The "cheap shots" about the "sports vs. Jesus" mindset of paranoid authoritarians is priceless. I was immediately reminded how, in my early teens (~55 years ago) I learned that my body was not designed for sports (unfortunately), and my mind was not designed for organized religion (fortunately).
Consider yourself warned. The MAGA cult has already rehearsed both responses, one if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl, and another if they lose. Paranoid authoritarians have a natural instinct for playing "Heads I win, tails you lose" games.
$87MM to EJC, Engoron about to put him out of business, JACK SMITH, Fani Willis, Nikki Halley, Dark Brandon, and on and on. And he has us talking about Taylor Swift. Will we ever learn?
I have a different interpretation, alas. It's not stupidity, it's an intentional effort to separate. Yes, as Oliver Darcy said, "Conservatives are going into self-exile", trying to 'wall off' their adherents from the culture at larger. But, having just finished Jeff Sharlet's "The Undertow: Scenes From a Slow Civil War" (and having lost a night of sleep after I did), I'm convinced they're not doing it out of stupidity, but because THAT IS WHAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS WANT. The MAGA/Christian Nationalist/Alt-Right wing of the political right is busy building separate cultural and commercial institutions, and ultimately, in their minds at least, separate political institutions, because they just don't want to be part of modern America anymore, full stop. So, in that context, the attacks on established cultural institutions that seem so stupid are actually fully rational and effective. Put another way, Taylor Swift, as an independent, strong, and fabulously wealthy woman and, frankly, a sexy pop star, has no place in a Christian Nationalist culture. So, repudiate her in any way possible. It's just one more step to a separate culture ... and nation. Happy Wednesday.
It’s so funny their pride in “owning the libs” and they are “owning” themselves. Men shooting beer cans? Meltdowns over a successful woman? Brain-worms everywhere. Who owns who? Waiting for the implosion...
Why didn't the all-powerful Joe Biden deem the Philadelphia Eagles (his favorite team) the winners of the last Superbowl. I guess Biden is also responsible for the Chiefs wins in 2020 and 2023 as well as their appearance in 2021. Those Chiefs must be a lousy team. The MAGA fools keep getting more and more ridiculous. Trump is just jealous that he can only attract D-level stars to his campaign and parties (see New Year's Eve 2024).
“It would be more fuel thrown onto the culture-war fires,” says an official working on the Trump reelection efforts. “Another left-wing celebrity who is part of the Democrat elite telling you what to think.”
-----
The hard Right is starting another culture war it can't win. They have decided that Ms Swift, who has approval ratings that far exceed almost any member of the New GOP domestically and internationally, is a Dem operative with their customary zero evidence of this actually being true. The Psychiatric Facility Escapee Caucus and the "professional" staff surrounding the Marigold Malignancy have shown again that reality plays no part in their efforts to usher in a tyranny of the minority, all they need to start a campaign against a perceived enemy is an imaginary slight that might or might not occur in the future. This cannot be allowed to happen, hence the smear campaign against a pop star and her football-playing boyfriend.
Oh, btw, "[a]nother left-wing celebrity who is part of the Democrat elite telling you what to think."
The wacks on the Right can complain that liberal and progressive celebs influence voters, who tend to agree with them, until the cows come home. I'll pay no attention to these kinds of attacks until those in the New GOP acknowledge celebrities like Roseanne Barr, Kid Rock, the "artist" formerly known as Yeezy, Brett Farve, Jason Aldeen, Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis and brother Randy Quade, Ted Nugent... are part of the Republican elite telling us what to think.
I'm trying to imagine what an irate Taylor Swift could do to Trump. Perhaps a video of herself explaining in full but PG detail what Donald Trump did to E. Jean Carroll in a dressing room of a store. She might then say to her tens of millions of (female) fans: "When you go into a voting booth this fall, try to imagine what would happen to you if Donald Trump was in that booth with you. "
The "cheap shots" about the "sports vs. Jesus" mindset of paranoid authoritarians is priceless. I was immediately reminded how, in my early teens (~55 years ago) I learned that my body was not designed for sports (unfortunately), and my mind was not designed for organized religion (fortunately).
Consider yourself warned. The MAGA cult has already rehearsed both responses, one if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl, and another if they lose. Paranoid authoritarians have a natural instinct for playing "Heads I win, tails you lose" games.
Batshit crazy, she is!
