US Politics

[blue_gold_84]

26 minutes ago, Zontar said:

Criticism is fair game. More than fair. But at some point the criticism has to be backed up with something.

Good Christ, the richness of this comment coming from you. Every attack you've launched against the "evil progressive leftists" has been backed up by literally nothing.

Maybe the worst case of Dunning-Kruger I've ever seen.

Edited March 9, 2020 by blue_gold_84

[The Unknown Poster]

1 hour ago, do or die said:

Sure, but Trump is currently the President, the only guy who can implement anything. 
He claims to be like Harry Truman (The buck stops here)
Well, he could have a sign like Harry did on his desk.  Although in his case it would read - The buck stops over there.

Overall, some empathy, and honesty would go a long way, instead of all his current bragging, deflecting and political gas-lighting.   As well as accepting some input from others, who may actually know more than he does.

On that note, do you seriously think that this supreme narcissist could accept anything from anybody..... that he couldn't take credit for himself?

A real leader strives for truth, unity, clarity, and provides reassurance to all, in the face of challenges.  

Unfortunately, Americans are stuck with a fake leader.

Yup.  its hilarious that all this Trump defender has is "well, why doesnt someone else do his job then."  Why doesnt he do his job?

[Zontar]

15 minutes ago, blue_gold_84 said:

Good Christ, the richness of this comment coming from you. Every attack you've launched against the "evil progressive leftists" has been backed up by literally nothing.

Maybe the worst case of Dunning-Kruger I've ever seen.

Anonymous posters whining about politics in a football site isn't the same thing as  US public servants backed up by a biased media looking for scapegoats for political gain in an election year and not offering remedies themselves is it?

I have long ago stated socialism and leftism is wrong and why it's wrong.

Specifically suggested travel bans and barring entry to combat virus spread and was scolded "that doesn't work".

[17to85]

2 hours ago, Zontar said:

Irony being I don't consume Fox media but you certainly do as you  boast of knowing their playbook. I avoid most corporate media like poison because it misinforms and promotes narratives for special interests.

But do go on with the point and splutter personal attacks and keep watching the news..

Your problem right there is the rejecting corporate media... as if independent media is any better. There is even less vetting process there. 

The key with consuming media is to be able to tell which is truthful and which is not. Which requires the ability to think critically. 

So again, you use the fox news playbook of deflection and false equivalence. Stop thinking of it as a team sport and be objective. 

But instead you are all in defending shitty people with shitty policies because you hate and fear change and progress. 

Seriously I vote right of centre every time, but it's ******* hard right now because of how truly awful conservative actions have become, and Trump embodies the worst of the worst of it.

[blue_gold_84]

6 minutes ago, Zontar said:

I have long ago stated socialism and leftism is wrong and why it's wrong.

Which is exactly why nobody here takes you or your comments seriously. You're pathetically biased and most importantly, you can't substantiate any of your shitty opinions rationally or objectively.

You suffer from a seriously severe case of the Dunning-Kruger Effect. It's ******* embarrassing reading some of the crap you post and realizing you're a fellow Canadian. It's sickening.

[Zontar]

11 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Your problem right there is the rejecting corporate media... as if independent media is any better. There is even less vetting process there. 

The key with consuming media is to be able to tell which is truthful and which is not. Which requires the ability to think critically. 

So again, you use the fox news playbook of deflection and false equivalence. Stop thinking of it as a team sport and be objective. 

But instead you are all in defending shitty people with shitty policies because you hate and fear change and progress. 

Seriously I vote right of centre every time, but it's ******* hard right now because of how truly awful conservative actions have become, and Trump embodies the worst of the worst of it.

You're the expert on Fox. I don't watch it, obviously you do and that's your choice. I don't know what more I can say.

If you think msm corporate news and media is trustworthy I wish you luck.

And if you're really tired of business as usual right of centre stuff that doesn't actually conserve anything or reverse the damage by leftism then we have lots in common.

Edited March 9, 2020 by Zontar

[Zontar]

6 minutes ago, blue_gold_84 said:

Which is exactly why nobody here takes you or your comments seriously. You're pathetically biased and most importantly, you can't substantiate any of your shitty opinions rationally or objectively.

You suffer from a seriously severe case of the Dunning-Kruger Effect. It's ******* embarrassing reading some of the crap you post and realizing you're a fellow Canadian. It's sickening.

Get well, soon.

[do or die]

Well, one could really use a source of "trustworthy" news.  Open to suggestions.....

[Zontar]

8 minutes ago, do or die said:

Well, one could really use a source of "trustworthy" news.  Open to suggestions.....

The American Conservative offers up as many or more anti Trump critiques than pro. The Federalist, mostly pro Trump but offers good analysis of what chicanery Democrats are up to.

On Twitter journalist Michael Tracey critiques both sides and fun to read

Can't say I didn't try..

[do or die]

11 minutes ago, Zontar said:

The American Conservative offers up as many or more anti Trump critiques than pro. The Federalist, mostly pro Trump but offers good analysis of what chicanery Democrats are up to.

