I can't believe how easy it has been for him. The last decade has me seriously reconsidering many of the life lessons and pathways to success that I was taught as a kid.
Same here. Also gone is my belief in Karma and that we all eventually have to answer for our actions. It doesn’t look like Karma will ever catch up with this guy.
Billsburg--is the problem that karma never caught up with Trump? In reality, Isn't the problem that those who had the sworn duty to hold him accountable, just didn't do their jobs. After January 6th, 2021, the Senate Republicans-- led by McConnell-- let him off the hook on impeachment. AG Garland let him off the hook, again and again , by not pursuing him in a timely manner with determination to enforce the law. The Supreme Court also let him off the hook by refusing to just interpret the plain language of the Constitution which is their job to do.
Yes; all of this is absolutely true which is why Karma may never catch up with him. It's really unbelievable when you really think about it. How many 80 year olds have NEVER had to deal with the consequences of their horrific actions?
Once they confirmed Hegseth, it was obvious they were going to rubber-stamp the rest of them--signaling to trump he wouldn't have to worry about them checking his power.
That all those boot-lickers could pass that horrendous, nation-killing bill proves none of those who voted for it should be considered as representing their constituents.
Every point you made is correct, but doesn't it all add up to the same thing? Trump is the most unbelievably lucky politician I've seen in my lifetime, and it's not even close. All those who could have held him accountable utterly failed to do so. Mainstream media sane-washes every insane thing he says and does. Voters keep putting him in power despite, or even because of, his overall abhorrence and incompetence. He lacks a single redeeming quality, yet he has reverse karma -- the worse he is, the more he is rewarded. He's single-handedly killed my faith in the concept of karma.
Yes, but Im actually praying for Musk on a daily basis. If anyone can fork Trump over, its him. Unless this is all a phoney feud to cause restrictive laws to be passed.
Yeah, but we dont know if there weren't real mafia like threats behind the capitulation. All it takes is a video of your kid out in the world and a caption if you defy Trump, he dies. Or finding the severed head of your poodle in your bed. Trump is spoiled man baby, but serious and dangerous people are profiting while everyone is staring at Donnie the clown.
Yeah, it sure seems like Karma only comes if people let it in. But if you choose to continue to be a bastard, lie, and don't ever show an ounce of shame, well no Karma for you.
Psychopathic cruelty/indifference alternating with flattery and a good-cop act ("I'm so grateful scary strong man is hurting others and not me!") seems to be a hack for primitive monkey-brains, unfortunately. To paraphrase a British journalist, there will always be little Hitlers among us. It's to *our* lasting shame when we let them be elevated.
Woody Allen did a film about a character like this. At the end, after he's paid someone to off his wife, he's asked, "It's a human life. You don't think God sees?" He says, "God is a luxury I can't afford." https://youtu.be/JBzlQ7bUtKk?si=EKOLkkCMEHQIJms4
I heard it during the same period, and beleived it until my teens when I witnessed on TV the race riots, the snippets of the Viet Nam War, and finally the Watergate fiasco.
That's when I realized our country had the "Exceptional Ability to Fuque-Up" through selfishness, racism, hypocrisy, along with intellectual and moral laziness.
" I refuse to sell my Andrew Wyeth". That was from Peanuts comic strip many years ago. It was a thought from Snoopy. Long story short it means I am not changing anything. Period. Especially not for that idiot!
I know it. I'm so sick of watching him demand things and have people just hand them over. I know there's been pushback here and there, but I'm dying for some large-scale pushback. A bunch of "No, you can't have you want, shut up" would do us all a world of good. If only people had started saying it to him many years ago, and meaning it.
I think that there are several reasons why institutions are failing so easily:
1. A lot of them aren't equipped to deal with nihilists.
2. Plenty of Republicans are as power hungry as Trump is and never really believed the BS they were drumming up.
3. Narcissistic psychopaths constantly probe people and institutions, looking for weaknesses and what and who is pliable. They're counting on people willing to be helpful.
4. Plenty of people in positions of authority (particularly if they grew up with a silver spoon in their mouth) aren't willing to take risks.
5. News organizations attempt to play referee, which is fine when both teams are willing to play by the rules. What if one team is deliberately throwing them out?
6. Millions of Americans (including people in authority) share Trump's shamelessness, nihilism, rage, sadism, narcissism, cynicism, and apathy. Institutions are only as good as the people upholding them. What if enough Americans no longer see the point in upholding them?
