What have we come to?

[americanwoman]

The right doesn't really have any ideas that the American people are interested in hearing. They don't have solutions to poverty, healthcare, income inequality, ...anything really. Any problems that appear in their laps, such as the deadliest pandemic in the last 100 years, they pretend do not exist. They make bad, selfish, short sighted decisions at every turn. Trump was able to fool some people for awhile by pretending to be an economic populist, but even that didn't really last.

Surely you were just as devastated Mr. Potato Head dropped the "Mr."?

 

[tres borrachos]

Warning, as a lefty, what follows will reflect my own biases, but I will try to insert some exampkes folks on the right might appreciate. The purpose of the title of this thread was to highlight the following things past and present that seem to define our gotcha political culture:

- Today FOX is apparently backtracking on the false story that Biden says we can't eat meat; this, after a GOP freak out
- Kudlow talks about plant based beer in response to the phony "no meat" story; makes a bit of a fool of himself, and people jump on him, pretending to miss his sarcastic point
- AOC said we should cut back on air travel and push trains, and people remind her about oceans, as if she was talking about taking a train from NY to London instead of Chicago to St. Louis
- Tucker Carlson says having kids wear masks is the equivalent of beating them
- Romney says corporations are people too, and people make fun, pretending they don't know what he was talking about
- AOC says that young people believe the world will end in 12 years if we don't address climate change, and people insist on taking her literally
- Dr. Fauci, like a good scientist, adjusts his advice as new information about the pandemic appears or new patterns of infection occur, "Fire Fauci" becomes a battle cry for some on the right
- Republicans toggle between "Reagan proved deficits don't matter" and "O Lordy, Lordy, the debt!", with the key to understanding why they take one side or another at a particular time being who's holds the presidency
- A strong criminal case is made against what Chauvin did to Floyd in Minneapolis and people seem to blame rioters in Portland for the verdict
- The response to the "Black Lives Matter" slogan is a valid "Blue Lives Matter" one, but also a lets-miss-the-point-on-purpose "All Lives Matter."
- Rush Limbaugh says a woman who testified about birth control pills as useful to regulate an erratic menstrual cycle is having so much sex it's amazing she can walk. Trump gives him a Medal of Freedom (no one seen gagging); she has to go through life hearing people say "aren't you the slut?"

Here is where a form of "what aboutism," (otherwise disparaged in DP) would actually be useful, if critics asked "what about?" questions relating to each of the above, to allow the person making the statement to respond. (This probably wouldn't work with Trump, as his reflexive response seems to be to double down rather than walk back.) But current toxic political culture won't allow this.

But the larger question is how this came to pass. Some say it started years ago with the "bomb throwing" by Gingrich, who opposed things he supported just because democrats supported them too. Others, me among them, blame the GOP for not having an agenda, other than hoping for failure. We are not being served well by these ways of non-thinking. How did it come to this?

We have come to the era of Donald Trump, which is why I broke free of the Republican Party. I don't even recognize it anymore.

 

[tres borrachos]

Surely you were just as devastated Mr. Potato Head dropped the "Mr."?

And Doctor Seuss! I mean, what can the Republicans read now (besides the Bible)?

 

[americanwoman]

And Doctor Seuss! I mean, what can the Republicans read now (besides the Bible)?

 

[tres borrachos]

Look at that teeny tiny hand.

If you win, make sure you wear a long blonde wig. He likes the ladies who resemble Ivanka.

 

[KLATTU]

She'd crush any Trump supporter here in a debate on any political topic.

#LAFFRIOT

surrrrrrre she would.
AOC in debate: " The Govt owes you everything, businesses should have to pay 25 dollars an hour, cops suck, white people suck, Let everybody from Mexico in, get rid of gas, all millionaires should give their money to the Gov't.''
Rebuttal from a Trump supporter: " I can't compete with that -she wins,

 

[Excast]

Surely you were just as devastated Mr. Potato Head dropped the "Mr."?

I hope to get over the trauma one of these days.

But seriously, it's a new manufactured controversy every other day with these people as the country is demanding something resembling leadership. Democrats are offering ideas....what do Republicans have?

