According to the 2016 Democracy Index almost one-half of the world’s countries can be considered to be democracies of some sort, but the number of “full democracies” has declined from 20 in 2015 to 19 in 2016. The US has been downgraded from a “full democracy” to a “flawed democracy” because of a further erosion of trust in government and elected officials there.
Just when you thought you could not be any more embarrassed to be an American.
And this week you have your man child president diss one of it's key and largest trade partners and fall all over himself with the UK, promising trade deals. Ya right. He's such an Anglophile because of mommy-dearest LOL
ReplyDeleteAs a Canadian the only emotions I feel with respect to the US and Trump is disgust and fear - in equal measure most of the time.
"This is why the press was given an enumerated right in the Constitution, this, right here.
DeleteThis is the very moment when the press must step up and put their very lives on the line."
"The president must be hammered hard by the press, by you, by Congress, by every foreign power with an interest in freedom and democracy, and anyone who believes in just and fair elections, by the WORLD.
Trump must be made to prove beyond any shadow of a doubt his statement. Or admit that he is WRONG."
http://www.stonekettle.com/2017/01/feckless.html
I hope Canadians are raising hell about the pipeline spills and corporations polluting your soil, air, water and food supply and heading through the heart of America.
Delete@ 10:51 No, they are happy about all the jobs it will create in Alberta.
DeleteThe unofficial resistance team inside the White House. Not taxpayer subsidised! Alternative outlet, but the facts are real.
ReplyDelete--POTUS son-in-law tapped as advisor. Appears Kushner's assignment is to advise POTUS how govt can aid Trump Organization's profit margins.
--VP Pence, Speaker Ryan, COS Priebus = unholy trinity.
--POTUS disagreeing with #unholytrinity about vote fraud talk. They say it's losing battle, but POTUS says public needs to see he's popular.
--POTUS strategy on wall tax is to hurt Mexican economy, force them to surrender and foot bill. He knows the tax will never pay for the wall.
--POTUS asking around about people's Photoshop skills. Says inauguration photos need to be "touched up."
--Real concern starting to emerge that POTUS not even acting as he believes best, just for spite. Ex: gutting EU data law because Obama.
https://twitter.com/RoguePOTUSStaff
Someone Snapped The BEST Photo Of Trump Ever, And The Internet Will Never Let Him Forget It (TWEETS)
ReplyDeleteYou can probably expect Donald Trump to roll out some new rules regarding photographers and helicopters soon after a photo someone snapped of him boarding one.
--Today was the last day photography will be allowed near Trump and helicopters I suspect. pic.twitter.com/6ckAOxQokz
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C3JYYjbXAAE-SWt.jpg:large
BLOTUS is not my POTUS!!!
DeleteRJ in Brownbackistan
That combover is looking kind of thin.
DeleteHilarious. That "hairdo malfunction" is why he usually wears a cap when he's outdoors.
DeleteAll photos of that asshole are terrible. Takes a photo shop crew hours to fix for media.
DeleteThe guy is pure evil and needs to be impeached! He does not represent the majority of Americans and he knows it.
ReplyDeleteI predict he will never make it through a four-year term!
If we are lucky he wont make over the weekend.
DeleteI see your true colors / Shining through /
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/824966414456852480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
.@KellyannePolls on President Trump's call with Putin tomorrow: Removing sanctions is under consideration
What I find most interesting - in switching through the various news channels (to include cable) - The Donald is referred to as President Trump or Mr. Trump!
ReplyDeleteThey still don't even call President Obama, President Obama - he's always referred to as "Obama"! He's never given the title 'Mr.' either! ALL past POTUS are referred to with the "President" indicated before their names!
Does Trump control the press and media outlets already?
President Obama and Mr. Obama show respect! And, I have zero for The Donald as do most throughout our country!
The continuance of negating the two-term presidency of President Obama is in full swing - by Republicans in Congress and The Donald!
Screw their white, Republican asses!
They call Sarah Palin "Governor Palin" even after she quit so at least they are consistent.
Delete/s
I know, 7:29 AM, doesn't make sense at all! She quit and Todd did the majority of the work anyway when she was actually 'in' office. Remember, the Alaska Legislature couldn't get her to work with them - they even had a pin made for their lapels saying "Where Sarah?" with her photo.