Every article that talks about the National Weather Service, NOAA, and predictive meteorology needs to consult Russel Vought and Project 2025: [actual text from Project 2025]
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Break Up NOAA. The single biggest Department of Commerce agency outside
of decennial census years is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
which houses the National Weather Service, National Marine Fisheries Service,
and other components. NOAA garners $6.5 billion of the department’s $12 billion
annual operational budget and accounts for more than half of the department’s
personnel in non-decadal Census years (2021 figures).
Together, these form a colossal operation that has become one of the main
drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future
U.S. prosperity. This industry’s mission emphasis on prediction and management
seems designed around the fatal conceit of planning for the unplannable. That is
not to say NOAA is useless, but its current organization corrupts its useful functions.
It should be broken up and downsized.
I am surprised the mission statement is still up on the NOAA website:
NOAA's Mission: Science. Service. Stewardship.
1. To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean and coasts.
2. To share that knowledge and information with others.
3. To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.
"Planning for the unplannable." Like, I don't know, boarding up windows in case of wind damage; building on stilts/highter ground to avoid flooding damage, evacuating people so they don't drown or become triaged in a swamped hospital?
These people are EVIL. And that the media let Trump get away with saying "I don't know about, had nothing to do with it" is infuriating. It's been the playbook for this administration.
As is obvious now, that was short-sighted. Please note that Kerr is a small county. I assume they do have tornado sirens, however (at least my home county always has, north of Kerr.) I point that out only because, even in a situation where community safety is a very high priority, choices still have to be made. I'm pretty upset that the NOAA positions in the area weren't filled and, according to the NYT, writing about the San Antonio Weather Service office: the "warning coordination meteorologist left on April 30, after taking the early retirement package the Trump administration used to reduce the number of federal employees." This part we can all see and lay the blame at the feet of Trump and Musk and Vought and all of these odious leaders.
A commenter to the Times story who worked for NWS/NOAA mentioned another salient point, that the meteorologists do not have all the equipment they need to truly make the best possible forecasts as well. And we know a lot of this is Congress being penny-wise and pound foolish.
What happens if a strong hurricane hits the Everglades where the admin's concentration camp (watch the Hannah Arendt film on PBS's American Masters; it will settle the debate on what to call this) is located. Will they evacuate the detainees/prisoners or will they let them drown? I honestly can't say they'd save them in the case of an emergency like a natural disaster. Until the past few years, I never believed America could or would become this.
The whole death cult aspect—the callous disregard of immigrants lives, the refusal to acknowledge them as human beings; the utter lack of concern for Americans' health and safety—"Well, we're all going to die"—and the immoral cutting of vital drugs and programs that helped the neediest around the world. It's despicable and the harshest word I can find for it is evil.
You and me both on the likelihood of rescuing the people imprisoned in the Everglades concentration camp (I also believe that is the right term for it). Those buildings are barely buildings, anyway, so they will be sitting ducks in a hurricane.
Thank you for this. The idea that climate change threatens our future in every way is something these greedy, short-term morons can't wrap their brains around! Fossil fuels are just too lucrative, and it upsets the flow of lobbiest money. But, as with everything these fools have touched, they throw the baby out with the bathwater, and we have disaterous consequences because of it. Unchecked, it will get far worse before it gets better.
MTG is an interesting case, I think. A while back, my MAGA relatives were visiting and someone (a non-MAGA relative) mentioned Jewish Space Lasers. The MAGA folks had no idea what they were talking about. I said, "It's Marjorie Taylor Greene. She thinks the California wildfires were caused by Jewish Space Lasers."
They had no idea what I was talking about. None. The information bubble they live in doesn't even let something that will be chiseled on MTG's gravestone in. There is only one thing that woman is known for and, because they're Fox News 24/7 people, they don't know it.
One worrying thing is that they never learned about the Jewish Space Lasers, so what are the chances they'll learn about the Weather Machines?
She says these things. People on YouTube make videos about them. Everybody (who watches them) laughs, but no one 1) in her district, who could actually vote for someone other than her or 2) any sane person in the MAGA Cinematic Universe who might detect that, perhaps, not everything is right in the MAGA movement, will ever see or hear about any of this.
This is why going into these MAGA spaces is so important. It's okay to go on Joe Rogan -- as just an example -- and say, "did you hear this?" He'll say he didn't, of course, but then you can show the tweet or play the clip or whatever. Who knows. Might change the minds of, I dunno, five people...
Doesn't really matter, but I thought she said the lasers changed votes in the 2020 election? Then again I imagine they're pretty versatile and can be used for a variety of nefarious purposes.
