Do You Like Being Played?
This is a political post. If interested, please scroll down.
Here are some headlines from the last 24-hours. All are from Republicans:
Pam Bondi Makes “Fake Ballots” Claim On Fox & Friends
Trump Supporter Jenna Ellis And Tucker Carlson Spread Claim About 138,000 “Found Votes”
Giuliani Says He’s En Route To Pennsylvania To Stop “Massive Cheating” By “Philadelphia Democrat Hacks”
AZ GOP Rep. Paul Gosar Pushes “Sharpiegate” Claim
Far-Right OANN Declares “Decisive Victory” For Trump Despite “Rampant Voter Fraud, Fake Ballots”
Eric Trump Spreads Claim Of Ballots Being Burned
Trump Supporters Cling To Arizona “Sharpie” Claim
Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo Claims “Tons Of Ballots” Were Found Under An Arizona Rock
I am only gonna detail the last one.
Bartiromo made a claim. It sounds terrifying. I mean, “tons” of ballots being found under a rock? Yikes!
People watching Fox will simply accept this as true. They will not bother fact-checking. They trust Fox.
Sigh.
But here’s what a quick factchecking reveals:
Eighteen unopened mail-in ballots were found hidden under a rock.
According to investigators, the ballots were stolen from individual mailboxes. The envelopes were still sealed. On Saturday, the local police department hand-delivered the ballots back to the registered voters.
Ummm, that is quite a different story than the one told by Bartiromo.
And all the above headlines are like this. They either have a kernel of truth to them, but the full story paints a totally different picture. Or, the headline is just 100% false.
This is soooooooo bad for Democracy.
This is soooooooo bad for America.
Sigh.
Sigh.
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Idiots gotta idiot.They’re Republicans.
I don’t think it’s so much Republicans, as it is the diehard “Trumpies”. I have no problem with someone voting Republican. That’s your right, and I’ve done it at times for Gubernatorial elections. (I vote for the PERSON, not the party. At least, I vote for the “lesser of two evils”. Sometimes it’s slim pickin’s.) But to vote for a reprehensible, lying, misogygnistic, racist, orange man who thinks he can make up the rules of the game as he goes? That’s not voting Republican. That’s voting for hate and subjugation. That makes me sad for all of us.
Agree 100%, Tara!
A conservatives perspective here. Fox is not shifting towards the GOP voters at all during the election, infact it’s been just the opposite. Fox was one of the first networks to call Arizona for Biden and has yet to go back on this. Even CNN saying Arizona to close to call. Most conservatives I’ve chatted with are following the AP. I personally can’t stand FOX as well as most conservatives I know. Let’s remember to keep it civil.
Dan, I don’t understand your comment.
Fox pundits like Hannity have been over-the-top in demonizing Democrats and lionizing Trump. So, too, with Ingram.
And, as I posted, Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo spouted total bullshit.
Also, my post isn’t about Fox. It’s about Republicans. And everything I posted is accurate.
Tonight, Trump gave a wholly unhinged press conference where basically every sentence was a lie. And where were members of the GOP in denouncing this???????????
Note: in my post I never used the word Conservative.
Also, Dan, you ask that we keep things civil.
I’m all for civility.
Tonight though, people who are working hard at counting votes fear for their lives as Trump supporters are storming places where votes are being counted, chanting STOP THE COUNT!
Trump’s son, Don, called for “total war.”
Trump’s former top adviser called for the beheading of the FBI chief and Anthony Fauci. Yep, that really happened.
Also tonight, police are investigating an alleged plot to attack the Pennsylvania Convention Center where votes are being counted. I’m gonna take a wild guess that this alleged plot does NOT involve Democrat’s.
So, yea, let’s be civil. Yet…the only incivility I see is coming from Republicans.
You know, I had a huge BIDEN sign on my house. I took it down Tuesday night knowing that, if Biden won, the sign would be likely seen by Trump supporters as a big fuck you. So, to be civil, I took it down.
