The Trump Presidency: Part 21

[Dr. Keith]

Yeah, I'm confident the system/American people will do the right thing.

Screw you!

I was just about to respond with a hearty "yeah, we can hope they do" until I realized this came from you. Stop jabbing your dirty knife into the open wound of my hopes and dreams!

And of course, by that I mean: bless you for your good work even when it hits too close to home.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

Russophobia is the focus of their demonizing efforts because of Russia's stand against gay marriage and the homosexual agenda.

Gods, I missed that part. I had forgotten just how... conservative Conservapedia really is.

 

[Horatius]

Good example of skepticism in action. Well done, Horatius.

Thanks! It kind of sucks that I have to treat the US government the same way we used to treat Truthers, but that's the world we live in now.

And as a follow-up as to why such skepticism is still needed, let's looks at this part again:

Also note the use of the phrase "proof of Russia-Trump collusion". It sets a ridiculously high standard, that lets them ignore all the evidence that isn't "proof" all by itself. They also restrict that to "Russia-Trump", which lets them ignore all the evidence involving Russian interactions with people other than Trump, who were working for Trump. And, of course, "collusion", which lets them ignore the all the "wink and nod" interactions, that weren't direct collusion, but which clearly still happened, and benefited both Trump and Russia.

After writing that, I found this little gem:

Proven this week on treasonous scale. Obama officials Rice, Clapper, McCabe etc admit under oath they saw no evidence of Russian collusion.

Notice how he's riffing on the CT claims put out by the mainstream Trumpistas, but he's broadening the claim. He doesn't use the narrowly-constructed claim they used, "proof of Russia-Trump collusion". That's a much narrower claim than Bubba's "saw no evidence of Russian collusion". In fact, Bubba's is factually wrong. Almost all of them make the point that they did, in fact, see evidence of collusion between the Russians and certain members of the Trump team. But either he didn't notice he was making a broader claim, or he doesn't even realize that this is what he did.

But it was a near-certainty that the less intelligent Trump supporters would make exactly this mistake, and Trump's team was counting on this.

 

[Ladewig]

Thanks! It kind of sucks that I have to treat the US government the same way we used to treat Truthers, but that's the world we live in now.

And as a follow-up as to why such skepticism is still needed, let's looks at this part again:





After writing that, I found this little gem:






Notice how he's riffing on the CT claims put out by the mainstream Trumpistas, but he's broadening the claim. He doesn't use the narrowly-constructed claim they used, "proof of Russia-Trump collusion". That's a much narrower claim than Bubba's "saw no evidence of Russian collusion". In fact, Bubba's is factually wrong. Almost all of them make the point that they did, in fact, see evidence of collusion between the Russians and certain members of the Trump team. But either he didn't notice he was making a broader claim, or he doesn't even realize that this is what he did.

But it was a near-certainty that the less intelligent Trump supporters would make exactly this mistake, and Trump's team was counting on this.

It is not a mistake only made by the less intelligent of that population. It may very likely be made by intelligent folks who never studied formal logic, critical reasoning, or skepticism.

 

[Aridas]

Gods, I missed that part. I had forgotten just how... conservative Conservapedia really is.

"Conservative" is NOT the correct word, honestly, even though a bunch of nasty groups have worked hard to co-opt the term and the accompanying loyalty that it inspires.

But it was a near-certainty that the less intelligent Trump supporters would make exactly this mistake, and Trump's team was counting on this.

It is not a mistake only made by the less intelligent of that population. It may very likely be made by intelligent folks who never studied formal logic, critical reasoning, or skepticism.

It's also not always a "mistake." It's unfortunately commonplace on the R side to knowingly push falsehoods when attempting to hurt foes. Commonplace to the point where it's probably not wrong to say that it's one of the sets of normal tactics.

 

[MRC_Hans]

Thanks! It kind of sucks that I have to treat the US government the same way we used to treat Truthers, but that's the world we live in now.

And as a follow-up as to why such skepticism is still needed, let's looks at this part again:





After writing that, I found this little gem:






Notice how he's riffing on the CT claims put out by the mainstream Trumpistas, but he's broadening the claim. He doesn't use the narrowly-constructed claim they used, "proof of Russia-Trump collusion". That's a much narrower claim than Bubba's "saw no evidence of Russian collusion". In fact, Bubba's is factually wrong. Almost all of them make the point that they did, in fact, see evidence of collusion between the Russians and certain members of the Trump team. But either he didn't notice he was making a broader claim, or he doesn't even realize that this is what he did.

But it was a near-certainty that the less intelligent Trump supporters would make exactly this mistake, and Trump's team was counting on this.

Mmm, can someone with US insight explain to me what Trump gets out of this "OBAMAGATE" thing in terms of the upcoming election? Last time I looked, Obama was not running, and while it may reflect badly on the Dems, that is hardly news for his base voters.

Hans

 

[3point14]

Mmm, can someone with US insight explain to me what Trump gets out of this "OBAMAGATE" thing in terms of the upcoming election? Last time I looked, Obama was not running, and while it may reflect badly on the Dems, that is hardly news for his base voters.

Hans

He's a racist git?