Mr Potato Head? Dr. Seuss? Yelling at kids and their parents for wearing masks? The "4lbs of burger" and "Kamala Harris indoctrination book" nonsense that was pulled directly out of their asses? A fake recount in Arizona led by "Stop the Steal" goons, over 3 months after Biden took office? As Democrats are lining up new ways to help Americans today and into the future, this is what Republicans have to offer as a counter? It's a bad caricature come to life, but it's all they are. They aren't capable of anything better, because all of the leaders in their party who have functioning brains and/or moral centers have all been pushed aside.

 

[Excast]

surrrrrrre she would.
AOC in debate: " The Govt owes you everything, businesses should have to pay 25 dollars an hour, cops suck, white people suck, Let everybody from Mexico in, get rid of gas, all millionaires should give their money to the Gov't.''
Rebuttal from a Trump supporter: " I can't compete with that -she wins,

Dude, you think ending half of your posts with "LAFFRIOT" (What the hell does that even mean?) is a good debate tactic. I have no doubt she would run circles around you.

 

[KLATTU]

Dude, you think ending half of your posts with "LAFFRIOT" (What the hell does that even mean?) is a good debate tactic. I have no doubt she would run circles around you.

Well if you were the judge, I'm sure she would!
AOC" " The Govt owes you everything, businesses should have to pay 25 dollars an hour, cops suck, white people suck, Let everybody from Mexico in, get rid of gas, all millionaires should give their money to the Gov't.''

Excast : " Debate over --she wins!!!"

LAFFRIOT

 

[calamity]

Warning, as a lefty, what follows will reflect my own biases, but I will try to insert some exampkes folks on the right might appreciate. The purpose of the title of this thread was to highlight the following things past and present that seem to define our gotcha political culture:

- Today FOX is apparently backtracking on the false story that Biden says we can't eat meat; this, after a GOP freak out
- Kudlow talks about plant based beer in response to the phony "no meat" story; makes a bit of a fool of himself, and people jump on him, pretending to miss his sarcastic point
- AOC said we should cut back on air travel and push trains, and people remind her about oceans, as if she was talking about taking a train from NY to London instead of Chicago to St. Louis
- Tucker Carlson says having kids wear masks is the equivalent of beating them
- Romney says corporations are people too, and people make fun, pretending they don't know what he was talking about
- AOC says that young people believe the world will end in 12 years if we don't address climate change, and people insist on taking her literally
- Dr. Fauci, like a good scientist, adjusts his advice as new information about the pandemic appears or new patterns of infection occur, "Fire Fauci" becomes a battle cry for some on the right
- Republicans toggle between "Reagan proved deficits don't matter" and "O Lordy, Lordy, the debt!", with the key to understanding why they take one side or another at a particular time being who's holds the presidency
- A strong criminal case is made against what Chauvin did to Floyd in Minneapolis and people seem to blame rioters in Portland for the verdict
- The response to the "Black Lives Matter" slogan is a valid "Blue Lives Matter" one, but also a lets-miss-the-point-on-purpose "All Lives Matter."
- Rush Limbaugh says a woman who testified about birth control pills as useful to regulate an erratic menstrual cycle is having so much sex it's amazing she can walk. Trump gives him a Medal of Freedom (no one seen gagging); she has to go through life hearing people say "aren't you the slut?"

Here is where a form of "what aboutism," (otherwise disparaged in DP) would actually be useful, if critics asked "what about?" questions relating to each of the above, to allow the person making the statement to respond. (This probably wouldn't work with Trump, as his reflexive response seems to be to double down rather than walk back.) But current toxic political culture won't allow this.

But the larger question is how this came to pass. Some say it started years ago with the "bomb throwing" by Gingrich, who opposed things he supported just because democrats supported them too. Others, me among them, blame the GOP for not having an agenda, other than hoping for failure. We are not being served well by these ways of non-thinking. How did it come to this?