I’ve personally don’t approve of any media channels lately. These big “news stations” are only out for views and ratings. Just report the facts and let everyone for their own opinion. One of my coworkers and good friends is very liberal, we have no issues at all. The media is playing the biggest role in my opinion in tearing this country apart. Both sides included on this. A majority of the GOP does not like Trump that’s why they have been quiet. A majority of Trump voters are tired of the GOP they’ve done nothing for the part, hence the big Trump following. We don’t necessarily all like Trump for his personality but we do vote for him for his policies. I will always vote policy over personality. None of us condone any of these radicals who pull stuff like this convention center business.
Thank you, Dan.
I, too, dislike the media. All media.
You wrote: “The media is playing the biggest role in my opinion in tearing this country apart.”
Here, we disagree. I believe that the GOP and Fox, since the 1990s, have had the biggest role in tearing this country apart. Both have profoundly demonized Liberals and Democrats. And the GOP Congress, since Newt Gingrich, has made it their mission to undercut any Democratic president. This is not how things were before the 1990s.
You wrote: “A majority of the GOP does not like Trump that’s why they have been quiet.”
That is not true. Trump has record-high scores with Republicans. This is why the GOP Congress is so quiet about Trump. Or, do you mean GOP as in GOP Congress?
You wrote: “We don’t necessarily all like Trump for his personality but we do vote for him for his policies.”
What Trump policies do you like? I can’t think of one. Trump demonizes immigrants, but immigrants built this country and massively contribute still today. (Note how Trump married TWO immigrants.) Trump has appointed profoundly unqualified people to vital posts. Trump has lost the respect of our allies. Trump steals children from their moms and dads. Trump has surrounded himself with a stunning amount of corrupt people. Under Trump, unemployment has doubled, Covid is running largely unchecked across the land, the last GDP quarter was the worst in history and, well, I can go on and on and on. I can’t think of a single positive thing Trump has accomplished. You might reply with: But he got three Supreme Court judges! True, but at what cost to the nation and our judicial system as 2 of the 3 are wildly unqualified?
You wrote: “I will always vote policy over personality.”
I also vote for policy. Which is why I’m a Democrat. Proudly so. Because, as I’ve previously posted, my party has enacted polices which have hugely helped people across the country (unlike the GOP). Hugely. My party also supports equality for all (unlike the GOP), supports our allies (unlike Trump), does NOT support dictators (unlike Trump), supports a woman’s right to choose (unlike the GOP), supports protecting the planet (unlike the GOP), and on and on.
Dan, can you let me know of a single policy enacted by the GOP which has helped a majority of the American people? I’ve been asking readers this question for two years and have yet to get an answer.
I also vote for intelligence. Carter and Clinton and Obama are incredibly smart. I like smart presidents. George W and Trump are famously stupid.
I also vote for empathy. I think it’s vital that a president have empathy for people. Trump is infamously NOT empathetic.
I also vote for kindness. The policies of my party are kind. The policies of the GOP are cruel.
Joe Biden is intelligent, radiates kindness, and is famously empathetic. As like attracts like, he will surround himself with other intelligent, kind, and empathetic people. He will be a president to ALL the American people, not just to those who voted for him (like Trump). And then, perhaps, he can help heal a nation torn apart by Trump, the GOP, and Fox.
Yes I was referring to the GOP Congress in my previous comment. Here is my list of policies enacted by President Trump that I believe are good for everyone.
Historic Tax cuts and deregulation- This has resulted in a savings of an estimated 3,100 dollars per household.
Building a stronger Military-President Trump has increased military spending by nearly $150 billion per year from $605 billion in 2016 to $750 billion
Negotiating a historic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates- This also has the potential to set a pattern for future agreements establishing peaceful relations between Israel and other Arab countries in the Middle East. This and his other foreign policy has resulted in him being nominated for 4 Nobel Peace Prizes.
Border Wall- which Democrats including Obama, Shumer, Biden and Hillary Clinton had expressed was needed in the past. This has caused illegal immigration into the United States to reduce 84 percent from 2019-2020.
Energy production and energy independence- Trump gave approval to the Keystone pipeline, and the Dakota access pipeline and granted more permits for mining of oil, gas, and coal from federal lands. This has resulted in lower energy prices (which benefits everyone) and also U.S. energy independence so that we are now becoming the leading exporter rather than a net importer of energy.