I must admit that, like many conspiracy theories, this one was a little light on facts or evidence. So what I recall without risking reliving the whole debacle, was that somehow ballots were actually changed from Trump votes to Biden votes with the help of the Italians. I dunno about whether it was supercomputers, space lasers, or just simply getting La Cosa Nostra busy with pencils and erasers.
A LOT of MAGA/Trump supporters I know watch The Five which features 4 dickhead Trump supporters and 1 Dem (I assume moderate) and when I do watch it I am extremely disappointed in how fluffy the Dem rep is. I am sure it's by decision of the network who this person is. To that end I don't think Fox would schedule someone for any interview segment that would really dish the negative but common sense statements. I will believe it when I see Tim or Sarah invited to a Fox News segment.
Yep, Fox news sanewashes every idiotic statement by Republicans, & doesn't dare mention anything that might tarnish their orange god. Friends who have Fox News on from morning til night had never heard about the Trump meme coin or the fancy dinner at Mara Lago for the big spenders. It's truly a cult.
Except it's the "Jews" who have space lasers. Remember? We need the chemicals to offset whatever they're doing with the lightbeams. Or something insane like that.
This ongoing farce we are living in would be funny if it weren't so tragic and devastating to so many lives and our country. I have an excellent imagination, but I cannot put msyelf in the shoes of someone who hears this kind of insane nonsense and says, "yep, yep, that makes sense." It takes a certain kind of stupid, a willful turning off your brain—and lots of lies from the RW media backing it all up and making even the most far-fetched idea seem plausible.
100%. I posted on TB last week that people have either lost or willingly given up the ability to think rationally.
The Big Lie is a perfect example: the only explanation I can come up w/ for why "believers" don't look around and say, "Mmm, they've spent years and millions of dollars and haven't come up w/ a shred of evidence to support their claim. Maybe that's b/c it's a lie!" is b/c THEY DON'T WANT TO. They much prefer conspiracies to truth.
I don't disagree that garland failed to rise to the moment but i suspect the roberts court would have been just as trump-friendly even had garland moved rapidly.
You are probably right about that. But wouldn't you like to remove the qualifiers? No more "probably" or "suspect...". It would be good if we actually knew how the court would act if Garland had actually done something.
Oh i absolutely agree, and i will go so far as to say the cossacks work for the tsar so biden shares blame here too, but neither is as blameworthy as the roberts court.
Absolutely. It was too "well written" to be his. To me at any rate, it's easy to spot when he actually takes his short vulgarian fingers to his phone to send out missives and when a minion does. The language is very different.
Although Trump's internal monologue is as entertaining as always (thank you, Bill), there's no way his dementia-addled brain can think through that many causal steps. But the end result is the same so I guess it doesn't matter!
So after months of T saying the federal government isn't going to assist with disasters b/c it's the states' responsibility, lo and behold when it's ruby-red TX that's hit, here's what we have:
On the DHS website: "FEMA Activates in Texas Following President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration Announcement."
And Kristi Noem's comments on Saturday: "I want to thank Governor Abbott for his leadership and know that President Trump is absolutely heartbroken by what has happened here in Texas, and the loss of life is absolutely devastating to him and Melania. This morning, I talked with him several times, and he wanted to make sure that all of you know how much he loves Texas, how much he's grieving for your families that have lost someone and the beautiful children that we're still looking for and hoping to return to their families...And that he is absolutely committed to using all the resources of the federal government to help unify families, rescue all those that we're still missing, and return those who maybe we will recover back to their families as soon as possible. And that we will be here walking alongside each other and helping throughout this entire crisis."
Obviously it wasn't a natural disaster, so not the same thing, but when a T supporter murdered, seriously wounded, and attempted to murder lawmakers in MN, T not only couldn't be bothered to even offer condolences to Gov. Walz, he trashed him.
You have just illustrated my reasoning for disliking Trump supporters. While those people in the right wing bubble are certainly missing the many lesser reported Trump actions,
They cannot miss the many ways Trump goes out of his way to hurt people. But Trump people don’t care. They see him gloat and harm others and vote for him anyway.
FYI, in case you're not aware (I'll give you three guesses how I know this!): if you click on the three dots (...) to the right of your name, you can choose "Edit" to modify a comment you've posted.
We still have much to do to gain the attention and trust of ‘middle America.’ I think there’s at least one ‘line of attack’ that can help:
Donald Trump just really, really hates America.
America values honesty, fair play, integrity. As a pathological liar and con man, Trump has never been able to command the ‘respect,’ power, and regal status he craves. He now feels these to be within his reach.
Trump is not out to make America great again. He’s out to make America grovel at his feet.