We reached this point because the Right does not have enough rich people in the pool of voters to support the failed borrow and spend trickle down economics of Ron-Ron, so they trawled the trailer park for racists. Surprisingly--or not--there seems to be plenty of them willing to vote against their own economic interests as long as they are convinced that the blacks won't be getting anything either.

Amazing, but true.

 

[Nickyjo]

Decide for yourself if she's serious or not:

I think the comments were perfectly understandable and not inappropriate in the context. Climate scientists had maintained that we had 12 years before a tipping point. And, of course, those puzzled, clearly unbiased, fair and balanced commentators in the media who got the vapors could have called her up and asked, "What did you mean when you said ..." to get clarification. That's what the average person might have asked if unclear on the concept. But what fun would that have been? I assume that those in the audience who applauded her when she said that didn't take her literally. Those in the media who pretended they did had a pre-existing agenda. You are making my point for me.

Ditto with Romney, Kudlow and most of the other examples in my OP. This is not a phenomenon only on the right.

 

[calamity]

surrrrrrre she would.
AOC in debate: " The Govt owes you everything, businesses should have to pay 25 dollars an hour, cops suck, white people suck, Let everybody from Mexico in, get rid of gas, all millionaires should give their money to the Gov't.''
Rebuttal from a Trump supporter: " I can't compete with that -she wins,

You're right. You just lost.

 

[VySky]

I think civility started to slip when the congressman yelled out and called Obama a liar when in fact, Obama was lying. It was the top of the slippery slope

 

[aociswundumho]

I think the comments were perfectly understandable and not inappropriate in the context. Climate scientists had maintained that we had 12 years before a tipping point.

No, not "before a tipping point". She claimed, in plain language, that the world will end in 12 years if we don't address climate change, and that was 2 years ago. I suspect she will look sillier and sillier as 2031 approaches.

 

[Nickyjo]

I think civility started to slip when the congressman yelled out and called Obama a liar when in fact, Obama was lying. It was the top of the slippery slope

Obama wasn't lying, tho the issue wasn't crystal clear. The issue was whether illegals would get health care. The practical answers are both yes and no, but the language of the bill/law was that they could not. Hardly a lie for Obama to say what he did.

 

[KLATTU]

No, not "before a tipping point". She claimed, in plain language, that the world will end in 12 years if we don't address climate change, and that was 2 years ago. I suspect she will look sillier and sillier as 2031 approaches.

You're right. You just lost.

You're right. You just lost.

“There’s scientific consensus that the lives of children are going to be very difficult. And it does lead young people to have a legitimate question: is it okay to still have children?”

— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

LAFFRIOT!

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Shame his audience isn’t in on the joke.

His audience consists of people who plaster their social media with headlines from A.L.L.O.D.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Warning, as a lefty, what follows will reflect my own biases, but I will try to insert some exampkes folks on the right might appreciate. The purpose of the title of this thread was to highlight the following things past and present that seem to define our gotcha political culture:

- Today FOX is apparently backtracking on the false story that Biden says we can't eat meat; this, after a GOP freak out
- Kudlow talks about plant based beer in response to the phony "no meat" story; makes a bit of a fool of himself, and people jump on him, pretending to miss his sarcastic point
- AOC said we should cut back on air travel and push trains, and people remind her about oceans, as if she was talking about taking a train from NY to London instead of Chicago to St. Louis
- Tucker Carlson says having kids wear masks is the equivalent of beating them
- Romney says corporations are people too, and people make fun, pretending they don't know what he was talking about
- AOC says that young people believe the world will end in 12 years if we don't address climate change, and people insist on taking her literally
- Dr. Fauci, like a good scientist, adjusts his advice as new information about the pandemic appears or new patterns of infection occur, "Fire Fauci" becomes a battle cry for some on the right
- Republicans toggle between "Reagan proved deficits don't matter" and "O Lordy, Lordy, the debt!", with the key to understanding why they take one side or another at a particular time being who's holds the presidency
- A strong criminal case is made against what Chauvin did to Floyd in Minneapolis and people seem to blame rioters in Portland for the verdict
- The response to the "Black Lives Matter" slogan is a valid "Blue Lives Matter" one, but also a lets-miss-the-point-on-purpose "All Lives Matter."
- Rush Limbaugh says a woman who testified about birth control pills as useful to regulate an erratic menstrual cycle is having so much sex it's amazing she can walk. Trump gives him a Medal of Freedom (no one seen gagging); she has to go through life hearing people say "aren't you the slut?"

