U.S. Politics

[jmdirt]

Re:

What is incredible is that Trump can fill arenas with deplorables that are even stupider than him - and that is pretty darn stupid! It isn't about not agreeing with his "politics", as he doesn't have any.

The good news is that time is slipping by, and normally it will be over in less than 2 years. Unfortunately it will probably take time to try and heal the divisions.

But that's what I really can't understand: so people think that his politics are awesome and he is awesome, etc., but its very clear that no auto industry is pouring in (not even trickling in) so don't the people say "I think that everything that you're doing is awesome, but come on dude that's just crap"? I mean how can any Mich. citizen think that anything auto is pouring in?! They just can't be that stupid (or brainwashed) can they?

 

[aphronesis]

https://www.lrb.co.uk/v41/n07/adam-tooze/is-this-the-end-of-the-american-century

 

[Alpe73]

Re: Re:

What is incredible is that Trump can fill arenas with deplorables that are even stupider than him - and that is pretty darn stupid! It isn't about not agreeing with his "politics", as he doesn't have any.

The good news is that time is slipping by, and normally it will be over in less than 2 years. Unfortunately it will probably take time to try and heal the divisions.

But that's what I really can't understand: so people think that his politics are awesome and he is awesome, etc., but its very clear that no auto industry is pouring in (not even trickling in) so don't the people say "I think that everything that you're doing is awesome, but come on dude that's just crap"? I mean how can any Mich. citizen think that anything auto is pouring in?! They just can't be that stupid (or brainwashed) can they?

Populism works in mysterious ways.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/865936.Deer_Hunting_with_Jesus

 

[djpbaltimore]

Re:

What is incredible is that Trump can fill arenas with deplorables that are even stupider than him - and that is pretty darn stupid! It isn't about not agreeing with his "politics", as he doesn't have any.

The good news is that time is slipping by, and normally it will be over in less than 2 years. Unfortunately it will probably take time to try and heal the divisions.

I would agree that he doesn't have any true ideology. But I think his politics are pretty clear. He is anti-liberal, anti-multicultural. And in a place and time where people define themselves so much by what they are against, his schtick plays. I would wager that the majority of people at his rallies understand that he is lying through his teeth about most things including Democrats being pro-infanticide and the rest of the BS. But for them, they are in on the joke, so they really don't care about veracity. I mean the 'lock her up' chants must be somewhat ironic in 2019, right? His numbers in Michigan are really poor overall, so I gather a lot of people have switched allegiances since 2016, despite the crowds.

I think you are wildly optimistic to think this moment is going to end with Trump. Trump Jr is a darling of the chans and rightwing media and he was already talking last night about running and I would give him even odds at being nominated by the GOP at some point in his life. He is probably worse than his father. And just remember that Trump arose when the country was on pretty solid footing. Just imagine what detritus will emerge once society starts to fray around the edges a bit.

 

[Unchained]

I think both the right and left have great takes on Trump's makeup. The deep part of all this is fear. The fostering of contraction Trump is feeding. The border is critical for everyone..Trump is painting a sneaky picture were the people are running from the INS ..it's simply not true. They want to be caught and the sooner the better. It's women and children..the whole bad hombre thing is bvllschit,
Trump tweeting that Mexico is doing nothing..also completely BS..I work in East county San Diego..Rancho San Diego where Hiway 94 meets 54..near Cuyamaca College. San Diego has 3 main entry points..San Ysidro..1 of the worlds busiest crossings..Tijuana into SD ..Otay Mesa..super busy..but different because it's also all the 18 wheelers coming and going.
Tecate is more remote..but for me I can ride from the ocean thru green ranch land w light traffic and a pretty easy crossing directly into Hiway 94..@40 minutes longer but very beautiful.
Now the Trump part..there are new military check points on every road leading in and out of Ensenada,Tecate and Tijuana..they are looking for caravan everything..including people assisting or observing,reporting on the caravan.

Mexico is doing lots..lots more in the last @3 months especially to combat any type of border rush.
The problem is Trump's bad hombre,criminal portrayal..Mexicans..like everyone else don't like criminals or crime. They don't want to be heavy handed a children and their mom's and dad's ..they are leaving the beatings and tear gas to the Americans for the most part..
A quick Google search of deportation will show the Mexican government is pretty good at it

 

[Unchained]

That's what is in some people's guy

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MtlXssrc01M

 

[jmdirt]

The politicians POS can't even think for themselves because they are so Fn dumb, but they can take money to screw their constituents.