Americans need to know this. America needs to understand that this is the entirety of Trump’s motivation and his self-dealing end game so that America can stop him.
Yes, that's normally true but in this case, the election wasn't particularly complicated. He told us what he was going to do and people voted for it. HIs only redeeming "quality" is that he's never tried to hide exactly who and what he is but people still voted for him and are still die-hard supporters. We have to start accepting that people like his pathology and the fact that he's a con man who will eventually stick it to them as long as he rants and raves about how "the others" are responsible for everything wrong in their lives. We also have to accept the fact that they are willfully ignorant and too stupid to start thinking and figuring things out on their own.
I think the only place we differ is that, yes of course, the majority of people who voted in the last election voted for him and so he won. But many of them weren't 'hard core' supporters and are starting to fall away. And that there are many tens of millions more of us who are now in the opposition and are not going to let our rights and liberties be stripped away.
Playing devil's advocate here. We are dealing with people who don't care about norms, values, history, etc., have no discernible value system of their own and are willing to do anything to get what they want. Exactly how are we going to "stop" them when the majority of our representatives and the Supreme Court have abdicated their duties and jobs? I think we have to stop wishful thinking and/or assuming "someone else" is going to save this country. As long as it doesn't adversely affect them and/or they can be convinced that if it does, it's "Obama/Hillary/Biden's fault", they will let this guy do what he wants to do.
The most obvious things about Trump are his extreme self-centeredness, his disdain for norms and rules, and his indifference to the true-false distinction ("Nobody reads the Bible more than me"). There are people smart enough to see those qualities who nevertheless have chosen to defend and lionize him.
I think it was a tacit bargain: He would get all the ego-feeding and power-tripping and moral indulgence he wants, as long as he pushes their purportedly moral agenda. But any agenda that marches behind Donald Trump and makes him into some kind of hero cannot be a fundamentally moral agenda.
This is why Republicans are planning on getting rid of FEMA. After they "restructure" that Congress will have to authorize disaster relief on a case by case basis. Hurricane hits Florida or Texas ....they'll pass $30 billion over night. Big fire in California or spring floods in New England...GFYS you Communist transgenders
I've come to see a major difference between the stereotypical mob boss of the movies, like The Godfather, that people say Trump is like and the real Trump. The bosses want their families to become "legit" by getting their sons elected president...Trump just wants to make the presidency illegitimate.
Can’t argue with that… side note, happened to watch “Al Capone:ICON” on PBS recently, and found myself laughing out loud at the similarities between Capone and Trump… sad to say.
Dearest Bulwark Community: we will keep fighting. The Trump Era will end someday, the scales will fall away from eyes, the damage will start to be undone. Remember what the Bulwark tells us: We are not the crazy ones.
I can't believe how easy it has been for him. The last decade has me seriously reconsidering many of the life lessons and pathways to success that I was taught as a kid.
Not to mention all the things a civilized, social adult is supposed to do.
Same here. Also gone is my belief in Karma and that we all eventually have to answer for our actions. It doesn’t look like Karma will ever catch up with this guy.
Billsburg--is the problem that karma never caught up with Trump? In reality, Isn't the problem that those who had the sworn duty to hold him accountable, just didn't do their jobs. After January 6th, 2021, the Senate Republicans-- led by McConnell-- let him off the hook on impeachment. AG Garland let him off the hook, again and again , by not pursuing him in a timely manner with determination to enforce the law. The Supreme Court also let him off the hook by refusing to just interpret the plain language of the Constitution which is their job to do.
Yes; all of this is absolutely true which is why Karma may never catch up with him. It's really unbelievable when you really think about it. How many 80 year olds have NEVER had to deal with the consequences of their horrific actions?
And the enablers in Congress put us ON the hook.
Once they confirmed Hegseth, it was obvious they were going to rubber-stamp the rest of them--signaling to trump he wouldn't have to worry about them checking his power.
That all those boot-lickers could pass that horrendous, nation-killing bill proves none of those who voted for it should be considered as representing their constituents.
We The People better get damn busy damn soon...
So is he really sent by God? The last guy God sent was crucified when he was 33.
Is Francisco Franco really dead?
Karma may never catch up with him. I believe that Divine Judgment will.
Every point you made is correct, but doesn't it all add up to the same thing? Trump is the most unbelievably lucky politician I've seen in my lifetime, and it's not even close. All those who could have held him accountable utterly failed to do so. Mainstream media sane-washes every insane thing he says and does. Voters keep putting him in power despite, or even because of, his overall abhorrence and incompetence. He lacks a single redeeming quality, yet he has reverse karma -- the worse he is, the more he is rewarded. He's single-handedly killed my faith in the concept of karma.