Here is where a form of "what aboutism," (otherwise disparaged in DP) would actually be useful, if critics asked "what about?" questions relating to each of the above, to allow the person making the statement to respond. (This probably wouldn't work with Trump, as his reflexive response seems to be to double down rather than walk back.) But current toxic political culture won't allow this.

But the larger question is how this came to pass. Some say it started years ago with the "bomb throwing" by Gingrich, who opposed things he supported just because democrats supported them too. Others, me among them, blame the GOP for not having an agenda, other than hoping for failure. We are not being served well by these ways of non-thinking. How did it come to this?

SUPERB!!!

Especially what you said about "whataboutisms", but make NO mistake, a certain crop of contributors on here will still come on to personally attack AOC, Biden, the MSM, etc etc.

Because you know "what about..........."

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Link please.

BTW, to mention Tucker and AOC in the same breath is misleading at best.
Tucker often uses hyperbole and irony.
AOC is NEVER being ironic. NEVER. Nor is she ever being hyperbolic.
She is being 100% serious.

There we have it folks, an example of how partisan views actually work.

Predictable, wasn't it?

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

If you have to beat a kid to wear a mask it reflects on bad parenting? We have met so many youngins who are ever so proud to wear their face covering. I have asked a few why they do it and they answered that they respect the less healthy and older people. What a concept.

Ain't only Tucker comes up with this foolishness, where the real abuse might lie is with those who tell their kids NOT to mask because of Freedums and "rights."

 

[Nickyjo]

“There’s scientific consensus that the lives of children are going to be very difficult. And it does lead young people to have a legitimate question: is it okay to still have children?”

— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

LAFFRIOT!

Nice try. She was talking about what her generation’s fears were. If people wanted to understand, they did, as did the audience that applauded understand what she meant. I suspect you understood as well what she was getting at. But obviously, you don’t like her or don’t like her politics, much as people who didn’t like the politics of Romney (or the others I mentioned) jumped on what he said about corporations. The important thing, you see, is not to have a dialogue about difficult issues we face. It’s to bash the other side rather than face them. You keep making my point.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Oh yeah. AOC was serious when she said millennials think the world will end in 12 years. Tucker isn't serious, a regular card, when he laments the browning of America.

Tucker is representative of today's conservative movement - real conservatives would be rolling in their graves.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Nice try. She was talking about what her generation’s fears were. If people wanted to understand, they did, as did the audience that applauded understand what she meant. I suspect you understood as well what she was getting at. But obviously, you don’t like her or don’t like her politics, much as people who didn’t like the politics of Romney (or the others I mentioned) jumped on what he said about corporations. The important thing, you see, is not to have a dialogue about difficult issues we face. It’s to bash the other side rather than face them. You keep making my point.

Hint: anyone who ends each of their comments with LAFFRIOT!.................., well you can fill in the blanks

 

[Nickyjo]

One thing about responses to my post: with an exception or two, all the commentary was about AOC, not Rush, Kudlow, or the "Fire Fauci" thing. What gives? My theory is that AOC is the right's new Hillary; they are obsessed. Perhaps in love since that sexy video she appeared in before politics. I suppose on the left it might have been Sarah Palin as their AOC, but Sarah, or at least our image of her, was farther out there.

 

[Yakshi]

One thing about responses to my post: with an exception or two, all the commentary was about AOC, not Rush, Kudlow, or the "Fire Fauci" thing. What gives? My theory is that AOC is the right's new Hillary; they are obsessed. Perhaps in love since that sexy video she appeared in before politics. I suppose on the left it might have been Sarah Palin as their AOC, but Sarah, or at least our image of her, was farther out there.

HuffPo did an article a year or two back about how the rightwing obsession with AOC has created a whole new type of revenge porn involving her.