrote, “No amount of winning is worth shipwrecking our faith.” Now Trump is focused on wrecking our ship of state, if that is what is required for him to maintain power. Whether his autocratic efforts succeed depends on whether federal and state officials can manage the chaos that will escalate as Trump’s poll numbers decline. New York University journalism professor Jay Rosen has proposed the establishment of threat-modeling teams in media outlets that would develop a hierarchy of dangers facing democracy while prioritizing a newsroom’s focus. This construct would prevent the press from being overwhelmed by the Russian-style “fire hose of falsehood” that has become the American president’s propaganda strategy over the past four years. How journalists, judges and elected officials sort through Trump’s lies and misinformation over the next few months will determine whether Trump begins 2021 as a private citizen pursued by creditors or as the “reelected” leader of a dying democracy. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/10/01/how-do-we-save-democracy-brink/ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey 9,448 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 "How do we save a democracy on the brink?" That's very simple. Re-elect the President. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SaturdayGT 447 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 I guess to be fair, we will have to consider dumpsters as ballot boxes as well.....https://www.bing.com/videos/search?view=detail&mid=6E47E2ABAFD84FE5D5FB6E47E2ABAFD84FE5D5FB&shtp=GetUrl&shid=a0f919d3-7e7b-4b45-964c-faeedebed01a&shtk=UG9zdGFsIHdvcmtlciBjYXVnaHQgZHVtcGluZyBtYWlsIGludG8gdHJhc2g%3D&shdk=QSBjZWxscGhvbmUgdmlkZW8gc2hvd3MgYSBwb3N0YWwgd29ya2VyIGR1bXBpbmcgbWFpbCBpbnRvIGEgRHVtcHN0ZXIu&shhk=MdlywN9azSYoVnvDAdJUpIjCjfXuzdv%2F4iVN8FckrE4%3D&form=VDSHOT&shth=OSH.WcX03oxr%2BV7mY4vTfOCCOA 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SaturdayGT 447 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SaturdayGT 447 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigbird 30,931 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Step1: Get the people in congress to vote themselves out of office by passing a term limits bill Step2: Create a third party that represents the middle. Step3: Enjoy 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DKW 86 3,908 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 7 hours ago, bigbird said: Step1: Get the people in congress to vote themselves out of office by passing a term limits bill Step2: Create a third party that represents the middle. Step3: Enjoy From your mouth to God's Ears... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DKW 86 3,908 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 (edited) Now, to the rest of yall. DRINK THE DAMN KOOL-AID and STFU. Afterall, only a moron believes there wont be massive issues with the "Carpet Bomb America with Ballots Idea." Everyuwhere there has been Vote by Mail, there has been huge issues. In some areas as much as 20% of the ballots have been illegally handled and tossed out. But no., The Kool-Aid Drinkers refuse to listen to one word of it. They want those ballots mailed to the wrong addresses etc. Ask yourself why? Edited October 2, 2020 by DKW 86 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elephant Tipper 143 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 On the brink of what ? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DKW 86 3,908 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 4 minutes ago, Elephant Tipper said: On the brink of what ? Hallucinated Existential Threat. 1-20-21, Trump is gone and its back to being ****** like normal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elephant Tipper 143 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 7 hours ago, bigbird said: Step1: Get the people in congress to vote themselves out of office by passing a term limits bill Step2: Create a third party that represents the middle. Step3: Enjoy 4. Restore the election of US Senators to the States' legislators, not the citizenry. Our founding fathers implemented that form of election of US Senators in order to keep Senators more accountable and less influenced by the lobbyists and their $. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elephant Tipper 143 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 1 minute ago, DKW 86 said: Hallucinated Existential Threat. 1-20-21, Trump is gone and its back to being ****** like normal. I agree, y'all have hallucinated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DKW 86 3,908 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Six months from now, Trump will be gone and no one will remember him. All this s*** about Existential Threat to Our Lives and Democracy is just propaganda. The same imbeciles that have screamed RUSSIANS!!! for four years and been wrong since day one are the ones now screaming EXISTENTIAL THREAT!!!! Please God, can we have some intellectual maturity down here? Is Trump a bad President? Sure thing!!! Is he an Existential Threat to America? Hell no. The dumbass cant even run a casino or a golf course. Cant stay awake for a briefing. Only things he can do is run up debts, mismanage businesses, and marry brainless super models that are after his supposedly fat wallet. . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AUFAN78 2,466 Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Typically good parenting works. You know work sound ethics, discipline, etc. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jptiger 245 Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 On 10/2/2020 at 7:16 AM, DKW 86 said: Hallucinated Existential Threat. 1-20-21, Trump is gone and its back to being ****** like normal. Yeah with the economy in the crapper. Hide and watch. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. If it weren’t for the Chinese flu it wouldn’t be close. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