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article228258029.html

 

[jmdirt]

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/29/18286890/qanon-mueller-report-barr-trump-conspiracy-theories

 

[Jagartrott]

You're living in a f*****d up country:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/29/willie-mccoy-police-shooting-video-vallejo

 

[Robert5091]

http://tass.com/world/1051299

US President Donald Trump said he may discuss the situation in Venezuela with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, Reuters reported on Saturday.

"We will probably be talking at some point," the US leader told reporters at his estate in Florida. "I’ll be talking to a lot of people - perhaps President Putin, perhaps President Xi of China."

US national security adviser John Bolton said on Friday that Trump was set to talk with Putin by phone soon. He also said his country viewed the deployment of other states’ troops in Venezuela as a threat to the region.

Hopefully no, "I got away with it Vlad! When do I get to boast about the coming Trump Tower in Moscow?"

 

[Bustedknuckle]

trump the liar, once again, at one of his 'kiss my fat arse' rallys..he's disgusting but the less than 40% deplorables believe this shite.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/ap-fact-check-trumps-relentless-drive-credit-62055279

PLUS..gonna close the southern border..he really cares little about who he hurts(like US citizens).

Trump, who says he is still determined to build a barrier along parts of the southern border, said on Friday: “There’s a very good likelihood that I’ll be closing the border next week, and that will be just fine with me.”

PLUS..mess in Venezuela..

trump the dunce, 'i'll fix it'..really? How you moron.

 

[aphronesis]

https://jacobinmag.com/2019/03/no-longer-newsworthy-review-working-class-media

@dj, things were not on course before Trump. That’s how he got elected. What you describe as “politics” are domestic lifestyle issues. His appointments are carrying out other pursuits.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/30/corporations-endanger-american-facebook-boeing-monsanto-trump

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/11/trump-offers-socialism-for-the-rich-capitalism-for-everyone-else

There’s a clear politics. All the chitter chatter, distraction and contradictions devolve from this

 

[Unchained]

The trouble we are dealing with is not just the outright lies being perpetrated by Donald but the things that are partially wrong. It's almost easier to count the things he states that are accurate, there are less to count. Trump is 100% correct that there is fake news..his slant that he is not part of that same false flood is phuckt, up.
I said before that Trump was building a wall, he is, so the media and Congress saying anything else is completely false.
Trump gave America and the world a pretty vivid example of his
throw it against the wall and see what stocks style.
He had Betsy DeVos voice his policy, when the public, including his base got angry and upset over trashing Special Olympics funding..like the rat chameleon combo Trump is, he went 180 and said he was reversing from "his people" . As if they thought up and approved the policy of punishing people that are the most vulnerable and undeserving of brutal stupidity.
Most of the time Trump pays closest attention to the trial balloons sent up by Hannity and like minded clowns, but this time Trump flip flopped even faster than normal.
It's amazing that the President of the United States didn't know or think that fvcking, w Special Olympians was wrong and would piss people off? What kind of crowd does he run with?

 

[aphronesis]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/indepth/opinion/bush-war-iraq-190318150236739.html


https://newleftreview.org/issues/II27/articles/retort-afflicted-powers

 

[jmdirt]

Re:

https://jacobinmag.com/2019/03/no-longer-newsworthy-review-working-class-media

@dj, things were not on course before Trump. That’s how he got elected. What you describe as “politics” are domestic lifestyle issues. His appointments are carrying out other pursuits.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/30/corporations-endanger-american-facebook-boeing-monsanto-trump

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/11/trump-offers-socialism-for-the-rich-capitalism-for-everyone-else

There’s a clear politics. All the chitter chatter, distraction and contradictions devolve from this

Interesting. One issue I have is that he seems to view media as the major newspapers and TV networks only. Plus we could probably debate all day/year about the definition of working class.

EDIT: I recently read another op-ed about socialism for the rich, but after a quick search I haven't found it again yet...

 

[aphronesis]

Well, that “media” is shaping the discourse as this thread attests. You want me to post links on the erosion of the middle class or should everyone stay in denial a bit longer?

“2020: it will all be different!” No, no it won’t. If people feel better about themselves based on whovtheir leader is or the prestige of the nation, they’re deeply psychologically mutilated and blunted.

But hey

 

[Unchained]

One person or thing Trump does consider media is Jones. Donald has done multiple interviews with this human dirt clod since becoming President.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/we-got-alex-jones-deposition-video-it-was-a-predictable-disaster_n_5c9d06fae4b03218ee1ca133

Venezuelan note..a young guy(20yo) who works here in Ensenada and is studying mechanical engineering told me his family back in Venezuela have been wo power for @6 days..he is sending @$100 bucks home per month to help his parents. Tough to wrap my head around going off to college and sending your folks some cash every month..? I don't have any idea of how this works out

 

[jmdirt]

Re:

Well, that “media” is shaping the discourse as this thread attests. You want me to post links on the erosion of the middle class or should everyone stay in denial a bit longer?