Yeah, you are correct. The felon had a great deal of help to avoid what he deserves. But, it is coming.
Yes, but Im actually praying for Musk on a daily basis. If anyone can fork Trump over, its him. Unless this is all a phoney feud to cause restrictive laws to be passed.
Yeah, but we dont know if there weren't real mafia like threats behind the capitulation. All it takes is a video of your kid out in the world and a caption if you defy Trump, he dies. Or finding the severed head of your poodle in your bed. Trump is spoiled man baby, but serious and dangerous people are profiting while everyone is staring at Donnie the clown.
Yeah, it sure seems like Karma only comes if people let it in. But if you choose to continue to be a bastard, lie, and don't ever show an ounce of shame, well no Karma for you.
Psychopathic cruelty/indifference alternating with flattery and a good-cop act ("I'm so grateful scary strong man is hurting others and not me!") seems to be a hack for primitive monkey-brains, unfortunately. To paraphrase a British journalist, there will always be little Hitlers among us. It's to *our* lasting shame when we let them be elevated.
Woody Allen did a film about a character like this. At the end, after he's paid someone to off his wife, he's asked, "It's a human life. You don't think God sees?" He says, "God is a luxury I can't afford." https://youtu.be/JBzlQ7bUtKk?si=EKOLkkCMEHQIJms4
or responsibility
Especially the notion of “American Exceptionalism,” which was instilled in me as a child in the 1960s.
I heard it during the same period, and beleived it until my teens when I witnessed on TV the race riots, the snippets of the Viet Nam War, and finally the Watergate fiasco.
That's when I realized our country had the "Exceptional Ability to Fuque-Up" through selfishness, racism, hypocrisy, along with intellectual and moral laziness.
And we are still doing it. Ignorance is forever busy and needs feeding.
No one ever told you that having Vladimir Putin in your corner can be effective?
" I refuse to sell my Andrew Wyeth". That was from Peanuts comic strip many years ago. It was a thought from Snoopy. Long story short it means I am not changing anything. Period. Especially not for that idiot!
I know it. I'm so sick of watching him demand things and have people just hand them over. I know there's been pushback here and there, but I'm dying for some large-scale pushback. A bunch of "No, you can't have you want, shut up" would do us all a world of good. If only people had started saying it to him many years ago, and meaning it.
bottom falling out of a reality foundation
I think that there are several reasons why institutions are failing so easily:
1. A lot of them aren't equipped to deal with nihilists.
2. Plenty of Republicans are as power hungry as Trump is and never really believed the BS they were drumming up.
3. Narcissistic psychopaths constantly probe people and institutions, looking for weaknesses and what and who is pliable. They're counting on people willing to be helpful.
4. Plenty of people in positions of authority (particularly if they grew up with a silver spoon in their mouth) aren't willing to take risks.
5. News organizations attempt to play referee, which is fine when both teams are willing to play by the rules. What if one team is deliberately throwing them out?
6. Millions of Americans (including people in authority) share Trump's shamelessness, nihilism, rage, sadism, narcissism, cynicism, and apathy. Institutions are only as good as the people upholding them. What if enough Americans no longer see the point in upholding them?
+1 Good summary.
You forgot racism and sexism, nativism.
Every article that talks about the National Weather Service, NOAA, and predictive meteorology needs to consult Russel Vought and Project 2025: [actual text from Project 2025]
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Break Up NOAA. The single biggest Department of Commerce agency outside
of decennial census years is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
which houses the National Weather Service, National Marine Fisheries Service,
and other components. NOAA garners $6.5 billion of the department’s $12 billion
annual operational budget and accounts for more than half of the department’s
personnel in non-decadal Census years (2021 figures).
Together, these form a colossal operation that has become one of the main
drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future
U.S. prosperity. This industry’s mission emphasis on prediction and management
seems designed around the fatal conceit of planning for the unplannable. That is
not to say NOAA is useless, but its current organization corrupts its useful functions.
It should be broken up and downsized.
I am surprised the mission statement is still up on the NOAA website:
NOAA's Mission: Science. Service. Stewardship.
1. To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean and coasts.
2. To share that knowledge and information with others.
3. To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.
https://www.noaa.gov/our-mission-values-and-vision
"Planning for the unplannable." Like, I don't know, boarding up windows in case of wind damage; building on stilts/highter ground to avoid flooding damage, evacuating people so they don't drown or become triaged in a swamped hospital?
These people are EVIL. And that the media let Trump get away with saying "I don't know about, had nothing to do with it" is infuriating. It's been the playbook for this administration.