DeleteShe proved herself to be totally inept, a liar and fraud as she has all these years since!
She's nothing more than a friggin' joke to Alaskans!
I, too, noticed the lack of respect from many in failing to properly address Mr. Obama as President Obama and it always made me very angry! However, I personally will not use this form of address for the current occupant of the White House as he is NOT my president. He is NOT worthy of my respect.
DeleteYea, but we all HAVE a lot of photos of him - that are not charming or attractive. The guy isn't either to begin with!
ReplyDeleteWhat is he going to do next? Shut down the internet? Makes copies of things you have on line folks - just in case! There are ways to work around this jerk!
Shut down the internet? Yes. I'm sure the nazibannonites are working on that as we type.
DeleteHow dare Americans have an opinion and say naughty things about donald the dickhead. Maybe if he wouldn't act like a dickhead he wouldn't get treated like a dickhead.
Anybody remember how to write? With a pen? On paper?
We all know you are kind of arrogantly dense most times, but...
ReplyDelete"declined from 20 in 2015 to 19 in 2016."
Uh, Trump became President 7 days ago, in 2017.
Sooooo, thanks Obama?
7:10 a.m.
DeleteDon't thank Obama - it was the republicans that fucked up your so call democracy bigly.
Sooooo, you could thank a Republican Congress, a Republican Senate, right wing regressive Justices on the Supreme Court. States with Republican Governors and ideologically driven school boards.
DeleteOh, and thank the supposed "liberal media",no such thing, or almost all media in general.
How insipid to infer President Obama would to blame for our failing Democracy.
No it's you and others, just like you!
This article has a better explanation:
Delete===============================
A New Report Finds America Is No Longer a "Full Democracy"
For the first time, the United States has been downgraded from a "full democracy" to a "flawed democracy" by the Economic Intelligence Unit, a group that annually measures the strength of democracies across the world. According to the EIU, the country's decline as a liberal democracy can be attributed to the "further erosion of trust in government and elected officials"—the same factors that led to the election of President Donald Trump.
The report found similar score declines and patterns of lower "popular confidence in political elites and institution" throughout Europe, especially in eastern Europe. Shortly after the US presidential election, one Harvard lecturer warned that the United States and European liberal democracies were under such a serious threat of a democratic decline that current trends resembled Venezuela's political climate before its own crisis.
The findings, which were released on Wednesday, come amid increased alarm over Trump's continued demonstration of authoritarian tendencies, as he issues gag orders across federal agencies and signs an expanding list of executive orders during his first few days in office.
The new commander-in-chief added fuel to such concerns this week when he repeated the debunked claim that voter fraud led him to lose the 2016 popular vote. Government officials and voting experts slammed the president for the assertion, saying any investigation into the falsehood will only further undermine voter confidence in future elections and will likely lead the new administration to make policy changes that make it even more difficult for many people to vote.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/new-report-finds-america-no-longer-full-democracy
That is right little ones, ignore the reality right in front of your faces. Extreme liberal policies and social experiments in western governments worldwide have totally failed. Failed immigration policies, ridiculous and dangerous head in the sand reactions to Islamic terror, failed economic policies to pay for these liberal experiments- leaving completely forgotten citizen middle classes, asked to pay for it all with no return benefits, no representation, and zero hope for he future.
DeleteHence Brexit, hence Trump, hence France turning right, hence Merkels last term... etc..
The writing was on the wall. The world cannot sustain the big liberal experiment.
Delete@ 8:55 baby whiner, you seem to have a problem understanding the concept of a Democracy.
Blah blah blah all your same old talking points taken from White Supremacists. Too lazy to work, but not to complain.
9:17 it is really stupid and lazy liberals like yourself, that don't ever intend to work and instead prefer to live off government programs, that have caused this western world shift to right side political parties.
DeleteIt isn't done yet. France, Germany, Canada, etc... to come.
@ 1: 06 pm really old alternative reality talking point, can’t you do better than that.
DeleteThe fact is most of the welfare recipients are trump supporters living in red states and you wouldn’t know a liberal if you saw one.
By the way, why aren’t you working, too lazy? or are you cheating your employer by surfing the net while at work.
7:10 AM Your note makes no sense in relation to those above yours? Care to indicate what the heck you are talking about?