College Campus free speech- Trump signed an executive to promote free speech on college campuses by threatening colleges with the loss of federal research funding if they do not protect those rights.
The first step act- eliminated the “three strikes” life sentencing provision for some offenses, is helping inmates successfully return to society by expanding access to rehabilitative programs, launching a Ready to Work Initiative to help connect employers with former prisoners and expand employment opportunities.
I believe a lot of Americans especially minorities share the same feeling as I do. Take a look at the recent exit polling as posted by CNN from this election. This is from 2016 to now:
White Men -5
White Women +2
Black Men +4
Black Women +4
Latino Men +3
Latino Women +3
Other +5
The exit polling shown also suggests that women and non-whites are a 59.6 percent majority of Trump’s supporters. I believe this recent polling is showing that these policies are good for everyone.
Thank you for your response, Dan.
Everything you wrote appears to be a cut & paste from a Trump website. It did not take me much effort to fact-check all of it, and the process pretty much destroyed everything you posted.
You wrote: “Tax cuts and deregulation – This has resulted in a savings of an estimated 3,100 dollars per household.”
This is referring to a report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers, titled, “The Economic Effects of Federal Deregulation since January 2017.”
Again, you wrote: “This has resulted in a savings of an estimated 3,100 dollars per household.”
THIS IS FALSE.
Nobody has saved a penny yet. What the report states is after years and years, maybe up to ten years, the administration’s freeze on new regulations and rollback of regulations would raise household incomes by $3,100 per year.
To support this claim (note the word claim), the report quoted research by Clifford Winston of the Brookings Institution. The Washington Post contacted Winston about this, who replied: “That’s just stupid,” he said. “These things take decades to accumulate. They don’t understand the benefits of regulation if they make a statement like this.” He dismissed the analysis as “just crazy” and “anti-academic.”
You wrote: “Building a stronger Military”
Obviously, you approve of this. OK. Me? I’m appalled. The military did not NEED a $150 billion annual increase.
You also used the word “stronger”. And what proof do you have that throwing billions at the military will make it stronger? You appear not to be aware of the fact that many generals pleaded with Trump NOT to do this, as the military is too inefficient due to its bloated nature. And Trump increased the size of the bloat.
In short, throwing billions at something does not = making it stronger.
Moreover, IMO, it’s obscene to increase the military by billions annually while simultaniously trying to cut food stamps to hungry people. Doesn’t that bother you?
You wrote: “Negotiating a historic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”
This is true. And you appear to accept this at face value. But the agreement has been criticized as simply a PR stunt for Netanyahu, because Palestine was ignored in the negotiations.
In addition, you wrote: “This and his other foreign policy has resulted in him being nominated for 4 Nobel Peace Prizes.”
This made me laugh outright. Anybody can be effortlessly nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. I can nominate my cat for a Nobel Peace Prize. Hence, being nominated is meaningless. Receiving a Nobel Peace Prize is a big deal. You know, like Obama did.
You wrote: “Border Wall- which Democrats including Obama, Shumer, Biden and Hillary Clinton had expressed was needed in the past. This has caused illegal immigration into the United States to reduce 84 percent from 2019-2020.”
1) Ummm, Obama, Shumer, Biden, and Hillary Clinton have NEVER supported Trump’s border wall. Rather, each supports border security. No Democrats support open borders.
2) There has been a huge drop in immigration into the US, illegal and legal, in 2020. You attribute this to Trump’s “wall” (which is mostly unbuilt). This, too, is laughable as it ignores the elephant in the living room: COVID. The entire globe has been largely shut down, which has curtailed immigration across the globe.
You wrote: “Energy production and energy independence – Trump gave approval to the Keystone pipeline, and the Dakota access pipeline and granted more permits for mining of oil, gas, and coal from federal lands. This has resulted in lower energy prices (which benefits everyone)”
Trump did give approval to the Keystone pipeline. But this has been furiously contested, and the Supreme Court stopped construction.
Oh…and Joe Biden pledged to rescind the permit for Keystone.