On Twitter journalist Michael Tracey critiques both sides and fun to read

Can't say I didn't try..

Have read the Federalist before - if they removed the Washington Examiner and Fox hacks, it would be better.

[17to85]

57 minutes ago, Zontar said:

You're the expert on Fox. I don't watch it, obviously you do and that's your choice. I don't know what more I can say.

If you think msm corporate news and media is trustworthy I wish you luck.

And if you're really tired of business as usual right of centre stuff that doesn't actually conserve anything or reverse the damage by leftism then we have lots in common.

Once again, point missed. The point isn't believing anything just because it is reported. It's about knowing what is true and what isn't. You don't have to watch media all the time to know when someone is being untruthful. For example, global news was on the other day and the lady interviewing an expert was engaging in leading questions trying to get certain answers. It's not that the expert was being untruthful, just he was being led to answer in a certain way. But you can parse through what was being said and take the truth and discard the nonsense. 

 

And again you make it partisan. It's not about being partisan, it's about being pragmatic. If a "leftist" idea is good it's good. If a right wing idea is bad it's bad. Nothing Trump is doing is good, and what the left is suggesting is far superior. But you keep on pretending that leftists are the real danger. 

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

1 hour ago, Zontar said:

Specifically suggested travel bans and barring entry to combat virus spread and was scolded "that doesn't work".

https://www.wired.com/story/travel-bans-and-quarantines-wont-stop-coronavirus/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-canadas-decision-against-travel-bans-tied-to-coronavirus-backed-by/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213175923.htm

https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-travel-restrictions-effectiveness.html

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/why-travel-restrictions-are-not-stopping-coronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.science20.com/news_staff/are_travel_bans_during_infectious_disease_outbreaks_effective-245280

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/03/05/science.aba9757.full

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/travel-ban-coronavirus-spread

 

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

50 minutes ago, Zontar said:

The American Conservative offers up as many or more anti Trump critiques than pro. The Federalist, mostly pro Trump but offers good analysis of what chicanery Democrats are up to.

On Twitter journalist Michael Tracey critiques both sides and fun to read

Can't say I didn't try..

The American Conservative is really decent and factual- they constantly adhere to conservative tenets. They're reporting is pretty good- always well sourced with a pretty spotless fact checking record.

The Federalist, is dogshit.

[Zontar]

29 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Once again, point missed. The point isn't believing anything just because it is reported. It's about knowing what is true and what isn't. You don't have to watch media all the time to know when someone is being untruthful. For example, global news was on the other day and the lady interviewing an expert was engaging in leading questions trying to get certain answers. It's not that the expert was being untruthful, just he was being led to answer in a certain way. But you can parse through what was being said and take the truth and discard the nonsense. 

 

And again you make it partisan. It's not about being partisan, it's about being pragmatic. If a "leftist" idea is good it's good. If a right wing idea is bad it's bad. Nothing Trump is doing is good, and what the left is suggesting is far superior. But you keep on pretending that leftists are the real danger. 

Yes,there are fashionable conservative ideas that are bad.  Never argued otherwise. Don't think I ever labelled myself a conservative anyway but...

Edited March 9, 2020 by Zontar

[Zontar]

38 minutes ago, do or die said:

Have read the Federalist before - if they removed the Washington Examiner and Fox hacks, it would be better.

Going to be hacks anywhere used for content. Wash post, NYT...

[Wideleft]

“HE’S DEFINITELY MELTING DOWN OVER THIS”: TRUMP, GERMAPHOBE IN CHIEF, STRUGGLES TO CONTROL THE COVID-19 STORY

Publicly, he sees it as yet another (“Fake News”) media war; privately, he worries about virus-carrying journalists on Air Force One. But cancel his rallies? “I’m not going to do it,” he says.

BY GABRIEL SHERMAN

MARCH 9, 2020

 

Ever since the coronavirus exploded outside of China at the end of January, Donald Trump has treated the public health crisis as a media war that he could win with the right messaging. But with cases now documented in 34 states and markets plunging, Republicans close to Trump fear his rosy assessments are fundamentally detached from reality in ways that will make the epidemic worse. “He is trying to control the narrative and he can’t,” a former West Wing official told me.

The problem is that the crisis fits into his preexisting and deeply held worldview—that the media is always searching for a story to bring him down. Covid-19 is merely the latest instance, and he’s reacting in familiar ways. “So much FAKE NEWS!” Trump tweeted this morning. “He wants Justice to open investigations of the media for market manipulation,” a source close to the White House told me. Trump is also frustrated with his West Wing for not getting a handle on the news cycle. “He’s very frustrated he doesn’t have a good team around him,” a former White House official said. On Friday he forced out acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and replaced him with former House Freedom Caucus chair Mark Meadows. Trump thought the virus was “getting beyond Mick,” a person briefed on the internal discussions said. Trump has also complained that economic adviser Larry Kudlow is not doing enough to calm jittery markets. Last week Kudlow refused Trump’s request that Kudlow hold an on-camera press briefing, sources said. “Larry didn’t want to have to take questions about coronavirus,” a person close to Kudlow told me. “Larry’s not a doctor. How can he answer questions about something he doesn’t know?”