ReplyDeleteStory in Washington Post today by Chris Cillizza says that Palin closed her PAC and "the end of Sarah Palin is here."
ReplyDeleteWho gives a shit! She's been gone a long time already. Thank 'her' Christian god!
DeleteNot a wall, but kind of related. Funny though.
ReplyDeletehttp://dailycaller.com/2017/01/26/flashback-obama-admin-made-canada-pay-for-a-2-billion-border-bridge/
It's ironic that Kelly Anne Conway once tried to be a stand up comic. Now she works for a joke and is herself a punch line
ReplyDeleteSo trump is going after Mexico for a $60.6 billion trade deficit. Well Japan ($68.6 billion), Germany ($74.9 billion) and China ($367 billion) must be in his sights too.
ReplyDeleteOh dear me - how will the US Walmart's ever stock their shelves if trump takes on China. LOL
But no worries, trump is going to have a tremendous trade deal with the UK and that'll make all the different LOL
UK: Mini Coopers and orange marmalade. Scotch?
DeleteBangers and mash for all!
Deletehttp://www.politicususa.com/2017/01/27/trump-hangs-hopes-imaginary-voter-fraud-study-tweet.html
ReplyDeleteCarl Bernstein: Republican leaders say they’re worried about Donald Trump’s “stability”
ReplyDeletehttps://www.palmerreport.com/news/carl-bernstein-republican-leaders-say-theyre-worried-about-donald-trumps-stability/1218/
I saw a clip of trump’s interview with David Muir, when he took him up to the photo of the inauguration and was pointing out the ”crowds” on the side streets, see you can see more people here... blah, blah.
DeleteHOW PATHETIC!! He is going to beat that dead horse if it kills him.
O/t. Rumpy "my court pick or armagedon" what a pos! Impeach now!!! That is it, the line has been crossed!
ReplyDeleteOT? HISTORY!
DeleteThe Art Of the Deal:
Avoiding a Nomination Armageddon
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2004/12/the-art-of-the-deal-avoiding-a-nomination-armageddon/378240/
Trump Bans Immigration From Muslim Countries Without Trump Hotels
ReplyDelete......... The order would place a 30-day stop to visas for immigrant and visitor visas for travelers from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia, all Muslim-majority countries whose citizens the order says “would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.” But it would not affect travelers from all Muslim countries — the ban does not apply to Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, which by complete coincidence are all countries where the Trump Organization has business interests. While the text of the executive order invokes the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States as a reason to be wary of scary Muslims who want to destroy America, the actual ban would not affect countries the 9/11 hijackers came from:
..... There may or may not also be a question demanding prospective immigrants and visitors to agree that Donald Trump had the biggest crowd at his inauguration of any president, ever............:)
http://wonkette.com/610982/trump-bans-immigration-from-muslim-countries-without-trump-hotels
Trump Bans Immigration From Muslim Countries Without Trump Hotels
ReplyDelete......... The order would place a 30-day stop to visas for immigrant and visitor visas for travelers from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia, all Muslim-majority countries whose citizens the order says “would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.” But it would not affect travelers from all Muslim countries — the ban does not apply to Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, which by complete coincidence are all countries where the Trump Organization has business interests. While the text of the executive order invokes the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States as a reason to be wary of scary Muslims who want to destroy America, the actual ban would not affect countries the 9/11 hijackers came from:
..... There may or may not also be a question demanding prospective immigrants and visitors to agree that Donald Trump had the biggest crowd at his inauguration of any president, ever............:)
http://wonkette.com/610982/trump-bans-immigration-from-muslim-countries-without-trump-hotels
O/T, and may not mean anything, but is Sarah's website down? Google can't find it and the error message "server DNS address could not be found" came up for the URL. Just curious.
ReplyDeleteI've commented on here before that her website is atrocious, maybe they're trying to re-do it, make it look more professional and credible.
OT? NOT!
Deletehttp://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/ex-christian-from-duggar-cult-explains-why-we-should-be-more-afraid-of-mike-pence-than-trump/
They cut off the electricity for non payment, sarahPAC is broke and she can't pay her bills.
