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Burke's avatar

Andrew Egger's suggestion for Joe Biden to take a mental acuity test assumes that the GOP/MAGAs/Trump World would give it any credibility. Joe could score in Genius range and the MAGAs would lie about it. (Trump, however, is a "stable genius".)

Andrew's appeal is in Good Faith. Trump World operates in Bad Faith. Donald makes dumb/outrageous/false statements, in Bad Faith, and the MAGAs eat it up. Joe Biden gives an outstanding speech on D-Day, in Good Faith, and gullible journalists (and the 147 Congressional Objectors) parse it for tiny signs of mental slips.

Good Faith and Bad Faith are two different languages. You can't counter Bad Faith with Good Faith arguments. Journalists and essayists can, and should, call out Bad Faith as Wrong. Factually wrong. And morally wrong.

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Dave Yell's avatar

I wonder if Andrew was being a little sarcastic here?

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Color Me Skeptical's avatar

Unfortunately I do not think he is.

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Dave Yell's avatar

I think facetious would be a better word here.

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Andrew Egger's avatar

The point is not to convince Trumpworld. The point is to make Trumpworld's bad-faith talking points less alluring to the voters in the middle Biden desperately needs.

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Burke's avatar

Thanks Andrew. Rationally challenged MAGAs believe in things that aren't real. Facts won't make a dent. See Marge Greene's self-shaming attack on Dr Fauci for example. I wonder about some in the middle who say "I'm trying to make a case to vote for Biden." Logic evades these citizens as well. They don't grasp, yet, that a vote for anyone but Biden is a vote for Trump. A vote for anyone but Biden is a vote for Putin.

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Alondra's avatar

Maybe just skip the acuity test and instead put the 'truth' posted by T yesterday and Old Joe's speech yesterday side by side. Or, as you suggest, pander to right wing and media favorites about Joe's age and add more oxygen ; the acuity test stories and 'truths' might provide several days of juicy takes.

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tupper's avatar

I get the urge, but it's a stunt, and I don't think they should try to compete on stunts. Anything that they do between now and 6/27 that is not running the government or preparing for the debate is wasted time

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