“2020: it will all be different!” No, no it won’t. If people feel better about themselves based on whovtheir leader is or the prestige of the nation, they’re deeply psychologically mutilated and blunted.

But hey

Is there anyone who thinks that the middle class is stable. Its clear that those who have want everyone else to not have.

 

[aphronesis]

I'd say most people in my life outside a certain peer class and above a certain age threshold are in denial if not about the stability of the middle class, but how it's actually being eroded and how this correlates to the reality of politics in the country.

 

[jmdirt]

Re:

I'd say most people in my life outside a certain peer class and above a certain age threshold are in denial if not about the stability of the middle class, but how it's actually being eroded and how this correlates to the reality of politics in the country.

My peer group, the guys I ride dirt with and drink beer with, liken the state of the USA to Game of Thrones: the Kings would like the rest of us to be pounding rocks and fighting for more rocks. The catch though is, short of stealing others' gold, they need us to consume to build their wealth so its a delicate balance for them. Greed blinds them a bit too though because some of them don't see that if they completely eliminate us, they will soon have nothing.

 

[Unchained]

Aphro I feel that as I talk to and observe people in my everyday and while traveling. I think most Americans would feel some kind of disappointment in their standing short and long term if they looked under the covers..
It's not Trump's fault for carrying on the legend of the middle class.

 

[aphronesis]

Re: Re:

I'd say most people in my life outside a certain peer class and above a certain age threshold are in denial if not about the stability of the middle class, but how it's actually being eroded and how this correlates to the reality of politics in the country.

My peer group, the guys I ride dirt with and drink beer with, liken the state of the USA to Game of Thrones: the Kings would like the rest of us to be pounding rocks and fighting for more rocks. The catch though is, short of stealing others' gold, they need us to consume to build their wealth so its a delicate balance for them. Greed blinds them a bit too though because some of them don't see that if they completely eliminate us, they will soon have nothing.

Well, we are in an age of neofeudalism, so the game of thrones comparison is apt. The problem being that the people who write it are part of the problem. Some of them believe they're doing enlightened work through the metaphor.

It's more complicated than that though. I think. Many of the links I post show how the powers of profit extraction have developed techniques of keeping people alive and convincing them to believe in that definition of "living" in order to keep going and struggling against that irrelevant notion.

 

[jmdirt]

A glaring example of profit at any cost is the opioid epidemic. Pharma hooks as many people as possible to maximize profit "to help people with their pain", and then they come to the rescue with more dope to "help people with their opioid addiction" therefore maximizing profit on that end as well. They are still pushing opioids at an alarming level to keep the profit cycle going. They didn't anticipate so many people dying, and/or moving to non-pharma opioids so that has cut into their profit.

IMO, dt's obsession with the southern border is in part to protect pharma. I think that his number one motivator is having a "great wall of trump", but that's a different discussion.

 

[aphronesis]

Pharma is linked to the monopoly/copyright situation that the us govt. allows and deploys. People dying are economic externals: not relevant.

I think the wall is an irrationality that people are focusing on rather than address actual problems.

 

[jmdirt]

Re:

You're living in a f*****d up country:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/29/willie-mccoy-police-shooting-video-vallejo

I'm not going to watch the video, because I'm not in a blood thirsty mood, but knowing that they shot him 25+ times is everything that I need to know.

First- I could never be a LEO. The non stop fear that every call could be my last...not for me.

Second- The mentality of some/many/most LEO is 'questionable', I don't know how else to say it. I think that its part their initial mentality, part their training, and part the non stop fear that combine to make them volatile.

Third- People do stupid things, and pointing a weapon at a LEO is a stupid decision that carries the ultimate consequence, death (not the case in this situation).

Common sense seems to indicate that they could have removed the gun (or knocked it on the floor) without even disturbing the incoherent guy. Common sense also seems to indicate that IF the guy becames a threat to the officers' lives, one officer could have killed him with one shot. It seems to me in this case that this was a pack of volatile alphas looking for a kill.

Disclaimer: I obviously wasn't there.

A side note: when I was in the Army, we made it very clear that each round will be accounted for, spraying lead was not acceptable because that will lead to killing one of our own. I can't imagine all of those rounds centered around a car. They are lucky that they didn't get one of their own.