More reasonably, jealousy. One comes across as classy, the other, most defintely, does not.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Mmm, can someone with US insight explain to me what Trump gets out of this "OBAMAGATE" thing in terms of the upcoming election? Last time I looked, Obama was not running, and while it may reflect badly on the Dems, that is hardly news for his base voters.

Hans

Biden gets much of his Street Cred from being Obama's VP.
Take down Obama, take down Biden.

That's my guess what the official strategy is.


Unofficially, Trump is just colossally pissed off by the realization that Obama would have handled the Pandemic so much better than he has. Trump has to assure himself and the world that Obama isn't as great as he objectively is.

 

[Aridas]

Mmm, can someone with US insight explain to me what Trump gets out of this "OBAMAGATE" thing in terms of the upcoming election? Last time I looked, Obama was not running, and while it may reflect badly on the Dems, that is hardly news for his base voters.

Hans

Distraction/changing the subject. That's probably been Trump's most powerful defense throughout his Presidency, really, only rivaled by the right-wing nonsense bubble. Do so much (usually) bad stuff that practically no one can really keep up with it and it becomes really hard to focus outrage on anything in particular, leading to outrage fatigue, normalization, feeding the "MSM just hates Trump/Republicans" impression that the right-wing has worked hard to seed as widely as they can, and so on.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

"Conservative" is NOT the correct word, honestly, even though a bunch of nasty groups have worked hard to co-opt the term and the accompanying loyalty that it inspires.

Fair enough, I guess there are words that would fit them far better. Maybe reactionary.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump tweeted

22-O in my endorsements of Congressional Candidates this season. California & Wisconsin won big on Tuesday. Thank you to all of those very brilliant Voters. You will not be disappointed!

I don’t know the so-called Whistleblower Rick Bright, never met him or even heard of him, but to me he is a disgruntled employee, not liked or respected by people I spoke to and who, with his attitude, should no longer be working for our government!

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Tweets

If I were a Senator or Congressman, the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, by FAR, is former President Obama. He knew EVERYTHING. Do it @LindseyGrahamSC, just do it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk!

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Retweeted

The White House
@WhiteHouse
President @realDonaldTrump: "Every other President let China do whatever they wanted."

 

[Andy_Ross]

On my way, see you soon!
Quote Tweet

Congressman Fred Keller
@RepFredKeller
Excited to welcome President @realDonaldTrump to Pennsylvania today! Thanks to President Trump's administration, we have received huge amounts of PPE from the National Stockpile and Project Air Bridge.
The President also knows we want our freedom back!


Rep. Guy Reschenthaler
@GReschenthaler
FEMA is sending 83,400 testing swabs and 55,660 media tubes to the Commonwealth of PA. Thank you @realdonaldtrump and @FEMA for ensuring Pennsylvania has the testing capabilities we need to combat #COVID19.

Rep. Mike Kelly
@MikeKellyPA
It’s been said that 90% of life is showing up because when you show up, people know that you care. Thank you @POTUS @realDonaldTrump for making PA a priority. We have received millions for #COVID19 testing in our state, critical PPE & other supplies. These actions saved lives!

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Tweets

Just landed in Pennsylvania, see everyone soon!

 

[Darat]

Trump Tweets

If I were a Senator or Congressman, the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, by FAR, is former President Obama. He knew EVERYTHING. Do it @LindseyGrahamSC, just do it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk!

Oh please do this. Bit of a crap on Obama but you know how he would demolish the committee.

 

[Delphic Oracle]

"Conservative" is NOT the correct word, honestly, even though a bunch of nasty groups have worked hard to co-opt the term and the accompanying loyalty that it inspires.




It's also not always a "mistake." It's unfortunately commonplace on the R side to knowingly push falsehoods when attempting to hurt foes. Commonplace to the point where it's probably not wrong to say that it's one of the sets of normal tactics.

Oh, don't you worry.

Quite a few Democrats and supporters seem willing to enter the fray any more...

 

[TragicMonkey]

Trump Tweets

Just landed in Pennsylvania, see everyone soon!

I thought Twitter had a policy against allowing outright threats?

 

[Minoosh]

Oh please do this. Bit of a crap on Obama but you know how he would demolish the committee.

Well, Lindsey Graham certainly knows Obama would demolish the committee.

I also hope Graham doesn't appreciate Trump trying to push him around. There may be a vestige of independence somewhere in his character.

On Russia, Putin and Saudi Arabia, there is a slight amount of daylight between Trump and GOP senators.

ETA: Some people like to speculate there's Kompromat on Graham. If so it must be stronger than Graham (probably) being gay. It would have to be underage pages IMO.

 

[Paul2]

His only chance for remaining el presidento (literally) is destroying democratic* process in USA with full support of his rethuglican degenerate cronies.

I don't want to make you stay up at night, but because we have NO reason to think that there is something this cabal wouldn't stoop to:

In the end, a person isn't elected president until a certain announcement is made after electoral votes are counted and read in a joint session of Congress. That announcement is made by the presiding officer of the Senate, who is the Vice-President. When that announcement is made, and only *then,* is the person considered to have been elected President.

Check the Congressional rules on that.

There is nothing they wouldn't stoop to. Nothing.