Kerr County Texas rejected an early warning system for the Guadalupe River, aka Flash Flood Alley, because of the high cost.
As is obvious now, that was short-sighted. Please note that Kerr is a small county. I assume they do have tornado sirens, however (at least my home county always has, north of Kerr.) I point that out only because, even in a situation where community safety is a very high priority, choices still have to be made. I'm pretty upset that the NOAA positions in the area weren't filled and, according to the NYT, writing about the San Antonio Weather Service office: the "warning coordination meteorologist left on April 30, after taking the early retirement package the Trump administration used to reduce the number of federal employees." This part we can all see and lay the blame at the feet of Trump and Musk and Vought and all of these odious leaders.
A commenter to the Times story who worked for NWS/NOAA mentioned another salient point, that the meteorologists do not have all the equipment they need to truly make the best possible forecasts as well. And we know a lot of this is Congress being penny-wise and pound foolish.
What happens if a strong hurricane hits the Everglades where the admin's concentration camp (watch the Hannah Arendt film on PBS's American Masters; it will settle the debate on what to call this) is located. Will they evacuate the detainees/prisoners or will they let them drown? I honestly can't say they'd save them in the case of an emergency like a natural disaster. Until the past few years, I never believed America could or would become this.
The whole death cult aspect—the callous disregard of immigrants lives, the refusal to acknowledge them as human beings; the utter lack of concern for Americans' health and safety—"Well, we're all going to die"—and the immoral cutting of vital drugs and programs that helped the neediest around the world. It's despicable and the harshest word I can find for it is evil.
You and me both on the likelihood of rescuing the people imprisoned in the Everglades concentration camp (I also believe that is the right term for it). Those buildings are barely buildings, anyway, so they will be sitting ducks in a hurricane.
Thank you for this. The idea that climate change threatens our future in every way is something these greedy, short-term morons can't wrap their brains around! Fossil fuels are just too lucrative, and it upsets the flow of lobbiest money. But, as with everything these fools have touched, they throw the baby out with the bathwater, and we have disaterous consequences because of it. Unchecked, it will get far worse before it gets better.
It’s an article of faith amongst MAGA that climate change is a hoax.
You notice your local climate is warmer? That’s called weather.
Another great Bulwark line: "The scientific objection is simpler: Why would anyone need chemicals to control the weather when we have space lasers?"
MTG is an interesting case, I think. A while back, my MAGA relatives were visiting and someone (a non-MAGA relative) mentioned Jewish Space Lasers. The MAGA folks had no idea what they were talking about. I said, "It's Marjorie Taylor Greene. She thinks the California wildfires were caused by Jewish Space Lasers."
They had no idea what I was talking about. None. The information bubble they live in doesn't even let something that will be chiseled on MTG's gravestone in. There is only one thing that woman is known for and, because they're Fox News 24/7 people, they don't know it.
I guess the good news is not every conspiracy theory catches on. Now for the bad news…..
One worrying thing is that they never learned about the Jewish Space Lasers, so what are the chances they'll learn about the Weather Machines?
She says these things. People on YouTube make videos about them. Everybody (who watches them) laughs, but no one 1) in her district, who could actually vote for someone other than her or 2) any sane person in the MAGA Cinematic Universe who might detect that, perhaps, not everything is right in the MAGA movement, will ever see or hear about any of this.
This is why going into these MAGA spaces is so important. It's okay to go on Joe Rogan -- as just an example -- and say, "did you hear this?" He'll say he didn't, of course, but then you can show the tweet or play the clip or whatever. Who knows. Might change the minds of, I dunno, five people...
Doesn't really matter, but I thought she said the lasers changed votes in the 2020 election? Then again I imagine they're pretty versatile and can be used for a variety of nefarious purposes.
That was with The assistance of I-Tal-Yin Supoercomputers
Weren't they Italian satellites? I lose track of these things...
I must admit that, like many conspiracy theories, this one was a little light on facts or evidence. So what I recall without risking reliving the whole debacle, was that somehow ballots were actually changed from Trump votes to Biden votes with the help of the Italians. I dunno about whether it was supercomputers, space lasers, or just simply getting La Cosa Nostra busy with pencils and erasers.
I imagine this is 100% due to the fact that Fox News and other MAGA related media don't bring up the crazy shit that MAGA elected official say or do
No, they don't. Because it's nuts. Which is why guests on these shows need to do it. Otherwise, their audience will never hear it.