Best wishes Charlie Sykes! You have been a sane voice in a crazy world! I'm going to miss you Sir!
I wouldn't overestimate the impact Taylor Swift might have in the next election but I wouldn't underestimate it either.
Roe plus the Swifties might wind up saving American democracy.
Edit: Er, make that Dobbs instead of Roe.
$87MM to EJC, Engoron about to put him out of business, JACK SMITH, Fani Willis, Nikki Halley, Dark Brandon, and on and on. And he has us talking about Taylor Swift. Will we ever learn?
I have a different interpretation, alas. It's not stupidity, it's an intentional effort to separate. Yes, as Oliver Darcy said, "Conservatives are going into self-exile", trying to 'wall off' their adherents from the culture at larger. But, having just finished Jeff Sharlet's "The Undertow: Scenes From a Slow Civil War" (and having lost a night of sleep after I did), I'm convinced they're not doing it out of stupidity, but because THAT IS WHAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS WANT. The MAGA/Christian Nationalist/Alt-Right wing of the political right is busy building separate cultural and commercial institutions, and ultimately, in their minds at least, separate political institutions, because they just don't want to be part of modern America anymore, full stop. So, in that context, the attacks on established cultural institutions that seem so stupid are actually fully rational and effective. Put another way, Taylor Swift, as an independent, strong, and fabulously wealthy woman and, frankly, a sexy pop star, has no place in a Christian Nationalist culture. So, repudiate her in any way possible. It's just one more step to a separate culture ... and nation. Happy Wednesday.
Um, Charlie posted on Threads today that he's leaving The Bulwark. 😲
https://www.threads.net/@charlie_j_sykes/post/C2xkn7Vr2_u/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
It’s so funny their pride in “owning the libs” and they are “owning” themselves. Men shooting beer cans? Meltdowns over a successful woman? Brain-worms everywhere. Who owns who? Waiting for the implosion...
Why didn't the all-powerful Joe Biden deem the Philadelphia Eagles (his favorite team) the winners of the last Superbowl. I guess Biden is also responsible for the Chiefs wins in 2020 and 2023 as well as their appearance in 2021. Those Chiefs must be a lousy team. The MAGA fools keep getting more and more ridiculous. Trump is just jealous that he can only attract D-level stars to his campaign and parties (see New Year's Eve 2024).
Re: MAGA's Swiftie hate and Cheap Shots - My fantasy world is colorless and severely lacking in comparison to their worlds.
I’m not normally one to dare politicians and celebrities to duke it out, but please Donald - give this a go. I’m sure nothing bad will come from it ;)
“It would be more fuel thrown onto the culture-war fires,” says an official working on the Trump reelection efforts. “Another left-wing celebrity who is part of the Democrat elite telling you what to think.”
-----
The hard Right is starting another culture war it can't win. They have decided that Ms Swift, who has approval ratings that far exceed almost any member of the New GOP domestically and internationally, is a Dem operative with their customary zero evidence of this actually being true. The Psychiatric Facility Escapee Caucus and the "professional" staff surrounding the Marigold Malignancy have shown again that reality plays no part in their efforts to usher in a tyranny of the minority, all they need to start a campaign against a perceived enemy is an imaginary slight that might or might not occur in the future. This cannot be allowed to happen, hence the smear campaign against a pop star and her football-playing boyfriend.
Oh, btw, "[a]nother left-wing celebrity who is part of the Democrat elite telling you what to think."
The wacks on the Right can complain that liberal and progressive celebs influence voters, who tend to agree with them, until the cows come home. I'll pay no attention to these kinds of attacks until those in the New GOP acknowledge celebrities like Roseanne Barr, Kid Rock, the "artist" formerly known as Yeezy, Brett Farve, Jason Aldeen, Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis and brother Randy Quade, Ted Nugent... are part of the Republican elite telling us what to think.
fnord
So Vivek thinks that an endorsement by an "artificially culturally propped-up couple" would be major?
I'm trying to imagine what an irate Taylor Swift could do to Trump. Perhaps a video of herself explaining in full but PG detail what Donald Trump did to E. Jean Carroll in a dressing room of a store. She might then say to her tens of millions of (female) fans: "When you go into a voting booth this fall, try to imagine what would happen to you if Donald Trump was in that booth with you. "
Oh no! Charlie just posted on threads, @charlie_j_sykes, that he is leaving the Bulwark Feb 9th. We all will be sad to see you go!