DeleteAnother day, another lie
ReplyDelete================================
HHS Says It Pulled Ads Promoting Obamacare Enrollment To Cut Costs
“We have pulled back roughly $5 million of the final placement in an effort to look for efficiencies where they exist.”
According to Politico, which first reported that HHS pulled ads and outreach promoting Obamacare enrollment, the order to end the efforts came from the White House.
The ads had already been purchased under the Obama administration, according to the report.
..... Leslie Dach, a former HHS official in the Obama administration and director of the Protect Our Care Coalition, called the Trump administration's decision to pull the ads "sabotage."
"This proves that this Administration doesn’t care about people who need health coverage. And It clearly shows that they now own the consequences of their efforts to undermine the health care system," Dach said in a statement.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/hhs-pulls-obamacare-enrollment-ads-cut-costs
Rachel Maddow just uncovered how Russia influenced our presidential campaign to elect Donald Trump. The new Russian KGB, the FSB, strode into a Moscow meeting, grabbed the deputy head of cyber operations, threw a bag over his head, and dragged him out of the room. Secret police disappeared the man, who has now been charged with treason!
ReplyDeleteSo why does this help prove Russia interfered with our national elections? Someone released information to the former MI6 agent so that he could release raw data about corruption in our elections to Buzzfeed. On MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, she said that the media has been waiting for an indicator proving that Russia was involved. If nothing happened, that would tend to indicate it had done nothing.
Maddow reported that a second Russian official had been either arrested or fired. This man was the deputy director of counter-intelligence. In other words, his job was to keep the spies out of Russia. He was supposed to find the mole, but clearly, he failed, and now his fate is in jeopardy.
According to Maddow, the FBI director, who embraced Trump during the inauguration festivities, James Comey, will not confirm or deny there is an investigation into Russia’s presumed involvement in our elections. Trump’s nominee for attorney general Alabama’s Senator Jeff Sessions has admitted that he will not necessarily recuse himself from cases that involve Trump, even though the senator was part of the man’s campaign.
Trump changes him opinion from hour to hour on everything except Russia and its president Vladimir Putin. Joe Cirincione tweeted:
http://www.bipartisanreport.com/2017/01/27/rachel-maddow-releases-huge-putintrump-announcement-get-ready-video/
Leaked Audio From GOP Retreat Has Vice President Pence In Serious Hot Water (DETAILS)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bipartisanreport.com/2017/01/27/leaked-audio-from-gop-retreat-has-vice-president-pence-in-serious-hot-water-details/
Oh boy, she is going to take names!! I believe the USA already tried to bully the world and things didn’t work out too well.
ReplyDeleteSuch an embarrassment for our country, “The Ugly American” another requested book on Amazon?
=============================
New US UN envoy Nikki Haley warns allies: have our back or we’ll respond accordingly
New U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, pledged on Friday to overhaul the world body and warned U.S. allies that if they do not have Washington’s back then she is “taking names” and will respond.
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/new-us-un-envoy-nikki-haley-warns-allies-have-our-back-or-well-respond-accordingly/
The president of the United States just cited a long discredited conspiracy theorist who works with InfoWars in a Twitter rant.
ReplyDeleteNo, really.
His rant was his latest “attempt” at backing up his outlandish claim that some three million people voted illegally in the 2016 presidential race.
http://www.bipartisanreport.com/2017/01/27/trump-announces-insane-voter-conspiracy-theory-during-friday-morning-freak-out/
In an effort to “clean house” the Trump administration told four State Department management officials that their services were no longer needed.
ReplyDeleteCNN Reports that on Thursday two senior administration officials made the announcement that the four State Department management officials were asked to resign. Those four officials include the Director of the Office for Foreign Missions, Gentry Smith, undersecretary for management, Patrick Kennedy, and Assistant Secretaries for Administration and Consular Affairs, Michele Bond and Joyce Anne Barr. Sources told CNN that all four received letters from the White House specifying that their services were no longer needed.
Per tradition at the beginning of a new administration, all four officials submitted letters of resignation.
Career officials in such positions are traditionally asked to stay on for several months until their successors are found.
One senior State Department official told CNN:
‘Any implication that these four people quit is wrong. These people are loyal to the secretary, the President and to the State Department. There is just not any attempt here to dis the President. People are not quitting and running away in disgust. This is the White House cleaning house.’