A LOT of MAGA/Trump supporters I know watch The Five which features 4 dickhead Trump supporters and 1 Dem (I assume moderate) and when I do watch it I am extremely disappointed in how fluffy the Dem rep is. I am sure it's by decision of the network who this person is. To that end I don't think Fox would schedule someone for any interview segment that would really dish the negative but common sense statements. I will believe it when I see Tim or Sarah invited to a Fox News segment.
Fully agree on The Five. It's half comedy show, half tinfoil hat stuff. Jennifer Tarlov is on there, but she gets steamrolled by the other four.
Yep, Fox news sanewashes every idiotic statement by Republicans, & doesn't dare mention anything that might tarnish their orange god. Friends who have Fox News on from morning til night had never heard about the Trump meme coin or the fancy dinner at Mara Lago for the big spenders. It's truly a cult.
Absolutely a CULT, cannot over use that term… only problem is, when will they run out of Kool-Aid?
Except it's the "Jews" who have space lasers. Remember? We need the chemicals to offset whatever they're doing with the lightbeams. Or something insane like that.
This ongoing farce we are living in would be funny if it weren't so tragic and devastating to so many lives and our country. I have an excellent imagination, but I cannot put msyelf in the shoes of someone who hears this kind of insane nonsense and says, "yep, yep, that makes sense." It takes a certain kind of stupid, a willful turning off your brain—and lots of lies from the RW media backing it all up and making even the most far-fetched idea seem plausible.
But still . . .
100%. I posted on TB last week that people have either lost or willingly given up the ability to think rationally.
The Big Lie is a perfect example: the only explanation I can come up w/ for why "believers" don't look around and say, "Mmm, they've spent years and millions of dollars and haven't come up w/ a shred of evidence to support their claim. Maybe that's b/c it's a lie!" is b/c THEY DON'T WANT TO. They much prefer conspiracies to truth.
Jewish space lasers
Who is "we"? If Bill wrote that line then ok, he is part of the JSL tribe.
If we, Jews that is, are going to be the subject of asinine conspiracy theories, then we get to do the jokes.
When we write the obituaries for the american constitutional order, john roberts will play a major role.
And Merrick Garland.
I don't disagree that garland failed to rise to the moment but i suspect the roberts court would have been just as trump-friendly even had garland moved rapidly.
You are probably right about that. But wouldn't you like to remove the qualifiers? No more "probably" or "suspect...". It would be good if we actually knew how the court would act if Garland had actually done something.
Oh i absolutely agree, and i will go so far as to say the cossacks work for the tsar so biden shares blame here too, but neither is as blameworthy as the roberts court.
Forensic rant analysis indicates that Trump alone was not the author of the Musk reaction. Too grammatical, too discursive. No mention of any HOAX!
Absolutely. It was too "well written" to be his. To me at any rate, it's easy to spot when he actually takes his short vulgarian fingers to his phone to send out missives and when a minion does. The language is very different.
It used to be what-his-name, his former caddy. Now smart money is on Stephen Miller.
Although Trump's internal monologue is as entertaining as always (thank you, Bill), there's no way his dementia-addled brain can think through that many causal steps. But the end result is the same so I guess it doesn't matter!
But will we get a rebuttal from Andrew on the Hillsdale reference? 🤣
So after months of T saying the federal government isn't going to assist with disasters b/c it's the states' responsibility, lo and behold when it's ruby-red TX that's hit, here's what we have:
On the DHS website: "FEMA Activates in Texas Following President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration Announcement."
And Kristi Noem's comments on Saturday: "I want to thank Governor Abbott for his leadership and know that President Trump is absolutely heartbroken by what has happened here in Texas, and the loss of life is absolutely devastating to him and Melania. This morning, I talked with him several times, and he wanted to make sure that all of you know how much he loves Texas, how much he's grieving for your families that have lost someone and the beautiful children that we're still looking for and hoping to return to their families...And that he is absolutely committed to using all the resources of the federal government to help unify families, rescue all those that we're still missing, and return those who maybe we will recover back to their families as soon as possible. And that we will be here walking alongside each other and helping throughout this entire crisis."
Obviously it wasn't a natural disaster, so not the same thing, but when a T supporter murdered, seriously wounded, and attempted to murder lawmakers in MN, T not only couldn't be bothered to even offer condolences to Gov. Walz, he trashed him.
You have just illustrated my reasoning for disliking Trump supporters. While those people in the right wing bubble are certainly missing the many lesser reported Trump actions,
They cannot miss the many ways Trump goes out of his way to hurt people. But Trump people don’t care. They see him gloat and harm others and vote for him anyway.