homersapien 6,032 Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 11 hours ago, jptiger said: Yeah with the economy in the crapper. Hide and watch. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. If it weren’t for the Chinese flu it wouldn’t be close. One of the primary duties of the POTUS is to protect and respond effectively to national threats like the "Chinese" flu. Trump failed. Miserably. He couldn't even protect himself, much less the country. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DKW 86 3,908 Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 So everyone that contracted the corona virus is a failure? Or did Trump give everyone the corona virus? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jptiger 245 Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 3 hours ago, homersapien said: One of the primary duties of the POTUS is to protect and respond effectively to national threats like the "Chinese" flu. Trump failed. Miserably. He couldn't even protect himself, much less the country. The President is human. Failed? Not even close. You’re not being honest. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
homersapien 6,032 Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, jptiger said: The President is human. Failed? Not even close. You’re not being honest. I'm not being "honest" for stating the obvious? You probably think Trump "won" the debate, right? (Now, be "honest".) You sound like one of those MAGAs that think Trump did a great job with the pandemic by keeping the death toll below 2-3 million. Edited October 4, 2020 by homersapien Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jptiger 245 Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 On 10/4/2020 at 10:39 AM, homersapien said: One of the primary duties of the POTUS is to protect and respond effectively to national threats like the "Chinese" flu. Trump failed. Miserably. He couldn't even protect himself, much less the country. The President can’t solve all your problems. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
homersapien 6,032 Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, jptiger said: The President can’t solve all your problems. Agreed, but I do expect the POTUS to effectively address a pandemic threat. Edited October 6, 2020 by homersapien 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jptiger 245 Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 10 hours ago, homersapien said: Agreed, but I do expect the POTUS to effectively address a pandemic threat. Like Obama with swine flu? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aubiefifty 5,742 Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 On 10/4/2020 at 10:39 AM, homersapien said: One of the primary duties of the POTUS is to protect and respond effectively to national threats like the "Chinese" flu. Trump failed. Miserably. He couldn't even protect himself, much less the country. not only did his lies help kill over two hundred thousand americans his stupidity is infecting his own staff as well as secret service agents. those people by law are supposed to be quarantined for two weeks and of course the big dummy is still breaking laws. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
homersapien 6,032 Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, jptiger said: Like Obama with swine flu? I have no problem with making that comparison. Swine flu April 15, 2009 — first infection detected July 10, 2009 — 37,246 cases, 211 deaths Covid-19 Jan. 20, 2020 — first infection detected April 15, 2020 — 654,425 cases, 32,900 deaths ......And what about the administration’s handling of the pandemic — which came at the same time Obama also was dealing the economic fallout from the Great Recession? In general, Obama got pretty high marks. Going through the after-action reports and Inspector General investigations, it’s hard to find much that would qualify as a “disaster” or “debacle.” On April 26, 2009, when only 20 cases of H1N1 — and no deaths — around the country had been confirmed, the Obama administration declared H1N1 a public health emergency. The administration quickly sought funding from Congress, receiving almost $8 billion. Six weeks later, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic..... https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/21/trumps-bizarre-effort-tag-obamas-swine-flu-response-disaster/ Don't just swallow Trump's lies. Edited October 6, 2020 by homersapien 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
homersapien 6,032 Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 2 hours ago, aubiefifty said: not only did his lies help kill over two hundred thousand americans his stupidity is infecting his own staff as well as secret service agents. those people by law are supposed to be quarantined for two weeks and of course the big dummy is still breaking laws. Not to mention there lackadaisical efforts in contact tracing after the fact. They know that such tracing will indicate the Trump administration itself is a "super-spreader" organization. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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