Trump found a willing surrogate in Kellyanne Conway, but Conway’s dubious claim on Friday that the virus “is being contained” only made the P.R. situation worse.

 

Trump’s efforts to take control of the story himself have so far failed. A source said Trump was pleased with ratings for the Fox News town hall last Thursday, but he was furious with how he looked on television. “Trump said afterwards that the lighting was bad,” a source briefed on the conversation said. “He said, ‘We need Bill Shine back in here. Bill would never allow this.’”

Trump’s press conference on Friday at the CDC was a Trumpian classic, heavy on braggadocio and almost entirely lacking a sense of the seriousness of the crisis. “I like this stuff. I really get it,” Trump told reporters, his face partly hidden under a red “Keep America Great” hat. “People are surprised that I understand it. Every one of these doctors say, ‘How do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should’ve done that instead of running for president.” At another point Trump compared the situation to the Ukraine shakedown. “The [coronavirus] tests are all perfect. Like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect,” he said.

 

By now many of the president’s advisers are numb to this kind of performance. “There’s very little that fazes anyone now,” a former official said. But one person who spoke to the president over the weekend saw the press conference as an ominous sign. “He’s just now waking up to the fact that this is bad, and he doesn’t know how to respond.”

As Trump pushes a nothing-to-see-here message in public, sources said he’s privately terrified about getting the virus. “Donald is a famous germaphobe. He hates it if someone is eating nachos and dips a chip back in after taking a bite.He calls them ‘double dippers,’” a prominent Republican said. Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg recalled Trump’s response to the last major outbreak in 2014. “When I worked for Trump, he was obsessed with Ebola,” Nunberg told me. (One Mar-a-Lago guest disputed this and said Trump was handshaking with gusto this past weekend. “He was acting like the opposite of a germaphobe,” the source said.)

 

Stories about Trump’s coronavirus fears have spread through the White House. Last week Trump told aides he’s afraid journalists will try to purposefully contract coronavirus to give it to him on Air Force One, a person close to the administration told me. The source also said Trump has asked the Secret Service to set up a screening program and bar anyone who has a cough from the White House grounds. “He’s definitely melting down over this,” the source said.

But thus far Trump’s private concerns haven’t affected his public response. Pressure from the public health community is mounting on Trump to cancel his mass rallies, but Trump is pushing back. “He is going to resist until the very last minute,” a former West Wing official said. “He may take suggestions to stop shaking hands, but in terms of shutting stuff down, his position is: ‘No, I’m not going to do it.’”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

 

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/trump-germaphobe-in-chief-struggles-to-control-the-covid-19-story

Edited March 9, 2020 by Wideleft

[Zontar]

Another "A source close to white house says..." story.  I guess we all missed this guy's piece on NY Gov. Cuomo saying the regular flu was more dangerous than Wuhan. Weird.

Edited March 9, 2020 by Zontar

[do or die]

As far as the Vanity Fair story....bah.  Trump would run right in there, without a gun....

[do or die]

29 minutes ago, Zontar said:

Another "A source close to white house says..." story.  I guess we all missed this guy's piece on NY Gov. Cuomo saying the regular flu was more dangerous than Wuhan. Weird.

You have been watching the Trump press conferences, though?   And what comes directly out of his mouth?

[Wideleft]

41 minutes ago, Zontar said:

Another "A source close to white house says..." story.  I guess we all missed this guy's piece on NY Gov. Cuomo saying the regular flu was more dangerous than Wuhan. Weird.

Just because a source is anonymous does not mean what is being reported is untrue.  Preference is always to have sources identified, but there are valid reasons some are kept anonymous.  Same rules of sourcing still apply - at least 2 other people/sources to corroborate the information.  

Vanity Fair does good reporting - especially long form journalism.

[do or die]

Well, I get a lot of my Trump "stories", straight out of the horse's mouth.

[The Unknown Poster]

Good excuse to ban media maybe lol

 

[TrueBlue4ever]

So a donor at a CPAC convention had coronavirus, and Ted Cruz was in contact with them, so he is under quarantine apparently. And today Matt Gaetz (who wore a gasmask to the House of Representatives to mock the vote for extra coronavirus funding) realized he had come into contact with that person too, so he "self-quarantined". By sitting alone in a room. Aboard Air Force One while it was in the air. No indication if the air circulatory system was independent of the rest of the plane (I'm guessing not). He then got into the Presidential limo with POTUS.

Oh, and the stock market closed down 2,100 points and Italy is on lockdown. So how was your Monday? Any comments about a hoax? Anyone?

[rebusrankin]

So Joe Biden, will the media actually begin exploring whether or not he has some form of cognitive impairment? Watching him speak and his gaffes and comparing this to say 4-5 years ago, clearly something isn't 100%.

[do or die]

Gonna be rough.....what with Biden, who has stumbles and stutters, and forgets stuff......and Trump - who knows what idiocy will come out of his mouth, anytime?