The State Department’s acting spokesman, Mark Toner, in a statement said that:
‘These positions are political appointments, and require the President to nominate and the Senate to confirm them in these roles. They are not carrier appointments but of limited term.’
‘Of the officers whose resignations were accepted, some will continue in the Foreign Service in other positions, and others will retire by choice or because they have exceeded the time limits of their grade in service.’
http://www.bipartisanreport.com/2017/01/27/trump-administration-issues-huge-state-department-announcement-get-ready-details/
Vice-President Mike Pence said that the Trump administration will “initiate a full evaluation of voting rolls in the country and the overall integrity of our voting system in the wake of this past election”, according to audio obtained by the Guardian.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/26/trump-administration-voter-fraud-investigation-mike-pence
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/ex-christian-from-duggar-cult-explains-why-we-should-be-more-afraid-of-mike-pence-than-trump/
DeleteOh goodie, let us begin with his staff, family members and cabinet choices.
DeleteBurst your bubble: five conservative articles to read during Trump's first week
ReplyDeleteRightwing commentators on the foreign policy implications of the president’s inaugural address, his likely line on the culture wars and even his mental health
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/26/media-bubble-conservative-articles-trump-first-week
Trump Hits A New Level Of Delusion By Calling Debunked Tweet Voter Fraud Evidence
ReplyDeleteDonald Trump has found “proof” of his totally wrong, misleading belief that massive voter fraud is what caused him to lose the popular vote by historic margins. Where is this proof? Oh, well, it’s in a tweet from a random person, and has been thoroughly debunked by PolitiFact. Way back in November.
...And this, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of the fine minds running our country for the Republican Party.
Donald Trump saw a tweet, never more evidence will he need.
This is right up there with Trump’s “thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down. Thousands of people were cheering” claim that thousands of Arabs were cheering in New Jersey after 9/11. Even when presented with evidence that he was wrong, Trump doubled down and claimed he “saw it on television.” This simply never happened.
And so we are about to waste millions upon millions hunting down those imaginary fraudulent voters, so that Donald Trump can believe that America doesn’t hate him quite as much as it does.
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/01/27/trump-hangs-hopes-imaginary-voter-fraud-study-tweet.html
Trump-approved ‘voter fraud’ conspiracy theorist goes down in flames during trainwreck CNN interview
Deletehttp://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/trump-approved-voter-fraud-conspiracy-theorist-goes-down-in-flames-during-trainwreck-cnn-interview/
Trump isn’t lying, he’s bullshitting – and it’s far more dangerous
ReplyDelete...... Bullshitter-in-chief?
Bullshitters, as philosopher Harry Frankfurt wrote in his 1986 essay “On Bullshit,” don’t care whether what they are saying is factually correct or not. Instead, bullshit is characterized by a “lack of connection to a concern with truth [and] indifference to how things really are.” Frankfurt explains that a bullshitter “does not care whether the things he says describe reality correctly. He just picks them out, or makes them up, to suit his purpose.”
In addition to being unconcerned about the truth (which liars do care about, since they are trying to conceal it), Frankfurt suggests that bullshitters don’t really care whether their audience believes what they are saying. Indeed, getting the audience to believe something is false isn’t the goal of bullshitting. Rather, bullshitters say what they do in an effort to change how the audience sees them, “to convey a certain impression” of themselves......
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/trump-isnt-lying-hes-bullshitting-and-its-far-more-dangerous/
Republican Legislator Says Trumps’ Voter Fraud Claim ‘Undermines the Constitution’
ReplyDeleteRep. Adam Kinzinger (R-ILL) appeared on CNN’s New Day today to explain that Donald Trump’s claims of wholesale voter fraud in the 2016 election “undermines the idea of an election”:
“This basically undermines the idea of an election. This undermines the Constitution. If you really believe there were three to five million illegal votes please share that proof – show us how.”
Watch courtesy of CNN:
Kinzinger actually compared what Trump is doing to Putin’s efforts to undermine our democracy. This is the position Donald Trump has put Republican legislators in, to compare him to Putin.
He went on to say:
“When you just attack it and say, ‘Well, I’ll show you proof eventually,” or you say, ‘Hey look, just trust me on this one,’ you get some people that believe it, because you have confirmation bias on either way. Some people that believe it because it seems right, and some people that don’t.”