While you applaud damaging the environment and contributing to global warming by continuing to mine for oil, gas, and coal, I’m looking forward to a Biden administration which will instead focus on renewable energy like wind, sun, and other technologies. This will result in creating more jobs than fossil-fuel energies, AND have the added benefit of not harming people and the Earth. The question, Dan, is why don’t you also support the latter?
You wrote: “College Campus free speech- Trump signed an executive to promote free speech on college campuses by threatening colleges with the loss of federal research funding if they do not protect those rights.”
This was a PR stunt by Trump. For, colleges receiving federal funds were ALREADY required by law to support free-speech protections to students.
You wrote: “The first step act- eliminated the “three strikes” life sentencing provision for some offenses.”
This was actually bi-partisan legislation. Again, bi-partisan. Trump simply signed it. He is later quoted as regretting doing so.
You wrote: “I believe a lot of Americans especially minorities share the same feeling as I do.”
A lot? What is a lot?
Trump has never been approved by the majority. Trump just lost an election. Yes, Trump did see a TINY increase in Black voters. TINY. But the overwhelming majority voted for Biden.
I am so tired of the lies, manipulation and demonizing, it’s just exhausting.
1,298. According to the ultra conservative Heritage Foundation, that’s how many documented cases of voter fraud have occurred since the 1980’s.
Not that a single instance would be acceptable but you might be able to throw the election for sheriff of Mayberry with that number of fraudulent votes. For the national elections, spread over the number of elections that time covers and the population of the US, it’s a single grain of sand on a beach.
I fail to see how denying another the exact same rights that I am afforded because they are not of my party, black, brown, LGBTQ, female or any other reason could possibly make my life or the world better.
We can totally disagree on an issue or even several and still like each other because we all really want the same things. Safety and a secure, prosperous future for ourselves and our children.
If my candidate loses, so be it, even if it was by the slimmest of margins. If you voted in earnest and the besieged mail system didn’t get it there on time, I still want your vote counted even if it costs my candidate a victory…..or you voted for Kanye.
When the minority bends and changes the rules or actively works to disenfranchise voters to gain unfair advantage, we no longer a democracy.
Agreed, Aaron.
As a federal official I am bound by the Hatch Act, and so have had to keep my opinions pretty much to myself in public and social media since the start of this election process; during that time I have remained silent as family, friends, co-workers and neighbors have maligned and insulted not only Joe and Kamala, but all Democrats in the USA.
An older lady that, as a boy, I used to call Mom #2 when I hung out with her kids at her house, sent me a sickening message last night after I changed my facebook profile pic to a badge that states “Every Ballot Counts”, and my background picture to one showing my old house with a big Biden sign in the yard. She called me a murderer, a pervert who approves of child molestation, a communist, and ended by informing me that unless I repent I will “split hell wide open”. I did not respond to her; I have no words.
How can people who claim to be Christians show so much hate that they would end life-long friendships for a monster who has spent his life violating the Biblical standards and commandments that form the foundation of the entire Judaic-Christian religion?
I know that we have hashed this out here so many times over the past year or two, and I’m not really asking for an answer…at this point, I am angry at myself for letting people like “Mom #2” get to me.
If I am still here in 20 years, I think that what I will still remember and resent most about the whole Trump reign is the people who became monsters in his image…and the question that will forever stick in my mind is were they really monsters all along?
I do have some evangelical friends who are also Republicans and who have confided to me that they voted for Biden; they are truly scared of what would happen if their family/friends/fellow church members found out. One dear lady messaged me and told me that she was inspired by my stand, and equally horrified at the price I paid in lost relationships.
I only want this country to heal and become better, but after seeing the evil in so many people’s hearts I can only say God help us…
Thank you, Mike.
BIG hug!
Ross…is it really almost over? I feel like I have gone back in time to Germany in the early 1930s, and Hitler has just been voted out of office! 😁
I feel the same way, Mike.
But I fear for the damage caused to Democracy over the next two months.
I fear for Mitch staying in power.
I am concerned too, but for the first time in a long time, I am hopeful. Just as we have restored many years worth of damage on our houses, we can restore the damage to our nation. We have plenty of time to deal with the fallout, but today we should celebrate.