FYI, in case you're not aware (I'll give you three guesses how I know this!): if you click on the three dots (...) to the right of your name, you can choose "Edit" to modify a comment you've posted.
Thank you. I thought there was a way, but could not remember it.
We are so fucked.
I would like to have a word with the God whose Plan includes drowning Christian second graders, and would do if He existed.
We still have much to do to gain the attention and trust of ‘middle America.’ I think there’s at least one ‘line of attack’ that can help:
Donald Trump just really, really hates America.
America values honesty, fair play, integrity. As a pathological liar and con man, Trump has never been able to command the ‘respect,’ power, and regal status he craves. He now feels these to be within his reach.
Trump is not out to make America great again. He’s out to make America grovel at his feet.
Americans need to know this. America needs to understand that this is the entirety of Trump’s motivation and his self-dealing end game so that America can stop him.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jonthinks/p/donald-trump-hates-america?r=mrvx1&utm_medium=ios
If America valued honesty, integrity and fair play, Trump would never have been elected.
This.
Yes, I get what you’re saying, but elections are complicated and not all struggles are black and white (so to speak)!
Yes, that's normally true but in this case, the election wasn't particularly complicated. He told us what he was going to do and people voted for it. HIs only redeeming "quality" is that he's never tried to hide exactly who and what he is but people still voted for him and are still die-hard supporters. We have to start accepting that people like his pathology and the fact that he's a con man who will eventually stick it to them as long as he rants and raves about how "the others" are responsible for everything wrong in their lives. We also have to accept the fact that they are willfully ignorant and too stupid to start thinking and figuring things out on their own.
"We also have to accept the fact that they are willfully ignorant and too stupid to start thinking and figuring things out on their own."
I agree. And this really backs us into a corner, doesn't it. I honestly don't know the way out of this. It won't happen in my lifetime.
Mine either and am also beginning to believe it's going to progress to a civil war before it's over.
I think the only place we differ is that, yes of course, the majority of people who voted in the last election voted for him and so he won. But many of them weren't 'hard core' supporters and are starting to fall away. And that there are many tens of millions more of us who are now in the opposition and are not going to let our rights and liberties be stripped away.
Playing devil's advocate here. We are dealing with people who don't care about norms, values, history, etc., have no discernible value system of their own and are willing to do anything to get what they want. Exactly how are we going to "stop" them when the majority of our representatives and the Supreme Court have abdicated their duties and jobs? I think we have to stop wishful thinking and/or assuming "someone else" is going to save this country. As long as it doesn't adversely affect them and/or they can be convinced that if it does, it's "Obama/Hillary/Biden's fault", they will let this guy do what he wants to do.
The most obvious things about Trump are his extreme self-centeredness, his disdain for norms and rules, and his indifference to the true-false distinction ("Nobody reads the Bible more than me"). There are people smart enough to see those qualities who nevertheless have chosen to defend and lionize him.
I think it was a tacit bargain: He would get all the ego-feeding and power-tripping and moral indulgence he wants, as long as he pushes their purportedly moral agenda. But any agenda that marches behind Donald Trump and makes him into some kind of hero cannot be a fundamentally moral agenda.
True story - I used "Goyim Space Lasers" as my fantasy football team name a few years back.
Ture story--learn how Hebrew grammar works before abusing it and us to get a cheap fucking joke.
Goyim Space Lasers is nonsensical.
Goyische Space Lasers is at least grammatically correct, if still asinine.
And before you ask why I am worked up about it, google "goyim defense league". Ought to answer that question.
This is why Republicans are planning on getting rid of FEMA. After they "restructure" that Congress will have to authorize disaster relief on a case by case basis. Hurricane hits Florida or Texas ....they'll pass $30 billion over night. Big fire in California or spring floods in New England...GFYS you Communist transgenders
It isn't Trump. He is just a giant smoke screen for the invisible cabal of advisors and activists who can't believe how easy it's been.
They only projected the "deep state" today they are building it.
I've come to see a major difference between the stereotypical mob boss of the movies, like The Godfather, that people say Trump is like and the real Trump. The bosses want their families to become "legit" by getting their sons elected president...Trump just wants to make the presidency illegitimate.
Can’t argue with that… side note, happened to watch “Al Capone:ICON” on PBS recently, and found myself laughing out loud at the similarities between Capone and Trump… sad to say.
In truth, Trump is like many of the greats of history; Al Capone, Adolph Hitler, Cyrus the Great. I could go on but...
Dearest Bulwark Community: we will keep fighting. The Trump Era will end someday, the scales will fall away from eyes, the damage will start to be undone. Remember what the Bulwark tells us: We are not the crazy ones.