We won’t see any proof, of course. As Watergate investigator, Carl Bernstein who knows a few things about conspiracies says of the man who claims he has that proof but won’t show it, “It’s just like the birther claims.”
Watch courtesy of CNN:
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/01/27/republican-legislator-trumps-voter-fraud-claim-undermines-constitution.html
Pence is speaking at the March of Life rally in Washington DC.
ReplyDeleteHe said Trump has broad shoulders and a big heart.
BIG HEART?
TELL THAT TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAD TO TAKE HIS FRAUD ASS AND UNIVERSITY TO COURT
TELL THAT TO THE NUMEROUS CONTRACTORS HE SCREWED OUT OF MONEY
TELL THAT TO THE NUMEROUS WOMEN HE SEXUALLY HARASSED
TELL THAT TO THE WOMEN HE TRIED TO SHUT UP FROM TELLING THEIR SEXUAL ASSAULT STORIES BY THREATENING A LAWSUIT AFTER HE GETS THE RNC NOMINATION. DID HE DO THAT? TRUMP DOESN'T DARE DO THAT AND GET DEPOSED IN COURT.
Eww, He's back to that broad shoulders bit? Someone (Daily Show?) ran a montage during the campaign of how many times Pence mentioned trump's broad, manly shoulders that we could all lean on {shudder}.
DeleteIck.
No surprise, will he have tariff exemptions for trump clothes and home goods?
ReplyDelete========================================
Trump’s Ties to China Go Way Deeper Than People Realize
He even tried to launch a Chinese version of "The Apprentice" in 2005.
President Donald Trump paints China as the United States' ultimate economic enemy, imperiling American jobs by engaging in unfair trade practices......
But when it comes to his own business deals, Trump's actions don't exactly align with his hawkish rhetoric. In the past, he has tried repeatedly to land big real estate deals in China with state-run Chinese companies as partners. He's sought access to China's famously tricky business markets—even for his reality TV show, The Apprentice.
Trump still owes potentially hundreds of millions in debt to one massive, state-run Chinese bank, while leasing a floor of Trump Tower office space in Manhattan to another—a contract that's up for renegotiation in October 2019. Trump's hotel company planned dozens of new facilities in China over the coming years, but those projects appear to have been scrapped following the election.
Here are the highlights—and lowlights—of Trump's business record with China, America's biggest trading partner
... SEE ARTICLE FOR LONG LIST, UNABLE TO COPY
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/china-trump-deals-investments-history-graphics-video
Trump isn’t lying, he’s bullshitting – and it’s far more dangerous
ReplyDelete...As important as discussions about the role of the press as fact-checkers are, in this case Baker’s critics are missing the point. Baker is right. Trump isn’t lying. He’s bullshitting. And that’s an important distinction to make.
Bullshitter-in-chief?
Bullshitters, as philosopher Harry Frankfurt wrote in his 1986 essay “On Bullshit,” don’t care whether what they are saying is factually correct or not. Instead, bullshit is characterized by a “lack of connection to a concern with truth [and] indifference to how things really are.” Frankfurt explains that a bullshitter “does not care whether the things he says describe reality correctly. He just picks them out, or makes them up, to suit his purpose.”
In addition to being unconcerned about the truth (which liars do care about, since they are trying to conceal it), Frankfurt suggests that bullshitters don’t really care whether their audience believes what they are saying. Indeed, getting the audience to believe something is false isn’t the goal of bullshitting. Rather, bullshitters say what they do in an effort to change how the audience sees them, “to convey a certain impression” of themselves.
In Trump’s case, much of his rhetoric and speech seems designed to inflate his own grand persona. Hence the tweets about improving the record sales of artists performing at his inauguration and his claims that he “alone can fix” the problems in the country.
Likewise, his inaugural address contained much rhetoric about the “decayed” state of the country and rampant unemployment (a verifiably false statement). Trump then proceeded to claim that he was going to rid the country of these ailments. The image of Trump as a larger-than-life figure who will repair a broken country resonates with his audience, and it doesn’t work without first priming them with notions of widespread “carnage.”
A stinky, slippery slope
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/trump-isnt-lying-hes-bullshitting-and-its-far-more-dangerous/
Vicente Fox: Trump addressing GOP was like watching Hitler address the Nazi Party
ReplyDelete...“I am comparing him in the sense of the way he’s a populist, of everything that he said is pure populism, making America first. Number two, that he says jobs for everybody, what he says, business for everybody. I mean, his declarations, his creeds and his executive orders. Yes, I want to remind a Congressman is obliged with this free conscious to make decisions he doesn’t have to accept, but this guy is important to them.”
Fox also reiterated that Mexico will not be paying for any wall. Ever.
You can watch the full video below:
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/former-mexican-president-trump-addressing-gop-was-like-watching-hitler-address-the-nazi-party/
I can totally prove Clinton won more than 5 million more votes than Trump. No, really — I can!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/i-can-totally-prove-clinton-won-more-than-5-million-more-votes-than-trump-no-really-i-can/
FYI
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/01/how-author-timothy-tyson-found-the-woman-at-the-center-of-the-emmett-till-case
"“More Than a Wolf Whistle: The Story of Carolyn Bryant Donham,” but it will not be available to scholars until 2038, at her request."
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/not-true-woman-admits-she-made-up-claims-that-led-to-emmett-tills-brutal-lynching/
Well, to be honest, though, this down grading happened LAST YEAR, from 2015 to 2016. We are now in 2017. So, it actually happened under President Obama's watch. (But, to be honest, it is/was no unexpected thing with the GOP gerrymandering all over and suppressing voter turnout!)
ReplyDeleteI think the Democrats should have a little fun with donnie and propose the Pinocchio Tax; every lie that comes out the W.H. will be taxed.
ReplyDeleteDetails of the planned taxed will be announced, but it will be a tax everyone will love!!!
Not only would his damn wall be paid for, but we would have a budget surplus also.
"Bullshitter-in-chief?
ReplyDeleteBullshitters, as philosopher Harry Frankfurt wrote in his 1986 essay “On Bullshit,” don’t care whether what they are saying is factually correct or not. Instead, bullshit is characterized by a “lack of connection to a concern with truth [and] indifference to how things really are.” Frankfurt explains that a bullshitter “does not care whether the things he says describe reality correctly. He just picks them out, or makes them up, to suit his purpose.”
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/trump-isnt-lying-hes-bullshitting-and-its-far-more-dangerous/
His face looks like the ass end of a baboon.
ReplyDeleteWhen will Nato arrive to help us out? March to remove citizen united from our white house. I canceled direct tv service for fake news and will continue eliminating service, accounts, and providing income to corporations in on this crime against americans.
ReplyDeleteLock um up.
ReplyDeleteCalling all whistle blowers and hackers to defend America.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that North Carolina was downgraded this last election. I believe they only score 58 out of 100. Not sure if that also includes the Republican legislature's attempts to undermine and delegitimize their Democratic governor. I think it does. Their voter disenfranchisement alone really lowered their score. Not sure how the other states rank but I'd bet many of their scores are falling.
ReplyDeleteSo it's no wonder the U.S. has been downgraded.
We should have our elections overseen by the World Wide committee that does the same for third world elections. We have become that bad.
I didn't vote for Trump, and was very upset when he won. After a week (has it only been that long?!) on office, my hopes that he might not be so terrible are gone.
ReplyDeleteBut I can forgive. And since it seems that Trump is quite concerned with his popularity, here is what he can do to earn a small amount of my respect:
1. Stop whining & lying about such dumb shit like the media, and how everyone hates you.
2. Quit hiring billionaires & family members to top jobs. Consider a highly educated, experienced person who will give results.
3. Less tweeting and speeches. Get your ass to work educating yourself on opinions other than your own. Read a non-fiction book for adults.
4. No more blaming your opponents. Hillary is history. If you'd like your section in a history book to be bigger than hers, start looking to the future. Get your big boy pants on, you got the job. You're a leader, which means you have to rise above bullshit and help people who may never support you. (Ask your predecessor how to do this.)
5. Don't piss off our allies.
What IS that big red lump under Trump's bottom lip? Go to a dermatologist and have it checked out, Donnie!
ReplyDeleteBeing 50, with options, I feel very badly for the kids that have inherited this shitshow.
ReplyDelete